Advanced everyday english: Advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions - Collins Steven 2011
Lesson One. To miss out
Chapter Two
Examples:
✵ / got so bogged down with the first few chapters of her book that I decided to miss out the middle and went straight to the end, but then I couldn’t be bothered with that either.
✵ When I was going through the list of people who’ve been invited, I noticed I had missed out your uncle Tom. Whatever came over me?
To miss out on (To miss the opportunity of doing something enjoyable or beneficial—Note the expression “to miss the boat”, which has a very similar meaning except that the opportunity has usually been lost because one has not acted quickly enough. It is often used to describe someone who is now considered to have left it too late to find a partner in life.)
Examples:
✵ Advertisement for a legal book at a discounted price:
Don’t miss out on this one-off opportunity to get to grips with English Company Law.
✵ If you don’t turn up, you are bound to miss out on all the fun.
✵ N\y sister reckons she’s missed the boat just because she’s over 35, but in reality she’s got so much going for her...and these days it’s never too late to meet someone special.
Gist (The main point of what someone is saying, the general sense of a conversation/speech, etc.)
Examples:
✵ There were some words which I couldn’t make out, but I got the gist of what he was going on about.
✵ The gist of his speech was that he felt hard-done-by for having been made the scapegoat...but I hope he doesn’t turn to me for help.
To ask after (To ask how someone is through a third person)
Examples:
✵ Jane keeps asking after your brother. I’m sure she fancies him.
✵ The boss was asking after you this morning, but don’t let it go to your head.
Over-the-top (Too much, excessive)
Examples:
✵ Having a go at him would have sufficed; suing him was going a bit over-the-top.
✵ ’Over-the-top’ is an understatement: we could have done without three quarters of the food we ordered.
Deep down (Under/Beneath the surface, i.e. the true character or feelings that someone has rather than what he first appears to have)
Examples:
✵ He might make out that he takes it all in his stride, but deep down he can’t cope with what’s going on.
✵ Even though she comes over as a ruthless boss, deep down she’s quite easy-going.
Once in a blue moon (Very occasionally—note that this expression is generally used in a manner of complaint about the rarity of the event)
Examples:
✵ Once in a blue moon he scores a spectacular goal, but when it comes down to it, he’s not what he’s cracked up to be
✵ Husband to wife:
H: I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss; I always give you money to splash out on clothes
W: Once in a biue moon!
To have a lot/enough on one’s plate (To have a lot of work to get through/problems to sort out)
Examples:
✵ Lawyer to client:
I’d be delighted to take your case on but I’ve got such a lot on my plate at the moment, I’d never be able to fit it in.
✵ I don’t think rubbing him up the wrong way is the right way of going about it. He’s got enough on his plate as it is.
To draw out
i. (To withdraw money from one’s bank)
Example:
✵ Have you already got through that money you drew out yesterday?
ii. (To lengthen a speech, lecture, etc—generally unnecessarily. Note also the adjective “drawn-out” which describes something which lasts too long) Examples:
✵ If you run short of ideas, you can always draw out the seminar with some witty stories...but don’t bog the audience down with financial statistics.
✵ I could have done without him drawing out the speech for half an hour; a few words would have done.
✵ I was really looking forward to the wedding and thought I was going to be in my element, but it turned out to be a long, drawn-out affair.
iii. (To get something out of someone—see Practical Everyday English, page 124, the note to meaning vi)
Example:
✵ We can’t let this cocky fool get away with it. We’ll have to draw the truth out of him somehow.
iv. (To encourage someone to be less shy/more sociable-often used with “out of his shell”)
Example:
✵ It was a real eye-opener; I saw that once you draw him out (of his shell) he can be quite outgoing.
To keep a low profile (To behave in a way that does not attract attention to oneself, i.e. to remain unnoticed)
Examples:
✵ The boss has definitely got it in for you this week. If I were you, I’d keep a low profile for the time being.
✵ As I’m most likely to be made the scapegoat, I’m going to keep a low profile until everything is sorted out.
To be outnumbered (To be in a minority—note the active form of the verb, “to outnumber”, means to be in a majority)
Examples:
✵ Even though our soldiers were heavily outnumbered, they put up a brave fight.
✵ The gist of what the minister was saying was that in twenty years’ time we will be outnumbered by immigrants. Deep down, all his colleagues know he is right, but want to keep their views strictly off the record.
✵ Apparently, women outnumber men in this college by three to one. My son wants to apply.
“I could have done without him drawing out the speech for half an hour; a few words would have done.”
(see page 20)