Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

English > IDIOMS AND PHRASES > Flashcards

IDIOMS AND PHRASES Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

A blessing in disguise

A

Something good that isn’t recognised at first.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

A chip on your shoulder

A

To seem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

A dime a dozen

A

Anything that is common and easy to get.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

A doubting Thomas

A

A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

A drop in the bucket

A

A very small part of something big or whole.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

A fool and his money are easily parted

A

It’s easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A house divided against itself cannot stand

A

If the members of a group fight each other, the group will disintegrate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

A leopard can’t change his spots

A

A person’s character especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend it has.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

A penny saved is a penny earned

A

By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

A picture paints a thousand words

A

A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

A piece of cake

A

A task that can be accomplished very easily.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

A slap on the wrist

A

A very mild punishment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

A taste of your own medicine

A

When you are
mistreated the same way you mistreat others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

A toss-up

A

A situation where two or more possibilities are equally likely.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Actions speak louder than words

A

It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Add fuel to the fire

A

Something done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Against the clock

A

against time; in a great hurry to get something done before a particular time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

All bark and no bite

A

When someone is threatening and/or is aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

All Greek to me

A

Something that is meaningless and incomprehensible to someone.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

All in the same boat

A

When everyone is facing the same challenges.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

An arm and a leg

A

Very expensive, costing a large amount of money.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Have an axe to grind

A

To have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason you do something.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Apple of my eye

A

Someone who is cherished above all others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Be as high as a kite

A

To feel very happy and excited.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

At the drop of a hat

A

Willing to do something immediately.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Back to square one

A

Having to start all over again.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Back to the drawing board

A

Back to the beginning or planning phase after an approach has proved unsuccessful.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Barking up the wrong tree

A

To be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Beat a dead horse

A

To waste effort on something when there is no chance of succeeding.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Beating around the bush

A

Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Bend over backwards

A

To go out of one’s way to do something for someone.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Between a rock and a hard place

A

Stuck between two very bad options.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Bite off more than you can chew

A

To decide or agree to do more than one can finally accomplish.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Bite your tongue

A

To stop yourself from saying something that you would really like to say.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Blood is thicker than water

A

Said to emphasize that you believe that family connections are always more important than other types of relationship.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Once in a blue moon

A

To do something rarely.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Break a leg

A

A superstitious way to say ‘good luck’
without saying ‘good luck’, but rather the opposite.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Buy a lemon

A

To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Can’t cut the mustard

A

Unable to deal with problems or difficulties.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Cast iron stomach

A

Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Charley horse

A

A cramp in your arm or leg.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Chew someone out

A

Verbally scold someone.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Chow down

A

To eat something usually quickly, saying something rude or unpleasant.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Close but no cigar

A

To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Cock and bull story

A

An unbelievable tale.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Come hell or high water

A

To decide to do something no matter what happens.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Crack someone up

A

To make someone laugh.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Cross your fingers

A

To hope that something
happens the way you want it to.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Cry over spilt milk

A

To regret in vain about what cannot be undone or rectified.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Cry wolf

A

Intentionally raise a false alarm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Cup of joe

A

A cup of coffee.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Curiosity kills the cat

A

Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Cut to the chase Leave

A

out all the unnecessary details and get to the main point.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Dark horse

A

Someone who unexpectedly wins a competition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

A dead ringer for someone/ something

A

Someone or something that looks exactly like someone or something else.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Devil’s advocate

A

Someone who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Dog days of summer

A

The hottest days of the summer season.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

A

Don’t make plans based on future events that might not happen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

A

When someone gives you a gift, accept it graciously.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

A

To not put all your resources in one area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Down to the wire

A

Until the last possible moment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

Drastic times call for drastic measures

A

When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Drive someone up the wall

A

To irritate and/or annoy someone very much.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

Dropping like flies

A

A large number of people either falling ill or dying.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

Dry run

A

Rehearsal; a dummy run or show.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

Elvis has left the building

A

The show has come to
an end; it’s all over.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

Ethnic cleansing

A

Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

Every cloud has a silver lining

A

There is something good even in an unpleasant situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

Everything but the kitchen sink

A

Almost everything imaginable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

Feeding frenzy

A

A situation in which people try to get as much as possible of something, for example information about an event, especially in an unpleasant way.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

Field day

A

A time of great pleasure, activity or opportunity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

Finding your feet

A

To become familiar with and confident in a new situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

Fixed in your ways

A

Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

Flash in the pan

A

Something that happened only once or for a short time and was not repeated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

Flesh and blood

A

The quality of being alive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
76
Q

Foam at the mouth

A

To be extremely angry.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
77
Q

From rags to riches

A

To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
78
Q

Get down to brass tacks

A

To start talking about the most important or basic facts of a situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
79
Q

Get over it

A

To move beyond something that is bothering you.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
80
Q

Get up on the wrong side of the bed

A

To begin the day feeling unhappy and uncomfortable.

