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DOING THINGS
Starting, Re-starting, Finishing
Troubles And Difficulties
Taking Risks

D  O  I  N  G    T  H  I  N  G  S

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STARTING, RE-STARTING, FINISHING

Dare inizio a qualcosa

To lay the foundations (to get in gear, to set the ball rolling)

I know that our company is not doing big business at the moment, we're just laying the foundations (getting in gear, setting the ball rolling)... it's early days yet!

From scratch

All you can see here was built up from scratch by him.

To get a foot in the door

Having already worked as a porter, he got his foot in the door, and now is the owner of the hotel.

To see how the land lies

I want to see how the land lies before putting all the money in it.

To see which way the wind is blowing (to hold fire)

After our argument, I was scared to contact her.. I want to see which way the wind is blowing first.. it's better to hold fire!

A watched kettle never boils

Stop spending all your time watching the telephone! She will call you sooner or later! Remember that a watched kettle never boils.

Trovare un punto di partenza da cui procedere

To get a foothold

They got a foothold with the first little shop they opened.. now they have ten of them.

To get one's skates on (chop chop, shake a leg)

It's very late... get going, Dan! Get your skates on! (chop chop! shake a leg!)

To get off to a flying start

When he opened his business, he got it off to a flying start by selling everything with fifty per cent off.

Where there's a will there's a way

Harry never neglected studying after working hours, and now he has passed his exams: where there's a will there's a way!

Make hay while the sun shines

We'd better have the barbecue on the beach today, for tomorrow it will probably rain... make hay while the sun shines.

To strike while the iron is hot

You were so clever, asking for a company car during the interview... better to strike while the iron is hot.

The early bird catches the worm

This is said to be a junk market, but if you get there early in the morning you can find good bargains... the early bird catches the worm!

It's easier said than done

John considers himself a perfect organiser, but he's always too busy to help us: it's easier said than done.

Rome wasn't built in a day

Bill, don't be in a hurry doing up the front of your house: Rome wasn't built in a day.

Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

After working all year, we hardly made anything, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Non sapere fare nulla, un tubo, essere incapaci

Couldn't organize a piss-up in a brewery!

Dan? A good chap, but he’s unable to manage difficult situations… he couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery!

Guardare e rifare, visto e fatto

Monkey see, monkey do

The educational system have embraced a "monkey see, monkey do" approach to science.

Facile, semplice, come una passeggiata

(as easy as) a walk in the park

Giving up smoking is a walk in the park...

Qualcosa di semplice, facile, un gioco da ragazzi

A cinch

The final test? It was a cinch!... I finished it quickly and without mistakes

A slapdash

His work is becoming very slapdash. This is because he has too many clients and so cannot give his best to all of them.

To knock someone (something) into shape

He's very talented but, lazy... his tutor will knock him into shape!

Fare meglio, (dover) darsi una regolata, smetterla di fare cavolate

To clean up one's act

We all think it's time Shawna and Tricia cleaned up their act... they're so crazy, so irretrievable!

You need to clean up your act, or you'll lose the job! Gwen... what will you do?

Listen Ned... you're going to have to clean up your act if you care fot her.

C'è più di un modo per fare una cosa

There's more than one way to skin a cat

Tony.. the way you lead the group's not the most appropriate: there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Ways and means

You've many ways and means of reaching the goal but, what's important is the achieving.

To be a jack-of-all-trades (but master of none)

Before being an actor, he led a jack-of-all-trades existence, doing all sorts of jobs.

To be like a bull at a gate

She cleaned the kitchen in a frenzy... like a bull at a gate!

To set the wheels in motion

Meeting people in show business could set the wheels in motion and help you get introduced to the right producer.

You've made your bed, now you must lie on it!

Now that you have the promotion, you've to work harder: you've made your bed, now you must lie on it!

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

Leave the book there: the librarian will put it on the shelf... why keep a dog and bark yourself?

