english idioms

LEARNING ENGLISH IDIOMS

LEARNING IDIOMS IN 3 PARTS FROM THE INTERNET RESEARCHESBY CHAN DARAREAKSMEY

BY CHAN Darareaksmey


2014IDIOMS 1

AA 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.



B

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 occurance.

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 running after you drive it away.

C

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 occured 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.

D

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 arguement. 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 you 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.

E

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 optomistic, 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.



F

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.

G

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 Balloon: 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 0 am to 8 0 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.

H

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.

I

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.

J

Jaywalk: Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.

Joshing Me: Tricking me.

K

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.

L

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 arguement.

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.

M

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.

N

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 unsually small or confined space.

Not Playing With a Full Deck: Someone who lacks intelligence.

O

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.

P



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.

Q

Queer the pitch: Destroy or ruin a plan.

R



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: Seperated 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.

S

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 somone 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.

T

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.

Til 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: humor, 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.

U

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.

V

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.

W



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

X marks the spot: A phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been looking for.

Y

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.

Z

Zero Tolerance: No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.

IDIOMS 2

act like an ape

MEANING: behave badly, wildly, foolishly

EXAMPLE:

He has been acting like an ape ever since his girlfriend left him.

bark up the wrong tree

MEANING: choose the wrong course of action

EXAMPLE:

He is barking up the wrong tree. He accuses me of causing the computer problem but I was away at the time.

Her bark is worse than her bite

MEANING: someone’s words are worse than their action

EXAMPLE:

You shouldn’t worry about her. Her bark is worse than her bite and she is really a very nice person.

bet on the wrong horse

MEANING: misread the future

EXAMPLE:

He is betting on the wrong horse if he keeps supporting the other city in their bid for the games.



bull in a china shop

MEANING: a person with no tact who upsets others or upsets plans

EXAMPLE:

He is like a bull in a china shop so you should be careful if you invite him to your house for the weekend.

cash cow

MEANING: a good way to make money

EXAMPLE:

The new business is a great cash cow. We are making a lot of money now.

cat get one’s tongue

MEANING: can’t speak because of shyness

EXAMPLE:

The cat must have got her tongue. She did not saying anything at all.

cat nap

MEANING: a short sleep taken during the day

EXAMPLE:

I had a cat nap during the afternoon so I would feel refreshed in the evening.

change horses in midstream

MEANING: make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity

EXAMPLE:

They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldn’t change horses in midstream.



copycat

MEANING: someone who copies another person’s work etc.

EXAMPLE:

He is a copycat according to the other students in the class.

cry wolf

MEANING: give a false alarm; warn of a danger that is not there.

EXAMPLE:

He is crying wolf. There is no real danger or worry about the electrical system causing a fire.

curiosity killed the cat

MEANING: being too nosy may lead a person into trouble

EXAMPLE:

You shouldn’t worry about what he is doing. Remember curiosity killed the cat.

dark horse

MEANING: a candidate little known to the general public

EXAMPLE:

He was a dark horse in the race to be President until he gave some good speeches on TV.

dog-eat-dog

MEANING: ready or willing to fight and hurt others to get what one wants

EXAMPLE:

It is a dog-eat-dog world outside the father said to his young son.



donkey’s years

MEANING: a very long time

EXAMPLE:

I talked to my friend for a long time because I hadn’t seen her in donkey’s years.

dumb bunny

MEANING: stupid or gullible person

EXAMPLE:

He really is a dumb bunny. I can’t believe that he can do such stupid things.

eager beaver

MEANING: a person who is always eager to work or do something extra

EXAMPLE:

She is a real eager beaver and I am sure she will do very well in this company.

eat like a horse

MEANING: eat a lot

EXAMPLE:

Her brother who is 18 years old eats like a horse.

every dog has his day

MEANING: everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone will get what he deserves

EXAMPLE:

Don’t worry about him. Every dog has his day and he will eventually suffer for all the bad things that he is doing.



fraidy-cat

MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children)

EXAMPLE:

The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because he wouldn’t climb the tree.

get on one’s high horse

MEANING: behave with arrogance

EXAMPLE:

She is always getting on her high horse and telling people what to do.

get off one’s high horse

MEANING: begin to be humble and agreeable

EXAMPLE:

I wish that she would get off her high horse and begin to think about how other people feel about things.

go ape

MEANING: become highly excited or angry

EXAMPLE:

He will go ape if he sees that you have not finished the work that was due today.

go whole hog

MEANING: do something completely or thoroughly

EXAMPLE:

They went whole hog in their effort to make sure that the convention was a success.



hit the bulls-eye

MEANING: reach the main point

EXAMPLE:

I think that he really hit the bulls-eye when he talked about the problems with the regular staff.

hold one’s horses

MEANING: wait, be patient

EXAMPLE:

