American Idioms - List Five Flashcards
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
It’s better to have something certain than to risk losing it by trying to get something better
All bark and no bite
Someone who talks tough but doesn’t act on it
Beat around the bush
To avoid addressing a topic directly
Better late than never
It’s better to do something late than to not do it at all
Break a leg
Good luck (especially in a performance)
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Can’t form an opinion based solely on appearance
Caught red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
Cost an arm and a leg
Very expensive
Cry over spilled milk
To fret or be upset about something that cannot be changed
Don’t cry wolf
Don’t raise a false alarm
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
Complete tasks promptly
Don’t throw stones in glass houses
Don’t criticize others for faults you also have
Drop the ball
To fail to meet expectations or responsibilities
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry
Every ordinary person
Get a taste of one’s own medicine
Experience the same treatment one has given to others
Get cold feet
To become nervous or hesitant
Get out of hand
To become out of control
Give someone the cold shoulder
To intentionally ignore or avoid someone
Have a chip on one’s shoulder
To be easily offended or prone to resentment
Hit the jackpot
To be extremely successful or fortunate
In over one’s head
To be involved in something too difficult to manage
It takes two to tango
Actions or communications require participation from both parties
Jump the gun
To act prematurely or hastily
Keep it real
To be genuine and honest
Let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret
Like a fish out of water
Uncomfortable or out of place
Miss the boat
To miss an opportunity
No pain, no gain
Rewards come from hard work and effort
On cloud nine
Extremely happy or euphoric
Out of the blue
Unexpectedly
Play it by ear
To improvise or make decisions as events unfold
Pull someone’s leg
To tease or joke with someone in a playful manner
Put a sock in it
To ask someone to be quiet or stop talking
Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
To say something embarrassing or socially inappropriate
Red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
Rub someone the wrong way
To irritate or annoy someone
Take the bull by the horns
To face a difficult situation directly and courageously
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Children often resemble their parents in behavior
The early bird catches the worm
Acting early brings success
Time flies when you’re having fun
Time seems to pass quickly when engaged in enjoyable activities
Turn over a new leaf
To make a fresh start, often after behaving badly
You can’t have your cake and eat it too
You can’t have everything you want
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
It’s difficult to change someone’s habits or behavior
You reap what you sow
Consequences result from one’s actions
