IdiomsandPhraseswithmeanings

StartingwithA:
1. A Bird InTheHandIsWorthTwoInTheBush:
Havingsomething thatiscertain
is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose
everything.
2.ABlessingInDisguise:
Somethinggoodthatisntrecognizedatfirst.
3.AChipOnYourShoulder:
Beingupsetforsomethingthathappenedinthepast.
4.ADimeADozen:
Anythingthatiscommonandeasytoget.
5. A Doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to
believesomething.
6.ADropintheBucket:
Averysmallpartofsomethingbigorwhole.
7. A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted:
Its easy for a foolish person to lose his/her
money.
8. A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand:
Everyone involved must unify and
functiontogetheroritwillnotworkout.
9.ALeopardCantChangeHisSpots:
Youcannotchangewhoyouare.
10. A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money
(littlebylittle).
11. A Picture PaintsaThousandWords:
Avisual presentationisfarmoredescriptivethan
words.
12.APieceofCake:
Ataskthatcanbeaccomplishedveryeasily.
13.AtwitsEnd
NotknowingWhattodo
14.Allthumbs
Clumsy
15.Aclosefistedman
Amiser
16.AlmaMater
Institutionwhereigotmyeducation
17.Atloggerheads
Disagreeingoneverything

StartingwithB:
1. Back Seat Driver:
People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving
unwantedadvicefromthebackseatofavehicletothedriver.
2.BackToSquareOne:
Havingtostartalloveragain.
3.BackToTheDrawingBoard:
Whenanattemptfailsanditstimetostartallover.
4.BakersDozen:
Thirteen.
5.BarkingUpTheWrongTree:
Amistakemadeinsomethingyouaretryingtoachieve.
6.BeatADeadHorse:
Toforceanissuethathasalreadyended.
7. Beating Around The Bush:
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the
issue.
8.BendOverBackwards:
Dowhateverittakestohelp.Willingtodoanything.
9.BetweenARockAndAHardPlace:
Stuckbetweentwoverybadoptions.
10.BiteOffMoreThanYouCanChew:
Totakeonataskthatiswaytobig.
11.BiteYourTongue:
Toavoidtalking.
12.BloodIsThickerThanWater:
Thefamilybondiscloserthananythingelse.
13.BlueMoon:
Arareeventoroccurrence.

14. Buy A Lemon:

To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running
afteryoudriveit.
15.Backme
Support

StartingwithC:
1.CantCutTheMustard:
Someonewhoisntadequateenoughtocompeteorparticipate.
2. Cast Iron Stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with
eatinganythingordrinkinganything.
3.CharleyHorse:
Stiffnessintheleg/Alegcramp.
4.Chewsomeoneout:
Verballyscoldsomeone.
5.ChiponhisShoulder:
Angrytodayaboutsomethingthatoccurredinthepast.
6.ChowDown:
Toeat.
7.ClosebutnoCigar:
Tobeverynearandalmostaccomplishagoal,butfallshort.
8.CockandBullStory:
Anunbelievabletale.
9.ComeHellOrHighWater:
Anydifficultsituationorobstacle.
10.CrackSomeoneUp:
Tomakesomeonelaugh.
11.CrossYourFingers:
Tohopethatsomethinghappensthewayyouwantitto.
12.CryOverSpiltMilk:
Whenyoucomplainaboutalossfromthepast.
13.CryWolf:
Intentionallyraiseafalsealarm.
14.CupOfJoe:
Acupofcoffee.
15.CuriosityKilledTheCat:
BeingInquisitivecanleadyouintoadangeroussituation.
16.CuttotheChase:
Leaveoutalltheunnecessarydetailsandjustgettothepoint.
17.CockandBullStory:
Anunbelievabletale.

StartingwithD:
1.DarkHorse:
Onewhowaspreviouslyunknownandisnowprominent
2.DeadRinger:
100%identical.Aduplicate.
3.DevilsAdvocate:
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 argumentforaposition
theydobelievein,toanotherdebater.
4.DogDaysofSummer:
Thehottestdaysofthesummerseason.
5.Dontcountyourchickensbeforetheyhatch:
Dontrelyonituntilyoursureofit.
6.DontLookAGiftHorseInTheMouth:
Whensomeonegivesyouagift,dontbeungrateful.
7.DontPutAllYourEggsInOneBasket:
Donotputallyourresourcesinonepossibility.
8.Doozy:
Somethingoutstanding.
9.DownToTheWire:
Somethingthatendsatthelastminuteorlastfewseconds
10.Drinklikeafish:

Todrinkveryheavily.
11.Drivesomeoneupthewall:
Toirritateand/orannoyverymuch.
12.DroppingLikeFlies:
Alargenumberofpeopleeitherfallingillordying.
13.DryRun:
Rehearsal.
14.Daftasabrush
Reallysilly

StartingwithE:
1.EightySix:
Acertainitemisnolongeravailable.Orthisidiomcanalsomean,tothrowaway.
2.Elvishasleftthebuilding:
Theshowhascometoanend.Itsallover.
3.EthnicCleansing:
Killingofacertainethnicorreligiousgrouponamassivescale.
4.EveryCloudHasASilverLining:
Beoptimistic,evendifficulttimeswillleadtobetterdays.
5.EverythingButTheKitchenSink:
Almosteverythingandanythinghasbeenincluded.
6.ExcusemyFrench:
Pleaseforgivemeforcussing.

