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SOCIAL
Social Life
Friendship
Sex
Love

S  O  C  I  A  L

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SOCIAL LIFE

To have winning ways

Frank is welcome at every party we give: he really has winning ways!

Accattivarsi la simpatia degli altri

To find one's way into the people's hearts

She was such a lovely girl, that she always found her way into people's hearts.

Avere una buona comunicativa, un buon modo di fare con tutti

(to have) a common touch

How to explain that to the Japanese group? Let's send Ed: he has a common touch with just about anyone!

Did you see Belinda? She has a real common touch... she's going to bring the freshmen out!

To mind one's Ps and Qs

You'd better mind your Ps and Qs when we are at grandmother's dinner: it's a formal occasion, with all our parents.

To be full of beans

Let's see Gino dancing: he's full of beans!

To have oomph (to have get-up-and-go)

He's such a lively person, with plenty of oomph and get-up-and-go!

Essere orgogliosi, fieri

To hold one's head up high

He was so funny holding his head up high, walking all dressed up walking arm in arm with his girlfriend.

To see eye to eye with someone

I don't like Jim, but when it's to do with football, I see eye to eye with him.

Essere in disaccordo

To be at odds

Becky has been at odds with her colleagues over the new night shift.

Essere molto interessati a qualcuno, a qualcosa

To have a thing about someone, about something

He's asking about you all the time: he's really got a thing about you.

Ingraziarsi, accattivarsi, ruffianarsi

to curry favor

Thelma has been working hard to curry favor with the management of the company.

Betsy's so toady... she betrayed her firends to curry favor with the Reverend Mother.

To have truck with

The owner of the factory gave in to the demands of his workers, as he didn't want any truck with them.

(dover) avere a che fare, trovarsi a fare i conti

To (be) stuck with someone, with something

So, working in the company you'll be stuck with me!

If you like Fiona you'll be stuck with her difficult character...

Riconoscere qualcosa a qualcuno

To hand it to somebody

We've got to hand it to Tricia: she's not a genius, but she knows how to show what she has studied!

I've to hand it to you, Casey... when you sleep you do it in a big way.

Avere la faccia tosta

To have a lot of cheek

He had a lot of cheek, begging her pardon after having touched her again and again, in the middle of the crowd.

To tickle someone's fancy

After more than an hour talking and talking, I hope I tickled her fancy!

To go with the flow

Kevin is a good person to hang around with, as he always just goes with the flow.

To go against the grain

He's so individual and peculiar, going against the grain, especially when he wants to show how original he is.

To play something by ear

Let's arrange the appointment now, then we'll play it by ear.

To take something as read (to take someone's word for something)

I'll be there in a minute, take it as read! Take my word for it!

To paint the town red

After the training was finished, all the guys went out to paint the town red.

The more the merrier

Let them all come with us: the more the merrier!

Trattare in guanti bianchi

To treat someone with kid-gloves

Sheila is so moody and fussy: it's better you treat her with kid-gloves when you go out with her tonight.

Fare una grande accoglienza

To put out the flags

Thank you for the warm wonderful welcome: you've put out the flags for us!

Apparire ridicoli

To have an egg on one's face

Albert had an egg on its face for the loss of credibility... he behaved like a burk!

Our new teacher?... He had been made to look so stupid by talking nonsense… he really had egg on his face!

Nessuno può rimanere solo

No man's an island

Come on, Dan... come with us tonight! You're becoming introverted by never going out! no man's an island!

To let one's hair down

She made me laugh my head off, I really let my hair down!

All hell broke loose

All hell broke loose in the disco when the plastered guy tried to touch Sam's girlfriend.

In carne ed ossa (quando si incontra un personaggio famoso)

In the flesh

Incredible but true: there she was, in the flesh, the famous actress just back from the nominations

To be as dull as ditchwater

I can't stand Harry, speaking all the time about his football club! He really is as dull as ditchwater!

Una noia, una palla, una rottura

For the birds

We went to listen to the lecture: it was so boring, so meaningless... it was for the birds!

To bore the pants off someone

She's nice, but so heavy: she never talks and she hardly responds at all: she really bores the pants off me!

Quando un'idea non piace, non convince gli altri

(not) to relish the idea

I'm sorry I didn't come: I didn't relish the idea of seeing that film.

To turn one's nose up

When they told him how much there was to pay, he turned his nose up and left.

To pike somebody

Sorry Joan, there was a misunderstanding: it wasn't my intention to pike you!

To have butterflies in one's stomach

I always have butterflies in my stomach before meeting a new girl!

To cool one's heels

I called Lucy and we arranged an appointment, but I had to wait forty minutes for her. I had to cool my heels!

To disappear into thin air

Do you know anything about him? He's disappeared into thin air!

To appear out of the blue

Hey John, what a nice surprise! You've appeared out of the blue!

To do a double-take

I had to do a double-take before recognizing her, when she was shopping on the other side of the street.

To chew the fat

Harry and Sally were drinking beer and chewing the fat, whilst the party was going on.

Intrattenersi, mescolarsi, prendere contatto

To rub shoulder with someone

The city's glitterati used to rub shoulders with donning gentlemen and stunning girls.

Intrufolarsi, aggregarsi, imbucarsi

To latch on to somebody

Charlie's used to latch on to the groups so as to talk with pretty students...

Far ascoltare ed accettare i propri argomenti, a tutti i costi

To ram something down somebody's throat

The lecturer is so intrusive: he enjoys ramming his political points of view down our throats!

Senza discussioni

On the nod

We were starving to death, so the dinner proposal went through on the nod.

To understand what makes someone tick

She's so strange and moody... none of us can understand what makes her tick.

To cut no ice with

Trying to explain what happened was a waste of time: it cut no ice with her.

Flattery will get you nowhere

I'm not going to give you a lift, Sally, so you can stop complimenting me: flattery will get you nowhere!

To stop someone short

I'm sorry: no time left! I have to stop you short.

To pick a bone with someone (to take someone up on something)

She's going to pick a bone with me (to take me up on something)... I didn't wait for her at the appointment we arranged for New Year's Eve!

Chiedere in ginocchio, supplicare

On bended knee

Kim felt guilty so he went down on bended knee to ask Lisa to forgive him.

Far capricci, piagnucolare per avere qualcosa

To turn on the waterworks

I don't like kids: they are so temperamental, turning on the waterworks for toys and sweets.

Non voler fare qualcosa

To draw the line at

Sally likes clubs, but she confessed to drawing the line at dancing all night long, every weekend like Sheila does.

To have a peg to hang a grievance on

The old lady always had a peg to hang her grievance on, complaining all the time about public transport.

To talk bollocks (to talk rubbish)

Forget Jimmy: he's always talking bollocks! (talking rubbish!)

Rompere le scatole, scocciare

To bug

I'm trying to concentrate! So, please... don't bug me now!

Ugh, what a bore! Dan's been bugging me all the time...

I've to work extra hours for no extra money... It really bugs me!

To make a drama out of a crisis (to make a mountain out of a mole-hill)

Please stop making a drama out of a crisis (a mountain out of a mole-hill): I didn't want to offend you... it was only a joke, believe me!

A free-for-all (a brawl, a rumble, a donnybrook, a mêlée)

Everybody joined in the argument: it was a bit of a free-for-all.

The end of the match sparked a free-for-all in the pub.

Qualcosa di negativo ed inevitabile

To be in the nature of the beast

Emma and Tom are a nice couple, even if they always argue. Nothing strange: it's in the nature of the beast.

To get short shrift

You're giving my problems short shrift, but talking hours about yours... I don't like that!

To put one's foot in one's mouth (to drop a brick)

I'm sorry, I really put my foot in my mouth by saying such a bad thing!

