English Slang Idioms (130)

They had been trying to negotiate the sale of their house for what seemed like an eternity. It didn't look like they were going to be able to sell it to the couple after all. After four hours of negotiation, the two couples were in a Mexican standoff. The sellers wouldn't accept anything less than a hundred fifty thousand dollars and the other couple wouldn't go above one hundred twenty thousand dollars.

Correct answer: (c) standoff

Meaning of "standoff"
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They had been trying to negotiate the sale of their house for what seemed like an eternity. It didn't look like they were going to be able to sell it to the couple after all. After four hours of negotiation, the two couples were in a Mexican standoff. The sellers wouldn't accept anything less than a hundred fifty thousand dollars and the other couple wouldn't go above one hundred twenty thousand dollars.

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"Why are we paying Steve such a high salary? We are paying him that much because he has the Midas touch. Everything he has done for this company has resulted in more than expected profits. His ideas make us vastly more money than what we have to pay him," Jim told the board of directors.

Correct answer: (c) touch

Meaning of "touch"
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"Why are we paying Steve such a high salary? We are paying him that much because he has the Midas touch. Everything he has done for this company has resulted in more than expected profits. His ideas make us vastly more money than what we have to pay him," Jim told the board of directors.

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"We had a great day on Saturday," Maxie said sarcastically. "We were driving to the river and then we popped a tire. We were in the middle of nowhere when it happened and we didn't have our cellphone," she said to Grace.

Correct answer: (c) nowhere

Meaning of "nowhere"
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"We had a great day on Saturday," Maxie said sarcastically. "We were driving to the river and then we popped a tire. We were in the middle of nowhere when it happened and we didn't have our cellphone," she said to Grace.

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The private had previously failed his running test. He vowed, might and main, that he would pass the next one so that he could stay in the army.

Correct answer: (a) might

Meaning of "might"
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The private had previously failed his running test. He vowed, might and main, that he would pass the next one so that he could stay in the army.

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His son was having trouble seeing how doing well in school would help him succeed in life. He explained to his son that success in life was the sum of many little achievements and that each little step counted. He told him "Mighty oaks, from little acorns grow."

Correct answer: (a) acorns

Meaning of "acorns"
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His son was having trouble seeing how doing well in school would help him succeed in life. He explained to his son that success in life was the sum of many little achievements and that each little step counted. He told him "Mighty oaks, from little acorns grow."

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"This job is becoming a millstone around my neck. The longer I work here, the less chance I will have to go to school and land a career doing what I truly want to do," Matt told his coworker and friend.

Correct answer: (c) neck

Meaning of "neck"
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"This job is becoming a millstone around my neck. The longer I work here, the less chance I will have to go to school and land a career doing what I truly want to do," Matt told his coworker and friend.

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"Don't mince words, Jeff. Tell me exactly what you think of my idea and don't worry about me getting angry," the boss said

Correct answer: (d) words

Meaning of "words"
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"Don't mince words, Jeff. Tell me exactly what you think of my idea and don't worry about me getting angry," the boss said

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The army tries to instill will power in its new recruits. When privates get tired and want to quit running, they are encouraged to think "mind over matter" and keep going, which they often can.

Correct answer: (d) matter

Meaning of "matter"
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The army tries to instill will power in its new recruits. When privates get tired and want to quit running, they are encouraged to think "mind over matter" and keep going, which they often can.

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The train conductor told the passengers to mind the gap when exiting the train since there was a space of about six inches between the train and the platform.

Correct answer: (a) gap

Meaning of "gap"
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The train conductor told the passengers to mind the gap when exiting the train since there was a space of about six inches between the train and the platform.

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"Gina, quit asking Grace about what she exactly said to her husband when she found out he was cheating on her. Mind your own beeswax!" Rachel told her.

Correct answer: (b) Mind

Meaning of "Mind"
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"Gina, quit asking Grace about what she exactly said to her husband when she found out he was cheating on her. Mind your own beeswax!" Rachel told her.

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