Meaning: 1 kings

n.
the first of two Old Testament books telling the histories of the kings of Judah and Israel

ings Idiom, Proverb

all things being equal

if things remain the same, if no surprises occur All things being equal, we should sell all our bicycles by October.

all things to all people

satisfy everyone, live up to Be yourself. Stop trying to be all things to all people.

easy pickings

an easy task or job, a piece of cake It was a multiple-choice test - easy pickings if you studied.

get in the swing of things

adapt to a new environment or situation He got into the swing of things after the party started.

hard feelings

unfriendly feelings, resentment "After the argument, Bill said, ""I hope there are no hard feelings."""

has the makings

has the potential, has the ingredients Darcy has the makings of a good teacher. He explains things well.

have things in hand

(See have it in hand)

hold the purse strings

control how much is spent, decide when to spend He does the talking, but she holds the purse strings.

hurt my feelings

make me feel sad, offend me You hurt my feelings when you said I waddle like a duck.

it ain't over till the fat lady sings

an event is not finished until the final bell, don't give up The tying goal was scored in the final second. It ain't over till the fat lady sings!

makings of

(See the makings of)

mixed feelings

"feeling both positive and negative, happy and sad; bittersweet" I have mixed feelings. I'm happy about the new job, but sad about leaving my friends.

no hard feelings

no feelings of anger or resentment, no grudges Dad and Paul argue about politics but there are no hard feelings.

one of those things

something is unfortunate but must be accepted Her sudden illness is one of those things and there is nothing we can do about it.

patch things up

agree to stop fighting, become friends again Jon and May fight a lot, but they patch things up and go on.

play on my heart strings

cause me to feel emotional, make me feel sentimental The movie Hey Jude will play on your heart strings - make you cry.

pull a few strings

help by talking to powerful people, it's not what you know... My application was late, but a friend of mine pulled a few strings and got me an interview.

pull strings

secretly use influence and power He was able to pull some strings and get his son a job for the summer.

put things in perspective

see things as they are, see the actual size A few days after the flood, I was able to put things in perspective.

see the world (things) through rose-colored glasse

see only the good things about something, be too optimistic She is a little unrealistic and tends to see the world through rose-colored glasses.

see things

imagine sights that are not real, think one sees what is not there He is always daydreaming and imagining that he is seeing things.

seeing things

imagine that you see things, hallucinate If John said there's a ghost in the house, he must be seeing things.

strings attached

obligations, restraining conditions He was able to borrow the money for the furniture with no strings attached.

the makings of

the potential to become, the ability to develop Look at Debi dance. She has the makings of a ballerina.

things are looking up

we are feeling positive, life is better Now that Vic has a job, things are looking up. We feel positive.

tied to your mother's apron strings

still dependent on mom, needing your mom's help He has to ask his mother. He's still tied to her apron strings.

with wings

to take out, to take with you, to go """Can I take your order?"" ""I'll have a Big Mac, a large fries and a Coke - with wings."""

work things out

discuss a problem and find a solution, work it out Maria and Paulo had a fight, but they worked things out.

bee stings

derogatory term for small breasts

catch feelings

to get an attitude;"Just because she was talking to your boo, don't go catchin' feelings"

them things

a marijuana cigarette

have two strings to one's bow

have an alternative or choice有两手准备
You've made sure in both directions．It's always good to have two strings to one's bow．你已经在两个方面都落实了。有两手准备总是好的。

run circle around rings around

show that one can do a task much better than；do better than sb．very easily轻而易举做某事；举手之劳
Frank ran rings around the other boys on the basketball team．在篮球队中法兰克的球技远远超过其他队友。

run circle around/run rings around

run circle run rings around

with no strings attached

Idiom(s): with no strings attached AND without any strings attached

Theme: UNCONDITIONALLY

unconditionally; with no obligations attached.
• My parents gave me a computer without any strings attached.
• I want this only if there are no strings attached.

wash a few things out

Idiom(s): wash a few things out

Theme: CLOTHING - LAUNDRY

to do a little bit of laundry, such as socks and underclothing.
• I'm sorry I can't go out tonight. I've got to wash a few things out.
• I'll be ready to leave in just a minute. I've just got to wash out a few things.

waiting in the wings

Idiom(s): waiting in the wings

Theme: PREPARATION - READY

ready or prepared to do something, especially to take over someone else's job or position. (From waiting at the side of the stage to go on.)
• Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings.
• Jane was waiting in the wings, hoping that a member of the hockey team would drop out and she would get a place on the team.

try one's wings

Idiom(s): try (out) one's wings

Theme: TRYING

to try to do something one has recently become qualified to do. (Like a young bird uses its wings to try to fly.)
• John just got his driver's license and wants to borrow the car to try out his wings.
• I learned to skin-dive, and I want to go to the seaside to try my wings.
• She was eager to try out her wings.

tied to one's mother's apron strings

Idiom(s): tied to one's mother's apron strings

Theme: CONTROL

dominated by one's mother; dependent on one's mother.
• Tom is still tied to his mother's apron strings.
• Isn't he a little old to be tied to his mother's apron strings?

tell things apart

Idiom(s): tell things apart

Theme: IDENTIFICATION

to distinguish one thing or a group of things from another thing or group of things.
• This one is gold, and the others are brass. Can you tell them apart?
• Without their labels, I can't tell them apart.

take sb under one's wings

Idiom(s): take sb under one's wing(s)

Theme: MANAGE

to take over and care for a person.
• John wasn't doing well in geometry until the teacher took him under her wing.
• I took the new workers under my wings, and they learned the job in no time.

sweet nothings

Idiom(s): sweet nothings

Theme: FONDNESS

affectionate but unimportant or meaningless words spoken to a loved one.
• Jack was whispering sweet nothings in Joan's ear when they were dancing.
• The two lovers sat in the cinema exchanging sweet nothings.

strike a balance between two things

Idiom(s): strike a balance (between two things)

Theme: COMPROMISE

to find a satisfactory compromise between two extremes.
• The political party must strike a balance between the right wing and the left wing.
• Jane is overdressed for the party and Sally is undepressed. What a pity they didn't strike a balance.

out of the swim of things

Idiom(s): out of the swim of things

Theme: INVOLVEMENT - LACKING

not in the middle of activity; not involved in things. (Informal.)
• While I had my cold, I was out of the swim of things.
• I've been out of the swim of things for a few weeks. Please bring me up to date.

other things being equal

Idiom(s): other things being equal

Theme: EQUAL

if things stay the way they are now; if there were no complications by other factors.
• Other things being equal, we should have no trouble getting your order to you on time.
• I anticipate no problems, other things being equal.

of all things

Idiom(s): of all things

Theme: SURPRISE

Can you imagine?; Imagine that! (Folksy.)
• She wore jeans to the dance. Of all things!
• Billy, stop eating the houseplant! Of all things!

make a laughingstock of oneself or

Idiom(s): make a laughingstock of oneself or something AND make oneself or sth a laughingstock

Theme: RIDICULE

to make oneself a source of ridicule or laughter; to do something that invites ridicule.
• Laura made herself a laughingstock by arriving at the fast-food restaurant in full evening dress.
• The board of directors made the company a laughingstock by hiring an exconvict as president.

let things slide

Idiom(s): let things slide

Theme: NEGLECT

to ignore the things that one is supposed to do; to fall behind in the doing of one's work.
• I am afraid that I have let things slide while I was recovering from my operation.
• If I let things slide for even one day, I get hopelessly behind in my work.

just one of those things

Idiom(s): just one of those things

Theme: PREVENTION - FAILURE

something that couldn't have been prevented; something caused by fate.
• I'm sorry, too. It's not your fault. It's just one of those things.
• I feel terrible that I didn't pass the bar exam. I guess it was just one of those things.

More Idioms/Phrases

keep abreast just one of those things just in case jumping-off point jump out of one's skin

English Vocalbulary

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