SOME IMPORTANT IDIOMS
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 12:48 am
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.BBack 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 running after you drive it away.CCan'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 Split 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.DDark 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 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.EEighty 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.Cock and Bull Story: An unbelievable tale.Cock and Bull Story: An unbelievable tale.FFeeding 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 lick in' 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.GGet 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 120 am to 80 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. HHaste 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 home-runs, 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 Hand-basket: 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.IIcing 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.JJaywalk: Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.Joshing Me: Tricking me.KKeep 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.LLast 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.MMake 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.NNest 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.OOff 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 themselves 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.PPass 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 a lot 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.QQueer the pitch: Destroy or ruin a plan.RRain check: 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 judgment 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.SSaved 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.TThe 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 a lot 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: 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.UUnder 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.VVan Gogh's ear for music: Tone deaf.Variety Is The Spice Of Life: The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.WWag 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.XX marks the spot: A phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been looking for.YYou 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.ZZero Tolerance: No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.