Idioms and
Phrases
1) A bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush- Having something that is certain is
much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might losing
everything.
2) A
blessing in disguise- Something good that isn’t recognized by first
3) Bull
in china shop- One who causes damage
4) A chip
on your shoulder- Being upset for something that happened in the past
5) A damp squib- Complete failure
6) A dime
A dozen- Anything that is common and easy to get
7) A
doubting Thomas- A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order
to believe something
8) A drop
in the bucket- A very small part of something big or whole
9) A fool
and his money are easily parted- It’s easy for a foolish person to lose
his/ her money
10) A
gentleman at large- An unreliable person
11) A
green horn- Inexperienced
12) A
house divided against itself cannot stand- Everyone involved must unify and
function together or it will not work out.
13) A
leopard can’t change his spots- You cannot change who you are
14) A
lost cause- A hopeless case, a person or situation having no hope of
positive change.
15) A man
of straw- A weak person
16) A
mare’s nest- A false invention
17) A
penny saved is a penny earned- By not spending money, you are saving money
(little by little)
18) A
picture paints a thousand words- A visual presentation is far more
descriptive than words
19) A
piece of cake- A task that can be accomplished very easily
20) A
slap on the wrist- A very mild punishment
21) A
stalking horse- Pretence
22) A
steal- Very inexpensive, a bargain
23) A
taste of your own medicine- When you are mistreated the same way you
mistreat others
24) A
toss-up- A result hat is still unclear and can go either way
25) A wolf
in sheep’s clothing- A dangerous person pretending harmless
26) ABC:
Very common knowledge about to- Ready to, just going to
27) Above
all- Mainly, especially
28) Above
board- Fair and honest
29) According
to- In the order of; on the authority of
30) Actions
speak louder than words- It’s better to actually do something than hust
talk about it
31) Add
fuel to the fire- Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even
worse than it is
32) Against
the clock- Rushed and short on time
33) All (day,
week, month, year) long- The entire day, week, month, year
34) All
along- All the time, from the beginning (without change)
35) All
and Sundry- Without making any distinction
36) All
bark and no bite- When someone is threatening and/ or aggressive but not
willing to engage in a fight
37) All
Greek to me- Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read,
speak, or
38) All
in all- Considering everything
39) All
in the same boat- When everyone is facing the same challenges
40) All
of a sudden- Suddenly, without warning (All at once)
41) All
right- Acceptable, fine; yes, okay
42) Alpha
and omega- First and last letter of Greek alphabet, means beginning and end
43) An arm and a leg- Very expensive, A
large amount of money
44) An
axe to grind- To have a dispute with someone
45) An
eye wash- A pretence
46) An
iron hand- By force
47) Apple
to my eye- Someone who is cherished above all others
48) As a
matter of fact- Really, actually (also: as to)
49) As
for- Regarding, concerning (also: as to)
50) As
high as a kite- Anything that is high up in the sky
51) As
soon as- Just after, when
52) As usual- as is the general case,
as is typical
53) At
all- To any degree (also: in the least)
54) At
heart- Basically, fundamentally
55) At last-
Finally, after a long time
56) At
least- A minimum of, no fewer (or less) than
57) At odds- In dispute
58) At
sixes and seven- Persons who are having different opinions
59) At
the drop of a hat- Willing to do something immediately
60) Back
and call- At the service
61) Back
and forth- In a backward and forward motion
62) Back
seat driver- People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone
giving unwanted advice 63) Back to square one- Having to start all over
again
64) Back
to the drawing board- When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over
65) Bag
and baggage- with all goods
66) Baker’s
dozen- Thirteen
67) Bank
on- Depend on, count on
68) Barking
up the wrong tree- A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve
69) Bated
breath- In anxiety, expectancy
70) Beat
a dead horse- To force an issue that has already ended
71) Beating
around the bash- Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the
issue
72) Bend
over backwards- Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything
73) Between a Rock and a Hard place-
Stuck between two very bad options
74) Between
Scylla and Charybdis- Choice between two unpleasant alternatives
75) Between
the cup and the lips- On the point of achievement
76) Bite
off more than you can chew- To take on a task that is a way to big
77) Bite
your tongue- To avoid talking 78) Black and white- In writing
79) Blood
is thicker than water- The family bond is closer than anything else
80) Blow
hot and cold- Having no stand, shows favor at one time and unfavor at
another
81) Blue
moon- A rare event or occurrence
82) Body
and soul- Entirely
83) Break
a leg- A superstitious way to say ‘Good Luck’ without saying ‘Good Luck’,
84) Buy a
lemon- To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops
running after you drive it
85) By
& by- Gradually
86) By
all means- Certainly, definitely, naturally (also: of course); using any
possible way or method
87) By
far- By a great margin, clearly
88) By fits
and starts- Irregularly
89) By
heart- By memorizing
90) By
hook or by crook- By any means
91) By
leaps and bound- speedily
92) By
oneself- Alone, without assistance
93) By
the way- Incidentally
94) Call
a spade a spade- Straight talks
95) Can’t
cut the mustard- Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or
participate
96) Cast
iron stomach- Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects
with eating anything 97) Cats and bull story- Untrue story
