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Writing that is more complicated than necessary. commencer à apprendre
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I hate purple prose. Why can't people just cut to the chase and write only what is worth writing?
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1. To try too hard to please someone, especially people in authority, in a way that is not sincere and that other people find unpleasant; 2. A person who does such things. commencer à apprendre
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also: brown-noser I'm sick of Joey. He keeps brown-nosing and the worst thing is that my professor seems to like it. Ugh!
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To be absorbed in one's thoughts (usually unhappy thoughts) or to be daydreaming. commencer à apprendre
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Come on, we're going shopping. Maybe that we'll get you out of this brown study you're in today.
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1. To be inexperienced; 2. to be ecological in act and thought. commencer à apprendre
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Hey, don't worry. I remember what it was like to be green. It's better to ask questions than to mess something up.
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1. Something that moves very fast; 2. A stream of words (when someone talks so much and so fast it seems he or she will never stop). commencer à apprendre
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Aunt Marge talked a blue streak and we had to sit there and listen to her all day. I'm so tired!
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commencer à apprendre
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Are you feeling well? You're white as a sheet.
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The blood of a noble family; a member of a wealthy family. commencer à apprendre
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Have you heard that Margot has blue blood? Her grandfather owns a real castle!
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To not be in debt anymore commencer à apprendre
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I admit that I had some financial problems but I'm in the black now and everything's fine.
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About a person who is always good and honest. commencer à apprendre
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My child is whiter than white. She couldn't have lied!
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commencer à apprendre
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Oh my God! What happened? You're all black and blue.
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commencer à apprendre
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I'm feeling a bit blue today. Do you feel like coming over? I could use some company.
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To have debts, to spend more money than you earn. commencer à apprendre
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His business is in the red. He needs to find a way to earn some money or he'll get into serious troubles.
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To be jealous, envious of somebody or something. commencer à apprendre
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Did you see Julie's reaction? She was literally green with envy when she saw Mark with his new girlfriend.
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commencer à apprendre
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My neighbour is almost 80 years old but she's still in the pink.
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Something that costs a lot of money and is useless or troublesome. commencer à apprendre
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My grandparents were so happy to give me their old house, but, for me, it's rather a white elephant. It costs me a lot to keep it in a good state and I can't sell it because that would break their hearts!
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A list of people, organizations etc. that are under suspicion, disfavour etc. commencer à apprendre
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Be careful or Susie will put you on her blacklist. She does it to everyone who has ever been rude to her. Seriously. I wonder how long this list is by now.
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Someone who is thought to be a bad person according to the rest of his or her family. commencer à apprendre
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Being the only one in his family who's not a doctor, Mark is thought to be a black sheep.
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Humour that deals with sad, unpleasant aspects of life in a bitter or ironic way. commencer à apprendre
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I'm not a fan of black humour. I don't think it's appropriate to make fun of things that are so serious.
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Illegal trading of goods that are not allowed to be bought and sold. commencer à apprendre
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You can find stolen goods on the black market.
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A type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate news and, instead, uses eye-catching headlines and photos to sell more newspapers. commencer à apprendre
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Oh please! How can you believe what they are writing? Don't you know it's just yellow journalism?
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To edit, correct or delete. commencer à apprendre
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I can bear the criticism. Please, blue-pencil as much as you like in my book. I just need an honest opinion.
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A state of strong emotion, excitement or activity. commencer à apprendre
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She was in white heat when she was writing that message to Tom and now she regrets it.
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A film that shows people having sex. commencer à apprendre
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also: blue film You can't watch this! Blue movies are not for children!
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To give someone a special welcome (usually given to an important person) commencer à apprendre
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to roll out the red carpet My sister is coming home after five years of living in France. I think we need to roll out the red carpet.
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An intelligent and well-educated woman who is interested in books and spends most of her time studying. commencer à apprendre
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My girlfriend is a bluestocking. It's impossible to find a subject she has nothing to say about.
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commencer à apprendre
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I hit my pinkie today. I know it's only one finger but it feels like I can't move my hand at all.
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Full evening dress; most formal evening dress code for men. commencer à apprendre
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It's a white-tie party. You really think you can sneak in wearing your jeans?
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commencer à apprendre
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to have a yellow streak down one's back Sam has a yellow streak down his back. He won't go with us.
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In the act of doing something wrong (e.g. committing a crime). commencer à apprendre
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The thief was caught red-handed.
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Official rules and/or procedures that seem unnecessary and result in delay of results. commencer à apprendre
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No one wants to deal with red tape, but everybody has to.
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Suddenly, without warning. commencer à apprendre
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I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue, but I need a favour.
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A name given to a day claimed to be the most depressing day in the year. commencer à apprendre
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No wonder you're feeling a bit depressed today. It's Blue Monday.
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commencer à apprendre
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I thought that the necklace I found was precious but apparently it's not worth a red cent. What a pity!
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A lie you tell in order to be polite or to stop somebody from being upset by the truth. commencer à apprendre
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Well, I know I should have told Alex the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to it. It was just a white lie. It didn't hurt anybody and it sure made him feel better!
