Idioms 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 everything.
2
Q
A blessing in disguise.
A
Something good that isn’t recognised at first.
3
Q
A chip on your shoulder.
A
Being upset for something that happened in the past.
4
Q
A dime a dozen.
A
Anything that is common and easy to get.
5
Q
A doubting Thomas.
A
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.
6
Q
A drop in the bucket.
A
A very small part of something big or whole.
7
Q
A fool and his money are easily parted.
A
It’s easy for a foolish person to lose his / her money.
8
Q
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
A
Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
9
Q
A leopard can’t change his spots.
A
You cannot change who you are.
10
Q
A penny saved is a penny earned.
A
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).
11
Q
A picture paints a thousand words.
A
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
12
Q
A piece of cake.
A
A task that can be accomplished very easily.
13
Q
A slap on the wrist.
A
A very mild punishment.
14
Q
A taste of your own medicine.
A
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
15
Q
A toss-up.
A
A result that is still unclear and can go either way.
16
Q
Actions speak louder than words.
A
It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it.
17
Q
Add fuel to the fire.
A
Whenever something is don to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
18
Q
Against the clock.
A
Rushed and short on time.
19
Q
All bark and no bite.
A
When someone is threatening and / or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.
20
Q
All greek to me.
A
Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language would be.
21
Q
All in the same boat.
A
When everyone is facing the same challenges.
22
Q
An arm and a leg.
A
Very expensive. A large amount of money.
23
Q
An axe to grind.
A
To have a dispute with someone.
24
Q
Apple of my eye.
A
Someone who is cherished above all others.
25
As high as a kite.
Anything that is high up in the sky.
26
At the drop of a hat.
Willing to do something immediately.
27
Back seat driver.
People who criticise from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
28
Back to square one.
Having to start all over again.
29
Back to the drawing board.
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
30
Baker's dozen.
Thirteen.
31
Barking up the wrong tree.
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.
32
Beat a dead horse.
To force an issue that has already ended.
33
Beating around the bush.
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
34
Bend over backwards.
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
35
Between a rock and a hard place.
Stuck between two very bad options.
36
Bite of more than you can chew.
To take on a task that is way to big.
37
Bite your tongue.
To avoid talking.
38
Blood is thicker than water.
The family bond is closer than anything else.
39
Blue moon.
A rare event or occurence.
40
Break a leg.
A superstitious way to say "good luck" without saying "good luck", but rather the opposite.
41
Buy a lemon.
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.
42
Can't cut the mustard.
Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.
43
Cast iron stomach.
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.
44
Charley Horse.
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.
45
Chew someone out.
Verbally scold someone.
46
Chip on his shoulder.
Angry today about something that occurred in the past.
47
Chow down.
To eat.
48
Close but no cigar.
To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.
49
Cock and bull story.
An unbelievable tale.
50
Come hell or high water.
Any difficult situation or obstacle.
51
Crack someone up.
To make someone laugh.
52
Cross your fingers.
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.
53
Cry over spilt milk.
When you complain about a loss from the past.
54
Cry wolf.
Intentionally raise a false alarm.
55
Cup of Joe.
A cup of coffee.
56
Curiosity killed the cat.
Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
57
Cut to the chase.
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
58
Dark horse.
One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
59
Dead ringer.
100% identical. A duplicate.
60
Devil's advocate.
Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the argument. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to another debate.
61
Dog days of summer.
The hottest days of the summer season.
62
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Don't rely on it until your sure of it.
63
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
When someone gives you a gift, don't be ungrateful.
64
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
65
Doozy.
Something outstanding.
66
Down to the wire.
Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.
67
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.
68
Drink like a fish.
To drink very heavily.
69
Drive someone up the wall.
To irritate and / or annoy very much.
70
Dropping like flies.
A large number of people either falling ill or dying.
71
Dry run.
Rehearsal.
72
Eighty six.
A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.
73
Elvis has left the building.
The show has come to an end. It's all over.
74
Ethnic cleansing.
Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.
75
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
76
Everything but the kitchen sink.
Almost everything and anything has been included.
77
Excuse my French.
Please forgive me for cussing.
78
Feeding frenzy.