(avere) un'istruzione di base

The three Rs ('readin', 'riting, 'rithmetic)

He's a good brick, even if he's a simple person: having been brought up in the countryside, he only received the three Rs education.

Atteggiarsi, essere spocchiosi, tirarsela

To lord it over

Lisa’s just been promoted and she enjoys lording it over her workmates...

Can che abbaia non morde

Somebody's bark is worse than their bite

That bloke's a bit surly, but his bark is worse than his bite.

Prendersi gioco di qualcuno

To take somebody for a ride

Lora didn't love you at all, she was taking you for a ride!

Prendere in giro, prendere per i fondelli

To take the piss (out of somebody)

They're always taking the piss out of Dan because he's very touchy.

"You should go to the disco more often… you such a good dancer!” – “Hey dude… are you taking the piss?”

Ten pounds for this bottle of crappy wine… that’s taking the piss!

Sfottere, prendere in giro con un obiettivo preciso

To lead someone up the garden path

I can't stand Marion's manners: that's why I always lead her up the garden path during our gatherings.

Urtare la suscettiblità di qualcuno, far arrabbiare

To harm a hair on somebody's head

She was so in love with him that she never would harm a hair on his head.

Essere arrabbiati con qualcuno

To be mad at someone

Don't be so mad at me! I never forced you into mind games.

Essere criticati duramente

Taken the flak

Albert has taken a lot of flak for his views on East European women.

Ridere alle spalle

to be laughing up one's sleeve

I don't like the way you're laughing up your sleeve, because you found her shyness ridiculous... mind your own business!

Non aver effetto, rimbalzare

To be like water off a duck's back

Jack is so acid with his sarcastic humour, but it doesn't work with me: it's like water off a duck's back.

Offendere

To cut somebody to the quick

The way they grudgingly accepted us at the party cut me to the quick.

Someone's patience wearing thin

Pay attention! My patience is wearing thin!

To be off-putting

I've had enough of your bad manners: you're so off-putting!

To take the biscuit

She took the biscuit when she started looking down on us at the party: it was too much!

Reagire, uscire da uno stato di inferiorità o sudditanza

The worm has turned

Jill has always been obedient, but days ago she told me to stop doing things my own way... mmmh: the worm has turned!

Sfogarsi

To get it off one's chest

Try to get it off your chest, and tell me all of that bad story!

To give someone a piece of one's mind

She really gave me a piece of her mind: she warned me never to joke about racism.

Cruising for a bruising

The group of yobs drank a lot of beer and then they left the pub, cruising for a bruising.

Sistemare i conti con qualcuno

To settle old scores

I will not sleep a wink till the day I can settle all old scores with him!

Vendicarsi, prendersi una rivincita

To get even with somebody

Tricia, stop it! You just try to get even with Ed for your past argument.. you'd better break off.

Stare alla larga, chiamarsi fuori

To keep one's nose clean

After the ringleader was arrested, Ben decided to keep his nose clean.

Andarsene perchè indesiderati, levarsi di mezzo, filare via

To take a hike (often imperative)

The police are coming to clear us out... c'mon boys... take a hike!

To give a dog a bad name (and hang him)

Since the scandal broke out it's been a hard life for Jim... you know: give a dog a bad name!

Why break the habit of a lifetime?

We don't believe that Peter will stop going out with the wrong people: why break the habit of a lifetime?

Avere qualcuno in proprio potere

To have someone by the short and curlies

He couldn't really say 'no' when she asked him to lie for her: she had him by the short and curlies!

To stoop to something

He would stoop to anything in the name of his career and social climbing.

To dance to someone's tune

OK, OK, we'll stay at home watching the telly, but I think that I'm dancing to your tune!

To hold one's tongue in order to keep peace

All in all, it was better to hold our tongues after seeing that bad quarrel.

To sweep something under the carpet

You're not telling me the truth! You are sweeping something under the carpet!

