Idioms from colours

Green
To be green: to be inexperienced.
To be green with envy: to be very jealous.
A green belt: noun[U, C, usually sing.] (especially BrE) an area of open land
around a city where building is strictly controlled.
The green eyed monster: noun(informal) used as a way of talking about jealousy
To have the green light to do something: noun[sing.] permission for a project, etc. to
start or continue. SYN: go-ahead:
To have green fingers (or a green thumb: (BrE)green thumb: if you have green
fingers, you are good at making plants grow.
No to be as green as one cabbage looking: not to be as stupid as other people think.

Grey
A grey area: (especially BrE) (NAmE gray area) noun an area of a subject or
situation that is not clear or does not fit into a particular group and is therefore
difficult to define or deal with.
A grey eminence: a very influential person.

Pink
To be tickled pink: to be very pleased or amused
To be in the pink of health: in good health
The pink of perfection: in to be perfect.

Brown
To be browned off with something: bored, unhappy and/or annoyed. SYN: fed up.
To be in a brown study: thinking deeply so that you do not notice what is happening
around you.
As brown as a berry: very brown.

Red
To catch someone red-handed: to catch sb in the act of doing sth wrong or
committing a crime.
To be in the red: (informal) to owe money to your bank because you have spent more
than you have in your account.
Like a red rug to a bull: something that is likely to make somebody very angry.
To be on red alert: [U, sing.] a situation in which you are prepared for something
dangerous to happen; a warning of this.
To paint the town red: (informal) to go to a lot of different bars, clubs, etc. and enjoy
yourself.
To be red-blooded: [usually before noun] (informal) full of strength and energy,
often sexual energy. SYN: virile.
A red brick university: (of universities in Britain) built in the late 19th or early
20th century, in contrast to older universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge.

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To receive the red carpet treatment: (usually the red carpet) noun[sing.] a strip of red
carpet laid on the ground for an important visitor to walk on when he or she arrives:
A red herring: an unimportant fact, idea, event, etc. that takes people’s attention
away from the important ones.
A red-letter day: an important day, or a day that you will remember, because of
something good that happened then.
The red tape: [U] (disapproving) official rules that seem more complicated than
necessary and prevent things from being done quickly.
To see red: to become very angry.
As red as a beetroot: (of the face) bright red or pink, especially because you are
angry, embarrassed or ashamed.

White
A white liea harmless or small lie, especially one that you tell to avoid hurting sb
To show the with feather: to show signs of cowardy.
A whited sepulcher: to pretend to be a good person when actually you bad.
White elephant:[usually sing.] a thing that is useless and no longer needed,
although it may have cost a lot of money.
As white as a sheet: (of the skin) pale because of emotion or illness.
As white as snow: having the colour of fresh snow or of milk.

Black
As black as pitch: completely black or dark.
Pitch dark: completely black or dark.
No to be as black as one is painted: not as bad as people say he/she/it is.
To be in somebody’s black books: to be out of favor with somebody.
A black out: to become unconscious for a short time. SYN: faint.
A black sheep: a person who is different from the rest of their family or another
group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing.
In black and white: in a way that makes people or things seem completely bad or
good, or completely right or wrong:
It’s a complex issue, but he only sees it in black and white. Ç This is not a black-and-
white decision (= where the difference between two choices is completely clear).
To be in the black: to have money, for example in your bank account.
The pot calling the kettle black(saying, informal) used to say that you should not
criticize sb for a fault that you have yourself.
Two blacks don’t make a white: two wrongs do not make a right.
The black market: [usually sing.] an illegal form of trade in which foreign money,
or goods that are difficult to obtain, are bought and sold.
A blackleg: BrE, disapproving) a person who continues to work when the people they
work with are on strike; a person who is employed to work instead of those who are on
strike.
To get/ give somebody a black eye: to punch somedoby.
To be black and blue: (beat somebody) black and 'blue (to hit somebody until they
are) covered with bruises (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)
As black as night: to be very black in colour.

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To be in a black mood: to be in a bad mood.

Blue
Blue blood: from a royal or noble family.
A blue-eyed boy:[usually sing.](BrE, informal, often disapproving) a person treated
with special favour by somebody:
To be blue with cold: to be very cold. .
To be blue of jokes: to laugh very much
A blue film: a nostalgic film.
To feel blue:
Once in a blue moon: (informal) very rarely.
To scream/ shout/ yell blue murder: to scream loudly and for a long time, especially
in order to protest about something.
Blues (of music: (often the blues) [U] a type of slow sad music with strong
rhythms, developed by African American musicians in the southern US.
The blues (of feelings: the blues [pl.] feelings of sadness.
A blue-stocking: a refined and highly educated lady.
Out of the blue: unexpectedly; without warning.
A bolt from the blue: an event or a piece of news which is sudden and unexpected; a
complete surprise.

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 Idioms from food

To be the apple of somebody’s eyes: a person or thing that is loved more than any
other.
Baloney: nonsense; lies.
To go bananas:(slang) to become angry, crazy or silly.
To be full of beans: having a lot of energy
To take the biscuit: (BrE) (also take the 'cake NAmE, BrE)(informal) to be the most
surprising, annoying, etc. thing that has happened or that sb has done.
To be a dog breakfast/ dinner: a thing that has been done badly. SYN: mess.
To butter someone up: (informal) to say nice things to somebody so that they will
help you or give you something.
To want to have one’s cake and eat it: to have the advantages of something without
its disadvantages; to have both things that are available.
To cream someone: to take something away, usually the best people or things or an
amount of money, in order to get an advantage for yourself.
Fishy: that makes you suspicious because it seems dishonest. SYN: suspicious.
Sour grapes: (saying) used to show that you think somebody is jealous and is
pretending that something is not important.
To be in a jam:(informal) to be in a difficult situation.
To want jam on it: to want more than you are offered.
To be a lemon: (BrE) a stupid person. SYN: idiot.
To make a meal out of something: (informal) to spend a lot of time, energy, etc.
doing something in a way that other people think is unnecessary and/or annoying
To be nuts: crazy.
To be a peach: peach (of a … ) (old-fashioned, informal) a particularly good or
attractive person or thing.
Peanuts: a very small amount of money.
To be in a pickle: (informal) in a difficult or unpleasant situation
To be no picnic: (informal) to be difficult and cause a lot of problems.
As easy as a pie: (as easy as anything / as pie / as ABC / as falling off a log)
(informal) very easy or very easily.
A piece of cake: (informal) a thing that is very easy to do.
A couch potatoe: (informal, disapproving) a person who spends a lot of time sitting
and watching television.
The salt of the earth: a very good and honest person that you can always depend on.
A cup pf tea: something that you really enjoy.
A vegetable: (BrE also cab·bage) a person who is physically alive but not capable of
much mental or physical activity, for example because of an accident or illness.

