to be caught on the hop

jelentés / meaning:
váratlanul érint valami, felkészületlenül ér valami

to be in an unprepared situation
 
if you catch someone on the hop, you do something when they are not ready for it and may not be able to deal with it well 

 "That kiss really caught me on the hop."
forrás/ source: link
 példák / examples:
  • I'm afraid you've caught me on the hop - I wasn't expecting your call until this afternoon. 
  • I'm afraid you've caught me on the hop - I wasn't expecting you till next week.
  • If we attack at the very start of the game, we may just catch their defenders on the hop.
  • My daughter caught me on the hop yesterday. 
  • The new ruling caught me on the hop. 
  •  Make sure everything is ready well in advance otherwise you will be caught on the hop.

  • A : Debbie had a baby a week after marrying Derek Dim. Derek didn't even know his wife was pregnant.
  • B : Yes, the baby caught him on the hop -- he thought Debbie was just very fat.
 

make headway

jelentés / meaning: 
előrehalad valamivel (szó szerint és átvitt értelemben is), halad valamivel, boldogul valamivel

make headway =to achieve progress
headway=progress , especially in difficult circumstances 

"This soldier struggles to make headway against a gale."

példák / examples:
  • We are making little headway with the negotiations.
  • We hope scientists are able to continue to make headway against cancer.
  • We haven't made any headway with this project
  • With Freda's help, we made headway.  
  • The boat made slow headway against the tide.
  • We just couldn't make any significant headway despite having the benefit of a stiff breeze behind our backs.

hot on your heels

másik forma / an other form: close on your heels
jelentés / meaning:

a sarkadban van, a nyomodban van

 following directly behind someone 
 
példák / examples:
  • She headed inside the house with her brother hot on her heels.
  • She left the restaurant with him hot on her heels. 

(to be) on a par with somebody or something

[UK: pɑr], [USA: pɔ'r]
par= egyenlőség, egyenrangúság 

 jelentés / meaning:
egyenlő szinten

at the same level as someone or something 


"Dementia should be made a top health priority on a par with cancer and lung disease."
 
 példák / examples:

  • This violinist may be an amateur but he's on a par with professional orchestral players.
  • Graduate unemployment rates were almost on a par with those for people leaving school with just GCSEs. 
  • The belief that girls are not on a par with boys when it comes to mathematical skills because of biological differences is actually a myth.
  • His ability is on a par with his ambition.

to be in keeping with

jelentés / meaning:
 összehangban van valamivel, harmóniában van valamivel, valaminek megfelelően

to be in harmony, conforming to, in agreement with, because of something
 
 példák / examples:
  • His actions are not in keeping with his words.
  • This is in keeping with the government's commitment to pursue conversation policies.
  • There will be no flowers at the funeral, in keeping with the family's wishes.
  • The new wing is in keeping with the house's original architecture.

with bated breath

gyakran használt, de helytelen formája: baited breath

jelentés / meaning:

visszatartott lélegzettel (vár valamit)

 if you wait for something with bated breath, you feel very excited or anxious while you are waiting

példák / examples:
  • They listened with bated breath for the announcement about the winner.
  • We stood there with bated  breath while the man hung on the side of the bridge.
  • We were waiting with bated breath for the prizes to be announced.
  • She waited with bated breath for their host to emerge from the shadows.
emerge= felbukkan, megjelenik,

walk off with something

also: to walk away with something

A.) jelentés / meaning: 

elsétál valamivel, lelép valamivel, ellop valamit
 
to take or steal something especially in relaxed or confident way


példák / examples:
  • Who walked off with my drink?
  • Thieves walked off with two million dollars' worth of jewellery.
  • This is someone else's umbrella! Someone must've walked off with mine.
  • You just can't walk off with his jacket!

B.)
jelentés / meaning: 

kisétál a nyereménnyel / könnyen megnyer, elnyer, 
 
win something easily 

példák / examples:

  • Maybe she'll walk off with the first prize. 
  • To walk off with the biggest ever prize in poker you'll need a......
  • She walked off with the top prize.