98) Cats
and dogs- Heavy rain
99) Charley
horse- stiffness in the leg/ A leg cramp
100) Chew
someone out- Verbally scold someone
101) Chip
on his shoulder- Angry today about something that occurred in the past
102) Chow
down- To eat
103) Clear-
cut- Clearly stated, definite, apparent
104) Close
but no cigar- To be near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short
105) Close
call- A situation involving a narrow escape from danger
106) Cock
and bull story- An unbelievable tale, untrue story
107) Come
hell or high water- Any difficult situation or obstacle
108) Crack
someone up- To make someone laugh
109) Cross
your fingers- To hope that something happens the way you want it to
110) Cry
wolf- Intentionally raise a false alarm
111) Cup
of joe- A cup of coffee
112) Curtain
lecture- A reproof by wife to her husband
113) Cut
and dried- Readymade form
114) Cut
to the chase- Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the
point
115) Dark horse- One who was previously
unknown and is now prominent
116) Day
in and day out- Continuously, constantly
117) Dead
Ringer- 100 % identical, a duplicate
118) Devil’s
advocate- Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without
believing in that 119) Dog days of summer- The hottest day of the summer
season
120) Don’t count your chickens before they
hatch- Don’t rely on it until you sure of it
121) Don’t
look a gift horse in the month- When someone gives you a gift, don’t be
ungrateful
122) Don’t
pull all your eggs in one basket- Do not pull all your resources in one possibility
123) Doozy-
Something outstanding
124) Down
to the wire- Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds
125) Drastic
times call for drastic measures- When you are extremely desperate you need
to take extremely desperate actions
126) Drink
like a fish- To drink very heavily, drinking anything
127) Dry
run- Rehearsal
128) Egg
on- To urge somebody
129) Eighty
six- A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to
throw away
130) Elvis
has left the building- The show has come to an end. It’s all over
131) Ethnic
cleansing- Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive
scale
132) Ever
and anon- Now and then
133) Every
cloud has a silver lining- Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to
better days
134) Every
other (one)- Every second (one), alternate (ones)
135) Everything but the kitchen sink-
Almost everything and anything has been included
136) Excuse
my French- Please forgive me for cussing
137) Fabian
policy- Policy of delaying decisions
138) Face-to-face-
Direct, personal; directly, personally (written without hyphens)
139) Fair
and wide- Equal opportunity to all
140) Far
and wide- Every where
141) Few
and far between- Not frequent, unusual, rare
142) Field
day- An enjoyable day or circumstance
143) Fifty-
fifty- Divided into two equal parts
144) Finding
your feet- To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing
145) Finger
licking good- To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing
146) Fire
and brimstone- A very tasty food or meal
147) Fire
and fury- Fearful penalties
148) First
and foremost- Extreme enthusiasm
149) Fishy:
doubtful- Highest priority
150) Fixed
in your ways- Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of
doing something
151) Flash
in the pan- Something that shows potential or looks promising in the
beginning but fails to deliver
152) Flea
market- A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell
inexpensive goods
153) Flesh
and blood- This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of,
or it can refer to human nature
154) Flip
the bird- To raise your middle finger at someone
155) Foam
at the mouth- To be enraged and show it
156) Fools’
Gold- Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold
157) Foot
the bill- Bear expenses 158) For good- Permanently, forever
159) For
once- This one time, for only one time
160) For
sure- Without doubt (also: for certain)
161) For
the time being- Temporarily (also: for now)
162) Free
and easy- Natural and simple
163) French
kiss- An open mouth kiss where tongues touch
164) From
now on- From this time into the future
165) From
rags to riches- To go from very poor to being very wealthy
166) Fuddy-
duddy- An old-fashioned and foolish type of person
167) Full
monthy- This idiom can mean either, “The whole thing” or “Completely nude”
168) Funny
farm- A mental institutional facility 169) Gall and wormwood- Source of
irritation
170) Get
down to brass tacks- To become serious about something
171) Get
over it- To move beyond something that is bothering you
172) Get
up on the wrong side of the bed- Someone who is having a horrible day
173) Get
your walking papers- Get fired from the job
174) Gird
up the loin- To be ready
175) Give
and take- Compromise, cooperation between people
176) Give
him the slip- To get away from, to escape
177) Give
in- Surrender
178) Go
down like a lead balloon- To be received badly by an audience
179) Go for
broke- To gamble everything you have
180) Go
out on a limb- Put yourself in a tough position in order to support
someone/ something
181) Go
the extra mile- Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at
hand
182) Good
Samaritan- Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no
discussion for
183) Graveyard shift- Working hours
from about 12:00 am to 8.00
184) Great
minds think alike- Intelligent people think like each other
185) Green
room- The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a TV or
radio show 186) Gut feeling- A personal intuition you get, especially
when feel something may not be right
187) Had
better- Should, ought to, be advisable to
188) Hand
a gloves- Very intimate friends
189) Hard
and fast- Certain
190) Hard
of hearing- Partially deaf, not able to hear well
191) Haste
makes waste- Quickly doing things results in a poor ending
192) Hat
Trick- When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game.
