Idioms Flashcards
1
Q
a bear with a sore head
A
irritated/bad mood
2
Q
a bit of a dark horse
A
person with hidden abilities
3
Q
a bitter pill to swallow
A
a difficult fact to accept
4
Q
a different kettle of fish
A
a totally different sitation from the one just mentioned
5
Q
a dog’s life
A
a difficult, hard life
6
Q
a fish out of water
A
sb who feels uncomfortable
7
Q
a long shot
A
a wild guess/ a risk
8
Q
a memory like a sieve
A
a poor memory
9
Q
a night owl
A
person who enjoys staying up late
10
Q
a pain in the neck
A
annoying person/thing
11
Q
a piece of cake
A
sth very easy to do
12
Q
a red rag to a bull
A
action, comment, etc. liable to provoke sb
13
Q
a red-letter day
A
a very important day
14
Q
a sitting duck
A
an easy target
15
Q
a storm in a teacup
A
a lot of fuss about sth that is not important
16
Q
a wild-goose chase
A
a hopeless search
17
Q
above board
A
honest
18
Q
Achilles heel
A
weakest point of sb’s character
19
Q
against all odds
A
despite the difficulties
20
Q
agree to disagree
A
stop arguing because there is no chance of agreement
21
Q
all along
A
from the beginning until now
22
Q
all but
A
nearly almost
23
Q
all in
A
exhausted
24
Q
all in all
A
when everything is considered
25
all the same
yet, however
26
all told
altogether
27
an old wives' tale
false belief
28
an unknown quantity
person or thing that one has no experience of
29
as a last resort
when all else has failed
30
as the crow flies
in a direct line/ by a direct route
31
at close quarters
from a short distance
32
at large
free, not caught
33
at the cutting edge
at the forefront of
34
bark up the wrong tree
have a false idea about sth
35
be ahead of one's time
have modern ideas
36
be all at sea
be in a state of confusion
37
be all fingers and thumbs
be awkward, clumsy
38
be all very well
appear satisfactory but in fact not be
39
be as busy as a bee
very busy
40
be as thick as a brick
be stupid
41
be beside oneself with anger
to be extremely angry
42
be born yesterday
be easily deceived/ naive
43
be broke
have no/very little money
44
be caught red-handed
be caught while committing a crime
45
be dying for sth
really want sth
46
be fit for
be good enough for
47
be for the high jump
about to be punished
48
be full of beans
be very lively
49
be green
be inexperienced
50
be in a quandary
be confused
51
be in sb's black books
out of favour
52
be in sb's shoes
be in sb's position
53
be in the dark about sth
be unaware of sth
54
be in the doghouse
be out of favour, in trouble
55
be in the know
be well-informed
56
be in the same boat
be in the same (usually bad) situation
57
be in two minds about sth
not be able to decide what to do
58
be on the cards
be likely to happen
59
be on the defensive
protect oneself because one feels insecure or threatened
60
be on the up and up
improve steadily
61
be out of practice
lacking practice
62
be over the moon
be elated
63
be second to none
be the best
64
be sound asleep
sleep deeply
65
be the apple of sb's eye
be very precious to sb
66
be the perfect image of sb
look exactly like sb
67
be the splitting image of sb
look exactly like sb
68
be thrown off balance
be surprised
69
be tickled pink
be really pleased
70
be up and about
have recovered from an illness
71
be up in arms
be very angry
72
be worn out
be very tired
73
be/get soaked to the skin
be/get very wet
74
be/have a close shave
barely avoid an accident/ a bad situation
75
bear fruit
be successful
76
beat about/around the bush
avoid saying what one means directly
77
beat sb black and blue
hit sb repeatedly until bruised
78
before one can say Jack Robinson
extremely quickly
79
beg the question
makes people want to ask a particular question
80
behind bars
in prison
81
behind the scenes
in secret
82
below the belt
cruel and unfair
83
bide one's time
wait for a good opportunity
84
big cheese
person with important job/position
85
big-headed
conceited
86
bite off more than sb can chew
try to do sth which is too difficult
87
black and blue all over
covered with bruises
88
black tie
formal clothing
89
blaze a trail
discover sth new
90
blessing in disguise
sth which appears bad at first but then turns out favourably
91
blow a fuse
become very angry
92
blue-eyed boy
a favoured person
93
bolt from the blue
suddenly
94
brainwave
sudden clear idea/thought
95
break even
show neither loss nor profit
96
break the ice
ease the tensione when one first meets people
