To launch into something (such as a speech, a song, a presentation) is to start doing or saying something in a very energetic or enthusiastic way. Examples of use: 1. She walked into the office and suddenly launched into stories about her adventures on holiday. 2. He was just launching into his presentation when someone’s [...]
To laugh off something (or laugh something off) is to laugh about something that has upset you, or made you angry, in order to make it seem less important or serious. Examples of use: 1. He laughed off his bad exam marks. 2. She laughed off her mother's criticism of her hair and clothes, [...]
To move up is to move your body a little to make space for someone else to sit down or stand. (British and Australian English) Examples of use: 1. Move up so this elderly lady can sit down as well. 2. Can you move up so that I can sit down, please? 3. The train [...]
If someone is as tough as old boots they have a very strong character and can cope with bad conditions and a lot of work. If something is as tough as old boots it is very strong and does not break or tear easily. Examples of use: 1. My grandmother is as tough as old [...]
Egghead is a colloquial term for someone who is very intelligent. Examples of use: 1. Patrick is a bit of an egghead. He always has his head in a book. (If someone always has their head in a book, they read a lot of books) 2. Amanda knows everything there is to know archaeology: she's [...]
If someone is a bad egg they are a dishonest person who can't be trusted. Examples of use: 1. Watch out for that new friend of yours. Everyone knows he's a bad egg. 2. Bob's a bad egg. He tricked his mother out of her savings. Image by fdecomite
If a person runs to seed (or goes to seed) they stop taking care of themselves and their appearance. If a place has gone to seed it has become run-down and neglected. This idiom has its origins in flowering plants that fade and become less attractive as they produce seeds and then die. Examples [...]