Your fly is open!

jelentés / meaning: 
lent van a slicced / ki van gombolva a slicced 

to have the zip or row of buttons at the front of your trousers open



példák / examples:
  • I was so embarrassed when I realised I had my fly open all afternoon. 
  • I think you need to know your fly is open.
  • That awkward moment when you notice your fly is open, and have to go back and think through every social encounter you've had since the last time you went to the bathroom.... 
  • Here's how to tell someone that their fly is open : link

put a positive spin on something

jelentés / meaning: 
kedvező színben tűntet fel valamit, 
a jó oldalát domborítja,emeli ki valaminek
jó oldalát nézi valaminek

(vagy a rossz oldalát, ha positive spin helyett negative spin-t használunk)
 
to twist a report or story to one's advantage; to interpret an event to make it seem favourable or beneficial to oneself or one's cause.

 a positive spin on failure

példák / examples:
  • The mayor tried to put a positive spin on the damaging polls.
  • I am an expert at putting a positive spin on the events of my life.
  • It is very important that you will put a positive spin on everything when dealing with customers. 
  • I was always irritated by those who try to put a positive spin on everything. That's what keeps people stuck in unhappy relationships, unfulfilling jobs, etc. MORE
  • This chef has put a new spin on seafood dishes . (új színben tűnteti fel, új oldalát mutatja)
  • The pundit's spin on the new legislation was highly critical. (~kritikus hangon értékelte, interpretálta )
pundit=hindu tudós



Innen jön a spin doctor kifejezés is.

spin doctor= valaki, aki média törvényszerűségeit ismerve egy népszerűtlen politikus vagy ügy közmegítélésén próbál javítani.
 A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure, especially an unpopular politican.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

jelentés / meaning:
Minden rosszban van valami jó.
( szó szerint="minden felhőnek ezüst kontúrja van")

something that you say which means that there is something good even in an unpleasant situation,
you can derive some benefit from every bad thing that happens to you
 

példák / examples:

  • Don't be unhappy that your boyfriend broke up with you, every cloud has a silver lining.
 
 

spill the beans

jelentés / meaning: 
elárul, felfed egy titkot ( véletlenül vagy rossz szándékkal )

disclose a secret, especially to do so unintentionally or maliciously,
tell people secret information 
source:zemlinphoto

példák / examples:
  • It was then that she threatened to spill the beans about her affair with the president.
  • It seemed a fine opportunity to spill the beans.
  • They had planned it as a surprise party, but somebody spilled the beans.
  • Mom already knows about your speeding ticket, I spilled the beans to her this morning.
  • Pete is always spilling the beans about everyone, in fact yesterday he told me a secret about his cousin!

take something at face value

jelentés / mean other meaning:
készpénznek vesz valamit (vagy valakit),
 elhisz valamit kételkedés nélkül

If you take something at face value, you accept it and believe it without thinking about it very much, even though it might be untrue.

'face value' másik jelentése:
 The face value of things such as coins, paper money, investment documents, or tickets is the amount of money that they are worth, and that is written on them = névérték

 'Don't take everything at face value...'


példák / examples:
  • I don't know whether I can take her story at face value, but I will assume that she is not lying.
  • The committee took the report at face value and approved the suggested changes. 
  • Public statements from the various groups involved should not necessarily be taken at face value. 
  • Do you have difficulty with accepting a person's word at face value? Your mistrust just might be missing you a great chance to take up an opportunity or develop a closer relationship with somebody. (more) 

assume=feltételez 
comittee=bizottség
approve=elfogad,jóváhagy, helyesel 

British and American Spelling Differences: -or-our

Különbségek az amerikai és brit angol helyesírása között -
    our és or szóvégek használata. Mikor melyiket használjuk? Melyik a "helyes"?