97
bring sth home to sb
make sb understand how important or serious sth is
98
bring to one's knees
destroy, humble
99
browned off
fed up
100
bury one's head in the sand
avoid or ignore reality/responsibility
101
butter sb up
flatter sb
102
by and large
generally speaking
103
by definition
having a quality simply because of what it is
104
by force of habit
used to doing sth without thinking
105
by trial and error
learning from one's mistakes
106
call it quits
give up/stop
107
call sb names
insult sb
108
cast aspersions
criticise
109
catch sb red-handed
be caught while committing a crime
110
chair a meeting
preside over a meeting
111
chip off the old block
sb who is very like one of his parents
112
chop and change
keep changing (your mind)
113
claim to fame
thing which makes sb unusual
114
clear the air
remove suspicion/bad feeling
115
come clean
admit the truth
116
come out of one's shell
gain personal confidence
117
come to a head
reach a critical point
118
come to a standstill
not progress/stop
119
come to terms with
accept a difficult situation
120
come to the fore
become important or popular
121
come to the point
reach the main point in a discussion
122
cook one's goose
end one's plans abruptly
123
cost a bomb
very expensive
124
cost an arm and a leg
be very expensive
125
cramp one's style
restrict one's behaviour in some way
126
crocodile tears
false tears
127
cross one's mind
think of sth
128
cry over spilt milk
grieve over sth that can't be put right
129
cut corners
be less thorough
130
cut sb dead
ignore sb
131
cut sb to the quick
deeply hurt sb's feelings
132
cut to the bone
reduced to the minimum
133
deal a blow to
damage one's hopes
134
different as chalk and cheese
totally different
135
does it show?
is it obvious?
136
dog eat dog
ruthless competition, rivalry
137
dog-eared
(of books) with the corners bent and turned down through use
138
don't give up your day job
continue to do sth you know rather than trying sth new
139
don't hold your breath
don't wait for sb/sth anxiously
140
donkey work
boring, monotonous work
141
donkey's years
a long time
142
down in the dumps
depressed/miserable
143
down the drain
wasted
144
drive a hard bargain
be a tough businessman
145
drive sb up the wall
make sb angry/annoy sb
146
drop a brick
say sth tactlessly
147
drop sb a line
send sb a letter
148
ease off
reduce in degree, speed or intensity
149
eat one's heart out
feel jealous/ sad about sth
150
every nook and cranny
everywhere
151
face the music
be criticised or punished for sth you have done
152
fair and square
within the rules
153
fall head over heels
fall in love quickly
154
fall into place
become clear
155
feel down in the mouth
feel discouraged/depressed
156
feel in one's bones
feeling sth instinctively
157
feel one's ears burning
have a feeling that sb is talking about you
158
few and far between
scarce/rare
159
fight like cat and dog
disagree violently
160
fine kettle of fish
confused state of affairs
161
flat broke
penniless
162
flog a dead horse
waste time doing sth useless
163
fly off the handle
quickly become very angry
164
fly on the wall
see/hear sth in a situation which does not involve you
165
for all
in spite of
166
for all I care
I don't care
167
for all I know
as far as I know
168
for donkey's years
for a very long time
169
for the time being
temporarily
170
frosty welcome
unfriendly reception
171
gatecrasher
sb attending a party without an invitation
172
get a bit hot under the collar
get angry, upset or embarassed
173
get a move on
hurry up
174
get a problem off one's chest
tell sb else about your problem
175
get cold feet
lose courage to do sth
176
get cold feet
be nervous or frightened because sth might fail
177
get nowhere fast
make no progress
178
get off on the wrong foot
argue or disagree at the beginning of a relationship
179
get on one's nerves
irritate/annoy sb
180
get out of bed on the wrong side
be in a bad mood
181
get out of hand
become out of control
182
get rid of sth
give sth unwanted away
183
get the hang of it
get in the habit of doing sth
184
get the sack
be dismissed from one's job
185
get the wrong end of the stick
misunderstand completely what has been said
186
get wind of
receive information about sth indirectly
187
get your own back
take/get revenge
188
give and take
compromise
189
give chapter and verse
give every exact detail
190
