Idioms Flashcards
It’s all Greek to me
not understanding anything
Let’s go Dutch
let’s spilt bill 50-50: I insist let’s go Dutch
Pardon my French
sorry my bad language
take french leave
to leave without asking permission, saying goodbye, or giving notice. For example, you might take French leave from work to attend a concert.
saying goodbye: so it was that I took French leave of my comrades
Russian roulette
to take risk: and then he started playing a little russian roulette with his revolver
hold your horses
be patient: Hold your horses, I’ll be there
Pig out
Eat a lot: I pigged out on donuts so I can’t have my dinner
At a snail’s pace
Moving very slowly: why are you completing your work at a snail pace ? Hurry up!
Watch like a hawk
watch very closely: My boss watches me like a hawk
Bull in a china shop
Very clumsy: He was like bull in a china shope, he dropped all the cupcakes that i spent all night baking!
cost an arm and a leg
To be too expansive: I wanted to purchase that outfit, but it cost an arm and a leg
let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret by mistake: I let the cat of the bag about his crush on her. Oops!
Hit the nail on the head
to be exactly right about something: you hit the nail on the head when you said he wouldn’t last at this job
a piece of cake
something that is very east to do!: that assignment is a piece of cake
break a leg
whishing someone for good luck: “Remember, the show must go on! Good luck and break a leg!”
Sprout wings
To suddenly behave in an obedient, respectful, or congenial manner or To die and become an angel: “I’m not ready to sprout wings yet. I’ve got a few more years”.
Break the ice
to initiate or start the interaction or conversation: Let’s break the ice and start a conversation! It’s never too late to connect.
Under the weather
Feeling sick or unwell: she is not herself today, must be under the weather, I won’t be able to come to the party, I’m feeling bit under the weather
Bite the bullet
To face an unplesant or difficult situation bravely: I have to bite the bullet and ask my boss for raise, You’ll be fine at dentist just bite the bullet.
Take it with a grain of salt
not completely believe on it
Go the extra mile
do more than what is expected: To win, you need to go the extra mile in trainning.
Get your ducks in a row
Organize things well; prepare thoroughly: I’ll get my ducks in a row
Elbow grease
Hard physical effort: you can’t solve this problem without a little elbow grease
Smell a rat
Suspect dishonesty or fraud: I smell a rat
When the dust settles
When the smoke clears, When things settle down, After the chaos subsides: let’s wait to make any decisions until the dust settles on this news.
Beat a dead horse
waste effort on hopeless and unchangeable things, or continue discussing a matter that has already been concluded or resolved: “Not to beat a dead horse, but just to confirm, have we looked into all the marketing risks”, “ She’s is beating a dead horse trying to change his mind”
Swing for the fences
Go for maximum achievement: “He’s swinging for the fences with his new startup idea.”
“They offered me a basic package, but I swung for the fences and negotiated for more benefits.”
Friend: “Are you just going to invest a little?” - “Nope, I’m swinging for the fences!”
A watched pot never boils
waiting makes time longer: “stop staring at the clock for break time, a watched pot never boils”
close but not cigar
Nice try, but not quite, Almost’ doesn’t count, Nearly made it: after hours of negotiation, they nearly agreed on all the terms, but on the final point, it was close but no cigar.
Go down in flames
To fail, end or be destroyed in a dramatic or notable way: Without proper planning, their business venture went down in flames within a year.”
“After the undercover operation was accidentally leaked to the press, the years of investigation went down in flames.
Ham Fisted
clumsy, especially in the way that they use their hands: They can all be made in minutes by even the most ham-fisted of cooks, “a ham-fisted attempt”
ballpark figure
a rough estimate or approximation of the value of something that is otherwise unknown: let me know the ball park figure of the property
“there’s more than one way to skin a cat”
there are multiple ways to accomplish a task: We can get around that by renting instead of buying a computer—there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
“To be all thumbs”
To be clumsy or awkward in handling things: “I’m all thumbs when it comes to wrapping gifts.” “Hey, you’ve dropped your coffee mug again!” — “I don’t know, I’m all thumbs today…”
off the beaten path
away from usual rout, or uncommon ways of doing things: their experimental approach in science is extremely off the beaten path, I have unique idea because I think off the beaten path
Fly off the handle
to became very angry suddenly and easily: Well I am trying to make you understand on things and you here flying of the handle, Before you all fly off the handle…
Under your belt
something you have achieved or experienced: he has decade experience of teaching under his belt
skeletons in closet
hidden secrets or shameful past acts: I think your boyfriend has some skeletons in his closet that he is not telling you about
“The elephant in the room”
a major issue or problem that is obvious but is not being discussed: Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings, It was the elephant in the room they simply chose to ignore.
“Get cold feet”
Out of danger or difficulty: “She was excited about the speech giving, but got cold feet at the last minute.” “that’s the cold feet effect”.
“Keeping the wolves at bay”
prevent or delay a disaster: I ‘ll pay you the rent for two months in advance. I am sure that will help to keep the wolves at bay.
Don’t/ you can’t kid a kidder
I think it means you can’t fool “the kid” or “person” because they already know the tricks.
So if someone was trying to con a con man, the con man would say you can’t kid a kidder.
you seem a little on edge
you are feeling nervous, anxious, or uncomfortable and uncertain
Uptight
Feeling stressed, anxious: “Honey! Why are you so uptight?
You are so uptight, you need to do number 7!
Right as rain
Feeling perfectly fine in great condition: if you do what is necessary, you’ll feel right as rain
Loose lips sink ships
Careless talking or sharing secrets
Second to none
The best, nothing is better: In cooking, you’re second to none.
You know hook is second to none.
Wake up and smell the coffee
Realise what is really going on. And when you’re gonna wake up and smell the coffee.
Willy- Nilly
Doing something in careless or messy way without planning.
You can’t play with people willy- nilly.
Do you just punch on people face willy nilly.
Easy does it.
Take it slowly.
That’s given
It’s obvious so we don’t need to talk about it: you’re weird guy clark and that’s given.
Here goes nothing
Trying something risky or new, unsure about it.
Like clockwork
Smoothly, as planned, without any delays: every morning i shit like clockwork
Head in clouds
Being daydreaming or disconnected from reality: Get your head out of the clouds
Steal Someone’s Thunder
To take credit for someone else’s idea or achievement: She don’t want to stel your thunder, she just has better idea than yours
A Flash In the Pan
Something that seems promising or exciting but turns out to be disappointing or unsuccessful; His performance was completely flash in the pan. Those tumblers are trendy flash in the pan.
Speak volumes
o convey a great deal of information without saying much: Well her treary eyes speaks volume, A man’s attire speaks volume about his mental health.
In the loop
Informed about a particular matter: You’re already in the loop, keep me in the loop.
Jump Through Hoops
To go through a lot of effort or face many challenges to achieve a goal: whole life was about jumping through the hoops.
Just What the Doctor Ordered
Exactly what is needed or perfect for the situation: Your presence is just what the doctor ordered for me. That cozy blanket you got me was just what the doctor ordered for these chilly nights.