81
Q

Get your walking papers

A

To get fired from a job.

82
Q

Give him the slip

A

To get away from or escape
someone.

83
Q

Go down like a lead balloon

A

To be received badly by an audience.

84
Q

Go down like a lead balloon

A

To be received badly by an audience.

85
Q

Go for broke

A

To gamble everything you have.

86
Q

Go out on a limb

A

Put yourself in a tough position
in order to support someone/something.

87
Q

Go out on a limb

A

Put yourself in a tough position
in order to support someone/something.

88
Q

Go the extra mile

A

Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.

89
Q

Good Samaritan

A

Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation and no thought of a reward.

90
Q

Good Samaritan

A

Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation and no thought of a reward.

91
Q

Great minds think alike

A

Intelligent people think like each other.

92
Q

Green room

A

The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a TV or radio show.

93
Q

Gut feeling

A

Sense something about a person or situation, without knowing why, but you’re sure what you sense is right.

94
Q

Haste makes waste

A

Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.

95
Q

Have clean hands

A

Be guiltless.

96
Q

He lost his head

A

To be angry and overcome by
emotions.

97
Q

Head over heels

A

To be very excited or joyful, especially when in love.

98
Q

To be going to hell in a hand basket

A

To be rapidly deteriorating – on course for disaster.

99
Q

Hit the books

A

To study especially for a test or an exam.

100
Q

Hit the hay

A

Go to bed or go to sleep.

101
Q

Hit the nail on the head

A

Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.

102
Q

Hold your horses

A

To be patient.

102
Q

Hit the sack

A

Go to bed or go to sleep.

103
Q

Hit the sack

A

Go to bed or go to sleep.

104
Q

Icing on the cake

A

When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.

105
Q

Idle hands are the devil’s tools

A

You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.

106
Q

If it’s not one thing, it’s another

A

Used when bad things keep happening to you.

107
Q

In like Flynn

A

To quickly or easily achieve goal or gain access to something.

108
Q

In the bag

A

To have something secured.

109
Q

In the buff

A

Nude.

110
Q

In the heat of the moment

A

Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.

111
Q

In your face

A

Characterised by or expressive of bold and often defiant aggressiveness.

112
Q

It takes two to tango

A

If two people are involved in a bad situation, both must be responsible.

113
Q

It’s a small world

A

You frequently see the same people in different places.

114
Q

Its anyone’s call

A

A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.

115
Q

Keep an eye on someone

A

To keep someone or something under careful observation.

116
Q

Keep body and soul together

A

To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.

117
Q

Keep your chin up

A

To remain joyful in a tough situation.

118
Q

Kick the bucket

A

Die.

119
Q

Knee jerk reaction

A

A quick reaction that doesn’t
allow you time to consider something carefully.

120
Q

Know the ropes

A

Be informed about the details of a situation or task.

121
Q

Last but not the least

A

An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person or thing mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him/her.

122
Q

Lend me your ear

A

To politely ask for someone’s full attention.

123
Q

Let bygones be bygones

A

To forget about unpleasant things that have happened in the past.

124
Q

Let sleeping dogs lie

A

Said to warn someone that they should not talk about a bad situation that most people have forgotten about.

125
Q

Let the cat out of the bag

A

To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.

126
Q

Level playing field

A

A fair competition where no side has an advantage.

127
Q

Like a chicken with its head cut off

A

To act in a frenzied manner.

128
Q

Liquor someone up

A

To get someone drunk.

129
Q

Live high on the hog

A

To live in great comfort with
a lot of money.

130
Q

Long in the tooth

A

To be very old.

131
Q

Loose cannon

A

Someone who behaves in an uncontrolled or unexpected way and is likely to cause problems for other people.

132
Q

Make no bones about

A

Having no hesitation in stating or dealing with something, however unpleasant or awkward it is.

133
Q

Method to my madness

A

Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.

134
Q

Mumbo jumbo

A

Confusing or meaningless words or activity.

135
Q

Mum’s the word

A

Used to say that some information is being kept secret or should be kept secret.

136
Q

Nest egg

A

Savings set aside for future use.

137
Q

Never bite the hand that feeds you

A

To not hurt
anyone that helps you.

