TIN Thành ngữ, tục ngữ
a fighting chance
a fair chance, a good chance If I can get a job interview, I'll have a fighting chance.
a fleeting glance
a very brief look, a quick glance A fleeting glance from Marilyn would make his heart beat wildly.
a sitting duck
an easy target, a person who is easy to deceive The old lady was a sitting duck for the salesman. It was an easy sale.
all over but the shouting
(See it's all over but the shouting)
back teeth are floating
have to urinate, need to pee Please watch for a rest room. My back teeth are floating.
collecting dust
not used for a long time, idle, gathering dust """Where's the silver tray?"" ""On the shelf, collecting dust."""
cutting edge
the latest technology, state of the art This picture is the cutting edge - the best in the TV industry.
darn tooting
that is true, I agree, darn right """They still talk about the winter of 1907, don't they, Helmer?"" ""Darn tootin'! It was a cold one!"""
fighting chance
(See a fighting chance)
fish and company stink after three days
fish should be eaten while it is fresh, and guests should not stay too long Grandfather had this sign on the wall of his garage: Fish and company stink after three days!
fleeting glance
(See a fleeting glance)
getting on in years
(See get on in years)
go like stink
go fast, accelerate quickly That Mustang goes like stink. It's a fast car.
handwriting on the wall
a sign that something bad will happen The handwriting is on the wall. Business conditions are bad so probably nobody will get a pay raise this year.
head-hunting
search for qualified individuals to fill certain positions The company has been head-hunting for many months in order to try and find a new president.
highfalutin
proud, pretentious We need a musician, not some highfalutin rock star!
hold a meeting
organize and conduct a meeting The club will hold a meeting on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
how are you getting along
are you able to do it? are you okay? how are you doing """How are you getting along at the new school, Gail?"" ""Fine. I like my subjects."""
in writing
written and signed, in black and white The company guarantees this pen for life. I have it in writing.
it's all over but the shouting
the contest is finished but the cheering continues """The Blue Jays won,"" he said. ""It's all over but the shouting."""
killer instinct
wanting to defeat the opponent Mel is a fine tennis player, but he lacks the killer instinct.
meeting of minds
mutual agreement, consensus We agreed to share the cost of the project. It was a meeting of minds.
moonlighting
working at a second job in the evening Bernie is very tired these days because he's moonlighting.
not on your tintype
no, never, not on your life "Mom said, ""You're not going to Vegas - not on your tintype!"""
on the cutting edge
(See the cutting edge)
putting me on
joking, fooling me, kidding me You won a Nobel Prize? You're putting me on!
putting on the ritz
dressing fancy or classy, doing things high class She's dining and dancing in Paris. She's putting on the ritz!
raise a stink
complain a lot, cause an argument or a bad scene Gunter raised a stink by accusing the chairman of stealing funds.
rip-snorting mad
very angry, violent The bull got rip-snorting mad when he missed the toreador.
round robin (meeting or discussion)
a meeting or discussion in which each person in a group takes part We had a round robin panel discussion on what we could do to help save the environment.
shitting bricks
very frightened, scared to death When my parachute didn't open, I was shitting bricks!
shooting fish in a barrel
a task that is too easy, a game without challenge We won 18-2. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.
shooting match
(See the whole shooting match)
shoplifting
stealing products from a store while you shop He's charged with shoplifting. He stole some cigarettes.
sitting duck
an unsuspecting person easily fooled - as if they are waiting to be attacked The woman was a sitting duck when she sat on the bench with her purse beside her.
sitting pretty
be in a favorable situation He is sitting pretty with his new job and lots of money.
spitting image
exact resemblance He is a spitting image of his father.
spitting mad
very angry, pissed off Mom was spitting mad when you ran across her flower garden.
spitting nails
very angry, very mad, hot, pissed Art was spitting nails when my dog scratched the paint on his car.
splitting headache
a severe headache I have been suffering from a splitting headache all morning.
stink
terrible, bad quality Do you like that new policy at your company? No, I think it stinks.
stink the joint out
play very poorly, perform badly In Chicago, we stunk the joint out, losing 7-1 to the Hawks.
take a beating
lose money My friend took a beating on the stock market and now he never has to work.
the cutting edge
the latest technology, state of the art Compact discs are no longer the cutting edge in recorded music.
the handwriting is on the wall
the message is clear, the conclusion is obvious I tell my students the handwriting is on the wall: learn how to learn.
the proof of the pudding is in the eating
do not judge until you test the finished product, do not jump to conclusions She drew a cartoon of a boy with a plum on his thumb. Then she wrote The proof of the pudding...
the spitting image
one who looks like someone, a dead ringer Patty is the spitting image of her mother - same face, same hair.
the whole shooting match
everything, every bit/piece/person Wagon, horses, load - the whole shootin' match disappeared.
time's a wasting
we are wasting time, we should be working Time's a wasting. Let's finish our work and then rest.
tin ear
unmusical ear, unable to appreciate music With my tin ear, I couldn't say if she was singing flat.
abalienate