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 Idioms from numbers
1/1st
To be back to square one: a return to the situation you were in at the beginning of a
project, task, etc., because you have made no real progress.
To be at one with somebody/ something: (formal) to feel that you completely agree
with somebody/something, or that you are part of something.
To be the one and only: used to emphasize that somebody is famous.
As first sight: as things seem at first sight; judging by first appearances.

2/2nd
To be of two minds about something: to be unable to decide what you think about
somebody/ something, or whether to do something or not.
To put two and two together: to guess the truth from what you see, hear, etc.
Second childhood: a time in the life of an adult person when they behave like a child
again.
To play the second fiddle: to be treated as less important than somebody/something;
to have a less important position than somebody/something else.
To be second nature: something that you do very easily and naturally, because it is
part of your character or you have done it so many times.
Second wind: (informal) new energy that makes you able to continue with
something that had made you tired.
On second thoughts: used to say that you have changed your opinion.
To have second thoughts: to change your opinion after thinking about something
again.
To be second to none: very good; as good as the best.

4
To be on all fours: (of a person) bent over with hands and knees on the ground.

6
To be at sixes and sevens: (informal) in confusion; not well organized.
Six of one, and half a dozen of the other: (saying) used to say that there is not much
real difference between two possible choices.
To have a sixth sense: a special ability to know something without using any of the
five senses that include sight, touch, etc.

7th
In the seventh heaven: extremely happy.

9
To be on cloud nine: (old-fashioned, informal) extremely happy.
To be dressed up to the nines:(informal) wearing very elegant or formal clothes.

11th

5
At the eleventh hour: at the last possible moment; just in time.

40
To take forty winks: (informal) a short sleep, especially during the day.

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 Idioms from parts of the body
Arms
To give one’s right arm: (informal) used to say that somebody is willing to give up a
lot in order to have or do something that they really want.
To keep someone at arm’s length: to avoid having a close relationship with somebody.
With open arms: if you welcome somebody with open arms, you are extremely happy
and pleased to see them.
To cost an arm and leg: (informal) to cost / pay a lot of money.

Back
Behind someone’s back: without somebody’s knowledge or permission.
To see the back of something: (informal, especially BrE) to be happy that you will
not have to deal with or see somebody/something again because you do not like them
or it.
To put someone’s back up: (informal) to annoy somebody.
To turn one’s back on somebody: to reject somebody/something that you have
previously been connected with.

Blood
To make one’s blood boil: to make somebody extremely angry.

Bone/s
To make no bones about something: to be honest and open about something; not to
hesitate to do something.
To have a bone to pick with someone: (informal) to be angry with somebody about
something and want to discuss it with them.

Brain/s
To pick someone’s brain: (informal) ask somebody who knows a lot about a
particular subject for information or ideas.
To have a brainwave: to have a sudden good idea.
To rack one’s brains: to think very hard or for a long time about something.

Chest
To get something off one’s chest: to talk about something that has been worrying
you for a long time so that you feel less anxious.
To keep one’s cards close to one’s chest: to keep your ideas, plans, etc. secret.

Ear/s
To bend someone’s ears: (informal) to talk to somebody a lot about something,
especially about a problem that you have.
Get/ give a thick ear: (BrE, informal) to hit somebody / be hit on the head as a
punishment.
To fall on deaf ears: to be ignored or not noticed by other people.

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To turn a deaf ear to something/ somebody: to ignore or refuse to listen to
somebody/something.
To go/ send someone off/ away with a flea in his/ her ear: if somebody sends a
person away with a flea in their ear, they tell them angrily to go away.
To prick up one’s ears: (of a person) to listen carefully, especially because you have
just heard something interesting.
To be wet behind the ears: (informal, disapproving) young and without much
experience. SYN: naïve.
To be all ears: (informal) to be waiting with interest to hear what somebody has to
say.
By ear: to do something without professional training.
To play it by ear: 1 (informal) to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops
rather than by having a plan to follow.
To have a good ear (for music): to recognize a good piece of music.
To be up to one’s ears in something: Have a lot of something to deal with.

Elbow
At one’s elbow: very near; within arm’s reach: I always like to have a dictionary at my
elbow to catch spelling.
Elbow grease:(informal) the effort used in physical work, especially in cleaning or
polishing something: the bath was so old and stained that we could not get it cleaned no
matter how much elbow greased we used.
Elbowroom: (informal) enough space to move or walk in: October is a good time to visit
as there are fewer tourists and more elbow room in the restaurants.

Eye/s
To pool the wool over someone’s eyes:(informal) to try to trick somebody; to hide your
real actions or intentions from somebody: It’s no use you trying to pull the wool over
my eyes, you didn’t go to school again today , didn’t you?
To cry one’s eyes out: to cry very much: I found him crying his eyes out.
To turn a blind eye to something: to pretend not to notice something bad that is
happening, so you do not have to do anything about it: There is so much suffering in
the world; you can not just turn a blind eye to it.
To catch someone’s eye: to attract somebody’s attention: Can you catch the waiter’s eye?
(Not) To see eye to eye (with somebody) (about/on /over something): (not) have the
same opinion or attitude as somebody else (about a particular issue, problem, etc.):
My boss and I don’t see eye to eye over the question of finance.
To make eyes at somebody: (informal) to look at somebody in a way that tries to
attract them sexually: He did nothing all evening but made eyes at the girls.

Face
A slap in the face: an action that seems to be intended as a deliberate insult to
somebody: the bank refused to lend her any more money, which was a real slap in the face
for her.
To have a face as long as a fiddle: ?????????

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To have/ with a long face: (to have) an unhappy or disappointed expression: I ask him
if he wanted to come out but he pulled a long face and said no.
To face the music: accept the difficulties, criticism and unpleasant results that your
words or actions may cause: He’d been cheating us out of our money for years and now
it’s time for him to face the music.

Feet
To fall on one’s feet: (informal) to be lucky in finding yourself in a good situation,
or in getting out of a difficult situation: we’ll you really fell on your feet this time,
didn’t you? A job in Rome, a large flat, a company car…
To have cold feet: (informal) to suddenly become nervous about doing something
that you had planned to do: He was going to ask her but he got cold feet and said
nothing.
To put one’s feet up: to sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised and
supported: After a hard day’s work, it’s nice to get home and put your feet up.

