Idioms 9.9

to put it in a

• box
• nutshell

• basket

To ??? and save you time,

• get straight to the point

• put someone in the
  picture

• be on the same wavelength

If two people are on the same ???, they have the same way of thinking and it is easy for them to understand each other.

(a)  

• to not be able to understand something

• to be able to understand something

If two or more people are at cross ???, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without realizing this:

• goals
• objectives
• purposes

to avoid talking about what is important

• beating at the bush

• beating to the bush

• beating about the bush

Her friend saw us arrive at the party together and got the wrong end of the ???. (to not understand a situation correctly)

(a)  

the person you are speaking to does not listen

I heard through/on the ??? that he was leaving - is it true?

(a)  

to tell someone the facts about a situation: His lawyer put him in the ??? about what had happened since his arrest.

(a)