IDIOMS – FILE 2

leave If someone is left holding the baby, they are made

somebody responsible for a problem that others don't want to deal with.
holding the When the angry customer started to complain, my colleague
baby. disappeared and left me holdingthe baby.
back-room This term refers to people who do important work but have
boys no contact with the public.
Back-room boys don't always receive the credit they deserve for
their work.
back-of-the- This expression refers to a quick approximate calculation
envelope done informally, as on the back of an envelope.
calculation I don't need the exact amount.  Just give me a back-of-the-
envelope calculation.
back of An isolated place located far from any town is said to be in
beyond the
back of beyond.
It took us hours to find Jack's house.  He lives in the back of
beyond.
(like If you know something like the back of your hand, you are
the) back of very familiar with it and know it in detail.
one's hand Of course I won't get lost.  I know London like the back of my
hand!
back into To get yourself back into shape, you need to take some
shape exercise in order to become fit and healthy again.
Eva decided she'd have to get back into shape before looking for a
job.
back on your If you are back on your feet, after an illness or an accident,
feet you are physically healthy again.
My grandmother had a bad 'flu but she's back on her feet again.
back to the Saying that hyou have to go back to the sale mines is a
salt mines humorous way of talking about returning to work, usually with
some reluctance.
We get two days off at Christmas and then it's back to the salt
mines!
back to To say that someone is back to square one means that they
square one have not succeeded in what they were trying to do, so they
have to start again.
When the plans were refused, it was 'back to square one' for the
architect.
back to the If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty.
wall With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal.
back the If you back or bet on the wrong horse, for example the loser
wrong horse in a contest, match or election, you support the wrong
person.
When I voted for him I was convinced he would win, but I backed
the wrong horse!
backhanded A remark that appears to express admiration but could also
compliment be interpreted as an insult is called a backhanded
compliment.
He said my presentation was "surprisingly clear".  How's that for a
backhanded compliment!
backseat A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the
driver driver is called a backseat driver.
I can't stand backseat drivers like my mother-in-law!
bad egg To refer to someone as a bad egg means that they cannot
be trusted.
I don't want my son to be friends with Bobby Smith.  Bobby's a
bad egg.
bad hair day Originating as a humorous comment about one's hair being
unmanageable, this term had broadened to mean 'a day
when everything seems to go wrong'.
What's wrong with Jenny?  Is she having a bad hair day?
(in) bad shape A person who is in bad shape is in poor physical condition.
I really am in bad shape.  I must do more exercise.

badger someone If you badger someone into doing something, you

persistently nag or pester them until you obtain what you
want.
Sophie badgered her parents into buying her a new
computer.
bag of bones To say that someone is a bag of bones means that they
are extremely thin.
When he came home from the war he was a bag of bones.
bag of tricks If you use your (whole) bag of tricks to do something,
you try (all) the clever methods you know in order to
succeed.
Let's call on George and his bag of tricks; maybe he can help
us solve the problem.
in the bag People use this expression when it becomes obvious
that success or victory is going to be achieved.
An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in
the bag for the Conservative candidate.
bait and switch This term refers to a deceptive commercial practice of
advertising
a low-priced item to attract customers, then telling them
that the product is out of stock and persuading them to
buy a more expensive article.
This store is famous for its bait and switch tactics. 
in the balance If something is in the balance, the situation is uncertain
and it is not clear what is going to happen. 
The future of the company is in the balance while the
takeover bid is being examined.
balancing act When you try to satisfy two or more people or groups
who have different needs, and keep everyone happy,
you perform a balancing act.
Many people, especially women,  have to perform a
balancing act between work and family. 
ball and chain This term refers to a burden or problem that ties you
down and prevents you from doing what you want. It can
also refer to one's spouse.
 Our holiday home has become a ball and chain - it's too
much work!
ball is in your If the ball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act
court next.
We gave the manager a list of complaints, so the ball is in his
court now. 
have a ball If you have a ball you enjoy yourself immensely.
The party was great. We had a ball. 
on the ball If you are on the ball, you are aware of what is
happening and are able to deal with things quickly and
intelligently.
We need someone who is really on the ball to head the fund-
raising campaign. 
start the ball If you start the ball rolling, you begin an activity in which
rolling other people will join.
Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker. 
that's the way the Things don't always work out as planned, and there's
ball bounces nothing we can do about it - that's life.
He didn't get the prize he expected, but never mind - that's
the way the ball bounces. 
whole new ball To refer to something as a whole new ball game means
game that it is a completely different situation due to a new set
of circumstances.
Email and text messaging have made communication a
whole new ball game. 
ballpark figure If someone gives a ballpark figure, they give an
approximate number or a rough estimate of the cost of
something.
I don't know exactly how much it cost, but a ballpark figure
would be around $100 000.
(load of) This term referss to idle talk, or pretentious, untrue or
baloney insincere statements that nobody can believe.
That's a load of baloney!  I don't believe a word of it! 
bandit territory A geographical area where law enforcement is practically
impossible, because people ignore all rules, is called
'bandit territory'.
There are a certain number of bandit territories in the world
where travellers are advised not to go. 
jump on the If a person or organization jumps on the bandwagon, they
bandwagon decide to do something when it is already successful or
fashionable.
When organic food became fashionable, certain stores were
quick to jump on the bandwagon and promote it.  
bane of one's To say that something is the bane of your life means that it
life is the cause of your problems or your unhappiness.
The heating system is always breaking down. It's the bane of my
life! 
bang one's If you bang or knock your head agaiinst a brick wall, you
head against a continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of
brick wall several unsuccessful attempts.
I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain
the internet to my grandmother! 
bar fly A bar fly is someone who spends a lot of time drinking in
bars and pubs.
You'll find Johnny down at the pub - he's a real bar fly. 
bare one's soul If you bare you soul (or heart) to someone, you reveal your
innermost thoughts and feelings to them.
Mike couldn't keep things to himself any longer. He decided to
bare his soul to his best friend. 
barefaced liar Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is
a barefaced liar.
That barefaced liar stole my watch and said he'd found it! 
barking up the A person who is barking up the wrong tree is doing the
wrong tree wrong thing, because their beliefs or ideas are incorrect or
mistaken. 
The police are barking up the wrong tree if they think Joey stole
the car - he can't drive!
basket case A person whose agitated mental state leaves them
helpless or unable to cope with things is called a basket
case.
 Jenny will turn into a basket case if this stressful situation
continues. 
bats in the If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean
belfry that they are eccentric or crazy.
He comes up with the craziest ideas - he's got bats in the belfry!
bated breath If you wait for something with bated breath, you are both
anxious and excited about an imminent event.
We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced. 
batten down When you batten down the hatches, you prepare yourself
the hatches for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship
preparing for a storm.
Here comes that trouble-making guy. Batten down the hatches!  
battle lines are This expression is used to say that opposing groups are
drawn ready to defend the reason behind the conflict.
The battle lines have been drawn between those who accept the
changes and those who are against the proposed reforms.  