To open a hornet's nest

I discovered her love letters whilst cleaning the drawer... I never suspected that I was opening a hornet's nest!

To pull the wool over somebody's eyes

Edward tells his fantastic past to every girl he meets: maybe he is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

Guardare qualcuno in cagnesco

To look daggers at someone

Amanda started looking at daggers at me with mean eyes... no one knew the reason why!

To walk all over somebody

I can't stand the impolite way you treat Lona! You really walk all over her!

Quando è troppo... è troppo

Enough is enough

Enough is enough! I really can't stand you!

Ripagare con la stessa moneta

To get even with somebody

Ted swore he'd get even with Beverly: she really went too far at the last party.

To tell someone where to get off (to get lost)

I kicked up a stink, and when I saw that she didn't even try to justify her behaviour, I told her where to get off! Get lost!

Calmare le acque

To take the heat off

The dean's resignation over the freshers' scandal has taken the heat off the criticism he had to deal with.

Il piacere di non vedere più qualcuno sgradito (o qualcosa di negativo)

To be glad to see the back of somebody, of something

Last night we had a farewell party for Mary, but I'm glad to see the back of her… I'm glad she’s gone.

The bad weather came and went and I was glad to see the back of it: I can’t stand the rain.

There was sadness over Ed’s departure: he was strange but we’re far from being glad to see the back of him.

Bere alcoolici per dimenticare

Drown one's sorrows

It's better you try to forget her in a different way, instead of drowning your sorrows.

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SOCIAL TYPES

Il migliore in assoluto

The cream of the crop

Sean's the best teacher here, he's really the cream of the crop

When the company hire new employees they look for the cream of the crop.

Una persona molto intelligente

An egghead

Ben made very good grades in school... he's an egghead!

Una persona positiva, propositiva

(to be) a good sport (a good egg)

Sam is a really sociable person: always talking and enjoying the company... he's a good sport! (a good egg!)

Una persona molto attiva, sempre occupata

A busy bee

Ned? A busy bee... he's always doin' a lot of things!

Uno stakanovista, uno che si identifica con l'azienda, con il lavoro

A company man

George values his job for more than anything else... he's a company man, he'll work till he die!

Uno che ci crede, una persona fanatica, un "gasato"

Gung-ho

Al?... full of eagerness… he’s gung-ho about his new job at the school.

Peter’s a gung-ho: he loves extreme sports... he’s always very eager to do something dangerous.

Una faccia di bronzo

Of all the nerve

We are no longer on speaking terms, and he still expects me to say "hello" to him... of all the nerve!

Un testone, uno testardo

A bull-headed

Peter’s determined to get what he wants… He’s so bull-headed!

Al, you’ve to admit that others' opinions are just as good as yours… don't be so bull-headed!

A pain in the arse (a pain in the neck)

John is a good person, but such a pain in the arse! (in the neck!)

A party pooper

Sheila will never call you again! You're such a party pooper, always spoiling the guys' enjoyment by disapproving everything.

A misery guts

The old misery guts was always complaining about modern society.

Una persona strana, lunatica, inaffidabile

A crackpot

Tom's a total crackpot... you never know what he will do in a party.

Uno alle prime armi, inesperto

A green

I'm sorry Ned: you can't depend on me to do that... I'm a real green.

(to be) half-witted (booby, duffer, jerk)

How can you respect him? He's an idler and really half-witted (booby, duffer, jerk).

Not to be the full shilling (to have a screw loose)

He's not completely stupid, just not quite the full shilling!

Uno svitato, fuori di testa

(to be), unhinged

Nigel?... he has been unhinged for months now... he's basically crazy!

Un furbastro, uno che ci prova sempre

A smooth operator; a shrewd operator

Nigel's so good at persuading people getting what he wants... he's a smooth operator!

Albert a good friend? He's a shrewd operator... you know you can't trust him!

Una persona scaltra, un furbo

No flies on somebody

He's a wily person, ready to grab every opportunity... no flies on him!

