Expressions

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come to pass
happen 
I'm starting to think that the new bridge will never come to pass.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
That threat hasn't come to pass.
come to the crunch
To come to the crunch is to reach the critical moment or test that determines an issue. 
When it came to the crunch in the big game, he wasn't as good a player as we thought.
come to the party
To come to the party is to do what is expected or wanted, often by making a contribution of money. 
What we need is a new sponsor to come to the party.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
We want a nice grandchild off him and he'll not come to the party.
comes down to
is mainly about; can be reduced to 
His argument really comes down to one point.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
I think there is no limit to what we may be able to do. It really comes down to a surveillance issue within sport; it comes to an ethic issue in sport.
comes in handy
is useful and needed 
The money I got for my tax return will come in handy.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
We’ve just picked up your standard stubby holder, which always comes in handy. You cannot have enough stubby holders.
comes into its own
Something that comes into its own shows how good or useful it is in a particular situation. 
A motorbike really comes into its own in a traffic jam.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
But research comes into its own when it’s applied, and at the University of Adelaide, they’re putting the finishing touches to a motorbike that runs on biofuel.
comfort zone
If you are in a comfort zone then you are relaxed and content. You find things are too easy. 
We should get out of our comfort zone and go camping.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
We include it because we like to get kids out of their comfort zone and for the socialisation process as well.
conked out
Something that has conked out has broken down or stopped working. 
The car has conked out again.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
I think he just got lucky and probably a kangaroo had conked out down amongst the willows and he grabbed its bone, a shin bone, and used it on the bats.
consigned to history
Something that is consigned to history is something you can only know about by reading history books or visiting museums. It's something that is not used anymore or something that has been destroyed. 
Eventually landline telephones will be consigned to history.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
These three historic homes on MacKinnon Parade are about to be consigned to history themselves.
cooling-off period
A cooling-off period is a period after a sale. During this time, a customer can change their mind, and get out of the contract. 
There is a cooling-off period when you buy a house.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
There'll be a 3-day cooling-off period.
cop this
Cop this is a slang term meaning to put up with or suffer. 
I'm not going to cop this anymore.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Well, I got told I had to get off the green if I didn't put that bowls cloth in a pocket and I thought this is ridiculous, and this is when I first started, and I thought 'Oh god, do I have to cop this?'
cotton on
begin to understand; realise 
He just won't cotton on to the idea that I don't like him.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
But then once I explain the symbology of the image, people start to get it, and children really get it quickly, you know, they cotton on, they go 'Yeah, oh, OK'…
A similar expression is catch on 
cough up
(informal) give, usually reluctantly 
He finally coughed up the money he owed me.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
The Housing Department coughed up $20,000 for tools and, three years on, it's an undeniable success.
count for little
are not regarded as important; not worth much 
Human lives count for little in times of war.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
But this 57-year-old grandmother has learnt that enthusiasm and life experience count for little if you're over 45 and looking for a job
count on
depend on; expect 
I count on my car starting everyone morning.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
At least Ted Davies and those along the Darling River can count on a water supply again.
count the cost
feel or regret the effects of a bad mistake or disaster 
I'm still counting the cost of quitting my old job.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Perhaps we don't need to have this invasive species, and doing everything that we can to keep it out now is a far better thing than counting the cost at some later time.
crack down
To crack down means to act forcefully to stop something. 
The police are going to crack down on vandalism in the area.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
The Government's already announced it's cracking down on so-called fighting dogs.
crack of dawn
The crack of dawn is sunrise, or very early in the morning. 
I had to be up at the crack of dawn to catch my plane.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
They're here at the crack of dawn, tilling the soil, growing a lot of herbs and vegetables which you can't buy commercially, and there's a lot of really weird and interesting plants growing here in this garden.
crack the code
solve the code; find the answer 
It took me ages to crack the code.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
If they can crack the code we may end up with more than just everlasting colour.
crash hot
good; excellent 
His work is not really crash hot.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
What do you think of these new bikinis?I think they're really crash hot.
cream of the crop
the very best 
Only the cream of the crop play in a symphony orchestra.
This expression is often shortened to the cream as in this story. 
We were addressing the larger flow of those persons, not just the cream.
creature comforts
Creature comforts are the things that make life easier and more comfortable - like having a comfortable place to live, or expensive food or a nice car. 
I hate camping because I miss my creature comforts.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
I would say I wasn't very prepared to start living in a different country away from home, away from all the creature comforts...
cropping up
appearing 
New houses are cropping up everywhere in my suburb.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
It was a time when probation stations were cropping up around the State and being hailed as a revolutionary solution to the old system of assignment where convicts were allocated to free settlers.
cross your fingers
To cross your fingers is to try to stop bad luck and hope that things will go well. 
We've done all we can, so now we just cross our fingers and hope it will work.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
These scientists say it's a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained and all they can do now is cross their fingers.
cross your mind
If something crosses your mind, you think about it for a short time. 
It crossed my mind that he was lying.
crying out for
If someone is crying out for something they really want it or need it. 
The outer suburbs are crying out for more public transport.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
With an accredited abattoir up and running, Phil Gee predicts that Australia could export more than 25,000 processed camels a year to markets crying out for the meat.
culture shock
Culture shock is the unhappiness and unease caused by not understanding a different society with different expectations. 
I felt some culture shock when I went overseas to study.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
I think initially they find the culture shock. Because, well, in English classes back at home, they can only learn so much about the actual culture.
cup of tea
thing that you like 
Working on the weekends is not my cup of tea.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Being a pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor Service is different to a lot of aviation's jobs. It's not everyone's cup of tea.
cut any ice
To cut any ice is to impress or influence someone 
Street marches don't cut any ice with this government.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
But that doesn't cut any ice with people who have come from country cities here who are not used to walking.
cut corners
To cut corners is to not do things properly but in the quickest and easiest way. 
If you cut corners the quality of your work suffers.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Right through the ages, there have been police that have cut corners when they're under pressure.
cut price
cheap 
They're offering cut price fares to Singapore.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
But it's not cut price in the sense of any corners cut and so there's a lot of emphasis put on making sure that the academic standards are absolutely equivalent.
cut short
Something that is cut short is ended before it should be. 
My favourite TV show was cut short by the power blackout.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Because the average age of women joining is 27, there's a fear their careers will be cut short as they have a family.
cutting edge
new; leading the way 
He's working on some cutting edge research.
This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 
Our cutting edge photonics technology is old hat for Mother Nature.