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tuesday subs. > Idiomatic Expressions > Flashcards

Idiomatic Expressions Flashcards

1
Q

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

A

Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more because chances are you might lose

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2
Q

A blessing in disguise

A

Something good that isn’t recognized at first

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3
Q

A chip on your shoulder

A

Being upset for something that happened in the past

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4
Q

A dime a dozen

A

Anything that is common and easy to get

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5
Q

A doubting thomas

A

A skeptic needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something

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6
Q

A drop in a bucket

A

A very small part of something big or whole

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7
Q

A fool and his money are easily parted

A

It is easy for a foolish person to lose his or her money

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8
Q

A penny safe is a penny earned

A

By not spending money you are saving money

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9
Q

A picture paints a thousand words

A

A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words

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10
Q

A piece of cake

A

A task that can be accomplished very easily

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11
Q

Slap on the wrist

A

Very mild punishment

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12
Q

A taste of your own medicine

A

When you are mistreated the same way you mistreated others

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13
Q

A toss up

A

A result that is still unclear and can go either way

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14
Q

Add fuel to the fire

A

Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is

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15
Q

Action speaks louder than words

A

It is better to actually do something than just talk about it

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16
Q

Against the clock

A

Rush and short on time

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17
Q

All bark and no bite

A

When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing

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18
Q

All in the same boat

A

When everyone is facing the same challenges

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19
Q

An arm and a leg

A

Very expensive/ a large amount of money

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20
Q

An acts to grind

A

To have a dispute with someone

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21
Q

Apple of my eye

A

Someone who is cherished above all others

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22
Q

As high as kite

A

Anything that is high up in the sky

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23
Q

At the drop of a hat

A

Willing to do something immediately

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24
Q

Back seat driver

A

People who criticize from the sideline much like someone giving unwanted advice from the backseat of a vehicle to the driver

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25
Q

Back to square one

A

Having to start all over again

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26
Q

Back to the drawing board

A

When an attempt feel and it’s time to start all over

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27
Q

Barker’s dozen

A

Thirteen

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28
Q

Barking up the wrong tree

A

A mistake made is something you are trying to achieve

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29
Q

Beat a dead horse

A

To force an issue that has already ended

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30
Q

Beating around the bush

A

Avoiding the main topic /not speaking directly about the issue

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31
Q

Bend over backwards

A

Do whatever it takes to help/ willing to do anything

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32
Q

Between a rock and a hard place

A

Stuck between two very bad options

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33
Q

Bite off more than you can chew

A

To take on a test that is way too big

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34
Q

Bite your tongue

A

To avoid talking

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35
Q

Blood is thicker than water

A

Family bond is closer than anything else

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36
Q

Blue moon

A

A rare event or occurrence

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37
Q

Break a leg

A

A superstitious ways to say good luck without saying good luck but rather opposite

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38
Q

Buy a lemon

A

To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problem or stop running after you drive it away

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39
Q

Can’t cut the mustard

A

Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate

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40
Q

Cast iron stomach

A

Someone was no problem complication or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything

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41
Q

Charley horse

A

Stiffness in legs or a leg cramp

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42
Q

Chew someone out

A

Verbally scold someone

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43
Q

Chow down

A

To eat

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44
Q

Close but no cigar

A

To be very near and almost accomplish a goal but fall short

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45
Q

Cock and bull story

A

An unbelievable tale

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46
Q

Come hell for high water

A

Any difficult situation or obstacle

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47
Q

Crack someone up

A

To make someone laugh

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48
Q

Cross your fingers

A

To hope that something happens the way you wanted it to

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49
Q

Cry over spilt milk

A

When you complain about a loss from the past

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50
Q

Cry wolf

A

Intentionally raise a false alarm

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51
Q

Cup of joe

A

A cup of coffee

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52
Q

Curiosity killed the cat

A

Being inquisitive you into dangerous situation

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53
Q

Cut to the chase

A

Live out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point

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54
Q

Dark horse

A

One who was previously unknown and is now prominent

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55
Q

Dead ringer

A

100% identical or duplicate

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56
Q

Devil’s advocate

A

Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in the particular side of argument

The one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in to another debater

