English Bites Library
Common Expressions
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
explore the common expressions library
early on in the piece
at the beginning of something
I felt that there was something wrong early on in the piece.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
They came and met us very early on in the piece when they were getting a feel for what they might go for here.
 
earn a crust
Earning a crust means making a living or making enough money to survive.
You have to do something to earn a crust, even if it's just cleaning.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
A case of necessity moving out here and then having to endure a life of earning a crust, basically.
 
earn their keep
To earn your keep is to make enough money or be useful enough to justify your place in society.
It's time the children starting earning their keep in this house by doing more chores.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
King Islanders basically earn their keep from cows, either through exports from the abattoir... ..or the production of premium cheese and dairy products.
 
eased into
To ease into something is to start doing it in a relaxed way.
She eases into the working day by answering her emails and having a cup of coffee.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The first morning was a bit kind of, "Oh, what are we going to be doing? How are we going to do this?" But once we eased into it, it was really natural.
 
echoed by
repeated by
This complaint is echoed by many other people in the area.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's a concern echoed by residents of another Queensland seaside town, Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast, who claim their beach shacks are also under threat.
 
end of the road
If something is the end of the road, it's the last place you can go. There's nowhere else.
It's the end of the road for our relationship.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Well, there is nowhere else for them to go, ours is the end of the road.
Another form of this expression is the end of the line.
 
enter your mind/head
Something that enters your mind or your head is thought of or occurs to you
Losing never entered my head for the whole game.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It never entered my mind when I was younger. "Oh, you know, I won't be retiring. I'll be always working."
 
environmentally friendly
not damaging to the environment; using energy that won't pollute or run out
Using your own bag to carry groceries instead of using and then throwing away plastic bags is an environmentally friendly thing to do.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
But it might soon become famous for something far more important - as the birthplace of a brand new form of environmentally friendly water transport.
 
established in
started in; began in; set up in; founded in
The school was established in 1952.
 
ever expanding
always growing or increasing
Her ever expanding collection of cups is taking up too much space.
 
every now and then
occasionally
I go to football games every now and then.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Every now and then we get people coming out of their houses asking us what we're doing going through their bins.
 
experienced first-hand
experienced for youself; experienced directly
Until you have experienced first-hand the power of the sea, you don't really understand how easy it is to be drowned.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Working 10-hour days, with one day off a fortnight, he has experienced first-hand how mateship can make a difference.
 
exposed to the elements
out in the bad weather
The storm destroyed our house and we were exposed to the elements.
 
eye contact
To have eye contact is to look directly at another person's eyes while they are looking at your eyes.
I thought he was lying because he wouldn't make eye contact.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
In Asia, students tend to not have eye contact or they don't tend to speak so much in class...
 
eyesore
An eyesore is something ugly or unpleasant - something that makes your eyes sore when you look at it.
The new house is an eyesore.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It would involve a road across the dune, there, and down the escarpment. It would involve a huge breakwall, 130 metres long, across the rocks over there. It would be a dreadful eyesore.
 
© ABC 2011 Close »