PELATIHAN BAHASA INGGRIS: IDIOMS AND PHRASES (Q-T)

Quarrel with bread and butter: Bread and butter, here, indicate the means of one’s living. (That is why we say ‘he is the bread winner of the family’). If a sub-ordinate in an organisation is quarrelsome or if he is not patient enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarrelled with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and lost his job.
Quart into a pint pot: (UK) If you try to put or get a quart into a pint pot, you try to put too much in a small space. (1 quart = 2 pints)
Queen bee: The queen bee is a woman who holds the most important position in a place.
Queen of Hearts: A woman who is pre-eminent in her area is a Queen of Hearts.
Queer fish: (UK) A strange person is a queer fish.
Queer Street: If someone is in a lot of trouble, especially financial, they are in Queer Street.
Queer your pitch: If someone queers your pitch, they interfere in your affairs and spoil things.
Question of time: If something's a question of time, it's certain to happen, though we don't know exactly when.
Queue jumping: Someone who goes to the front of a queue instead of waiting is jumping the queue.
Quick as a flash: If something happens quick as a flash, it happens very fast indeed.
Quick buck: If you make some money easily, you make a quick buck.
Quick fix: A quick fix is an easy solution, especially one that will not last.
Quick off the mark: If someone is quick off the mark, they are very quick to use, start or do something new.
Quick on the trigger: Someone who is quick on the trigger acts or responds quickly.
Quids in: (UK) If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.
Quiet as a cat: If somebody is as quiet as a cat they make as little noise as possible and try to be unnoticeable.
Quiet as a mouse: If someone's as quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no noise.
Quiet before the Storm: When you know that something is about to go horribly wrong, but hasn't just yet, then you are in the quiet before the storm.
Quitters never win; winners never quit: If you quit you will never get what you want, but if you keep trying you will find a way to get what you want. ('Quitters never win, winners never quit, but those who never win and never quit are idiots' is a variation accredited to Larry Kersten)
Rack and ruin: If something or someone goes to rack and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked.
Rack your brain: If you rack your brain, you think very hard when trying to remember something. ('Rack your brains' is an alternative.)
Ragged blue line: (USA) This term was used to signify the Union forces (who wore blue uniforms) in the American Civil war .
Rags to riches: Someone who starts life very poor and becomes rich goes from rags to riches.
Rain on your parade: If someone rains on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or your plans.
Raining cats and dogs: When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.
Rainy day: If you save something, especially money, for a rainy day, you save it for some possible problem or trouble in the future.
Raise Cain: (USA) If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.
Raise eyebrows: If something raises eyebrows, it shocks or surprises people.
Rake over old coals: (UK) If you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.
Rake someone over the coals: (USA) If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.
Rank and file: The rank and file are the ordinary members of a company, organisation, etc, excluding the managers and directors.
Rat race: The rat race is the ruthless, competitive struggle for success in work, etc.
Rather you than me: Rather you than me is an expression used when someone has something unpleasant or arduous to do. It is meant in a good natured way of expressing both sympathy and having a bit of a laugh at their expense.
Raw deal: If you get a raw deal, you are treated unfairly.
Read between the lines: If you read between the lines, you find the real message in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interpretation of the words.
