Збірник " ENGLISH IN IDIOMS"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soledar, 2017

 

 

АНОТАЦІЯ

 

            Що таке ідіоми? При вивченні англійської мови ми часто стикаємося з стійкими виразами, перевести на українську мову які можливо тільки звернувшись до словника ідіом. Без знання англійських фразеологізмів неможливо повною мірою насолоджуватися читанням оригінальних англійських текстів, і тим більше претендувати на звання серйозного знавця англійської мови. У той же час, використання в мові англійських ідіом та фразеологізмів говорить про глибоке розуміння мови.

           Англійські ідіоми не тільки прикрашають мову, вони  також дозволяють скоротити громіздкі речення до невеликих стійких виразів (іноді до двох-трьох слів). Мова з використанням англійських фразеологізмів стає більш красивою і стрункою.

         Даний посібник розрахований на рівні Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced. Тут Ви знайдете не тільки найпоширеніші англійські ідіоми разом із тлумаченням їх значення та їх перекладом на українську мову, але й приклади використання англійських ідіом у мовленні, що роблять цей посібник незамінним помічником учителя як у класі, так і в позакласній діяльності.

 

 

 

 

 

 

English idioms: Weather

a face like thunder = to look very angry: "What's up with him today? He has a face like thunder!"

a fair-weather friend = a friend who doesn't support you in bad times: "I'm a bit disappointed in John and David. It turned out they were only fair-weather friend

a snowball's chance = very little chance (as much chance as a snowball has in hell): "We don't have a snowball's chance of winning that contract!"

a storm in a teacup = a lot of fuss over something small: "Don't worry about those two arguing. it's just a storm in a teacup."

be a breeze = to be easy: "The exam was a breeze."

be snowed under = to be very busy: "We're snowed under at work."

blow hot and cold = to keep changing your attitude: "They're blowing hot and cold over this issue. It's impossible to know what they want!"

brass-monkey weather = very cold weather: "It's brass-monkey weather today. You'd better wrap up warm!"

come rain or shine = whatever happens: "He's always working in his garden – come rain or shine."

the lull before the storm = a quiet time before a busy or difficult time: "It's going to get very busy on Thursday. Today and tomorrow are just the lull before the storm."

save up for a rainy day = put money aside for when you might need it later: "I don't want to spend this extra money. I'll save it up for a rainy day."

see which way the wind blows = to analyse a situation before doing something: "I'm going to see which way the wind blows before asking her about a raise."

steal someone's thunder = do what someone else was going to do and get all the praise: "You'll steal her thunder if you wear that dress tonight!"

take a rain check = postpone something: "I don't really want to go the cinema tonight. Can we take a rain-check on it?"

under the weather = not feel very well: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather at the moment."

weather the storm = to survive a difficult situation: "This recession is quite serious and it's becoming difficult to weather the storm."

 

 

English idioms: Food

be the apple of someone's eye = be someone's favourite person: "She's the apple of her father's eye."

in apple-pie order = in perfect order: "Her house was in apple-pie order, with nothing out of place."

be as nice as pie = be extremely nice and charming, so that you can fool people: "She can be as nice as pie, but don't trust her!"

eat humble pie = have to take back what you said, because you have been proved wrong: "He'll have to eat humble pie now. Serve him right – he tried to make us all look bad."

have your fingers in every pie = be involved in many different things: "You can't do anything without him knowing – he has his fingers in every pie."

a piece of cake = be extremely simple: "This program is a piece of cake to use."

sell like hot cakes = sell quickly in large quantities: "His book is selling like hot cakes."

full of beans = be full of energy: "You're full of beans today – it's nice to see you so lively!"

beef about something = complain about something: "He's always beefing about the pay."

beef something up = give something extra appeal: "If we beef up the window display, more people might come into the shop."

be your bread and butter = be your main source of income: "Although they run a taxi service, car sales are their bread and butter."

be like chalk and cheese = be completely different: "I don't know why they got married – they're like chalk and cheese."

be like peas in a pod = be identical to someone: "Those two are like peas in a pod."

cheesy = predictable and unimaginative: "I don't want to see that film again – it's really cheesy."

sour grapes = say something bad because you didn't get what you wanted: "Don't listen to him complain – it's only sour grapes because you got the job and he didn't."

play gooseberry =  somewhere with a couple who would prefer to be on their own: "I'd rather not come to the cinema with you two – I'd just feel I was playing gooseberry."

a couch-potato = someone who never goes out or exercises: "He watches TV all day – what a couch-potato!"

like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth = appear innocent: "When I asked her about the missing money, she tried to look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."

bring home the bacon = earn money for necessary things, like food: "He brings home the bacon in that family."

the way the cookie crumbles = the way things are: "I'm sorry I didn't get the promotion, but that's the way the cookie crumbles."

have someone eat out of your hand = have control over someone: "He has her eating out of his hand – it's sad."

eat someone out of house and home = eat a lot of food: "Her children eat her out of house and home."

eat into your savings = spend some of your savings: "We can't afford a new car, unless we eat into our savings."

eating for two = be pregnant and so eating more: "Good news, darling. The doctor says I'm eating for two now."

eat your heart out! = telling someone they should be jealous of you: "I'm going on holiday to Jamaica – eat your heart out!"

not your cup of tea = something that you don't like much: "Football isn't my cup of tea."

a square meal = a filling meal: "You need a square meal after all that exercise."

it smells fishy = something that is suspicious: "He wants to do all the housework for you? That smells fishy to me!"

small fry / small beer = something or someone unimportant: "Sales last year are small fry compared to now – we're doing really well."

roll out the barrel = prepare to have a good time: "Roll out the barrel – we're celebrating our exam results."

rhubarb, rhubarb = saying something completely unimportant: "There's that politician again on televison – rhubarb, rhubarb."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

English idioms: Body

The heart

break someone's heart = upset someone greatly: "She broke his heart when she left him."

learn something off by heart = learn something completely: "I've learnt this off by heart – I'm bound to pass the exam!"

you're all heart! = when you tell someone sarcastically how kind they are: "Thanks for giving me all this work – you're all heart!"

hand on heart = promise with sincerity: "Hand on heart, it's the honest truth."

have the heart = be able to give someone bad news: "I didn't have the heart to tell him he'd failed."

a heart of gold = be a very kind person: "She'll always help – she has a heart of gold."

Hands

hand over = pass on something: "Before I leave, I have to hand over all my work."

get out of hand = become impossible to manage: "You'll have to deal with this problem before it gets out of hand."

know something like the back of your hand = know something extremely well: "He knows London like the back of his hand."

have your hands full = be very busy: "I can't do anything about it now – my hands are full."

in hand = under control: "The company report is in hand – you'll have it next week."

live hand to mouth = only earn enough money for food: "After he lost his job, he had to live hand to mouth for a couple of months."

give someone a hand = help someone: "He always gives me a hand with the housework."

have someone in the palm of your hand = have influence over someone: "He's got her in the palm of his hand."

be caught red-handed = be caught doing something bad: "The children were caught red-handed picking the flowers."

Fingers

butter fingers = be clumsy and drop things: "You've dropped my vase! Butter fingers!"

keep your fingers crossed = wish something for someone: "Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow – it's my job interview."

under your thumb = control someone: "She's got him under her thumb – he won't do anything without asking her first."

Arms

twist someone's arm = persuade someone: "I didn't want to go out, but he twisted my arm."

cost an arm and a leg = cost a fortune: "The car cost an arm and a leg – it'll take them ages to pay back the loan."

Feet and legs

put your foot in it = say or do something you shouldn't: "I think I've put my foot in it – I told her about the party."

have itchy feet = not able to settle down in one place: "She's going off travelling again – she's got really itchy feet."

keep someone on their toes = keep someone alert: "Our teacher keeps us on our toes – we have to pay attention in class."

stand on your own two feet = be independent: "I don't need your help – I can stand on my own two feet."

have two left feet = be awkward or clumsy: "He's a terrible dancer – he's got two left feet!"

walk on eggshells = be careful about what you say or do: "She's in a terrible mood – you'll have to walk on eggshells around her."

foot the bill = pay the bill: "He had to foot the bill for the party."

The back

go behind someone's back = do something secretly: "She went behind my back and told my boss I wanted a new job."

back off = stop trying to force someone to do something: "Will you just back off and let me decide what I should do!"

back down = accept defeat: "He finally backed down and let me buy a pet rabbit."

back someone up = support someone: "Thank you for backing me up in the meeting."

put your back into something = work very hard at something: "She put her back into it and got good results."

stab someone in the back = betray someone: "Be careful of him – he'll stab you in the back if it gets him what he wants."

Idioms that use part of the face

face-to-face = in person: "We need to arrange a face-to-face meeting."

face the music = take responsibility for a difficult situation: "We've got to face the music – this company is going under."

face up to responsibilities = accept responsibilities: "You need to face up to your responsibilities – it's time you got a job and started to save money."

be two-faced = be hypocritical: "I can't believe she told you that she likes Harry – she told me she hates him! She's so two-faced!"

Ears

be all ears = listen attentively: "So, you've got an idea. I'm all ears."

have an ear for = be good at music: "He's doing well in his piano lessons – he's definitely got an ear for music."

keep your ears to the ground = listen out for something: "I'll keep my ears to the ground – the next time I hear someone wants to rent out a flat, I'll let you know."

up to your ears in something = be extremely busy: "I'm sorry I can't come out this weekend – I'm up to my ears in work."

Eyes

keep your eyes peeled = watch extremely attentively: "Keep your eyes peeled for him – he's in the crowd somewhere."

keep an eye out for = watch for someone or something: "Keep an eye out for the next turning on the left."

eye up = look at someone because you think they look nice: "Whenever she goes to a club, she always gets eyed up by older men."

have your eye on something / someone = want someone or something: "I've got my eye on a new computer."

have eyes in the back of your head = warn someone that you can see exactly what they are doing: "Don't make those signs at me – I've got eyes in the back of my head!"

see eye to eye on something = agree with someone: "Those two don't always see eye to eye – they often argue."

Other parts of the face

stick your nose in = get involved in something or someone else's business: "I wish she wouldn't stick her nose in like that – I really don't want anyone else's help."

on the tip of my tongue = when you've forgotten the word you want to say: "What's the word for it – it's on the tip of my tongue…"

tongue-tied = when you can't say anything because you feel shy: "She's tongue-tied when she has to speak in public."

by the skin of my teeth = just manage to do something: "He got out of the burning building by the skin of his teeth."

cut your teeth on something = where you learn to do something: "He's the best man to run the company – he cut his teeth in the Production Department and ran it successfully for years."

teething problems = start-up problems with a new project: "We're having teething problems with our distribution systems.

 

have a cheek = be disrespectful: "He's got a cheek saying you never help him – I saw you writing his report for him!"

a frog in my throat = when your throat tickles and makes you cough: "Sorry I can't stop coughing – I've got a frog in my throat."

stick your neck out = do or say something that might have negative results: "I'm going to stick my neck out and say what I think."

be up to your neck in = be in a difficult situation: "He's up to his neck in debt."

breathe down someone's neck = check constantly what someone else is doing: "I can't write this letter with you breathing down my neck!"

Idioms that use parts of the head

head to head = in a race, when two contestants are doing as well as each other: "They are head to head in the polls."

off the top of your head = when you give an answer to something without having the time to reflect: "What's our market strategy?" "Well, off the top of my head, I can suggest…"

have a good head for = be good at something: "He's an accountant and he has a good head for figures."

have your head in the clouds = dream: "He's always got his head in the clouds – he makes all these impossible plans."

go over your head = not understand something: "The lesson went over my head – I didn't understand a word of it."

keep your head = stay calm: "He always keeps his head in a crisis."

be head over heels in love = be completely in love: "You can see that he's head over heels in love with her."

keep your head above water = manage to survive financially: "Despite the recession, they kept their heads above water."

use your head = think about something to solve a problem: "It's quite simple – just use your head!"

 

English idioms using 'mind'

keep / bear something in mind = remember something for future use: "I need a job in computers." "I'll bear it in mind – we often have vacancies for people with your skills."

make up your mind = decide: "I can't make up my mind about the job offer."

be in two minds about something = unable to decide: "I'm in two minds about buying a new car."

be out of your mind = be really worried: "Where have you been? I've been out of my mind with worry."

have a mind of your own = not be influenced by other people: "Don't tell me what to do! I've got a mind of my own, you know."

give someone a piece of your mind = tell someone how angry you are with them: "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. He knows I cooked dinner for him and now he's an hour late."

 

 

 

 

 

 

English idioms: Animals

cat's whiskers = to think you are the best: "He thinks he's the cat's whiskers!"

like the cat that's got the cream = look very pleased with yourself: "He looks like the cat that's got the cream!"

cat got your tongue? = a question we ask when we think someone is guilty of something: "Why don't you say something? Cat got your tongue?"

let the cat out of the bag = tell a secret: "He shouldn't have told her about the party – he's let the cat out of the bag now."

put the cat among the pigeons = cause trouble: "Don't tell her about your promotion – that will really put the cat among the pigeons."

have kittens = panic: "The way he was driving, I was having kittens."

the bee's knees = think you're the best: "He thinks he's the bee's knees."

have a bee in your bonnet = be obsessed by something: "He's got a real bee in his bonnet about buying a new car. "

from the horse's mouth = get information from the original source: "I know they're getting married – I got it from the horse's mouth."

a white elephant = something that is expensive, but has no use: "People say the stadium is a white elephant and a waste of money."

a memory like an elephant = have an excellent memory: "She won't forget, you know. She has a memory like an elephant."

play piggy in the middle = be caught between two sides of an argument: "Because they aren't talking, I've been playing piggy in the middle."

make a pig's ear of something = make a complete mess of something: "You've made a right pig's ear of this. Let me do it!"

in hog heaven = be very happy: "We gave him flying lessons for his birthday – he was in hog heaven!"

pigs might fly! = something is as unlikely as pigs being able to fly: "Do you think the government will cut taxes?" "Pigs might fly!"

have butterflies in your stomach = be very nervous about something: "She's got butterflies in her stomach – it's her driving test today."

 

 

 

 

 

 

til the cows come home = do something for ever: "I can tell him til the cows come home not to be late, but he never listens."

take the bull by the horns = face a problem and take action: "I'm going to take the bull by the horns and tell him I've changed my mind."

get someone's goat = annoy someone: "It really gets my goat when she criticises him – it's not as if she's perfect herself."

a loan-shark = someone who lends money at high interest rates: "Don't borrow money from him – he's a complete loan-shark."

have a whale of a time = really enjoy yourself: "They went out and had a whale of a time."

like a fish out of water = feel very uncomfortable in a particular situation: "He feels like a fish out of water in a suit – he much prefers wearing jeans."

with your tail between your legs = feel guilty or ashamed: "He told us all that he was leaving, then he came back ten minutes later with his tail between his legs."

in the dog-house = when you know that someone is angry with you: "I'm in the dog-house – I forgot to do the shopping."

the lion's share = most of something: "She did the lion's share of the housework."

in the lion's den = in a dangerous place: "The interview was like going into the lion's den – they asked some very difficult questions."

a snake in the grass = someone who can't be trusted: "Don't tell him any secrets – he's a snake in the grass."

bug someone = irritate someone: "He's really bugging me about the holiday! I wish he'd just go away and leave me alone."

worm your way in = be nice to people so that gradually you get yourself into a good position with them: "He wormed his way into the finance department to get a job."

monkey about = play and not work: "Stop monkeying about, will you? We've got loads of work to do!"

make a mountain out of a molehill = make a big issue out of something small: "Don't worry about it – it's not important at all. You're making a mountain out of a molehill."

 

English idioms: Love

catch someone's eye = to be attractive to someone: "The shy man at the back of the class caught my eye."

to fancy someone (British English) = to find someone attractive: "My friend fancies you!"

to have a crush on someone = to only be able to think about one person: "When I was at school, I had a crush on a film star."

to have a soft spot for someone = to have a weakness for someone: "She has a soft spot for Richard – he can do anything!"

to have the hots for someone = to find someone very attractive: "She's got the hots for the new office manager."

to go out with someone (British English) = to date someone: "They've been going out together for years!"

to go steady = to go out with someone: "They've been going steady since their first year at university."

to fall for someone = to fall in love: "He always falls for the wrong types!"

to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love: "He fell head over heels for her."

to be lovey-dovey = for a couple to show everyone how much they are in love: "They're so lovey-dovey, always whispering to each other and looking into each other's eyes."

to have eyes only for = to be attracted to one person only: "He's dropped all his old friends, now that he has eyes only for Susie."

to be the apple of someone's eye = to be loved by someone, normally an older relative: "She's the apple of her father's eye."

to be smitten by someone = to be in love with someone: "I first met him at a party and from that evening on, I was smitten."

a love-nest = the place where two lovers live: "They made a love-nest in the old basement flat."

to be loved-up (British English) = to exist in a warm feeling of love: "They are one loved-up couple!"

to be the love of someone's life = to be loved by a person: "He has always been the love of her life."

 

Types of love idioms

puppy love = love between teenagers: "It's just puppy love – you'll grow out of it!"

cupboard love = love for someone because they give you food: "I think my cat loves me, but it's only cupboard love!"

Getting married idioms

to get hitched: "They're getting hitched next Saturday."

to tie the knot: "So when are you two tying the knot?"

Falling out of love idioms

to go through a bit of a rough patch = when things are not going well: "Since the argument, they've been going through a bit of a rough patch."

to have blazing rows = to have big arguments: "We had a blazing row last night."

can't stand the sight of someone = to not like someone: "She can't stand the sight of him any more!"

to call it a day = to agree that the relationship has ended: "We decided to call it a day."

to be on the rocks = a relationship that is in difficulty: "Once she moved out, it was clear their marriage was on the rocks."

a love-rat = a man who betrays his girlfriend / wife: "He's had affairs with three different women – he's a complete love-rat.

 

English idioms: Clothes

keep something under your hat = don't say anything to anyone: "I've got something to say to you. But keep it under your hat – it's not public knowledge."

take your hat off to someone = admire someone: "I really take my hat off to people who work full time and study at the same time!"

tied to his mother's apron strings = someone (normally a man) who does what his mother tells him: "He didn't want to come out last weekend, because his mother disapproves of us. He's really tied to her apron strings!"

keep something up your sleeve = keep something hidden for later: "We've been negotiating my new pay and conditions, but I've kept the other job offer up my sleeve for the time being."

all talk no trousers – someone who talks a lot but doesn't act: "I know he told you that he would get you a limousine for the wedding. Don't believe him, though. He's all talk, no trousers."

who wears the trousers? = who has the power in a relationship: "What do you mean, she won't let you come out with us? Who wears the trousers in your house?"

pull your socks up = work harder: "You'll have to pull your socks up if you want a promotion next year."

it will blow your socks off = very hot food: "This is a fantastic stir-fry – it's hot enough to blow your socks off!"

hot under the collar = upset or angry about something: "He gets really hot under the collar about cruelty to animals – he can't stand seeing animals suffer."

it's pants (UK slang) – rubbish: "What did you think of the film?" "Pants!"

get something under your belt – achieve something: "I'm really glad I passed the driving test. Now I've got that under my belt, I can relax for a little while."

belt up = keep quiet: "What's all that noise? Just belt up, would you? I can't hear myself think."

below the belt = unfair: "You know he's really sensitive about the accident. I think it was a bit below the belt to mention it."

the boot's on the other foot = your opponent now has the advantage: "Now that she has been promoted, the boot's on the other foot! You should watch what you say from now on."

get your skates on = to hurry up: "Get your skates on – we're late as it is!"

have the shirt off your back = to steal all you own: "He asked you for how much rent? He'd have the shirt off your back, if you let him."

in only the clothes he stood up in = to only possess what you wear: "After the fire, they were left with only the clothes they stood up in."

get shirty = become angry with someone: "Don't get shirty with me! I'm only reporting the new rules."

skirt around the issue = not talk directly about something: "They skirted around the issue for a while, then got down to the real business."

cloak and dagger = mysterious: "Who's arranging the party? I don't know – it's all very cloak and dagger at the moment."

give someone a dressing down = tell someone off / reprimand someone: "He gave the whole department a dressing down after they failed to meet their agreed targets."

dressed to the nines / dressed to kill = dressed up: "Where are you going, dressed up to the nines?"

 

 

 

 

English idioms: Colour

feeling blue = feeling unhappy: "What's the matter with you? Feeling blue?"

out of the blue = completely unexpected: "I sent off my application to the company, but heard nothing. Then completely out of the blue they sent me a letter."

see red = become extremely angry: "When people are cruel to animals, it really makes me see red."

a red letter day = a day of great importance: "It's a red letter day tomorrow in the company. It's our fiftieth birthday!"

paint the town red = celebrate: "They went out last night and really painted the town red – they didn't come home until 5 a.m."

in the red = overdrawn: "It's the end of the month and we're in the red again. We have to control our spending better."

like a red rag to a bull = likely to make someone angry: "Don't talk to him about politics – it's like a red rag to a bull."

red tape = bureaucratic paperwork: "You have to cut through a lot of red tape to get proposals accepted in this company."

red carpet treatment = treat someone with great respect: "When we visit our offices in Asia, we get the red carpet treatment."

 

get the green light = get approval to start something: "We've finally got the green light to start research on the new product."

green fingers = be a good gardener: "Everything grows in her garden. She definitely has green fingers."

green-belt area = an area of protected land surrounding a town or city: "The green-belt area around London is disappearing fast."

green politics = environmental politics: "He's in green politics and often campaigns to fight pollution."

black market = illegal trade: "You can change dollars for a much higher rate on the black market."

black economy = a part of the economy unregulated by the authorities: "He doesn't pay any taxes and thinks that the black economy will make him rich." (He's working on the black.)

give someone a black look = look at someone as if you are angry: "Why is he giving me such a black look?"

on the black list = be on a list of "undesirables": "We won't be invited to their party this year – we're on their black list."

blacklisted = be banned: "Many actors and writers were blacklisted in Hollywood in the 1950's because they were considered "un-American."

in black and white = be extremely clear: "This contract is in black and white: we aren't allowed to keep any pets in this house."

black spot = a dangerous spot: "his roundabout is a black spot for traffic accidents."

black and blue = be badly bruised: "When she fell off her bicycle, she was black and blue for days."

white Christmas = when it snows at Christmas: "There hasn't been a white Christmas here since 1983."

whitewash = cover up the truth: "I don't believe his story. I think it's all a whitewash."

a grey area = something which is not definite: "I think genetic engineering is a bit of a grey area."

grey matter = your brain: "Doing crossword puzzles tests your grey matter."

 

 

 

 

 

English idioms: Shape

square meal = a big meal: "After all that travelling, we needed a square meal."

be back to square one = to be back to where you started: "I don't feel we're making any progress – we're back to square one."

look someone square in the eye = look at someone directly: "He looked me square in the eye and denied taking the money."

fair and square = completely fair: "We negotiated the deal fair and square."

square up to someone = to not be scared of dealing with someone or something difficult: "I'm glad you squared up to him in the meeting – you were definitely right!"

to be square = to be old-fashioned or boring: "She's so square – she hates doing anything fun!"

square it with someone = to get someone to agree to something: "I don't know if we can afford a car – we'll have to square it with the bank first."

a square peg in a round hole = something that doesn't fit: "He shouldn't be the boss – it would be like a square peg in a round hole."

spiral out of control = a situation that gets worse all the time: "Our costs are spiralling out of control – we have to save money."

vicious circle = a situation which makes itself worse, so that there is little chance of improvement: "The two sides are locked in a vicious circle of hatred."

go round in circles = to never get out of a situation: "I feel we're not getting anywhere – we're just going round in circles."

go full circle = to go the whole distance and arrive back in the same place: "The company has now gone full circle and has returned to its original core products."

move in the same circles = know the same people socially: "I'm afraid I don't know the Queen personally – we don't move in the same circles!"

in round figures = to the nearest unit: "In round figures, he earns 80 000 USD."

round something up or down to the nearest = give the closest even amount: "How much do we owe? Well, to round it up to the nearest dollar, I'd say about 60 USD."

the first time round = the first time that you did something: "Have you ever lived in London? Yes, the first time round, I was working in a school."

do the rounds = to be circulating: "There's a new joke doing the rounds about the President."

round on someone = to turn on someone: "She suddenly rounded on him and called him a liar."

a round of sandwiches = two sandwiches (made from two pieces of bread): "She made a few rounds of cheese sandwiches."

a round of golf = a game of golf: "Fancy a round of golf this evening?"

a round of drinks = a drink for everyone: "It's my turn to buy a round of drinks. What does everyone want?"