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Fifth edition
W M MO^

English Idioms

5

Contents
Introduction

9

1 Idioms in perspective

11

Growth and change in English vocabulary
Changing attitudes to language
12
Different aspects of the idiom
12
1 What is an idiom?
2 Kinds of idioms
Where and when to use idioms
13
2

Key words with idiomatic uses
Adjectives and adverbs
bad
big
dead
flat
good
hard
high

Nouns

26

end
26
line
27
29
matter
mind
29
31
point
thing
33
33
way
word
35
37
world
Miscellaneous

all
37
how
41
it (as subject)
it (as object)
that
49
there
51
too
53
what
55

14
22
hot
23
long
23
old
24
short
25
thick
25
thin

14
15
16
17
18
20
21

37

42
43

11

14

6

3 Idioms with nouns and adjectives
Noun phrases
58
e.g. a cog ill the machine, a drop in the ocean

Adjective + noun
63
e.g. a hitter pill, a close shave

4 Idiomatic pairs

79

Pairs ol adjectives
79
e.g. cut and dried, spick and span
Pairs of nouns
80
e.g. bits and pieces, wear and tear
Pairs of adverbs
82
e.g. more or less, far and wide
Pairs of verbs 83
c.g. chop and change, hit and miss

Identical pairs
85
e.g. bit by bit, through and through

5 Idioms with prepositions

86

e.g. above board, after afashion, in a scrape
above 86
of
93
across 86
off
93
after
86
on
94
against
86
out
97
at
86
over
98
behind
89
round
98
below
89
to
99
by
89
under
99
for
89
up
100
from
90
within
100
in
90

6 Phrasal verbs

101

e.g. act up, allowfor something, be into something,
call something off, make something up to someone

7 Verbal idioms

155

e.g. blow one's own trumpet, call a spade a spade,
come to grips with something, do a bunk

58

7

8 Idioms from special subjects

!8f>

Banking
186
Business
187
Buying and selling
187
I leahh, illness, death
189
Motoring
/9Ớ
Politics ami government
/9/
The Stock Exchange
/92
Telephoning
193
Travel
/97
Work and industrial relations
/97

9 Idioms with key words from special
categories /97
Animals

/97

Colours

203

black
blue
green

203
204
205

205
grey
red
205
white
206

Numbers, siz.e, measurement
number
207
one
207
two
209
three etc.
210
Parts of the body
arm
213
213
back
blood
214
215
bone
215
brain
chest
216
ear
216
elbow
216
217
eye
face
219
finger
220
foot, feet
221
222
hair

Time

size
inch
mile

207
212
212
212

213

hand
222
head
225
heart
226
heel
227
228
leg
neck
228
nose
229
shoulder
229
skin
230
toe
230
tongue
230
tooth, teeth
231

231

day
231
hour
233
minute
233

moment
233
night
234
time
234

8

10 Idioms with comparisons
Comparisons with as ... U.S
c.g. as bald as brass

Comparisons with like
c.g. ga like the wind

Index

243

238

237

237

Introduction
About this book
Since its first publication by Oxford University Press in 1909 English
Idioms has proved its usefulness through four editions. Titis new fifth
edition includes important changes which have taken place in the English
language in recent years. It is a modern, up-dated survey of idioms in wide
current use in Britain. It also includes a number of idioms of American
origin which have been adopted by British speakers. Idioms marked (US)
or (mainly US) arc not generally used in Britain. Idioms marked ((ÌB) are
used in British English only.

I ,evel
The book is intended primarily for advanced foreign learners of English,
but upper intermediate students should benefit too. Teachers of English
will also find it useful.

Organization
The book is divided into ten chapters. Each chapter deals with various key
words (e.g. high-frequency adjectives or nouns, numbers, colours) or with
a key structure (c.g. noun phrases, phrasal verbs, phrases with
prepositions). The contents of each chapter are arranged alphabetically for
easy reference. The contents list shows in detail where the various types of
idiom are to be found and a full index makes the book particularly userfriendly.