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A situation that is unclear; a subject that people don't know how to deal with because there are no clear rules. commencer à apprendre
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It's a grey area of the law.
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To say (or do) something that you know will harm someone's reputation. commencer à apprendre
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to blacken someone's name Don't say it was an accident! You knew that if people find out about Charlie's past, they will get suspicious. You did it to blacken his name!
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Very clear, clearly defined. commencer à apprendre
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You don't need to explain this to me. It's black and white.
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To look ill (as if about to throw up). commencer à apprendre
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to be green around the gills You are green around the gills. Maybe we should stop the car for a moment? I'm afraid you're getting motion sickness.
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To surrender, to give in. commencer à apprendre
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to wave (raise / carry) a white flag I couldn't take it any longer. I just had to wave a white flag. I hate arguing with Janice.
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An expression on one's face that shows anger and/or hate. commencer à apprendre
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Wow, what did you do to deserve that black look? She must hate you!
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A person who is employed in a job that is traditionally considered to be women's work (e.g. nurse, babysitter). commencer à apprendre
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It's not typical for men to be pink-collar workers, but it happens more and more often.
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A person who performs a manual labour (except agriculture). commencer à apprendre
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The term "blue-collar workers" refers to the fact that manual labourers used to wear blue overalls.
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A person who performs administrative work. commencer à apprendre
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Ironically, white-collar workers don't wear white collars anymore. It's all about smart casual now.
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commencer à apprendre
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Don't worry about Kate. She's a true-blue and I trust her.
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A law that prohibits certain practices (that are considered immoral for religious reasons) on Sundays. commencer à apprendre
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Blue laws are enforced in some European countries. That's why most shops are closed on Sundays.
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A state of great terror, confusion and deep thought. commencer à apprendre
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Carrie has been in a blue funk since the accident. She's not herself now.
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1. A time when the light and power go out. 2. A term used to describe when a person is so drunk that they wake up the next morning with no recollection of what happened. commencer à apprendre
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There was a blackout yesterday. Suddenly, the whole city became dark.
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An idiom that means you should not criticize others for a fault you have yourself. commencer à apprendre
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the pot calling the kettle black You think I am mean? Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?
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A positive attitude that makes you fail to notice negative things. commencer à apprendre
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Ever since she started dating James, she sees everything through rose-coloured glasses. Nothing can ruin her mood.
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A prize for first place; something that is excellent, the best of a particular group. commencer à apprendre
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Your performance was amazing, you deserve a blue ribbon.
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1. Promising, hopeful, suggesting good fortune; 2. Easy and pleasant. commencer à apprendre
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Things are looking rosy. I think we can actually win this year.
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An attempt at covering up something bad. commencer à apprendre
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Don't lie to me. I know the whole story was just a whitewash.
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To become unconscious suddenly, for a short period of time. commencer à apprendre
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The pain was so intense that Susan blacked out for a moment.
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The act of getting money from someone or forcing them to do something against their will by threatening them. commencer à apprendre
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He was found guilty of blackmail and sent to prison.
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To get money from someone or force them to do something by using threats. commencer à apprendre
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My sister blackmailed me into cleaning her room by using my childhood photos and threatening to show them to my new boyfriend.
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A person's intelligence, brains. commencer à apprendre
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Use your grey matter! It's not that difficult!
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A mean, despicable person. commencer à apprendre
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I can't believe you fell for Steve. Everyone knows he's a yellow-dog.
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commencer à apprendre
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My friend is so yellow. She won't go out when it's dark outside. She's too scared!
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Something that takes people's attention away from the matter being dealt with; something that is misleading. commencer à apprendre
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This book is full of red herrings. I realised what was actually going on at the very end!
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A formal evening dresscode. commencer à apprendre
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I know that the invitation said "black tie", but it doesn't mean you actually need to wear a black tie. You can wear a gray one if you want. Just dress formally.
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A special, happy and important day for you (one that can be marked with red color in the calendar). commencer à apprendre
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It's a red-letter day for me and Harry. It's our anniversary today!
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A poor white person without education who lives in the countryside in southern United States. commencer à apprendre
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You can't call people rednecks. It's rude.
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commencer à apprendre
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I got so angry that I saw red. I hate Jules!
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To vote against; to exclude someone from a group/profession. commencer à apprendre
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He was blackballed because of the serious argument he had with the chairman.
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To avoid thinking about or remembering something (usually because it is stressful or unpleasant). commencer à apprendre
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I tried very hard to black out the memory of seeing you in that costume but it comes back every time I look at you. I'm sorry, I just can't stop laughing!
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A document saying that you don't have your job anymore. commencer à apprendre
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I got a pink slip today. I will have to find a new job now.
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commencer à apprendre
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I was standing there red-faced as the other kids were laughing at me.
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commencer à apprendre
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My boss gave me the green light to start working on a new project.
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To do something completely or with great effect. commencer à apprendre
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Whatever she does, she does it up brown. She's a professional.
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