Commonly used english part 95 pdf

941

turn (something) to good account

- to make good use of a situation/experience
We were able to turn our experience with the income tax office to good account when
we began to look at our business practices.

turn (something) to one's advantage

- to make an advantage for oneself out of something
The man was able to turn his previous job experience to his advantage in his new job.

turn tail

- to run away from trouble or danger
The young boys turned tail when the farmer began to chase them from the field.

turn the clock back

- to return to an earlier period
The politician wanted to turn the clock back to an earlier time but everyone knew it
was impossible.

turn the heat up on (someone)

- to increase the pressure on someone to do something
The police are turning the heat up on the members of the criminal gang.

turn the other cheek

- to let someone do something to you and not try to get revenge or become angry
The man decided to turn the other cheek when someone tried to start a fight with him
in the restaurant.






942

turn the tables on (someone)

- to reverse the situation for someone
The opposing team was able to turn the tables and win the game.

turn the tide

- to change what looks like defeat into victory
At the beginning of the game we were losing badly but we turned the tide and won the
game.

turn the trick

- to bring about the result that one wants, to succeed in what one plans to do
"That will turn the trick," I said as my friend found the correct tool to fix the kitchen
sink.

turn thumbs down on (someone or something)

- to disapprove or reject someone or something, to say no to someone or something
My supervisor turned thumb downs on my plan to have a more flexible schedule.

turn to (someone or something)

- to go to someone or something for help
We turned to my wife`s parents for advice about buying a house.

turn up

- to appear suddenly
The girls turned up when the party was almost over.







943

turn up

- to be found, to be discovered
My wallet turned up in my jacket exactly where I had left it.

turn up one`s nose at (something)

- to refuse something because it is not good enough

My friend turned up his nose at the job offer in another department of his company.


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twiddle one`s thumbs

- to not be busy, to not be working
We twiddled our thumbs all morning and did not get any work done.

twist (someone`s) arm

- to force or threaten someone to make them do something
My friend did not have to twist my arm to get me to go to the movie. I wanted to go
anyway.

twist (someone) around one`s (little) finger

- to have complete control over someone and be able to make them do anything that
you want
The woman is able to twist her supervisor around her little finger and she gets
whatever she wants at work.

944

twist (someone's) words around

- to restate someone's words inaccurately when quoting him or her
The supervisor twisted my words around when he repeated my complaint to the
manager.

two bits

- twenty-five cents, a quarter of a dollar
I bought several used books for two bits each.

two bricks shy of a load

- someone who is not very smart or clever
The young man is two bricks shy of a load and is very hard to work with.

two cents

- something not important, something very small
Although my friend's stereo works well I would not give him two cents for it.

two cents worth

- an opinion (that is not asked for)
My friend is always talking and I never have a chance to put in my two cents worth.

two-faced

- disloyal, untrustworthy
I think that our supervisor is two-faced and cannot be trusted.

two of a kind

- people or things of the same type, similar in character/attitude etc.
The young girls are two of a kind and they do almost everything together.


945

two-time (someone)

- to cheat or betray one's spouse or partner by dating someone else
The woman in the movie was two-timing her husband.

946

U
ugly duckling

- an ugly or plain child who grows up to be attractive
She was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is very beautiful.
unaccustomed to (someone or something)

- not used to someone or something
The man was unaccustomed to waking up early in the morning.

under Idioms
under a cloud

- depressed, sad
She has been under a cloud of depression since her cat died.
under a cloud (of suspicion)

- not trusted, suspected of doing something wrong

The politician has been under a cloud of suspicion over the possibility of taking
bribes.
under arrest

- arrested by the police before being charged with a crime
The three men were under arrest for robbing a bank.
under certain circumstances/conditions

- depending on or influenced by something
Under certain circumstances the children were permitted to use the indoor stadium for
practice.





947

under (close) scrutiny

- being watched or examined closely
The business owner was under close scrutiny after the accounting scandal.
under construction

- being built or repaired
The hotel was still under construction, two years after it began.
under control

- not out of control, manageable
The fire was under control after the fire department arrived.

under cover

- hidden, concealed
The police officer went under cover to look for the drug dealers.
under fire

- being shot at or attacked, under (verbal) attack
The owner of the company is under fire for not paying his employees a fair salary.
under oath

- having taken an oath (solemn promise)
The man was under oath when he spoke before the judge.
under one`s belt

- in one`s experience, memory or possession
When he has more experience as a cook under his belt he will begin to look for a job.
under one`s belt

- in one`s stomach
After he had a big breakfast under his belt he was ready for work.


948

under one`s breath

- in a whisper, with a low voice
He was talking under his breath in the movie theater and somebody complained.
under one`s nose

- within sight of someone, easily seen or found
He found his driver`s license right under his nose where he had left it.
under one`s own steam

- by one`s own efforts, without help
He was able to go home under his own steam even though he was feeling very sick.
under one`s thumb

- obedient to someone, controlled by someone
He is only an assistant salesman but he has his boss under his thumb.
under one`s wing

- under the care or protection of (someone)
He took the new employee under his wing to help him in the new job.
under pressure

- experiencing something that causes stress or anxiety
The boy's father is always under pressure at work.
under the circumstances

- because of the circumstances
The girl was very sick and under the circumstances did not have to take the exam.
under the counter

- secretly bought or sold
The drugs are being sold under the counter although the government has not given its
approval.

949

under the hammer

- up for sale at an auction
The painting went under the hammer and sold for a very high price.
under the influence of (something)

- experiencing the effects of alcohol/drugs/a controlling power or person
The driver was under the influence of alcohol when he hit the young child.
under the sun

- anywhere on earth at all, everywhere
We looked for my wallet everywhere under the sun.
under the table

- in secret and usually illegal
He paid some money under the table in order to get his product imported into the
country.
under the weather

- feel ill (but not seriously ill)
He is feeling under the weather so he is going to bed early tonight.
under the wire

- just barely in time or on time
We were able to send in our payment for the school fees just under the wire.
under wraps

- not allowed to be seen until the right time, in secrecy
The new car was still under wraps when the car show started.
unearthly hour

- absurdly early or inconvenient
We got up at an unearthly hour this morning so we could get ready to go camping.

950

unfamiliar territory

- an area of knowledge unknown to the speaker
Trying to pilot an airplane was unfamiliar territory for the flight attendant.
unknown quantity

- a person or thing which nobody knows much about
The new mayor was an unknown quantity and nobody knew what to expect.
until all hours (of the day or night)

- until very late
We stayed up until all hours playing cards.
until hell freezes over

- forever
He said that he would not talk to his girlfriend again until hell freezes over.
until the cows come home

- until very late
It is my birthday today so I plan to stay out and party until the cows come home.

up Idioms
up a blind alley

- on a route that leads nowhere, at a dead end
The police were up a blind alley in their search for evidence of the crime.
up against

- having trouble with
He came up against many problems when he went to university.