English Idioms and Meanings

Flashcards testing the key English idioms and their exact definitions from Idioms Lectures 01, 02, and 03.

What is the meaning of the idiom "Lend your money and lose your friend"?

Lending money to a friend will create quarrels between the two.

What does the idiom "Cross the stream where it is shallowest" mean?

Choose the easiest or safest way to do something.

What does "Appearances can be deceptive" mean?

Things or people may not be as good or as bad as they look on the outside.

What is the meaning of "To be tied to the apron strings"?

To be under the influence of a woman.

What does "Make somebody’s hackles rise" mean?

To make someone angry, irritated, or defensive.

What does the idiom "An empty vessel makes much noise" mean?

People who know little often talk or brag a lot.

What is the meaning of "After victory, tighten your helmet chord"?

Even after success, stay careful and prepared.

What does "A ship in the harbour is safe, but that’s not what a ship is for" mean?

Get out of your comfort zone to grow and fulfill your potential.

What is the meaning of "Strike one's colours"?

To surrender or admit defeat.

What does "Hear it on the grapevine" mean?

To hear news or rumors from informal sources.

What is meant by the term "Yellow press"?

American newspapers using eye-catching headlines and sensationalized exaggerations for increased sales.

What does the idiom "Skeleton in the closet" mean?

A hidden or embarrassing secret.

What is the meaning of "Five-finger discount"?

to steal something, especially from a store.

What does "Move heaven and earth" mean?

to work very hard to do something or achieve a goal.

What does the idiom "Beside the mark" mean?

something is irrelevant or not to the point of the main topic being discussed.

What is the meaning of "Penelope’s web"?

a work which seems to be going on and yet never comes to an end.

What does "Jaundiced eye" mean?

to view something with prejudice, usually in a cynical or negative way.

What does "Keep one’s card close to one’s chest" mean?

to keep your plans, intentions, or thoughts hidden from others.

What is the meaning of the idiom "Play ducks and drakes"?

to use recklessly.

What does "On tenterhooks" mean?

worried or nervous about something that is going to happen.

What does "Square peg in a round hole" mean?

a person whose character makes them unsuitable for the job or other position they are in.

What is the meaning of "God's acre"?

A nickname for a church graveyard.

What does the idiom "Rift in the lute" mean?

small problem or flaw in something that jeopardizes the whole.

What does "Bells and whistles" refer to?

attractive but unnecessary features added to products.

What does the idiom "Elephant in the room" mean?

an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.

What is the meaning of "Blowing smoke"?

to intentionally misinform or deceive.

What does "Vicious cycle" mean?

a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem that then makes the first problem worse.

What does "Yeoman’s service" mean?

very good, hard, and valuable work that someone does especially to support a cause or help a team.

What is the meaning of "At one's wits end"?

to be completely puzzled, confused, or at a loss about what to do next.

What does "Up in a creek without a paddle" mean?

to be in a difficult or troublesome situation without any means of resolving it.

What does "Keep up appearances" mean?

to pretend to be happier, less poor, etc. than you really are, because you do not want people to know how bad your situation is.

What is the meaning of "From cradle to grave"?

to something that lasts or is relevant throughout a person's entire life, from birth to death.

What does "Pie in the sky" mean?

a promise or plan that seems unrealistic or unlikely to be achieved.

What does "Have a bee in bonnet" mean?

An obsession.