Page 167 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

Idioms connected with praise and criticism

ldioms connected with praise

Saying peoplelthings are better than the rest
Mary is head and shoulders above the rest of the girls. or She's miles better than the other
girls. [used usually of people]
When it comes to technology, Japan is streets ahead of most other countries. [can be
used of people or things]
When it comes to exam passes, St John's school usually knocks spots off the other
schools. [used of people or things]
That meal was just out of this world. [outstandinglsuperb; usually used of things]

Saying people are good at something
Some expressions with idiomatic compound nouns, noun-phrases and compound adjectives.
She's a dab-hand at carpentry, just like her father. [usually for manual skills]
She's a really first-rate / top notch administrator, the very best.
When it comes to grammar, she's really on the ball. [knows a lot]
Bill has a way with foreign students. The other teachers envy him. [good at establishing
good relations I motivating them, etc.]
Marjorie really has green fingers; look at those flowers! [good at gardening]
Let him do the talking; he's got the gift of the gab. [good at talking]

ldioms connected with criticism
Note: There are far more of these in common use than ones connected with praise!
You can group some according to form; for example, 's idioms include several connected
with criticising people and things.
She thinks she's the cat's whiskers / the bee's knees. [thinks she's wonderful]
He was dressed up like a dog's dinner [over-dressed in a showy way]
When it comes to time-keeping, he's the world's worst. [no-one is worse]
I'm sorry, this essay of yours is a dog's breakfast. [a mess I very badly done]
This group could be learned in association with 'food' words.
When it comes to unreliability, he really takes the biscuit. [is the epitome I most striking
example of some negative quality] (See Unit 74.)
Mary wants to have her cake and eat it! [wants everything without any contribution
from her side]
I think he's just trying to butter me up. [give false praise in order to get something]
A pay-rise and a company car! You want jam on it, you do! [have totally unreasonable
expectationsldernands]
Note these idiomatic synonyms of the verb to criticise:
You shouldn't run down your own country when you're abroad.
Why do you always have to pick holes in everything I say?

162 English Vocobulory in Use