Learzing

"Beneath" means "directly under something, or at a lower level, typically with close contact." Example: The prisoner dug a tunnel beneath the prison.

"Max out" means "to reach a limit or maximum." Example #1: I've maxed out all my credit cards. Example #2: The weight lifter maxed out at 180 kilograms. Example #3: The air conditioner was maxed out, but it still felt hot in the room. Example #4: I'm good at crossword puzzles but that one is where I max out.

"Sitting duck" means "an easy target".

"Turn away" means "to refuse to let someone come into a place." Example: He turned me away at the entrance because I didn't have an invitation.

"Monkey business" means "silly or dishonest behavior." Example #1: Our teacher warned us not to try any monkey business while she was out of the room. Example #2: There's money missing from the office and it’s not the first time it's happened. I think there’s some monkey business going on. Example #3: We know there was a lot of monkey business with counting ballots in the previous election. Example #4: That's enough monkey business. Let's get down to more serious matters. This is a meeting, not a party.

"Blow the whistle" means "to report someone for doing something wrong."

"Skeleton in the closet" is an embarrassing or unpleasant secret about something that happened in the past. Example: My uncle was in jail for a day once. That's our family's skeleton in the closet.

"The john" is a toilet. Example #1: I'm going to the john, but I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Example #2: I drank too much beer. Where's the john? Example #3: Tom ran straight to the john after his long trip. Origin: The term originated from Sir John Harington (1560–1612), the inventor of the flush toilet.

"Brown noser" is someone who pleases an important or powerful person in order to get a benefit.

"Notwithstanding" means "despite the fact or thing mentioned." Example: He went for a walk, notwithstanding the rain.

"Hush up" means "to be quiet; to keep something a secret." Example #1: You talk too much. Hush up! Example #2: The crowd hushed up as the speaker approached the podium. Example #3: Bob tried to hush up the fact that he had been in prison. Example #4: The company destroyed financial documents to hush up the scandal.

"Know the ropes" means "to know how to do a job or a task properly."

"Ticker" means "heart." Example: Try not to upset grandpa when you're talking to him. He has a bad ticker.

"Hearsay" is "something heard from another person, rumor."

"Afraid of your own shadow" means "easily frightened."

"Dope" is "great, wonderful, fantastic."

"(As) happy as a clam" means "very happy." Example #1: Bob was happy as a clam when he won the lottery. Example #2: My little son likes puzzles. Give him a big jigsaw puzzle, and he'll be happy as a clam for hours. Example #3: Mary always does her work on time, no wonder her boss is as happy as a clam. Example #4: Grandpa is as happy as a clam helping the children to fly their kites.

"Flash in the pan" means "someone or something that promises great success but fails."

"Fling" means "to throw something with a lot of force." Forms: Fling / flung / flung Example: Susie became so angry that she flung a plate at her husband.

"Buzzkill" is "someone or something that ruins enjoyment or pleasure."

"Blowhard" is "a very boastful and talkative person."

"Gobsmacked" means "extremely surprised or shocked." Example #1: He was completely gobsmacked when he won the award. Example #2: I was gobsmacked when she told me she was pregnant. Example #3: My sister was gobsmacked when her husband bought her a brand new car. Example #4: Jeff was gobsmacked when he learned his fiancée was an alien.

"Fresh off the boat" means "newly arrived from a foreign place."

"Finger licking good" means "very tasty." Example: My mother makes the best lasagna in the world. It's finger licking good.

"Knackered" is "very tired, exhausted."