 Mindkettő helyes,de egy adott szövegen belül vagy a brit angol vagy az amerikai angol szabályainak próbáljunk megfelelni!

(be) prone to

jelentés / meaning:
hajlamos valamire (negatív dologra), kitett valaminek,

to be likely to be affected by something bad or harmful 

'Prone to attention seeking behaviour' (more)
példák / examples:
  • Some plants are prone to this particular disease.  
  • My boss is prone to anger when my work isn't done on schedule.
  • He was prone to emotional outbursts under stress.
  • Even though the problem is now mainly under control, I'm still prone to severe headaches if I spend too long in front of a screen.
  • Even soldiers are falling prone to our society's growing hypochondria.

to be affected by= érintett valamiben
emotional outburst = érezelmi kitörés
on schedule= határidőre/ időbesztás szerint 
severe headache= komoly fejfájás
screen= monitor 
behaviour=behavior (American spelling)= viselkedés
seek= keres
 

no prizes for guessing

jelentés / meaning:
nem nehéz kitalálni, hogy....
kettőt találhatsz, hogy.....

prize= jutalom, jutalomdíj, díj
guess= kitalál, találgat,

something that you say when it is very easy to guess something

 'No prizes for guessing where I was going.' (more)

példák / examples:
  • No prizes for guessing who John wants to ask to the party.
  • There are no prizes for guessing why my mum wasn't happy with that.
  • No prizes for guessing which route the government took and how the universities responded.
  • No prizes for guessing her favourite books.

he who pays the piper calls the tune

jelentés / meaning:
"aki fizeti a muzsikust, az rendeli a zenét" , aki fizet ,az dönthet

The person who pays a musician can decide what music he wants to hear. And the person who pays for any service has the right to say exactly what he wants.

piper  = a person who plays the pipe
pipe = a musical instrument
tune= a melody; a piece of music

 példák / examples:

  • When Mrs. Dalton told the artist what she wanted her portrait to look like, the artist cringed to think that anyone could have such bad taste. Still, he who pays the piper calls the tune, and Mrs. Dalton got what she wanted.


pet hate

jelentés / meaning: 
amit a legjobban utálsz,  
 legjobban irritáló dolog, "kedvenc" idegesítő dolog amit utálsz

 something you strongly dislike because it particularly annoys you


'Back-seat drivers are motorists’ biggest pet hate'
(more: confused.com )
példák / examples:
  • TV game shows are one of my pet hates.
  • A pet hate of ours is telephone salesmen who phone just as we're sitting down to watch TV
  • My pet hate is being put on hold on the telephone.
  • One of my pet hates is when people leave an event before it has finished. I have been in concerts, theatre shows or even sporting events where people get up and leave before the event has finished. I find this really rude to the performer.
  • What are your top 5 pet hates? (examples here

HELP:

pet=    háziállat, kedvenc
pet=    kedvenc (person treated as a favourite, for example: 'the teacher's pet')
pet=    kedvenc, sok figyelmet kapó dolog ( thing that is given special attention, for example:    
  • pet hate,
  • pet peeve (American English),  
  • pet project, 
  • pet theory,
  • pet aversion,  my pet aversion= amitől leginkább iszonyodom ,
back seat driver   = A backseat driver is a passenger who is not controlling the vehicle, and seems to be uncomfortable with the skills of the and/or wants to tutor the driver while the driver is at the wheel.

out of the way (village or other place)

jelentés / meaning: 
messzi, eldugott,  isten háta mögötti ( falu vagy egyéb hely) 
 
not near any cities or large towns, being in a remote or secluded location

'Another out of the way place I found during my motorbike wanderings is the tiny village of Cortes de Pallás.' (more)

 példák / examples:
  • We're going to stay in an out of the way village.
  • We decided to vacation in a quiet place in Maine that is really out of the way.
  • London is filled with small musuems in out of way places. (more)
  • We went to some out of the way places during out trip.
  • Wae Rebo is a small, very out of the way village located some 1,100 meters above sea level, where the air is cool and the village completely surrounded by panoramic mountains and the dense Todo forest. (more)


remote= távoli
secluded= elhagyatott

rough it

jelentés / meaning:
kihúz (pl.: egy estét egy kényelmetlen helyen), meghúzza magát valahol, 


to live without the usual comforts and conveniences.

