851

stumbling block

- something that prevents or obstructs progress
The issue of salary was a stumbling block in the negotiations between the company
and the union.

subject to (something)

- depending on something, likely to have something
The purchase of the house was subject to several conditions that we wanted to talk
about.

subscribe to (something)

- to have a standing order for a magazine or something similar, to give support or
consent to something
I subscribe to several magazines but I do not have time to read them.
I do not subscribe to our teacher's ideas about many topics.

such and such

- someone or something whose name has been forgotten or should not be said
My friend is always trying to borrow such and such from me but I always say no.

such as

- of a particular kind, for example
I need various tools such as a hammer and a saw in order to complete the job.

such as it is

- in the less-than-perfect condition in which one finds something
I received the old car such as it is but it is not worth very much.





852

suck (someone) in

- to deceive someone
The man always sucks me in with his long and strange stories.

sucker list

- a list of people who can be easily persuaded to buy something
The salesman used a sucker list to try and get people to buy his new product.

sugar daddy

- a rich older man who gives money to a younger woman for her companionship
The woman went on a nice winter holiday with her sugar daddy.

suggestive of (something)

- to be reminiscent of something

The movie was suggestive of a time that disappeared many years ago.

suit oneself

- to do something one's own way to please oneself
I was able to do everything to suit myself while I stayed with my uncle.

suit/fit (someone) to a T

- to be very appropriate for someone
My new job suits me to a T.

sum and substance

- a summary, the gist of something
The sum and substance of what the speaker said was very interesting.


853

sum (something) up

- to put something into a few words, to summarize something
The speaker summed up his presentation and asked the audience for questions.

sunny-side up

- eggs that are fried on one side only
We asked for our eggs to be fried sunny-side up at the restaurant.


supply and demand

- the availability of something compared to the need or demand for something
The supply and demand for used sporting equipment is always very tight.

supposed to do (something)

- to be expected or intend to do something
I was supposed to meet my friend but I forgot.

a sure thing

- something that is sure to happen, something about which there is no doubt
My promotion to manager is a sure thing according to the president.

Sure thing.

- of course, certainly
"Sure thing, I would be happy to help you move next Saturday."

survival of the fittest

- the idea that the most able or fit will survive
It was a matter of the survival of the fittest in the jungle.


854

susceptable to (something)


- to be easily persuaded, to be easily influenced, to likely to become sick
The young boy is very susceptable to the influence of the older boys around him.

swallow one`s pride

- to bring one`s pride under control, to become humble
I had to swallow my pride and ask my father for some money.

swallow (something) hook, line, and sinker

- to believe something completely
I swallowed everything hook, line, and sinker when my friend told me the story about
how he lost his car keys.

swamped with (something)

- to be overwhelmed with something
"I am swamped with work at the moment so I can`t meet you tonight."

swan song

- a final appearance
He was a big hit during his swan song at the company last week.

swear by (something)

- to have complete confidence in something, to be sure of something
My father swears by the walk that he takes every morning.

swear off (something)


- to decide to give up something that you are in the habit of using
My friend swore off tobacco several years ago.


855

swear on a stack of Bibles

- to promise solemnly that what one is about to say is true
The man swore on a stack of Bibles that he did not take any money from the cash
register.

swear on (something)

- to use something as the support or authority that what one is saying is the truth
The accused criminal was asked to swear on a religious text at the trial to make sure
that he was telling the truth.

swear (someone) in

- to have a person promise to do his duty as a member of an organization or in a
formal position.
The new mayor of the city was sworn in at a large ceremony last evening.

sweat bullets/blood

- to be nervous, to be very worried
I was sweating bullets during the job interview.


sweat (something) out

- to wait anxiously for something, to worry about something
I spent the day sweating out whether or not I would get the job.

sweep out of (somewhere)

- to leave somewhere in a dramatic way
The actress swept out of the room after her performance was over.






856

sweep (someone) off his or her feet

- to overcome someone with strong feelings
We were both swept off our feet by the excitement of the ceremony.

sweep (something) under the rug/carpet

- to hide or dismiss something casually
The couple always sweep their problems under the rug and never want to discuss
them.

sweet and sour


- a combination of sweet and sour tastes (found in many Chinese dishes)
The dish had a sweet and sour taste that was very delicious.

sweet nothings

- affectionate but unimportant words that you say to a loved one
The boy in the movie whispered sweet nothings into the ear of his girlfriend.

sweet on (someone)

- to be in love with someone, to be very fond of someone
The boy was sweet on his next door neighbor when he was a child.

sweet-talk (someone)

- to praise or flatter someone to get what you want
My sister tried to sweet-talk our father into giving her the car but he said no.

sweetie pie

- darling, sweetheart
The young man always calls his girlfriend sweetie pie.


857

swelled head

- a feeling that one is more important than one really is
The man has a swelled head since he got the new position in his company.


swift and sure

- fast and certain
I made a complaint to the bank manager and I knew that the answer would come back
swift and sure.

swim against the tide/current

- to do the opposite of what most people want to do
My friend likes to swim against the tide and never wants to do what others are doing.

swing into action

- to start doing something
The members of the rugby team swung into action and cleaned the room after the
party.

swing (something)

- to make something happen
I do not know if I can swing buying an expensive present for my girlfriend.

switched on

- to be in tune with the latest fads/ideas/fashions
My aunt is switched on and knows everything about many recent movies.





858

T
table a motion

- to postpone the discussion of something during a meeting
We tabled a motion to discuss the safety issue at another time.

tag along with (someone)

- to go with someone, to follow along with someone
The little boy tagged along with his older brother when they went to the beach.

tail between one`s legs

- feeling ashamed or beaten
The salesman resigned from his company with his tail between his legs after he told a
lie about his expense account.

tail wagging the dog

- a situation where a small part controls the whole thing
It is like the tail wagging the dog when the receptionist is able to control everything in
the office.


take Idioms



take a backseat to (someone or something)

- to accept a poorer or lower position than someone, to be second to someone or
something
I had to take a backseat to my boss when we went on the business trip.




859

take a bath (on something)

- to come to financial ruin, to lose much money on something
My aunt took a bath on the stock market last year and she is afraid to buy stocks now.

take a beating

- to lose money
My father took a beating when he sold his car.

take a bow

- to bow and receive credit for a good performance
The violinist stopped to take a bow before she went backstage with the orchestra.

take a break

- to have a short rest period in one's work
I stopped to take a break after working all morning.


take a chance/risk

- to try something where failure or bad fortune is likely
I plan to take a chance and visit my friend without phoning first.

take a course in (something)

- to enroll in a class to study/learn something
I am planning to take a course in photography next year.

take a crack at (something)

- to try/attempt to do something
"Have you decided to take a crack at writing the entrance examination?"


860

take a dig at (someone)

- to criticize someone, to say something that will irritate someone
The man is always taking a dig at his wife.

take a dim view of (something)

- to be against something, to disapprove of something
Our company takes a dim view of people who do not wear a suit and tie.

take a fancy/liking to (someone or something)


- to develop a fondness or a preference for someone or something
The woman took a fancy to the new person who she was working with.

take a gander at (someone or something)

- to examine someone or something
I asked the car mechanic to take a gander at the steering system on my car.

take a hand in (something)

- to help plan or do something
The man is always ready to take a hand in any work that needs to be done.

take a hard line (with someone)

- to be firm with someone, to have a firm policy for dealing with someone
The company takes a hard line with people who come to work late.

take a hint

- to understand what is hinted at and behave accordingly
The man is unable to take a hint and does not notice when people are angry at him.