Read from the same page: When people are reading from the same page, they say the same things in public about an issue.
Read someone the riot act: If you read someone the riot act, you give them a clear warning that if they don't stop doing something, they will be in serious trouble.
Real deal: If something is the real deal, it is genuine and good.
Real McCoy: Something that's the real McCoy is the genuine article, not a fake.
Real plum: A real plum is a good opportunity.
Real trouper: A real trouper is someone who will fight for what they believe in and doesn't give up easily. (People often use 'Real trooper' as the two words sound the same.)
Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic: (UK) If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble.
Recharge your batteries: If you recharge your batteries, you do something to regain your energy after working hard for a long time.
Recipe for disaster: A recipe for disaster is a mixture of people and events that could only possibly result in trouble.
Red carpet: If you give someone the red-carpet treatment, you give them a special welcome to show that you think they are important. You can roll out the red carpet, too.
Red herring: If something is a distraction from the real issues, it is a red herring.
Red letter day: A red letter day is a one of good luck, when something special happens to you.
Red light district: The red light district is the area of a town or city where there is prostitution, sex shops, etc.
Red mist: If someone sees red or the red mist, they lose their temper and self-control completely.
Red rag to a bull: If something is a red rag to a bull, it is something that will inevitably make somebody angry or cross.
Red tape: This is a negative term for the official paperwork and bureaucracy that we have to deal with.
Reds under the bed: An ironic allusion to the obsession some people have that there are reds (communists) everywhere plotting violent revolution.
Reduce to ashes: If something is reduced to ashes, it is destroyed or made useless. His infidelities reduced their relationship to ashes.
Reinvent the wheel: If someone reinvents the wheel, they waste their time doing something that has already been done by other people, when they could be doing something more worthwhile.
Renaissance man: A Renaissance man is a person who is talented in a number of different areas, especially when their talents include both the sciences and the arts.
Rest is gravy: (USA) If the rest is gravy, it is easy and straightforward once you have reached that stage.
Rest on your laurels: If someone rests on their laurels, they rely on their past achievements, rather than trying to achieve things now.
Revenge is sweet: When you are happy to be proved right, then you know that revenge is sweet.
Rewrite history: If you rewrite history, you change your version of past events so as to make yourself look better than you would if the truth was told.
Rhyme or reason: If something is without rhyme or reason, it is unreasonable. ('Beyond rhyme or reason' is an alternative.)
Rib tickler: A rib tickler is a story or joke that will make you laugh a lot. Alternately, a joke might "tickle your ribs".
Rice missionary: A rice missionary gives food to hungry people as a way of converting them to Christianity.
Rich as Croesus: Someone who is as rich as Croesus is very wealthy indeed.
Rich man's family: A rich man's family consists of one son and one daughter.
Ride for a fall: If sxomeone is riding for a fall, they are taking great risks that are likely to end in a disaster.
Ride high: If someone is riding high, they are very successful at the moment.
Ride roughshod: If someone rides roughshod over other people, they impose their will without caring at all for other people's feelings.
Ride shotgun: If you ride shotgun, you protect or guard something when it is being transported.
Ride with the tide: If you ride with the tide, you accept the majority decision.