A creep

Keep your distance from me, you creep! You make my skin crawl!

Una persona non bella, non attraente

(to be) no oil painting, a plain Jane

Belinda's intelligent, open-minded, agreeable but... to be honest she's no oil painting!

If Fiona'd been a plain Jane, she wouldn't have had all Marc's attention!

(to be) a minger (A face like the back of a bus)

She is a very deep intelligent person, but she's a minger! She has got a face like the back of a bus!

A wino, a soaker, a boozer, a barfly

The poor wino was rummaging in the rubbish, looking for some alcohol.

(to be) a nasty piece of work

I don't like Benjamin and I can't rely on him: I think he's a nasty piece of work.

Someone from hell

You cousin is the worst person I ever met: the relative from hell!

Riff-raff

Some of the shops that sell the cheap stuff are full of noisy riff-raff.

The club doesn't want to let riff-raff in, pushing and shoving.

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FRIENDSHIP

A good friend is worth their weight in gold

I had been thinking that things were going from bad to worse, when you arrived to help me... a good friend is worth their weight in gold.

Take up with somebody

I'm so happy that we soon took up with Joe.

Plain speaking breeds long friendship

I don't want to see what happened between us happen again! I told you... plain speaking breeds long friendship.

Fair weather friends

After they ignored all my last invitations, I don't consider them good friends, they are more like fair weather friends.

To have friends in high places (at court)

I think we could work out that project: I have friends in high places (at court) in that company.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

After I had called him, he knocked at my door in ten minutes flat, bringing candles for the black-out: a friend in need is a friend indeed.

A mutual friend

They met during a dinner party, having a mutual friend who invited them.

To be joined at the hip (to be bosom buddies)

Nothing can undermine our mutual respect: we are joined at the hip (bosom buddies)!

A faithful friend

He was always so loyal to me... a really faithful friend.

A friend of long-standing.

Francis? We met for the first time at University... we really are friends of long-standing.

A woman friend ("J.G.F." just good friends)

She is not my girl friend, she is only a woman friend of mine: J.G.F.!

A piece of friendly advice

Don't see them anymore: they are bad company... I'm only giving you a piece of friendly advice.

A long-lost friend

I haven't seen you in the month of Sundays! You're here after so many years abroad, long-lost friend!

To drop a friend

I'll never drop a friend in a moment of need.

To bury the hatchet

After our frank explanation, I think we can bury the hatchet.

To part as good friends

Never mind Jack, our points of view are too different, let's part as good friends.

Friends and acquaintances

They invited friends and acquaintances for the dinner party.

A nodding acquaintance

I really can't say anything about her: she was only a nodding acquaintance.

With friends like that who needs enemies?

He promised to help me and to come immediately, but I am still waiting on the road with the car's engine packed up... with friends like those, who needs enemies?!

A snake in the grass

Don't believe in Jerry's toady manners: he's trying to take you in: he's a snake in the grass.

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SEX

The birds and the bees

When John was of a certain age, his father took him to one side and told him about the birds and the bees.

To get fresh

She was really cheeky dancing so close to Nick, plainly showing she wanted to get fresh with him.

Un segnale sessuale, un "ingaggio"

A come-on

Don't be so foolish Albert, be cool! Mandy was just smiling, it really wasn't a come-on!

When you enter the pub always start giving the come-on to the birds... Al, you're so trivial!

Eccitare, stimolare

To light one's fire

Kate was so demanding when it came to sex... John finally lit her fire and made a trembling mess of her!

Un porcaccione che tocca tutte le ragazze, un polipo

Wandering hands

Andy is famous for his wandering hands, that's why all the girls don't want to go out with him.

To have one's wicked way

I think Marcus should have had his wicked way with Liz, when he brought her to spend the whole week-end in the countryside.

A bit of how's your father

I heard they used the hotel elevator for a bit of how's your father!

