day in court
have one's say
A chance to be heard; an impartial hearing; a chance to explain what one has done.
The letters from the faculty members to the dean gave Professor Smith his day in court.
ear to the ground
have an ear to the ground
keep an ear to the ground
Attention directed to the way things are going, or seem likely to go, or to the way people feel and think.
The city manager kept an ear to the ground for a while before deciding to raise the city employees' pay.
Reporters keep an ear to the ground so as to know as soon as possible what will happen.
eat one's cake and have it too
To use or spend something and still keep it; have both when you must choose one of two things. Often used in negative sentences.
Необходимость выбрать какой-либо из двух вариантов, часто используется в отрицательных предложениях.
Roger can't make up his mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't eat your cake and have it too.
Mary wants to buy a beautiful dress she saw at the store, but she also wants to save her birthday money for camp. She wants to eat her cake and have it too.
"You cannot eat your cake and have it too", said my boss when I told him I want to have more holidays and more responsibility at work.
"Один пирог два раза не съешь", сказал мой начальник, когда я рассказал ему, что хочу больше выходных и больше обязанностей на работе.
eye out
have an eye out
keep an eye out
keep an eye out for
Careful watch or attention; guard. Used after keep, have or with. Usually used with for.
Keep an eye out. We're close to Joe's house.
Mary has her eye out for bargains.
They went through the woods very quietly, with an eye out for Indians.
eye to
with an eye to
have an eye to
Attention to. Usually used with have or with.
Have an eye to spelling in these test papers.
Plan for, purpose of. Usually used with have or with.
Save your money now with an eye to the future.
John is going to college with an eye to becoming a lawyer.
feet on the ground
get one's feet on the ground
keep one's feet on the ground
have one's feet planted firmly in the ground
An understanding of what can be done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive.
John has his feet on the ground; he knows he cannot learn everything at once.
Ted dreams of sudden riches, but Henry keeps his feet on the ground and expects to work for his money.
Mrs. Smith was a dreamer, but her husband was a man with his feet on the ground.
get one's number
have one's number
To find out or know what kind of person somebody is.
The boys soon had the new student's number.
The girls got their new roommate's number the first week of school.
get the better of
get the best of
have the best of
have the better of
To win over, beat; defeat.
Our team got the best of the visitors in the last quarter.
George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers.
When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the better of his good sense and hit the boy back.
Dave wanted to study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him.
Jim doesn’t seem very athletic at tennis, but if you’re not careful, he’ll get the better of you.
Lynn gets frustrated when Bruce gets the better of her in arguments. No matter what she says, he always has a clever response.
To win or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.)
Bill traded an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal.
Our team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow.
The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight.