Idioms A-F

For supreme court exam

Ace in the hole

A hidden but effective means of winning a conflict

Ace up (one’s) sleeve

to have an effective but hidden means to accomplish something

Acid Test

the most crucial or important test of worth

Albatross around (one’s) neck

Something or someone that is a burden and difficult to get rid of

All thumbs

uncoordinated and awkward, especially with one’s hand

all wet

wrong to the point of being silly or unbelievable

armed to the teeth

well-equipped with weapons

as the crow flies

directly or in a straight line, without roads

at loggerheads

in strong disagreement, in a quarrel; at an impasse

ax to grind

a hidden reason for wanting something or for not liking someone or something

back to the wall, have (one’s)

to be in a difficult or desperate situation

bats in (one’s) belfry, have

harmlessly crazy or eccentric

Beat a hasty retreat

to run very fast in the opposite direction

beat the bushes

to search exhaustively

behind the eight ball

in a difficult situation or position

below the belt, hit (someone)

to act unfairly

bend (someone’s) ear

to talk to someone for a long time

beside (oneself)

distraught; very anxious and troubled

bet (one’s) boots

to be sure

bet (one’s) bottom

to be sure

between a rock and a hard place

facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation

between the devil and the deep blue sea

facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation

beyond the pale

beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior

big cheese

an important, powerful or influential person

big fish in a small pond

a person who is considered important primarily because the place or setting is small

Big wheel

an important, powerful, or influential person

bigwig

an important, powerful or influential person

bite the dust

to be destroyed or ruined beyond repair; slang for “to die”

blow (one’s) own horn

to boast or brag

blow (one’s) stack

to become suddenly very angry

blow/ run hot and cold

to have mixed or inconsistent feelings about something

blue-blood

a person (or animal) that is an aristocrat or from a noble family

blue law

a law which regulates personal behavior such as going to certain movies, dancing, or gambling

blue ribbon

renowned; first prize

bone of contention

a topic of dispute

both feet on the ground

(to be) realistic and practical

bottom of the barrel

the least able member of a group; the least desirable items from a collection

break down the house

to be a great success

bring home the bacon

to bring money into the household to support a family

brush-off, get/give (someone) the

to be dismissed casually and almost cruelly

bull in a china shop

insensitive to delicate situations; to be so clumsy that one breaks things inadvertently

bum steer, give someone a

bad advice or instructions

burn (one’s) bridges

to take a course of action that makes it impossible to go back

burn rubber

to accelerate with tires so quickly from a stopped position that the rubber tires make a loud squealing noise and leave a black mark on the street; slang expression meaning to hurry

burn the candle at both ends

to overwork oneself

burn the midnight oil

to stay up late at night studying or working

burned out

lacking enthusiasm due to overexposure or too much of the same thing; completely used up; worn out

bury the hatchet

to end a dispute

butt in

to interfere or literally to push one’s way in between other people

butter (someone) up

to flatter someone, usually excessively, in order to gain a favor

buy (something) for a song

to buy something very cheaply

by hook or by crook

by one way or another; by any means possible

by the book, go

operate according to the rules

by the seat of (one’s) pants, do (something)

to accomplish something by luck and instinct rather than skill

by the skin of (one’s) teeth

by a very narrow margin

call (someone) on the carpet

to confront or hold someone responsible for some misdeed

call (someone’s) bluff

to challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove the truth of a statement

call a spade a spade

to speak plainly or call something by its right name, even if it is unpleasant

can of worms, open a

a situation that contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences

carry a torch (for someone)

to be in love with someone, usually someone who does not love in return

carry the ball

to take on work or responsibility in order to keep a project moving forward

cast pearls before swine

to offer something to someone who cannot appreciate it

catch (someone’s) eye

to attract someone’s visual attention

catch (someone’s) fancy

to appeal to someone

change horses in midstream

to change plans or leaders in the middle of some action or event

charmed life, lead a

to be lucky or avoid danger

checkered past

a personal history that includes both successes and failures, or ethical and unethical behavior

chew (something) over

to think slowly and carefully about something

chip off the old block

very much like one’s parent(s)

chip on (one’s) shoulder

a feeling of bitterness caused yby a sense that one has been treated unfairly

clam up

to not say anything

clean (someone) out

to take or steal everything someone has

climb the walls

to be uneasy or restless

climb/ jump on the bandwagon

to join the crowd in following a popular position, cause, activity, or fashion

close shave

a narrow escape

closed-minded

unwilling to consider new ideas

clock-and-bull story

a story that is too unlikely to be believed

come home to roost

to return to cause trouble

come off it

a response to a statement that cannot be believed or a behavior that must be stopped

come out smelling like a rose

to avoid blame that one deserves; to seem innocent

cook (someone’s) goose

to ruin someone’s plans

cook up

to invent or plane

cool (one’s) heel

to wait

cornered

trapped with no means of escape

cost (someone) a mint/ an arm and a leg

a cost a great deal of money

cream of the crop

the best

crying over spilled milk

to be unhappy because of a past event that cannot be changed

cry/say uncle

to admit defeat

cut and dried

routine or clear and unequivocal

cut off (one’s) nose to spite (one’s) face

to injure oneself in the process of seeking revenge or attempting to punish someone

cut (someone) to the quick

to hurt or wound someone deeply

cut the mustard

to meet standards

damn (someone) with faint praise

to criticise in such a way that one appears to be praising when in fact one is condemning or disapproving

dawn on (someone)

to realize something that was perhaps already apparent to others

days are numbered, (someone’s/something)

there is only a short time before something ends

diamond in the rough

an unpolished or unsophisticated person that has potential

divide the spoils

to give portions of the goods captured during a war to the winners of the war

do an about-face

to change one’s behavior or mind abruptly and (often) apparently without reason

dog days

very hot days

dog-eared

well-worn