Idioms in spades blown out of all proportion

A lot of seemingly nonsensical expressions in English. My first thoughts were to do a fairly comprehensive list, bearing in mind that there wouldn't be such a lot of them, but there are always more

A man may learn wit every day

There is always something new to learn + Never think you know it all — _.

Above board

Done in a legal and honest way + The minister claimed all the appointments were _.

Above the law

Not subject to laws of society + In a democracy, no-one is _ - not even a president.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Being away from someone you love makes you miss them and appreciate them more + I didn't realize how much I loved my best friend until she moved away for college; it's true, _.

Achilles’ heel

Weakness that could result in failure + She's a good manager, but her _ is her poor English.

Acid test

Something that shows the true worth or value of something or someone + The real _ for the new drug will come when it's tested in human beings.

Act your age

To behave in a way appropiate to your age + Your teacher told me that you should start _.

Actions speak louder than words

What you do is more important than what you say + She helped without telling anyone because _.

Across the board

Affecting everyone or everything equally + The new tax applies _.

An act of God

(Formal) An event caused by natural forces beyond human control + The flood was declared _.

Add fuel to the fire

Make a bad situation worse + His comments only _.

"A" game

Someone’s best possible performance + He brought his _ to the match.

Add insult to injury

Make a bad situation even worse + She criticized him, which _.

Adrenaline junkie

Someone addicted to excitement + She’s an _ who loves extreme sports.

Against all odds

Despite very low chances + They succeeded _.

Agree to differ/disagree

Accept to have different opinions + Why don't they just _ instead of arguing about it all the time?

Ahead of the game

To have an advantage over your competitors + We got _e by employing the best people in our research laboratories.

Ahead of the pack

Better than competitors + Their technology keeps them _k.

Ahead of time

Earlier than expected; in advance + We finished the project _.

Alive and kicking

Healthy and active + At 90, he is still _.

All at sea

Confused and not sure what to do + I'm _ with our new spreadsheet software. I just can't understand it.

All bark and no bite

Make threats but don’t act + He talks tough but _.

All cats are grey in the dark

At night, everything looks the same + I couldn't find her in the party, _.

All ears

Eager to listen to someone or willing to listen carefully + When Bill was talking, Debra was _.

All griefs with bread are less

Problems are easier to bear with food + Take this chocolate for your distress, _.

All hands on deck

A situation where everyone is needed to help + With the deadline tomorrow, it’s _.

All hell broke loose

(Informal) A situation suddenly becomes violent or chaotic + _ after a guy called the police or instigated trouble.

All in good time

To wait patiently; things will happen when they should + You’ll get your chance — _.

All in the same boat

In similar situations, experiencing the same thing + None of them have finished their papers, so they are _t.

All mouth and no trousers

Talks a lot but acts little + He promises but _.

All roads lead to Rome

There are many ways to reach the same goal + Whether by train or car, _.

All the rage

(Informal) Very popular or in fashion at the moment + When Hans was a kid, skate boards were _.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

Without a balance of leisure and relaxation, a person becomes both bored and boring + Her dad let her go party, arguing that _.

Along the lines of

Similar to something + I was thinking of something _ what you suggested.

And they lived happily ever after

The usual happy ending of numerous tales + In the end, Cinderella married Prince Charming _.

Another string for your bow

To have another way of making a living + If you learned to teach English, you'd have _.

Answer the call of nature

Go to the toilet + Could we stop somewhere? I need to _.

Appearances can be deceptive

First impressions might be misleading + The restaurant didn't look like much, but _; the food was incredible.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Eating an apple each day can help to keep you healthy + We always eat a piece of fruit as a dessert, as _.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Children resemble their parents + Her daughter soon showed her own musical talent, proving that _.

Apple of someone’s eye

(Old-fashioned) The person who someone loves most and is very proud of + His youngest daughter was the _.

Arch-enemy

A person’s greatest opponent + Superman faced his _ once again.

Around the corner

Coming very soon + Exams are just _.

As dead as a dodo

Completely extinct + The species is _.

As easy as pie

To be very easy + Fixing it was as _.

As fit as a fiddle

Very healthy + He trains daily to be _.

As free as a bird

Completely free and independent + After finishing exams, I felt _.

As high as a kite

In a silly or excited way because of drinking + I tried to talk to her after the party, but she was _.

As mad as a hatter

Extremely silly or stupid + My uncle's always been _, coming up with the wildest ideas for inventions that never quite work.

As old as the hills

Extremely old + Sandra feels _ when his kids talk about technology.

As quiet as a mouse

Very quiet + The kids were _ while watching the movie.