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
79
Field day.
An enjoyable day or circumstance.
80
Finding your feet.
To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
81
Finger lickin' good.
A very tasty food or meal.
82
Fixed in your ways.
Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
83
Flash in the pan.
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
84
Flea market.
A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.
85
Flesh and Blood.
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family.
86
Flip the bird.
To raise your middle finger at someone.
87
Foam at the mouth.
To be enraged and show it.
88
Fool's gold.
Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.
89
French kiss.
An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
90
From rags to riches.
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
91
Fuddy-duddy.
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
92
Full monty.
This idiom can mean either, "the whole thing" or "completely nude".
93
Funny farm.
A mental institutional facility.
94
Get down to brass tacks.
To become serious about something.
95
Get over it.
To move beyond something that is bothering you.
96
Get up on the wrong side of the bed.
Someone who is having a horrible day.
97
Get your walking papers.
Get fired from a job.
98
Give him the slip.
To get away from. To escape.
99
Go down like a lead balloon.
To be received badly by an audience.
100
Go for broke.
To gamble everything you have.
101
Go out on a limb.
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone / something.
102
Go the extra mile.
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
103
Good Samaritan.
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.
104
Graveyard shift.
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
105
Great minds think alike.
Intelligent people think like each other.
106
Green room.
The waiting room, especially when feel something may not be right.
107
Haste makes waste.
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
108
Hat trick.
When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.
109
Have an axe to grind.
To have a dispute with someone.
110
He lost his head.
Angry and overcome by emotions.
111
Head over heels.
Very excited and / or joyful, especially when in love.
112
Hell in a handbasket.
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
113
High five.
Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
114
High on the hog.
Living in luxury.
115
Hit the books.
To study, especially for a test or exam.
116
Hit the hay.
Go to bed or go to sleep.
117
Hit the nail on the head.
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.
118
Hit the sack.
Go to bed or go to sleep.
119
Hocus pocus.
In general, a term used in magic or trickery.
120
Hold your horses.
Be patient.
121
Icing on the cake.
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
122
Idle hands are the devil's tools.
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
123
If it's not one thing, it's another.
When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...
124
In like Flynn.
To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.
125
In the bag.
To have something secured.
126
In the buff.
Nude.
127
In the heat of the moment.
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
128
In your face.
An aggressive and bold confrontation.
129
It takes two to tango.
A two person conflict where both people are at fault.
130
It's a small world.
You frequently see the same people in different places.
131
Its anyone's call.
A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.
132
Ivy League.
Since 1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Harvard.
133
Jaywalk.
Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.
134
Joshing me.
Tricking me.
135
Keep an eye on him.
You should carefully watch him.
136
Keep body and soul together.
To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.
137
Keep your chin up.
To remain joyful in a tough situation.
138
Kick the bucket.
Die.
139
Kitty-corner.
Diagonally across. Sometimes called catty-corner as well.
140
Knee jerk reaction.
A quick and automatic response.
141
Knock on wood.
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
142
Know the ropes.
To understand the details.
143
Last but not least.
An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him / her.
144
Lend me your ear.
To politely ask for someone's full attention.
145
Let bygones be bygones.
To foget about a disagreement or argument.
146
Let sleeping dogs lie.
To avoid restarting a conflict.
147
Let the cat out of the bag.
To share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared.
148
Level playing field.
A fair competition where no side has an advantage.
149
Like a chicken with its head cut off.
To act in a frenzied manner.
150
Liquor someone up.
To get someone drunk.
151
Long in the tooth.
Old people (or horses).
152
Loose cannon.
Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.
153
Make no bones about.
To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.
154
Method to my madness.
Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.
155
Mumbo Jumbo.
Nonsense or meaningless speech.
156
Mum's the word.
To keep quiet. To say nothing.
157
Nest egg.
Savings set aside for future use.
158
Never bite the hand that feeds you.
Don't hurt anyone that helps you.
159
New kid on the block.
Someone new to the group or area.
160
New York Minute.
A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in the fast paced environment.
161
No dice.
To not agree. To not accept a proposition.
162
No room to swing a cat.
An unusually small or confined space.
163
Not playing with a full deck.