How to use the book
1'he book can be used as a reference book for finding out the meaning of
an idiom. More important, it can be used for systematic learning of groups
of idioms both in and out of the classroom. This is a unique feature of
English Idioms. Almost all idioms are accompanied by examples of typical
use. Where two examples are given they arc separated by this symbol □.
When looking for an idiom, sec if it contains one of the key words (c.g.
bad, end, all, black, two, arm, day, etc.). All the key words arc listed
separately in the contents list and arc indexed at the back of the book. If
the idiom contains two key words, e.g. the end of the line, you will find it
under the first key word, i.c. under end. If there is no key word in the
idiom, look at its structure. Eor example, a raw deal or a wet blanket arc

10

Introduction

listed under the structure.'hZ/rt'/nr + noun ill chapter 3; do someone Olli
of something, hit on something, put in for something are listed under
Phrasal verbs in chapter 6.

Use (li the stress mark(')
Most idioms are used ill speech just like any other phrase or sentence, i.e.
the word with the main stress is the last noun (not pronoun), verb (not
auxiliary), adjective or adverb. For example, in the idioms a rough ride,
take the biscuit and run for it, the words ride, biscuit and run are
stressed. Idioms which have an unusual or unpredictable stress are
marked with the stress mark(').

Use of/and ( )
The slant mark / is used to show alternative possibilities in idioms. For
example, break fresh new ground can be used in cither of the forms
break fresh ground, break new ground.

The brackets ( ) arc used to show optional words. For example, in (all) at
sea both the forms all at sea and at sea can be used.

Sometimes an idiom is given with both a slant and brackets. For example,
not (so too) bad means that any of the forms not bad, not so bad, not
too bad can be used.

Exercises
English Idioms: Exercises on Idioms, which is a revised edition of Idioms in
Practice (1982), contains exercises on all the types of idioms presented in
this reference volume. A second book of exercises, English Idioms: Exercises
on Phrasal Verbs, which deals very fully with phrasal verbs alone, is also
available. Both books may be used alongside English Idioms or on their
own.

//

1 Idioms in perspective
We often read the phrase 'language is a living thing', but most of US do not
Stop to think what it really means. I .iving things grow and change, so does
language. This chapter takes a look at how and why.
Since the general tendencies of present-day English arc towards inorc
idiomatic usage, it is important that this book on idioms should show the
learner how the language is developing. Idioms are not a separate part of
the language, which one can choose either to use or to omit; they form an
essential purl of the vocabulary of English. A description of how the
vocabulary of the language is growing and changing will help to place
idioms in perspective.

Growth and change in English vocabulary
The vocabulary of a language grows continually with new developments in
knowledge. New ideas need new labels to name them. Without new labels,
communication of these new ideas would be impossible. Many new words
come f rom the English of special subjects such as computer sciences,
sociology, advertising, politics and economics.
Computer technology has given birth to software, diskette, high-tech, on-line,
printout, modem, computer-literate, toformat, to interface, to logon, to mention
only a few. The technology of nuclear power has given US interesting noun
compounds such as meltdown or reactor spent-fuel riprocessing plant. From
economics we have wage-freeze, price-freeze, slag/lalion (sec also below).
The field of advertising has given US soft sell and hard sell (subtle and
aggressive sales techniques), hype (intensive, exaggerated sales promotion/
publicity/marketing) and the corresponding verb to hype.