give sb the cold shoulder
ignore sb
191
give sb the slip
escape from sb
192
give the green light to sth
give permission to proceed with sth
193
give vent to
express sth freely
194
give way to
give in/yield
195
go back on one's word
not fulfil a promise
196
go by the board
be rejected
197
go for a song
be sold very cheaply
198
go to any lengths
do anything necessary to get sth you want
199
go to one's head
make conceited
200
go to the dogs
worsen
201
go without saying
be a foregone conclusion
202
golden opportunity
the best chance to gain sth
203
grease sb's palm
bribe sb
204
green belt
the area on the outskirts of a town adjoining the country
205
green with envy
very jealous
206
grey matter
brains
207
grow out of sth
become too big for sth
208
hand in glove with sb
be in very close contact with sb
209
have a bee in one's bonnet
have an obsession about sth
210
have a frog in one's throat
inability to speak due to nervousness
211
have a job to do sth
find sth difficult to do
212
have a sharp tongue
tend to say unkind or hurtful things
213
have a yellow streak
be a coward
214
have an early night
go to bed early
215
have an eye for
be a good judge of sth
216
have an eye for
be good at judging the worth of sth
217
have at one's fingertips
have easily available
218
have butterflies in one's stomach
be very nervous about sth
219
have kittens
be nervous/anxious about sth
220
have many irons in the fire
have lots of plans in progress at the same time
221
have no fixed abode
be homeless
222
have no option but
must
223
have one's heart in one's mouth
be extremely anxious about sth
224
have sb's hands full
be very busy with sth
225
have the cheek
dare to do sth
226
have the gift of the gab
be able to talk well
227
have time on one's hands
have free time
228
have words with sb
have an argument
229
hear it through the grapevine
find out information indirectly
230
hit the nail on the head
say exactly the right thing
231
hit the roof
get very angry
232
hit the sack
go to bed
233
hold one's horses
wait
234
ill at ease
embarassed
235
in a flash
very quickly
236
in a nutshell
briefly
237
in a rut
be stuck in a monotonous routine
238
in a tick
shortly, soon
239
in abeyance
halted temporarily
240
in arrears
have not paid the money they owe
241
in black and white
in writing
242
in broad daylight
in full view of the public
243
in clover
living a luxurious and comfortable life
244
in deep water
in trouble/difficulty
245
in full flow
talking at length
246
in public
in the presence of other people
247
in the abstract
in a general way
248
in the act of
while performing the act
249
in the air
uncertain
250
in the balance
uncertain
251
in the black
not owing anybody any money
252
in the flesh
in person
253
in the long run
after a long period of time
254
in the nick of time
just in time
255
in the offing
likely to happen
256
in the red
owe money to a bank
257
it stands to reason
it is logical
258
it's all Greek to me
sth new or foreign
259
jack of all trades
sb who is able to do a variety of jobs
260
keep a straight face
manage to look serious under difficult circumstances
261
keep an eye on sth
guard/protect sth
262
keep in check
control
263
keep one's chin up
not be discouraged
264
keep one's fingers crossed
hope that sth will turn out well
265
keep one's wits about one
be alert and able to deal with difficulties
266
keep oneself to oneself
live quietly, privately
267
keep sth quiet
keep sth secret
268
keep sth under one's hat
keep sth secret
269
keep up with the Joneses
compete with others in status/material goods
270
kick the bucket
die
271
kill time
pass time while waiting for sb/sth
272
kill two birds with one stone
achieve two things with one action
273
know the ropes
know all the details of sth
274
lay bare
make public
275
lay the table
set the table for a meal
276
lend an ear
listen to sb in a careful and sympathetic way
277
lend sb a hand
give help to sb
278
let sleeping dogs lie
avoid mentioning a subject which could cause trouble
279
let the cat out of the bag
reveal a secret
280
like a bull in a china shop
behave ina clumsy/ awkward way
281
like the back of one's hand
be very familiar with sth
282
like water off a duck's back
having no effect
283
live out of a suitcase
travel often/not have a permanent home
284
look at sth though rose-coloured spectacles
see sth from an unrealistically positive point of view
