rai 관용구
a fraidy cat
a child who is afraid to jump etc., chicken """Ian's a fraidy cat!"" the boys shouted. ""Ian's afraid to jump!"""
a grain of salt
(See take it with a grain of salt)
a grain of truth
a bit of truth, take it with a grain... There's not a grain of truth in what Brian says. It's all untrue.
a paper trail
a series of memos or letters that record events A business merger leaves a long paper trail - many documents.
afraid so
"sorry, but it is true; believe me, yeppers" """Did he spend all of our money?"" ""Yes, 'fraid so."""
against the grain
against the natural way, rub the wrong way Some words go against the grain. Their spellings aren't natural.
as right as rain
(See right as rain)
beat one's brains out
try very hard to understand or do something.
birdbrain
a person with a tiny brain, dumbo Hey, birdbrain. Why are you throwing money in the river?
brain
(See what a brain)
brain drain
emigration of intelligent people If Canada's best professors move away, it's called a brain drain.
brain is fried
brain is very tired or ruined by drug abuse After writing six exams, my brain was fried - too much studying!
brain storm
think of ideas together, think tank Our family decided to brain storm the problem of wasting food.
brain traffic
thoughts and information moving through the brain I wish I could turn off my mind when brain traffic is too heavy.
catch a plane/bus/train
go to the airport and get on the plane After the meeting, you can catch the plane to Toronto.
chasing rainbows
trying to achieve an impossible goal Many young actors are chasing rainbows - hoping for fame.
crack under the strain
become irrational or hysterical due to strain, around the bend Mother was a strong person. She never cracked under the strain of raising ten children.
down the drain
wasted or lost He is just throwing money down the drain when he goes to the horse races.
drain the swamp
remove what prevents a clear view of the problem If I were manager, my first step would be to drain the swamp.
fraidy-cat
someone who is easily frightened (used by children) The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn
get it straight
understand it, catch on, figure out She doesn't know the difference between boys and girls. I hope she soon gets it straight.
get this straight
understand what is said, get the picture Let me get this straight. You say there's a moose in your bathtub?
give it to me straight
give me the facts, do not beat around the bush """I have some bad news, man."" ""Tell me. Give it to me straight."""
go against the grain
oppose the natural way, do it the hard way Moe has always been perverse - always going against the grain.
go straight
change from a criminal to a law-abiding citizen When he's released from prison he plans to go straight.
grain belt
a region or area that produces cereal crops The grain belt got very little rain this year. The land is dry.
grain of salt
(See take it with a grain of salt)
gravy train
a job or work that pays more than it is worth For many years his job was a real gravy train but now the company has become very strict and will not pay overtime.
hairbrain
not sensible, irrational, crazy, kooky Eric is talking about a hairbrain plan to train ants as employees.
hit the road/trail
travel, leave Let's hit the road early. We have many miles to go.
hot on the trail
following the trail, looking for evidence The police are hot on the trail of the bank robbers.
I'm afraid so
(See afraid so)
in dire straits
in debt, having no money If we don't get a good crop this year, we'll be in dire straits.
it's raining/snowing
the weather is rainy or snowy Whenever we visit Vancouver, it's raining.
keep a straight face
not smile or laugh, have a a poker face When you said I was your uncle, I couldn't keep a straight face.
keep them straight
know the difference, be able to identify them Mo, you have so many relatives. How do you keep them straight?
lift/raise a finger
do something, do one's share, help Her daughter will never lift a finger to help anyone.
lose my train of thought
forget my order of thoughts or words Don't interrupt me because I may lose my train of thought.
more money than brains
rich but not intelligent, money to burn, moneybags He bought a house but didn't use it, rent it or sell it. He has more money than brains!
on the rails
operating smoothly, on track Troy helped me get back on the rails when I was depressed.
over the rainbow
eccentric, weird, a bit off, spinny Aunt Freda? She's been over the rainbow for years, poor lady.
pick the brains of
get ideas or information about something by asking an expert We picked the brains of the official who was sent to talk about the pollution problem.
pick up a trail/scent
recognize the trail of a hunted person or animal The tracking dogs were able to pick up the trail of the criminal easily.
pick your brains
learn what you know, ask you questions Maria wants to pick your brains about Freud and Jung.
popcorn brain
one who has not learned to think, an airhead When I forgot my phone number they called me popcorn brain.
prairie oyster
the testicle of a young bull or bull calf Do you believe that some folks in Alberta eat prairie oysters?
praise him to the skies
praise him a lot, sing his praises Wade is an excellent student. His teachers praise him to the skies.
rack my brain
think hard, try to remember I've racked my brain, but I can't remember where I saw that man.
railroad
push a plan, force a person No, I didn't want to resign. I was railroaded into it!
rain cats and dogs
rain very hard It has been raining cats and dogs all day.
à grands frais ad. 큰 돈을 들여, 큰 희생을 치르고