c Thành ngữ, tục ngữ
a bare-faced lie
a deliberate lie, a planned lie His statement to the police was false - a bare-faced lie.
a basket case
a person who is very nervous, in bad shape If Gloria has one more crisis, she'll be a basket case.
a bitch
a complaining woman, a woman who nags What a bitch! She complains to us and criticizes her kids.
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 bone to pick
something to argue about, a matter to discuss "Joe sounded angry when he said, ""I have a bone to pick with you."""
a brick
a dependable person, a friend who always helps Parveen helped me get through my divorce. She's a real brick!
a brick short
(See one brick short of a full load)
a bull in a China shop
"a big, reckless person in a room full of fragile things; cramp your style" Imagine a 300-pound football player at a tea party, and you have a bull in a China shop.
a bunch of malarkey
an untrue story, a lot of bunk, bull """Do you believe what the psychic said about your future?"" ""No. It's a bunch of malarkey."""
a card
(See such a card)
a case of
an example of, it's a case of Look at Bosnia. That's a case of ethnic civil war.
a caution
a bold or shocking person, no shrinking violet She is a caution! She told the judge he was all wrong.
a cheap drunk
a person who gets drunk on one or two drinks Jo admits she's a cheap drunk. Her limit is two drinks.
a checkup
a doctor's examination, a medical examination If you aren't feeling well, go to the doctor for a checkup.
a chicken in every pot
enough food for every family No one will be hungry if there's a chicken in every pot.
a chin wag
a conversation, a visit The grandmothers were talking happily - having a chin wag.
a chip off the old block
a boy who is like his dad, the apple doesn't... Eric is a chip off the old block. He's just like his dad.
a chunk of change
a large amount of money, a few grand, big bucks I bet that condo cost him a chunk o' change - 300 grand at least.
a cinch
something that's very easy to do.
a clean bill of health
a good report from the doctor, a good checkup You'll never get a clean bill of health if you eat fat meat!
a cliff-hanger
a game that is close until the end, a barnburner Every election in this town is a real cliff-hanger - a close race.
a close call
close to danger or an accident That was a close call. The train nearly hit the bus!
a close shave
very close to serious injury or death The old man described his fight with the bear as a close shave.
a clutch hitter (baseball)
a batter who hits when runners are on base Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with runners on base.
a common thread
an idea or theme that is similar to others There's a common thread in most of Berton's stories.
a contract out on
a contract that pays to have someone killed There's a contract out on Mike. The boss doesn't like him.
a coon's age
many years, a dog's age We haven't been out to the coast in a coon's age. It's been years.
a crash course
a short course that has the main facts and skills He took a crash course in cooking and bought a cafe.
a crush on
sudden feeling of love or romance Judy has a crush on Tim. See the way she looks at him.
a crying shame
a sad event, it is too bad It's a crying shame that they didn't have fire insurance.
a cut above
superior, better A scholar's work is a cut above. It's superior to the others.
a cut-up
a joker, a person who tells jokes and has fun When Marsha goes to a party she's a real cut-up - a lot of fun.
a drop in the bucket
a small part, a tiny piece, the tip of the iceberg This donation is only a drop in the bucket, but it is appreciated.
a far cry
not similar, very different This is good sherry, but it's a far cry from the amontillado.
a feather in your cap
an honor, a credit to you, chalk one up for you Because you are Karen's teacher, her award is a feather in your cap.
a few bricks short of a full load
not sensible or logical, not all there When Moe began eating bugs, we knew he was a few bricks short.
a fighting chance
a fair chance, a good chance If I can get a job interview, I'll have a fighting chance.
a fine-toothed comb
a careful search, a search for a detail She read the file carefully - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
a fleeting glance
a very brief look, a quick glance A fleeting glance from Marilyn would make his heart beat wildly.
a foregone conclusion
a certain conclusion, a predictable result That he'll graduate is a foregone conclusion. He is a good student.
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 full house (cards)
a pair plus three of a kind, e.g., 2 kings and 3 aces In our last game of poker, you dealt me a full house.
a ghost of a chance
a poor chance, not likely to happen That car doesn't have a ghost of a chance. It's too slow!
a grandfather clause
a written statement that protects a senior worker They can't demote him because he has a grandfather clause.
a horse of a different color
a different matter, a separate issue If he wants to buy the land, that's a horse of a different color.
a hot ticket
a popular item, a product that people want Anything with James Dean's picture on it is a hot ticket.
a hot topic
popular topic, the talk of the town Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a lick and a promise
a hasty plan, a promise made without much thought If you get married on a lick and a a promise, you may need a lot of good luck.
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