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A. IDIOMS FOR SPOKEN ENGLISH
ABACK
TAKE SOMEONE ABACK
Meaning: to shock or surprise someone (More often than not, it's used in the passive form.
I was a little taken aback by the lack of cleanliness in their house.
The actor was taken aback at the directness of the questions in the press conference.
He was taken aback by her angry reply.
The announcement took us aback.
ABET
AID AND ABET
Meaning: to help someone do something wrong; to encourage someone to commit a crime
His chartered accountant aided and abetted her in the fraud.
How could he aid and abet a fugitive from justice?
ACCIDENT
AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
Meaning: a potentially dangerous situation
There is always an accident waiting to happen on a busy road.
ACCORD
OF YOUR OWN ACCORD
Meaning: voluntarily; without being asked to do something
She signed of her own accord. No one asked her to sign.
ACCOUNTING
THERE'S NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE
Meaning: One cannot explain why different people like different things, especially those things one does not like.
You like eating raw eggs? Well, there's no accounting for taste.
ACE
HAVE AN ACE UP YOUR SLEEVE
Meaning: secret knowledge that will give you an advantage
He has an ace up his sleeve. He knows their dirty secrets.
HOLD ALL THE ACES
Meaning: have all the advantages
During a crisis, big companies hold all the aces.
ACID
THE ACID TEST
Meaning: a situation which proves if someone/something is useful/useless (or good/bad)
She is a good speaker, but can she make a business presentation? That's the acid test.
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ACT OF GOD
Meaning:
(WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY 😊👍)
© RB
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