Words which already exist can take on an additional meaning in a special
context. For example, the field of industrial relations has given new
meaning to the verbs to walk out, to lock out, to sit in, logo slow. The noun
f orms walk-out, lock-out, sit-in and go-slow are used almost exclusively in
this context. The words leak, spill and waste arc typically used in the
context of the technology of nuclear power, as well as in everyday contexts.
In computer jargon, the verb to hack and the nouns memory, drive and
hardware have taken on new meanings. The word hard as used for example
in hard copy has taken on the specialized meaning 'readable by the eye', i.e.
not only machine-readable output as on magnetic tape.
American English is particularly flexible and creates new words by
changing a word's grammatical function, c.g. verb to noun, as in a set-up,
a buy-out, a screw-up, a trade-off, a work-out, a phone-in, a shoot-out. Nouns
are made into verbs, as in to access, to window (computer jargon),
Io microwave, to rubber-stamp, to scapegoat, to colour-match, Io air-freight.
Io headline. Adjectives are made into verbs, as in to soundproof, to streamline,

12

1 Idioms in perspective

to skidproof, to net (i.e. to bring in a net profit), to temp (i.e. to do temporary
work). British English quickly absorbs such American forms. All these
changes arc short cuts in language, as they make the form of words shorter
and more direct, and for that reason are becoming increasingly popular.
Another popular short cut joins words together to form one adjective
instead of a long phrase. I lere are a few typical ones: a round-the-clock
service, instead of'a service which is offered around the clock (i.e. f or 24
hours a day)', a same-day service, on-the-job training, low-income groups, a
non -profit- making organ ization.

New words arc made by adding endings such as -ize, -izalion to adjectives
or nouns. 'This indicates a process: to decimalize, Io containerize, Io
computerize, to departmentalize', computerization etc.

Prefixes such as mini-, maxi-, super-, micro-, mega-, hyper- indicate the
quantity or quality of something in the shortest possible way. I lerc arc
some well-established examples: mini-diskette, superchip, micro-teaching,
micro-surgery, megastar, megachip, hypermarket, hypersonic.
New words are made by combining parts of two existing words: smog
(smoke + fog), newscast (news + broadcast),flexitime (flexible + time),
stagflation (stagnant + inflation). I lerc arc some typical combinations from
American English, which uses more than British English:
brunch (breakfast + lunch), motel (motorist + hotel),
laundromat (laundry + automat), medicare (medical + care),
cablegram (cable + telegram), workaholic (work + alcoholic),
gasohol (gasoline + alcohol).

Changing attitudes to language
Educated usage has become much more flexible and tolerant about what is
considered to be correct or acceptable. Such changes of attitude can be
observed in several parts of grammar, including case, number and tense.
The attitude of users towards style has also become more flexible. Several
words which were considered to be slang in the past have gradually been
up-graded in status and are now often considered informal or colloquial.
Much of what was labelled informal in the past is now considered neutral in
style. This is partly due to the spread in the use of taboo words by educated
speakers. Several such words give much less offence than in the past and
arc widely used in both American and British television productions.

Different aspects of the idiom
1 What is an idiom?

It is important to realize that idioms are not only colloquial expressions, as
many people believe. They appear in formal style and in slang, in poetry, in
the language of Shakespeare and the Bible. What then is an idiom? An

Idioms in perspective

l.i

idiom can be defined as a number of words which, when taken together,
have a different meaning from the individual meanings of each word.

2 Kinds ofidioms

Idioms take many different forms or structures. An idiom can have a
regular structure, an irregular or even a grammatically incorrect structure,
rhe clarity of meaning is not dependent on the 'grammatical correctness'.
A few examples will illustrate this:
1 Form irregular, meaning clear, as in give someone Io understand, do
someone proud, do Ihe dirty on someone.
2 Form regular, meaning unclear, as in have a bee ill one's bonnet, cut no ice,
bring the house down.
3 Form irregular, meaning unclear, as in be at large, go great guns, be at
daggers drawn.

We find, in fact, that most idioms belong to the second group, where the
form is regular but the meaning unclear. 1 lowever, even in this group
some idioms are clearer than others. For example, the meaning of /ogive
someone the green light can be guessed as 'to give someone permission to
start'. Others are too difficult to guess because they have no association
w ith the original meaning of the individual words. Such examples are: to
tell someone where Io gel off, to carry the can, Io drop a brick', Io call the shots.
Several fixed idioms cannot be changed in any part (except the tense of the
verb). For example, Io paint the town red, Io fight shy ofsomething, to get down
Io business. Others allow a different number of variants. For example, Io
know one's onions/stuff, a hard/tough nut to crack, to take/have/enjoy forty
winks, to come to a bad/nasty/sticky/no good/untimely end.

Where and when to use idioms
<)nc of the main difficulties for learners is knowing in which situations it is
correct to use an idiom, i.e. the level of style. The book gives help with
labels such as informal, slang, taboo and US. Unmarked idioms are neutral
and may be used in most situations. Informal idioms are used in everyday
spoken English and in personal letters. Learners are advised to avoid using
slang and taboo expressions until their mastery of the language is complete.
Several examples arc, however, included for reference purposes.
\ further difficulty is knowing whether an idiom is natural or appropriate
ill a certain situation. Examples of typical use in particular situations, such
as in business contexts, arc given and these should be studied carefully.

Another difficulty is that of fixed idioms and idioms with variants. It is
most important to be exact in one's use of fixed idioms, as an inaccurate
idiom may mean nothing to a native speaker. Above all, remember that it is
extremely unwise to translate idioms into or from one's native language.
()nc may be lucky that the two languages have the same form and
vocabulary, but in most cases the result will be utterly bewildering to the
English native speaker - and possibly highly amusing.

H

2 Key words with idiomatic uses
Adjectives and adverbs
bad

bad blood unfriendliness or enmity between two people or families.
There's been bud blood between the two brothers ever since theirfather's death,
lie left more to one son than to the other.
bad language swear words or taboo words. No bad language in the
classroom! Ifyou must swear, save it until you 're outside!
a bad lot (informal) a person with bad personal qualities, someone who is
dishonest etc. I'm so glad that ferry has stopped going about with Mike
Parsons. I heard that he had been in prison for stealing. In my opinion, he 5 a
had lot.
bad news a person, often with criminal tendencies, who brings trouble to
others. Take care, Lucy! "That young man is bad news.
bad news travels fast (saying) bad news is spread more quickly than
good news. 'My son flew to Cairo last week and / haven 'I heardfrom him
yet.' 'He'll beJine, because bad news travels fast.'

a bad patch a period of difficulty or unhappiness; problems./!// right, I
admit that our marriage is going through a bad patch, but it isn 7 thefirst lime,
and we're still together.
a bad workman always blames his tools (saying) an unskilled,
inefficient person puts the blame for his mistakes on the materials, tools,
machine etc. he is using. 'This knife isn't sharp enough Io carve the meat
properly.' 'll's not the knife that's the problem - a bad workman always blames
his tools.'
be in someone's bad books be out of favour with someone. Ifyou don't
gel the essayfinished by tomorrow, you 'll he in your teacher's had hooks again.
come to a bad end become a criminal, have to go to prison, suffer
disgrace. Said of someone who leads a wild life and perhaps has
criminal tendencies. Harry was expelledfrom schoolfor stealing and now
he's been sackedfrom his very firstjob. He'll come to a had end ifhe's not
careful.

give someone/have a bad/hard time treat someone badly or unfairly,
make someone suffer/bc treated badly or unfairly, suffer. In myfirst job I
had a very dijjicult boss who gave me a really bad lime.
give something up as a bad job stop trying to do something because it
seems very unlikely to succeed. Jonathan started learning German three
times, but he didn't make much progress. So now he's given it up as a badjob.

go from bad to worse deteriorate still further. Business is goingfrom bad to
worse — we may have to close down.

