ring a bell
If
something rings a bell, it sounds familiar, but you don't remember the exact
details.
John
Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don't remember him.
chime in
If you
chime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially to repeat or agree
with something.
While I was
explaining to the bus driver what had happened, the other passengers chimed in
and gave their version.
drum (sthg)
into someone's head
If you teach
something to someone through constant repetition, you drum it into their head.
When we
were kids at school, multiplication tables were drummed into our heads.
as fit as a
fiddle
A person
who is as fit as a fiddle is in an excellent state of health or physical
condition.
My
grandfather is nearly ninety but he's as fit as a fiddle.
play second
fiddle
If you play
second fiddle to someone, you accept to be second in importance to that person,
or have a lower position.
When
Charles became chairman of the family business, his brother declared that he
would rather leave than play second fiddle to him.
fiddling
while Rome burns
If you say
that someone is fiddling while Rome burns, you mean that they are doing
unimportant things while there are serious matters to be dealt with.
His visit
to the trade fair was "fiddling while Rome burns" according to the
strikers.
jazz
something up
If you jazz
something up, you add something to try to improve it or make it more stylish.
The dress
needs a scarf or a necklace to jazz it up.
all that
jazz
This
expression means 'all that stuff', 'other siimilar things', or 'everything of
that kind'.
Let's get
out the tinsel, the fairy lights and all that jazz to decorate the Christmas
tree.
music to
one's ears
To say that
something is music to your ears means that the information you recieve makes
you feel very happy.
His compliments were music to my ear.
face the music
When a person has to face the music, they have to accept the
unpleasant consequences of their actions.
He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music.
strike a false note
If you strike a false note, you do something wrong or
inappropriate.
He struck a wrong note when he arrived at the cocktail party
wearing old jeans.
strike (or hit) the right note
If you strike (or hit) the right note, you do something
suitable or appropriate.
He struck the right note with his future mother-in-low when
he brought her a book on gardening - her favourite hobby!
(sound) like a broken record
Someone who says the same thing again and again sounds like
a broken record.
Dad! Stop telling me to be careful when I drive. You sound
like a broken record!
go for a song
If something goes for a song, it is sold at an unexpectedly
low price.
tickle the ivories
This is a humorous way of talking about playing the piano.
My grandfather loves playing the piano. He tickles the
ivories whenever he gets the chance.
call the tune The
person who calls the tune makes all the important decisions and is in control
of the situation.
He shows a lot of authority but in fact it's his wife who
calls the tune.
sing a different tune
If
someone sings a different tune, they change their opinion about something or
their attitude towards something.
He had no consideration for people out of work until he lost
his own job; now he's singing a different tune.
fine tuning Small
changes to something to improve it or make it work better are called
fine-tuning.
We are still fine tuning our new website and appreciate your
patience.
blow the whistle
If you report an illegal or socially-harmful activity to the
authorities, and give information about those responsible for it, you blow the
whistle, or you are a whistle-blower.
He refused to blow the whistle on his boss for fear of
losing his job.
clean as a whistle
Something as clean as a whistle is extremely clean.
This can also mean that a person's criminal record is clean.
Bob spent the afternoon washing and shining his car until it
was as clean as a whistle.
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