idioms

Cats and Dogs

  • Meaning: To rain heavily.

  • Example: "It’s raining cats and dogs" means it’s raining heavily.

Chalk and Cheese

  • Meaning: Very different from each other.

  • Example: "We’re like chalk and cheese" indicates a lack of commonality.

Here and There

  • Meaning: Everywhere.

  • Example: "I have been looking here and there for the gift" means searching everywhere.

A Hot Potato

  • Meaning: A difficult and unpleasant problem.

  • Example: The issue of taxing domestic fuel is a political hot potato.

At the Drop of the Hat

  • Meaning: Immediately, without hesitation.

  • Example: "I can’t move my home at the drop of a hat."

Back to the Drawing Board

  • Meaning: Time to start over.

  • Example: "It’s back to the drawing board" after a proposal rejection.

Beat about the Bush

  • Meaning: To discuss something without getting to the point.

  • Example: "Stop beating about the bush!"

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

  • Meaning: An excellent invention or idea.

  • Example: Portable phones are the best thing since sliced bread.

Burn the Midnight Oil

  • Meaning: To study or work late at night.

  • Example: "I’ll be burning the midnight oil for my exam."

Caught Between Two Stools

  • Meaning: Difficulty choosing between two options.

  • Example: "Caught between two stools when choosing shirts."

Break a Leg

  • Meaning: A phrase used to wish someone good luck.

Hit the Books

  • Meaning: To study.

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

  • Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.

  • Example: "She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise."

When Pigs Fly

  • Meaning: Something that will never happen.

  • Example: "Yes, and pigs might fly!"

Scratch Someone’s Back

  • Meaning: To help someone expecting a favor in return.

  • Example: "You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours."

Hit the Nail on the Head

  • Meaning: To say something exactly right.

Take Someone/Something for Granted

  • Meaning: To not appreciate the true value.

  • Example: "She took her husband for granted."

Take Something into Account/Consideration

  • Meaning: To consider something in judgment.

  • Example: Exam results are taken into account.

Keep an Eye on Someone/Something

  • Meaning: To pay attention to someone/something.

  • Example: "Please keep an eye on the house."

Lose Touch with Someone

  • Meaning: To no longer be in contact.

At Somebody’s Disposal

  • Meaning: Available for use.

  • Example: "A car will be at his disposal."

Splitting Headache

  • Meaning: A severe headache.

  • Example: "I’ve got a splitting headache."

Off the Peg/Off the Rack

  • Meaning: Ready-made clothing.

  • Example: "He buys his clothes off the peg."

On the House

  • Meaning: Free of charge.

  • Example: "Have a drink on the house."

Hit the Roof / Hit the Ceiling / Go Through the Roof

  • Meaning: To become very angry.

  • Example: "She will hit the roof when she finds out."

Bring Down the House

  • Meaning: To have the audience applaud enthusiastically.

Pay Through the Nose

  • Meaning: To pay too much.

By the Skin of One’s Teeth

  • Meaning: Just barely.

  • Example: "He escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth."

Pull Somebody’s Leg

  • Meaning: To joke with someone.

  • Example: "You’re just pulling my leg."

It Strikes Somebody as/That

  • Meaning: To find something strange.

High and Low

  • Meaning: Everywhere.

  • Example: "I searched high and low for my purse."

The More, the Merrier

  • Meaning: The more people, the better.

Spick and Span

  • Meaning: Neat and tidy.

(Every) Now and Then/Again

  • Meaning: Occasionally.

  • Example: "She checked every now and again."

Part and Parcel of Something

  • Meaning: An essential part.

  • Example: "Keeping accounts is part and parcel of my job."

Go to One’s Head

  • Meaning: To become arrogant.

Be/Go on the Wagon

  • Meaning: To abstain from alcohol.

Once in a Blue Moon

  • Meaning: Very rarely.

  • Example: "Once in a blue moon, I stop thinking about him."

On the Spot

  • Meaning: Immediately.

  • Example: "He answered the question on the spot."

