94
Idioms for everyday situations and feelings A
B
When things go right If something …
this means …
worked like a dream
a plan succeeded absolutely perfectly
went/ran like clockwork
it went smoothly, with no difficulties
is up and running
it has begun to work as planned
is falling into place
it is on the point of starting to work well
is looking up
it is looking very positive
When things go wrong: reacting in conversation Oh no! That’s all we need/needed! [in response to news that makes current problems even worse] That’s the last thing I wanted to hear! [in response to news that fulfils your worst fears] This is like a bad dream! [when one bad thing after another happens in quick succession] It’s a real nightmare / my worst nightmare. [used very generally, e.g. about traffic jams, computers going wrong]
What a pain! [used very generally, in response to any situation that causes you difficulty]
C
Confusing situations or situations you don’t understand Her sudden question threw me completely. [I didn’t know how to respond] The meeting was a complete shambles. [a totally disorganised and chaotic event] It’s a mystery to me how people know about my private life. [it’s something I cannot understand] I’m sorry, we must have got our wires crossed. I thought the meeting was at 11, not 10.30. [there must have been a miscommunication/misunderstanding]
I’m not with you. / You’ve lost me there. [what you have said has confused me]
D
194
Happiness and sadness
expression
meaning
to be on top of the world / on cloud nine / over the moon
to be extremely happy
to be in (your) element / to be made for
to be ideally suited for
to be fed up to the back teeth
to be extremely unhappy, disappointed
to be down in the dumps / down in the mouth
to be depressed
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
