اينم ليستي از اطلاحات روزمره براي موقعيت هاي شكست خوردن و يا پيروز شدن
]English idioms relating to
SUCCESS - FAILURE
Hold all the aces A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have
more advantages than anyone else.
"Given the high unemployment figures in some countries, employers hold all the aces."
Back to square one To say that someone is back to square one, means that they have not succeeded
in what they were trying to do, and so they have to start again.
"When the plans were refused, it was back to square one for the architect."
In the bag If you think something is in the bag, you are almost certain it will be achieved.
"An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in the bag for the
Conservative candidate."
Have had one's chips To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely
failed in what they set out to achieve.
"After the second set, it looked as though Agassi had had his chips."
Come up in the world A person who has come up in the world is richer than before and
has a higher social status.
"My old school friend has bought an apartment overlooking Central Park.
She has certainly come up in the world!"
Come/turn up trumps To say that someone has come up trumps means that they have achieved
unexpectedly good results.
"Against all expectations, our team came up trumps in the cup final."
Cook somebody's goose To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that person's chance of
success.
"When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he realized his goose was
cooked."
On course (for something) If someone is on course for something, they are likely to achieve it.
"Our team is on course for a victory in the national championship."
The cream of the crop This expression is used to refer to the best people or things in a particular group.
"As usual, the cream of the crop of this year's graduates
were offered the best jobs."
On the crest of a wave If you are on the crest of a wave, you are very successful in what you are doing.
"Our company is going from success to success.
We're on the crest of a wave right now."
Dead loss Someone or something described as a dead loss is absolutely useless
or a complete failure.
"When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss."
Fall from grace To say that someone has fallen from grace means that they have done something
wrong, immoral or unacceptable, and as a result have lost their good reputation.
"The Finance Minister fell from grace as a result of a **************** scandal."
A feather in one's cap To describe someone's achievement as a feather in their cap means that
it is something they can be proud of.
"The overwhelming victory of the team was a feather in the cap for the new manager."
Fight a losing battle If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something
even when there is little chance of succeeding.
"The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."
A flash in the pan If you refer to somebody's success as a flash in the pan, your mean that
it is not likely to be repeated
"The manager hoped that the team's unexpected success was not a flash in the pan."
A foot in the door If you say that someone has a foot in the door, you mean that they have a small
but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future.
"With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any
profession."
With flying colours To achieve something with flying colours means to do it very successfully.
"My daughter passed the entrance exam with flying colours. I'm so proud of her!"
Get the better of you If someone or something gets the better of you, they defeat you
"She went on a diet but it didn't last long - her love of chocolate got the better of her!"
Go to the dogs To say that a company, organization or country is going to the dogs means
that it is becoming less successful or efficient than before.
"Some think the company will go to the dogs if it is nationalized."
Jump on the bandwagon If a person or organization jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something
when it is already successful or fashionable.
"When organic food became popular, certain stores were quick to jump on the bandwagon
and promote it.
Let something slip through your fingers If you let something slip through your fingers, for example a good opportunity,
you fail to obtain or keep it.
"He should have accepted the job when it was offered.
He let the opportunity slip through his fingers."
At a low ebb A person or organization at a low ebb is not as strong or successful as usual.
"The recent political crisis has left the country at a low ebb."
Make ends meet If you find it difficult to make ends meet, you find it difficult to pay for
your everyday needs because you have very little money.
"Anne's salary is so low she finds it hard to make ends meet."
Make headway If you make headway, you make progress in what you are trying to achieve.
"Investigators have made little headway in their search for the causes
of the catastrophe."
Miss the boat If you miss the boat, you fail to take advantage of an opportunity because
you don't act quickly enough.
"I managed to get my order through before the end of the special offer -
but I nearly missed the boat!"
From rags to riches If you go from rags to riches, you start off being very poor
and become very rich and successful
"By renovating old houses in the right places, he went from rags to riches."
Sail through something If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam,
you succeed in doing it without difficulty.
"The English test was no problem for Tom. He sailed through it!"
Sink or swim If somebody has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone,
and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
"The sink or swim attitude in the company can be very difficult for young recruits."
The sky is the limit To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the
possibility of success or progress for someone or something.
"How successful do you think the project will be? Who knows... the sky's the limit!"
Steal the show A person who steals the show gets more attention or praise than
the other participants.
"The Japanese competitor stole the show at the Olympic Games."
Take one's hat off to somebody You say this to express admiration for something someone has done.
"I take my hat off to the chef. The meal was wonderful."
Throw a spanner (or wrench) in the works This expression means to prevent the success of a plan or event, by causing problems.
"The two companies wanted to sign the agreement before anything happened
to throw a spanner in the works."
Throw in the towel If you throw in the towel, you admit that you cannot succeed in doing
something or that you are defeated.
"After unsuccessfully competing in several championships, she decided
to throw in the towel and go back to college."
Top dog To say that a person, group or country is top dog means that
they are better or more powerful than others.
"She's top dog in cosmetics today."
Turn the tables If you turn the tables on a person or organization, you reverse the situation
so as to be in a position of superiority.
"The success of our new product has turned the tables on our competitors."
Weather the storm If you weather the storm, you succeed in surviving a difficult period or situation.
"Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm
better than some others."
Win-win The term win-win refers to a situation or proposition where both or all parties
benefit from the outcome.
"There were smiles all round when the contract was signed - it was a win-win situation
."