A labour of love

Even though I helped him, I hadn't the nerve to ask for some money: it was a labour of love!

To carry coals to Newcastle

Meg's so funny: she went to France, bringing wine and cheese with her: a pretty case of carrying coals to Newcastle.

To bite off more than one can chew

He's not a bad bloke, but he's not reliable.. he always tries to bite off more than he can chew.

To over-egg the pudding (to gild the lily)

Her good taste for interiors sometimes let her down when she over-eggs the pudding (gilds the lily), with dazzling details.

To bite the bullet

After the lecture from my boss, I have to bite the bullet and do as much as I can.

To take one's time

There is a big backlog of invoices to register, but take your time: we cannot make mistakes in the general accounting!

To have a crack at something (to have a go at something)

Let's have a crack (have a go)... you are always so lucky!

To set one's sights on something (to set one's heart on something)

Sally seems really determined: she confessed she set her sights (her heart) on being a journalist in the local newspaper.

To put one's shoulder to the wheel

If only you just could put your shoulder to the wheel, you could have been half done already.

To take the bit between one's teeth

He's taking the bit between his teeth to carry out the project without delay.

To keep plugging away

Lisa hadn't passed the final test: she has to keep plugging away and applying herself more, if she wants to get through the next session.

To break one's back

He's breaking his back doing this hard work, just to have enough money to go to the States.

To sweat blood over something (to work one's guts out)

John always believed in the documentary project and he sweated blood over (worked his guts out) filming it.

To move heaven and earth

He's moving heaven and earth to get her phone number!

By hook or by crook

She worked hard all year long and now she's determined to get the promotion, by hook or by crook.

To try harder

You can pass the test only by trying harder and studying for all the remaining days.

To be at the cutting-edge

The new sports car that the company brought out is not really what one would call 'cutting-edge'.

To have a lot of irons on the fire

I admire you for being able to have a lot of irons on the fire, and for the way you take full advantage of every single opportunity.

To go the whole hog

After so many months of hard work, we now have to go the whole hog to finish refurbishing the house.

To stick to one's guns

The restaurant's owner had to stick to his guns, when the new fast food place opened a few doors down from him.

To be in the thick of things

Even though John owned the company, he still got involved in the every-day running of the business, as he liked being in the thick of things.

Essere impicciati, occupati

To have a lot on (much on)

A party tomorrow? Oh no, I've got a lot on this week...

Sheila hasn't got much on: she's waiting for a new job.

Lavorare in team, collaborare, fare gioco di squadra

To play ball (American English)

Hey, Ron, you still have to learn how to play ball with the team...

To burn the midnight oil

I had to finish all the plans and, so, I was burning the midnight oil.

To be quick (slow) off the mark

Linda prepares very accurate reports, but unfortunately she is really slow off the mark.

To save the day

The lift Jo gave to you saved the day, as the bus strike is still on.

To work up a head of steam (to build up a head of steam)

You're training so hard that your steadiness will work up a head of steam in the game.

To get the hang of something

After the intensive training, Jim got the hang of driving the new big lorry.

The computer? I think I've finally got the hang of it!

To do something by the seat of one's pants (to pull oneself up by one's own bootstrap)

Greta won the prize without any help: she did it by the seat of her pants (by her own bootstrap).

To do one's own thing

Let them do their own thing... they're old enough to do what they want!

To get a handle on something

Before climbing Everest, the climbers had to get a handle on their body reactions to the lack of oxygen.

Cut-and-dried

You can trust him.. even if the contract is not signed, it's cut-and-dried.

To get one's act together (to get one's shit together)

Get your act together, Beverly... otherwise the holiday will turn into a shambles.

To do one's homework

When Helen has something to organise, you can bet that she always does her homework; that way, she cuts her work in half.

To get something over and done with

Get it over and done with straight away, Jill... there's no time left!

To be on the right track

The reaction of all the colleagues dispelled any doubt about how his proposal was on the right track.