Hold your horses for a moment while I make a phone call.

holy cow

MEANING: used to express strong feelings like astonishment, pleasure or anger

EXAMPLE:

Holy cow he said as he saw the car that had hit the street lamp.

horse around

MEANING: rough or noisy play

EXAMPLE:

The teacher told the children to stop horsing around and get ready for class.

horse of a different colour

MEANING: something totally separate and different

EXAMPLE:

Moving to a new location is a horse of a different colour. It was never mentioned in any of our meetings.



horse trade

MEANING: hard and skilful bargaining

EXAMPLE:

We had to do a little horse trading but finally we reached a deal to buy the new house.

in the doghouse

MEANING: in disgrace or disfavour

EXAMPLE:

He is in the doghouse with his wife because he went out drinking three times last week. kangaroo court

MEANING: a self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong.

EXAMPLE:

It was decided in a kangaroo court that he would have to pay for the damage that he had caused to the school building.

lead a dog’s life

MEANING: work hard and be treated unkindly

EXAMPLE:

He is leading a dog’s life since he married the woman who everyone told him not to.

let sleeping dogs lie

MEANING: don’t make trouble if you don’t have to

EXAMPLE:



You should let sleeping dogs lie and not ask him any questions about the argument.

let the cat out of the bag

MEANING: tell something that is supposed to be a secret

EXAMPLE:

She let the cat out of the bag when she began talking about the plans for the new department.

live high on the hog

MEANING: have the best of everything

EXAMPLE:

He has been living high on the hog since he changed jobs and moved to Texas.

lock the barn door after the horse is gone

MEANING: be careful or try to make something certain after it is too late

EXAMPLE:

Now he wants to try and fix his house but it is like locking the barn door after the horse is gone. There was already a flood and the damage is done.

look like the cat that swallowed the canary

MEANING: look very self-satisfied, look as if one just had a great success

EXAMPLE:

You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What happened?

make a mountain out of a molehill

MEANING: make something that is unimportant seem important

EXAMPLE:



You are making a mountain out of a molehill with your going on and on about his mistake.

monkey business

MEANING: unethical or bad activity, mischief

EXAMPLE:

He should stop that monkey business and try to do the job the correct way.

piggyback

MEANING: sitting or being carried on someone’s back and shoulders

EXAMPLE:

The boy was riding piggyback on his father’s shoulders.

piggy bank

MEANING: a small bank (sometimes in the shape of a pig) for saving money

EXAMPLE:

He has been putting money into his piggy bank to save for a bicycle.

play cat and mouse with someone

MEANING: tease or fool someone

EXAMPLE:

He is playing a cat and mouse game with his company about his plans to quit or not.

put the cart before the horse

MEANING: do things in the wrong order

EXAMPLE:

I think that buying a ticket before we make any plans is putting the cart before the horse.



rain cats and dogs

MEANING: rain very hard

EXAMPLE:

It has been raining cats and dogs all day.

rat out on

MEANING: desert or betray someone

EXAMPLE:

He ratted out on his friends and now they won’t talk to him.

rat race

MEANING: rushing around, confusing way of living that does not seem to have a purpose

EXAMPLE:

He is tired of living in the rat race every day and plans to quit his job soon and do something else.

road hog

MEANING: car driver who takes more than his share of the road

EXAMPLE:

The person in front of me on the highway was a road hog but I tried not to get angry.

sacred cow

MEANING: a person or thing that is never criticized or changed even if it should be

EXAMPLE:

The school lunch program is a sacred cow which they will never change.



scaredy-cat

MEANING: someone who is easily frightened (used by children)

EXAMPLE:

The children were calling their friend a scaredy-cat because she wouldn’t go into the empty house.

smell a rat

MEANING: be suspicious, feel that something is wrong

EXAMPLE:

I smell a rat. There is something wrong with his relationship to the bankers.

straight from the horse’s mouth

MEANING: directly from the person or place where something began

EXAMPLE:

I heard straight from the horse’s mouth that she will be leaving the company next week. straw that breaks the camel’s back

MEANING: a small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one become angry or do something

EXAMPLE:

Her accusing me of not working hard enough was the straw that broke the camel’s back so I finally asked for a transfer to another section of the company.

tail between one’s legs

MEANING: feel beaten, ashamed (after a scolding etc.)