Sacred cow: Something that is a sacred cow is held in such respect that it cannot be criticised or attacked.
Safe and sound: If you arrive safe and sound, then nothing has harmed you on your way.
Safe as houses: Something that is as safe as houses is very secure or certain.
Safe bet: A proposition that is a safe bet doesn't have any risks attached.
Safe pair of hands: A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.
Safety in numbers: If a lot of people do something risky at the same time, the risk is reduced because there is safety in numbers.
Saigon moment: (USA) A Saigon moment is when people realise that something has gone wrong and that they will lose or fail.
Sail close to the wind: If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.
Sail under false colours: Someone who sails under false colours (colors) is hypocritical or pretends to be something they aren't in order to deceive people.
Salad days: Your salad days are an especially happy period of your life.
Salt in a wound: If you rub salt in a wound, you make someone feel bad about something that is already a painful experience. 'Pour salt on a wound' is an alternative form of the idiom.
Salt of the earth: People who are salt of the earth are decent, dependable and unpretentious.
Salty dog: A salty dog is an experienced sailor.
Same old, same old: When nothing changes, it's the same old, same old.
Save face: If someone saves face, they manage to protect their reputation.
Save someone's bacon: If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon.
Save your skin: If someone saves their skin, they manage to avoid getting into serious trouble.
Saved by the bell: If you are saved by the bell, you are rescued from a danger or a tricky situation just in time.
Saving grace: If someone has some character defects, but has a characteristic that compensate for their failings and shortcomings, this is their saving grace.
Say uncle: (USA) If you say uncle, you admit defeat. ('Cry uncle' is an alternative form.)
Say when: People say this when pouring a drink as a way of telling you to tell them when there's enough in your glass.
Say-so: If you do something on someone else's say-so, you do it on the authority, advice or recommendation.
Saying is one thing; doing is another: It's harder to do something than it is to say that you will do it.
Scales fall from your eyes: When the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly realise the truth about something.
Scare the daylights out of someone: If you scare the daylights out of someone, you terrify them. (This can be made even stronger by saying 'the living daylights'.)
Scarlet woman: This idiom is used as a pejorative term for a sexually promiscuous woman, especially an adulteress.
Scattered to the four winds: If something's scattered to the four winds, it goes out in all directions.
Scent blood: If you can scent blood, you feel that a rival is having difficulties and you are going to beat them.
Schoolyard pick: When people take it in turns to choose a member of a team, it is a schoolyard pick.
Scot free: If someone escapes scot free, they avoid payment or punishment. 'Scot' is an old word for a tax, so it originally referred to avoiding taxes, though now has a wider sense of not being punished for someone that you have done.
Scotch Mist: The phrase 'Scotch mist' is used humorously to refer to something that is hard to find or doesn't exist - something imagined.
Scraping the barrel: When all the best people, things or ideas and so on are used up and people try to make do with what they have left, they are scraping the barrel.
Scream blue murder: If someone shouts very loudly in anger, or fear, they scream blue murder.
Screw loose: If someone has a screw loose, they are crazy.
Screwed if you do, screwed if you don't: This means that no matter what you decide or do in a situation, there will be negative consequences.
Sea change: An expression that connotes big change; a significant change in comparison to a minor, trivial or insignificant change.
Sea legs: If you are getting your sea legs, it takes you a while to get used to something new.
Seamy side: The seamy side of something is the unpleasant or sordid aspect it has.
Searching question: A searching question goes straight to the heart of the subject matter, possibly requiring an answer with a degree of honesty that the other person finds uncomfortable.
Second thoughts: If some has second thoughts, they start to think that an idea, etc, is not as good as it sounded at first and are starting to have doubts.
Second wind: If you overcome tiredness and find new energy and enthusiasm, you have second wind.
See eye to eye: If people see eye to eye, they agree about everything.
See red: If someone sees red, they become very angry about something.
See the elephant: If you see the elephant, you experience much more than you wish to; it is often used when a soldier goes into a warzone for the first time.
See the light: When someone sees the light, they realise the truth.
See which way the cat jumps: (AU) If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing.
See you anon: (UK) If somebody says this when leaving, they expect to see you again soon.
See you later: A casual way of saying to friends I'll see you again, sometime, (without a definite date or time having been set) - this is often abbreviated to 'Later' or 'Laters' as an alternative way of saying goodbye.
See you on the big drum: A good night phrase to children.
Seed money: Seed money is money that is used to start a small business.