To take to something like a duck to water

He took to the hard training with enthusiasm... like a duck to water.

To go by the book

Our supervisor is so strict that we've always to go by the book.

To be stuck in a rut

John feels very demotivated after working the night shift... he's now stuck in a rut and needs to do something different with his life.

To know a thing or two

He's much more than a mechanic, as he has great experience in repairing and tuning engines, and now he knows a thing or two about every kind of car.

A small sea never made a skilful mariner

Oscar proved his good instinct in the small local business, but he's not up to the level of leading a big company... a small sea never made a good mariner.

To be an old hand at something

Your mum is an old hand at looking after children.

Not to do things by halves (humorous)

Enjoy your meal! She's a good cook and she doesn't do things by halves... so there will be plenty of grub!

To be a wizard at doing something (to be a dab hand at doing something)

Gino is a wiz (a dab hand) at discovering new fantastic restaurants.

To do something with one hand tied behind one's back

Jerry knows his work so well that he could do it with one hand tied behind his back!

To do the trick

Try adding some oil to the petrol: it will do the trick.

To make the most of something

Being in Chicago for ten days only, we made the most of the time by having a lot of trips all around the Michigan Lake.

To set the pace

Our designers are setting the pace in the current fashion.

Take matters into one's own hands

After Jack tried in vain to repair the engine, he decided to take it to the garage and let the experts take matters into their own hands.

To be meat and drink to somebody

Jamie sorted out that strange noise coming from the engine in five minutes, after all the other mechanics had failed... it really was meat and drink to him!

To be at somebody's beck and call

It's a hard life being a personal assistant as you are... always at your boss's beck and call.

To run rings round somebody

Matthew was the first to reach the target, he has been running rings round all the other salesman.

To be plain sailing

The first part of the driving trip is plain sailing... the hard part will come later.

As easy as ABC (a piece of cake)

If the team seriously undertakes to finish that work it will be as easy as ABC... a piece of cake!

To go from strength to strength

Luckily the new activity is going from strength to strength!

To hit the mark (to hit the spot)

The interview I had yesterday hit the mark: they complimented me on my good preparation!

To go with a bang

The party went with a bang: Ed managed the barbecue and everybody enjoyed themselves immensely!

To do a roaring trade (to go like hot cakes)

That new shop is doing a roaring trade... its stuff is going like hot cakes.

To be a blessing in disguise (to be a mixed blessing)

The accident was a blessing in disguise: the driver who knocked him down is now his wife.

To make a fresh start

After his new business flopped last month, Harris told me that he wants to wait for a while before making a fresh start.

To turn over a new leaf

She turned over a new leaf, when she gave up smoking.

To get another bite at the cherry

Don't worry too much about being passed up for promotion.. you will get another bite of the cherry next year.

To go through something like a hot knife through butter

After the board approved the last part of the project, we're going through it like a hot knife through butter.

To go like clockwork

The work's going really smoothly... just like clockwork.

To strike it lucky

Do you remember Jasper? ...so jammy! I heard he struck it lucky, by opening a chain of delicatessens.

Tutto compreso

Everything but the kitchen sink

Every time we travel Mary take everything possible... but the kitchen sink!

Tom's new car is fantastic, much better than a limo: satellite TV, fridge... everything but the kitchen sink.

Essere sul punto di finire qualcosa

To be on the last lap

We're nearly finished restoring the house: we're on the last lap!

To call it a day (wind it up, wrap it up)

After such hard overtime we've finished! Call it a day! (wind it up! wrap it up!)

Essere perfettamente a posto, in ordine

To be in apple pie order

This is a room in apple pie order! A place for everything and everything in its place!

To take off your hat to somebody

I have to take off my hat to you, Sam: you refurbished the house perfectly.

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TROUBLES AND DIFFICULTIES

Saper prendere il bene ed il male di una situazione

To take the rough with the smooth

You have to take the rough with the smooth in driving this sports car: it's very fast but, it uses a lot of petrol.