285
look down one's nose at sb
feel/act superior to sb
286
lose heart
become discouraged
287
lose one's head
lose self-control
288
lose one's nerve
lose courage
289
lost cause
hopeless situation or case
290
make a clean breast of
confess
291
make a dog's dinner
make a mess of sth
292
make a flying visit
make a quick trip
293
make a fool of oneself
make oneself look stupid
294
make a killing
have a sudden, great success
295
make a living
earn money
296
make a mountain out of a molehill
cause a fuss about a trivial matter
297
make a name for oneself
become famous/respected for sth
298
make allowances for
take special circumstances into consideration
299
make amends for
try to compensate for a past action
300
make common cause with sb
act together to achieve aim
301
make hay while the sun shines
take advantage of favourable circumstances
302
make head nor tail of
understand sth
303
make light of
treat sth as unimportant
304
make money hand over fist
make a lot of money quickly and easily
305
make one's blood boil
cause sb to become very angry
306
make one's getaway
escape
307
make quite a scene
become angry in a dramatic way
308
make sb's day
make sb very happy
309
make waves
cause trouble
310
meet behind closed doors
meet secretly
311
moon around
look miserable
312
more to sb than meets the eye
sb is more important or interesting than is first seen
313
mutton dressed as a lamb
dress in a style younger than or inappropriate to your age
314
no room to swing a cat
no room at all
315
no wonder
not surprising
316
not all it's cracked up to be
not as good as people say it is
317
not be one's cup of tea
not suit one's taste
318
not count one's chickens before they're hatched
not assume sth before it happens
319
not have it both ways
refuse to make a decision between two pleasant things
320
not have the foggiest idea
not know sth at all
321
not hold water
not seem reasonable or in accordance with the facts
322
not lose any sleep over sth
not worry about sth
323
null and void
invalid
324
of all people
used to express annoyance/surprise
325
of its own accord
automatically
326
of no consequence
of no value
327
off colour
look/be slightly unwell
328
off the cuff
without preparation
329
off the point
irrelevant
330
off the record
unofficial(ly)
331
on a shoe string
on a very small budget
332
on account of
because of
333
on edge
tense/nervous/ anxious
334
on no account
under/in no circumstances
335
on second thoughts
having changed one's mind
336
on the air
broadcasting
337
on the alert
watchful and prepared
338
on the ball
alert
339
on the blink
stop working properly (of electrical equipment)
340
on the dole
receiving unemployment benefit/social security
341
on the dot
punctual, exact on time
342
on the face of it
judging by how sth appears
343
on the level
honest/sincere
344
on the quiet
secretly
345
on the spur of the moment
without thinking about sth
346
on this/that account
for this/that reason
347
once and for all
for the last time
348
once in a blue moon
very rarely
349
one's flesh and blood
family member
350
open to debate
not decided/settled
351
out and about
outdoors
352
out in the open
(of secrets) revealed,, known
353
out of bounds
prohibited, forbidden (place)
354
out of print
(of books) not available anymore
355
out of the blue
suddenly and unexpectedly
356
out of the frying pan into the fire
from a situation to a worse/similar one
357
out of the question
impossible
358
out of turn
not in the correct order/time
359
out-and-out
complete, total
360
paint the town red
have a great time
361
part and parcel of
basic part of
362
part company with
end association
363
pay sb's way
contribute your shares of a bill
364
pick someone's brains
ask sb to help with a problem
365
pitch black
very dark
366
play cat and mouse with sb
keep sb in a state of uncertain expectation treating them alternatively cruelly and kindly
367
play it by ear
act in a situation by responding to events rather than according to plan
368
play one's cards right
act cleverly
369
play truant
stay away from school without permission
370
plenty more fish in the sea
many more opportunities in life for love
371
point the finger of suspicion
blame sb for sth
372
pop the question
make a proposal of marriage
373
pull a few strings
use influential contacts in order to obtain an advantage
374
pull one's leg
tease or trick sb
375
pull one's socks up
