Idioms

Collins English Idioms

the acid test

an experience or situation that proves how skilful or effective someone or something is

a balancing act

a situation in which yu try to satisfy two or more opposing groups or sets of ideas

be caught in the act

to be seen doing something secret or wrong

a class act

someone who is very good at what they do

clean up your act

to improve your behaviour and start to act in a more socially responsible way

get in on the act

to start doing something which someone else was doing first, so that you share their success or win an advantage

get your act together

to take control of yourself and organize your activities more effectively in order to be more successful

a hard act to follow

someone who is so impressive or effective that it is difficult for anyone else who comes after them to be as good 

fight a rearguard action

to try hard to stop something happening, without much hope for success

a slice of the action

involvement in an activity which seems exciting and likely to succeed or make money

a hidden agenda

a situation in which someone secretly tries to achieve a particular thing while they appear to be doing something else

be left hanging in the air

if a question or remark is left hanging in the air, people avoid discussing it because they do not want to deal with it or the issues involved

clean the air

to deal openly with misunderstandings, problems or jealousy, and try to  get rid of them.

vanish into thin air

to disappear completely

hot air

false claims and promises

in the air

if a change, idea or feeling are in the air, people are aware of it even though it is not talked about directly

up in the air

not yet decided or settled

alive and kicking

still alive or still exist, even though a lot of people might have expected them to have stopped or disappeared a long time ago

a blind alley

something that is useless and will not lead to anything worthwhile

not take no for an answer

to continue trying to make someone agree to something, despite their refusals

up/raise the ante

to make greater demands or take greater risks in a dispute or contest

whet someone´s appetite

to make someone start to want something very much

a bad/rotten apple

a dishonest, immoral person who has a bad influence on those around them

a grey area

a situation or subject that is not clear or understood and that nobody really knows how to deal with

keep someone´s at arm´s length

not closely connedcted

be up in arms

to be angry and protesting strongly about something

with open arms

very pleased to see or meet someone

a rude awakening 

a situation in which you suddenly realize the unpleasant truth about something

have an axe to grind

to have particular attitudes and prejudices about something, often for selfish reasons

be glad to see the back of someone

to be glad someone has gone because you do not like them

have your back to the wall

to have a very serious problem or be in a very difficult situation, which will be hard to deal with

say something behind someone´s back

to say unkind and unpleasant thing about someone to other people

stab someone in the back

to do something which hurts and betrays someone

turn your back on someone

to ignore someone and refuse to help them

turn your back on something

to stop thinking about something and payig attention to it or to reject it

bend over backwards

to try very hard to do something and to help or please someone, even if it causes you trouble

in the bag

certain to be obtained or achieved

a mixed bag

something that contains things that are of very different kinds or qualities

pack your bags

to suddenly leave where you live or work, usually because of a disagreement

in the balance

when it is not clear what is going to happen

the ball is in comeone´s court

someone's responsibility to decide what to do next in a particular situation

a crystal ball

a way of saying what will happen in the future

have a ball

to enjoy yourself very much

play ball

to do what someone has asked you to do, or to work with them in order to achieve something that you both want

set the ball rolling

to start an activity or do something which other people will join in with later

slip on a banana peel

to say or do something that makes you look stupid and causes your problems

a one-man band

someone who does every part of an activity themselves, without help from anyone else

jump on the bandwagon

to get involved in an activity or idea because it is likely to succeed or it is fashinable at the time

break the bank

to cost too much money

a baptism of fire

a first experience of a new situation that is very difficult or unpleasant

off base

mistaken or wrong

a basket case

a country or organization whose economy or finances are in a very bad state

recharge the batteries

to stop doing an activity for a period and relax so you feel better when you start doing the activity again

the battle lines are drawn

said to mean that the opposing groups or people are ready to start fighting or arguing, and that it has become clear what the main points of disagreement are.

fight a losing battle

to try to achieve something when you are very unlikely to succeed

a running battle

an argument or fight with someone that continues over a long period of time

keep/hold something at bay

to stop something form attacking you or affecting you badly

not the be-all and end-all

not the only thing that is important in a particular situation

spill the beans

to reveal the truth about something secret or private

beat your breast/chest

to show regret or anger very publicly bout something that has gone wrong in a way that is usually not sincere

small beer

something that is not important when compared with another thing

set alarm/warning bells ringing

to cause people to begin to be aware of a problem ina asituation

go belly-up

fails and does not have enough money

have something under your belt

to have already achieved or done something

tighten your belt

to spend less and live more carefully because you had less money that you had before

round the bend

crazy

give someone the benefit of the doubt

to belive that what someone is saying or doing is honest and right even though it is possible that they are not telling the truth

a good/safe bet

a sensible or useful thing to do

hedge your bets

to avoid making decisions, or to decide on more than one thing, so that you will not make a mistake whichever way the situation develops

be given a clean bill of health

to be told by the doctor that you are completely healthy

fit the bill

to be exactly the right person or thing that is needed in a particular situation

foot the bill

to pay for something

black and blue 

badly bruised

black and white

a way of considering things that is too simple, judging things either as right or wrong

in black and white

written down

in the black

not owing anyone money

draw a blank

to not be able to find someone or something or find out about something

bleed someone dry

to make a person, organization or country weak, for example by forcing them to use up all their money or resources

a blessing in disguise

an event that causes problems and difficulties at first

under the hammer

offered for sale at auction

a stumbling block

a problem which stops you from achieving something

bad blood

feelings of anger and hatred between two people or groups because of arguments they have had in the past

blood is shed/spilled

mean that people are being killed in fighting

blood, sweat and tears

great effort or suffering that is involved in a task or project

in cold blood

in a calm and deliberate way, rather than in anger or self-defence

in your blood

used for describing something that is a very important part of you and seems natural to you

make your blood boil

to make you very angry

new blood

new people who are brought into a company or organization in order to improve it

soften/cushion the blow

to make an unpleasant change or piece of news seem less unpleasant and easier to accept

strike a blow for something

to do something which supports a cause or principle, or makes it more likely to succeed

come to blows

to disagree so strongly about something that you start to fight

out of the blue

unexpectedly

call someone´s bluff

to put someone in a position in which they are forced to do what they have been threatening to do because you do not believe that they will really do it

spare/save someone´s blushes

to do something that prevents someone from being in an embarrassing situation

above board

honest and legal

across the board

it applies equally to all people or areas of business connected with it

go back to the drawing board

to start again or try another idea because something which you have done has not been successful

BOAT