摘要:( not tell a secret during one's entire life ... ) A secret that you carry to the grave is something you never tell anyone during your entire lifetime. Example: "Please, you must not tell anyone wh[阅读全文]

摘要:( one is so excited that one does too much ... ) A person who fell into a quick moving river may be "carried away" to another place by the water, just like a person who is so excited that she conin[阅读全文]

摘要:( able to do it; strong enough; willing to do a hurtful act ... ) Besides the regular meaning of "having the strength or ability to do it", "capable of doing something" is also used to say a pers[阅读全文]

摘要:( the outfit one wears at a formal ceremony such as a college graduation ... ) The clothing a student wears at her graduation ceremony is a called a "cap and gown" because it has a special hat ("c[阅读全文]

摘要:( it must be done; it had to happen ... ) You have to do the thing that you "cannot help doing". Example: "When she said that, I couldn't help laughing." You do not have the choice of not doing[阅读全文]

摘要:( get a promise to do that thing at a future time ... ) To get a rain check is to receive a promise to do some thing at better time, such as when it is not raining. Example: "He was going to take me[阅读全文]

摘要:( insulting that person with rude words ... ) You call a person names when you use rude words to insult that person. Example: "You are a jerk!" Reply: "You don't have to call me names." Another[阅读全文]

摘要:( make the decisions for oneself and others ... ) "Calling the shots" is making the decisions that affect everyone. Example: "I'm calling the shots here. You will do what I say." The person who[阅读全文]

摘要:( read out the names of people who should be present ... ) A person who calls the roll says each name on the list and waits to hear each person respond. Example: "Everyone be quiet. I'm going to ca[阅读全文]

摘要:( officially begin the meeting with everyone acting as they should ... ) You call the meeting to order when you declare that the meeting has begun and ask everyone to pay attention and follow the rul[阅读全文]

摘要:( tell your people to stop attacking ... ) "Call the dogs off" means ask those people who work for you to stop bothering me. Example: "I already gave you your money. Call the dogs off." Police an[阅读全文]

摘要:( stop working ... ) You "call it quits" when you decide it is time to quit working, usually for the day. Example: "It is getting dark outside. Let's call it quits." "Calling it quits" can mea[阅读全文]

摘要:( end the day's work; finish working for the day ... ) You call it a day when you decide that the work day is finished. Example: "It's time to go home. Let's call it a day." You are saying that[阅读全文]

摘要:( go home and go to bed ... ) You "call it a night" when it is nighttime and you decide to go home or go to bed. Example: "You guys are going to another bar? Not me. I'm calling it a night." You[阅读全文]

摘要:( ask people to meet ... ) You call a meeting to say that you want people to meet. Example: "If I call a meeting for Thursday, will you be there?"[阅读全文]

摘要:( saying things to make you look good or feel good ... ) A person who is "building you up" is saying things to make you look good or feel good. Example: "Do you really mean that? or are you just b[阅读全文]

摘要:( bothering you ... ) Just as "a bug" is a "pest", and "to pester" is to bother, someone who is bothering you is "bugging you". Example: "My brother is bugging me." If something is irritati[阅读全文]

摘要:( feel better; make another feel better ... ) To buck up is to feel in a better mood after feeling not well. Example: "Buck up. It will be okay." Another example: "Thanks for bucking me up."[阅读全文]

摘要:( review; practice ... ) When you practice some skill or review some knowledge you "brush up" on it. Example: "Are you going to brush up on your Spanish before you go to Mexico?" Another example:[阅读全文]

摘要:( make money to support the family ... ) The one who brings home the bacon is the one who earns the money needed to support the family. Example: "I go to work every day to bring home the bacon."[阅读全文]