StartingwithF:
1.FeedingFrenzy:
Anaggressiveattackonsomeonebyagroup.
2.FieldDay:
Anenjoyabledayorcircumstance.
3.FindingYourFeet:
Tobecomemorecomfortableinwhateveryouaredoing.
4.Fingerlickinggood:
Averytastyfoodormeal.
5.FixedInYourWays:
Notwillingorwantingtochangefromyournormalwayofdoingsomething.
6.FlashInThePan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver
anythingintheend.
7.FleaMarket:
Aswapmeet.Aplacewherepeoplegathertobuyandsellinexpensivegoods.
8.FleshandBlood:
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to
someonesfamily.
9.FlipTheBird:
Toraiseyourmiddlefingeratsomeone.
10.FoamattheMouth:

Tobeenragedandshowit.
11.FoolsGold:
Ironpyrites,aworthlessrockthatresemblesrealgold.
12.FrenchKiss:
Anopenmouthkisswheretonguestouch.
13.FromRagsToRiches:
Togofrombeingverypoortobeingverywealthy.
14.Fuddyduddy:
Anoldfashionedandfoolishtypeofperson.
15.FullMonty:
Thisidiomcanmeaneither,thewholethingorcompletelynude.
16.FunnyFarm:
Amentalinstitutionalfacility.

StartingwithG:
1.GetDowntoBrassTacks:
Tobecomeseriousaboutsomething.
2.GetOverIt:
Tomovebeyondsomethingthatisbotheringyou.
3.GetUpOnTheWrongSideOfTheBed:
Someonewhoishavingahorribleday.
4.GetYourWalkingPapers:
Getfiredfromajob.
5.GiveHimTheSlip:
Togetawayfrom.Toescape.
6.GoDownLikeALeadBalloon:
Tobereceivedbadlybyanaudience.
7.GoForBroke:
Togambleeverythingyouhave.
8.GoOutOnALimb:
Putyourselfinatoughpositioninordertosupportsomeone/something.
9.GoTheExtraMile:
Goingaboveandbeyondwhateverisrequiredforthetaskathand.
10.GoodSamaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation,
andnothoughtofareward.
11.GraveyardShift:
Workinghoursfromabout12:00amto8:00am.Thetimeofthedaywhenmostotherpeople
aresleeping.
12.GreatMindsThinkAlike:
Intelligentpeoplethinklikeeachother.
13.GutFeeling:
Apersonalintuitionyouget,especiallywhenfeelsomethingmaynotberight.
14.GoDutch
Payforeachothermeal
15.GoforaJugular

attackallout

StartingwithH:
1.HasteMakesWaste:
Quicklydoingthingsresultsinapoorending.
2.HatTrick:
When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean
threescoresinanyothersport,suchas3homeruns,3touchdowns,3soccergoals,etc.
3.HaveanAxetoGrind:
Tohaveadisputewithsomeone.
4.HeLostHisHead:
Angryandovercomebyemotions.
5.HeadOverHeels:
Veryexcitedand/orjoyful,especiallywheninlove.
6.HellinaHandbasket:
Deterioratingandheadedforcompletedisaster.
7.HighFive:
Slappingpalmsaboveeachothersheadsascelebrationgesture.
8.HighontheHog:
LivinginLuxury.
9.HitTheBooks:
Tostudy,especiallyforatestorexam.
10.HitTheHay:
Gotobedorgotosleep.
11.HitTheNailontheHead:
Dosomethingexactlyrightorsaysomethingexactlyright.
12.HitTheSack:
Gotobedorgotosleep.

StartingwithI:
1.IcingOnTheCake:
Whenyoualreadyhaveitgoodandgetsomethingontopofwhatyoualreadyhave.
2.IdleHandsAreTheDevilsTools:
Youaremorelikelytogetintroubleifyouhavenothingtodo.
3.IfItsNotOneThing,ItsAnother:
Whenonethinggoeswrong,thenanother,andanother
4.InLikeFlynn:
Tobeeasilysuccessful,especiallywhensexualorromantic.
5.InTheBag:
Tohavesomethingsecured.
6.InTheBuff:
Nude.
7.InTheHeatOfTheMoment:
Overwhelmedbywhatishappeninginthemoment.
8.InYourFace:
Anaggressiveandboldconfrontation.

9.ItTakesTwoToTango:
Atwopersonconflictwherebothpeopleareatfault.
10.ItsASmallWorld:
Youfrequentlyseethesamepeopleindifferentplaces.
11.ItsAnyonesCall:
Acompetitionwheretheoutcomeisdifficulttojudgeorpredict.
12.IvyLeague:
Since 1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown, Cornell,
Dartmouth,Yale,Pennsylvania,Princeton,andHarvard.

StartingwithJ:
1.Jaywalk:
Crossingthestreet(fromthemiddle)withoutusingthecrosswalk.
2.JoshingMe:
Trickingme.

StartingwithK:
1.KeepAnEyeOnHim:
Youshouldcarefullywatchhim.
2.Keepbodyandsoultogether:
Toearnasufficientamountofmoneyinordertokeepyourselfalive.
3.Keepyourchinup:
Toremainjoyfulinatoughsituation.
4.KickTheBucket:
Die.
5.Kittycorner:
Diagonallyacross.SometimescalledCattyCorneraswell.
6.KneeJerkReaction:
Aquickandautomaticresponse.
7.KnockOnWood:
Knuckletappingonwoodinordertoavoidsomebadluck.
8.KnowtheRopes:
Tounderstandthedetails.
9.Keptalevelahead
Wassensible

StartingwithL:
1.Lastbutnotleast:
An introductory phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less
importantthanthoseintroducedbeforehim/her.
2.LendMeYourEar:
Topolitelyaskforsomeonesfullattention.
3.LetBygonesBeBygones:
Toforgetaboutadisagreementorargument.
4.LetSleepingDogsLie:
Toavoidrestartingaconflict.

5.LetTheCatOutOfTheBag:
Toshareasecretthatwasntsupposetobeshared.
6.Levelplayingfield:
Afaircompetitionwherenosidehasanadvantage.
7.Likeachickenwithitsheadcutoff:
Toactinafrenziedmanner.
8.Liquorsomeoneup:
Togetsomeonedrunk.
9.LongintheTooth:
Oldpeople(orhorses).
10.LooseCannon:
Someonewhoisunpredictableandcancausedamageifnotkeptincheck.

StartingwithM:
1.MakeNoBonesAbout:
Tostateafactsotherearenodoubtsorobjections
2.MethodToMyMadness:
Strangeorcrazyactionsthatappearmeaninglessbutintheendaredoneforagoodreason.
3.MumboJumbo:
Nonsenseormeaninglessspeech.
4.Mumstheword:
Tokeepquiet.Tosaynothing.
5.ManOfWord
Onewhoistruetohiswords
6.MidasTouch
Whohasextraordinarypowertomakeeverythingprofitable
7.MotherWit
Commonsense
8.ManofStraw
Averyweakperson
9.MaidenSpeech
Firsttimedeliveredspeech
10.MakeBothendsmeet
Toexpendinhis/herownlimitasperincome
11.ManOfiron
Whohasstrongwillpower
11.MoveHeavenandearth
Tryonesbesttoachievesomethinginlife
12.MakeBelieve
Pretence

StartingwithN:
1.NigNag
PokingthatFrustratesomeone
2.Narrowescape
Trytoescapefromonesdutywithlittlemargin

3.Nookandcorner
Ateachandeveryplace
4.Nolovelost
Whohasnoloveinhis/herlife

StartingwithO:
1.OpenQuestion
Whichhasmoresolutions
2.OnandOn
Continueonsamethingorprocess
3.Oilytongue
Languagetrytopleasesomeone
StartingwithP:
1.Pandorasbox
Aboxorsourcefullofdifficulties/Trouble
2.PastMaster
AnExpertinonesownsubject
3.PlayDucksandDrakes
ToWastemoneyonunusablearticles
4.Prosandcons
Forandagainst
5.Pullingonesleg
Tomakefunofothers
6.Poisonsomeonesears
Ask/speaksomeoneagainstaperson
7.Puttingthecatamongthepigeons
Wrongstatementorwordswhichareunpleasanttonumberofpersons

StartingwithQ:
1.Quarrels with ones Butter and Bread
Fighting with Management where weare
earningfrom.

StartingwithR:

1.RainLikeCatsandDogs
Aheavyraining
2.Redhanded
Mancaughtwhilecommittingacrime
3.RedTapism
Officialformalities
4.Redletterday
HappyOccasion
5.ReadB/wthetwolines
Captureahiddenword
6.RoyalRoad
Easyway
7.Risewiththelark
Veryearly

StartingwithS:
1.Saveonesskin
Saveoneself
2.Seered
Veryangry
3.ShouldertoShoulder
Veryfastfriendorrelativeindifficulttime
4.Sinedie
Indefinitely

5.Slipoftongue
Spokenwithoutunderstanding/withoutintention
6.Smellarat
Tosuspect
7.Snakeingrass
Secretenemy
8.Standononesownlegs
Independent
9.Stealamarch
Getanadvantagebysecretmeans
10.Stonesthrow
Verynear
11.SwanSong
Thelastceremonysong
StartingwithT:
1.TalkBig
ToBoast
2.Thinktwice
Thingagainbeforedoing
3.ToothandNail
Veryhardly/Violently
4.ThrowcoldwaterUpon
Discouragesomeone
5.TakeToonesheels
Toescapeorrunaway

StartingwithU:
1.UpandDoing
Workinggentlyinthework
2.Uphilltask
Verydifficulttask
3.UpandDown
GoodandBadtime
4.Undertheweather
Sick

StartingwithW:
1.Whiteelephant
Veryexpensivebutofnouse
2.WetBlanket
Spoilstheenjoyment
3.WordforWord
Replyinsamemanner
4.Wildgoosechase
Uselesssearch