Foot
To get off on the wrong foot: (informal) to start a relationship well / badly:
I seem to have got off on the wrong foot with the new boss.
To put one’s best foot forward: to make a great effort to do something, especially if it
is difficult or you are feeling tired: If we put our best foot forward, we should be there by
noon.
To put one’s foot down:
1-drive faster in a car: If you put your foot down, we might be home by seven o’clock.
2-use your authority to stop somebody doing something: when she asked if she could
stay out until midnight, I put my foot down and insisted that she come home by eleven at
the latest.

Finger/s
To be/ feel all fingers and thumbs: to be awkward with your hands so that you drop
things or are unable to do something: He is all fingers and thumb when it comes to
fixing machines.
To give someone the finger: (AmE, informal) raised your middle finger in the air
with the back part of your hand facing somebody, done to be rude to somebody or to
show them that you are angry: Did you see what he just did? He gave me the finger!
To keep one’s finger crossed: (informal)hope that something will be successful; wish
somebody good luck: I’m going to give my first lecture tomorrow, so keep your fingers
crossed for me, won’t you?
Not to put one’s finger on something: to not be able to identify what is wrong or
different about a particular situation: There was something odd about him but I couldn’t
put my finger on it.
To have a finger in every pie:(informal) be involved in every thing that happens:,
etc.): Jane likes to have a finger in every pie.

Hair/s

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Not turn a hair: to show no emotion when something surprising, shocking, etc.
happens: He didn’t turn a hair when the judge gave him a 20-year prison sentence.
To make someone’s hair stands on end: (informal) you feel very frightened, nervous
or angry: When I first read the report my hair stood on end.
To keep someone’s hair on: used for telling somebody who is angry or very excited
about something to keep calm: Keep your hair on, Mum. You can hardly see the damage.
To let someone’s hair down: relax completely and enjoy yourself, especially after a
period when you have not been able to do so: Why don’t you let your hair down a bit?
Come out with us for the evening.
To split hairs: to pay too much attention in an argument to differences that are very
small and not important: you might think I’m just splitting hairs, but what exactly do
you mean by “a significant improvement”?
To tear one’s hair (out): (informal) be very worried or angry: Why are you so late
home? Your mother and I have been tearing our hair out wondering where you were!

Hand/s
A firm hand: strong control or discipline: Those children need a firm hand to make
them behave.
To get one’s hands on somebody: (used mostly in threats) catch somebody who has
done something wrong: just wait until I get my hands on the person who stole my bike!
A dab hand:(BrE, informal) a person who is very good at doing something or using
something: He’s a dab hand at cooking spaghetti.
To be an old hand at something: a person with a lot of experience and skill in a
particular activity: She’s an old hand at dealing with the press.
To get out of hand: become difficult or impossible to control: how can we stop price
increases getting out of hand?
To be off one’s hand: no longer the responsibility of somebody: Now that the children
are off my hands, I’ve got more time for other things.
To hear something at first/second/ third hand: by being told about something by
somebody else who has seen it or heard about it, not by experiencing, seeing, etc. it
yourself: I’m fed up of hearing about these decisions third hand!
At hand:(BrE, informal) a person who is very good at doing something or using
something: He’s a dab hand at cooking spaghetti.
By hand: by a person rather than a machine: The fabric was painted by hand.
Not to do a hand’s turn: (old-fashioned) to do no work: She hasn’t done a hand’s turn
all week.
To be in good/ safe hands: being taken care of by a responsible person or
organization, and unlikely to be harmed or damaged: When the child is with my
mother, I know she is in good hands.
Hand over fist: make / lose money hand over fist to make / lose money very fast
and in large quantities: Some of these tennis players are making money hand over fist.
To give someone a free hand to do something: to get, have, etc. the opportunity to do
what you want to do and to make your own decisions: I was given a free hand in
designing the syllabus.
Hand in hand:
1 If two people are hand in hand, they are holding each other’s hand.

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2 If two things go hand in hand, they are closely connected and one thing causes the
other: Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand.
To give/ lend someone a hand: (informal) help in doing something: Let me give you a
hand with those bags (= help you to carry them).
To have your hands full: to be very busy or too busy to do something else: She
certainly has her hands full with four kids in the house.
To wash one’s hand off: to refuse to be responsible for or involved with
something/somebody: When her son was arrested again she washed her hands of him.

Head
To be head over heels in love: loving somebody very much: He’s fallen head over heels in
love with his boss.
To keep one’s head: to think clearly and remain calm in a difficult situation: If there
is a robbery, you should try to keep your head and do as you are told.
To keep a cold head: to remain calm in a difficult situation.
To lose one’s head: to become unable to act in a calm or sensible way: It’s a very
frightening situation, but we mustn’t lose our heads.
To be off one’s head:
1- Crazy: Are you off your head?
2- Not knowing what you are saying or doing because of the effects of alcohol or
drugs: Don’t even try to have a proper conversation with him- he’s off his head.
To get something into your (thick) head: succeed in understanding or in making
somebody understand something fully: When are you going to get it into your thick
head that you don’t need to worry about money? You’re rich now.
To be above your head: too difficult for somebody to understand: It was clear from the
expression on his face that that the lecture went completely over his head.
To be head and shoulders above somebody: very much better, greater, etc. than
somebody/ something: He’s head and shoulders above the other candidates.
To have a good head for figures: be good at doing sums, etc.: If you want to be
successful in business, you must have a good head for figures.
To have a head for heights: be able to stand on a high place without feeling ill or
afraid: I won’t go up the church tower with you. I’ve no head for heights.
To have a head like a sieve: (informal) to have a very bad memory; to forget things
easily.
Can’t make head or/nor tail of something: (informal) not to be able to understand
something at all: I can’t make head nor tail of this picture- is it upside down?
To have one’s head in the clouds: not to be realistic because you are always thinking
of your own hopes, ideas, dreams, etc.: He want us to start a business together but it
wpuld never work. He’ s got his head in the clouds half the time.
To have one’s head screwed on (the right way): be sensible: You can certainly trust Ann
with your money. She’s got her head screwed on the right way.
To make quite a bit of headway with something: to make progress, especially when
this is slow or difficult: We are making little headway with the negotiations.

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Heart
By heart: (BrE also off by heart) using only your memory: I’ve dialled the number so
many times I know it by heart.
To lose one’s heart (to sb/sth): (formal) to fall in love with somebody/something: I’ve
quite lost my heart to those little kittens of yours. Can we take one home?
To break someone’s heart: make somebody feel extremely unhappy: that boy is
breaking his mother’s heart with his wild ways.
To have a heart of gold: have a very kind and helpful nature, even though it is not
always obvious: I know he’s often bad-tempered but really, you know, he’s got a heart of
gold.
To have one’s heart in the right place: used to say that somebody’s intentions are
kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing: I know she gets
angry sometimes, but basically her heart is in the right place.
To have a change of heart: if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards
something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.
To set one’s heart on something: to want something very much.
To strike at the heart of something: to try to harm somebody in return for an attack
or injury you have received.
To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve: to allow your feelings to be seen by other people.

