American idioms

All thumbs

clumsy, unable to fix things. Don’t ask me to put that clock back together. I’m all thumbs.

above board

legitimate, legal. She knows it shouldn’t be kept a secret. She wants to keep everything above board.

across the board

including everyone or everything. The company had a successful year. All salaries were increased by 10% across the board.

an arm and a leg

a large amount of money. It cost an arm and a

leg to fix the stove.

ants in one’s pants

nervous, anxious. He wasn’t sure if he would

be chosen to win the award. He had ants in his pants.

apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, the

being similar to a parent or family member. He acts just like his father. You know, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.