Idioms and explanations Flashcards
Keep an eye on him:
You should carefully watch him.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another:
When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another…
A toss-up:
A result that is still unclear and can go either way.
Excuse my French:
Please forgive me for cussing.
Cup of Joe:
A cup of coffee.
Get over it:
To move beyond something that is bothering you.
It’s a small world:
You frequently see the same people in different places.
In the buff:
Nude.
Smell something fishy:
Detecting that something isn’t right and there might be a reason for it.
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.
Graveyard shift:
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
Doozy:
Something outstanding.
Fixed in your ways:
Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
Pass the buck:
Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.
Southpaw:
Someone who is left-handed.
Turn a blind eye:
Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
Knock on wood:
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
Ethnic cleansing:
Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.
Smell a rat:
To detect somone in the group is betraying the others.
Eighty six:
A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.
In the heat of the moment:
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
Pull the plug:
To stop something. To bring something to an end.
Cry over spilt milk:
When you complain about a loss from the past.
When it rains, it pours:
Since it rarely rains, when it does it will be a huge storm.
To steal someone’s thunder:
To take the credit for something someone else did.
Mumbo jumbo:
Nonsense or meaningless speech.
Dark horse:
One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
Method to my madness:
Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.
Drive someone up the wall:
To irritate and/or annoy very much.
Let the cat out of the bag:
To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket:
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Liquor someone up:
To get someone drunk.
Son of a gun:
A scamp.
Dog days of summer:
The hottest days of the summer season.
Jaywalk:
Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.
On the same page:
When multiple people all agree on the same thing.
No dice:
To not agree. To not accept a proposition.
Go for broke:
To gamble everything you have.
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.
Barking up the wrong tree:
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.
Your guess is as good as mine:
I have no idea.
Field day:
An enjoyable day or circumstance.
A dime a dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.
In the bag:
To have something secured.
Start from scratch:
To do it all over again from the beginning.
Wear your heart on your sleeve:
To openly and freely express your emotions.
Bite your tongue:
To avoid talking.
Practice makes perfect:
By constantly practicing, you will become better.
Bite off more than you can chew:
To take on a task that is way to big.
Between a rock and a hard place:
Stuck between two very bad options.
Off the record:
Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to him/her.
Water under the bridge:
Anything from the past that isn’t significant or important anymore.
Blue moon:
A rare event or occurance.
Finding your feet:
To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
Long in the tooth:
Old people (or horses).
No room to swing a cat:
An unsually small or confined space.
At the drop of a hat:
Willing to do something immediately.
Get down to brass tacks:
To become serious about something.
Close but no cigar:
To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.
Hit the hay:
Go to bed or go to sleep.
Bend over backwards:
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Dead ringer:
100% identical. A duplicate.
Haste makes waste:
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
Flash in the pan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Buy a lemon:
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.
Actions speak louder than words:
It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it.
Rise and shine:
Time to get out of bed and get ready for work/school.
Cross your fingers:
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.
Foam at the mouth:
To be enraged and show it.
Queer the pitch:
Destroy or ruin a plan.
Go the extra mile:
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Off the hook:
No longer have to deal with a tough situation.
Charley horse:
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.
Let sleeping dogs lie:
To avoid restarting a conflict.
Twenty three skidoo:
To be turned away.
Wild and dine:
When somebody is treated to an expensive meal.
Use your loaf:
Use your head. Think smart.
A chip on your shoulder:
Being upset for something that happened in the past.
Fools’ gold:
Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.
Under the weather:
Feeling ill or sick.
Have an axe to grind:
To have a dispute with someone.
Chow down:
To eat.
Level playing field:
A fair competition where no side has an advantage.
Break a leg:
A superstitious way to say ‘good luck’ without saying ‘good luck’, but rather the opposite.
On the fence:
Undecided.
Feeding frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
Dry run:
Rehearsal.
Up a blind alley:
Going down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.
Pig in a poke:
A deal that is made without first examining it.
It takes two to tango:
A two person conflict where both people are at fault.
An axe to grind:
To have a dispute with someone.
When pigs fly:
Something that will never ever happen.
Sitting shotgun:
Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.
Rule of thumb:
A rough estimate.
Loose cannon:
Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.
Lend me your ear:
To politely ask for someone’s full attention.
Funny farm:
A mental institutional facility.
Get up on the wrong side of the bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.
Without a doubt:
For certain.
Hit the sack:
Go to bed or go to sleep.
Peeping tom:
Someone who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for his own gratification.
Wild and woolly:
Uncultured and without laws.
Sixth sense:
A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.
Wag the dog:
A diversion away from something of greater importance.
New kid on the block:
Someone new to the group or area.
Hell in a hand-basket:
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
Off on the wrong foot:
Getting a bad start on a relationship or task.
Pedal to the metal:
To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.
Let bygones be bygones:
To forget about a disagreement or argument.
Curiosity killed the cat:
Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Ring fencing:
Separated usual judgement to guarantee protection, especially project funds.
The last straw:
When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.
Saved by the bell:
Saved at the last possible moment.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch:
Don’t rely on it until your sure of it.
Good samaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.
Out on a limb:
When someone puts themselves in a risky situation.
Every cloud has a silver lining:
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
You are what you eat:
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
Variety is the spice of life:
The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.
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.
Elvis has left the building:
The show has come to an end. It’s all over.
