Now, all the idioms with numbers and quantities:
*****MILLION
. A chance in a million: a very small chance, nearly no chance at all
There is a chance in a million of finding the earring you lost on the beach.
. (To look) like a million dollars = extremely good
With her new dress she was looking like a million dollars this evening.
. Never in a million years: absolutely never
I will never in a million years accept what he has done.
*****DIVERS
. Twenty-four-seven = 24 h sur 24
The office is open 24-7 (twenty-four-seven).
. A thousand times
I have told you a thousand times not to touch my belongings!
. All told = en fin de compte, au total
The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 2540.
. Give or take (amount or quantity): plus or minus, more or less or approximately = à quelques minutes près
It is not far from here, give or take 40 miles.
. Fifth wheel = la cinquième roue du char
Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth wheel
. In seventh heaven
I was in seventh heaven when I spent a weekend at this five-star hotel.
. At the eleventh hour: when it is almost too late, at the last possible moment = à la dernière minute, au dernier moment
Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour.
. A catch 22 situation = inextricable, sans issue, sans solution
Nobody wants to support me until I’m successful, but without the support I cannot be successful. It’s a catch 22 situation!
. Ballpark figure or estimate = estimation, chiffre approximatif
I don’t know exactly how much it will cost, but a ballpark figure would be around $100 000
. In dribs and drabs: little by little, in small amounts or numbers = petit à petit
Instead of the crowd expected, people arrived in dribs and drabs.
. Number cruncher
We say humourously that someone is a number cruncher when he or she is very good at working with numbers and calculations.
. Zero tolerance
The government has announced zero tolerance for tagging the walls.
*****ONE
. In one go/at one fell swoop = d’un seul coup
It will be easier to do it in one go/at one fell swoop.
. One hand washes the other (and together they wash the face) = l’union fait la force
When people cooperate, they achieve results more easily, that’s why we say one hand washes the other.
. To have one foot in the grave = avoir un pied dans la tombe
He behaves as if he had already one foot in the grave.
. One good turn deserves another = un service en vaut un autre ou un prêté pour un rendu
As he helped me last year, I helped him to fix his house’s roof. One good turn deserves another.
. One horse town = un coin perdu, une ville/un village isolé/e, “un trou”
This place is a one horse town because nothing much ever happens there.
. To be one step ahead of… = avoir une longueur d’avance sur…
The company is very successful. They have always one step ahead of their competitors.
. To have a one track mind = n’avoir qu’une idée en tête
The boss is obsessed by making profits. He has a one-track mind.
. One’s number is up = l’heure de qqn a sonné
It’s your turn now. I think your number is up! = je pense que ton heure a sonné !
. (To be) one’s own undoing = courir à sa perte
If you go too far tempting fate (à tenter le diable), it will soon be your own undoing.
. One-upmanship = surenchère politique = fait de toujours vouloir prouver qu’on est le/la meilleur/e
He has had a lot of success, but his one-upmanship has left him with few friends.
. To look out for number one = chercher à être le premier
Looking out for number one is not compatible with friendship.
. (To have) one over the eight: to be slightly drunk = être un peu saoul
Don’t listen to him! Can’t you see he’s had one over the eight!
. (To have) one too many: to be drunk = avoir trop bu, être saoul
He had one too many yesterday. It means that he drunk too much alcohol.
*****FIRST
. First come first served: This expression means that people will be served strictly in the order they arrive.
Tickets for the match will be sold on a ‘first come first served’ basis.
. First and foremost = avant tout
First and foremost I want to thank our hosts for their wonderful reception.
. First base: When you get to or reach first base, you make progress or begin to have success with someone or something.
If you go to the interview dressed like that, you won’t get to first base!
. (At) first hand: If you experience something yourself directly, without any intermediary, you experience it (at) first hand.
Getting to see the performance (at) first hand is much better than watching it on television.
. (To be) first out of the gate: the first to make a start at something that others have also accepted to do = le premier/la première à faire qqch.
Sandra was so enthusiastic about the project that she was first out of the gate.
. In the first place: at the beginning, before anything else
Why didn’t you tell me he was your boyfriend in the first place?
. (To be of the) first water = de la plus belle qualité (like being compared to a diamond).
The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water.
*****TWO
. (To be) two of a kind = faire la paire
Michael and Ben are two of a kind because they are very similar in character and tastes.
. Two-faced = à double face
Two-faced people are difficult to trust.
. To have two left feet = avoir deux mains/pieds gauches = être maladroit
One says that you have two left feet when you are clumsy or awkward in your movements.
. (To be) in two minds: (to be) undecided = (être) indécis
Mike often has difficulty deciding what to do. He is often in two minds about what to choose.
. (To be) like two peas in a pod = (être) comme les deux doigts de la main
When two persons are like two peas in a pod, it means that they are very similar.
. In two shakes (of a lamb’s tail) = en un rien de temps
Don’t worry, I’ll be back in two shakes (of a lamb’s tail)!
. To two-time someone = être infidèle
Tom and Kate split off because she was two-timing him.
. Two’s company, three’s a crowd = deux c’est bien, trois c’est trop
I won’t come with you to the cinema. Two’s company, three’s a crowd.
. The lesser of two evils = la moins pire des deux solutions
The lesser of two evils is the less unpleasant of two poor options.
. (There are) no two ways about… = (il n’y a) pas d’autre solution
You have to get back home. There are no two ways about it.
. That makes two of us = on est deux (à le penser/dans ce cas)
“- I found his idea rather stupid.” “- That makes two of us!”
. To put two and two together = tout de suite comprendre, en tirer les conslusions, se rendre à l’évidence
When I saw her kissing Andrew, I put two and two together.
*****SECOND
. (To play) second fiddle = jouer le second rôle
It’s not satisfying always having to play second fiddle at work.
. Second nature
Dancing is a second nature to me.
. Second to none = excellent, outstanding
In this restaurant, the meal is second to none.
. On second thoughts = après réflexion, à la réflexion
First, I didn’t want to go to the party, but on second thoughts, I agreed to go.
*****FIVE
. (To have a) five o’clock shadow: ne pas se raser
He looked tired and had a five o’clock shadow.
. (With a) five finger discount: without paying, that’s to say stealing
How could he afford that watch? Who knows – perhaps with a five-finger discount!
*****SIX
. (To be) six of one and half a dozen of the other: (to come/to amount to) the same = (c’est) kif-kif
It was difficult to make a choice between the two options because it was six of one and half a dozen of the other!
. At sixes and sevens = dans tous ses états, sens dessus dessous
When a person is not very well organized or in a state of confusion, we say that he or she is at sixes and sevens.
*****FOUR-FORTY
. On all fours = à quatre pattes
She was on all fours, that’s to say she was playing on her knees with her grandchildren
. Forty winks: nap
He likes to have a forty winks after dinner
*****NINE-NINETEEN
. Nine times out of ten = neuf fois sur dix
Tom is late nine times out of ten! He is not trustful!
. (To be) on cloud nine = (être) aux anges
When I met her, I was on cloud nine.
. To be dressed up to nines = être sur son 31
At the party Suzan was dressed up to the nines.
. To talk nineteen to the dozen: very quickly
Peter was talking nineteen to the dozen so I had some difficulties to catch all that he said.
*****HALF
. Half the battle
We already got the planning permission (GB)/building permit (US). That’s half the battle! = déjà un grand pas/déjà bien
. To have half a mind to do sthg = penser sérieusement à, envisager sérieusement de
I’ve half a mind to start up a business but I still need some advice.
That’s all for today. See you next time!