101 American English Idioms Flashcards
Animal Idiom
feel that something is wrong
Smell a Rat
When I got an e-mail asking for my password, I should have smelled a rat.
Animal Idiom
become run-down
Go to the Dogs
After Joe retired, the business went to the dogs.
Animal Idiom / adjective
strange and suspicious
fishy
Animal Idiom
take decisive action in a difficult situation
Take the Bull by the Horns
Why don’t you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?
Animal Idiom
quite a different matter
a horse of a Different Color
That’s what we’ll do when he gets here. But if he doesn’t show up … well, that’s a horse of a different color.
Animal Idiom
inform beforehand
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.
Animal Idiom
uninteresting and meaningless
For the Birds
This conference is for the birds—let’s leave now.
Animal Idiom
from a reliable source
Straight From the Horse’s Mouth
I know it’s true, because I got it straight from the horse’s mouth – Katie told me herself.
Animal Idiom
play around
Horse Around
He was horsing around in the kitchen and broke my favourite bowl.
Animal Idiom
can’t talk?
Cat Got Your Tongue?
You’ve been unusually quiet tonight,” she said. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?
idiom
bother someone
Get in Someone’s Hair
My flatmate has been** getting in my hair **a lot recently.
idiom
express one’s opinions loudly
often used in a negative context
Shoot Off One’s Mouth
also => shoot one’s mouth off
Try not to shoot your mouth off about this to anyone.
idiom
(become angry with someone)
Jump Down Someone’s Throat
I made the mildest of criticisms and he jumped down my throat.
idiom
(pay too high a price)
Pay Through the Nose
If you drive into the city, you have to pay through the nose for parking.
idiom
(not serious)
Tongue-In-Cheek
(also: with your tongue in your cheek)
He said that he was a huge fan of the president, although I suspect it was tongue in cheek.
idiom
(fool someone)
Pull Someone’s Leg
Is it really your car or are you pulling my leg?
idiom
(improvise as one goes along)
to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier:
Play It by Ear
We can’t make a decision yet. Let’s just play it by ear.
idiom
(take a risk)
Stick Out One’s Neck
also : stick one’s neck out
I’m really sticking my neck out by investing my money in this idea.
idiom
(hurry!)
old-fashioned informal
Shake a Leg
Come on, Nick, shake a leg or we’ll never be ready in time.
idiom
(clumsy)
All Thumbs
also : (UK all fingers and thumbs)
Can you untangle this thread for me? I’m all thumbs today.
idiom
(to have no good defense for one’s opinions or actions)
Not Have a Leg to Stand On
If you have no witnesses, you don’t have a leg to stand on.
idiom
(stop bothering someone)
Get Off Someone’s Back
Why don’t you get off my back! I’m doing my best.
idiom
(annoy someone greatly)
Drive Someone Up a Wall
My flat-mate is driving me up the wall.
synonym: drive someone crazy
idiom
(lead someone on dishonestly)
String Someone Along
He strung her along for years, saying he’d marry her and divorce his wife.
idiom
(betray someone)
Sell Someone Down the River
He has been sold down the river by the people who were supposed to protect him.
idiom
(abandon someone)
Leave Someone High and Dry
They pulled out of the deal at the last minute leaving us high and dry.
idiom
(underestimate someone)
Sell Someone Short
Don’t sell yourself short - you’ve got the skills and the experience.
idiom
(insincere talk)
Snow Job
The media, once again, is giving us a** snow job**.
idiom
(reveal a secret)
Spill the Beans
So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?
idiom
(deceive someone)
Feed Someone a line
She fed me a line about not having budgeted for pay increases this year.
idiom
(set aside for future use)
On Ice
Both projects are** on ice** until the question of funding is resolved.