The bigger they are the harder they fall:
While the bigger and stronger opponent might be alot more difficult to beat, when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.
Great minds think alike:
Intelligent people think like each other.
All in the same boat:
When everyone is facing the same challenges.
Hit the books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.
Add fuel to the fire:
Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
Pipe down:
To shut-up or be quiet.
Can’t cut the mustard:
Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate.
In like Flynn:
To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.
Hold your horses:
Be patient.
New York minute:
A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.
You can’t judge a book by its cover:
Decisions shouldn’t be made primarily on appearance.
A drop in the bucket:
A very small part of something big or whole.
X marks the spot:
A phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been looking for.
Fuddy-duddy:
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
The ball is in your court:
It is your decision this time.
Cut to the chase:
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
Icing on the cake:
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
Come hell or high water:
Any difficult situation or obstacle.
Cast iron stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.
Everything but the kitchen sink:
Almost everything and anything has been included.
Kitty-corner:
Diagonally across. Sometimes called Catty-Corner as well.
Beating around the bush:
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Pig-out :
To eat a lot and eat it quickly.
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.
It?s anyone’s call:
A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.
On pins and needles:
Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
A doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.
All Greek to me:
Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language would be.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth:
When someone gives you a gift, don’t be ungrateful.
Out of the blue:
Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.
Kick the bucket:
Die.
A picture paints a thousand words:
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
In your face:
An aggressive and bold confrontation.
Mum’s the word:
To keep quiet. To say nothing.
Raining cats and dogs:
A very loud and noisy rain storm.
High five:
Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
Nest egg:
Savings set aside for future use.
Back to square one:
Having to start all over again.
Rome was not built in one day:
If you want something to be completely properly, then its going to take time.
Cock and bull story:
An unbelievable tale.
Beat a dead horse:
To force an issue that has already ended.
Go out on a limb:
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.
Chip on his shoulder:
Angry today about something that occured in the past.
Van Gogh’s ear for music:
Tone deaf.
Skid row:
The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.
The best of both worlds:
There are two choices and you have them both.
Blood is thicker than water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.
Pulling your leg:
Tricking someone as a joke.
French kiss:
An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
A blessing in disguise:
Something good that isn’t recognized at first.
From rags to riches:
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Ivy league:
Since 1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard.
Sick as a dog:
To be very sick (with the flu or a cold).
Make no bones about:
To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.
Put a sock in it:
To tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.
Get your walking papers:
Get fired from a job.
Dropping like flies:
A large number of people either falling ill or dying.
Devil’s advocate:
Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the argument.
Rain-check:
An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
Against the clock:
Rushed and short on time.
Idle hands are the devil’s tools:
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
Out on the town:
To enjoy yourself by going out.
Down to the wire:
Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.
A fool and his money are easily parted:
It’s easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.
A slap on the wrist:
A very mild punishment.
Flesh and blood:
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone’s family.
Like a chicken with its head cut off:
To act in a frenzied manner.
Chew someone out:
Verbally scold someone.
An arm and a leg:
Very expensive. A large amount of money.
As high as a kite:
Anything that is high up in the sky.
Go down like a lead balloon:
To be received badly by an audience.
Cock and bull story:
An unbelievable tale.
Tie the knot:
To get married.
Never bite the hand that feeds you:
Don’t hurt anyone that helps you.
Not playing with a full deck:
Someone who lacks intelligence.
Flea market:
A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.
A taste of your own medicine:
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
All bark and no bite:
When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.
Scapegoat:
Someone else who takes the blame.
Drastic times call for drastic measures:
When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.
Drink like a fish:
To drink very heavily.
Spitting image:
The exact likeness or kind.
A penny saved is a penny earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).
Flip the bird:
To raise your middle finger at someone.
Apple of my eye:
Someone who is cherished above all others.
Give him the slip:
To get away from. To escape.
Finger lickin’ good:
A very tasty food or meal.
Third times a charm:
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.
Full monty:
This idiom can mean either, “the whole thing” or “completely nude”.
Baker’s dozen:
Thirteen.
Over my dead body:
When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
Tongue and cheek:
humor, not to be taken serious.
Crack someone up:
To make someone laugh.
Head over heels:
Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.
A house divided against itself cannot stand:
Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
Pick up your ears:
To listen very carefully.
He lost his head:
Angry and overcome by emotions.
Until the cows come home:
A long time.
Back seat driver:
People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
Hocus pocus:
In general, a term used in magic or trickery.
Over the top:
Very excessive.
Green room:
The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.
Know the ropes:
To understand the details.
Keep your chin up:
To remain joyful in a tough situation.
Back to the drawing board:
When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over.
Joshing me:
Tricking me.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush:
Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.
Cry wolf:
Intentionally raise a false alarm.
Gut feeling:
A personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may not be right.
Run out of steam:
To be completely out of energy.
The whole nine yards:
Everything. All of it.
Hit the nail on the head:
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.
Scot-free:
To escape and not have to pay.
Keep body and soul together:
To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive .
Knee jerk reaction:
A quick and automatic response.
Zero tolerance:
No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.
A leopard can’t change his spots:
You cannot change who you are.
A piece of cake:
A task that can be accomplished very easily.
High on the hog:
Living in Luxury.
Cock and bull story:
An unbelievable tale.
