Cambridge FCE

Grammar (CEF Level)
Free Practice Tests for learners of English:
http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/index.html

Bachelor pad

bachelor pad = garçonnière
dwelling = demeure
apartment, flat
pad = familier piaule
condominium, condo= appartement dans un immeuble

When push comes to shove

when push comes to shove and if push comes to shove

when things get a little pressed; when the situation gets more active or intense. 

• When push comes to shove, you know I'll be on your side. 
• If push comes to shove at the meeting, the front office can back you up with some statistics.

Herd mentality

Herd mentality : esprit grégaire

• The art of marketing is mostly based on a good understanding of herd instinct.

To take to something like a duck to water

take to something like a duck to water
to learn how to do something very quickly and to enjoy doing it 

• Sue just took to motherhood like a duck to water. 
• He's taken to his new school like a duck to water. - les doigts dans le nez

Ordeal

Ordeal
an extremely unpleasant experience, especially one that lasts for a long time

• They have suffered a terrible ordeal. - calvaire
• You have my full support in this ordeal.  - épreuve
• The Kyoto Protocol will undergo its ordeal by fire. - épreuve du feu

Pastry

Pâte brisée = Shortcrust pastry
Pâte sablée = Cookie Dough
Puff/Flaky pastry = pâte feuilletée
Cream puff dough = pâte à choux
Pie dough = pâte à tarte
French pastry/Pastry shop = pâtisserie nf
Pastry bag =  poche à douille
Pastry shell = fond de tarte
Rolled-out pastry (pastry dough flattened with rolling pin) = pâte roulée

Codswallop

Codswallop
nonsense, something that is silly or not true 

• This is a load of codswallop. - bobards
• I've never heard such a load of old codswallop in my life

Muddle

In a muddle


a confused situation or condition

• Her feelings for him are such a muddle.
• She died leaving her financial affairs in a muddle.

a mistake caused by a confused situation

• Sorry – there's been a bit of a muddle

Old love - Eric Clapton

"Old Love"

Eric Clapton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EklciRHZnUQ

I can feel your body
When I'm lying in bed
There's too much confusion
Going around through my head

And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame still burns
Why can't I get over?
When will I ever learn?

[Chorus:]
Old love, leave me alone
Old love, go on home

I can see your face
But I know that it's not real
It's just an illusion
Caused by how I used to feel

And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame will always burn
I'll never get over
I know now that I'll never learn

[Chorus]

Thumb one's nose at

To thumb one's nose at someone or something 

1. Lit. to show a sign of derision at someone or something by placing the thumb to the side of the nose. (Often while wiggling the other fingers of the hand.)

• Don't thumb your nose at me unless you want a fight
• Fred thumbed his nose at the car as it drove off.

2. Fig. to dismiss someone or something as worthless, verbally. 

• Walter thumbed his nose at Fred and asked the gang to send someone else to do the job. 
• She thumbed her nose at the whole idea.