Idioms Flashcards
A pig in a poke
An item you purchase without having seen; a disappointment.
ex: The mall order bicycle that my nephew bought turned out to be a pig in a poke, and he is now trying to get his money back.
To eat humble pie
To admit your error and apologize.
ex: After his candidate had lost the election, the boastful campaign manager had to eat humble pie.
A flash in the pan
Promising at the start and but then disappointing.
ex: The rookie hit many home runs in spring training, but once the season began he proved to be a flash in the pan.
To pour oil on troubled waters
To make peace, to calm someone down.
ex: When i tried to pour oil on troubled waters, both the angry husband and his wife stopped their quarrel and began to attack me.
The sword of Democles
Any imminent(about to happen) danger
ex: Although the president of the company seemed quite secure, he always complained that there was a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
Pyrrhic victory
Too costly victory
ex: In heavy fighting the troops managed to recapture the hill, but it could only be considered a Pyrrhic victory.
A wet blanket
One who spoils fun
ex: Everyone wanted the party to go on, but Ronnie, the wet blanket, decided to go home to bed.
To beard the lion in his den
To visit and oppose a person in his own grounds.
ex: Having decided to beard the lion, I stormed into the manager’s office to ask for a raise.
Crocodile tears
Insincere tears
(Crocodiles were said to cry while eating their prey)
ex: when the football player broke his leg, his substitute wept crocodile tears.
To carry the day
To win the approval of the majority.
ex: The secretary’s motion that we adjourn for lunch carried the day, and we headed for the restaurant.
Skid row
Disreputable part of town, inhabited by derelicts and people ‘on the skid’.
ex: The presence of so many bars has turned our neighborhood into another Skid Row.
To go up in smoke
To come to no practical result (kindling smokes but it will not light a fire)
ex: The mayor’s plans to get the gubernatorial nomination went up in smoke when he couldn’t end the costly strike.
To throw down the gauntlet
To challenge someone (when the gauntlet, or medieval glove, was thrown down, the challenged one was required to pick it up)
ex: The principal of our rival school threw down the gauntlet and we had no choice but to accept the challenge.
Feeling no pain
Drunk
ex: Although the party had just begun, after his first drink he was feeling no pain.
Hobson’s choice
To have no choice at all (Mr. Hobson owned a livery stable but he did not allow the customers to pick their own horses)
ex: Despite all the talk about democracy in my family, my father usually gives the rest of us Hobson’s choice.