Someone who lacks intelligence.
164
Off on the wrong foot.
Getting a bad start on a relationship or task.
165
Off the hook.
No longer have to deal with a tough situation.
166
Off the record.
Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want attributed to him / her.
167
On pins and needles.
Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
168
On the fence.
Undecided.
169
On the same page.
When multiple people all agree on the same thing.
170
Out of the blue.
Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.
171
Out on a limb.
When someone puts them self in a risky situation.
172
Out on the town.
To enjoy yourself by going out.
173
Over my dead body.
When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
174
Over the top.
Very excessive.
175
Pass the buck.
Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.
176
Pedal to the metal.
To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.
177
Peeping Tom.
Someone who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for his own gratification.
178
Pick up your ears.
To listen very carefully.
179
Pig in a poke.
A deal that is made without first examining it.
180
Pig out.
To eat a lot and eat it quickly.
181
Pipe down.
To shut up and be quiet.
182
Practice makes perfect.
By constantly practicing, you will become better.
183
Pull the plug.
To stop something. To bring something to an end.
184
Pulling your leg.
Tricking someone as a joke.
185
Put a sock in it.
to tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.
186
Queer the pitch.
Destroy or ruin a plan.
187
Raincheck.
An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
188
Raining cats and dogs.
A very loud and noisy rain storm.
189
Ring fencing.
Separated usual judgement to guarantee protection, especially project funds.
190
Rise and shine.
Time to get out of bed and get ready for work / school.
191
Rome was not built in one day.
If you want something to be completed properly, then its going to take time.
192
Rule of thumb.
A rough estimate.
193
Run out of steam.
To be completely out of energy.
194
Saved by the bell.
Saved at the last possible moment.
195
Scapegoat.
Someone else who takes the blame.
196
Scot-free.
To escape and not have to pay.
197
Sick as a dog.
To be very sick (with the flu or a cold).
198
Sitting shotgun.
Riding the fron passenger seat of a car.
199
Sixth sense.
A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.
200
Skid row.
The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.
201
Smell a rat.
To detect someone in the group is betraying the others.
202
Smell something fishy.
Detecting that something isn't right and there might be a reason for it.
203
Son of a gun.
A scamp.
204
Southpaw.
Someone who is left-handed.
205
Spitting image.
The exact likeness or kind.
206
Start from scratch.
To do it all over again from the beginning.
207
The ball is in your court.
It is your decision this time.
208
The best of both worlds.
There are two choices and you have them both.
209
The bigger they are the harder they fall.
While the bigger and stronger opponent might be a lot more difficult to beat, when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.
210
The last straw.
When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the small burden that one can take.
211
The whole nine yards.
Everything. All of it.
212
Third times a charm.
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.
213
Tie the know.
To get married.
214
Til the cows come home.
A long time.
215
To make a long story short.
Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his / her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn't shortened.
216
To steal someone's thunder.
To take credit for something someone else did.
217
Tongue-in-cheek.
Humor, not to be take serious.
218
Turn a blind eye.
Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
219
Twenty three skidoo.
To be turned away.
220
Under the weather.
Feeling ill or sick.
221
Up a blind alley.
Going down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.
222
Use your loaf.
Use your head. Think smart.
223
Van Gogh's ear for music.
Tone deaf.
224
Variety is the spice of life.
The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.
225
Wag the dog.
A diversion away from something of greater importance.
226
Water under the bridge.
Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore.
227
Wear your heart on your sleeve.
To openly and freely express your emotions.
228
When it rains, it pours.
Since it rarely rains, when it does it will be a huge storm.
229
When pigs fly.
Something that will never ever happen.
230
Wild and woolly.
Uncultured and without laws.
231
Wine and dine.
When somebody is treated to an expensive meal.
232
Without a doubt.
For certain.
233
X marks the spot.
A phrase that is said when someone finds something he / she has been looking for.
234
You are what you eat.
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
235
You can't judge a book by its cover.
Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.
236
You can't take it with you.
Enjoy what you have and not what you don't have, since when you die you cannot take things (such as money) with you.
237
Your guess is as good as mine.
I have no idea.
238
Zero tolerance.
No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.
