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A List of English Idioms With Definitions and Examples
A List of English Idioms With Definitions and Examples
Definition
An idiom (also called idiomatic expression) is an expression, word, or phrase that has a
figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers. This meaning is
different from the literal meaning of the idiom's individual elements. In other words,
idioms don't mean exactly what the words say. They have, however, hidden meaning.
Examples
The meaning of these expressions is different from the literal meaning or definition of the
words of which they are made. Their meaning are however used figuratively. They mean
respectively:
Lists of idioms
English has thousands of idioms. Here are lists of idioms arranged in alphabetical order or
in different categories.
a bit of fluff
(Also a bit of skirt.) A sexually attractive woman.
Category | sexuality
The president says that the country needs a breath of fresh air.
Category | nature
Category | health
a dime's worth
an insignificant amount
At best, he'll make a dime's worth of difference with his interference in the affair.
Category | money
a fact of life
This idiom is used to refer to something which is unpleasant and which people accept
because they cannot change it.
Category | life
John likes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.
Category | money
a life-saver
This phrase is used to refer to something or someone that saves a person in a difficult
situation or critical moment.
Category | life
Category | animals
I got confused as to what I should do. I was a lost ball in the weeds.
Category | sport
a man of action
a man who is inclined to act first rather than think about things and discuss them.
Bill is really a man of action. Since he arrived at the top of the association, he has done
so many things.
a man's man
The phrase a man's man refers to a man known for traditionally masculine interests and
activities.
Category | life
a number cruncher
a number cruncher refers to someone whose job is to work with numbers and
mathematics. It may also refer to a computer that is able to solve complicated problems
of mathematics.
Category | numbers
Category | home
a steal
A steal refers to a good deal; it's almost like you stole it.
Category | crime
There's no point running downstairs for every mail delivery. A watched pot never boils.
Category | furniture
a whole new ball game
a completely different situation.
He has written so many short stories but writing a novel is a whole new ball game.
Category | sport
She is a woman of few words, but she always gets things done.
The proverb a woman's work is never done means that a woman often works longer hours
than a man because the housework and raising children are jobs that never end.
"A woman's work is never done!", said Leila. She added: "As soon as I finish washing the
breakfast dishes, it's time to start preparing lunch. Then I have to go shopping and when
the kids are back home I have to help them with their homework."
Category | work
A car in a heavy traffic jam is as useful as a chocolate teapot. Use a bike instead!
Category | food
above suspicion
This phrase is used to describe a person who is honest enough that no one would suspect.
The origin of the phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar, who divorced his wife Pompeia, on
the grounds of her possible involvement in a public scandal, saying that "my wife ought not
even to be under suspicion." This gave rise to a proverb, sometimes expressed: "Caesar's
wife must be above suspicion."
Category | law
The origin of the phrase dates back to the medieval times. Then salt which was a valuable
seasoning was placed in the middle of a dining table and the lord and his family were
seated "above the salt" and other guests or servants below.
Category | food
achilles heel
said about a strong situation which contains an element of vulnerability.
aching heart
The phrase aching heart is an idiomatic expression that refers to the feeling of pain
because of love.
Category | love
acid test
The idiom acid test refers to a decisive test whose findings show the worth or quality of
something.
Our team's next match will be the first real acid test in this competition.
act of God
something that ooccured, such as an accident, for which no human is responsible. A
natural disaster such as a storm, earthquake...
Category | religion
Category | age
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Category | religion
Don't add fuel to the fire by laughing at him. He is furious about what you have already
done
Category | nature
affinity for
said about you have attraction , preference or sympathy for something or someone.
Category | relationship
The students were racing against the clock to finish the paper before the deadline.
Category | time
against time
(also against the clock) an attempt to finish something quickly within a time limit.
It's going to be a race against the time to finish the project before the deadline.
Category | time
Category | age
Category | time
Category | health
I really don't care if she is ugly. All cats are gray in the dark.
Category | colors
She was waiting for him but he never showed up. As usual, she was all dressed up and
nowhere to go.
Category | clothes
We expect our president to be effective in his job, not a person who is all hat and no
cattle.
Category | clothes
Category | work
all one's eggs in one basket
the state of having invested heavily in just one area or of having devoted all of one's
resources to one thing.