(As) red as a beetroot

To have a red face because you are embarrassed + Whenever I talked about his past life, he would go as _.

As right as rain

Healthy or fine + After resting, she felt _n.

Asking for trouble

Doing something risky that could be problematic + You're _ if you drive your car after drinking alcohol.

At a click of a button

Easily or instantly + You can order online _.

At a loose end

To have nothing to do + Give me a call if you're _ and we'll go and do something.

At a loss

Confused, unable to understand + She was _ to explain what had happened.

At a rate of knots

Very quickly + The car was moving _ down the highway.

At cross-purposes (with someone)

To wrongly believe that you are talking about the same thing with someone + I was _ with an American guy talking about football.

At first glance

Initially or superficially + _ it seems easy.

At short notice

With little warning + They called the meeting _.

At the drop of a hat

Immediately, without hesitation + He’d move to London _ if offered the job.

At the end of your tether

Having no strength or patience left + By six o'clock after a busy day I'm _.

At the top of the agenda

The most important issue to discuss + Environmental reform is _ for the government.

At your wits’ end

Frustrated because you've tried all you can think of to solve a problem + Programming always takes me _.

An ax to grind with (someone)

(US) To have a dispute or a complaint against someone, which you’d like to discuss + I have _ Mitch. He owes me money and he's been avoiding me.

An axe to grind

(UK) To have a strong opinion you want people to accept and that guides your decisions + Billy's had _ about globalisation recently and he's always going on about it.

Back-handed compliment

A remark that sounds like praise but is actually insulting + Saying she looks good “for her age” is _.

Back and forth

Moving repeatedly in two opposite directions + The argument went _ for hours.

Backseat driver

People who criticise from the sidelines, giving unwanted advice or criticism + This is my assignment and I do not need any _ on this one.

Back to back

One after another without interruption + They scheduled meetings _ all afternoon.

Back to front

In the wrong order or reversed + You’re wearing your shirt _.

Back to square one

To start again after failing + The deal fell through, so we’re _.

Back to the drawing board

To start planning again from scratch + The idea didn’t work, so it’s _.

Backed into a corner

In a difficult and hard to flee from situation + When his shop failed, Gerry felt he'd been _ and with no way out.

A bad hair day

(Informal) A bad day + Poor Sue's in a terrible mood. I think she's having _.

A bad workman blames his tools

Blame a mistake on the things you use to work instead of your ability to do a task + Djokovic smashed his racket against the floor after losing the match against Carlos. _s!

A bad writer blames his pen

Blame a mistake on tools instead of your ability to do a task + Djokovic smashed his racket against the floor after losing the match against Carlos. _n!

Bad-mouth

To say mean and embarrasing things about someone + Kelly is always _ people, and that is why no one wants to be her friend.

Bag of tricks

Personal collection of methods to achieve something + I wonder what they will pull out of their _ to win the election.

A baker’s dozen

(Old-fashioned) Thirteen + She bought _ of red roses for the centerpiece.

The ball is in your court

It’s your responsibility + I’ve already done my part of the project, now _.

Ballpark figure

(US) A rough numerical estimate + Can you give me _ for the renovation cost?

Bang for your buck

Value for the money you spend + This laptop offers great _.

Bark up the wrong tree

Mistakenly blame or pursue + She was _ about the theft.

Bear in mind

To take into account + I always _ the weather _ when planning a trip.

Bear the brunt

Suffer the worst of the impact of something + The driver _ of the crash because he was at the front of the bus.

Beat

Extremely tired + The kids are _! Let them go to sleep!

Beat around the bush

Avoid getting to the point + He kept _ during the meeting.

Beats me

Not to know (usually the answer to a question) + “When did Mom leave?” “_!”

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Attractiveness is subjective + I don't think the old car is very attractive, but my husband loves it—_.

Beauty is only skin deep

Used to say that a person's character is more important than how they look + She's gorgeous, but her _; she's quite unkind.

The bee’s knees

Be outstanding or excellent + Her performance was _.

Before its time

Too early or before something became popular + That song was _.

Beggars can't be choosers

You can't be picky when you depend on others + He accepted the old car knowing _.

Below the belt

Said of a very insulting and unfair remark + ‘My boss told me that he wishes he never hired me.’ ‘Wow, that was _’.

Bend over backwards

Do everything possible to help + They _ to please the client.

Bend the truth

Alter facts slightly + He _ to protect feelings.

Benefit of the doubt

To trust someone’s explanation even without proof + I’ll give him the _ — maybe he’s telling the truth.

Bent out of shape

To be very upset about something + Mark really got b_ about the D on his history report.