EXAMPLE:

He left the meeting with his tail between his legs after he was criticized by the president.



take the bull by the horns

MEANING: take decisive action and not worry about the results

EXAMPLE:

My aunt decided to take the bull by the horns and begin preparations for the family reunion.

talk until the cows come home

MEANING: talk for a long time

EXAMPLE:

We can talk until the cows come home this weekend at the lake.

throw someone to the wolves

MEANING: send someone into danger without protection

EXAMPLE:

He decided to throw his co-worker to the wolves when he asked him to go and see the other company.

turn tail

MEANING: run away from trouble or danger

EXAMPLE:

We decided to turn tail and leave the pub before there was a fight.

wildcat strike

MEANING: a strike spontaneously arranged by a group of workers

EXAMPLE:

There was a wildcat strike at the factory and over 100 people walked off the job.



wolf in sheep’s clothing

MEANING: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad

EXAMPLE:

Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

IDIOMS 31. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.5. broke means "to have no money"Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.11. in ages means "for a very long time"Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.12. give someone a hand means "help"Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?



13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.22. take it easy means "relax"Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!26. all of a sudden means "unexpectedly", used to describe something that happens very quicklyExample: He had just gone to bed when all of a sudden the phone rang.27. be all ears means "eager and ready to listen"Example: Go ahead and speak. I'm all ears!



28. be fed up with means "to hate something now, even though I may have liked it before"Example: I'm fed up with my job! I think I should start looking for a new one.29. to bug means "to bother someone". (American English)Example: Hey, stop tapping your fingers. It's really bugging me!30. a cinch means something that is very easy to doExample: I didn't think I could run five kilometers, but with the right preparation, it was a cinch.31. cost an arm and a leg means "very expensive"Example: I'd really like a new car, but they all cost an arm and a leg.32. to cram means "to study hard a few days before a test"Example: If you had studied hard for the past four months, you wouldn't have to cram so much this weekend.33. fresh out of something means "to have no more of something"Example: I have to go buy some more milk. It seems we're fresh out now.34. to get it (often negative) means "to understand"Example: What did the teacher say? I didn't get it. Did you?35. got a minute? means "Do you have time right now?"Example: Hey, Joe, got a minute? I have something to show you.36. give someone a hand means "help someone"Example: Could you give me a hand moving this table? It's quite heavy.37. grab a bite to eat means "quickly go get something to eat"Example: I'm going to go grab a bite. I'll be back in a few minutes.38. drive someone up a wall (or "drive someone crazy") means "to make someone very angry"Example: My neighbor practices the piano every night, but he's terrible. It's driving me up the wall!39. to hang on means "to wait"Example: Hang on a few minutes. I have to make a phone call and then I'll be able to join you for lunch.40. hard headed means "stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or ideaExample: I can't work with Joe any more. He's so hard headed!41. have a change of heart means "change a previous decision"Example: I thought I would change jobs, but now that my boss is treating me with more respect, I've had a change of heart.42. have mixed feelings about something means "to be uncertain"Example: I have mixed feelings about Joe. He's a very good teacher, but he has a very strange sense of humor!43. head out for means "to start on a long trip" (but it could be within a big city)Example: We're heading out for the countryside to pick some apples. Would you like to join us?



44. How come? means "Why?"Example: How come we don't go to the movies any more? I guess we're too busy to enjoy ourselves these days.45. keep in touch (or "stay in touch") means "do not stop communicating - send letters or call sometimes"Example: Don't forget to keep in touch. I want to know how you're doing while you're away.46. be kidding means "to joke or tease someone in a playful way"Example: No, I don't really have three wives - I was just kidding!47. look down on means "think somone or something is not good enough"Example: We shouldn't look down on people just because they don't have as much money as we do.48. make ends meet (often used negatively) means "to have enough money to buy everything we need"Example: Even though I make more money than last year, we just can't seem to make ends meet.49. miss the boat means "to miss an opportunity"Example: The sale ends today at noon. If we don't hurry, we're going to miss the boat!50. next to nothing means "to cost very little"Example: I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes for only five dollars. That's next to nothing!

IDIOMS 4

ring a bell A: Do you know April O’Neil?B: Hmm. Maybe. That name rings a bell.

Definition

= is familiar to you but you can't remember where you heard it

on the one hand / on the other hand

On the one hand, Peter’s roommate is kind. On the other hand, he’s quite messy.

Definition

= (expression used to when considering the advantages and disadvantages of sth)

have/keep an open mind

I tried to keep an open mind about Allan even though I’d heard some bad things about him.

Definition

= be openminded



on the tip of your tongue

His name was on the tip of my tongue… but I couldn’t remember it.

Definition

= used to say you are almost able to remember something, but you can't

a hangover (noun) / hung-over (adj)

Tyler was too hung-over from last night’s party to go to work.

Definition

= unwell from drinking too much alcohol on the previous day

~ish Let’s meet around 4ish.

Definition

= used to make sth more vague and less exact

fed up I’m fed up with my neighbour’s dog.

Definition

= so angry that you can no longer tolerate any more of sth

Big deal! It takes you 15 minutes to walk to school? Big deal!

Definition

= a sarcastic expression meaning that sth is actually NOT a big deal.

Give sb a hand My dad gave me a hand with my homework.

