Significado: a fly in the ointment

(Gíria) elemento difamador; tipo de inconveniência que tira a utilidade de algo; defeito, desvantagem

men Idioma

a bit off/a bit mental

not rational, unbalanced, one brick short Kate talks to the birds. Do you think she's a bit off?

a mental block

a problem with learning a subject or concept I have a mental block when I try to do algebra. I can't think.

a sucker for punishment

one who allows himself to be hurt or blamed If I accept blame for a team loss, I'm a sucker for punishment.

at a moment's notice

with little warning, on short notice We may call you at a moment's notice - whenever we need help.

cement hands

awkward hands, butter fingers "Joey can't type; he's got cement hands."

don't mention it

it was no trouble, no problem """Thanks for the ride,"" I said. ""Don't mention it,"" he replied."

fish for a compliment

hint that he wants a compliment If Al mentions cars, he's fishing for a compliment on his Jaguar.

fly in the ointment

a small thing that spoils enjoyment The problem with the music was a fly in the ointment at the party.

in agreement

believing or feeling the same things When we discuss Canadian unity, we're in agreement.

left-handed compliment

an ambiguous compliment interpreted as offensive He gave her a left-handed compliment when he said that her dyed hair looked nice.

make amends

apologize to someone you have hurt, make up for What can I do to make amends for opening her personal mail?

make mention

talk about, bring up No one made mention of his research - not one word!

mend fences

solve political problems, listen to voters Every summer the politicians go home and try to mend fences.

mend one

do something to make people like you after a fight, strengthen oneimprove one

mental block

(See a mental block)

moment of truth

(See the moment of truth)

on the mend

healing, becoming healthy again Jake's had open-heart surgery, but he's on the mend.

on the spur of the moment

immediately, impulsively On the spur of the moment we decided to drive to Banff.

out of his element

not trained, too deep for him He was out of his element when they began discussing DNA.

pay a compliment

say nice things about, say you did a good job Tony paid you a compliment, Rita. He said you have a lovely garden.

pound the pavement

look for a job He has been pounding the pavement for a few months now but still has not found a job.

pre-menstrual syndrome

emotional crises the week before menstruation, pms Judy says pms causes most of her personal problems.

round robin (tournament or contest)

game or contest in which each player or team plays every other player or team in turn The round robin tournament was held in order to choose the championship team for the city.

royal treatment

special hospitality, roll out the red carpet We received royal treatment when we visited our relatives in Sweden.

sit in judgement on

judge someone's actions, evaluate Gary is afraid because you sit in judgement on whatever he does.

the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray

plans are not guaranteed, plans sometimes do not work out "If this boat sinks, we'll say, ""The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray."""

the moment of truth

the time when you receive a very important message The moment of truth has arrived. My grades are in this envelope.

Black Panther movement

this movement was founded in Oakland, California by Huey P. Newton, H.R. Brown and Bobby Seale. Fought for the rights of black to bear arms like white people in the late 1960's and the early 1970's

decorate pavement

to vomit

government cheese

on welfare

Poly Apartments

an apartment project at the west side of Long Beach. Was home for artists like the Twinz and Warren G:"Poly Apartments for tha niggaz that ain't from the LB" -- The Twinz (Good Times [1995])

at the moment

1．at the present time； now此刻；目前（用于现在时态中）
I know the address well enough，but I can't think of it at the moment．我清楚地记得这个地址，可是这会儿怎么也想不起来了。
2．then那时；那一刻（用于过去时态中）
I was busy at the moment．我那时很忙。
I was willing to lend him the book，but I hadn't it with me at the moment．我是愿意借给他那本书的，可是当时书不在我手边。

comment on

express one's opinion about评论
They will ask the Prime Minister to comment on the new foreign policy of the government．他们将请首相阐述一下新的对外政策。
The teacher commented favourably upon his ability．老师对他的能力加以称赞。

comment on/upon

comment upon

detrimental to

harmful to；causing damage to 对…有害
Lack of sleep is detrimental to one's health．睡眠不足有害健康。
Overwork is detrimental to one's health．过度劳累对健康有害。
Your criticism could prove detrimental to his success．你的批评对他的成功可能不利。