make a greater effort
376
put a damper on
ruin sth or make it less enjoyable
377
put down roots
settle down
378
put on a brave face
try to hide one's disappointment
379
put one's foot down
insist on sth
380
put one's foot in it
make a tactless comment
381
put one's heart and soul into sth
be devoted to sth
382
put sb's name forward
nominate sb
383
put the cat among the pigeons
cause trouble/controversy
384
put two and two together
arrive at the truth by looking at facts
385
put words into one's mouth
pretend that sb has said sth that they haven't actually said
386
rack sb's brains
think very hard about sth
387
rain cats and dogs
rain heavily
388
red herring
sth which distracts you from sth important
389
red tape
unnecessary bureaucracy
390
ring a bell
remind sb of sth
391
rise to the challenge
act and be successful even though sth is new
392
see eye to eye with sb
agree with sb
393
see fit
think suitable or right
394
see red
suddenly become very angry
395
see the back of
be glad to see sb leave
396
set in one's ways
fixed in one's habits
397
shed light upon
give new/further information
398
short and sweet
brief but pleasant (usually ironic)
399
show one's true colours
reveal one's real character
400
sleep like a dog
be sound asleep
401
sleep on it
think about sth
402
slip one's mind
forget about sth
403
slow on the uptake
slow to understand
404
smell a rat
suspect that sth is wrong
405
sour grapes
say unpleasant comments because of jealousy
406
speak volumes
be strong evidence of sb's feelings or merits
407
spill the beans
reveal a secret/the facts
408
stand in sb's way
prevent sb from doing sth
409
status symbol
property/possession that shows sb's high social rank wealth etc.
410
stay clear of
avoid sb/sth
411
stew in one's own juice
suffer the consequences of one's own action
412
sth comes in handy
be very useful/practical
413
straight from the horse's mouth
from the most direct source
414
strike a chord
make sb feel sympathy
415
strike gold
come across sth useful
416
sweet tooth
enjoy eating sweet things
417
swim like a fish
swim very well
418
take it easy
not work too hard/relax
419
take one's time
not to hurry
420
take sb for granted
not appreciate sb
421
take sth into account
consider sth
422
take sth on the chin
bravely accept criticism
423
take sth to heart
take personally/be influenced by
424
take sth with a pinch of salt
not believe sth completely
425
take the bull by the horns
deal with sth boldly and directly
426
take things to pieces
dismantle things
427
take to one's heels
run away
428
talk the hind legs off a donkey
talk for a long time, uninterrupted
429
the black sheep of the family
a disgraced family member
430
the ins and outs
the details of an activity
431
the last straw
the last and worst episode in a chain of bad experiences
432
the life and soul of sth
the most lively and amusing person present somewhere
433
the lion's share
the biggest part/portion
434
the pot calling the kettle black
accusing sb of a fault one has oneself
435
the rat race
the competitive nature of modern urban life
436
the tip of the iceberg
small evident part of a much larger, concealed situation
437
the year dot
a long time ago
438
thick-skinned
insensitive
439
through thick and thin
whatever happens
440
throw a party
have/hold a party
441
to no effect
unsuccessful
442
tongue in cheek
not serious, ironic
443
tooth and nail
fiercely
444
touch and go
with uncertain result
445
turn a blind eye to sth
ignore
446
turn over a new leaf
make a new start
447
under the weather
depressed/unwell
448
until one is blue in the face
as hard/long as one possibly can
449
until the cows come home
for a long time
450
up and coming
likely to be successful
451
up in the air
existing, but not talked about
452
ups and downs
good things with bad ones
453
wash sb's hands of sb
refuse to be involved with sb
454
wet behind the ears
inexperienced
455
wet blanket
dull person who spoils people's happiness
456
whet sb's appetite
make sb eager to have/experience more
457
white elephant
useless/unwanted possession
458
white-collar job
office/clerical work
459
with a view to doing sth
with the intention or hope of doing sth
460
with flying colours
with great success
461
without fail
do sth no matter what
462
work a miracle
make sth almost impossible happen
463
work to rule
adhere strictly to the rules as a form of protest
