Our Language Class: December 2009

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Rack and ruin: If something or someone goes to rack and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked.
Rack your brain: If you rack your brain, you think very hard when trying to remember something. ('Rack your brains' is an alternative.)
Rags to riches: Someone who starts life very poor and becomes rich goes from rags to riches.
Rain on your parade: If someone rains on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or your plans.
Raining cats and dogs: When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.
Raise eyebrows: If something raises eyebrows, it shocks or surprises people.
Rake over old coals: (UK) If you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.
Rake someone over the coals: (USA) If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.
Zigged before you zagged: If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.
Zip your lip: If someone tells you to zip your lip, they want to to shut up or keep quiet about something. ('Zip it' is also used.)

A little learning is a dangerous thing: A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing
A long row to hoe: Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.
A long row to hoe: Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.
A bit much: If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link: This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.
A day late and a dollar short: (USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
A fool and his money are soon parted: This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
About as useful as a chocolate teapot: Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Zero hour: The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance: If the police have a zero tolerance policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how small or trivial.

Our Language Class