Definition

= helped you

let the cat out of the bag

It was going to be a surprise party, until Todd let the cat out of the bag.

Definition

= told the secret so other people found out too early

give it a shot If you think you can make the team, then give it a shot.

Definition

= give it a try



No way! A: George, I’m pregnant.B: No way!

Definition

= similar to "that can't be possible!" / "I don't believe you!"

The more the merrier.

A: Can I invite my brother?B: Sure. The more the merrier.

Definition

= used to say that the more of sth there is, the better it will be.

give it your all Even though I lost the race, I gave it my all.

Definition

= tried your hardest

first-hand I saw the accident happen, first-hand.

Definition

= you experienced it personally

a dead end Let’s not take this path. It leads to a dead end.

Definition

= a place with only an end

time flies Time flies when your having fun.

Definition

= time passes quickly

pull sb’s leg “You have 6 brothers? You’re pulling my leg!”

Definition

= same as "You're joking!"

have sth on your mind

When Dana has something on her mind, she likes to go for a long walk by herself.

Definition

= to have a certain topic in your thoughts

keep track I use my watch to keep track of time.

Definition

= to monitor the time



from scratch My aunt made the cake from scratch.

Definition

= from nothing (without any already-prepared materials)

off the top of your head

He asked me to tell him a joke, but I couldn’t think of one off the top of my head.

Definition

= using only the ideas you have in your head at that moment

learn your lesson The boy learned his lesson. He’ll never play with fire again.

Definition

= to learn sth important about life from making a mistake/doing something wrong

keep/bear in mind The professor told his students to keep in mind that they only have 50 minutes to complete the test.

Definition

= not forget; remember

speak your mind Timmy was afraid to speak his mind in front of his schoolmates.

Definition

= say what you honestly feel

Just my luck! It rained on my only day off. Just my luck!

Definition

= expression used when sth unlucky happens to you. It implies that unlucky things happen to you, thus your luck is bad luck

There’s nothing to it.

Why don’t you make a simple website for your business? There’s nothing to it.

Definition

= it's very easy; it's a piece of cake



get out of hand

The house party got out of hand, so we had to call the police.

Definition

= got out of control

cut a long story short

To cut a long story short, Lisa and I have had some interesting experiences together.

Definition

= to make a long story shorter so it takes less time to say

a piece of cake The test was a piece of cake. I finished it in 20 minutes.

Definition

= very easy

break the ice At the start of the meeting, Mike tried to break the ice by telling a joke.

Definition

= to initiate social interaction/conversation. (Note: the ‘ice’ is that cold feeling when no one is talking or people don’t know each other. You break the ice by beginning to speak or starting an activity (e.g. telling a joke, or doing a warm-up activity))

go out of your way to do sth

I went out of my way to help Jenny find an apartment, and she didn’t even say thanks!

Definition

= to take extra time to make an additional effort to do sth

cross your mind The thought never even crossed my mind.

Definition

= to think about sth; to consider sth

road rage I don’t like being in the car Definition



with Gary. He has difficulty controlling his road rage.

= extreme anger when driving

go on about The old man went on about his school days for nearly an hour.

Definition

= to speak for too long about sth uninteresting

slip your mind I was going to return the library books today after work, but the thought slipped my mind.

Definition

= used to say you forgot to do sth

have/throw a fit The baby threw a fit when I took his toy away.

Definition

= to get angry and begin acting like an angry child

The ball is in your court

The ball is in their court now. Let’s wait for their decision.

Definition

= used to say that YOU now have control of the situation

make your day Finding a fifty-dollar bill on the ground made my day.

Definition

= used to say that sth made your day special (and great).

a rip off / to rip sb off

Six dollars for a cup of coffee?! What a rip off!

Definition

= sth very over-priced

get a kick out of sth I get a kick out of reading science fiction novels.

Definition

= to get enjoyment from sth

catch sb’s eye The bright advertisement caught my eye.

Definition

= to grab sb's attention and make them look at



sth

jump the gun I jumped the gun and asked Gail to marry me. She said she wasn't sure what to say.

Definition

= to do sth too soon.

give sb a piece of your mind

The angry worker gave his boss a piece of his mind.

Definition

= to speak angrily to sb about sth bad they have done

cross your fingers Kate crossed her fingers and hoped it wouldn’t rain on her wedding day.

Definition

= (Westerners cross their fingers when they want good luck)

cost (sb) an arm and a leg

The designer handbag cost her an arm and a leg.

Definition

= to cost a LOT of money

be in hot water Ken was in hot water about forgetting his wedding anniversary.

Definition

= to be in trouble

in a bind Susan is really in a bind. She has two essays due tomorrow and she hasn't started either of them.

Definition

= in a difficult situation; stuck in a difficult situation

an eye-opener The film on global warming was a real eye-opener for Tom.

