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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English Reference:Common Idioms-Idioms -H
had better
- should do something

I`d better go now or I`ll be late for class.
hair stand on end
- become frightened or afraid of something

My hair stood on end when I saw the aftermath of the automobile accident.
hale and hearty
- in very good health, well and strong

My uncle is a hale and hearty fellow who never gets sick.
half-baked
- foolish

I didn`t really like his half-baked idea about the new delivery system.
half the battle
- a large part of the work

Sending the letters out will be half the battle. We can finish the rest of the work next week.
hammer out
- remove, work out by discussion and debate

The union and managers were able to hammer out an agreement before midnight last night.
hand down
- arrange to give something to someone after your death

My grandmother handed down her silver jewellery to my mother.
hand in
- give to someone, hand to someone

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Common Idioms-Idioms -D
dance to a different tune
- to talk or act differently because a situation has changed
Sally is dancing to a different tune because her boy friend now wants to break up with her.

dark horse
- someone or some group not favored to win
The New York Jets were the dark horse of the play offs but won the Super bowl.

dash off
- do or finish quickly, leave quickly
I’m late for work, so I’d better dash off.

dawn on
- become clear
It finally dawned on me as to why he was angry.
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