Idioms c1 | Quizlet

an arm and a leg

a large amount of money

at the drop of a hat

without hesitationt

to have to go back to the drawing board

to have to start over

to bark up the wrong tree

to ask or blame the wrong person

to beat around the bush

to not get to the point

the best of both worlds

all the advantages

the best thing since sliced bread

A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.

Don't bite off more than you can chew

Don't take on more work than you can do.

to burn the midnight oil

to stay up late to work

can't judge a book by its cover

Can't judge a person by how they look

to cost an arm and a leg

to be extremely expensive

cross that bridge when you come to it

worry about that later

cry over spilt milk

When you complain about a loss from the past.

a piece of cake

very easy

to cut corners

to take an arguable a shortcut

see eye to eye

This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.

in a nutshell

basically

don't give up the day job

You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.

don't put all your eggs in one basket

Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

devil's advocate

To present a counter argument

every cloud has a silver lining

Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days

to feel a bit under the weather

to not feel well

to hit the nail on the head

to are absolutely correct

once in a blue moon

Happens very rarely.

hit the sheets/sack/hay

go to bed

in the heat of the moment

Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.

it takes two to tango

Actions or communications need more than one person

to jump on the bandwagon

to join a popular trend or activity

to keep something at bay

to keep something away

to kill two birds with one stone

to accomplish two different things at the same time.

the last straw

the final problem in a series of problems

let sleeping dogs lie

do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.

let the cat out of the bag

To share information that was previously concealed

make a long story short

Come to the point - leave out details

method to my madness

An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.

miss the boat

someone missed his or her chance

not a spark of decency

No manners

not playing with a full deck

Someone who lacks intelligence.

off one's rocker

Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.

on the ball

When someone understands the situation well.

a picture is worth a thousand words

A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

to pull wool over someone's eyes

to deceive someone in order to have an advantage over them

sit on the fence

This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.

speak of the devil!

This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.

steal someone's thunder

To take the credit for something someone else did.

take with a grain of salt

This means not to take what someone says too seriously.

taste of your own medicine

repay for sg bad that you did to others

to hear something straight from the horse's mouth

To hear something from the authoritative source.

whole nine yards

everything

wouldn't be caught dead

Would never willingly do something

your guess is as good as mine

do not know the answer to a question

a couch potato

a lazy/inactive person

look a gift horse in the mouth

to criticize or refuse to take something good that has been offered to you

money doesn't grow on trees

there is only a limited amount of money

the pen is mightier than the sword

writing is more effective than violence

the early bird catches the worm

the person who takes the earliest opportunity to do sg will gain the advantage over others

in the blink of an eye

in an extremely short time

a bone of contention

something that people argue about for a long time

as dry as a bone

very dry indeed

rough and ready

acting with offhand promptness and efficiency

cool, calm and collected

relaxed

hold one's horses

slow down/be patient

be on cloud nine

to be very happy

a blue stocking

an intellectual or literary woman

money for old rope

a very quick and easy way to earn money

toe the line

to do what you are ordered or expected to do

white elephant

an expensive but useless thing

to moonlight

to have a second job

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

it is better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking to get more

grasp the nettle

to take action immediately in order to deal with an unpleasant situation

one swallow doesn't make a summer

a single instance doesn't indicate a trend

make a beeline for something

go for sg with all of your efforts

like water off a duck's back

without effect

as thick as two short planks

remarkably stupid

big cheese

boss

bring home the bacon

make a living

bread and butter

basic things

bad egg

a person who behaves in a dishonest way

the cream of the crop

the best

one smart cookie

an intelligent person

uses his noodles

thinks

chew the fat

chats

half-baked

on the table but still unofficial

spill the beans

share confidential information

his cup of tea

the type of person he likes

butter somebody up

show admiration

nuts about someone or something

really likes

out to lunch

a little out of touch with reality

nutty as a fruitcake

a little crazy

polishes the apple

continues to be servile and brown-nose his boss

a gravy train

means to a big income with little effort

apple of her mother's eye

someone cherished above others

bun in the oven

to be pregnant

a butterfingers

clumsy

a carrot and stick

a combination of reward and punishment

compare apples and oranges

compare completely different things

eat one's words

be forced to retract something one has said

eat humble pie

to act very humble when one is shown to be wrong

a rat race

boring work

a top dog

the most important person