IDIOMS 2

A sea change

A profound or notable transformation // Complete transformation

A shot in the arm

An encouraging stimulus // something that gives encouragement

A sight for sore eyes

A person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see

A skeleton in the cupboard

An embarrassing fact to be kept secret // something embarrassing or shameful

A snowball effect

An accelerating growth of magnitude

A sore point with

Something which hurts

A square deal

A fair agreement // A fair and honest deal

A stick

in

A stiff

necked person

A stitch in time saves nine

It is better to solve a problem straight away and not let it become bigger

A stone’s throw away

A very short distance

A storm in a teacup

Big fuss over a small matter // A lot of anger/excitement or worry about trivial things

A stuffed shirt

A pompous or self

A stumbling block

An obstacle to progress

A thorn in the flesh

A source of continual annoyance or trouble // Annoying and irritating

A turning point

Anything that brings about changes // The time at which an important change starts

A vexed question

Controversial

A vicious cycle

When one problem causes another problem

A walk of life

A person's occupation or position within society

A wet blanket

A person who discourages enjoyment or enthusiasm // someone who prevents other people from having fun

A wildcat strike

A strike by workers without official union support

A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Hypocrite // a dangerous person pretending to be harmless

ABC of something

Essential fact

Above board

Honest and frank // without any secret

Above/Over one’s head

Beyond one’s capability to understand

Achilles’ heel

A weakness or vulnerable point

Acid test

Definitive proof of truth or falsity // A fact, event, or situation that proves something

Actions speak louder than words

What you do is more important than what you say // What you do is more important than your words // Real intentions can be judged by actions

Adam’s ale

Water

Add fuel to the fire

Make things worse // worsened the difficult situation

Add insult to injury

To further a loss with mockery to worsen an unfavourable situation // Make a bad situation even worse

After a fashion

To only a certain extent

After one’s own heart

Sharing or having one’s tastes or views // Having likes and dislikes similar to one’s own

Against the clock

Work very fast to complete something within a deadline // work in great hurry, as fast as possible

Aid and abet

To help someone to commit a crime

Aladdin’s cave

A place that contains many interesting objects

Alarums and excursions

Confused activity and uproar

Alive and kicking

In good health

All agog

Amazed // Full of interest and excitement

All along

All the time; from the beginning

All and sundry

Everybody without distinction // All included

All at sea // Feel at sea

Puzzled // state of confusion // lost and confused

All bark and no bite

Full of talk, but low on action

All eyes

Watching eagerly // To watch something intently

All eyes and ears

To be attentive

All hands on deck

Everyone available to help with a problem

All hat and no cattle

One who is full of big talk but lacks substance and action

All in

Exhausted

All in a day’s work

Part of a person’s typical work

All in all

Having all authority // considering everything

All moonshine

Far from reality // concocted // nonsense

All of a sudden

Quickly and unexpectedly

All our might/All our main

Full force

All over hell’s half acre

Everywhere

All thumbs

Clumsy // physically awkward

All’s fair in love and war

Any actions acceptable in extreme circumstances like love or war

Alma mater

Institution where I got education

Alpha and omega

Beginning and end

Alphabet soup

A metaphor for an abundance of abbreviations or acronyms

Always a bridesmaid never a bride

Someone who is never the most important person in a particular situation

An about turn

Complete change of opinion

An ace in the hole

A major advantage that one keeps hidden until an ideal time

An arm

chair critic

An arrow in the quiver

Strategies that can be followed

An article of faith

A firmly held belief

An eye opener

A shocking revelation

An iron hand

Strict and harsh control

An iron will

A firm opinion // strong determination

An old head on young shoulders

Full of wisdom

An olive branch

Gesture of peace

An open book

One that held no secrets // one about whom it is easy to know everything // straightforward and honest

An uphill task

Difficult task

Appeal to Caesar

Appeal to the highest possible authority

Apple of discord

Reason for quarrel // Cause of animosity // something that causes friction // Bone of contention

Apple of one’s eye

Someone very precious or dear

Apple

cart

Apples and oranges

Two unlike things or people // Unequal comparisons

Apropos of nothing

Having no relevance to any previous discussion or situation

Argus

eyed

Armed to the teeth

Heavily armed or fortified

Around the clock

Day and night

Around the corner

Occurring soon

As a matter of fact

The truth is

As bald as a cue ball

Completely bald

As clear as a bell

Readily understood

As clear as mud

Impossible to understand

As daft as a brush

Extremely silly

As dead as a doornail

Unquestionably dead or inoperative

As fit as a fiddle

Strong and healthy // In a perfectly healthy condition

As good as gold

A person who is obedient and well

As hard as a nail

Emotionless // unrelenting // to have no feelings

As high as a kite

Intoxicated with alcohol

As keen as mustard

Very enthusiastic and excited

As phony as a three

dollar bill

As sly as a fox

Smart and clever

As the crow flies

The shortest route // measurement in a straight line

As thick as two short planks

Extremely stupid