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CINDY TEA - ENGLISH > FAMILIAR ENGLISH IDIOMS & PROVERBS > Flashcards

FAMILIAR ENGLISH IDIOMS & PROVERBS Flashcards

These English idioms and proverbs are familiar and easily understood by native English speakers, but they are not usually used in everyday conversation. If you haven't mastered the more frequent idioms yet, they are a better place to start

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

A little learning is a dangerous thing

A

People who don’t understand something fully are dangerous

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2
Q

A snowball effect

A

Events have momentum and build upon each other

(as part of a sentence)

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3
Q

A snowball’s chance in hell

A

No chance at all

(as part of a sentence)

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4
Q

A stitch in time saves nine

A

Fix the problem now because it will get worse later

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5
Q

A storm in a teacup

A

A big fuss about a small problem

(as part of a sentence)

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6
Q

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

A

Apples are good for you

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7
Q

As right as rain

A

Perfect / well

(as part of a sentence)

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8
Q

Burn bridges

A

Destroy relationships

(as part of a sentence)

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9
Q

Calm before the storm

A

Something bad is coming, but right now it’s calm

(as part of a sentence)

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10
Q

Come rain or shine

A

No matter what

(as part of a sentence)

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11
Q

Curiosity killed the cat

A

Stop asking questions

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12
Q

Cut the mustard

A

Do a good job

(as part of a sentence)

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13
Q

Don’t beat a dead horse

A

Move on, this subject is over

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14
Q

Every dog has his day

A

Everyone gets a chance at least once

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15
Q

Familiarity breeds contempt

A

The better you know someone the less you like him

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16
Q

Fit as a fiddle

A

In good health

(as part of a sentence)

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17
Q

Get a second wind

A

Have more energy after having been tired

(as part of a sentence)

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18
Q

Get wind of something

A

Hear news of something secret

(as part of a sentence)

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19
Q

Go down in flames

A

Fail spectacularly

(as part of a sentence)

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20
Q

Have your head in the clouds

A

Not be concentrating

(as part of a sentence)

21
Q

He who laughs last laughs loudest

A

I’ll get you back for what you did

22
Q

Hear something straight from the horse’s mouth

A

Hear something from the person involved

(as part of a sentence)

23
Q

He’s off his rocker

A

He’s crazy

24
Q

He’s sitting on the fence

A

He can’t make up his mind

25
Q

It is a poor workman who blames his tools

A

If you can’t do the job, don’t blame it on others

26
Q

It is always darkest before the dawn

A

Things are going to get better

27
Q

It takes two to tango

A

One person alone isn’t responsible. Both people are involved.

28
Q

Jump on the bandwagon

A

Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing

(as part of a sentence)

29
Q

Leave no stone unturned

A

Look everywhere

(as part of a sentence)

30
Q

Like riding a bicycle

A

Something you never forget how to do

(as part of a sentence)

31
Q

Like two peas in a pod

A

They’re always together

(as part of a sentence)

32
Q

Make hay while the sun shines

A

Take advantage of a good situation

(as part of a sentence)

33
Q

On cloud nine

A

Very happy

(as part of a sentence)

34
Q

Once bitten, twice shy

A

You’re more cautious when you’ve been hurt before

35
Q

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

A

Things are going from bad to worse

36
Q

Run like the wind

A

Run fast

(as part of a sentence)

37
Q

Snowed under

A

Busy

(as part of a sentence)

38
Q

That ship has sailed

A

It’s too late

39
Q

The pot calling the kettle black

A

Someone criticizing someone else he is just as bad

(as part of a sentence)

40
Q

Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

A

People who are morally questionable shouldn’t criticize others

41
Q

Through thick and thin

A

In good times and in bad times

(as part of a sentence)

42
Q

Time is money

A

Work quickly

43
Q

Waste not, want not

A

Don’t waste things and you’ll always have enough

44
Q

We see eye to eye

A

We agree

45
Q

When it rains it pours

A

Everything is going wrong at once

46
Q

You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar

A

You’ll get what you want by being nice

47
Q

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink

A

You can’t force someone to make the right decision

48
Q

You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs

A

There’s always a cost to doing something

CINDY TEA - ENGLISH (6 decks)

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