Australia Network - Nexus - English Bites Library - Common Expressions

had their day

Something that has had its day is no longer as useful as it once was.

Typewriters have had their day.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

These old girls have done really well. They've served Melbourne well but in many respects they've had their day and like anything we have to move on.

hails from

comes from

He hails from a small village in India.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

The pastor who hails from the mid-west of the United States has one of the largest parishes in Australia.

handed down

passed down to children again and again

This old clock has been handed down for three generations.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

We've got a recipe that's been handed down through the five generations in our family.

hands on

Hands on experience is direct experience or something learned by doing and not just being told.

This new course is very hands on.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

The children are also able to get hands on experience of life on the land.

hang around

To hang around is to loiter or stay in one place.

He's always hanging around the bar.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

On the island, signs spell out the dangers of encouraging dogs to hang around camp and picnic sites.

hang on to

keep

I don't know why you want to hang on to all these old books.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

People here enjoy a place of natural beauty and hang on to a unique culture, fiercely proud of what they have.

hanging from the rafters

If people are hanging from the rafters, the place is very crowded.

They were hanging from the rafters at the concert.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

...the chap who'd signed them, a guy called Adam, dragged me down to see them at The Basement, brought me in the back and sat and saw them and they were fantastic, and amazingly in some ways the wheel's come full circle because they re-formed just this year and did a couple of amazing shows here which sold out, people hanging from the rafters to see Dig...

hanging in the balance

Something that is hanging in the balance is in a state of uncertainty. It can go well or it can go badly.

My future is hanging in the balance until a decision is made about this project.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

We are pursuing our future as a 17-member company, whilst knowing that it's very precariously hanging in the balance.

hanging in there

Hanging in there means persevering or persisting despite difficulties.

It's two goals to nil, but they are still hanging in there and playing good football.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

It may be that they’re just hanging in here and that makes the dolphin sanctuary even more important and more critical.

hard evidence

reliable, convincing proof; physical evidence

We think he is the murderer, but we have no hard evidence.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

The first hard evidence that bugs can cause these chronic diseases came from an Australian doctor Barry Marshall.

hard sell

forceful and insistent selling or advertising

There's a lot of ads for that new soft drink on TV tonight - they're doing the hard sell.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

It's chemical giant Monsanto leading the charge in Australia. Doing the hard sell, vowing huge benefits to farmers.

hard to stomach

difficult to accept

I find losing hard to stomach.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

For resident Leonie Lea, what makes the sale particularly hard to stomach is that as a ratepayer, she must pay a council bushland levy.

hard yakka

hard work

I don't mind doing a bit of hard yakka.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

...if I do go back home and don't retire here, which is a real, appealing option now and again - to take with me wherever I go a sense of appreciation for the folk who've done the - do you say, hard yakka-, is that the phrase? - who've done the hard work, the hot work.

hauled over the coals

strongly criticised by the boss

I was hauled over the coals for arriving late.

This expresssion is used in Pulp Fiction 6/4/05.

I was hauled over the coals on one occasion for trying to make the books better than they wanted.

have a cow

To have a cow is slang for getting angry.

Mum will have a cow when she finds out.

have a go

attack; be aggressive toward

He was having a go at me , so I punched him.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

If you move near it, see how it's moving away from me and, for an animal that's supposedly aggressive, you'd think it would really be having a go by now, and it's not.

have a go

try; make an attempt

I'm going to have a go at playing tennis.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

I have a go at fixing with liquid nails, and glue and what have you.

have a mortgage on

To say that you have a mortgage on something means that you own it or have exclusive rights to it.

He was in charge for so long that people were saying he had a mortgage on the top job.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

With hospitals and surgeries working overtime, doctors are now admitting they don't have a mortgage on cures.

have an eye for

To have an eye for something means to be good at noticing a particular type of thing.

She has an eye for a bargain.

The expression is used in Australiana Auction 5/4/05.

With money in his pocket and an eye for the aesthetic, the young Rodney Davidson began to build something truly remarkable.

have bigger fish to fry

To have bigger fish to fry is to have something more important or useful to do.

He won't do small jobs because he has bigger fish to fry.

have second thoughts

To have second thoughts is to have doubts or to want to change your mind.

I'm having second thoughts about learning English.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

But as advertisers spend more on Internet, some are having second thoughts, concerned that they could or have become victims of online fraud.

have somebody for breakfast

To have or eat somebody for breakfast is to tell someone off or severely criticise them.

If I catch up with her I'll have her for breakfast

have the edge

To have the edge is to have the advantage.

Our team will win because it has the edge.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

JD has the edge over many of his competitors.

have the rug pulled from underneath us

To have the rug pulled from underneath you is to have support, confidence or help taken away suddenly.

I had the rug pulled from undeneath my feet when my boyfriend said he was leaving me.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

have your work cut out

To have your work cut out is to face a very difficult task.

You'll have your work cut out to finish by the deadline.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

The Queenslanders reckon they'll have their work cut out, taking on the Territorians on home turf.

having a ball

Having a ball is having a very good time.

