like a rat up a drainpipe

"like a rat up a drainpipe"

definition: very quickly/fast.

example: "I dunno (don't know) whats wrong with Jeff; when I told him that his girlfriend was walking up the street, he took off like a rat up a drainpipe"

all right?

"All right?"

definition: This is used a lot around London and the south to mean, "Hello, how are you"? You would say it to a complete stranger or someone you knew. The normal response would be for them to say "All right?" back to you. It is said as a question. Sometimes it might get expanded to "all right mate"?

(jak se mas?)

example: J: "All right? Bill" B:" Not bad mate, you?"

Like a bear with a sore head

"Like a bear with a sore head"

definition: if someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.

example: "John is in a really bad mood today; he is like a bear with a sore head"

drop a clanger

"to drop a clanger"

definition: to make an embarrassing mistake

(blbost, faux pas)

example: "When I asked a large lady on the tube if she would like my seat since she was so obviously pregnant, she took the seat then told me she was fat, not pregnant! I really dropped a clanger."

give someone a bell

"to give someone a bell"

definition: to call/telephone someone

(telefonovat)

example: "Bye Nick, I'll give you a bell next week"

go cold turkey

"to go cold turkey"

definition: to quit something abruptly. (usually some type of drug)

(abst�ák)

example: You will not lose weight until you give up chocolate - I suggest you go cold turkey.

origin: The expression originates from the goose bumps and palor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. One's skin resembles that of a plucked, cold turkey.

barking up the wrong tree

"to be barking up the wrong tree"

definition: to be following a dead end path, pursuing an incorrect lead or assumption.

(být vedle, mýlit se, netrefit se, být mimo mísu)

example: "If you think those gloves will convict OJ, you are barking up the wrong tree."

origin: This phrase comes from the USA and originates in the practice of racoon hunting. Raccoons are partly nocturnal animals and are hunted with dogs. The raccoons often take hide in trees. When the dogs see them up a tree they stand at the base and bark - occasionally, in the dark, they get the wrong tree.

over the hill

"to be over the hill"

definition: to be past your prime, to be old.

(nebýt už nejmladší)

example: "Every time I see these kids and their baseball caps I can't help but feel over the hill."

origin: A reference to a journey over a hill. Once you reach the top of the hill and begin your journey down, you have past the midpoint and are on the downside or decline (over the hill). With age, once you have past your peak, you are on the downside.

go to the dogs

"to go to the dogs"

definition: to go to ruin; to be ruined; to worsen in appearance, character or behaviour

(jít od devíti k peti; být na tom cím dál hùr)

examples: "John has really gone to the dogs since his girlfriend left him"
"This area has really gone to the dogs since the factory closed"

origin: This is an analogy to the scraps of waste food etc that were thrown to dogs from medieval baronial dining tables. They were of no other use. Thus, if someone is said to have 'gone to the dogs', he is also regarded as worthless.

See a man about a dog

"See a man about a dog"

definition: if you tell someone you are going to see a man about a dog, it is a way of saying that you do not want to tell them where you are really going.

example: "Steve didn't want Jana to know that he was going to buy drugs so he told her that he was going to see a man about a dog."

origin: The expression comes from the 1866 play 'Flying Scud' by Irish-born playwright Dion Boucicault. One of the characters uses the words as an excuse to get away from a tricky situation. This character says: "Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can't stop; I've got to see a man about a dog".

fly off the handle

"to fly off the handle"

definition: to go into a rage; to react in a very angry way to something someone says or does

(ztratit nervy; vyletìt)

example: "John McEnroe would often fly off the handle at the tennis judges for any close decisions."

origin: The origin for this expression comes from U.S. frontier settlers. While repairing something, their axe head would sometimes come loose and fly off the handle. This was not only dangerous, but also held up work for others until it was fixed - much to the annoyance of all.

egg on your face

"to have egg on your face"

definition: to be embarrassed.

(vypadat hloupe/jako hlupák; být za vola)

example: "Make sure you have your story straight - go public without the facts and you will have egg on your face."

origin: From the embarrassment suffered if the yellow yoke is on ones lips or beard after eating a soft boiled egg in one of those egg cups, a favorite breakfast of the upper crust. Yellow egg shows up especially well on a beard or mustache.

tie the knot

"to tie the knot"

definition: to get married.

(praštit do toho)

example: "I understand you want a baby, but don't you think you should tie the knot first. In fact maybe you should get a girlfriend first."

origin: Some marriage ceremonies actually tie together the wrists of the bride and groom. Webster defines "tie" as "to unite in marriage".

square meal

"a square meal"

definition: a nutritious, healthy meal.

(podrádné/vydatné jídlo)

example: "I am really hungry; because I have been camping I haven't had a square meal in weeks"

origin: British war ships in the 1700s including the HMS Victory did not have the best living conditions. A sailor's breakfast and lunch were just than bread and a drink. But the third meal of the day included meat and was served on a square tray. Eating a substantial meal onboard a ship required a tray to carry it all. Hence a "square meal" was the most substantial meal served.

bottom of the barrel

"to scrape the bottom of the barrel"

definition: to use the very last and worst of your resources, opinions (because there is no choice)

(brát poslední z posledního)

example: "Asking your sister to go to the cinema with you, is really scraping the bottom of the barrel"

origin: This phrase refers to the sediment left by wine in a barrel, and was first used by Cicero to describe the lowest elements of Roman society.

long in the tooth

"to be long in the tooth"

definition: to be getting old.

(už ne nejmladší, postarší)

example: "Daddy needs a new Porsche. The old one is getting a bit long in the tooth."

origin: Strange as it may seem this phrase's origin is closely related to the origin of the phrase "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth".

The age of a horse can be roughly determined by examining its teeth, since a horse's gums recede as they age. The longer the teeth of a horse appear to be, the older the horse.

This expression comes from veterinary medicine - some animals have teeth that continue to grow much like fingernails. For example rabbits and rats need to gnaw hard objects to wear down their growing teeth.

turn a blind eye

"to turn a blind eye"

definition: to knowingly refuse to acknowledge something which you know to be real.

(privrít oci, prehlížet, tolerovat)

example: "The police normally turn a blind eye if you give them some money"

origin: In the naval battle of Copenhagen in 1801 Nelson lead the attack of the British fleet against a joint Danish/Norwegian enemy. The British fleet of the day was commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. The two men disagreed over tactics and at one point Hyde Parker sent a signal (by the use of flags) for Nelson to disengage. Nelson was convinced he could win if he persisted and that's when he 'turned a blind eye'.

give up the ghost

"to give up the ghost"

definition: to die, or in the case of inanimate objects, to stop working.

(prestat se snažit o co; vzdát co)

example: "After 20 years my car finally gave up the ghost"

hit the sack

"to hit the sack"

definition: to go to bed

(jít do hajan; na kute (spat))

example: "I am really knackered, I'm going to hit the sack."

origin: Although fallen out of common usage, one definition of a sack is a bed. Early mattresses were often made from a cloth sack stuffed with hay, hair, or some other form of padding.

hit the books

"to hit the books"

definition: to study for school assignments; to prepare for classes by reading and doing homework.

( drtit/biflovat (ucit se))

example: "You should really hit the books; your exam is tomorrow!"

origin: This idiom says that when you really study hard, you "hit" the books. Why hit? Hit has many meanings. Among them are to come into contact with something forcefully ("The bomb hit its target") and to achieve something you desire ("He hit upon the right formula").