Key words with English idioms - Lession 1: Matter

KEY WORDS WITH ENGLISH IDIOMS
MATTER
a matter of concern: something to worry about. 
 - Our son’s behaviour at school has been a matter of concern to us for some time now.
a matter of life and/or death: something vitally important' urgent.
 - Maureen has been working furiously Io finish the designs all day - as if they were a matter of life or death.
a matter of opinion :a subject on which people have different opinions.
 - Whether or not video games are bad for children is a matter of opinion.
a matter oftime: something which is certain to happen sooner or later.
 - It’s only a matter of time before John’s old car falls to pieces altogether. It’s twenty years old.
(as) a matter of course: in accordance with what happens naturally or with what usually happens. 
 - Most young married couples start a family as a matter of course. 
 - To most young married couples, starting a family is a matter of course.
be the matter: be wrong, not be in order. 
 - Patrick looked pale and tired. I knew something was the matter.
for that matter: also, as well. 
 - France makes over three million cars a year - so, for that matter, does West Germany.
no laughing matter: nothing to laugh about, something very serious.
 - Being out of work these days is no laughing matter.
no matter what/who/where/which, etc. it is not important what, etc.
 - No matter who phones, I’m not at home, okay? 
 - I must speak Io her, so ask her to phone me, no matter how late it is.
MIND
at the back of one’s / someone’s mind: a sccret/hidden/ intention/idea/worry in a person’s thoughts only, not told to others.
 - John’s worried about the stomach pains he often gets. I know what’s at the back of his mind. He s afraid he has a serious illness.
be (all) in the mind: in one’s imagination, not fact or reality. 
 - “But I’m sure that man’s following us.” ~ “People often say that. It’s all in the mind.”
be of one/of the same mind: be in agreement with someone about something. 
 - My wife and I are of one mind about the education of children. We both believe they learn more at home than at school.
be out of one’s mind: be mad, crazy.
 - Frazer must be out of his mind to cancel the contract!
call/bring something to mind: recall something to one’s memory. 
 - The name sounds familiar to me, but I just can't call her face to mind.
change one’s mind (about something/someone) make a different decision or choice. 
 - Frances wanted to go to China for a holiday, but now she's changed her mind and is going to Vietnam instead.
cross someone’s mind (a thought, idea): occur to someone. 
 - “Perhaps Sandra would like to go to the art exhibition with us. Shall we ask her?” 
 ~ “Yes, the thought had crossed my mind as well.”
drive someone out of his mind: make someone very nervous or angry.
 - For the last time, turn that music down! It’s driving me out of my mind.
give/put/set one’s mind to something: give one’s attention or mental energy to solving or finishing something. 
 - If you really put your mind to it, you could have the letter written in no time.
give someone a piece of one’s mind: reprimand someone; tell someone exactly what one thinks about his behaviour, etc. 
 - I'm tired of Jack's excuses. The next time he says he hasn’t got time to help, I shall give him a piece of my mind.
have half a mind to do something: be inclined to do something but not sure that one will do it. 
 - I’ve half a mind to tell Tim’s mother about his bad behaviour - but then / don’t really want him to be punished.
have a good mind to do something: want to do something and be almost sure that one will do it, especially if one is angry. 
 - I’ve a good mind to call the waiter and send this food back to the kitchen. It's almost cold. 
have a mind ofone’s own: have a strong and independent will, not be easily influenced by others. 
 - You won’t succeed in telling Roger what he ought or ought not to do - he has a mind of his own.
have something/a lot/enough, etc. on one’s mind be worried, troubled; have many things to think about.
 - Tâm Vy is very quiet these days. She must have something on her mind.
in one’s/the mind’s eye: in one’s/the imagination, 
 - In my mind's eye I can still picture the house by the river where I spent my early childhood.
kcep/bear someone/something in mind remember. 
 - I’ll keep you in mind when I want to sell my car. 
 - Please bear in mind that I'd like to have your decision by tomorrow.
keep one’s mind on something: concentrate on something. 
 - The class is very restless because of the heat. The children can't keep their minds on their work.
know one’s (own) mind: know exactly what one wants, what one’s aims are, etc. 
 - Dick's always changing jobs. 1 don’t think he knows his own mind.
a loud/weight off one’s/someone’s mind: a great relief, the end of a worrying or anxious time.