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57
Q

Dog days of summer

A

The hottest days of summer season

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58
Q

Don’t count your chicken before they hatch

A

Don’t rely on it until you’re sure of it

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59
Q

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

A

When someone gives you a gift don’t be and grateful

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60
Q

Don’t pull all your eggs in one basket

A

Do not pull all your resources in one possibility

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61
Q

Doozy

A

Something outstanding

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62
Q

Down to the wire

A

Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds

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63
Q

Drink like a fish

A

To drink very heavily

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64
Q

Dry run

A

Rehearsal

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65
Q

Dropping like flies

A

A large number of people either falling ill or dying

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66
Q

Drive someone up the wall

A

To irritate or annoy very much

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67
Q

86

A

A certain item is no longer available/ to throw away

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68
Q

Very cloud has a silver lining

A

Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days

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69
Q

Excuse my french

A

Please forgive me for cussing

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70
Q

Everything but the kitchen sink

A

Almost everything and anything has been included

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71
Q

Finding your feet

A

To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing

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72
Q

Finger lickin’ good

A

A very tasty food or meal

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73
Q

Foam at the mouth

A

To be enrage and show it

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74
Q

French kiss

A

An open mouth kiss where tongue touches

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75
Q

From rugs to riches

A

From being very poor to being very wealthy

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76
Q

Full monty

A

The whole thing or completely nude

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77
Q

Fuddy dubby

A

An old fashioned and foolish type of person

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78
Q

Funny farm

A

A mental institutional facility

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79
Q

Get over it

A

To move beyond something that is bothering you

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80
Q

Get up on the wrong side of the bed

A

Someone who is having a horrible day

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81
Q

Get your walking papers

A

Get fired from a job

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82
Q

Give him the slip

A

To get away from or to escape

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83
Q

Go down like a lead balloon

A

To be received badly by an audience

84
Q

Go for broke

A

To gamble everything you have

85
Q

Go the extra mile

A

Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand

86
Q

Gut feeling

A

A personal intuition you get especially when feel something may not be right

87
Q

Haste make waste

A

Quickly doing things result in a poor ending

88
Q

He lost his head

A

Angry and overcome by emotions

89
Q

Head over heels

A

Very excited enjoyful especially when in love

90
Q

High five

A

Slapping palm over each other’s head as a celebration

91
Q

High on the hog

A

Living in luxury

92
Q

Hit the books

A

To study especially for an

93
Q

Hit the hay
Hit the sack

A

Go to bed or to sleep

94
Q

Hit the nail on the head

A

Do something exactly right or say something exactly right

95
Q

Hold your horses

A

Be patient

96
Q

I sing on the cake

A

When you already have it good and get something on the top of what you’re already have

97
Q

If it’s not one thing it’s another

A

When one thing goes wrong then another and another

98
Q

In like Flynn

A

To be easily successful especially when sexual or romantic

99
Q

In the bag

A

To have something secured

100
Q

In the buff

A

Nude

101
Q

In the head of the moment

A

Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment

102
Q

In your face

A

An aggressive and bold confrontation

103
Q

It takes two to tango

A

A two person conflict where both people are at fault

104
Q

It’s a small world

A

You frequently see the same people in different places

105
Q

Its anyone call

A

A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict

106
Q

Jaywalk

A

Crossing the street without using the crosswalk

107
Q

Joshing me

A

Tricking me

108
Q

Keep an eye on him

A

You should carefully watch him

109
Q

Keep your chin up

A

To remain joyful in a tough situation

110
Q

Kick the bucket

A

Die die

111
Q

Knee jerk reaction

A

A quick and automatic response

112
Q

Knock on wood

A

Knuckle topping on wood in order to avoid something bad luck

113
Q

Know the ropes

A

To understand the details

114
Q

Last but not the least

A

An introduction phrase to let audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him or her

115
Q

Lend me your ears

A

To politely ask for someone’s full attention

116
Q

Let bygones be bygones

A

To forgot about a disagreement or argument

117
Q

Let’s sleeping dogs lie

A

To avoid restarting a conflict

118
Q

Let the cut out of the bag

A

To share a secret that wasn’t supposed to be shared

119
Q

Level playing field

A

A fair competition where no side has an advantage

120
Q

Liquor someone up

A

To get someone drunk

121
Q

Long in the tooth

A

Old people or horses

122
Q

Loose canon

A

Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check

123
Q

Make no bones about

A

To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections

124
Q

Method to my madness

A

Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason

125
Q

Mambo jumbo

A

Nonsense or meaningless speech

126
Q

Mums the word

A

To keep quiet/ to say nothing

127
Q

Nest egg

A

Saving sets aside for future use

128
Q

Never bite the hand that feeds you

A

Don’t hurt anyone that helps you

129
Q

New kid on the block

A

Someone new in the group or area

130
Q

New york minute

A

Eminent that seems to go by quickly especially in a fast paced environment

131
Q

No dice

A

To not agree/ to not accept

132
Q

Not playing with a full deck

A

Someone who lacks intelligence

133
Q

Off on the wrong foot

A

Getting a bad start on a relationship or task

134
Q

Off the hook

A

No longer have to deal with a tough situation

135
Q

Off the record

A

Something said in confidence that when speaking doesn’t want attributed to him or her