Adjectives and adverbs

15

ill a bad way (informal) in a poor condition/state of mental or physical
health. 'Univ's yourfather after his heart attack?' 'In a bad way, actually,
Making very little progress. '
(it's/that's) too bad it's a pity/unfortunate. Il's too bad that you can 'I come
Io Peter's twenty-first birthday parly. We'll miss you.

make the best of a bad job do the best one can in a difficult or
unfortunate position, regard a problem optimistically. Andrew didn't gel a
place al university, so he can 7 study maths after all. He's decided Io make the
best ofa bad job and go into banking.
not (so/too) bad (informal) relatively good, satisfactory. 'Hello, Sue.1 How
mas the exam?' 'Oh, not loo bad, thanks.'
big

be/get into/hit the 'big time (informal) be making a lot ol money in
business, of ten in the entertainment business; become famous. Liz is
into the big lime now - her latest album's been a great success in the Stales.
a/ the big cheese (informal) the most important person of a group;
someone who thinks he is the most important, fust because Dad's been
promoted and is a big cheese al work, he seems to think he can boss US around al
home, too.
big deal! (informal) terrilic! great! (ironical). Said when one is not
impresscd/pleascd etc. by something. 'I got the job! I got the job!' 'Rig
deal! You were the only applicant, weren 'I you?'

a big fish in a little/ small pond someone who is important only in a
small unit, group, community, company etc. Hob prefers to be a bigfish in a
little pond, so he works for a small company with onlyfifty employees.

a big hit something/someone very popular with others. By the way, your
newflat is a big hit with your parents. They think it's perfect foryou.
big league (informal) something to he taken seriously because it's
important, dangerous, involves a lot of money etc. You mustn't gel
involved in that, David. It's big league. Those men are criminals.

a 'big mouth (informal) someone who boasts, exaggerates, makes
promises he doesn't keep etc. 'Graham says he has an uncle with a villa in
Cannes and he'll take me there one day.' ằWell, don't believe it. He's just a big
mouth. 'Note also: have ~.
a big noise/shot (informal) an important person with influence (implies
arrogance, self-importance). There's some big noise coming up from
headquarters tomorrow, so we'll have to gel things tidied up in here.
big of someone (informal) generous or kind of someone. (Often said
ironically because one thinks the opposite.) 'Uncle Harold sent mefifty
pounds for my birthday.' 'That's big ofhim - considering he's a millionaire. '
big talk/words boastful, empty talk. / heard Mark telling Alex that he
couldn 'l decide whether to buy a Jaguar or a Mercedes - all big talk, I 'm sure.
He'll keep his Ford Fiesta, 1 bet.

i n a big way on a large scale. Carol and Tony have invited over a hundred
guests Io their silver wedding party. They always do things in a big way.

16

2 Key words with idiomatic uses

give someone a big hand applaud someone with enthusiasm. George
acted very well in the drama group s performance ofAn Inspector (hills. He was
given a Ing hand every night.
make it big (slang) be very successful, usually in business. Make a name
for oneself, money etc. His dream was to make it big in television - hill it's
stilljust a dream.
too big for one's boots conceited, arrogant, feeling and acting in a
superior way. Since Douglas got his novel published he's been altogether too
bigfor his boots. Il's lime someone taught him a lesson.
dead

be dead a gainst something someone be completely opposed to
something/someone. / am dead against camping holidays. I can never sleep
comfortably in a lent.

come to a dead halt come to a complete stop (c.g. a vehicle). The lorry
came Io a dead hall jusl in front ofthefallen child. Note also: stop dead, We
almost had an accident this morning. A big van pulled out in front ofour car
and stopped dead without giving a signal.
cut someone dead ignore someone completely, treat someone as though
one does not know him. What's wrong with Linda? She ail me dead in the
bank this morning.

dead ahcad/in front in a position exactly ahead. We came out ofthe wood
andfound the village we were lookingfor dead ahead ofUS.
dead and buried/gone long forgotten, of the past. No one ever talks about
Unclefoe's prison sentence any more. That's all dead and buried now.
dead beat/tired (informal) physically exhausted after hard work. You
ought to have an early night -you look dead beat!