Tables are turned: When the tables are turned, the situation has changed giving the advantage to the party who had previously been at a disadvantage.
Tackle an issue: If you tackle an issue or problem, you resolve or deal with it.
Take a hike: This is a way of telling someone to get out.
Take a leaf out of someone's book: If you take a leaf out of someone's book, you copy something they do because it will help you.
Take a nosedive: When things take a nosedive, they decline very quickly and head towards disaster.
Take a punch: If somebody takes a blow, something bad happens to them.
Take a raincheck: If you take a rain check, you decline an offer now, suggesting you will accept it later. ('Raincheck' is also used.)
Take a straw poll: If you take a straw poll, you sound a number of people out to see their opinions on an issue or topic.
Take by storm: To take by storm means to captivate- eg. A new play that took New York City by storm.
Take by the scruff of the neck: If you take something by the scruff on the neck, you take complete control of it.
Take for a test drive: If you take something for a test driver, you try something to see if you like it.
Take for granted: If you take something for granted, you don't worry or think about it because you assume you will always have it. If you take someone for granted, you don't show your appreciation to them.
Take forty winks: If you take 40 winks, you have a short sleep.
Take guts: If something takes guts, it requires courage in the face of danger or great risk. It takes guts for firemen to enter a burning building to save someone.
Take it in your stride: If you take something in your stride, you deal with it even though it is difficult or unpleasant without letting it bother or upset you.
Take it on the chin: If you take something on the chin, something bad happens to you and you take it directly without fuss.
Take no prisoners: If people take no prisoners, they do things in a very aggressive way, without considering any harm they might do to achieve their objectives.
Take one for the team: To sacrifice oneself in some way for the good of the group.
Take sand to the beach: Doing something that is completely pointless or unnecessary is like taking sand to the beach.
Take someone down a peg: If someone is taken down a peg (or taken down a peg or two), they lose status in the eyes of others because of something they have done wrong or badly.
Take someone for a ride: If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived by someone.
Take someone to task: If you take someone to task, you scold them for something they have done wrong.
Take someone to the cleaners: If someone is taken to the cleaners, they are cheated, defrauded or lose a lot of money.
Take someone to the woodshed: If someone is taken to the woodshed, they are punished for something they have done.
Take someone under your wing: If you take someone under your wing, you look after them while they are learning something.
Take stock: To assess a situation, to conduct a personal inventory of ones beliefs and values, etc.
Take the biscuit: (UK) If something takes the biscuit, it is the absolute limit.
Take the bull by its horns: Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try to compete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tackles their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.
Take the cake: If something takes the cake, it is the best and takes the honours.
Take the chair: If you take the chair, your become the chairman or chairwoman of a committee, etc.
Take the edge off: To reduce the effect of something, usually something unpleasant.
Take the fall: If you tall the fall, you accept the blame and possibly the punishment for another's wrongdoing, with the implication that the true culprit, for political or other reasons, cannot be exposed as guilty (accompanied by a public suspicion that a reward of some sort may follow).
Take the fifth: (USA) If you do not want to answer a question you can take the fifth, meaning you are choosing not to answer. ('Plead the fifth' is also used.)
Take the flak: If you take the flak, you are strongly criticised for something.('Take flak' is also used.)
Take the floor: Start talking or giving a speech to a group
Take the heat: If you take the heat, you take the criticism or blame for something you didn't do, normally to protect the guilty person.
Take the Mickey: (UK) If you take the Mickey, you tease someone. ('Take the Mick' is also used.)
Take the plunge: If you take the plunge, you decide to do something or commit yourself even though you know there is an element of risk involved.
Take the rough with the smooth: People say that you have to take the rough with the smooth, meaning that you have to be prepared to accept the disadvantages as well of the advantages of something.
Take to your heels: If you take to your heels, you run away.
Take up the torch: If you take up the torch, you take on a challenge or responsibility, usually when someone else retires, or leaves an organisation, etc.
Take your breath away: If something takes your breath away, it astonishes or surprises you.
Take your eye off the ball: If someone takes their eye off the ball, they don't concentrate on something important that they should be looking at.
Take your hat off: If you say that you take your hat off to someone, you are showing your respect or admiration.
Take your hat off to somebody: If you take your hat off to someone, you acknowledge that they have done something exceptional or otherwise deserve your respect.
Take your medicine: If you take your medicine, you accept the consequences of something you have done wrong.
Taken as read: If something can be taken as read, it is so definite that it's not necessary to talk about it.
Tale of the tape: This idiom is used when comparing things, especially in sports; it comes from boxing where the fighters would be measured with a tape measure before a fight.
Talk a blue streak: (USA) If someone talks a blue streak, they speak quickly and at length. ('Talk up a blue streak' is also used.)
Talk a glass eye to sleep: Someone who could talk a glass eye to sleep is very boring and repetitive.

PELATIHAN BAHASA INGGRIS

Rabu, 15 Juni 2011

IDIOMS AND PHRASES (Q-T)

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