 példák / examples:
  • I don't mind roughing it tonight if we can stay somewhere a bit more comfortable tomorrow.
  • We roughed it in a small hunting shack. 
  • They prefer to rough it on their travels, and sleep in the car or take a tent.
  • Many young people who haven't got enough money to stay in a hotel are happy to rough it rather than miss their annual holiday.
hunting shack=vadászkunyhó
annual= éves

do a crash course in something

jelentés / meaning: 
gyorstalpaló tanfolyamon vesz részt (nem feltétlenül tényleges tanfolyamon),
gyorsan, a "helyzet hozta szükség okán" tanul meg valamit 

a rapid and intense course of training
detailed explanation

példák / examples:
 
A crash course in motorcycle safety :

 

sound somebody out about something

jelentés / meaning:
megkérdezi valaki véleményét egy adott dologban, kikérdez valakit valamiről

  •  to try to find out what someone thinks (about something)
  • to question (someone) in order to discover (opinions, facts, etc.)
 példák / examples:
  • I don't know what Jane thinks about your suggestion, but I'll sound her out.
  • John was keen on knowing what Sarah thought of his new movie. He wanted me to sound her out.”  
  • You should sound him out about the matter.
 
Ask him out or not? (source:forum of TheSite.org )
  • A: Ok, some quick advice needed people!
    Guy at work - I like him - I want to ask him out - I'm scared he'll say no and then work will be really weird - how will I face him? We don't work in the same office but we would have to see each other every morning and potentially pass each other during the day.
    What should I do?? One of my male co-workers was trying to sound him out subtly
  • B: Have you had any signs that he also likes you? Are you both single? 
  • A: Both single. Have had a few flirty conversations and one majorly flirty text conversation! One of my male co-workers was trying to sound him out subtly and doesn't think (through male intuition) that he's looking for a relationship. But how would I know if I never asked? 

no strings attached

jelentés / meaning: 
kötöttségek nélkül, feltételek nélkül, kötelezettségek nélkül

no special demands or limits that you have to accept  , no obligations


példák / examples:

pig-headed / pigheaded

jelentés / meaning: 
makacs (mint az öszvér) 
szó szerint= disznó-fejű

stupidly stubborn, obstinate/
not willing to change your opinions or intentions , even when it is obvious that they are not right  - source


példák / examples:
  • a pigheaded businessmen
  • According to Herber Hoover, the possibility of war was not a certainty, and the greedy pig-headed politicians of the day did little to prevent war.
  • He is a pig-headed fool.

an honest mistake

jelentés / meaning:
véletlen, őszinte, akaratlan  botlás, tévedés vagy hiba 

a mistake or bad choice that is unintentional


példák / examples:
  • Patients will understand an honest mistake if the doctor tells the truth. link
  • I gave her the wrong amount of money, but it was an honest mistake.
  • An example would be a situation in which the waitress accidentally added the check incorrectly, overcharging the customer, but with no intention of keeping the extra money.
  • It was an honest mistake on his part. 
  • It was a stupid mistake, but an honest mistake.

