English expression
Drive someone up the wall
Meaning
To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.
In a sentence
The constant tapping is driving me up the wall.
THE IDIOM COLLECTION
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THE EXPRESSION COLLECTION
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English expression
Draw a blank
Meaning
To fail to remember something or find the answer or result you need.
In a sentence
I knew the author’s name yesterday, but I drew a blank when someone asked me.
English expression
Do the trick
Meaning
To produce the result that is needed or wanted.
In a sentence
A small lamp should do the trick if the desk feels too dark.
English expression
Cut someone short
Meaning
To stop someone speaking before they have finished.
In a sentence
The chair cut me short before I could explain the final point.
English expression
Cross your mind
Meaning
To occur to you as a thought, often briefly.
In a sentence
The idea of taking an evening class crossed my mind on the journey home.
English expression
Compare apples and oranges
Meaning
To compare things that are too different for the comparison to be useful or fair.
In a sentence
Comparing the price of a single lesson with a full-year course is comparing apples and oranges.
English expression
Come out of your shell
Meaning
To become more comfortable talking to people and taking part socially.
In a sentence
The small discussion group helped me come out of my shell.
English expression
Catch someone red-handed
Meaning
To discover someone while they are actually doing something illegal.
In a sentence
In the mystery story, the guard caught the thief red-handed as he removed a painting.
English expression
Carry the can
Meaning
To take the blame or responsibility when something goes wrong.
In a sentence
The assistant was left to carry the can for a decision made by the whole team.
English expression
Call it quits
Meaning
To decide to stop an activity or effort.
In a sentence
After three unsuccessful repairs, we decided to call it quits and ask an expert.
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