Few and Far Between

  • Meaning: Rare.

On the Verge of

  • Meaning: On the brink of.

  • Example: "The elephants are on the verge of extinction."

Lead Somebody by the Nose

  • Meaning: To control or manipulate someone.

At the Eleventh Hour

  • Meaning: At the last moment.

  • Example: "She turned in her paper at the eleventh hour."

Find Fault (with Someone/Something)

  • Meaning: To criticize.

Off and On/On and Off

  • Meaning: Intermittently.

  • Example: "It rained off and on all day."

Make Believe

  • Meaning: To pretend.

Make Good Time

  • Meaning: To move quickly.

  • Example: "We made good time and arrived in two days."

Look Daggers at Somebody

  • Meaning: To look at someone angrily.

  • Example: "He was looking daggers at her."

Be Out of the Question

  • Meaning: Not possible.

  • Example: "Another trip this year is out of the question."

All at Once

  • Meaning: Suddenly.

  • Example: "All at once she lost her temper."

Blow One’s Trumpet

  • Meaning: To boast or brag.

Sleep on Something

  • Meaning: To think about something before making a decision.

  • Example: "Can I sleep on it?"

Fight Tooth and Nail

  • Meaning: To fight hard.

  • Example: "They fought tooth and nail to stop the project."

Play Tricks/Jokes on

  • Meaning: To prank someone.

  • Example: "The children play jokes on their teachers."

Go Down the Drain

  • Meaning: To be wasted or lost.

  • Example: "It’s just money down the drain."

Smell a Rat

  • Meaning: To suspect something is wrong.

  • Example: "I smelled a rat when I entered."

The Last Straw

  • Meaning: The final problem in a series of problems.

  • Example: "That was the last straw!"

Get the Hang of Something

  • Meaning: To understand how to do something.

  • Example: "I can’t get the hang of this game."

Hard of Hearing

  • Meaning: Hard to hear.

  • Example: "Mike is hard of hearing."

Have a Bee in One’s Bonnet (About Something)

  • Meaning: To be obsessed or worried about something.

  • Example: "Our teacher has a bee in his bonnet about punctuation."

Get/Having Cold Feet

  • Meaning: To lose courage.

  • Example: "He got cold feet about asking her out."

On Second Thoughts

  • Meaning: Upon re-evaluating; reconsidering.

  • Example: "On second thoughts, I'll join you."

In Vain

  • Meaning: Without success.

  • Example: "They tried in vain to persuade her."

Chip In

  • Meaning: To contribute.

  • Example: "If everyone chips in, we'll buy a nice present."

Off/Out of One’s Head

  • Meaning: Crazy.

  • Example: "The old man has been out of his head."

Run an Errand

  • Meaning: To do a small task.

  • Example: "I need to run an errand."

Jump the (Traffic) Lights

  • Meaning: To run a red light.

  • Example: "They ignore people who jump the lights."

Fly Off the Handle

  • Meaning: To become suddenly angry.

  • Example: "He flies off the handle easily."

The Apple of One’s Eye

  • Meaning: Someone cherished.

  • Example: "She is the apple of her father's eye."

Bucket Down

  • Meaning: To rain heavily.

  • Example: "It’s bucketing down outside."

A Close Shave

  • Meaning: A narrow escape.

  • Example: "That was a close shave!"

Drop a Brick/Clanger

  • Meaning: To say something embarrassing.

Get/Have Butterflies in One’s Stomach

  • Meaning: To feel nervous.

  • Example: "I get butterflies before exams."

Off the Record

  • Meaning: Not official or public.

Not One’s Cup of Tea

  • Meaning: Not something one likes.

  • Example: "He's not my cup of tea."

Cut It Fine

  • Meaning: To just barely manage.

  • Example: "Cutting it fine with time to the airport."

Golden Handshake

  • Meaning: A large payment upon retirement.

  • Example: "He got an $800,000 golden handshake."

Come to Light

  • Meaning: To be revealed.

Take Things to Pieces

  • Meaning: To disassemble.

