idioms

Flashcards for reviewing idioms and expressions, providing definitions and contexts for better understanding.

cats and dogs

rain heavily It’s raining cats and dogs → It’s raining heavily.

chalk and cheese

very different from each other I don’t have anything in common with my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.

here and there

everywhere I have been looking here and there for the gift I bought for my girlfriend.

a hot potato

a difficult and unpleasant problem or situation The issue of taxing domestic fuel has become a political hot potato.

at the drop of the hat

immediately, without hesitating The company can’t expect me to move my home and family at the drop of a hat.

back to the drawing board

time to start from the beginning

They rejected our proposal, so it’s back to the drawing board.

beat about the bush

to talk about something without coming to the main point .

E.g: Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

the best thing since sliced bread

a good invention or innovation

burn the midnight oil

to study or work until late at night

caught between two stools

when someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives

break a leg

used to wish somebody good luck

hit the books

to study

let the cat out of the bag

to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake

when pigs fly

something will never happen

scratch someone’s back

help someone out with the assumption that they will return the favor

hit the nail on the head

to say something that is exactly right

take something for granted

to not recognize the true value of something

take something into account

to remember to consider something

keep an eye on sb/sth

to watch or monitor someone/something

lose touch with sb

to no longer be in contact with someone

at somebody’s disposal

available for use as preferred by someone

splitting headache

a severe headache

off the peg

ready-made clothing

on the house

free of charge

hit the roof

to suddenly become very angry

bring down the house

to get a loud applause from the audience

pay through the nose

to pay too much for something

by the skin of one’s teeth

to narrowly escape something

pull somebody’s leg

to tease or joke with someone

it strikes sb as/that

to make someone realize something

high and low

everywhere

the more, the merrier

the more people there are, the better

spick and span

neat and tidy

(every) now and then

occasionally

part and parcel of sth

an essential part of something

go to one’s head

to become arrogant due to success or achievement

be/go on the wagon

to abstain from alcohol

once in a blue moon

very rarely

on the spot

immediately, without delay

few and far between

rarely occurring

on the verge of

close to a particular state or situation

lead somebody by the nose

to control someone completely

at the eleventh hour

at the last moment

find fault with sb/sth

to criticize someone or something

off and on

not continuously

make believe

to pretend or imagine

make good time

to travel quickly

look daggers at somebody

to glare at someone angrily

be out of the question

not possible or acceptable

all at once

unexpectedly and suddenly

blow one’s trumpet

to boast or brag

sleep on sth

to think about something before making a decision

fight tooth and nail

to fight fiercely for something

play tricks/jokes on

to prank someone

down the drain

to be wasted or lost

smell a rat

to suspect something is wrong

the last straw

the final problem in a series of problems

get the hang of something

to understand how to do something

hard of hearing

having difficulty hearing

have a bee in one’s bonnet

to be obsessed with something

get/have cold feet

to become frightened or uncertain

on second thoughts

after reconsidering

in vain

without success

chip in

to contribute something

off/ out of one’s head

crazy

run an errand

to do a short trip to accomplish a task

jump the (traffic) lights

to go through a red traffic light

fly off the handle

to suddenly become very angry

the apple of one’s eye

a treasured person

bucket down

to rain heavily

a close shave

a narrow escape from danger

drop a brick

to make an embarrassing mistake

get/ have butterflies in one’s stomach

to feel nervous before something

off the record

not for official publication

(not) one’s cup of tea

(not) something that someone likes

cut it fine

to allow only just enough time to do something

golden handshake

a large sum of money given to someone when they leave their job

come to light

to be revealed or discovered

take things to pieces

to dismantle something

put one’s foot in it

to say something embarrassing or wrong

pull one’s weight

to do one’s fair share of work

make (both) ends meet

to have enough money to cover expenses

get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick

to misunderstand something

cut and dried

decided and unlikely to change

see eye to eye

to agree with someone

have sb/ sth in mind

to consider someone or something

a lost cause

a situation that has no hope of success

to be bound to do sth

to be sure to do something

at heart

in one's real character or feelings

know sb by sight

to recognize someone when you see them

now and then

sometimes or occasionally

take pains to do sth

to make a serious effort to do something

take pains with/over sth

to do something carefully and diligently

make do

to manage with what is available

sell somebody short

to undervalue someone or something

face the music

to accept the consequences of one’s actions

on probation

during a trial period of supervision

sell/go like hot cakes

to sell quickly

it never rains but it pours

when one bad thing happens, other bad things often follow

salt and pepper

having a mix of dark and light colors (often referring to hair)