Idioms
and Phrases
A
dog in the manager: A
person who prevents others from enjoying something that is useless to
him.
A
sitting duck: A
person or thing that is an easy target to attack.
A
Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush: Having
something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more,
because chances are you might lose everything.
A
Blessing in Disguise: Something
good that isn’t recognized at first.
A
Chip On Your Shoulder: Being
upset for something that happened in the past.
A
Dime a Dozen: Anything
that is common and easy to get.
A
Doubting Thomas: A
skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe
something.
A
Drop in the Bucket: A
very small part of something big or whole.
A
Fool and his Money are Easily Parted: It’s
easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.
A
House Divided against itself cannot Stand: Everyone
involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
A
Leopard Can’t Change his Spots: You
cannot change who you are.
A
Penny Saved is a Penny Earned: By
not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).
A
Picture Paints a Thousand Words: A
visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
A
Piece of Cake: A
task that can be accomplished very easily.
A
Slap on the Wrist: A
very mild punishment.
A
Taste of Your Own Medicine: When
you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
A
Toss-Up: A
result that is still unclear and can go either way.
Actions
Speak Louder Than Words: It’s
better to actually do something than just talk about it.
Add
Fuel to the Fire: Whenever
something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
Against
the Clock: Rushed
and short on time.
All
Bark and no Bite: When
someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing to engage in
a fight.
All
Greek to me: Meaningless
and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or
understand any of the Greek language would be.
All
in the Same Boat: When
everyone is facing the same challenges.
An
Arm and a Leg: Very
expensive. A large amount of money.
An
Axe to Grind: To
have a dispute with someone.
Apple
of My Eye: Someone
who is cherished above all others.
As
High as a Kite: Anything
that is high up in the sky.
At
the Drop of a Hat: Willing
to do something immediately.
Black
and Blue: To
beat mercilessly.
Back
Seat Driver: People
who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted
advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
Back
to Square One: Having
to start all over again.
Back
to the Drawing Board: When
an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over.
Baker’s
Dozen: Thirteen.
Barking
up the Wrong Tree: A
mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.
Beat
a Dead Horse: To
force an issue that has already ended.
Beating
around the Bush: Avoiding
the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Bend
Over Backwards: Do
whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Between
a Rock and a Hard Place: Stuck
between two very bad options.
Bite
Off More Than You Can Chew: To
take on a task that is way to big.
Bite
Your Tongue: To
avoid talking.
Blood
is Thicker Than Water: The
family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue
Moon: A
rare event or occurrence.
Break
a Leg: A
superstitious way to say ‘good luck’ without saying ‘good
luck’, but rather the opposite.
Buy
a Lemon: To
purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops runnings
after you drive it away.
Close
shave: A
narrow escape.
Can’t
Cut the Mustard: Someone
who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate.
Cast
Iron Stomach: Someone
who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating
anything or drinking anything.
Charley
Horse: Stiffness
in the leg/A leg cramp.
Chew
someone out: Verbally
scold someone.
Chip
on his Shoulder: Angry
today about something that occurred in the past.
Chow
Down: To
eat.
Close
but no Cigar: To
be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.
Cock
and Bull Story: An
unbelievable tale.
Come
Hell or High Water: Any
difficult situation or obstacle.
Crack
Someone Up: To
make someone laugh.
Cross
Your Fingers: To
hope that something happens the way you want it to.
Cry
Over Spilt Milk: When
you complain about a loss from the past.
Cry
Wolf: Intentionally
raise a false alarm.
Cup
of Joe: A
cup of coffee.
Curiosity
Killed the Cat: Being
Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Cut
to the Chase: Leave
out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
Dark
Horse: One
who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
Dead
Ringer: 100%
identical. A duplicate.
Devil’s
Advocate: Someone
who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in
that particular side of the argument. It can also mean one who
presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to
another debater.
Dog
Days of Summer: The
hottest days of the summer season.
Don’t
count your chickens before they hatch: Don’t
rely on it until your sure of it.
Don’t
Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth: When
someone gives you a gift, don’t be ungrateful.
Don’t
Put all Your Eggs in One Basket: Do
not put all your resources in one possibility.
Doozy:
Something
outstanding.
Down
to the Wire: Something
that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.
Drastic
Times Call for Drastic Measures: When
your are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate
actions.
Drink
like a fish: To
drink very heavily.
Drive
someone up the wall: To
irritate and/or annoy very much.
Dropping
Like Flies: A
large number of people either falling ill or dying.
Dry
Run: Rehearsal.
Eighty
Six: A
certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to
throw away.
Elvis
has left the building: The
show has come to an end. It’s all over.
Ethnic
Cleansing: Killing
of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.
Every
Cloud Has a Silver Lining: Be
optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
Everything
But The Kitchen Sink: Almost
everything and anything has been included.
Excuse
my French: Please
forgive me for cussing.
French
Leave: Absence
without permission.
Feeding
Frenzy: An
aggressive attack on someone by a group.
Field
Day: An
enjoyable day or circumstance.
Finding
Your Feet: To
become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
Finger
lickin’ good: A
very tasty food or meal.
Fixed
in Your Ways: Not
willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
Flash
in the Pan: Something
that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to
deliver anything in the end.
Flea
Market: A
swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive
goods.
Flesh
and Blood: This
idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can
refer to someone’s family.
Flip
the Bird: To
raise your middle finger at someone.
Foam
at the Mouth: To
be enraged and show it.
Fools’
Gold: Iron
pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.
French
Kiss: An
open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
From
Rags to Riches: To
go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Fuddy-duddy:
An
old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
Full
Monty: This
idiom can mean either, “the whole thing” or “completely nude.”
Funny
Farm: A
mental institutional facility.
Get
Down to Brass Tacks: To
become serious about something.
Get
Over it: To
move beyond something that is bothering you.
Get
Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed: Someone
who is having a horrible day.
Get
Your Walking Papers: Get
fired from a job.
Give
him the Slip: To
get away from. To escape.
Go
Down Like a Lead Ballon: To
be received badly by an audience.
Go
for Broke: To
gamble everything you have.
Go
Out on a Limb: Put
yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.
Go
the Extra Mile: Going
above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Good
Samaritan: Someone
who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for
compensation, and no thought of a reward.
Graveyard
Shift: Working
hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most
other people are sleeping.
Great
Minds Think Alike: Intelligent
people think like each other.
Green
Room: The
waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or
radio show.
Gut
Feeling: A
personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may not be
right.
Haste
Makes Waste: Quickly
doing things results in a poor ending.
Hat
Trick: When
one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can
also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3
touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.
Have
an Axe to Grind: To
have a dispute with someone.
He
Lost His Head: Angry
and overcome by emotions.
Head
Over Heels: Very
excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.
Hell
in a Handbasket: Deteriorating
and headed for complete disaster.
High
Five: Slapping
palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
High
on the Hog: Living
in Luxury.
Hit
the Books: To
study, especially for a test or exam.
Hit
the Hay: Go
to bed or go to sleep.
Hit
the Nail on the Head: Do
something exactly right or say something exactly right.
Hit
the Sack: Go
to bed or go to sleep.
Hocus
Pocus: In
general, a term used in magic or trickery.
Hold
Your Horses: Be
patient.
Icing
on the Cake: When
you already have it good and get something on top of what you already
have.
Idle
Hands are the Devil’s Tools: You
are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
If
it’s not one Thing, it’s another: When
one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...
In
Like Flynn: To
be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.
In
the Bag: To
have something secured.
In
the Buff: Nude.
In
the Heat of the Moment: Overwhelmed
by what is happening in the moment.
In
Your Face: An
aggressive and bold confrontation.
It
Takes Two to Tango: A
two person conflict where both people are at fault.
It’s
a Small World: You
frequently see the same people in different places.
Its
Anyone’s Call: A
competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.
Ivy
League: Since
1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia,
Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and
Harvard.
Jaywalk:
Crossing
the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.
Joshing
Me: Tricking
me.
Keep
an Eye on Him: You
should carefully watch him.
Keep
body and soul together: To
earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.
Keep
your chin up: To
remain joyful in a tough situation.
Kick
the Bucket: Die.
Kitty-corner:
Diagonally
across. Sometimes called Catty-Corner as well.
Knee
Jerk Reaction: A
quick and automatic response.
Knock
on Wood: Knuckle
tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
Know
the Ropes: To
understand the details.
Last
but not least: An
introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person
mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him/her.
Lend
Me Your Ear: To
politely ask for someone’s full attention.
Let
Bygones be Bygones: To
forget about a disagreement or argument.
Let
Sleeping Dogs Lie: To
avoid restarting a conflict.
Let
the Cat out of the Bag: To
share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.
Level
playing field: A
fair competition where no side has an advantage.
Like
a chicken with its head cut off: To
act in a frenzied manner.
Liquor
someone up: To
get someone drunk.
Long
in the Tooth: Old
people (or horses).
Loose
Cannon: Someone
who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.
Make
no Bones About: To
state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.
Method
to My Madness: Strange
or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for
a good reason.
Mumbo
Jumbo: Nonsense
or meaningless speech.
Mum’s
the word: To
keep quiet. To say nothing.
Nest
Egg: Savings
set aside for future use.
Never
Bite the Hand that Feeds You: Don’t
hurt anyone that helps you.
New
kid on the block: Someone
new to the group or area.
New
York Minute: A
minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced
environment.
No
Dice: To
not agree. To not accept a proposition.
No
Room to Swing a Cat: An
unusually small or confined space.
Not
Playing with a Full Deck: Someone
who lacks intelligence.
Off
on the Wrong Foot: Getting
a bad start on a relationship or task.
Off
the Hook: No
longer have to deal with a tough situation.
Off
the Record: Something
said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to
him/her.
On
Pins and Needles: Anxious
or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
On
the Fence: Undecided.
On
the Same Page: When
multiple people all agree on the same thing.
Out
of the Blue: Something
that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.
Out
on a Limb: When
someone puts themself in a risky situation.
Out
on the Town: To
enjoy yourself by going out.
Over
my Dead Body: When
you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
Over
the Top: Very
excessive.
Pass
the Buck: Avoid
responsibility by giving it to someone else.
Pedal
to the metal: To
go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.
Peeping
Tom: Someone
who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for
his own gratification.
Pick
up your ears: To
listen very carefully.
Pig
in a Poke: A
deal that is made without first examining it.
Pig
out: To
eat alot and eat it quickly.
Pipe
Down: To
shut-up or be quiet.
Practice
Makes Perfect: By
constantly practicing, you will become better.
Pull
the plug: To
stop something. To bring something to an end.
Pulling
Your Leg: Tricking
someone as a joke.
Put
a sock in it: To
tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.
Queer
the pitch: Destroy
or ruin a plan.
Raincheck:
An
offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
Raining
Cats and Dogs: A
very loud and noisy rain storm.
Ring
Fencing: Separated
usual judgement to guarantee protection, especially project funds.
Rise
and Shine: Time
to get out of bed and get ready for work/school.
Rome
was not Built in one Day: If
you want something to be completely properly, then its going to take
time.
Rule
of Thumb: A
rough estimate.
Run
out of steam: To
be completely out of energy.
Saved
by the Bell: Saved
at the last possible moment.
Scapegoat:
Someone
else who takes the blame.
Scot-free:
To
escape and not have to pay.
Sick
as a Dog: To
be very sick (with the flu or a cold).
Sitting
Shotgun: Riding
in the front passenger seat of a car.
Sixth
Sense: A
paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.
Skid
Row: The
rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.
Smell
a Rat: To
detect someone in the group is betraying the others.
Smell
Something Fishy: Detecting
that something isn’t right and there might be a reason for it.
Son
of a Gun: A
scamp.
Southpaw:
Someone
who is left-handed.
Spitting
Image: The
exact likeness or kind.
Start
from Scratch: To
do it all over again from the beginning.
The
Ball is in Your Court: It
is your decision this time.
The
Best of Both Worlds: There
are two choices and you have them both.
The
Bigger they are the Harder they Fall: While
the bigger and stronger opponent might be alot more difficult to
beat, when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.
The
Last Straw: When
one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the
last straw is the last small burden that one can take.
The
Whole Nine Yards: Everything.
All of it.
Third
times a charm: After
no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.
Tie
the knot: To
get married.
Till
the cows come home: A
long time.
To
Make a Long Story Short: Something
someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep
his/her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn’t
shortened.
To
Steal Someone’s Thunder: To
take the credit for something someone else did.
Tongue
and Cheek: Humour,
not to be taken serious.
Turn
a Blind Eye: Refuse
to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
Twenty
three skidoo: To
be turned away.
Under
the weather: Feeling
ill or sick.
Up
a blind alley: Going
down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.
Use
Your Loaf: Use
your head. Think smart.
Van
Gogh’s ear for music: Tone
deaf.
Variety
is the Spice of Life: The
more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.
Wag
the Dog: A
diversion away from something of greater importance.
Water
Under the Bridge: Anything
from the past that isn’t significant or important anymore.
Wear
Your Heart on Your Sleeve: To
openly and freely express your emotions.
When
it Rains, it Pours: Since
it rarely rains, when it does it will be a huge storm.
When
Pigs Fly: Something
that will never ever happen.
Wild
and Woolly: Uncultured
and without laws.
Wine
and Dine: When
somebody is treated to an expensive meal.
Without
a Doubt: For
certain.
X
marks the spot: A
phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been
looking for.
You
are What You Eat: In
order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
You
can’t Judge a Book by its Cover: Decisions
shouldn’t be made primarily on appearance.
You
can’t Take it With You: Enjoy
what you have and not what you don’t have, since when you die you
cannot take things (such as money) with you.
Your
Guess is as Good as Mine: I
have no idea.
Zero
Tolerance: No
crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.