Heels
To take to your heels: to run away from somebody/something.
To dig one’s heels in: to refuse to do something or to change your mind about
something: They dug in their heels and would not lower the price.

Leg/s
To shake a leg: (old-fashioned, informal) used to tell somebody to start to do
something or to hurry.
To pull someone’s leg: (informal) to play a joke on somebody, usually by making
them believe something that is not true.
To be a blackleg: (BrE, disapproving) a person who continues to work when the people
they work with are on strike; a person who is employed to work instead of those who
are on strike.

Lips
To seal one’s lips: used to say that you will not repeat somebody’s secret to other
people.

Mind/s
To have something in mind: (for something) to be thinking of
somebody/something, especially for a particular job, etc.: Do you have anyone in mind
for this job?
To bear something in mind: not forget about somebody/ something: I will keep your
advice in mind.

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To have something on one’s mind: be worried about something; be thinking a lot
about a problem, etc.: His daughter is very ill, so he’s lot on his mind just now.
To be/ go out of one’s mind:
1- be/ go crazy: You want go on parachuting holiday? Are you out of your mind?
2-confused and upset because of worry, illness, etc.: She’s out of her mind with worry.
To keep an open mind: to be willing to listen to or accept new ideas or suggestions:
I’ve still got an open mind on the question of nuclear defence.
To take one’s mind off one’s troubles: to make you forget about something
unpleasant for a short time. SYN: distract. I went to see a movie to try to take my mind
off my problems.
To change one’s mind: to change a decision or an opinion: Nothing will make me
change my mind.
To speak one’s mind: to say exactly what you think, in a very direct way: I like a
man who speaks his mind.
To be in two minds about something: to be unable to decide what you think about
somebody/something, or whether to do something or not: I was in two minds about the
book (= I didn’t know if I liked it or not).
It came to my mind: if something comes / springs to mind, you suddenly remember
or think of it: When discussing influential modern artists, three names immediately come
to mind.
It went out of/ slipped my mind: if something slips your mind, you forget it or
forget to do it: I was supposed to go to the dentist today, but it completely slipped my
mind.
It’s at the back of my mind: if a thought, etc. is at the back of your mind, you are
aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about: I think your father knew
at the back of his mind that he was being deceived.
It never crossed my mind: (of thoughts, etc.) to come into your mind
SYN: occur to somebody: It never crossed my mind that she might lose (= I was sure that
she would win).

Mouth
To have a big mouth: (informal) a person who talks a lot, especially about him- or
herself, and who cannot keep secrets.

Neck
By a neck: if a person or an animal wins a race by a neck, they win it by a short
distance.
To be a pain in the neck: (NAmE also a pain in the 'ass / 'butt) (informal) a person
or thing that is very annoying.
To be up to one’s neck in something: to have a lot of something to deal with: We’re up
to our neck in debt.
To risk one’s neck: to risk being killed or injured in order to do something.
To save one’s neck: to try to avoid death, punishment, etc., especially by leaving
others in an extremely difficult situation: To save his own skin, he lied and blamed the
accident on his friend.

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To get it in the neck: (BrE, informal) to be shouted at or punished because of
something that you have done.

Nose
Nos(e)y:(informal, disapproving) too interested in things that do not concern you,
especially other people’s affairs
SYN inquisitive: Don’t be so nosy—it’s none of your business.
To get up one’s nose: (BrE, informal) to annoy somebody.
To led somebody by the nose: to make somebody do everything you want; to control
somebody completely.
To poke one’s nose into other people business: (informal) to try to become involved in
something that does not concern you.
To pay through the nose: (informal) to pay much too much money for something.

Shoulder
To give someone the cold shoulder: (informal) to treat somebody in an unfriendly
way.
To rub shoulders with someone: to meet and spend time with a famous person,
socially or as part of your job.

Skin
To be drenched to the skin: to be very wet.
To be the skin of one’s teeth: (informal) if you do something by the skin of your
teeth, you only just manage to do it.
To jump out of one’s skin: (informal) to move violently because of a sudden shock.

Toes
To tread on someone’s toes: (informal) to offend or annoy somebody, especially by
getting involved in something that is their responsibility.
To be on one’s toes: to be in, or imagine that you are in, another person’s situation,
especially when it is an unpleasant or difficult one: I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes
when they find out about it.

Tongue
A slip of the tongue: a small mistake in something that you write or say: Did I call
you Richard? Sorry, Robert, just a slip of the tongue.
To have something on the tip of one’s tongue: if a word or name is on the tip of your
tongue, you are sure that you know it but you cannot remember it.
To hold one’s tongue: (old-fashioned) to say nothing although you would like to give
your opinion.
To bite one’s tongue off: stop yourself from saying something that might upset or
cause an argument, although you want to speak: I didn’t believe her explanation but I
bit my tongue.

14
Tooth/ Teeth
To have a sweet tooth: (informal) to like food that contains a lot of sugar.
To fight tooth and nail: to fight in a very determined way for what you want: The
residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
To cut one’s teeth on something: to do something that gives you your first experience
of a particular type of work.
To get one’s teeth into something: (informal) to put a lot of effort and enthusiasm
into something that is difficult enough to keep you interested: Choose an essay topic
that you can really get your teeth into.

15
 Idioms from animals

To ape somebody: (BrE, disapproving) to do something in the same way as somebody

else, especially when it is not done very well. SYN: imitate: For years the British film
industry merely aped Hollywood.

As blind as a bat: (humorous) not able to see well.

As busy as a bee: very busy.

The bee’s knees: (informal) an excellent person or thing: She thinks she’s the bee’s
knees (= she has a very high opinion of herself).

As hungry as a bear: to be very hungry.

To be like a bear with sore head: (informal) bad-tempered or in a bad-tempered way.

As early bird: (humorous) a person who gets up, arrives, etc. very early.
As free as a bird: completely free.
To be bird- brained: (especially NAmE) a stupid person.

To take the bull by the horns: to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and
with courage.
(To talk) a load of bull: to talk a lot unimportant things.
To be like a bull in a china shop: a person who is careless, or who moves or acts in a
rough or awkward way, in a place or situation where skill and care are needed.
A cock- and- bull story: a story that is unlikely to be true but is used as an
explanation or excuse.

