vil
Key Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2007
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Bulgarian
- Home Country
- Bulgaria
- Current Location
- Bulgaria
Dear teachers,
Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?
I have been on pins and needles all week long until she sent word that everything was all right.
Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school.
Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play.
on pins and needles = nervously anxious
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he was a liar but I didn’t want a row to be started.
on the tip of one's tongue = ready to utter something
It’s more fuss and bother than it’s worth.
fuss and bother = fuss and bother is what is involved in being too anxious or careful about doing something exactly right
He’s not seriously hurt. He’s just putting it on.That’s his usual way.
He put on a pretense of bravery, but we all knew that it was false.
put on = assume affectedly, pretend to
The fact that her parents own a villa in Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs.
put on airs = to show conceit; act in a superior or condescending manner
Don’t give yourself airs! It makes you look ridiculously.
give oneself airs = to act pretentiously, or in a snobbish manner
Thank you for your efforts.
Regards,
V.
Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?
I have been on pins and needles all week long until she sent word that everything was all right.
Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school.
Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play.
on pins and needles = nervously anxious
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he was a liar but I didn’t want a row to be started.
on the tip of one's tongue = ready to utter something
It’s more fuss and bother than it’s worth.
fuss and bother = fuss and bother is what is involved in being too anxious or careful about doing something exactly right
He’s not seriously hurt. He’s just putting it on.That’s his usual way.
He put on a pretense of bravery, but we all knew that it was false.
put on = assume affectedly, pretend to
The fact that her parents own a villa in Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs.
put on airs = to show conceit; act in a superior or condescending manner
Don’t give yourself airs! It makes you look ridiculously.
give oneself airs = to act pretentiously, or in a snobbish manner
Thank you for your efforts.
Regards,
V.