The stock market decline wouldn't have hurt him so badly if he hadn't had all his eggs in
one basket
Category | food
The house looks beautiful from the outside but the inside part of the house looks
terrible; all that glitters is not gold.
Category | money
They enjoyed the party: cocktails, dancing, and all that jazz.
Category | music
Her family didn't want her to get married to her new boyfriend, but that just made her
all the more determined.
Category | general
Category | life
This saying appeared first in James Howell's Proverbs in English, Italian, French and
Spanish (1659), and was included in later collections of proverbs.
Category | work
To get her to go out with him, he lied and told her that is very rich. All's fair in love and
war.
Category | war
I was thinking along the lines of a vegetable garden, but I could be persuaded to include
some perennials.
Category | general
Although he is 48 years old, he is still dreaming of becoming a famous singer. He's always
chasing rainbows.
Category | nature
an act of war
An act which is considered violent enough to cause war.
Bombing the United States naval base at pearl harbor was considered an act of war.
Category | war
In some countries, justice operates on the principle of an eye for an eye. That is, if you
kill someone, you desrve to die.
After the bankruptcy and the death of his only son, divorce is just another nail in his
coffin.
Category | death
The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.
Category | time
That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm as we couldn't find any place to
spend the night.
Category | travel
I accepted the job although it was below my expectations. Any port in a storm, you
know!
Category | weather
Category | food
armchair critic
An armchair critic is a person who knows or pretends to know a lot about something in
theory rather than practice.
He is such an armchair critic; he has no experience in the subject but he is ready to give
plenty of advice.
Category | furniture
He was caught armed to the teeth and was a danger to himself and the community.
The robbers were armed to the teeth. They threatened everybody and asked them to lie
down.
Category | war
If you are having a job interview, improving your communication skills can be another
arrow in your quiver.
Category | war
The phrase comes from the first two lines of an Aphorism by the Ancient Greek physician
Hippocrates.
Jane: I think John spends too much time working on his new book.
Lisa: Yes, but art is long and life is short, you know.
Category | art
Category | sport
as blind as a bat
If someone is as blind as a bat, they are nearly or completely blind or they are unwilling
to recognize problems or bad things.
This is a simile which is based on the erroneous idea that bats cannot see properly. In fact,
bats are not blind; they use vision to navigate, especially for long distances. In addition to
their ability to see, they use a sophisticated built-in sonar system, called echolocation.
Category | health
as gentle as a lamb
Said about kind , innocent, mild-mannered people.
Category | animals
as one man
If a group of people do something as one man, they do it unanimously, in complete
agreement.
as patient as Job
If someone is as patient as Job, they are very patient.
The person who shows great endurance through all sorts of trials is said to have the
patience of Job.
This idiom is a simile related to the religious figure Job mentioned as a prophet in all
Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Job is presented as a good and prosperous family man who is beset with hideous and
dreadful events that bereft him of his loved ones, his health and all his property. His
struggle and his patience to understand his situation leads him to get a reward from God
by restoring his health, doubling his original wealth and giving him a lot of children and
grandchildren.
If you want to work with that temperamental woman you must be as patient as Job.
Category | religion
Category | religion
as ugly as sin
If something is as ugly as sin, it is very ugly.
The term sin has a religious connotation. It refers to a violation of God's will, a misdeed.
Category | religion
This phrase is mainly used when you are stunned to the point of speechlessness.
She was at a loss for words when she saw the golden ring that her husband bought her for
their marriage anniversary.
The boss was so frustrated that he was at a loss of words.
He treated her so badly that she was completely at a loss for words.
Category | language
at death's door
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health
There were rumors that the president was murdered, or at death's door.
Category | death
at death's door
If you say you are at death's door you mean that you are very close to the end of your
life.
She was so ill and was at death's door for more than a month.
Category | death
at hand
The phrase at hand is an idiomatic expression that means nearby, or close by in time or in
space.
But time will not permit: all is uneven, And every thing is left at six and seven.
Category | numbers
So many years of sacrifice and then you can leave me at the drop of a hat.
Category | clothes
at the wheel
Driving; in control of a vehicle.
You know he fell asleep at the wheel. They were so lucky they didn't have an accident.
Category | travel