A-Idioms Part IV Flashcards
Idioms starting with A - Part IV
ll ages and stripesacross the ditch
travelling between Australia and New Zealand, it means “going to the other side” of the Tasman Sea
across the pond
‘on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean’, and is used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker’s location
act of God
is something like an earthquake or floods that human beings cannot prevent or control
act of war
is a action that is either intended to start a war or that is interpreted as being sufficient cause for a war
act your age, not your shoe size
stop behaving immaturely- it is often said to adults who are acting like overgrown children and to school-age children who are acting like overgrown toddlers
after your own heart
having the same opinions or interests as you
against the clock
you do it as fast as possible and try to finish it before a certain time
against the grain
it is very difficult for you to accept it or do it, because it conflicts with your previous ideas, beliefs, or principles
against one’s better judgement
contrary to what one feels to be wise or sensible
age before beauty
is a general expression of respect for wisdom over looks
ahead of time
at an earlier or previous time
air your dirty laundry
to discuss or argue about private or embarrassing things in front of others
an albatross around the neck
a heavy burden or an obstacle to success
alike as two peas in a pod
two people are very similar in appearance, behaviour, or emotion
alive and kicking
to continue to live or exist and be full of energy
all and sundry
is a way of emphasising ‘all’, like saying ‘each and every one’
all bark and no bite
full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious
all bets are off
used to describe a situation in which it is impossible to be sure about what will happen
all ages and stripes
people of all different types and ages, essentially encompassing a diverse group regardless of their age or background
all dressed up with nowhere to go
fashionably or smartly dressed for an anticipated occasion that does not take place
all ears
to be listening eagerly or paying close attention
all thumbs/ all fingers and thumbs
physically awkward, especially with respect to the hands
all hat and no cattle
someone talks big but doesn’t follow through with action
all heart
to be very kind and generous
all hell breaks loose
a situation suddenly becomes violent and noisy, especially with people arguing or fighting
all in a day’s work
If something is all in a day’s work, it is nothing special.
all in your head
If something is all in your head, you have imagined it and it is not real.
all mod cons
British idiom that means “all modern conveniences
all over bar the shouting
If an activity is all over bar the shouting, the result of it is known, but it has not been officially finished or announced, so people can still say that a different result is possible
all over Hell’s half acre
everywhere or all over the place. It’s used to describe when something has been scattered or blown away
all roads lead to Rome
there can be many different ways of doing something
all square
to be mutually clear of all debts or obligations, or to have equal scores
all the tea in China
If someone won’t do something for all the tea in China, they won’t do it no matter how much money they are offered.
