Ace in the hole
Defenition: an advantage that is save until needed
Usage: informal, conversational
Sample dialogue:
A:Coach, why am I not in the game?
B: I need you to stay here for a little longer.
A: Oh... come on. I can play now.
B: Just wait. I need to put you in the last quarter. You're my ace on the hole. We can win the game if we wait till the last quarter.
Samlpe: If we save the best till the end, we have an ace in the hole so that we can win.
Usage: informal, conversational
Sample dialogue:
A:Coach, why am I not in the game?
B: I need you to stay here for a little longer.
A: Oh... come on. I can play now.
B: Just wait. I need to put you in the last quarter. You're my ace on the hole. We can win the game if we wait till the last quarter.
Samlpe: If we save the best till the end, we have an ace in the hole so that we can win.
A quick study
Defenition: a peron who learns quickly and easily
Usage: Informal, conversational
Samlpe dialogue:
A: How long has Rachel been playing piano?
B: Only for a year.
A: Really? She plays beautiful.
B: Yes. She's a quick study.
Samle: She is a quick study since. They started to learn guitar yesterday and she can already play very difficult songs.
Usage: Informal, conversational
Samlpe dialogue:
A: How long has Rachel been playing piano?
B: Only for a year.
A: Really? She plays beautiful.
B: Yes. She's a quick study.
Samle: She is a quick study since. They started to learn guitar yesterday and she can already play very difficult songs.
Add fuel to the fire
Definition: to make a problem worse
Usage: conversational, informal
Samlpe dialogue:
A: Steve, just leave Mary alone when she's angry.
B: I'm only trying to help.
A: But you're not. You're aggravating her
B: I am not trying to...
A: You're not helping. You're just adding fuel to the fire.
Sample: Please don't add fuel to the fire, you're just getting it harder to work it out.
Usage: conversational, informal
Samlpe dialogue:
A: Steve, just leave Mary alone when she's angry.
B: I'm only trying to help.
A: But you're not. You're aggravating her
B: I am not trying to...
A: You're not helping. You're just adding fuel to the fire.
Sample: Please don't add fuel to the fire, you're just getting it harder to work it out.
Add insult to injury
Definition: to mke a bad situation worse
Usage: informal, conversational
Samlpe dialogue:
A: Jim, you're all wet. What happened?
B: I'm not having a good day at all.
A: Then tell me what went wrong.
B: Well, first my car broke down. Then I was late to my meeting, and to dd insult to injury, it started to rain.
Samlpe: To abb insult to injury, our teacher gave us homework even though we had a test next day.
Usage: informal, conversational
Samlpe dialogue:
A: Jim, you're all wet. What happened?
B: I'm not having a good day at all.
A: Then tell me what went wrong.
B: Well, first my car broke down. Then I was late to my meeting, and to dd insult to injury, it started to rain.
Samlpe: To abb insult to injury, our teacher gave us homework even though we had a test next day.
As sick as a dog
Defenition: to be very ill
Usage: conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Scott's been out of school all week.
B: What's the matter with him?
A: I don't know but he can't even get out of bed.
B: Wow, sounds like he's as sick as a dog.
Samlpe: If you are as sick as a dog, you have a good reason for staying home this week.
Usage: conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Scott's been out of school all week.
B: What's the matter with him?
A: I don't know but he can't even get out of bed.
B: Wow, sounds like he's as sick as a dog.
Samlpe: If you are as sick as a dog, you have a good reason for staying home this week.