138
Q

New kid on the block

A

Someone new to the group.

139
Q

New York minute

A

A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.

140
Q

No room to swing a cat

A

An unusually small or confined space.

141
Q

Not playing with a full deck

A

Not mentally sound; crazy or mentally deranged.

142
Q

Get off on the wrong foot

A

Getting a bad start on a relationship or task.

143
Q

Off the hook

A

To escape from a difficult situation.

144
Q

Off the record

A

Not intended to be known publicly
or recorded officially.

145
Q

On pins and needles

A

Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.

146
Q

On the fence

A

Undecided about something.

147
Q

Be on the same page

A

To understand or agree with
what is being done or suggested.

148
Q

Out of the blue

A

Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.

149
Q

Over my dead body

A

When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.

150
Q

Over the top

A

Too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way.

151
Q

Pass the buck

A

To pass the blame; to give the responsibility to someone else.

152
Q

Pedal to the metal

A

To make something go forward or increase as fast as possible.

153
Q

Pick up your ears

A

To listen very carefully.

153
Q

Pick up your ears

A

To listen very carefully.

154
Q

A pig in a poke

A

Something that you buy without
knowing if it is good or not.

155
Q

Pig out

A

To eat a lot and eat it quickly.

156
Q

Pipe down

A

To shut-up or be quiet.

157
Q

Pull the plug

A

To stop something, to bring something to an end.

158
Q

Queer the pitch

A

Destroy or ruin a plan.

159
Q

Raining cats and dogs

A

To be raining in great
amounts.

160
Q

Rome was not built in a day

A

If you want something to be completed properly then its going to take time.

161
Q

Rule of thumb

A

A practical and approximate way of doing something.

162
Q

Run out of steam

A

To be completely out of energy.

163
Q

Saved by the bell

A

When a difficult situation ends suddenly before you have to do or say something that you do not want to.

164
Q

Sick as a dog

A

To be very ill.

165
Q

Smell a rat

A

To recognise that something is not as it seems to be or that something dishonest is happening.

166
Q

Smell something fishy

A

Detecting that something isn’t right or someone is being dishonest.

167
Q

Son of a gun A worthless person.

A

A worthless person.

168
Q

Southpaw

A

Someone who is left-handed.

169
Q

Spitting image

A

To look extremely similar to someone.

170
Q

Start from scratch

A

To do it all over again from the beginning.

171
Q

The ball is in your court

A

It is upto you to make the next move.

172
Q

The best of both worlds

A

A situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time.

173
Q

The bigger they are the harder they fall

A

The more powerful and successful people are, the more they suffer when they experience defeat and disaster.

174
Q

The last straw

A

The final difficulty in a series; the last little burden or problem that causes everything to collapse.

175
Q

The whole nine yards

A

Everything; the entire amount.

176
Q

Third time’s a charm

A

After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.

177
Q

Tie the knot

A

To get married.

178
Q

Until the cows come home

A

For a very long time.

179
Q

To make a long story short

A

As a way to avoid a long explanation.

180
Q

To steal someone’s thunder

A

To take the credit for something someone else did.

181
Q

Tongue in cheek

A

If you say something tongue in cheek, you intend it to be understood as a joke, although you might appear to be serious.

182
Q

Turn a blind eye

A

Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legitimate.

183
Q

Twenty three skidoo

A

To leave quickly.

184
Q

Under the weather

A

Feeling ill or sick.

185
Q

Up a blind alley

A

At a dead end; on a route that leads nowhere.

186
Q

Van Gogh’s ear for music

A

When referring to a singer it implies that he/she is not good and tend to go off key a lot.

187
Q

Variety is the spice of life

A

New and exciting experiences make life more interesting.

188
Q

Wag the dog

A

To purposely direct the attention from something of greater importance to something of lesser importance.

189
Q

Water under the bridge

A

Anything from the past that isn’t significant or important anymore.

190
Q

Wear your heart on your sleeve

A

To openly and freely express your emotions.

191
Q

When it rains, it pours

A

Many difficult things happening at the same time

192
Q

When pigs fly

A

Something that will never ever happen.

193
Q

Wild and woolly

A

Uncultured and without laws.

194
Q

You are what you eat

A

In order to stay healthy you
must eat healthy foods.

195
Q

You can’t judge a book by its cover

A

You cannot judge the quality or character of someone or something just by looking at them.

196
Q

You can’t take it with you

A

When you die you cannot take things such as money or property with you.

197
Q

Your guess is as good as mine

A

Something you say when you do not know the answer to a question.

English (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions