English Bites Library
Common Expressions
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explore the common expressions library
labour intensive
Something that is labour intensive requires a lot of work.
The traditional methods of growing rice are very labour intensive.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Instead of using the old tally board, which is exceptionally labour intensive…
 
labour of love
The phrase labour of love refers to difficult work that you do because you enjoy it and not because it will make you money or other rewards.
The garden is a labour of love.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's a labour of love. I just love showing people movies.
 
laid back
A situation or a person who is laid back is very relaxed and informal.
I like the laid back lifestyle of Darwin.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Although I have studied English before, but the type of English that you use is totally different, you know, the clichéd Australian version of g'day, you know, sort of thing, laid back.
 
land on your feet
To land on your feet is to be lucky in getting a good job or a good place to live.
She doesn't try hard, but she always manages to land on her feet.
 
lapped it up
really enjoyed it
The audience lapped it up.
This expresssion is used in Heavy Metal 24/11/05.
But when it came time to rock it didn't matter whether the taste was bourbon or chardonnay, the crowd lapped it up...
 
last hurrah
A last hurrah is a last effort - it’s the last thing you do when you are leaving a place or a job.This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
And as their one last hurrah they held Acland's biggest ever garage sale, although most would confess it was Acland's only ever garage sale.
 
last resort
If something is a last resort, it’s the last thing to try. It's something you try when everything else has failed.
I've tried to borrow money form all my friends and they've said no. I'm going to try my brother as a last resort.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Recruiting workers from overseas is for many companies a last resort but it seems to be a sign of the times.
 
late
We use late before someone's name or title to mean recently deceased or dead.
The late Ronald Reagan suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's a mix of new age music, natural sounds and barking, an album he says was inspired by his late dog Dora.
 
latest in a long line
the newest in a series that's been continuing for a long time
This scandal is the latest in a long line of problems that have damaged the government.
 
lay the groundwork
To lay the groundwork is to prepare or to do something that will later have results.
She laid the groundwork for her success many years ago.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's a holiday but if Anand White likes the place he will also lay the groundwork to find his birth mother.
 
lay waste to
To lay to waste or lay waste to is to destroy.
The retreating army laid waste to the countryside.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
You know, like, you are looking at anything from $25 to $50 a head per camel to shoot and, lay to waste. Well, I mean, that's just unacceptable to anybody. Nobody wants to do that.
 
lead someone astray
To lead someone astray is to encourage them to behave badly.
He was led astray by the older boys.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
They actually get to know the person who's making their food and it's very hard to lead them astray because most of them are fairly discerning about what they put in their mouths.
 
lead someone on a merry dance
To lead someone on a merry dance is to cause people a lot of trouble.
The escaped tiger was missing for days and led the police on a merry dance.
 
lead someone up the garden path
To lead someone up the garden path is to deceive them.
He led me up the garden path with his claim that he wasn't married.
 
leading the charge
being the first to do something; being the first to take up an opportunity
Our lab is leading the charge in stem cell research.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's chemical giant Monsanto leading the charge in Australia.
 
leading the way
being the first to do or develop something
The new computer company is leading the way with its innovative software.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Experimenting with different scents and essential oils isn't behaviour you'd expect from a marine biologist leading the way in Irukandji research, even if he is French.
 
leaps and bounds
a lot very quickly
My understanding of English is improving in leaps and bounds with English Bites.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
And it's really just come ahead in leaps and bounds over the last 10 years.
 
learn something the hard way
To learn something the hard way is to learn it from an unpleasant experience.
I learnt the hard way not to pay for something before delivery.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Whatever the case, we’ve learnt the hard way.
 
leave no stone unturned
To leave no stone unturned is to try everything possible and investigate all things.
We will leave no stone unturned in our search for the bombers.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Karen Gilfillan and husband Rob have left no stone unturned as they guide their daughters towards the world athletic stage.
 
left unchecked
not dealt with; not stopped
If this problem is left unchecked we will go out of business.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The Flinders could be dominated by that type of plant if it's left unchecked.
 
lend a hand
To lend a hand is to help.
Could you lend a hand with the dishes?
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The river preachers also lent a hand at teaching children, giving medicine and delivering babies.
 
let alone
The expression let alone is used after a statement to emphasise that because the first thing is not likely, the next thing is even less likely.
She didn't even say sorry, let alone pay for the damage.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
OK, so most dogs don't walk down the street wearing headphones, let alone listening to Cliff Richard, but dogs do have an ear for music.
 
let go
A garden that has been let go has been allowed to deteriorate and become overgrown.
The garden was let go after his wife died.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It's a garden that was established back in about 1890 by an old gentleman called Mr Umperstone who did a magnificent job and it was an attraction back in those days, wonderful attraction but unfortunately after he died, until about 1959, it was let go, became a mess.
 
let off steam
To let off steam is to release tension by doing something physical or noisy.
He lets off steam at the football by shouting for his team.
 
let sleeping dogs lie
To let sleeping dogs lie is to not tell people something that could cause trouble.
I know he has been in jail in the past, but I won't tell anyone about it because it's best to let sleeping dogs lie.
 
let slip
reveal; tell accidentally
I'm sorry, but I let slip to your mother that you're getting married.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
So a few secret ingredients you just can't let slip?
 
let someone down
To let someone down is to fail them or diappoint them.
I got him a job here and he let me down by always arriving late.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
She's just been such a loyal and trusting friend that she's never et me down, never walked me into a post or a tree yet, so I think that's rather wonderful.
 
let your hair down
To let your hair down is to relax and enjoy yourself after not being able to for a time
I like to let my hair down on the weekends.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
I think it's just something you can do different. You can let your hair down, you can bring out a bit of the kid in you, and just do something different you don't do the rest of the year.
 
lie of the land
The lie of the land, or, in America, the lay of the land, refers to the phsical characteristics of the land or the way it is formed.
Make sure you know the lie of the land before you go walking in the mountains.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Alright, first you need your map, that's the most important. Beauty. That will show you where to go, show you the lie of the land, find your checkpoints.
The expression can also refer to the way a situation is likely to develop.
You should make sure you know the lie of the land before you decide which job to choose.
 
lifeblood
thing that’s most important and keeps you alive
Oil is the lifeblood of Brunei's economy.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Without water, we haven't got anything. Our stock perish, our tourist trade breaks down. This is the lifeblood of Tilpa.
 
lightning pace
very fast speed
Computers work at a lightning pace.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It has been quick, but it has to be quick because these technologies are moving at lightning pace; they're moving quicker than the information technologies and the window of opportunity is limited.
 
lightning rod
A lightning rod refers to something that attracts a lot of interest (usually negative), often diverting attention away from other problems.
The scandal has become a lightning rod for groups opposed to the government.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The cattlemen's issue has acted as a lightning rod for country dissatisfaction that's been building up for some time.
 
like a dog with two tails
To be like a dog with two tails is to be extremely happy.
He's bought a new car and he's like a dog with two tails.
 
like you wouldn't believe
in a way that would surprise you
He can run like you wouldn't believe.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
One of the problems with Cyprus pines was the resistance was created by a high oil content so if you had any bushfires or anything along those lines the poles used to go up like you wouldn't believe.
 
likely suspect
the person or thing that is probably to blame
The most likely suspect for your problem is a virus.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
The most likely suspect is a chemical known as aromatic amines, also found in cigarettes.
 
lineball
Something that is lineball is uncertain or not yet decided.
The election is still lineball the day after the polls closed.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Now, nearly $5 million later, has it been worth it?
I'll tell you in about a year's time. That's when our first cheques really start to flow in. At the moment we're on lineball.
 
litmus test
an important test; a decisive test
This exam will be a litmus test of your ability.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
What he finds - or doesn't find - provides a litmus for the quality of the water.
 
live on the sniff of an oily rag
To live on the sniff of an oily rag is to live on very little.
When I was a student I used to live on the sniff of an oily rag.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
All her money had been spent on her anthropological research and on the Aboriginal people that she wanted to help. And she really lived on the sniff of an oily rag.
 
live up to
To live up to what people say about you is to be as good as they say.
If they live up to their reputation they should win this game easily.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We've got a lot to live up to, you've gotta keep the standard up.
 
lives and breathes
is totally involved in
My brother lives and breathes football.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Surrounded by a sea of sculpture, Stuart Elliot lives and breathes his life's work.
 
long haul
The long haul is a long period of time.
In in it for the long haul.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Above all, being a carbon farmer means being in it for the long haul.
 
long in the tooth
Someone who is long in the tooth is old.
I'm too long in the tooth to go out dancing.
 
long shot
A long shot is an attempt that you don't expect to succeed.
I think it's a long shot, but I'll apply for the job anyway.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We do recognise that it is a long shot. Cane toads are a very successful invasive species that have been in Australia for a long time. We're just doing the best we can to try and slow or prevent their entry into Western Australia.
 
long way off
Something that is a long way off is a large distance away in time or space.
My hunderdth birthday is a long way off.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Dark chocolate generally has higher cocoa levels than milk chocolate but milk chocolate is far more popular and, because of high sugar and fat levels, it's still a long way off being prescribed by doctors.
 
look before you leap
To look before you leap is a saying meaning that you should think carefully before you act.
Don't buy the car if you haven't driven it - it's always best to look before you leap.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We're not advocates for plastic bags, we're simply saying in a colloquial term, "look before you leap".
 
looked down upon
To be looked down upon is to be considered inferior.
Poor people are often looked down upon by the rich.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
In the past women have been looked down upon to a certain extent in parliament as though you know were playing second fiddle to the men.
 
looked the part
To look the part is to appear real or to look like you're supposed to.
He looked the part in his new unifrom.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We got that kind of tingly feeling that "here is the real thing" and it certainly looked the part and we were quite thrilled to see it.
 
looking down the barrel
facing disaster; looking at things getting much worse
Our team has lost its last five games and is really looking down the barrel when we play the top team this week.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
We're now looking down the barrel of our fourth consecutive season of adversity.
 
lose your heart
To lose your heart is to fall in love with something or somebody.
She lost her heart to the kitten after a few days.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
In 1930 she came here at the age of 46 for the first time, and she really lost her heart to Central Australia, to the people who lived here and to the Aboriginal people who were really struggling with the first impact of colonisation at that time.
 
lost for words
To be lost for words is to have nothing to say or be so surprised you don't know what to say.
I was lost for words when he told me he was getting married.
This is how a variant of this expression is used in one of our stories:
He is not often lost for a quick reply except, perhaps, if it actually comes to meeting his birth mother.
 
lost touch
To lose touch is to no longer have contact with or see somone you have known well.
I've lost touch with most of my old school friends.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
Raising families and working the land meant that the friends lost touch.
 
lot of water has run under the bridge
When you say that a lot of water has run or flowed under the bridge, you mean that a lot of time has passed.
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I was at school.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
A lot of water had run under the bridge since we'd met before.
 
love them to death
To love someone or something to death is to love them very much.
My brother annoys me, but I love him to death.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
I've got two older brothers. We're really close as well. I love them to death.
 
low-key
quiet; without fanfare
Her birthday party was very low-key - just a few friends at a restaurant.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
It seems like a fairly low-key entrance for a man who heads one of Australasia's largest IT companies, but then that's what today is all about.
 
lump in my throat
To have a lump in your throat is to feel very emotional and have a tight feeling in your throat.
I had a lump in my throat at the end of that movie.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:
But it's rare for me to watch a performance and not to get a lump in my throat.
 
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