A copycat: (informal, disapproving) used especially by children about and to a

person who copies what somebody else does because they have no ideas of their own.
To grin like a Cheshire cat: smile widely in a foolish way as or as if you are very
pleased with yourself: She sat there grinning like a Cheshire cat while we tried to put the
tent up.
To let the cat out of the bag: to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake: I wanted it to be
a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.
To rain cats and dogs: (informal) (usually used in progressive tenses)crain veru
heavily.
To quarrel like cat and dog: to keep fighting because they seem to hate each other.
The cat’s whiskers: (informal) be the best thing, person, idea, etc.: He thinks he’s the
cat’s whiskers (= he has a high opinion of himself).
Has the cat got your tongue? said to somebody, especially a child, who stays silent
when expected to speak, for example after being asked a question.
There is no room to swing a cat: (informal) when somebody says there’s no room to
swing a cat, they mean that a room is very small and that there is not enough space.

Chicken: [not before noun] (informal) not brave; afraid to do something.

SYN: cowardly.

16
Till the cows come home: (informal) for a very long time; for ever.
To cry crocodile‘s tears: if somebody sheds (= cries) crocodile tears, they pretend to be
sad about something, but they are not really sad at all.

Crow’s feet: [pl.] lines in the skin around the outer corner of a person’s eye.

A dog’s life: an unhappy life, full of problems or unfair treatment.

A dog-eat-dog business: a situation in business, politics, etc. where there is a lot of
competition and people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed:
I’m afraid in this line of work it’s a case of dog eat dog. We’re operating in a dog-eat-dog
world.
To work like a dog: work very hard.
As sick as a dog: (informal) feeling very ill / sick; vomiting a lot.
To be a dog in a manger: a person who stops other people from enjoying what he or she
cannot use or does not want.
To treat somebody like a dog: to treat somebody badly.

To be like water off the duck’s back: (informal) used to say that something,
especially criticism, has no effect on somebody/something: I can’t tell my son what to
do; it’s water off a duck’s back with him.

As slippery as an eel: dishonest and good at not answering questions, etc.

To drink like a fish: to drink a lot of alcohol regularly.

To be like a fish out of water: a person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he
or she is in surroundings that are not familiar.
Fishy: (informal) that makes you suspicious because it seems dishonest. SYN:
suspicious: There’s something fishy going on here.
To be a cold fish: a person who seems unfriendly and without strong emotions.

As fit as a flea: to be very fit.

As cunning as an ox: to be very cunning.

To be a wild goose chase: a search for something that is impossible for you to find or
that does not exist, that makes you waste a lot of time.

To have eyes like a hawk: to be able to notice or see everything: She’s bound to notice
that chipped glass. The woman has eyes like a hawk!

A dark horse:
1-(BrE) a person who does not tell other people much about their life, and who
surprises other people by having interesting qualities.
2-a person taking part in a race, etc. who surprises everyone by winning
To eat like a horse: (informal) to eat a lot: She may be thin, but she eats like a horse.
Straight from the horse mouth: (informal) (of information) given by somebody who
is directly involved and therefore likely to be accurate.

17
As weak as a kitten: to be very weak.
As happy as a lark: to be very happy.

As quiet as a mouse: making very little noise: She crept downstairs (as) quiet as a
mouse.
As poor as a church mouse: very poor.

As stubborn as a mule: (often disapproving) determined not to change your opinion

or attitude. SYN: obstinate. She can be as stubborn as a mule.

As wise as an owl: to be very wise.

As strong as an ox: to be very strong.

As sick as a parrot: (BrE, humorous) very disappointed.

To repeat like a parrot: to keep repeating what you or somebody else has said.

As proud as a peacock: to be very proud.

Pigheaded: unwilling to change your opinion about something, in a way that other
people think is annoying and unreasonable. SYN: obstinate, stubborn.
To buy a real pig in a poke: if you buy a pig in a poke, you buy something without
seeing it or knowing if it is good enough.

To smell a rat: (informal) to suspect that something is wrong about a situation.

The rat race: [sing.] (disapproving) the way of life of people living and working in a
large city where people compete in an aggressive way with each other in order to be
more successful, earn more money, etc.

A snake in the grass: (disapproving) a person who pretends to be your friend but who
cannot be trusted.

To talk turkey: (informal, especially NAmE) to talk about something seriously.

To have a whale of a time: (informal) to enjoy yourself very much; to have a very
good time.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing: a person who seems to be friendly or harmless but is

really an enemy.
To cry wolf: to call for help when you do not need it, with the result that when you do
need it people do not believe you.
To wolf one’s food: (informal) to eat food very quickly, especially by putting a lot of
it in your mouth at once. SYN: gobble.
To keep the wolf from the door: (informal) to have enough money to avoid going
hungry; to stop somebody feeling hungry.

A bookworm: a person who likes reading very much.

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 Idioms with the word “As”

AS black as night: to be very black.

As black as the ace of spades: to be very black.
As bold as brass: (BrE, informal) without showing any respect, shame or fear.
As brown as a berry: having skin that is naturally brown or has been made brown
by the sun.
As cool as a cucumber: very calm and controlled, especially in a difficult situation.
As cold as ice: very cold.
As deaf as a post: very deaf.
As drunk as a lord: very drunk.
As dry as a bone: completely in dry.
As easy as a bone: to be very easy.
As easy as falling off a log: very easy or very easily.
As fit as a fiddle: in very good physical condition.
As flat as a pancake: completely flat.
As fresh as a daisy: full of energy.
As good as gold: (informal) behaving in a way that other people approve of: The kids
have been as good as gold all day.
As hard as iron: to be very hard.
As hard as nails: showing no sympathy, kindness or fear
As heavy as lead: to be very heavy.
As light as a feather: easy to lift or move; not weighing very much.
As mad as a hatter: (informal) (of a person) mentally ill; very silly.
As plain as day: very obvious.
As quick as a flash: very quickly: Quick as a flash she was at his side.
As red a beetroot: (of the face) bright red or pink, especially because you are angry,
embarrassed or ashamed.
As regular as clockwork: very regularly; happening at the same time in the same
way; reliable.

Idioms with the word “Like”

To sleep like a log: (informal) to sleep very well.

To get on like a house on fire: (informal) (of people) to become friends quickly and
have a very friendly relationship.
To run like the wind: to run very fast.
To cry like a baby: to cry very loud.
To sing like an angel: to sing beautifully.
To smoke like a chimney: to smoke very much.
To sink like a stone: to go down below the surface or towards the bottom of a liquid or
soft substance.

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 Idioms with the word “And”

Alive and kicking: very active, healthy or popular.