136
Q

One pins and needles

A

Anxious or nervous especially in anticipation of something

137
Q

On the fence

A

Undecided

138
Q

On the same page

A

When multiple people all agree on the same thing

139
Q

Out of the blue

A

Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs

140
Q

Out on a limb

A

When someone puts self in a risky situation

141
Q

Out on the town

A

To enjoy yourself by going out

142
Q

Over my dead buddy

A

When you absolutely will not allow something to happen

143
Q

Over the top

A

Very excessive

144
Q

Pass the buck

A

Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else

145
Q

Pedal to the metal

A

To go full speed especially while driving a vehicle

146
Q

Peeping tom

A

Someone who observes people in the nude or sexual active people mainly for his own gratification

147
Q

Pick up your ears

A

To listen very carefully

148
Q

Pig in a poke

A

A deal that is made without first examining it

149
Q

Pig out

A

To eat a lot and eat it quickly

150
Q

Pipe down

A

To push up or be quiet

151
Q

Practice makes perfect

A

By constantly practicing you will become better

152
Q

Pull the plug

A

To stop something or to bring something to an end

153
Q

Pulling your leg

A

Tricking someone as a joke

154
Q

Put a suck in it

A

To tell noisy people or other group to be quiet

155
Q

Queer the pitch

A

Destroy a ruin a plan

156
Q

Raincheck

A

An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later

157
Q

Raining cats and dogs

A

I very loud enough your rain storm

158
Q

Rain fencing

A

Separated usual judgment to guarante protection especially project funds

159
Q

Rain and shine

A

Time to get out of bed and get ready for work or school

160
Q

Rule of thumb

A

A rough estimate

161
Q

Run out of steam

A

To be completely out of energy

162
Q

Saved by the bell

A

Save at the last possible moment

163
Q

Scott free

A

To escape and not have to pay

164
Q

Sick as the dog

A

To be very sick

165
Q

Sitting shotgun

A

Riding in the front passenger seat of the car

166
Q

Sixth sense

A

A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead

167
Q

Skid row

A

The random area of the city where the homeless and drug users live

168
Q

Smell a rat

A

To detect someone in the group of betraying the others

169
Q

Smell something fishy

A

Detecting something isn’t right and there might be a reason for it

170
Q

Son of a gun

A

A scamp

171
Q

Southpaw

A

Someone who is left handed

172
Q

Spitting image

A

The exact likeness or kind

173
Q

Start from scratch

A

To do it all over again from the beginning

174
Q

The ball in your court

A

It is your decision this time

175
Q

The best of both worlds

A

There are two choices and you have them both

176
Q

The bigger they are the harder they fall

A

While the bigger and stronger opponent might be a lot more difficult to beat when you do they suffer a much bigger loss

177
Q

The last straw

A

When one small burden after another creates and unbearable situation the last straw is the last small burden that one can take

178
Q

The whole 9 yards

A

Everything/ all of it

179
Q

Third times a charm

A

After no success the first two times the third try is a lock one

180
Q

Tie the knot

A

To get married

181
Q

Till the cow comes home

A

A long time

182
Q

To make a long story short

A

Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his audience from losing attention usually the story isn’t shortened

183
Q

To steal someone’s thunder

A

To take the credit for something someone else did

184
Q

Tongue and cheek

A

Humor not to be taken serious

185
Q

Turn a blind eye

A

Refused acknowledge is something you know is real or legit

186
Q

23 skidoo

A

To be turned away

187
Q

Under the weather

A

Feeling ill or sick

188
Q

Up a blind alley

A

Going down a course of action that leads to a bed outcome

189
Q

Use your loaf

A

Use your head/ think smart

190
Q

Van Gogh’s ear for music

A

Tone deaf

191
Q

Variety is the spice of life

A

The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be

192
Q

Wag the dog

A

Other version away from something of greater importance

193
Q

Water under the bridge

A

Anything from the past that isn’t significant or important anymore

194
Q

Where your heart on your sleeve

A

To openly and freely express your emotions

195
Q

When it rains it pours

A

Since it really rains when it does it will be a huge storm

196
Q

When pigs fly

A

Something that will never ever happen

197
Q

Wild and woolly

A

Uncultured and without laws

198
Q

Wine and dine

A

When somebody is treated to an expensive meal

199
Q

Without a doubt

A

For certain

200
Q

X marks the spot

A

The phrase that is said when someone finds something he or she has been looking for

201
Q

You are what you eat

A

In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods

202
Q

You can’t judge a book by its cover

A

Decisions should be made primarily on appearance

203
Q

You can’t take it wirth you

A

Enjoy what you have and not what you don’t have since when you die you can take things with you

204
Q

Your guest is as good as mine

A

I have no idea

205
Q

Zero tolerance

A

No crime or law breaking

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