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(It’s) not my cup of tea. (U.K): This means that you don’t like something or this thing is not suitable for you.
Example A) Do you want to go bowling?
B) Um… it’s not really my cup of tea, let’s do something else.
To be tied up (at work): This basically means that you are busy, but it emphasises busyness and sometimes has the feeling that you became suddenly busy so can’t go somewhere else.
Example: A) Where’s John, I thought he was supposed to be here tonight.
B) I got a mail from him earlier, he said that he was tied up at work but would be here later.
To get under one’s skin: This is very negative and describes the feeling that someone/thing annoys or angers you and that you can’t stop this thing effecting you.
Example: I know that he is trying to help, but something about his manner really gets under my skin.
To go behind someone’s back: this means when someone betrays another without them knowing. So for example if you think that your colleuge has made a mistake and you go and tell your boss without speaking to your colleuge first, that would be “going behind your colleuges’ back.
Example: I can’t stand my brother, he’s always going behind my back and telling our mum stories about me.
One step forward two steps back: this phrase is used when you feel that you are not making any progress. So even if you move forward slightly, actually you are moving backwards further.
Example: As much as I try recently, I can’t seem to make any progress, it seems like I’m taking one step forward and two steps back.
To give in: this means the same thing as “to give up”. So it means when you submit or stop fighting/trying.
Example: A) Can you guess what I got you for Christmas?
B) No, I give in, what did you get me?
To overstep the line: this is used when someone says or does something that is unacceptable. So if there is a border between what is acceptable and what isn’t, this person has crossed over from acceptable to unacceptable.
Example: I don’t mind him criticizing me but he really stepped over the line when he started criticizing my wife.
To go back on one’s word: This means that someone has broken their promise. So even if they said one thing, they did a completely different thing.
Example: My boss said that he would give me a pay rise but as per usual, he went back on his word.
As per usual: this is usually used in a negative way and means that what you are describing is unsurprising because it often happens.
Example: My bus was late this morning as per usual, so my boss got angry with me.
To start from scratch: this means that you start from the very beginning. For example if you build a house from scratch, it means that you didn’t just fix it, but started from the foundations.
Example: I lost my essay, so I had to start again from scratch.
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Phrases, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Quiz 14