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Alphabetical List - I

(Idioms I, page 1 : break the ice in essence)

break the
ice

A person who breaks the ice is someone who does or says something to
make people relax in an uncomfortable situation.
He started by telling a joke to break the ice.

icing on
the cake

If something is referred to as icing on the cake, it is an extra benefit that


makes a good situation even better.
Good news! I get the job ... and the icing on the cake is that I
get a company car too!

identity
theft

The crime of using another person's personal information (name, credit


card number, etc.) without his/her knowledge, to set up and use bank
accounts and credit facilities is known as identity theft.

idiot box

Some people consider television to lack educational value and refer to it


as the idiot box.
He spends all his free time in front of the idiot box.

if it ain't
broke
don't fix it

This expression means that if a system or method works well, you


shouldn't change it.
We're not touching our alarm system. As the saying goes : if it
ain't broke, don't fix it!

if you can't The expression 'if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen' means
stand the
that if you feel there is too much pressure, you can leave.
Amid the growing tension the organizer declared :
heat
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"
ignorance
is bliss

This means that if you don't know about a problem or unpleasant fact,
you won't worry about it.
I didn't know our neighbour was an escaped prisoner until the
police arrived - ignorance is bliss!

ill-gotten
gains

Money, profit or benefits that are made in a dishonest or illegal manner


are called ill-gotten gains.
He won money by cheating and is now enjoying his ill-gotten
gains.

industrial
strength

This is a humorous way of referring to something which is very strong,


powerful or concentrated.
I've got an industrial-strength headache this morning!

infomania

If you are constantly checking and responding to email and text


messages, you may be the victim of a recent addiction called infomania.
The abuse of technology has lead to a state of infomania;
employees are becoming addicted to checking email and text

messages during meetings.


in cahoots

If one person is in cahoots with another, they are working in close


partnership, usually conspiring to do something dishonest.
There was a rumour that the mayor was in cahoots with a chain
of supermarkets.

in a class
of one's
own

If someone is in a class of their own, they are unequalled and considered


better than anyone else of their kind.
As a singer, Maria Callas was in a class of her own.

in dire
straits

If a person or organization is in dire straits, they are in a very difficult


situation.
The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire straits.

in essence The term in essence means 'basically', fundamentally' or 'essentially' and


refers to the most important or essential facts.
In essence, lightning is a great big spark of electricity.
(Idioms I, page 2 : in the first place in retrospect)

in the first
place

Someone that is done in the first place is done at the beginning,


before anything else.
Why didn't you tell me in the first place that he was your
boyfriend?
It would have saved a lot of embarrassment.

in keeping
with

If something is in keeping with, for example, a style or tradition, it is


suitable or appropriate in a particular situation.
We exchange presents at Christmas in keeping with tradition.

in the heat of
the moment

If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it


without pausing to think, at a time when you are experiencing
unusually strong emotions such as anger, excitement, etc.
I was so angry that in the heat of the moment I said things
that I later regretted.

in the interim

Something that happens in the interim takes place during a period of


time between two events.
I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim
I'm staying at a local hotel.

in inverted
commas

When describing something, if you use a word which you say is


'in inverted commas', you indicate that the word is not quite true or
appropriate.
We were served a 'meal', in inverted commas, but we were
too hungry to complain.

in leaps and

If you do something in leaps and bounds, you make rapid or

bounds

spectacular progress or growth.


The number of subscribers to the newsletter has grown in
leaps and bounds.

in the long
run

This term refers to something that will have effect over or after a long
period of time.
Learning Chinese is going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it in
the long run because it will help me to get a better job.

in the lurch

If something leaves you in the lurch, it leaves you in a difficult or


embarrassing situation.
When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch.

in the
middle of
nowhere

If a place is in the middle of nowhere, it is in a remote area, far from


towns, villages or houses.
The campsite was in the middle of nowhere so I couldn't send
you a postcard.

in mint
condition

Something that is in mint condition is in such perfect condition that it


looks new or as good as new.
The car is 10 years old but according to Tom it's in mint
condition.

in one's
own sweet
time

If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as you
please to do it, in spite of the wishes of others.
OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!

in over your
head

If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that is too
difficult for you to handle.
I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that
I was in over my head.

in raptures

If you are in raptures, you are delighted or very enthusiastic.


Amanda is in raptures about her new apartment.

in
retrospect

This expression refers to a past situation or event, particularly if your


present opinion is different from the one you had at the time.
In retrospect, we were not aware of the effects on the
environment
(Idioms I, page 3 : in safe hands be an item)

in safe hands

in seventh heaven

If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after


by a reliable person or organization and is therefore at no risk.
I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't
worry, he'll be in safe hands.
If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.
Every time she wins a match, she's in seventh

heaven!
in a stew

When someone is in a stew about something, they are worried


and agitated.
When she was organizing the wedding reception,
Laura got into a stew over the seating arrangements.

in trouble with the


law

If someone is in trouble with the law, they are being


questioned by the police in connection with something illegal
or criminal.
The suspect has often been in trouble with the law.

in the twinkling of
an eye

This expression means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'.


Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye.

in two shakes of a
lamb's tail

To do something in two shakes of a lamb's tail means to do it


very quickly or in a moment.
I'll be ready in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

in vino veritas

This expression, which in Latin means 'in wine there is truth',


is a way of saying that wine makes people less inhibited and
leads them to speak more freely and reveal their true feelings.
After a few drinks he told us the whole story - in vino
veritas!

in words of one
syllable

If you explain something in words of one syllable, you use very


simple language.
Not so fast! Say that again in words of one syllable.

ins and outs

The term 'ins and outs' of a situation means all the details or
facts.
I know he was involved in a car accident, but I don't
know the ins and outs of his injuries.

add insult to injury

To add insult to injury means to make a bad situation worse by


harming or upsetting someone you have already harmed in
some other way.
Not only did he steal money from his best friend, he
added insult to injury by damaging his car!

iron fist/hand

This expression is used to describe someone who, behind an


appearance of gentleness, is inflexible and determined.
To impose the necessary reforms, the leader used
persuasion followed by force - an iron fist in a velvet
glove.

irons in the fire

If you have a few, or many, irons in the fire, you are involved in
several projects at the same time.
The travel agency is not his only venture - he's got

more than one iron in the fire.


itchy feet

A person who has itchy feet is someone who finds it difficut to


stay in one place and likes to travel and discover new places.
Andrew's got itchy feet again. He says he's going to
teach in China for a few years.

itching (or itchy)


palm

Someone who has an itching palm is greedy for money, for


example tips or commission (as if putting money in the palm of
their hand would ease the itch).
He's said to have an itching palm - he does nothing
without payment!

it's anyone's call

This expression is used when the result of a contest or


election is difficult to predict.
"Who do you think wil win?" "It's anyone's call."

it's a small world

People use this expression when they are surprised to meet


someone familiar in unexpected places.
Wow! It's a small world. I never expected to meet a
neighbour on a transatlantic flight!

it's no use crying


over spilt milk

It is useless to complain or have regrets about something that


is done and cannot be changed.
Sometimes I regret not accepting the offer, but it's no
use crying over spilt milk.

be an item

To say that two people are an item means that they are
involved in a romantic relationship.
So Sally and Harry are an item, are they?

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