I'm having a ball learning English.

having a field day

To be having a field day is to be having a good time, often at the expense of people's reputations.

The critics are having a field day with the latest scandal.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

With emotions running high and huge division in the community over logging of old-growth forest, the conspiracy theorists are having a field day.

head in the sand

To put, hide or bury your head in the sand is to refuse to deal with unpleasant facts by ignoring them.

You can't just bury your head in the sand and hope the problem will go away.

head off

To head off is to go away or leave.

I'm going to head off at five o'clock.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

I mean, what more could you want? A V8, four-speed, shag pile carpet in the back, and your girlfriend, heading off for the weekend.

head-to-head

If you are head-to-head with someone you are competing with them.

Next week the team goes head-to-head with their toughest foe.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

John and Jim Fowlie say there's no competition when it comes to their coaching careers. But you could be fooled watching father and son go head-to-head at the driving range.

heaps

Heaps is a slang way of saying many or lots.

I've got heaps of work to do.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Feral animals hurt native animals and the environment in heaps of ways.

Hear hear

Hear hear, usually called out at public meetings is an expression of approval and agreement.

This government is committed to improving education.
Hear hear!

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

I and most Australians want our immigration policy radically reviewed and that of multiculturalism abolished.
Hear hear.

heart and soul

To be the heart and soul of something means to be the central, most important part.

The news room is the heart and soul of this TV station.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Bill Griffiths, Vic Pimlott and George Startup are the heart and soul of Tasmania's first community workshed.

heart bleeds

If your heart bleeds for someone, you feel pity for them.

My heart bleeds for those people who lost their homes in the fire.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

And it makes my heart bleed when I see these kids that never get to us. That will never know that they would be good learning another language, that they could be an artist, they could be a musician, they could be an architect. Because they've not got the opportunity to find out.

heavy hitter

A heavy hitter is someone powerful and experienced.

There are some heavy hitters on his legal team.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

So, you know, there are the heavy hitters who are in it to make big money and they are making big money and there's also the mums and dads who'll take a share in a racehorse from a pure enjoyment point of view of having a winner whether it be at Randwick or it be at Gilgandra.

hell of a lot

A hell of a lot is a very large amount.

I do a hell of a lot of work.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

They rely on you from the day they're born till the day they die unfortunately and this industry is seven days a week and you spend a hell of a lot of time with them and I think they reward you if you look after them.

help from above

help from God

Our team are so far behind that we can only win with some help from above.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

One thing is clear, though - the Uniting Church will need a little help from above if it's to win over this community.

here and now

at this moment

Yiou are reading this here and now.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

I tell you right here and now, they could offer 100,000 a tower and I would not take it.

high as a kite

To be as high as a kite is to be intoxicated, especially on illegal drugs.

She was as high as a kite last time I saw her.

hit home

affect in the way intended; become completely clear; be fully realised

It takes a while for the full extent of a major disaster to hit home.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

And the message that water should be treated like liquid gold didn't take long to hit home.

hit rock bottom

reached the lowest point possible

I'm waiting for prices to hit rock bottom before I buy.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

It is a seriously bad voluntary industry program that has basically hit rock bottom.

hit the airwaves

To hit the airwaves is to go on the radio to promote and talk about something.

Once the book is published, you'll have to hit the airwaves to publicise it.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Slow food ambassador Sophie Herron hit the airwaves in Darwin this week to put the case.

hit the jackpot

To hit the jackpot is to have been very lucky, very successful, or to have found something fantastic.

Dan Brown hit the jackpot with his best selling novel 'The Da Vinci Code'.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Certainly, horticulturally, we've reached the jackpot here.

hit the spot

Something that hits the spot does exacrtly what it should and is very satisfactory.

That cup of tea really hit the spot.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Well, I think credibility had something to do with it. The CSIRO brand was certainly something that clearly hit the spot for many people - a scientific organisation.

holds the key

Something that holds the key has the clue which will reveal the truth.

Our DNA holds the key to our essential character.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

He was eating something that no plesiosaur ought to eat and his head holds the key as to how he did it.

home and hosed

Home and hosed means that someone has finished something successfully or is certain to win.

If they score another goal they're home and hosed.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

It's all about attitude, and if they've got the right attitude, you're home and hosed with them.

home away from home

A home away from home is a place that has all the comforts of your own home.

This hotel is a real home away from home.

hot potato

A hot potato is a difficult situation. It’s a problem that nobody wants to handle because it’s like a real hot potato that will burn you.

The issue of sex education in schools is a hot potato.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Rottnest is a political hot potato.

household name

famous; known in every house

Michael Jackson is a household name.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

But ask around about Ellis Rowan today and she's not exactly a household name.

hung up on

(informal) preoccupied by; unreasonably focussed on; worried about

I don’t get too hung up on study.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

In a sense, I mean, I don't get hung up on the whole goal of the seven summits.

hustle and bustle

busy and excited activity

I enjoy the hustle and bustle of big cities.


© ABC 2011	Close »