Definition

= sth that makes you see or think about sth differently from then on

let off steam Ted plays squash when he needs to let off steam.

Definition

= to release anger and frustration



read between the lines

You can figure out the author’s opinion by reading between the lines.

Definition

= to find the hidden meaning in sth that is written or said

go all out We went all out and booked a five-star hotel for our trip.

Definition

= to use all of your energy or resources (e.g. money in the above example) to do sth

out of line Mark’s comment was out of line. He shouldn’t have said that to a client.

Definition

= inappropriate; not in accordance with how sb is supposed to behave

be on sb’s back My manager is on my back about being at work on time.

Definition

= to persistently urge sb to do (or not to do) sth

would not be seen/caught dead

I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing an ugly dress like that.

Definition

= used to say that you would NEVER do sth

have mixed feelings Larry has mixed feelings about his new job.

Definition

= to be unsure about sth

draw a blank When asked for her postal code, Amy drew a blank.

Definition

= to be unable to remember anything

You name it. A: Daddy, can I have anything on the menu?B: Sure. You name it, you got it.

Definition

= synonym of 'whatever you want'; anything

know your stuff Jim has been a mechanic Definition



for 20 years. He really knows his stuff.

= to know sth well

left, right and centre

Businesses were closing in town left, right and centre.

Definition

= everywhere

a change of heart After seeing a mouse on the floor, I had a change of heart about eating at the restaurant.

Definition

= a change of feeling; used to say you changed your mind about sth

a long haul

Peter told his boss that he wouldn’t quit. He’s in it for the long haul.

Definition

= the long road; the option that takes the most time

be man enough George was the only one man enough to admit he had made a mistake.

Definition

= strong enough in character, or strong enough as a man

be second to none The apple pie at this restaurant is second to none.

Definition

= the best

know/learn the ropes

It took me a month to learn the ropes at my new job.

Definition

= the process of learning about sth so you are comfortable with it

a breath of fresh air The new employee, Gail, is a breath of fresh air in the office.

Definition

= sth new that adds life and energy to a situation

get your act together

The coach told me that if I didn’t get my act together, I’d be kicked off the team.

Definition

= start behaving properly



set your heart on sth

Eric has his heart set on participating in the Olympics.

Definition

= to be firmly resolved to do sth

take sb/sth for granted

Keith took it for granted that his girlfriend would always stay with him. Then, one day, she was gone.

Definition

= to assume too confidently that you'll have sth in the future or forever

play it by ear A: How long will you stay in Australia?B: I’m not sure. I’m just going to play it by ear.

Definition

= to improvise; to not make a plan but decide what to do as you do it

put all your eggs in one basket

Greg invested his money in a few different areas. He didn’t want to put all his eggs in one basket.

Definition

= to put all of sth you have in the same area (note: generally viewed as a bad thing to do)

Birds of a feather (flock together)

A: It’s funny that all of Kate’s friends are attractive.B: So is she. I guess birds of a feather flock together.

Definition

= similar people tend to spend time with each other.

have second thoughts

I’m starting to have second thoughts about my new apartment.

Definition

= to have doubts

pay the price for sth Don’t touch my stuff. If you do, you’ll pay the price.

Definition

= to suffer as a consequence of doing sth

a basket case Darryl’s ex-wife is a total Definition



basket case. = a crazy person; a nut

on the dot We arrived at 8 o’clock on the dot.

Definition

= exactly

not have a clue I don’t have a clue where Nunavut is.

Definition

= to have no idea or absolutely no knowledge (about sth)

have a shot at Our team has a shot at winning the championship.

Definition

= has a chance

the word spread It took only an hour for word to spread around the office that John had been fired.

Definition

= for some news to spread ("the word" = some news)

safe and sound I arrived home from my trip safe and sound.

Definition

= safe

be a pain (in the neck)

My brother is a real pain in the neck sometimes.

Definition

= to be annoying/irritating

be in the same boat The governments of Portugal and Greece are in the same boat. They both need financial assistance.

Definition

= to be in the same situation

be/feel at home After two years, James felt at home in Prague.

Definition

= to feel comfortable, as if you were in your home or hometown

be in sb’s good Ryan is not in his father’s Definition



books good books right now because he scratched his car.

= to be on someone's good side; to be thought of as someone's friend or ally

get out of bed on the wrong side

I’d avoid talking with Bob today. He must’ve got out of bed on the wrong side.

Definition

= to wake up in a bad mood

up-and-coming Roger is an up-and-coming hockey player from Toronto.

Definition

= young and rising to the top; new and becoming successful

get into gear You’d better get into gear or you’ll be late.

Definition

= hurry up; start moving at a faster speed

out of the blue One day, out of the blue, I received a letter from my former schoolmate.

