Idioms and Their Meanings

  • Idioms and Their Meanings:

    • to be snowed under with: overwhelmed with work
    • put your foot in your mouth: say something foolish or embarrassing
    • a real kick in the pants: a lesson learned from failure
    • an open and shut case: an easily resolved issue
    • a shot in the dark: an attempt with no guaranteed outcome
    • a rough diamond: a person who is honest and kind but unrefined
    • drive somebody to the edge: to irritate someone greatly
    • get the bit between one’s teeth: to be determined
    • with flying colors: to succeed brilliantly
    • go bananas: to act in a manic or excited manner
    • put the cart before the horse: to get things in the wrong order
    • on somebody’s tail: closely following someone
    • do the trick: to be effective or sufficient
    • carry the can: to take responsibility
    • go wild: to lose control in excitement
    • chance your arm: to take a risk
    • drive somebody up the wall: to drive someone insane
    • get on somebody’s nerves: to annoy someone
    • try/chance your luck: to take a chance
    • cut corners: to do something in a cheaper or quicker way, often with subpar results
    • lose the plot: to lose the ability to deal with a situation
    • bite the dust: to fail or to die
    • go downhill: to deteriorate
    • take something for granted: to fail to appreciate something
    • on purpose: intentionally
    • at the drop of a hat: immediately, without hesitation
    • be at one’s wits' end: to be confused and not knowing what to do
    • be between jobs: temporarily unemployed
    • breathe down one's neck: to follow someone closely
    • be on the cards: to be likely to happen
    • a drop in the bucket: something insignificant
    • a flash in the pan: a temporary success

  • Further Idioms and Their Meanings:

    • a lump in/to sb’s throat: an emotional situation
    • bring home to somebody: to make someone understand clearly
    • as plain as the nose on your face: very clear
    • on the tip of one’s tongue: struggling to remember something
    • know something/ somebody like the back of your hand: very familiar with something or someone
    • as fresh as a daisy: very fresh and energized
    • come into effect: to become effective
    • catch one’s breath: to rest momentarily
    • lay waste (to) something: to destroy something
    • for a rainy day: saving for future difficulties
    • keep/bear something in mind: to remember something
    • upset the apple cart: to disrupt plans
    • keep one's nose to the grindstone: to work hard for a long time
    • weather the storm: to endure a difficult period
    • take your time: to do something slowly
    • race against time: to hurry to finish something before a deadline
    • keep up with the times: to stay current
    • keep track of somebody/something: to follow closely
    • hit the sack: to go to bed
    • pour your heart out to somebody: to share feelings openly
    • be/go as red as a beetroot: to flush with embarrassment
    • burn your bridges: to commit to a course of action with no going back
    • break new/fresh ground: to innovate or make a breakthrough
    • (like) putty in one’s hands: easily manipulated
    • back to square one: starting over
    • keep a lid on something: to control or restrain something
    • keep your chin up: to stay optimistic
    • hit the nail on the head: to be exactly right
    • be the height of stupidity: absurdly foolish
    • under the counter: secretly, illegally
    • pull somebody’s legs: to tease or joke
    • wear and tear: damage from use over time
    • ups and downs: highs and lows in life
    • odds and ends: small, unimportant items
    • white lie: a harmless lie told for good reasons
    • hope against hope (that…): to maintain hope for something unlikely
    • let your hair down: to relax after hard work
    • pull yourself together: to calm down and regain composure
    • pay through the nose: to pay a high price
    • stand on your own (two) feet: to be self-sufficient

  • Additional Idioms:

    • rain cats and dogs: to rain heavily
    • make hay while the sun shines: take advantage of good opportunities
    • be in the right frame of mind: to have the right mindset
    • foot the bill: to pay the bill
    • go off the rails: to behave unpredictably or irresponsibly
    • catch somebody’s eye: to attract someone's attention
    • put something on ice: postpone something
    • take the wind out of somebody’s sails: to take away someone's confidence
    • make no difference to somebody/to something/in something: to have no impact
    • pour scorn on somebody/something: to ridicule someone or something
    • as right as rain: restored to health
    • to be hot under the collar: to be angry or embarrassed
    • be over the hill: past one's prime
    • get your foot in the door: to make a start on a goal
    • hit the books: to study
    • be a piece of cake: very easy
    • eat like a bird: to eat very little
    • a big cheese: an important person
    • sit on the fence: to be undecided
    • the last straw/the straw that breaks the camel’s back: the final issue that causes a breakdown
    • follow your nose: to trust your instincts
    • like a bolt from the blue: very surprising
    • burn the midnight oil: to work late into the night
    • be/go green with envy: to be very jealous
    • sell like hot cakes: to sell quickly
    • apples and oranges: completely different things
    • put up your socks: to try harder
    • smell a rat: to sense something is wrong
    • be strong as a horse: to be very strong
    • have a narrow escape: to barely get away from a dangerous situation
    • way off the mark: completely incorrect
    • keep a straight face: to avoid laughing at something funny
    • to be as high as a kite: to be overjoyed or intoxicated
    • the length and breadth of something: all over a large area.