ack イディオム
a black mark
a mark beside your name means you are bad If you cause an accident, you get a black mark beside your name.
a blackout (TV)
refusal to broadcast an event during that event A blackout is intended to encourage fans to attend an event.
a blackout (war)
a policy that requires lights to be turned off Blackouts prevented bombers from seeing their targets at night.
a pack of lies
many lies, no truth to it What Gail is saying about Julie is a pack of lies. It's not true.
a sack of hammers
a dead weight, a heavy object Don't throw me in the lake! I'll sink like a sack of hammers!
a sad sack
well-meaning, but unable to accomplish """If you assign this task to Andy, it won't be done. He's a sad sack."""
all it's cracked up to be
as good as the ads say, live up to the reports The new computer isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's not so hot.
all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
do not work too long, take time for recreation, take time to smell... When I picked up my overtime cheque, Karen reminded me that All work and no play... .
at the crack of dawn
at the first sign of light, at first light At the crack of dawn he would rise, wash and go for a walk.
back at it
having returned to a past habit or occupation, at it again """I was so glad to hear George quit drinking."" ""Well, he's back at it."""
back down
yield, not challenge, not stand up to Ole won't back down from you. He's ready to fight.
back off
do not come closer, do not touch me Back off, you animal! Don't touch me!
back on one
return to good financial or physical health He is finally back on his feet after his company went out of business.
back on one's feet
physically healthy again My mother is back on her feet again after being sick with the flu for two weeks.
back on your feet
feeling better, recovered from an illness When you're back on your feet, we want you to return to work.
back out
decide not to do it, change your mind If you sign your name, you can't back out. You have to pay.
back teeth are floating
have to urinate, need to pee Please watch for a rest room. My back teeth are floating.
back to square one
back to where one started We were forced to go back to square one in our efforts to change the name of the company.
back to the drawing board
go back to start a project or idea from the beginning The boss doesn
back to the grind
return to the job, go back to work After New Year's, it's back to the grind - the old routine.
back to the salt mines
back to work, humorous expression to express going back to unpleasant work Well, lunch is over so let
back-up
saving information on a computer disk Don't forget to make a back-up disk of all your computer files.
back you
support your decision, sign your application His brother will back him if he needs financing.
back yourself into a corner
put yourself in a bad position, have no escape If you buy what you can't afford you back yourself into a corner.
backpack (business)
support, be the parent company First, GM backpacked Saab. Then they bought the company.
backside
buttocks, bum, buns When I was learning to skate, I fell a lot. My backside was sore!
behind your back
where you cannot see, when you are not here He says nice things to you, but criticizes you behind your back.
bend over backwards
do anything to help, try to please, go the extra mile They'll bend over backwards to find a room for you. They give excellent service.
bend over backwards to do something
try very hard If I can, I will bend over backwards to help you get a promotion in the company.
black and white
thinking of everything or judging everything as either good or bad He tries to see everything in black and white although he knows this is impossible.
black eye
an eye injury that causes the skin to turn black """How'd you get the black eye?"" ""Fighting - in a hockey game."""
Black Friday
the day the stock market crashed (failed) in 1929 In the 1980s, there were days to remind us of Black Friday.
black-listed
excluded, not be invited, not allowed to join Gore was black-listed because he led the demonstration.
black mark
(See a black mark)
black out
remove the nameplate and trim from a vehicle James Dean drove a blacked-out Merc in Rebel Without A Cause.
black sheep
the bad one, the one who does bad things He's the black sheep in that family - always in trouble.
black sheep (of the family)
a person who is a disgrace to a family or group The man is the black sheep in his family and is the only member who has not made a success of his life.
blackout
(See a blackout)
blow your lid/stack/top
become very angry, shout, lose your cool Don't blow your stack in front of the kids. It's a bad example.
bounce back
recover from failure or sickness, try again Lana has the flu, but she bounces back quickly.
boys in the backroom
a group of men making decisions behind the scenes The boys in the backroom told us that we must close down the factory as soon as possible.
bushwhack
stop you and rob you, jump, mugged When he stopped to camp by the stream, two guys bushwhacked him - stole his money and horse.
cackleberries
eggs, chicken eggs Look! This hen laid five cackleberries!
come back to haunt you
cause you to feel guilty or ashamed Lies will come back to haunt you, remind you of the past.
crack a book
study, read a textbook Sean passed that exam without cracking a book.
crack a joke
tell a joke, say a funny word or phrase Please be serious. Don't crack jokes or laugh at us.
crack down on
stop, not permit, not allow The police began to crack down on speeders in the school zones.
crack me up
make me laugh hard, split a gut Robin Williams cracks me up when he tells a story.
crack of dawn
(See at the crack of dawn)
crack shot/salesman etc.
a person who is highly skilled at shooting etc. Marvin has developed into a crack salesman. He's excellent.