Put One’s Foot In It

  • Meaning: To say something foolish.

Pull One’s Weight

  • Meaning: To do one’s fair share of work.

Make (Both) Ends Meet

  • Meaning: To manage financially.

Get (Hold of) the Wrong End of the Stick

  • Meaning: To misunderstand.

  • Example: "You got hold of the wrong end of the stick."

Cut and Dried

  • Meaning: Completely decided.

See Eye to Eye

  • Meaning: To agree.

  • Example: "They never see eye to eye on politics."

Have Somebody/Something in Mind

  • Meaning: To have someone or something in consideration.

A Lost Cause

  • Meaning: A hopeless situation.

  • Example: "The game was a lost cause."

To Be Bound To Do Something

  • Meaning: Sure to do something.

  • Example: "You’re bound to be late."

At Heart

  • Meaning: At one’s core.

  • Example: "He’s a socialist at heart."

Know Somebody by Sight

  • Meaning: To recognize someone.

Now and Then

  • Meaning: Occasionally.

Take (Great) Pains to Do Something

  • Meaning: To make a significant effort.

Take (Great) Pains With/Over Something

  • Meaning: To devote care and attention to something.

Make Do

  • Meaning: To manage with what is available.

Sell Somebody Short

  • Meaning: To underestimate.

Face the Music

  • Meaning: To deal with the consequences.

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

  • Meaning: To reveal a secret.

On Probation

  • Meaning: Serving a trial period.

Sell/Go Like Hot Cakes

  • Meaning: To sell quickly.

It Never Rains but It Pours

  • Meaning: When one bad event leads to others.

Salt and Pepper

  • Meaning: Having mixed colors, often referring to hair.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

  • Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking.

Home and Dry

  • Meaning: Having successfully completed a task.

Down and Out

  • Meaning: In a difficult situation.

Learn by Heart

  • Meaning: To memorize.

A Red-Letter Day

  • Meaning: An important or memorable day.

As High as a Kite

  • Meaning: Very happy or intoxicated.

Sleep Like a Log

  • Meaning: To sleep very soundly.

Fit Like a Glove

  • Meaning: To fit perfectly.

Be Green with Envy

  • Meaning: To be very envious.

Go Up the Wall

  • Meaning: To become very angry.

Put on an Act

  • Meaning: To pretend to be something one is not.

Break the News (to Somebody)

  • Meaning: To inform someone of important news.

Cost/Pay an Arm and a Leg

  • Meaning: To be very expensive.

Look on the Bright Side

  • Meaning: To consider favorable aspects of a situation.

Easier Said Than Done

  • Meaning: More difficult to achieve than to talk about.

Take it Easy

  • Meaning: To relax and not worry.

Go into Business

  • Meaning: To start a business.

In a Bad Mood

  • Meaning: Not feeling happy.

Out of This World

  • Meaning: Extremely good or excellent.

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

  • Meaning: Time does not wait for anyone.

Back to Square One

  • Meaning: To return to the starting point.

A Great One for Something

  • Meaning: Passionate about something.

One in the Eye for Someone

  • Meaning: A setback for someone.

Be in Two Minds About Something

  • Meaning: Unsure about a decision.

In Two Shakes

  • Meaning: Very soon.

At Sixes and Sevens

  • Meaning: In a state of confusion.

On Cloud Nine

  • Meaning: Extremely happy.

Dressed (Up) to the Nines

  • Meaning: Dressed elegantly.

Ten to One

  • Meaning: Very likely.

Nineteen to the Dozen

  • Meaning: To talk rapidly without stopping.

Kill Two Birds with One Stone

  • Meaning: To achieve two outcomes with one effort.

By a Hair’s Breath

  • Meaning: Very close to something.

Keep One’s Fingers Crossed for Somebody

  • Meaning: To hope for someone's success.

(Like) Water Off a Duck’s Back

  • Meaning: To not affect someone despite criticism.

Every Nook and Cranny

  • Meaning: Every part of a space or situation.