Essersela voluta, essersela andata a cercare

To have it coming

Linda split with Frank last week… he had it coming: he was unfaithful to her.

Clio's been fired for poor performance... with all the problems she caused, she had it coming!

He's mean to everyone... when Ed hit him he had it coming!

Cominciare male

To start (to get off) on the wrong foot

Sorry Edward, that is not the work we were expecting for! You started (got off) on the wrong foot!

To be in a jam (to be in hot water, in a pickle, in a stew)

I shouldn't have cheated in the exams; now, I'm in really in a jam (in hot water, in a pickle, in a stew).

A hard (tough) nut to crack

She ended up being persuaded, but it was a hard nut (a tough nut) to crack!

To be barking up the wrong tree

Waiting for a cab there was like barking up the wrong tree... they only stop in the city center at night.

If the worst comes to the worst

If the worst comes to the worst, I will quit the company and sell my shares.

Come hell or high water

I definitely want to try it, even if it's something risky... come hell or high water!

There is the rub

I told you, be focused in doing this... there's the rub!

To go up in smoke

It was too sad even to describe, seeing Arthur's plans going up in smoke.

To cross a bridge when one comes to it

Let's get there and see how the wind blows: cross that bridge when you come to it... It's too early at the moment!

To keep one's shirt on

Calm down... keep your shirt on! You have to finish that work, somehow or other!

More haste less speed

Tony is a very good driver but, he goes too fast and has a lot of accidents... I always tell him: "More haste less speed!"

Not to have a cat's chance in hell

You haven't got a cat's chance in hell of getting that job: you're not qualified for it.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

I didn't know whether to accept the new job offer or to stay where I was; I felt as if I were stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Not to be able to make heads or tails of something (to be in two minds, going around in circles)

It's so hard to come to a final decision: I'm still not able to make head or tails of the choice.. I'm in two minds (going around in circles).

The last straw (the straw that breaks the camel's back)

..it was the last straw (the straw that broke the camel's back), when the driver got out screaming, after crashing into my parked car.

To be up to no good

The old man used to think that young people were only up to no good.

When in doubt, do nowt

Calm down, hold back: if you're uncertain, don't take any action... when in doubt, do nowt.

To put someone through one's paces

Before getting a regular contract, they put me through my paces for three months.

Through thick and thin

The activity had come to a standstill, but his partner seems to stick by him through thick and thin.

Against all the odds

Janet had an extremely difficult year, however, she managed, against all the odds, to pass her exams.

To ride for a fall

Be focused.. you're riding for a fall with your scatty mood.

To let things get on top of oneself

Andrew was always so busy at work, that things began to get on top of him and he had a nervous breakdown.

Peggiorare, aggravare, rendere un problema più difficile

A turn of the screw; another turn of the screw

The government's tax increase package is another turn of the screw for the whole working class.

Poor Ted: each letter from his ex girlfriend is another turn of the screw...

To play merry hell with

Instead of improving the situation, your presence played merry hell with people at the party.

To be bone idle

Mike is a good chap, but I don't like working with him: he's bone idle.

Not to do something for all the tea in China

On this sunny day, I wouldn't do homework for all the tea in China!

To chase one's tail

He's a hard worker, but not very efficient: yesterday he was chasing his tail all day, trying to find some old reports.

To drop something like a hot brick

Jim sold his car, dropping the old banger like a hot brick, for not much money at all.

Don't give up the day job

I know you think you're a great dancer Danny but, don't give up the day job!

To be all thumbs

Even after so many hours of private lessons, you will never have a perfect style: you are all thumbs when it comes to drawing.

Like a bull in a china shop

He's such an awkward character, always dropping bricks with the customers... just like a bull in a china shop.

To open a can of worms

Once there was one complaint about corruption in the company, all the others soon followed... it opened a can of worms.

To nip something in the bud

When your child starts misbehaving, you have to teach him right from wrong immediately; that way, you nip the problem in the bud.

