PHRASES AND IDIOMS for IELTS
Catch-22: A difficult situation from which there is no escape because options for avoiding it involve contradictions.
Sentence – The company’s cost-reduction plan is a Catch-22—they need to lay off half the staff to keep the company open, but with so few people, we won’t be able to complete all the work that’s needed to earn enough revenue.
Cat’s Paw: A person being used by someone else, a tool
Sentence – I thought that Jake really loved me, but in the end, I was just a cat’s-paw so he could stir up jealousy in his ex-boyfriend.
Caught Red-Handed: Apprehended while committing a crime.
Sentence – The police caught the robbers red-handed as they ransacked another house.
Circle the Wagons: To prepare as a group to defend against attack, adopt a defensive posture.
Sentence – I’m not questioning your decision, so don’t circle the wagons—I’m just looking for some more information.
Claim to Fame: Unusual feature or offering.
Sentence – His main claim to fame was that he made the Chiquita guitar that Billy Gibbons endorsed about ten, fifteen years ago.
Clean Up Nicely: Look good when one is dressed up. Usually said of women.
Sentence – All I said was that she cleans up nicely, and she got mad at me!
Clear the Air: Defuse tension, be honest about conflict so as to reduce it.
Sentence – The silent treatment isn’t helping the situation between you two, so just clear the air already.
Clip Someone’s Wings: Reduce someone’s privileges or freedom.
Sentence – The kids need to be able to explore the world around them—don’t clip their wings.
Close, But No Cigar: You are very close but not quite correct.
Sentence – The team captain shoots the puck at the wide-open net, but it bounces off the post! Close, but no cigar!
Cock and Bull Story: A far-fetched story, probably untrue.
Sentence – When I questioned Wendy about her recent tardiness, she gave me some cock-and-bull story about how her train took the wrong track and she had to hitchhike to work from the station across town.
Cock-A-Hoop: Elated, excited.
Sentence – We see clearly, a company is cock-a-hoop when suitable condition, but come up against truly cannot when the challenge of exceed, meet immediately all the way coast.
Cold Day in Hell: A condition for something that would be extremely unlikely to occur.
Sentence – She said that it would be a cold day in hell before she befriended the former jailbird.
Come By Something Honestly: Acquire something honestly, or inherit it.
Sentence – Don’t worry. I came by this Swiss watch honestly. I have a feeling she didn’t come by it honestly.
Come Clean: To confess; to admit to wrongdoing.
Sentence – We have to come clean with the police before Joe gets punished for our crime!
Come Hell or High Water: No matter what happens.
Sentence – I don’t care if I have to drive through a blizzard—we are getting to this wedding come hell or high water!
Come Out in the Wash: To be resolved with no lasting negative effect.
Sentence – Whatever the mayor is trying to cover up will all come out in the wash.
Come Out of the Closet: Reveal a secret about oneself, usually that one is gay (homosexual).
Sentence – After months of tabloid speculation, the young starlet has finally come out of the closet and confirmed her divorce.
Come Out Swinging: Respond to something very aggressively.
Sentence – After hearing so much opposition to his proposed construction project, the developer came out swinging at the town hall meeting.