for a moment

for a very short period of time一会儿；片刻
She hesitated for a moment and tears appeared in her eyes．她踌躇片刻，泪水从眼中涌了出来。
I did not lose my presence of mind for a moment．我一会儿也没有失去冷静。
Won't you come in for a moment？你不进来坐一会儿吗？
Not for a moment do I doubt that I'll pass the exam．我丝毫不怀疑我会通过这次考试。

for a moment/minute

in a moment

very soon；in an instant即刻；马上；立即
I'll finish the work in a moment．我马上就做完这件事。
He'll be over in a moment．他马上就来。

in a moment/minute

very soon；in an instant即刻；马上；立即
I'll finish the work in a moment．我马上就做完这件事。
He'll be over in a moment．他马上就来。

meet one's engagements

1．keep one's promise承诺（约言、契约）
He has met his engagements．他已履行了他的契约。
2．make payment付款
He has not enough money to meet his engagements．他没有足够的钱来偿清他的债务。

not to mention

without saying anything about更不必说
It's impossible for me to go to Green's party tonight．I've got to babysit for my sister，not to mention write a book report and prepare for an exam．今晚我不可能去参加格林的晚会了。我得照看我姐姐的小孩，更不用说写读书报告和准备考试了。

out of one's element

outside of one's natural surroundings在不适宜的环境里；不得其所
Wild animals are out of their element in cages．野生动物不习惯笼中生活。
I'm out of my element when people start talking about music．人们一谈起音乐，我就是外行了。

return the compliment

1．say or do the same to sb． that he has said or done to one回敬
Mary said：“I love your new hairdo．” and Julie returned the compliment with“what a pretty dress you're wearing，Mary．”玛丽说：“我喜欢你的新发型。”朱丽回答说：“玛丽，你穿的衣服好漂亮啊。”
2． Pay sb． back回报；报复
Henry hit Jerry on the head，and Jerry returned the compliment．亨利打了杰里头上一拳，杰里也对亨利报以一拳。
revenge oneself（up）on…（for）get even with…for为…而向…报仇
Hamlet revenged himself on his uncle，for his father's death．哈姆雷特向叔父报了杀父之仇。
He is sure to revenge himself on anyone who dares to bully or insult him．对胆敢欺负和侮辱他的人，他是一定要报复的。

to sb's disappointment

resulting in sb．'s disappointment 使某人失望
To her great disappointment，it rained on the day of the picnic．野餐那天下了雨，使她大失所望。

separate the men from the boys

Idiom(s): separate the men from the boys

Theme: SEPARATION

to separate the competent from those who are less competent.
• This is the kind of task that separates the men from the boys.
• This project requires a lot of thinking. It'll separate the men from the boys.

pay sb a compliment

Idiom(s): pay sb a compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to compliment someone.
• Sally thanked me for paying her a compliment.
• When Tom did his job well, I paid him a compliment.

pay sb a back-handed compliment

Idiom(s): pay someone a back-handed compliment AND pay someone a left-handed compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult.
• John said that he had never seen me looking better. I think he was paying me a left-handed compliment.
• I'd prefer that someone insulted me directly. I hate it when someone pays me a back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.

not for a moment

Idiom(s): not for a moment

Theme: NEGATION

not at all; not even for a short amount of time; never.
• I don't want you to leave. Not for a moment!
• I could not wish such a horrible punishment on anyone. Not for a moment!

mention in passing

Idiom(s): mention sb or sth in passing

Theme: COMMUNICATION - VERBAL

to mention someone or something casually; to mention someone or something while talking about someone or something else.
• He just happened to mention in passing that the mayor had resigned.
• John mentioned in passing that he was nearly eighty years old.

More Idioms/Phrases

millstone about one's neck milk of human kindness milestone in one's life might and main middle-of-the-road mess sth up mess sb up mention in passing mend one's ways mend one's fences melt in one's mouth meet the requirements meet one's Waterloo meet one's match meet one's end meet sb halfway

English Vocalbulary

a friend in need is a friend indeed A G a gay life a girl in every port a going plant a good deal a good name is better than good oil a great deal a great number of A.H. a-ha experience a hill of beans a house divided against itself a hundred percent a hundred to one chance a hungry man is an angry man A.I. a.k.a.