Back and forth: from one place to another and back again repeatedly:ferries sailing
back and forth between the islands.
Body and soul: with all your energy: She committed herself body and soul to fighting
for the cause.
Bricks and mortar: a building, when you are thinking of it in connection with how
much it cost to build or how much it is worth: They put their money into bricks and
mortar.
By and large: used when you are saying something that is generally, but not
completely, true: By and large, I enjoyed my time at school.
Clean and tidy: not dirty.
Cut and dried: [not usually before noun] decided in a way that cannot be changed
or argued about: The inquiry is by no means cut and dried.
Down and out:(of a person)
1-without money, a home or a job, and living on the streets: a novel about being down
and out in London.
2- certain to be defeated.
Fair and square:
1-honestly and according to the rules: We won the election fair and square.
2-(BrE) in a direct way that is easy to understand: I told him fair and square to pack
his bags.
3-(BrE) exactly in the place you were aiming for: I hit the target fair and square.
First and foremost: more than anything else: He does a little teaching, but first and
foremost he’s a writer.
Free and easy: informal; relaxed: Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
Fun and games: (informal) activities that are not serious and that other people may
disapprove of.
Give and take: to be willing, in a relationship, to accept what somebody else wants
and to give up some of what you want: You’re going to have to learn to give and take.
Hale and hearty:(especially of an old person) strong and healthy.
Hammer and tongs: if two people are at it hammer and tongs or go at it hammer and
tongs, they argue or fight with a lot of energy and noise.
Here and there: in various places: Papers were scattered here and there on the floor.
High and dry: in a difficult situation, without help or money.
Hit and miss: not done in a careful or planned way and therefore not likely to be
successful.
Be home and dry: to have done something successfully, especially when it was
difficult: I could see the finish line and thought I was home and dry.
Ifs and buts: [usually pl.] a reason that somebody gives for not doing something or
not agreeing: With so many ifs and buts, it is easier to wait and see .
Ins and outs: all the details, especially the complicated or difficult ones: the ins and
outs of the problem. He quickly learned the ins and outs of the job.
Law and order: a situation in which people obey the law and behave in a peaceful
way: The government struggled to maintain law and order.

20
Meek and mild: quiet, gentle, and always ready to do what other people want without
expressing your own opinion. SYN: compliant, self-effacing: They called her Miss
Mouse because she was so meek and mild.
Now and then: from time to time; occasionally: Every now and again she checked to see
if he was still asleep.
Odds and ends: [pl.] (informal) small items that are not valuable or are not part of a
larger set: She spent the day sorting through a box full of odds and ends.
On and off: from time to time; now and again: It rained on and off all day.
Once and again: sometimes but not too often.
Out and about again:
1- able to go outside again after an illness.
2- travelling around a place: We’ve been out and about talking to people all over the
country.
Peace and quiet: the state of being calm or quiet: I would work better if I had some peace
and quiet.
Prim and proper: (of a person) always behaving in a careful and formal way, and
easily shocked by anything that is rude: You can’t tell her that joke—she’s much too
prim and proper.
To go rack and ruin: to get into a bad condition: They let the house go to rack and ruin.
Ranting and raving: (disapproving) to show that you are angry by shouting or
complaining loudly for a long time.
Right and left: everywhere: She owes money right and left.
Rough and ready:
1- simple and prepared quickly but good enough for a particular situation: a rough-
and-ready guide to the education system
2- (of a person) not very polite, educated or fashionable
Safe and sound: in good condition; not damaged, hurt, etc.:
We arrived home safe and sound. To be of sound mind (= not mentally ill). The house needs
attention but the roof is sound.
Sick and tired:(informal) bored with or annoyed about something that has been
happening for a long time, and wanting it to stop: I’m sick and tired of your moaning.
I’m sick to death of all of you!
A song and dance:
1- (BrE, informal, disapproving) if you make a song and dance about something,
you complain or talk about it too much when this is not necessary.
2- [C] (NAmE, informal) a long explanation about something, or excuse for
something.
Spick and span: [not usually before noun] neat and clean: Their house is always
spick and span.
Tough and go: [not usually before noun] (informal) used to say that the result of a
situation is uncertain and that there is a possibility that something bad or
unpleasant will happen: She’s fine now, but it was touch-and-go for a while (= there was a
possibility that she might die).
Up and down: sometimes good and sometimes bad: My relationship with him was up
and down.
Wear and tear: the damage to objects, furniture, property, etc. that is the result of
normal use: The insurance policy does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear.

21
Wine(d) and dine(d): to go to restaurants, etc. and enjoy good food and drink; to
entertain somebody by buying them good food and drink: The firm spent thousands
wining and dining potential clients.

Idioms with the word “But”

Slowly but surely: making slow but definite progress: We’ll get there slowly but
surely.
Idioms with the word “Or”

All or nothing: used to describe two extreme situations which are the only possible
ones: an all-or-nothing decision (= one which could either be very good or very bad).
Give or take: if something is correct give or take a particular amount, it is
approximately correct: It’ll take about three weeks, give or take a day or so.
Make or brake: to be the thing that makes somebody/something either a success or a
failure: This movie will make or break him as a director. It’s make-or-break time for the
company.
Sink or swim: to be in a situation where you will either succeed by your own efforts
or fail completely: The new students were just left to sink or swim.
Sooner or later: at some time in the future, even if you are not sure exactly when:
Sooner or later you will have to make a decision.
Take it or leave it:
1- used to say that you do not care if somebody accepts or rejects your offer.
2- used to say that somebody does not have a strong opinion about something:
Dancing? I can take it or leave it.
Come rain or shine: whether there is rain or sun; whatever happens: He goes jogging
every morning, rain or shine.