To get one's oats

Socially, they are a brilliant couple, and I'm sure they get plenty of oats!

One-night stand

She confessed that having a one-night stand with him was a very frustrating sexual experience.

To get one's rocks off

I'm sure that Philip is dating Alice just to get his rocks off... he confessed to me that he feels nothing for her.

A bit of all right

Did you ever meet Julia? Cor! She's a bit of all right.

A bit of stuff (a bit of skirt, of totty, a piece of ass)

Have you seen Sally's new friend? She's a nice bit of stuff (a nice bit of totty, a piece of ass)!

A head-turner

She's a such a head-turner: the way she walks is always a show stopper.

To be kittenish

Jane is so girly and sensual and, what's more, she's so kittenish... it's hard to resist her!

A bit of rough

Leila likes having sexual partners from lower social classes.. the last time she was with a bit of rough.. the plumber, I suppose.

 

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LOVE

All is fair in love and war

Before knowing her Sean pretended to be a member of the Club just to get a chance to dance with her! You know... all is fair in love and war.

To fuss over someone

In the early days of our going out together, I used to fuss excessively over her!

To get on like a house on fire

Jerome and Cindy became friends quickly and they seem to like each other very much... they're getting on like a house on fire.

To be the apple of one's eye

You are the apple of my eye! I love you!

To make a hit on somebody

When John met her in the disco, she made a hit on him: he has really taken to her.

To date

After dozens of calls, Frank is finally dating Calvin's sister.

To play hard to get

Sally always plays hard to get when she first meets a guy that she fancies... she knows that this will make them more interested.

Tom, Dick and Harry

She is not very choosy: she goes out with any old Tom, Dick and Harry.

Gallantry

Try to be polite with her, and always let her pass before you: it is a matter of gallantry!

To behave like a perfect gentleman

Even if I didn't love her, I always behaved like a perfect gentleman.

The knight in shining armour

Yesterday she met him, and immediately he was her knight in shining armour!

(not) to be someone's cup of tea

I'm not sure about my feelings... I don't think you are my cup of tea!

Birds of a feather flock together

Have you seen them? They have such similar characters and interests, it's really a case of birds of a feather!

To take a fancy to someone

From the first time I met Mandy I took a fancy to her, but it was not real love.

To fall for someone in a big way

I fell for her in a big way: I used to think about her all the time.

To be potty about someone (to fall under someone's spell, to be nuts about someone)

I'm so potty (nuts) about her (I fell under her spell), I even dream about her all night long!

To be head over heels

To be honest, I'm head over heels about you!

To live in each other's pockets

We were so in love that we were living in each other's pockets!

To feel a pang in one's heart

Lucy decided to stop dating me, so I felt a pang in my heart.

To make someone's day

I have to thank you for unexpectedly calling me, after so many days of silence. What a nice surprise! You really made my day!

Bless her (his, their..) cotton socks

I feel a deep affection for Lisa... bless her cotton-socks, she's always in my heart and in my mind.

A hen party

Brenda is going to marry, so she has arranged her hen party for this weekend.

Sposarsi

To get hitched (to tie the knot)

Diana and Chuck got hitched out in Vegas.

Who the hell do you think you are? A playboy? Suppose you try... when are you going to tie the knot?

A hen-pecked husband

Norman will never go out with us tonight: he's too hen-pecked.

Two's company, three's a crowd

It's the first time we're going out together, so try to consider that two's company, three's a crowd! I don't want to see anybody else but you!

Strained relations

They are not exactly a happy couple: their relations are strained!

It has worn off

After years spent living together, their passion has worn off.

To be as different as chalk and cheese

There is nothing between you and me: we're as different as chalk and cheese.

To get the boot; to give the boot

They split because of Tom's secret letters: she found and read some of them, and then decided to give him the boot!

To be on the rebound

Cindy is on the rebound: she went straight into another relationship after her marriage broke up... but it doesn't work.