Definition

= unscheduled; without previous warning

set the record straight

In a TV interview, the politician set the record straight about his experiences in the military.

Definition

= to clarify what is true/factual about a story or thing

keep an eye on The security guard kept an eye on the suspicious man.

Definition

= watch closely; monitor

a grey area Because of a grey area in his job description, Peter was not exactly sure what all of his responsibilities were.

Definition

= a vague area; an unclear area; an area that is neither black nor white

get/let sb off the Luckily for her, the Definition



hook policeman let Jane off the hook for parking her car in a no-parking zone.

= to let someone go free instead of holding them responsible for sth bad

out of sight, out of mind.

Jim was happy when his ex-girlfriend moved out of his apartment — out of sight, out of mind.

Definition

= this means that if you do not see someone regularly, you will stop thinking about them.

give sb the cold shoulder

Ted gave his ex-girlfriend the cold shoulder when he saw her at the party.

Definition

= to ignore sb

The ins and outs It took Alan a year to learn all the ins and outs of his job.

Definition

= to know all aspects of sth; to know completely how sth works

line of work The fireman said that injuries were common in his line of work.

Definition

= job field; type of work

make do

I forgot to buy groceries so I had to make do with what was left in the fridge.

Definition

= to survive/get by with what you have at that moment

get sth off your chest

A: Keith, there’s something I need to get off my chest.B: What’s bothering you? Tell me.

Definition

= to say something serious or difficult that you have been thinking about for a while.

know sth like the back of your hand

Takeshi knows the streets of Kyoto like the back of his hand.

Definition

= to be very familiar with



sth

in the bag After scoring their fourth goal, the victory was in the bag.

Definition

= certain to be secured/obtained;

be on the ball Greg isn’t on the ball today. He keeps making silly mistakes.

Definition

= to be thinking well and reacting quickly

off and on / on and off

Tara and Mike have been seeing each other off and on for a year now.

Definition

= intermittently

for the time being I plan to move into my own apartment in September. For the time being, I’m staying with friend Doug.

Definition

= just for the present moment

burn your bridges Jack tried to be kind to his boss when he quit in job because he didn’t want to burn his bridges.

Definition

= ruin a relationship, resulting in you being unable to return somewhere

get/be given the sack / sack (verb)

Alan got the sack for repeatedly coming into work late.

Definition

= to be fired

on the back burner The project was put on the back burner while the company focused on a more immediate problem.

Definition

= set as a lower priority



get cold feet It’s normal to get cold feet before your wedding day.

Definition

= to become nervous/frightened right before sth you had planned to do

hit rock bottom After being fired and then kicked out of his apartment, Jake really hit rock bottom.

Definition

= to be in the lowest situation, e.g. without money or friends. to be in the unhappiest situation of your life

talk shop Everyone agreed not to talk shop at the staff party.

Definition

= to talk about work-related things

start/get the ball rolling

It’s time we start the ball rolling on the new project.

Definition

= to take the first step to begin a process

get your foot in the door

Janice took a position as an administrative assistant to get her foot in the door at the famous fashion company.

Definition

= to complete the first step towards achieving an opportunity

well-off / well-to-do Lloyd comes from a well-to-do family. His friends often ask to borrow money from him.

Definition

= rich; wealthy

pull your weight Lisa had to work extra hard because a few members of the team weren’t pulling their

Definition

= to do your share of the work; to contribute your



weight.

share of effort

a gut feeling I have a gut feeling that something bad is going to happen today.

Definition

= an intuitive feeling

if need be If need be, we can take a taxi home.

Definition

= If necessary,..

in the middle of nowhere

Their car broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Definition

= in a place far away from anywhere known to you

go with the flow Jake didn’t want to go to another bar, but everyone else did, so he went with the flow.

Definition

= to let yourself to be guided by the choices of others

play your cards right

If Linda plays her cards right, she could be the department manager by next year.

Definition

= make the appropriate moves/choices

follow in sb’s footsteps

Bill chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a dentist.

Definition

= follow someone else's path

have your heart set on sth

Alan has his heart set on participating in the 2020 Olympics.

Definition

= to be firmly resolved to do sth

You can say that again!

A: I met your boss today. He’s a real jerk.

Definition



B: You can say that again!

= expression that means that you definitely agree with what was just said.

I’m all ears A: Doug, I’ve discovered the meaning of life.B: Really? I’m all ears.

Definition

= I'm listening intently.

small talk After some small talk, the interview began.

Definition

= discussion about light topics such as the weather

put sth on hold Greg had to put his weekend plans on hold and go into the office on Saturday for a few hours.

Definition

= to postpone sth

common ground The two boys had some common ground: they both loved football.

Definition

= something held in common; a common interest or trait

politically (in)correct

Marcel told a politically incorrect joke at the company party. No one laughed.