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 Proverbs

-all cats are the same in the dark: we are all similar under some circumstances.
-all is well that ends well: Everything has turned out satisfactorily, even though the
outcome has been uncertain
-all that glitters is not gold: Something attractive is not always what it seems.
-all work and no play makes jack a dull boy: hard work without time for recreation
is not good for one's health
-absence makes the heart grow fonder: Separation intensifies love. They are getting
married after a year being apart, absence made the heart grow fonder.
-as you make your bed so you must lie on it: one must be responsible for one’s
actions. We heard she stole the necklace. She has made her bed, now she must lie on
it.
-actions speak louder than words: What one does is more important than what one
says. The politicians here in Argentina should know that actions speak more than
words.
-the apple never falls far from the tree: the members of a family are alike. His son is
so strict at work; I guess the apples never falls far from the tree.
-an apple a day keeps the doctor away: A small preventive treatment wards off
serious problems. He drinks2 litters of water every day; an apple a day keeps the
doctor away, that’s his motto.
-ask a silly question and you’ll get a silly answer: if you ask something is not
worth asking, the answer will be obsolete.
-the beauty is in the eye of the beholder: Beauty is not judged objectively, but
according to the beholder's estimation. -It’s not a cute dog. –don’t say that, beauty is
in the eye of the beholder.
-beggars can’t be choosers: Those in dire need must be content with what they get.
This model comes with a discount, I don’t like the colour but beggars can’t be
choosers.
-better safe than sorry: Being careful may avoid disaster. This is a long road but I
won’t take the shortcut, better safe than sorry.
-big fish eat little fish: stronger people prevail. The competition is ferocious, big fish
eat little fish; only the best one will win.
-it is better late than ever: It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at
all. I learnt how to drive at 50, but better late than ever.
-blood is thicker than water: Predominantly used to mean that a family connection
will outweigh other relationships
-boys will be boys: Children can be expected to act in a childish way. I ask little Jack
not to play with that, but boys will be boys.
-it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good: A sailing metaphor frequently
invoked to explain good luck arising from the source of others' misfortune.
-a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: It is better to accept or be content with
what one has than to try to get more and risk losing everything.
-birds of a feather flock together: People of the same (usually, unscrupulous)
character associate with one another, as do birds of the same species. Jack and Jill are
bullying little Jeremy, I guess birds of a feather flock together.

23
-charity begins at home: Be generous to your family before helping others. She gives
money to his friends, but charity begins at home.
-curiosity killed the cat: It's best to mind one's own business. Don’t enquire about
that subject, curiosity killed the cat.
-do as I say, not as I do: obey, but not follow one’s example. You will start working
there eight hours a day, do as I say, not as I do.
-don’t count you chickens before they’re hatched: You must not be too confident that
something will be successful.-I will get that job. –don’t count your chickens before
they’re hatched.
-don’t cross your bridges before you come to them: with a situation when, and not
before, it occurs. I have an exam next month. But I won’t cross that bridge before I
come to it.
-don’t change horses in midstream: It's unwise to alter methods or choose new leaders
during a crisis. This is not working, I will try to something different. –don’t change
horses in midstream.
-don’t flog a dead horse: don’t try to revive interest in a hopeless issue. This is
useless, don’t try to flog a dead horse.
-don’t put the cat among the pigeons: Not to do or say something that causes trouble
and makes a lot of people angry or worried. If you do that you will put the cat among
the pigeons.
-eagles don’t catch flies: Great or important people do not concern themselves with
trifling matters or insignificant people. If this murder is not solved I will complain
with the president.-eagles don’t catch flies.
-early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise: to get up
early in the morning is profitable. I have a lot to do for tomorrow- Well, you know
what to do, early to bed, early to rise.
-eat to live, not live to eat: eat should a necessity to stay alive, but not a reason to
live.
-every cloud has a silver lining: A poetic sentiment that even the gloomiest outlook
contains some hopeful or consoling aspect. Everything went wrong, it couldn’t be
worse- don’t worry, every cloud has a silver lining.
-enough is as good as feast: you should not have more of something than you need.
Would you like to eat another ice-cream?.- no thank you, enough is as good as a
feast.
-every dog has his day: Even the lowliest will sometimes come to the fore. We didn’t
win this year, but every dog has his day, wait until next year.
-experience is the best teacher: one learns by experience. I didn’t know what to do, I
wasn’t ready. Don’t worry, experience is the best teacher, next time you’ll do fine
-familiarity brings contempt: Knowing somebody very well may lead to a lack of
respect for them. They were so in loved two years ago, now they argue all the time,
familiarity brings contempt.
-a friend in need is a friend indeed: one who helps when one is in need or difficulty.
-great minds think alike: to coincide.
-haste makes waste: Proceeding too quickly can spoil an enterprise. Yo shouldn’t try
to do everything today, haste makes waste.

24
-he who hesitates is lost: One who cannot come to a decision will suffer for it. I
wasn’t sure about the house but now it is sold already, who hesitates is lost I guess.
-Health is better than health: being healthy is much more important thatn being
wealthy.
-home is where the heart is: if you are with the person or at the place you love most, it
becomes your true home. I might have lived several years abroad, but the home is
where the heart is, so I returned home with my parents
-if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well: if something is necessary it has to be
well done. Do the painting with precision, you know, when the job is worth doing, it
is worth doing well.
-if heaven throws you a plum, open your mouth: you should receive what is given as
a gift
-if you want to see the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain: if you want
something good you may have to go through some difficulties
-ignorance is bliss: What you don't know won't hurt you. no, don’t tell me what he
said, ignorance is a bliss.
-ill weeds grow apace: bad things (people, etc.) grow quickly.
-least said, soonest mended: bad event or situation can be forgotten more easily if
you do not talk about it. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that about you. it is ok, the
least said the soonest mended.
-least said, the better: to be brief in a subject??
-lend your money and lose your friend: You should not lend money to your friends;
if you do, either you will have to bother your friend to repay the loan, which will
make your friend resent you, or your friend will not repay the loan, which will make
you resent your friend
-let sleeping dogs lie: Allow inactive problems to remain so. I saw Charlie with
another woman, should I tell it to her girlfriend?. No, let sleeping dogs lie
-look before you leap: Think of the consequences before you act. I think I’ll go to the
party- are you sure? Look before you leap.
-make hay while the sun shines: Take advantage of favorable circumstances. The TV
is at a good price, we should make hay while the sun shines.
-man cannot live on bread alone: In order to survive, people need more than physical
things like food and shelter. People need mental or spiritual things like satisfaction
and love. I feel bad and I shouldn’t, I have a house, a car, money…-man cannot live
from bread alone.
-many hands make light work: More helpers make a task easier. I need help to paint
the wall- fo curse, many hands make light work.
-march comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb: The weather is traditionally
wild at the beginning of March, but fair by the end.
-misery loves company: Fellow sufferers make unhappiness easier to bear. I fell to the
grand and hoped she fell too, misery loves company
-a miss is as good as a mile: Coming close to success but failing is no better than
failing by a lot. We lost only for one point, but a miss is as good as a mile.
-money is the hatchet to chop friendship: money can destroy a friendship
-Money is the root of all evil: People do many evil things in order to get rich. I can’t
believe what he has just done!- well, money is the root of all evils.

