Idioms M-0

Make a clean breast of it

to admit and explain some wrongdoing; to confess something

make heads or tails of something

to understand something

make the grade

to meet standards; to be satisfactory

make tracks

to leave, usually quickly

mark time

to wait out one’s time by doing the minimum and without progressing

Midas Touch

the ability to make money or to be successful at everything one becomes involved in

millstone around (one’s) neck

a burden or handicap, or a source of worry or concern

Miss the boat

to miss an opportunity because one is too late

more than meets the eye

some hidden aspect to a situation

more (something) than (one) bargained for

more than one expected

more than one way to skin a cat, there’s

there are different ways to accomplish the same thing; there are different possible solutions to a problem

need (something) like (one) needs a hole in the head

to have absolutely no need for something

Nitty-gritty, the

the heart of the issue; the most important part of the discussion; the essential points

Nix (something)

to cancel an idea or plan; to reject or forbid something

not worth a hill of beans

worthless

not worth a plugged nickel

worthless

not worth the paper it’s printed on

worthless

Odds and ends

small items that are left over, don’t match, or are missing a mate

off the beaten path/track

off the road or way that is most often chosen by other people

old-boy network

the male connections that a man acquires, usually while in college or the military, later used to disseminate jobs and information

old fuddy-duddy

a person who is old-fashioned and not open to new technology or ideas

old hat

routine to the point of boredom; old-fashioned and outmoded

on a/ the warpath/ rampage

looking for a fight; very angry and upset with someone or something

on ice, put (something)

to put something (an excess of some item) in reserve for later use

on/off a/ the treadmill

in a dull and boring routine

on the ball

mentally sharp or alert; well-prepared; a efficient

on the blink

not working correctly

on the fritz

not working correctly

on the level

honest and without deception

on the rock

unstable; likely to collapse. When referring to alcoholic beverages, it means with ice cubes

on the up and up

honest; ethical; fair

on the wagon

to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages because one cannot control oneself

out of circulation

removed from the public; no longer available for use or social interaction

out of the frying pan and into the fire

from a bad situation to one that is even worse

out to lunch

absent-minded, unaware or confused; ignorant on some topic; harmlessly crazy or out of touch with reality

over a barrel

in a difficult situation or position

over the hill

too old to be of much value