PHRASES AND IDIOMS for IELTS
Call It a Night: End an evening’s activities and go home.
Sentence – I’m too tired to keep looking at these numbers, so let’s call it a night.
Call the Shots: Make the important decisions in an organization.
Sentence – Mom calls the shots for Thanksgiving dinner, so you better get her approval for any dish you want to bring.
Call the Tune: Making important decisions and controlling a situation.
Sentence – Mom calls the tune for Thanksgiving dinner, so you better get her approval for any dish you want to bring.
Can’t See the Forest for the Trees: Is unable to maintain a wider perspective.
Sentence – The way he’s obsessing over one doorknob when we’re renovating the entire house makes me think that he can’t see the forest for the trees.
Carrot-and-Stick (Approach): A tactic in which rewards are offered, but there is also the threat of punishment.
Sentence – Companies are slowly learning that the carrot-and-stick approach to management is ineffective—employees are much more motivated to do a better job when they are recognized for their hard work.
Carry a Torch (for): To continue to be in love with someone even after a relationship has ended.
Sentence – I’ve carried a torch for her since high school, but I’ve never been able to tell her how I feel.
Carry Coals To Newcastle: Supply something that is unneeded; engage in useless labor.
Sentence – We definitely don’t need to bring any toys when we go over their house—they have so many that bringing more would be like carrying coals to Newcastle.
Carry the Can: To take the blame for something one did not do.
Sentence – My partner had been cooking the books for years, but because I was the CEO, I had to carry the can for our company’s collapse.
Cash In One’s Chips: 1. To take advantage of a quick profit 2. To die
Sentence – I think I’m going to quit while I’m ahead and cash in my chips.
Cash-Strapped: In need of money.
Sentence – The cash-strapped Hammers will sell the ￡600,000 signing from Luton in October 1990, as long as the price is right.
Cast the First Stone: To be the first to criticize or attack someone.
Sentence – Although Adam saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone.
Castle in the Air: An impractical plan.
Sentence – That, says McKinsey, is because they spend money where it is needed rather than on grand castles in the air.
Cat Fight: A fight between two women.
Sentence – She had a catfight with Tracy who doubted Tom’s innocence over Leah.
Cat Fight: A fight between two women.
Sentence – She had a catfight with Tracy who doubted Tom’s innocence over Leah.
Cat on a hot tin roof: Be extremely nervous.
Sentence – Her many outstanding cinematic performances, including the role of Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, above, made her a certifiable American icon.
Cat-and-Mouse (adj.): In a toying way; playful in an unpleasant way.
Sentence – Detectives arrested the suspect at his home in Toxteth after a lengthy cat-and-mouse game involving surveillance experts.
Catch One’s Death of Cold: To become very ill (with a cold/flu etc.)
Sentence – You’ll catch your death of cold if you leave the house with wet hair—it’s freezing outside!
Catch Some Rays: To sit or lie outside in the sun.
Sentence – I love lying on the beach and catching some rays.
Catch Someone’s Eye: Attract someone’s attention.
Sentence – The server still hasn’t taken our order—we just can’t catch her eye.
