Idioms

Barking up the wrong tree

• Meaning: Pursuing a misguided course of action.

• Example: "Insisting that the earth is flat in a science class means you're barking up the wrong tree."

Greek to me

• Meaning: Incomphrehensible/foreign to you

• Example: "They were discussing about algebra, it was all greek to me"

To the nines

• Meaning: To perfection

• Example: "On my first date, I was dressed to the nines"

Forty Winks

Meaning: Short Nap

Example: "The bank manager caught the security guard taking a forty winks on duty."

Tar with the same brush

Meaning: Unfairly associate someone with others who share negative characteristics or behaviors

Example: "Hey, don't tar all politicians with the same brush; some are genuinely working for positive change"

Green around the gills

Meaning: Someone who looks nauseated and sick

Example: "The sight of blood always makes her go green around the gills"

To bring owls to athens

Meaning: To do something redundant, superfluous, futile

Example: "She hated buying gifts for her wealthy friends, ‘It’s like bringing owls to Athens‘ she laughed to herself.”

Go back to drawing board

Meaning: Fall and start from scratch

Example: "The company went back to the drawing board to make a better product.”

As the crow flies

Meaning: Refers to the shortest and most direct route between two points.

Example: By the road, it was thirty-two miles away, but as the crow flies, it was only twenty miles.

Black sheep

Meaning: Describes a disgraced, disreputable, or disfavored member of a group.

Example: If Neda was considered the "good girl" in the family, then my cousin Mitra was the rebellious black sheep.

Cash cow

Meaning: Refers to a project or venture that generates a continuous flow of money.

Example: For most of that time, it was a cash cow, raking in advertising dollars from local businesses, serving as a go-to place for apartment and concert listings.

Eager beaver

Meaning: Describes an alert and energetic person.

Example: As for the bright, handsome eager beavers who excitedly troop off to a war they believe will end in a matter of weeks, they haven’t an inkling of the fate that awaits them.

Go to the dogs

Meaning: Indicates something becoming ruined or deteriorating.

Example: If I leave, this project will go to the dogs.

Horse around

Meaning: Refers to playing in a rough and careless way.

Example: They appeared to be just a group of pals, horsing around and full of jokes.

Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: Reveals confidential information or secrets.

Example: I was supposed to surprise Sarah with tickets to the concert, but when I accidentally mentioned it to her friend, I knew I had let the cat out of the bag.

Paper tiger

Meaning: Refers to an entity that appears powerful but is actually ineffectual.

Example: The country's military might was seen as a paper tiger after it failed to respond effectively to the border skirmish.

Play possum

Meaning: Describes pretending to be dead or unresponsive.

Example: At first, I considered playing possum — not responding.

Rain cats and dogs

Meaning: Indicates heavy rainfall.

Example: It's raining cats and dogs out there! Be sure to grab an umbrella and raincoat if you need to head out.

Rat race

Meaning: Describes an exhausting routine that leaves no time for relaxation.

Example: That was the whole point of the vacation—to allow us to escape the money-hungry rat race of modern society.

Red herring

Meaning: Refers to something intended to distract attention from the main issue.

Example: The suspect's sudden confession about a minor crime seemed like a red herring designed to distract the detectives from the real evidence in the murder case.

Road hog

Meaning: Describes a driver who obstructs others.

Example: His tone is gentle, occasionally chiding, and he seems most comfortable in the center lane, allowing the road hogs to pass by while he holds steady at the wheel.

Squirrel away

Meaning: Describes saving up for future use.

Example: Sarah has been diligently squirreling away some money for her future trip to Europe. She hopes to have saved enough by next summer.

Take the bull by the horns

Meaning: Indicates facing a difficulty and grappling with it without avoiding it.

Example: Instead of delaying their meeting any longer, she decided to take the bull by the horns and seek it out purposely to get it over with.

Load Of Cobblers

Meaning: Nonsense/Bullshit

Example: He says he got into Harvard with a 2.0 gpa, what a load of cobblers.

Excuse/Pardon my french

Meaning: apologise for swearing

Example: Excuse my French, but that guys needs a kick in the ass!

Hobson's Choice

Meaning: an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative

Example: Facing a Hobson’s Choice, Sarah had to either accept the job offer with long hours or risk being unemployed.

It takes two to tango

Meaning: both parties involved in a situation or argument are equally responsible for it.

Example: Don’t blame me for the argument. It takes two to tango! You are equally responsible.

Talking shop:

Meaning: To discuss work-related topics, often to the exclusion of other topics.

Example: "I know we should relax, but we always end up talking shop when we get together."

Fly the coop:

Meaning: To escape or leave suddenly, usually from a difficult situation.

Example: "After the argument, he flew the coop and hasn't been seen since."

status quo

meaning: The existing state of affairs

example: Many people are content with the current status quo

quid pro quo

meaning: something given in exchange for something else

example: The wrestlers made a quid pro quo agreement: you let me win today, when I really need the victory, and I’ll let you win the next time.

prima donna

meaning: A person, usually female, who is demanding, temperamental, and believes they deserve special treatment due to their talent or perceived importance.

example: The director refused to work with the actress because of her reputation as a prima donna

faux pas

meaning: a social blunder or an embarrassing mistake in etiquette or manners.

example: Bringing up sensitive topics like politics or religion can be a faux pas at a casual gathering

carte blanche

meaning: complete freedom or unlimited authority to act.

example: The CEO gave her marketing team carte blanche to develop a new advertising campaign.