Idioms J-k

John Hancock

one’s signature

Johnny-come-lately

a newcomer

kangaroo court

a court set up outside the regular legal system; staged trial where the outcome is set from the beginning

keep (one’s) nose to the grindstone

to work hard without rest

keep (one’s) wits about (one)

to pay attention and be ready to react

keep (something) under (one’s) hat

to keep something secret

keep up with the joneses

to have the same standard of living as one’s friends and neighbors do

keyed up

full of nervous anticipation; anxious; tense

kick up (one’s) heels

to have a lively and fun time, usually at a part or dance

knee-high to a grasshopper

very young

knock/throw (someone) for a loop (knocked/thrown for a loop)

to shock, surprise, or astound someone

know beans about something, not

to know very little about something; to speak without authority on some topic

know if (one) is coming or going, not

to be confused and disoriented

know (someone) from adam, not

to be unable to recognize someone because the person is a stranger

knuckle down

to do one’s work seriously; to apply oneself sully; to get busy

knuckle under

to submit or give in to pressure

Labor of love

something done out of affection or great interest

lame duck

a person who holds an office but has little real influence because he or she has not been reelected

lap of luxury, live in the

to be very comfortable because one is well-off financially

laugh all the way to the bank

to be proved right or successful in the face of scorn, particularly as regards money

lay an egg

to do something embarrassing

lay (one’s) cards on the table

to be open and honest; to reveal everything

lead (someone) around by the nose

to dominate someone; to force someone to do something

leave (someone) (get left in) the lurch

to abandon someone to a difficult situation, forcing him or her to take all the responsibility

leave (someone) holding the bag

to leave somebody with unwanted responsibility

leave well enough alone

to accept a situation as it is; to avoid trying to improve a situation one’s actions might make it worse

lend/give (someone) an/ (one’s) ear

to listen to someone

let sleeping dogs lie

to not look for trouble or stir up a troublesome situation

letter perfect

exactly right

life of riley

the good life; a comfortable life

Lion’s share, the

the greater part; most

live and let live

to live without interference from other; to not interfere with the lives of others

lock, stock, and barrel

everything; the entirety

long and short of it, the

the outcome; the point

look a gift horse in the mouth, not

to find fault with a gift or to refuse a gift, usually because one is suspicious of the giver’s motives

look down (one’s) nose at (someone/ something)

to be snobbish about someone or something

look like the cat that swallowed the canary

to have a knowing and seld-satisfied smile on one’s face; to be pleased with oneself, often because one has done something which one knows was wrong but which was very enjoyable

low man on the totem pole

the person of lowest rank