Marmara Elt Resources

English Reference:Common Idioms-Idioms -L
lady killer
- a man who some women find very charming and attractive

The man in the movie was a lady killer who broke many women`s hearts before he left them.
lady`s man
- a man who is popular with women

He is a lady`s man who always seems to have a lot of women interested in him.
laid up
- be confined to bed or unfit for work

He has been laid up for a few days because of a cold.
lame duck
- public official who has a short time left to serve in office and therefore has less power than before

He is a lame duck president so it is difficult for him to get things accomplished.
land on one`s feet
- come out of a bad situation successfully

He always manages to land on his feet no matter how difficult the situation is.
lap up
- eat or drink with the tongue

The dog lapped up the milk that his master had given him.
lap up
- take in eagerly
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English Reference:Common Idioms-Idioms -K
keel over
- turn upside down, tip over

The boat keeled over in the middle of the lake but everybody was safe.
keep after
- remind someone over and over

I always have to keep after her to do her job properly.
keep an eye on something or someone
- watch (as in take care of something)

Will you keep an eye on the baby while I go to the store.
keep a secret
- not tell a secret to others

I have been trying to keep a secret about her boyfriend for a long time now.
keep a stiff upper lip
- be brave, face trouble bravely

The prisoners tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the hardships of the prison.
keep at
- persist with

He has decided to keep at his studies so I am sure he will succeed.
keep body and soul together
- keep alive, survive

It was very cold during the winter but somehow she was able to keep body and soul together and survived.
keep books
- keep records of money gained and spent, do the work of a bookkeeper

My first job was to keep books for a small company in my hometown.
keep down
- keep from progressing or growing, keep within limits, control

The students were told to keep down the noise as some of the other classes were having exams.
keep from
- prevent, refrain from
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Common Idioms-Idioms-I
if worst comes to worst
- if the worst possible thing happens

If worst comes to worst we can cancel our holiday and go next year.
ill at ease
- feel nervous/uncomfortable

He appeared to be ill at ease during the interview.
in a bind
- in trouble
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Common Idioms-Idioms -J
jam on the brakes
- quickly put the brakes on in a car to stop

He jammed on the brakes and was able to avoid hitting the child.
jam-packed
- crowded, full

The train that we took this morning was jam-packed with people.
jazz up
- brighten up, add more noise or movement or color

They really jazzed up the community center for the party tonight.
John Doe
- name used for an unknown person

Why do the application forms use “John Doe” as the name of the person who is applying for something?
John Henry (John Hancock)
- signature

Please sign your John Henry here and we will process your order right away.
Johnny-come-lately
- new-comer

He`s a Johnny-come-lately and doesn`t really know what he is talking about.
Johnny-on-the-spot
- be at the right place when needed, right on time

He`s always Johnny-on-the-spot. Just when we need him he arrives.
jump all over someone
- criticize, scold, blame

As soon as I began to talk about my plans for the summer he jumped all over me.
jump at
- take or accept quickly and gladly

He jumped at the chance to go to Europe on company business.
jump bail
- run away and fail to come to trial and give up the money you have already paid to the court

He jumped bail and decided to go and live in a foreign country.
jump down someone`s throat
- criticize or become angry with someone

As soon as I reached the office he jumped down my throat over the missing file.
jumping-off place
- the starting place of a long trip

We gathered early in the morning at the jumping-off place for our trip to the mountains.
jump on someone
- scold, criticize, blame

Everyone jumped on him at the meeting because they were angry about the new schedules.
jump on the bandwagon (also get or climb on the bandwagon)
- join a popular activity

Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon to try and stop smoking in the workplace.
jump out of one`s skin
- be badly frightened

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw him at the window.
jump the gun
- start before you should

He jumped the gun and started selling the tickets before he should.
jump through a hoop
- do whatever one is told to do, obey any order

He is always ready to jump through a hoop for his boss so he is not very popular with the other employees.
jump to conclusions
- make a quick conclusion without thinking

Please don`t jump to conclusions over who broke the computer.
just about
- nearly, almost

I waited just about one hour before the concert started.
just now
- this very moment, a minute ago

The accident happened just now. The police haven`t even arrived yet.
just so
- with great care, very carefully

She always makes sure that her hair is just so before she goes out.
just the same
- nevertheless

I told her not to come early but just the same she came early anyway.