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Category Archives: Idioms Dictionary -F-

SMALL FORTUNE

What is the Meaning of the Expression
A SMALL FORTUNE?

Definition:

  • a surprisingly high cost / amount of money
  • very expensive

Examples:

1. It should be nice! It costs a small fortune.  

2. My original idea was that it would be nice to take a family vacation. Now that the trip is completely booked, I realize it is costing us a small fortune.

3. Don’t worry about your grandfather being able to afford an iPad. He has a small fortune invested in gold.

 

 

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FACE TO FACE

What is the meaning of the expression
FACE TO FACE?

Definition:

the people involved are close together and looking directly at each other’s faces

Examples:

1. It is starting to get complicated to arrange this by email. Let’s sit down and talk face to face next week.

Person 1: Is your job interview going to be online?    Person 2:  No, they are going to fly me to their head office for a face to face interview.

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GO FIGURE

What is the Meaning of the Expression
GO FIGURE?

Definition 1:

This is strange, or confusing. I don’t understand it.

That isn’t logical; it doesn’t make sense.

Try to figure that one out. Try explaining that.

examples:

  • Last month, it was mild outside and we kept the heat in our house low. Our bill was $200. The month before it was really cold and we had the heat turned up all month. Our bill was $150. Go figure.

Definition 2:

This is the kind of bad luck that often happens.

examples:

  • I was off work sick and went to the store to get some medicine. My boss, who was on her lunch break, saw me walking into the store. Go figure!
  • I worked overtime on that proposal for weeks and this morning my manager informed me that our company isn’t going to put in a bid. Go figure.

 

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DO A FAVOUR | RETURN THE FAVOUR

What is the Meaning of
(to) DO someone A FAVOUR

or

(to) RETURN THE FAVOUR?

Definition 1: DO SOMEONE A FAVOUR

do something for someone as an act of kindness

Examples:

  • Will you please do me a favour and give this to your sister the next time you see her?
  • Her uncle did me a big favour by hiring me, so I don’t feel right about quitting just because a better job has come along.
  • It’s so cold today. Why don’t you do your brother a favour and pick him up at school so he doesn’t have to take the bus home?

Definition 2: DO SOMEONE A FAVOUR

The meaning is same as definition 1, but this expression can also be used to communicate frustration, or annoyance.

Examples:

  • Do everybody a favour and stop talking! You have nothing of value to say, and you are upsetting everyone.
  • Do me a favour and just leave. You are making me really angry!

Definition – RETURN THE FAVOUR

do something for someone as an act of kindness, because they have already done something nice for you

Examples:

  • Today lunch is on us*. You paid last time and we would like to return the favour.  (*lunch is on us = we will pay for lunch)
  • You always make our coffee in the morning. Let me return the favour. I’ll make it tomorrow morning and you stay in bed.
  • Watch this cat return the favour when it gets its back scratched!

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BACK AND FORTH

What is the meaning of the expression
BACK AND FORTH?

Definition:

go short distances in one direction and then in the opposite direction, over and over again

Examples:

1. Her father walked nervously back and forth outside her hospital room.

2. I went out to my car and then realized that my sunglasses were in the house. So I ran back into the house to get them. Then, when I got back to my car I realized that I had left my car keys on the table so I had to return to the house again. I wasted almost 10 minutes running back and forth!

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