House Idioms – Házakkal kapcsolatos idiómák

House Idioms

a halfway house
meaning: something which combines the qualities of two different things
magyarul: félúton van, kompromisszum
example: It’s a halfway house between classical and rock music. – Félúton van a klasszikus és a rockzene között.

a house of cards
meaning: very weak, can easily be destroyed
magyarul: gyenge lábakon áll, kártyavár
example: The company was a financial house of cards. – A cég pénzügyileg gyenge lábakon állt.

to bring down the house
meaning: to evoke applause and cheers
magyarul: viharost sikert arat, nagy tapsot kap
example: The comedian was always able to bring down the house during each performance. – A humorista minden egyes fellépésével nagy sikert aratott.

a fox guarding the henhouse
meaning: a person likely to exploit the information or resources that they have been charged to protect or control
magyarul: kecskére a káposztát
example: I wouldn’t trust him with the business, he’ll be like a fox guarding the henhouse. – Nem bíznám rá az üzletet, kecskére a káposztát.

to wear the pants in the house
meaning: to be the boss in the house
magyarul: ő viseli a nadrágot
example: Who wears the pants in your house? – Ki hordja nálatok a nadrágot?

People who live in glass houses (shouldn’t throw stones)
meaning: you should not criticize other people for bad qualities in their character that you have yourself
magyarul: akinek vaj van a fején, ne menjen a napra; bagoly mondja verébnek
example: You shouldn’t tell people that Jane was drinking too much at the party. You know, people who live in glass houses… – Nem kéne azt híresztelned Jane-ről, hogy túl sokat ivott a partin. Tudod, bagoly mondja verébnek…

to eat someone out of house and home
meaning: to eat a lot of food
magyarul: kienni a vagyonából
example: When they stayed with me, they ate me out of house and home! – Amikor nálam laktak, kiettek a vagyonomból!

to build castles in the air
meaning: to have impossible dreams or plans
magyarul: légvárakat építeni
example: She has this unrealistic idea of going to Bali this summer. She’s building castles in the air again. – Az a képtelen öltete támadt, hogy Balira megy a nyáron. Már megint légvárakat épít.

to get on like a house on fire
meaning: to get on very well with someone
magyarul: nagyon jól kijönni valakivel
example: I finally have a friend, the new girl and me get on like a house on fire. – Végre van barátom, az új lány és én nagyon jól kijövünk.

on the house
meaning: offered free of charge (in a restaurant)
magyarul: ingyen, a ház fizeti
example: Can I get you a drink on the house? – Hozhatok egy italt a ház kontójára?

there’s no place like home
meaning: your home is a special place
magyarul: mindenhol jó, de a legjobb otthon
example: The holiday was great! Still, there’s no place like home. – A vakáció nagyszerű volt! Mégis, mindenhol jó, de a legjobb otthon.

to have a roof over your head
meaning: to have somewhere to live
magyarul: van tető a feje felett
example: We have to find a flat to rent, or we won’t have a roof over our heads in two weeks’ time! – Találnunk kell egy kiadó lakást, különben nem lesz tető a fejünk felett két hét múlva!

1. Fill in the gaps with the words from the table.
 

1. Have you left him with a whole cake? It’s like ……………..

2. I’m the one who ……………. Money is usually my decision.

3. Sorry for the inconvenience. Can I offer you a dessert …………..?

4. I thought we would …………, but in real life he was a bore.

5. She sold her apartment, so she doesn’t ………….

6. No matter, how much I travel, I always think: …………….

2. Match each idiom to its definition.
 

Key:

1. 1-a fox guarding the henhouse, 2-wears the pants in the house, 3-on the house, 4-get on like a house on fire, 5-have a roof over your head, 6-there’s no place like home
2. 1-e, 2-f, 3-b, 4-a, 5-c, 6-d