Like water off a duck's back

When the boss was shouting at Linda, it did not upset her at all... she was so used to it that it was like water off a duck's back.

Più rogne che altro, solo problemi e nessun vantaggio

More kicks than half-pence

Working all the day for a little money? No, that's only more kicks than half-pence!

Non essere utile, non risolvere

To be none the wiser

I still don't know about it... even when my manager explained the situation, I was still none the wiser.

Looking for a needle in a haystack

Sally was in trouble when she lost her contact lenses in the shaggy carpet; it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

To get blood out of a stone

Don't think that you'll get any help from him: it's like getting blood out of a stone.

To flog a dead horse

There's no point in taking your old car to the garage again: it's a jalope... you're flogging a dead horse!

To pick holes

Stop picking holes Frank: we will never finish going on like this!

A fly in the ointment

Life can never be perfect... there's always a fly in the ointment.

To go to pot

The project went to pot because there was no one ready to finance it.

All show no go (all mouth and trousers, full of hot hair)

Don't listen to him! He promised me a lot of things but, at the end, it was all show no go!... he's all mouth and trousers (full of hot air).

To smell a rat (something fishy)

I smelled a rat when they said that they needed another couple of days to finish the work... there's something fishy going on there!

A wild goose chase

Stop pushing John so hard: it's a wild goose chase.

To have a narrow escape (to escape by the skin of one's teeth)

Don't ask me how I survived that car crash! I think I escaped by the skin of my teeth!

To cry wolf

Stop crying wolf: there is no danger at all!

Forewarned is forearmed

Now you know what you are risking.. forewarned is forearmed!

Every man for himself

In that cruel competition the only rule seems to be "every man for himself".

To be out on one's ear

You cannot insult all the people in the bar: you'll be out on your ear.

To scrape the barrel

I see you're reviving those old colours for doing up your room... are you scraping the barrel?

To throw in the towel (to throw in the sponge)

After months and months passed in trying to win the race, the mature runner threw in the towel (threw in the sponge).

To be a flop (to be a turkey)

We worked a lot but, it was a flop... a turkey

To get the sack

He wasn't up to the level: he got the sack!

Lightning doesn't strike twice

After the traffic police issued him with a ticket, Sam left his car in the same place.. lightning doesn't strike twice.

To land on one's feet

They thought of punishing Jim with that unfair dismissal, but he should gain a lot of money if he brings an action against the company: he will land on his feet!

To be out of the woods

It was a very hard test and I was put in the corner, but now I can forget it.. now I feel like I am out of the woods at last.

 

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TAKING RISKS

To throw caution to the wind

It's better that you sleep here tonight... driving back home so tired and drunk would simply mean throwing caution to the wind.

To put all one's eggs in one basket

I told you that you're risking everything, going to South America to change your life: never put all your eggs in one basket!

It's do or die (sink or swim)

I know that's a risky choice, but you cannot skip it: it's do or die... sink or swim!

To soft pedal

Don't soft pedal the rules and regulations! You're risking your job by being late every morning!

To get one's fingers burnt

You know, Matt... nothing important was ever done without the risk of getting your fingers burnt.

To take heed of a danger

The roads are full of ice! Take heed of that danger when you're driving!

To put one's neck on the line (to stick one's neck out)

The old Chairman gained a lot of money from risky investments by putting his neck on the line on the stock-exchange.

To sail close to the wind (to skate on thin ice)

He arrived on time, but he was driving so fast whilst it was raining that he really was sailing close to the wind (skating on thin ice).

To put one's head above the parapet

Nobody ever criticized the boss's decisions because they were all too afraid to put their heads above the parapet.

To be asking for trouble

Are you asking for trouble? Why drive without fastening the belt? You'll get a ticket, at least!

To sink to such a level

How many times did I tell you, Tom: don't sink to such a level, you're risking too much!

A gung-ho

William is rather gung-ho... too eager to do things without thinking.

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