Definition

= politically correct = worded in a sensitive way that will not harm the audience

have had it up to here

“I’ve had it up to here with this mess! Clean your room now!”

Definition

= I'm fed up; I've had enough; something said when you cannot handle anymore of something that is aggravating you



have your work cut out

If we want to finish this by Friday, then we’ve really got our work cut out for us.

Definition

= expression that means you have a lot of work to do in little time

get the picture

A: The fight was horrible. One man kept punching the other again and again and again–B: OK. That’s enough. I get the picture.

Definition

= to understand what is being illustrated or explained

see eye to eye Mike and his father don’t see eye to eye on the issue of abortion.

Definition

= to agree on sth; to have the same views on sth

call it a day It’s already 6 pm. Let’s call it a day.

Definition

= expression said near the end of a day which means "That's enough for today. Let's end and go home."

twist sb’s arm I really had to twist my sister’s arm to get her to pick me up from the airport.

Definition

= to make a great effort to convince sb to do sth for you

bring sth to light The report brought some previously unknown facts to light about the causes of cancer.

Definition

= to make something previously unknown become known

be in the dark / Most of the employees Definition



keep sb in the dark were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute.

= to be uninformed; to not be told know what's happening

go up in smoke After breaking his leg, Darryl’s dream to play professional hockey went up in smoke.

Definition

= to be wasted; to become impossible; when the chances of sth happening burn away

go downhill After his wife divorced him, Victor’s life really went downhill.

Definition

= decline; become worse

at your fingertips With the World Wide Web, people have a vast amount of information at their fingertips.

Definition

= directly accessible

poke fun at The kids poked fun at George because he was wearing his t-shirt backwards.

Definition

= to make fun of sb

Easier said than done.

A: You should get a girlfriend who’s beautiful AND kind.B: Easier said than done.

Definition

= expression that means that sth is much easier to SAY than actually accomplish.

the bottom line A: Doctor, what’s the bottom line?B: If you don’t quit smoking, you’ll die within

Definition

= the final result



a year.

call the shots The boss told Janet to call the shots while he was away.

Definition

= to make the decisions

know/learn sth by heart

Hank knows every Elvis song by heart.

Definition

= to memorize sth

get a move on If we don’t get a move on, we’ll miss the bus.

Definition

= to start moving; to start going

miss the point “You missed the point. The book was about the problems of capitalism, not how to make money.”

Definition

= to fail to grasp the most important part of sth

hold/stand your ground

Although their enemy outnumbered them, the soldiers stood their ground.

Definition

= to stay in your position without running away.

be child’s play The tennis match was child’s play for Ben.

Definition

= a piece of cake; something so easy a child could do it

be only a matter of time

The scientist said it’s only a matter of time before a big earthquake hits California.

Definition

= used to say that sth will inevitably happen



(sooner or later)

push your luck A: Dad, can I have another ice cream cone?B: Don’t push your luck, kid.

Definition

= to expect continued good fortune

raise (a few) eyebrows

Francine’s short skirt raised a few eyebrows.

Definition

= to make people slightly shocked or surprised

a matter of opinion The best restaurant in Europe is, of course, a matter of opinion.

Definition

= sth that is subjective

be that as it may A: Tyler is such a selfish guy.B: Be that as it may, he’s your brother. You have to love him.

Definition

= expression that means "even though that is true" / "even so, .."

if/when push comes to shove

If push comes to shove, I’ll be here to support you.

Definition

= if/when the situation becomes difficult/intense

against your better judgement

Against his better judgement, Jim let his friend drive home drunk.

Definition

= sth you did even though, at that time, you thought it was wrong thing to do

add insult to injury To add insult to injury, Greg’s wife left him for his

Definition



best friend.

= to make an insulting situation even worse

the last straw When the boss told me to come in to work on Saturday, that was the last straw.

Definition

= the final thing that causes sth to collapse or sb to lose their temper/get angry

be up in the air Jim’s vacation plans were still up in the air.

Definition

= for sth to be undecided; undetermined

not have the faintest/foggiest idea

I don’t have the faintest idea where Wollongong is.

Definition

= to not know sth at all

the icing on the cake

Paula enjoyed the concert, and getting to meet the artist backstage after the show was the icing on the cake.

Definition

= an additional thing that makes sth good become great

get/jump/leap on the bandwagon

Janet doesn’t normally watch hockey but she jumped on the bandwagon because her city’s team was in the playoffs.

Definition

= to join the crowd; to do what most other people are doing

the fine/small print My father reads the fine print on every contract he signs.

Definition

= the information typed in a smaller font, usually on a contract

stuck/be in a rut The singer was stuck in a Definition



rut. All of her recent songs sounded the same.

= to be in a situation in which you cannot make any progress

run-of-the-mill Kate is a waitress at a run-of-the-mill bar and restaurant in London.

