Idioms in context – 15

داستان زیر را بخوانید و معنای اصطلاحات را حدس بزنید:

DIY Bookcase

Ray needed a bookcase. He had been making do with planks of wood on bricks, but he wanted something nicer now. His sister, Sandy, suggested buying a self-assembly bookcase where the pieces came in a flat pack for him to put together himself. Ray knew he wasn’t much good at that sort of thing but he decided to give a shot. When he opened the pack it all looked very confusing but he was determined to get to grips with it. After a couple of hours he had something that looked a bit like a bookcase but was rather wobbly. To be on the safe side, he asked Sandy to check it for him. There is something not quite right about this, she said. ‘ I think we’d better get to the bottom of it before you put your books on it

Idioms

DIY Bookcase
کتابخانه دست ساز

Example: Bookcase made by oneself

making do with
با چیزی سر کردن

Meaning: manage with the limited or inadequate means available
Example: Dad would have to make do with an old car

a flat pack
جعبه قطعات چوبی

Meaning: Flat pack furniture is furniture such as shelves and cupboards which you buy as a number of separate pieces and assemble yourself
Example: It arrives as a flat packand is bolted together on site

give a shot
چیزی را امتحان کردن

Meaning: Try or attempt (something)
Example: I don’t think it will work, but I suppose you could give it a shot

get to grips with
با چیزی روبرو شدن

Meaning: engage in combat with
Example: British forces never came to grips with the enemy
Meaning: begin to deal with or understand
Example: a real tough problem to come to grips with

Wobbly
لق زدن

Meaning: tending to move unsteadily from side to side
Example: the car had a wobbly wheel

To be on the safe side
محض احتیاط

Meaning: being especially careful in order to avoid something unpleasant
Example: I’m sure it won’t rain, but I’ll take an umbrella (just) to be on the safe side = to be ready if it does rain

get to the bottom of sth
پی به حقیقت چیزی بردن

Meaning: to discover the truth about a situation
Example:I’m not sure what is causing the problem, but I’m determined to get to the bottom of it