These are some phrases and expressions you should learn for Carnival in Malta! Carnival is art, expression and revelry… enjoy and learn English with us!
Cut a dash: If a person cuts a dash, they make a striking impression by their appearance and attractive clothes.
e.g.: Wearing his uniform, my grandfather cut a dash on his wedding day.
Deck out: If you deck out someone or something, you dress or decorate them in a special way.
e.g.: Paul decked out his car for the occasion.
Dressed to kill: When someone, especially a woman, is dressed to kill, they are wearing very fashionable or glamorous clothes intended to attract attention.
e.g.: She arrived at the reception dressed to kill.
Dressed up to the nines: Someone dressed up to the nines is wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
e.g.: Caroline must be going to a party – she’s dressed up to the nines.
Face like a bulldog chewing a wasp: To say that someone has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp means that you find them very unattractive because they have a screwed-up ugly expression on their face
e.g.: Not only was he rude but he had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
Not a hair out of place: To say that someone does not have a hair out of place means that their appearance is perfect.
e.g.: Angela ways impeccably dressed – never a hair out of place!
Look like a million dollars: If you look like a million dollars, you look extremely good.
e.g.: With a tan and a new hairstyle she looked a million dollars!
Mutton dressed as lamb: This expression refers to a middle-aged woman who tries to look younger by dressing in clothes designed for younger people.
e.g.: The style doesn’t suit her – it has a mutton-dressed-as-lamb effect on her!
(all) skin and bone: If someone is all skin and bone, they are very thin or too thin.
e.g.: After trekking in the Himalayas, he was all skin and bone.
Thin on the top: If someone, usually a man, is thin on the top, they are losing their hair or going bald.
e.g.: Dad’s gone a bit thin on the top in the last few years.
(as) ugly as sin: This expression is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very unattractive.
e.g.: Have you seen the new neighbour’s dog? It’s as ugly as sin!
Vertically challenged: This term is a humoristic way of referring to someone who is not very tall.
e.g.: High shelves are difficult for vertically challenged shoppers.