Definition

= typical

face the music Tina knew that one day her parents would see her tattoo and then she’d have to face the music.

Definition

= to take responsibility for what you have done

to keep sth/sb at bay

Bodyguards kept the reporters at bay while the movie stars entered the theatre.

Definition

= to keep a threat away from coming too near

be up in arms People were up in arms [about/over] the government’s plan to raise the retirement age.

Definition

= in an uproar; very angry

bite your tongue Jack bit his tongue while his manager criticized his performance.

Definition

= to refrain from saying sth because you don't think it would be a good idea

leave a lot to be desired

The design of our office building leaves a lot to be desired.

Definition

= is unsatisfactory

off the beaten track Mike and Mary had dinner a quiet restaurant off the beaten track in Paris.

Definition

= away from the area most people visit/go



pick sb’s brains Mike is a marketing genius. People often invite him to lunch or dinner so they can pick his brains.

Definition

= to ask someone many questions so you can learn from him/her

whet your appetite The 30-second trailer was designed to whet people’s appetites.

Definition

= to make people want more; to stimulate your appetite so you desire more

sour grapes A: People with nice cars just want attention.B: That sounds like sour grapes because you can’t afford one.

Definition

= expression that means something was said out of jealousy

a blessing in disguise

Losing his job turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Afterward, Roger found his dream job.

Definition

= a good thing that first appears as a bad thing

give sb the benefit of the doubt

I told the teacher that it wasn’t me who broke the window. Thankfully, he gave me the benefit of the doubt.

Definition

= to choose to believe sth good about sb instead of believing sth bad (when you have the choice to believe either)

jog sb’s memory Jeff said he couldn’t remember the song’s lyrics, but hearing the first few words jogged his memory.

Definition

= to make sb remember sth

foot the bill George agreed to foot the bill for dinner.

Definition

= to pay the bill for sth



have it in for sb A: Why are you hiding from your brother?B: He has it in for me. He knows I lost his football.

Definition

= to be very angry at sb

be in the red The company has been in the red since September.

Definition

get/catch wind of sth

Once the school principal caught wind of the problem, she called a teachers’ meeting.

Definition

= to learn about some news;

a rule of thumb As a rule of thumb, I don’t eat food that smells bad.

Definition

= a personal principle

be on the same wavelength

The group members were all on the same wavelength, so they were able to finish their project quickly.

Definition

= to think in a similar way to others

up to speed After her holiday, it took Kate a few hours to get back up to speed on the recent developments in her company.

Definition

= to be updated; to not be behind; to have all the current information

play devil’s advocate

Although Jim is against the death penalty, he told his friend he was for it just to play devil’s advocate.

Definition

= to argue against sb just so you can hear your opponent's reasoning

bend/lean over backwards

Lisa bent over backwards to get her brother a job in her company, so she was surprised to learn he quit

Definition

= to make a great effort to do sth or help sb



today.

pass the buck The politician passed the buck onto someone else instead of accepting responsibility for the problem.

Definition

= to pass blame onto sb else

take the plunge Jerry has finally decided to take the plunge. Tomorrow he's going to start looking for an office job.

Definition

= begin an important/difficult task that you’ve been thinking about for a long time (note: to plunge is into dive into something)

call sb’s bluff When Mike heard his friend say she knew all of the world’s capitals, he called her bluff and asked her to name the capital of Mozambique.

Definition

= to make sb prove that what they are saying is true

have a chip on your shoulder

Tim has had a chip on his shoulder about businesswomen since he lost his job to a woman three years ago.

Definition

= to have anger about sth that happened in the past

breathe down sb’s neck

Jim found it hard to focus on his work with his boss breathing down his neck.

Definition

= to watch sb very closely (often in an annoying way)

climb to the top of the career/corporate ladder

Having children can be an obstacle for women who want to climb (to the top of) the corporate ladder.

Definition

= to advance in a company by being



promoted to the top

red tape

Mark’s visa application was held up for six months because of red tape.

Definition

= rules and regulations that prevent you from achieving sth easily

give sb free rein When his father died, Mark was given free rein to do whatever he liked with the family business.

Definition

= to give sb full control of sth

the be-all-and-end-all

Getting into Harvard Law School became the be-all-and-end-all of Tony’s existence.

Definition

= the only thing that matters; sth so good that it will end the search for sth better

blow sth out of proportion

The media blew the story out of proportion.

Definition

= exaggerate sth; to make sth seem much more significant that it really is

bury the hatchet Susan and Mike agreed that it was time to bury the hatchet. They apologized and decided to be friends again.

Definition

= to stop fighting and become friendly. (A hatchet is a small axe.)


english idioms

Documents

hisher money

good luck

superstitious way

seat driver

bad situation

bad options

bakers dozen

greek language