(to be) all thumbs

jelentés / meaning: 
kétbalkezes 
(szó szerint= csupa hüvelykujj)

awkward in handling things 


példák / examples:
  •  I'm sorry, I'm all thumbs this morning. I don't seem to be able to type one short letter correctly.
  •  Poor Joe can't play the piano at all. He's all thumbs.
  •  David is all thumbs when it comes to gardening.
  • I am all thumbs when it comes to shuffling cards. (kártya keverés)

under his/her belt

jelentés / meaning:
  • valami a tarsolyában van (képesség), 
  • valamivel ( tapasztalattal )  a háta mögött
  • valami a "bendőjében" van
to have something under his/her belt: have something achieved, counted or scored.
to get something under your belt: to learn, to master something
to have something under his/her belt: have sg. eaten or drunk and in one's stomach.

 példák / examples:
  • Frank has over four hundred wins under his belt.
  • Finally, she got good painting techniques under her belt.  
  • When I get the right procedures under my belt, I will be more efficient. 
  • She was a capable individual, with fourteen years as managing director under her belt. 
  • He has several major drama awards under his belt.
forrás, source : free dictionary

try his/her hand at something

jelentés / meaning:
kipróbálja magát valamiben 

to try doing something for the first time, to attempt to do something


 példák / examples:
  • I might try my hand at a bit of Indian cooking.
  • Peter worked as a journalist, and he also tried his hand at writing fiction for a time. 
  • John has decided to try his hand at bee-keeping. 

heads will roll

jelentés / meaning: 
(ezért még) fejek fognak hullni  
szó szerint: fejek fognak gurulni

people will get into severe trouble/ something that you say which means people will lose their jobs as punishment for making serious mistakes

 
 példák / examples:
  • How could the air force have bombed a school by mistake? Heads will roll, believe me!
  • Have you any idea how much money this mistake will cost the company? You can be sure that heads will roll. 
  • When the company's year-end results are known, heads will roll.
  • You can rest assured that heads will roll for this.

hand over fist

jelentés / meaning: 
játszva, könnyedén, gyorsan (szerzel vagy veszítesz el pénzt)
szó szerint: kéz az ököl felett

if you make or lose money hand over fist, you make or lose large amounts of it very quickly

"Rovio is making money hand over fist from its most popular game, Angry Birds."  read more

példák / examples:
  • What a busy day. We took in money hand over fist.  
  • They were buying things hand over fist.
  • Business was good and we were making money hand over fist.  
  • Last year their company was losing money hand over fist.

keep somebody at arm's lenght

jelentés / meaning: 
három lépés távolságot tart valakivel
(= "kartávolágban tart valakit, nem engedi annál közelebb ")
 
If you keep someone or something at arm's length, you keep a safe distance away from them.


példák / examples:

  • There is an art in managing to be polite while keeping your neighbours at arm's length.
  • Martha always keeps her coworkers at arm's length.
(Martha, who works in an office, is very careful when it comes to sharing personal details at work. Her coworkers are always trying to engage Martha in personal conversations. They invite Martha to parties and other social events. Martha always refuses the invitations. Martha prefers to keep her professional work life very separate from her personal life.) source

walls have ears

jelentés / meaning:
a falnak is füle van

something that you say in order to warn someone to be careful what they say because someone may be listening


példák / examples:
  •  Why don't we go and talk about this somewhere quieter? Walls have ears, you know.
  • A: 'Tell me more.' B: 'Not just now.Walls have ears. Let's take a walk in the park.' ( not just now~ de nem most)

your guess is as good as mine

jelentés / meaning:
  • nem tudom (én se); nem tudom jobban mint te
  • a te becslésed, tipped éppoly jó, mint az enyém
 When you respond to someone's question by saying "your guess is an good as mine" you are letting them know that you can not speak with certainty about something. If you were to answer their question, you would only be guessing.

példák / examples:
  • Jill: How long should we bake this pie? Jane: Your guess is as good as mine.
  • 'How long do you think this job will take?' 'Your guess is as good as mine.'
  • 'What does he doing?' 'Your guess is as good as mine.'
  • How that links to a bloody great sea serpent... your guess is as good as mine.

by hook or by crook

jelentés / meaning:
mindenáron

by whatever means necessary
to obtain an objective by any means necessary

mean= eszköz
hook=kampó, horog
crook=kampó, pásztorbot 


 példák / examples:
Worker 1: "I heard that you won a free vacation."
Worker 2: "I did! How awesome is that? The only problem is that I need to get time off work to be able to take the vacation."
Worker 1: "That could be difficult. You know how strict the boss is."
Worker 2: " I'll get the time off work by hook or by crook."
Worker 1: "What do you mean"?
Worker 2: "I'll beg the boss. I'll pay someone to cover my work. Maybe I can take a leave of absence. I'll quit my job if I have to."
Worker 1: Wow! That's pretty extreme. Good Luck!"
forrás, source: idioms4you.com

bark up the wrong tree

jelentés / meaning: 

rossz helyen kopogtat
"rossz fára ugat fel"

  • to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it.
  •  to ask the wrong person; to make the wrong choice;
  • to make a mistake or a false assumption in something you are trying to achieve.




példák / examples:
  • If you think I'm the guilty person, you're barking up the wrong tree.
  • I know you think I stole your umbrella. But really, I don't have it. You are barking up the wrong tree."
  • She's barking up the wrong tree if she's interested in Gavin. Doesn't she know he's gay? 
  • If you're looking for a new job, Ted, you're barking up the wrong tree. We aren't hiring right now. 

to be on edge

jelentés / meaning:
feszült, ideges, ingerült,
 
to be nervous or worried about something,
 impatient, excited,

 
 példák / examples:
  • The players were all a little on edge before the big game.
  • I was on edge the whole time I was there.  
  • We were all on edge as we listened to the TV for news of the election results. 

back to square one

jelentés / meaning:
vissza a kiindulóponthoz; vissza az elejére ,hogy újrakezd az egészet előről

back to the beginning, to start again.



példák / examples:
  • We thought everything was settled, but now they say they're not happy with the deal, so we're back to square one again.
  • If this guy rejects our offer we'll have to go back to square one and start the whole recruitment process again.
  • The investigation was back to square one when Mrs. Earle proved she wasn't anywhere near the crime.  
  • If this doesn't work we're back to square one.
  • And now I’m giving all this up and going right back to square one. 

takes its toll on (something or somebody)

jelentés / meaning: 
áldozatot követel, áldozatait szedi, negatívan érint,  ("vámot szed")
toll= vám, útdíj, autópályadíj
 
to cause harm or suffering 
 
 
 példák / examples:
  • Divorce takes its toll on the children involved. 
  • Civil war has taken its toll on both sides.
  • The heavy truck traffic has taken its toll on the highways. 
  • Recession, unemployment take toll on men 
  • Heat Wave Continues to Take Toll in Eastern States : About 1.3 million homes and businesses in the eastern United States remained without power amid a      heat wave on Tuesday, and storm damage and high temperatures forced many Fourth of July celebrations to be canceled.

make somebody's day day

jelentés / meaning:
nagyon boldoggá tesz valakit / boldoggá teszi valaki napját (jó hírrel, dicsérettel, bókkal, meglepetéssel...stb.

to make someone very happy
példák / examples:
  • Go on, tell him you like his jacket. It'll make his day!
  • I was so pleased to hear from Peter. It really made my day. 
  • Name 3 things to make somebody's day.
  • What this simple act of kindness made me realize is that often it doesn’t take much to make someone else’s day.

 

have green fingers

jelentés / meaning:
különleges tehetsége van a növényekhez, nagyon ügyes kertész
="zöld ujjai vannak"

considerable talent or ability to grow plants and keeping them healthy


 példák / examples:

  • I'm afraid I don't have green fingers. I've killed every plant I've ever owned. 
  • My mum has such green fingers she could probably grow roses on the moon. 

hang somebody out to dry

jelentés / meaning:
magára hagy valakit, cserben hagy valakit, magára hagy valakit egy problémával (és gyakran a felelőséggel, őt hibáztatva)
 
  • Leaving someone on his (or her) own.
  • Leaving someone behind to take the blame for a bad situation
  • Abandoning someone who is in need of help

példák / examples: