Ability or Skillall rounder=somebody with various skillsShe’s equally good at running and jumping and is one of the team’s best all rounders.as far as in one lies=as much as one is ableAs far as in one lies I’ll do everything I possibly can to help.be a match for someone=be equal to somebody in abilityThe athlete had been training hard for three years and now he was a match for any of the contenders for the gold medal.be capable of =(of person)having the abilityThis train is capable of carrying 2,000 persons.budding talent=emerging abilityWe must make best use of any budding talent and encourage the young members of the group. competent to/for=having the ability/skill to do what is neededShe is not competent for teaching.cut out fo r=have a natural ability forI think I’m going to resign; I’m not cut out for this job.feeling for something=aptitude for somethingIt’s no use trying to learn ballet unless you have a feeling for music.find one’s feet=reach the stage where one is able to do something on one’s ownI was very grateful to Mr Robinson during my first week in my new job; he helped me a lot untilI found my feet.fit for=make competent for (something)Y ou can best fit yourself for your new responsibility by studying all these papers hard.flying feet=ability to run fastOur wing forward can always rely on his flying feet to avoid a tackle.get one’s eye in=attain one’s standard of abilityThe new job was a bit daunting at first but it was all right once I’d got my eye in.get on top of=be able to control/deal with something difficult, etcThis is a difficult job but I’m sure that Mr Lee is on top of it from the excellent report I’ve had. gift of the gab=ability to talk convincingly and easilyColin should make a good salesman; he’s got the gift of the gab and persistence.green fingers=skill at gardeningMy mother’s got green fingers and she can grow anything in her small garden.have a head for=have the abilityJason should go in for accounting because he has a good head for figures.have broad shoulders=be able to accept much responsibilityGeorge must have broad shoulders—he’s taken on the job of secretary of the tennis club as well as being treasurer of the cricket club.have it in one=have the ability/skillI hear you’ve won a scholarship to university. Well done, I didn’t think you had it in you.have one’s head screwed on (the right way)=be capableI don’t worry too much about my wife being on her own while I’m away; she’s got head screwedon and can take care of herself.have the hang of sth./doing sth.=develop/have the ability to do/understand sthY ou’ll find this car difficult to drive at first. But don’t worry; you’ll soon get the hang of it.hot stuff=sb. with great abilityY ou want to watch out for the other team’s centre forward—he’s hot stuff.I wouldn’t put it past him/her=he/she is quite capable of doing sth (usually bad)Frank says he finished that job yesterday—mind you, I wouldn’t put it past him to say he’d finished even if he hadn’t.in one’s line of country=within one’s competenceI’m willingly help you; painting walls is just in my line of country.in one’s own right=through one’s own abilityShe helps her husband with his business, but she’s also an accountant in her own right.in sb’s line=within sb’s competenceLinda didn’t want to come on the boat with us because sailing is not in her line.in the country of the blind (the one-eyed man is king)=in a situation where sb has a little ability (he/she has an advantage over people with no ability)Sylvia’s rudimentary knowledge of chess was more than enough to beat Peter, who had seldom played the game before; in the country of the blind…jack of all trades=sb who can do various knds of jobs (but does none exclusively) This chap is a jack of all trades; he wired in a new power point, plumbed in the washing machine and retiled the kitchen—all in one day and for a very reasonable price.know one’s onion=be skilledWhy don’t you ask Mary about the fault? She really knows her onions about the photocopier and can probably solve the problem in seconds.level pegging=have the equal abilityAfter four sets and ten games in the final set the two players are still level pegging.live by one’s wits=survive using cunning/one’s mental ability(rather than, for example by hard work)I couldn’t get a permanent job so I had to live by my wits for a couple of years.meet one’s match=deal with sb who is as able/capable as oneselfDave is a big eater but he’s met his match with Gordon—he eats like a horse.on the ball=able to do one’s job wellThe new clerk is really on the ball. He’s already improved the filing system in the office.party piece=sb’s favorite accomplishmentWe all had a few drinks and then Bryn did his usual party piece of balancing a pint of beer on his head.past master=sb with acknowledged skillWhy don’t you ask Raymond how to fix it? He’s a past master at mending these machines. pick up a language=acquire the ability to speak a language(without formal tuition) Mike has a good ear for accents and can pick up most European languages quite easily.put someone/something through his/her/its paces=make someone/something show what he/she/it can do (as a test of ability)Y ou can judge for yourself how clever my horse is. Just watch as I put it through its paces.put sb. on his/her mettle=test sb’s abilityHe has played very well in the reserve side but this chance in the first team should put him on his mettle.rare animal=sb. of unusual ability, or with an unusual combination of abilitiesHe’s that rare animal, a professional musician and a scientist.second sight=ability to foretell the futureHilda’s mother has second sight and correctly predicted the date on which Hilda met the man she eventually married.see one’s way (clear) to=be ableDo you think you could see your way to letting me borrow your bicycle for the afternoon?show one’s paces=demonstrate what one doGordon played ten people simultaneously at the chess club last week and really showed his pace—he lost only one game.spread one’s wings=put to use or try out one’s own abilitiesY ou can’t do everything for your children: there comes a time when they must leave home and spread their wings.turn one’s hand to=adapt one’s skills toMy husband is quite clever really he can turn his hand to most do-it-yourself jobs around the house.up to sth.=able to do sth.This cake is very good, but it’s not up to the one you made last week.what one is made of=one’s abilityCome on then, you bully; show us what you’re made of.within (the) reach (of)=capable of being reached, physically or by communication We didn’t believe it was within the reach of human ingenuity.Y ou can’t teach an old dog new tricks.=It is very difficult for old people to develop new abilities, etc.He is old, and so you can’t expect him to change his ways of doing things. Y ou can’t teach and old dog new tricks.。