American Idioms - List Four Flashcards
Barking up the wrong tree
To pursue the wrong course of action
Close but no cigar
Almost correct but not quite
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
Don’t harm those who help you
Every dog has its day
Everyone will have success or good fortune at some point
Get your ducks in a row
To get organized and prepared
Hit the hay
To go to bed
Keep it real
To be authentic and genuine
Let bygones be bygones
To forget past conflicts or grievances
A piece of cake
Very easy
Back to square one
To start over from the beginning
Call it a day
To stop working or end an activity
Don’t rock the boat
To avoid causing trouble or disruption
Every man for himself
Each person should take care of their own interests
Get over it
To move past a difficult situation or emotion
Hit the road
To leave or begin a journey
Keep your fingers crossed
To hope for a positive outcome
Let the chips fall where they may
To accept the outcome, regardless of what it may be
A penny for your thoughts
Asking someone what they are thinking
Backseat driver
Someone who gives unwanted advice or criticism
Cost an arm and a leg
Very expensive
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Don’t rely on something that hasn’t happened yet
Every cloud has a silver lining
There’s something good in every bad situation
Get your act together
To organize yourself and start behaving more responsibly
Hit the nail on the head
To describe something accurately
Keep your nose to the grindstone
To work hard and diligently
Let sleeping dogs lie
To leave things as they are
A penny for your thoughts
Asking someone what they are thinking
Bite the bullet
To endure a painful situation or task
Burn bridges
To ruin relationships, especially intentionally
Cut to the chase
To get to the point quickly
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Don’t risk everything on a single opportunity
Every cloud has a silver lining
There’s something good in every bad situation
Go down like a lead balloon
Fail to be well received or accepted
Hit the jackpot
To be extremely successful or fortunate
In hot water
In trouble or facing difficulties
Jump on the bandwagon
To join a popular trend or activity
Kick the bucket
To die
Let the chips fall where they may
To let things happen without interference
Off the top of my head
Without careful thought or consideration
Put all your eggs in one basket
To risk everything on a single opportunity
The ball is in your court
It’s your decision or responsibility
Bite off more than you can chew
To take on more responsibility than one can handle
Don’t cry over spilled milk
Don’t worry about past mistakes
Get off on the wrong foot
To start a relationship or interaction poorly
Hit the ground running
To start something with great speed or success
In the same boat
In the same situation or predicament
Keep it under wraps
To keep something secret
Leave no stone unturned
To search thoroughly for something
Make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate a minor problem
Play devil’s advocate
To argue the opposing viewpoint for the sake of debate
Put your best foot forward
To make a good impression