193) Haughty
and naughty- Arrogant and naughty
194) Have
an axe to grind- To have a dispute with someone
195) Have
got- To have, to possess
196) Have
got to- Must (also: have to)
197) He
lost his head- Angry and overcome by emotions
198) Head
and shoulder- Superior
199) Head
over heels- Very excited and/ or joyful, especially when in love
200) Heart
and soul- With full devotion
201) Hell
in a hand basket- Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster
202) Helter
Shelter-Here and there
203) Herculean
task- A tedious job
204) High
five- Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture
205) High
on the Hog- Living in luxury
206) Hit
below the belt- Contrary the principles of fairness
207) Hit
the books- To study, especially for a test or exam
208) Hit
the hay- Go to bed or go to sleep
209) Hit
the nail on the head- Do something exactly right or say something exactly
right
210) Hit
the sack- Go to bed or go to sleep
211) Hither
and thither- Here and there
212) Hocus
Pocus- In general, a term used in magic or trickery
213) Hold
your horses- Be patient
214) Hole
and corner policy- A secret policy for an evil purpose
215) Hornet’s
nest- Raise controversy
216) Hue
and cry- Great noise
217) Hush
money- A bribe
218) Icing
on the cake- When you already have it good and get something on top of what
you already have
219) Idle
hands are the devil’s tools- You are more likely to get in trouble if you
have nothing to do
220) If
it’s notone thing, it’s another- When one thing goes wrong, then another,
and another…
221) Ill
at ease- Uncomfortable or worried in a situation
222) In hurry-
Hurried, rushed (also: in a rush)
223) in
case- In order to be prepared if the meaning is in order to be prepared if
something happens 224) In hand- Under firm control, well managed
225) In
like Flynn- To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic
226) In
no time- Very quickly, rapidly
227) In
the bag- To have something secured
228) In
the buff- Nude
229) In
the heat of the moment- Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment
230) In
the long run- Eventually, after a long period of time
231) In
the worst way- Very much, greatly
232) In
time to- Before the time necessary to do something
233) In
touch- Having contact
234) In
vain- Useless, without the desired result
235) In
your face- An aggressive and bold confrontation
236) Ins
and outs- Full detail
237) Inside
out- With the inside facing the outside
238) Intents
and purposes- Practically
239) It
figures- It seems likely, reasonable, or typical
240) it
takes two to tango- A two person conflict where both people are at fault
241) It’s
a small world- You frequently see the same people in different places
242) It
anyone’s call- A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or
predict
243) Ivory
tower- Imaginary world
244) Ivy League-
Since 1954 the Ivy league has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown,
Cornell 245) Jaywalk- Crossing the street (from the middle) without
using the crosswalk
246) Joshing
me- Tricking me
247) keep
an eye on him- You should carefully watch him. Keep an eye on
248) Keep
body and soul together- To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to
keep yourself alive 249) Keep your chin up- To remain joyful in a tough
situation
250) kick
the bucket- Die
251) Kith
and kin- Blood relatives
252) Kitty-corner-
Diagonally across. Sometimes called Catty- Corner as well
253) knock
on Wood- Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck
254) know
the ropes- To understand the details
255) last
but not least- An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the
last person mentioned is also very important
256) Last
straw- The final event in a series of unacceptable actions
257) Latin
and Greek- Unable to understand
258) leave
no stone unturned- Make all possible efforts
259) lend
me your ear- To politely ask for someone’s full attention
260) Length
and breadth- All over
261) Let
along- and certainly not (also: not to mention, to say nothing of)
262) Let
the cat out of the bag- To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared
263) Level
playing field- A fair competition where no side has an advantage
264) Life
and soul- Main support
265) Like
a chicken and its head cut off- To act in a frenzied manner
266) Liquor
someone up- To get someone drunk
267) Little
by little- Gradually, slowly (also: step by step)
268) Live-wire-
Energetic
269) Loaves
and fish- Material interests
270) Lock
and key- In safe place
271) Long
in the tooth- Old people (or horses)
272) Loose
cannon- Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in
check
273) Make
no bones about- To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections
274) Method
to my madness- Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the
end are done for a good reason
275) Might
and main- With all enthusiasm
276) Milk
and water- Weak
277) More
or less- Approximately, almost, somewhat, to a certain degree
278) Mumbo
Jumbo- Nonsense or meaningless speech
279) Mum’s
the word- To keep quiet, To say nothing
280) Narrow-minded-
Not willing to accept the ideas of others Subject Verb Agreement