a dead cert (slang), certainty something that is very sure, will certainly
happen; someone who will certainly achieve a target, win etc. 'Who do
you think will win the Cup?' 'Leeds United - it's a dead cert.'
dead drunk extremely drunk. I've never seen Simon in such a stale. He was
dead drunk.
dead easy very easy. I expected the malhs lesl to be dead easy, bill I conldn 'l do
a single question.
a dead end 1 a road that does not lead anywhere. We took thefirst turning
after the church, but the road was unfortunately a dead end that only led Io a
field. 2 a point or stage where no further progress can be made. Note: a
dead end job is a job without prospects or opportunities for the future.
Peterfeels that he's in a dead endjob with his present firm. He's thinking of
making a fresh start as a freelancejournalist.
a dead heat result of a race or competition in which two competitors
finish at the same time or with the same score. In the European Song
Contest there was a dead heatforfirst place, so there were two winners this year.

a dead loss (informal) someone/something that is of no use/help to
anyone in a certain matter or with a certain job etc. It's no use askingfack.
He's a dead loss at maths.

Adjectives and adverbs

17

dead on time exactly on time, punctual. The train arrived dead on lime, so
me didn 7 have Io mail long on the platform.
deadpan expressionless, dull, showing no emotion (e.g. on one's face.)
Marsden s fare is always so deadpan. I never know whether he's in a good mood

or a bad one.
dead right (informal) exactly right. Rememberyou told me thatJohn was
friendly with Alison Miller and I didn 7 believeyouĩ 11/7/. you were dead right

-1 saw them togetheryesterday.
a dead silence a total, unbroken silence. There was a dead silence in the
room as the solicitor opened the envelope and prepared Io read UndeJohn 5 last
will and testament.
dead slow hardly moving, almost slopped. IInforlunately, I got stuck on the
inside lane ofthe motorway and the trạl/ii was dead slowfor about fifteen

miles.
dead to the world in a deep sleep. 'I'll whisper. I don 7 want to wake the
children.' 'Oh, that's okay. They 've been dead Io the worldfor over an hour.'

a dead weight very heavy. / ran 7possibly carry this suitcase, h's a dead
weight.
dead wood someone/something that is no longer needed or useful or is
out of date. Il's lime we brought thesefiles up to dale. We'll start by throwing

out all the dead wood.
flog a dead horse (informal) waste one's time/efforts. I've been showing
the new clerk how to use the computer bill it's likefogging a dead horse. He
simply can 7 remember which keys to press.
make a dead set at someone try deliberately to attack someone (with
words, angry looks etc.); make an obvious attempt to interest someone of
the opposite sex. Robert met a girl at Joe's party and made a dead set al her -

without much luck, according toJoe.
over my dead body! (informal) used to state that the speaker is very
much against something, will not agree to/allow something, that
something will not happen if he can prevent it. 7'm going on holiday with
three other boys this year, Dad.' 'Over my dead body! You 're coming on holiday

with us. '
wouldn't be seen dead (doing something etc.) (informal) would not do
something because one considers it unacceptable. (Used to express
strong dislike.) What a terrible colour! I wouldn 't be seen dead in it. a Liz
won't accept Barry's invitation Io the disco. She doesn't like him - says she

wouldn't be seen dead with him.
flat
... and that's flat! (informal) and that is my last word on the matter.
(Used to end an argument or after giving an order.) You will go Io Aunt
Maud's with USfor the weekend - and that'sflat!

fall flat (a plan/project etc.) not materialize, fail to develop. We had plans
Io go to Canada to visitfriends, but theyfellflat when father had to go into
hospital.

/
2 Key words with idiomatic uses

a Hat battery a battery that must be re-charged. There's no wonder the
engine won 'l start. Yon 'vé got aflat battery.

a Hat denial/refusal etc. an absolute, definite denial etc. We made him a
good offer, but he gave Its a flat refusal.