25
-money is power: If you have money, you can get and do things.
-neither a borrower nor a lender be: avoid asking and giving money??
-Never judge a book by its cover: not to judge somebody for the appearance. She looks
stupid, but we can’t judge the book by its cover.
-no news is good news: Having no information means that bad developments are
unlikely.
-nothing ventured nothing gained: One must take risks to achieve something. I
wasn’t sure of what to do but finally decided to go, nothing ventured nothing
gained, right?.
-It’s never late to learn: You can always learn something new
-it never rains but pours: something that you say which means that when one bad
thing happens, a lot of other good things also happen.
-never look a gift horse in the mouth: The proverb warns against questioning the
quality or use of a lucky chance or gift. (=beggars can’t be choosers)
-it is no use in crying over split milk: Do not be upset about making a mistake,
since you cannot change that now. I didn’t pass the test-it’s ok, it’s no use to cry over
the split milk.
-old habits die hard: People find it difficult to change their accustomed behavior. I
stopped smoking last year, but I still take with me a match, old habits die hard I
suppose.
-once bitten twice shy: Once hurt, one is doubly cautious in the future. Lily’s father
missed her birthday the two previous years, now lily is not expecting him to come as
she used to, once bitten, twice shy.
-one man’s meat is another man’s poison: What is good for or enjoyed by one is not
necessarily so for someone else. My mother loves cat, I hate them and now she has
one, one man’s meat is another man’s poison
-only in flight does one know the bird: you must be in the situation to know how to
deal with it??
-other times, other manners: Different generations or eras have different customs .
When I was you age I wasn’t allowed to use make up- well grandma, other times
other manners.
-out of sight, out of mind: If you do not see someone or something frequently, you
will forget about it. I’m still in love with him.-you should stop seen him, out of sight
out of mind.
-out of the frying pan, into the fire: to go from a bad situation to a worse one. I went
for a walk and started raining, and I went out of the frying pan into the fire when a
burglar robbed me.
-the pen is mightier than the sword: Eloquent writing persuades people better than
military force
-people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones: something that you say
which means people should not criticize other people for faults that they have
themselves
-practices makes perfect: Cliché Doing something over and over again is the only
way to learn to do it well. I’m having a hard time remembering all the idioms.- don’t
worry, practice makes perfect.

26
-don’t put all your eggs in one basket: not to make everything dependent on only
one thing.
-don’t put the cart before the horse: avoid having things done in the wrong order; to
have things confused and mixed up. Don’t eat a sandwich before your coffee, you are
putting the cart before the horse.
-A rolling stone gathers no moss: A person who moves about a great deal and never
settles down. Alan has lived in seven countries in eight years, she is a rolling stone
that gathers no moss
-seeing is believing: to believe that something surprising or strange is true if you see
it yourself. I’ve just seen a zombie- where? Seeing is believing.
-Silence is golden: Keeping one's mouth shut is a great virtue. We were talking for
half an hour and then he left- that’s because you should learn that silence is golden.
-Spare the rod and spoil the child: Discipline is necessary for good upbringing. That
boy doesn’t listen to me.- you should spare the rod and spoil the child.
-A still tongue makes wise head: If you are wise, you do not talk very much; you
should only speak when you have judged that it is appropriate to do so. The boss was
sermon us and I decided to remain silent- well done, a still tongue makes a wise
head.
-empty vessels make the most sound: Foolish or witless persons are the most talkative
or noisy.
-still waters run deep: A quiet person may be very profound. She is a mysterious
person, always calm and in silence.-yes, you know, still waters run deep.
-a stitch in time saves nine: A prompt action will avert more serious trouble. It’s very
cloudy, should I bring an umbrella??- yes, a stitch in time saves nine.
-a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet:
-strike while the iron is hot: take advantage of favorable conditions. They have just
won a million dollars, lets go an visit them, strike when the iron is hot.
-take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves: to be thrifty??
-Take the bitter with the sweet: Accept adversity as well as good fortune. I was fired,
but I took the bitter with the sweet and I invested my time to finish my book.
-The early bird catches the worm: If you wake up and get to work early, you will
succeed
-the devil finds work for idle hands: people who have no work or activity are more
likely to do things they should not do. There’s been a week since I’m unemployed.-
you will find something, the devil finds work for idle hands??
-the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence: A different situation
always seems better than one's own. The new car seems great. Yes, it is but I would’ve
rather a sport car.-of course, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.??
-the heavens opened: something that you say which means it started to rain a lot
-the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach: if you want a man to love you,
you should feed him good food. You’ve been married for ten years now, what’s the
secret?-well, remember that the way to a man’s heart is through the heart, it all began
with a delicious dinner.
-there is more than one way to skin a cat: there are several possible ways of achieving
something. I’ve always wanted that job, but now I don’t know what to do- don’t
worry, there is more than one way to skin the cat.

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-there is no accounting for tastes: You cannot blame different people because they
like different things. I can’t understand how she doesn’t consider him attractive.
Well, there is no accounting for tastes, he is attractive to you, but not to her.
-there is no fool like an old fool: Old people are supposed to be wise, so if an old person
behaves foolishly, it is worse than a young person behaving foolishly.
-there is none so deaf as those who will not hear: someone obstinate who will not pay
attention to you. I tried to warn her but she wouldn’t listen. There is non so deaf as
those who don’t want to hear.
-there is no smoke without fire: There is usually some truth behind every rumor. Do
you think what they say about Peter is true?-well, you know what they say, there is
no smoke without fire, I think some of it is true
-Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach: People who are able to do something well
can do that thing for a living, while people who are not able to do anything that well
make a living by teaching.
-Time flies: time passes quickly. I’m too young to have children.- don’t be too
confident, time flies, you might regret it later.
-time and tide wait for no man: One must not procrastinate or delay. We should go
and buy that table before anyone else does, time and tide don’t wait.
-time will tell: Sooner or later something will become known or be revealed. She is
mad at me, I couldn’t explain anything?- it’s ok, time will tell, she will know the
truth.
-too many cook spoil the broth: Too many people trying to manage something
simply spoil it
-travel broadens the mind: When you travel, you learn things about the people and
places you see which you are not used to and help you to acquire different postures.
-two is a company, three is a crowd: A way of asking a third person to leave because
you want to be alone with someone. (Often implies that you want to be alone with the
person because you are romantically interested in him or her.)
-two heads are better than one: Observation by two people is better than by one alone
-variety is the spice of life: Diversity makes life interesting
-a watched pot never boils: Anxious waiting does not speed up matters
-when the cat’s away the mice will play: Without supervision, people will do as they
please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules.
-when in Rome, do as the Romans do: Follow local custom
-Where there is will there is a way: it is possible to do anything if you are very
determined to do it
-you can’t make omelette without breaking eggs: it is difficult to achieve something
important without causing any unpleasant effects
-you can’t see the forest for the trees: Cannot perceive the overview or important
things because of concentrating too much on details this paragraph is so complicated
that I can’t see the forest for the trees. I can’t understand the text.
-you can’t teach an old dog new tricks: Someone who is used to doing things a
certain way cannot change.

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