 - Tom has just heard from the doctor that there will be no permanent damage to his leg from the accident. That’s a great load off our minds.
make up one’s mind: take a decision. 
 - Has Sally made up her mind which universities to apply to?
mind over matter overcoming a physical weakness or inconvenience by means of will power. 
 - The last stage of any mountain climb is always a question of mind over matter.
slip one’s mind: be forgotten. 
 - Maggie said she would give me her new address, but it must have slipped her mind.
speak one’s mind: say openly what one thinks or feels. 
 - I know you don't want to hurt anyone, but I think in this case you ought to speak your mind.
take one’s/someone’s mind off someone /something: divert one’s own or another person’s attention from someone/something unpleasant.
 - Let's go to town and see a film. It will help to take your mind off your troubles.
out of sight, out of mind (saying) people or things who are far away, or whom we do not see often, are soon forgotten. 
 - Janet promised to write from Hanoi, but I ve heard nothing. A case of out of sight, out of mind, I suppose. 
to my mind: in my opinion, the way I see it. 
 - Look, to my mind the question's quite simple - either he improves the offer or you refuse it.
BIG
be/get into/hit the big time (informal) be making a lot of money in business, often in the entertainment business; become famous. 
 - Liza is into the big time now - her latest album's been a great success in the States.
a/the big cheese (informal) the most important person of a group; someone who thinks he is the most important.
 - Just because Dad's been promoted and is a big cheese at work, he seems to think he can boss us around at home, too.
big deal! (informal) terrific! great! (ironical) said when one is not impresscd/please d etc. by something. 
 - 'I got the job! I got the job!' 'Big deal! You were the only applicant, weren’t you?’
a big fish in a little/ small pond: someone who is important only in a small unit, group, community, company etc. 
 - Dad prefers to be a big fish in a little pond, so he works for a small company with only fifty employees.
a big hit: something/someone very popular with others. 
 - By the way, your new flat is a big hit with your parents. They think it's perfect for you.
big league (informal) something to he taken seriously because it’s important, dangerous, involves a lot of money etc. 
 - You mustn't get involved in that, David. It's big league. Those men are criminals.
a big mouth: (informal) someone who boasts, exaggerates, makes promises he doesn’t keep etc. 
 - Vinh says he has an uncle with a villa in Dalat and he’ll take me there one day.' ‘Well, don't believe it. He’s just a big mouth.’ [Note also: have a big mouth]
a big noise/shot: (informal) an important person with influence (implies arrogance, self-importance). 
 - There’s sonic big noise coming up from headquarters tomorrow, so we'll have to get things tidied up in here.
big of someone: (informal) generous or kind ofsomeone. (Often said ironically because one thinks the opposite.)
 - 'Uncle Harold sent me fifty pounds for my birthday.’ ~ ‘That's big of him - considering he's a millionaire.’
big talk/words: boastful, empty talk. 
 - I heard Mark telling Alex that he couldn’t decide whether to buy an Audi or a Lesus - all big talk, I’m sure. He'll keep his Toyota Corona, I bet.
in a big way: on a large scale. 
 - Carol and Tony have invited over a hundred guests to their silver wedding party. They always do things in a big way.
give someone a big hand: applaud someone with enthusiasm. 
 - George acted very well in the drama group’s performance of An Inspector Calls. He was given a big hand every night.
make it big: (slang) be very successful, usually in business. Make a name for oneself, money etc. 
 - His dream was to make it big in television - butl it's still just a dream.
too big for one’s boots: conceited, arrogant, feeling and acting in a superior way.
 - Since Douglas got his novelpublished he's been altogether too big for his boots. It’s time someone taught him a lesson.
Pairs of adjectives
alive and kicking: (informal) well and active. 
 - I had a letter from Thuy. She's still very much alive and kicking, working on an Australian sheep farm.
born and bred: born and brought up; having spent one’s early years. 
 - Born and bred in Yorkshire, she wrote navels containing much autobiographical
detail and description of the Yorkshire countryside.
bright and breezy: in a cheerful, bright mood, doing things quickly and in a lively manner.
 - Larry is a very bright and breezy sort ofperson. Everybody likes him.
bright and early: very early in the morning. 
 - Let's get up bright and early and set off at seven!
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: looking very cheerful, bright and lively.
 - Sue must have hadsomegood news. She's looking very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning.
 to be continued