Hat out with all one's powers or energy; as much or as quickly as possible
(with go/run/ race/work etc.). I've been workingflat out all day trying to
get the last chapter ofthe hookfinished.
a Hat tyre a tyre with no air in it, or not enough. Sorry we're late. We had a
flat tyre on the way here.

in two minutes etc. Hat (informal) in no more than two minutes etc.
(Expresses surprise at the short time needed or emphasizes that little
time will be needed.) When I told the children we were going Io the park, liny
were ready in ten seconds flat.
knock someone Hat I knock someone off his feet with a blow. This man
started making trouble in the pub. foe was very patient atfirst, but when he
insultedfoe's wife, foe stood up and knocked him flat. 2 shock/stun
someone with a mental blow. The dreadful news knocked US flat.
tell someone flat tell someone in a very positive and definite manner.
She told him flat that she had IIO intention oflending him any money.
good

a good deal often, a lot. He travelled in India a good deal when he was young.
a good few/many ( + plural noun) quite a lot, several. There were a good
few people al the concert last night, more than we had expected.
a good way quite a long way. 'Howfar is Wells from here?' 'Well, it's a good
way, actually. It 'll takeyou two hours. '

as good as almost certain(ly), for all practical purposes. Mike as good as
knows that he has passed his exam. He saw his professor and he gave him a
broad smile and a wink.
as good as gold said of a well-behaved child. Mary is as good as gold most
ofthe time.
as good as one's word true to one's promise, absolutely reliable. Sieve is
as good as his word. Ifhe said he'd help you, then he will.

be (all) to the good be an additional advantage. 'I'm considering taking a
secretarial course after my degree. ' 'I think you 're very wise. Il would be all Io
the good.'
be for one's own good be for one's own advantage or benefit. We bring
our son up rather strictly, I suppose, and he doesn't always see that it's for his
own good.
be good for (+ noun) have the necessary qualities, energy, ability etc. to
provide something or to survive. 'Is your old car still running?' 'Oh, yes. It's
goodfor another ten thousand miles yel. '
be in good company be in the same situation as someone elsc/others.
(Said to encourage, comfort or agree about something.) 'Ifailed my
driving test yesterday. ' 'Oh well, you 're in good company - so did I last week.'

Adjectives and adverbs

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be in someone's good books be in favour with someone..Joanna has been
ill her teacher's good hooks since she started taking school more seriously and
working hard.

be on to a good tiling (informal) have found a pleasant, financially
advantageous occupation. Airs Bellamy flays Prank generouslyfor the fen'
jobs he does in her garden, Trunk knows when he's on Io a good thing.

do someone good hclp/be good for someone's health, state of mind etc.
I f hy don 7 you take a short holiday ? Il would do you good.

do someone a good turn do someone a favour in order to help him.
I like Ifairy, fust after the war he did me a really good turn and I ve never
forgotten it.
for good forever, permanently. Rosalind's gone to Canada - forgood. She's
not coming hack.
give (someone) as good as one gets retaliate, light back, act towards
someone in the same way as he acted towards you. Sheila said a woman in
the accounts department is always rude to her, hut knowing Sheila I'm sure she
gives her as good as she gels.

give someone a good 'talking-to/tclling-'off criticize someone
vigorously. /Í customer complained about one ofthe waiters, so the manageress
came and gave him a good lalking-10.

good for nothing (a person) having no good qualities; lazy, unreliable,
worthless etc. Note also: a 'good for nothing. I 've never liked Charles,
lie's a goodfor nothing.

good (iod! a strong expression of surprise (of ten unpleasant), shock or
amazement. Cood Cod! He's dead.
good gracious/hcavens/Lord! an expression of surprise. Good heavens!
It's fohn. He's Iwo days early.

good grief! an expression of dismay or displeasure. Good grief! You 'll
never pass any exams ifyou can 7 do belter work than this.
good riddance! (informal) said to show relief when one gets rid of an
unpleasant person or something unwanted, or when one completes a
tiresome job of work etc. Thank goodness that'sfinished— and good
riddance! I've never had such a tricky report...