battle of wills A conflict, argument or struggle where both sides are

detemined to win is described as a battle of wills.
When they separated, neither party would make concessions
- it was a battle of wills.
be full of beans A person who is full of beans is lively, healthy and
active.
He may be getting old but he's still full of beans. 
be my guest This expression is used to give someone permission to
do something.
If you'd like to use the phone, be my guest. 
be-all and end-all To say that something is not the be-all and end-
all means that it is not what matters most or what is
most essential.
Good schools are not the be-all and end-all of educating a
child. 
be that as it may This expression means that what the speaker says may
 be true but it will not change the situation.
OK. Fewer people may come because of the bad weather, but
be that as it may, it's too late to cancel the show. 
bear the brunt A person who bears the brunt of something is the one
who suffers the most when something bad or unpleasant
happens.
When things go wrong, his assistant always has to bear the
brunt of his anger.  
bear fruit If something bears fruit, it produces positive or
successful results.
After years of hard work, his research finally began to bear
fruit.  
bear in mind If a person asks you to bear something in mind, they are
asking you to remember it because it is important.
You must bear in mind that the cost of living is higher in New
York. 
bear with a sore If someone is behaving like a bear with a sore head,
head they are very irritable and bad-tempered.
When his team lost the match, Brad was like a bear with a
sore head. 
beard the lion in If you visit someone important in the place where they
his den work, in order to challenge him/her or obtain
something, you beard the lion in his den.
If he continues to refuse my calls, I'll have to beard the lion in
his den.  
beat one's brain If someone beats their brains out, they try very hard to
out understand something or solve a problem. 
My grandmother beats her brains out every evening trying to
do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.  
beat around the This expression is used to tell someone to say what they
bush have to say, clearly and directly, even if it is unpleasant.
Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what has been
decided! 
beat/flog a dead To say that someone is beating a dead horse means
horse that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or
achieve something that is impossible.
 Mark is beating a dead horse trying to get his money
reimbursed.
The company has gone bankrupt! 

beat a hasty Someone who beats a (hasty) retreat runs away or goes

retreat back hurriedly to avoid a dangerous or difficult situation.
 The thief beat a hasty retreat as soon as he saw the security
officer.
beat/knock the If a person beats the (living) daylights out of another,
(living) daylights they hit them very hard and repeatedly.
If I catch you stealing again I'll beat the daylights out of you!
beat someone to If you beat someone to the draw, you react more quickly
the draw and manage to do something before they do.
Ross was determined to be the first to arrive. He managed to
beat the others to the draw.
it beats me! This expression is used to express surprise at
something that you find difficult to understand.
It beats me how he can live in that horrible apartment!
at someone's If a person is at someone's beck and call, they are
beck and call always ready to do things for them or obey orders to
please them.
Parents should not be at the beck and call of their children.
bee in one's Someone who has a bee in their bonnet has an idea
bonnet which constantly occupies their thoughts.
She's got a bee in her bonnet about moving to New York.
bee's knees To say that someone/something is the bee's
knees means that you think they are exceptionally
good.
If you say "Chloe thinks she's the bee's knees" you mean that 
Chloe has a high opinion of herself.
beef something If you beef something up, you improve it by making it
up stronger or more substantial.
You'd better beef up your arguments if you want to defend
your case.
been in/through If a person or thing has been in or through the wars,
the wars they show signs of rough treatment, injury or damage.
He arrived in a car that looked as though it had been through
the wars.
been there, done The expression is used to indicate that the speaker is
that familiar with the situation mentioned.  It can also refer to
an attitude which reflects a certain boredom at the idea
of repeating an experience that has lost its novelty.
His suggestions produced a 'been there, done that' attitude
which undermined his enthusiasm.
before the ink is If people reach an agreement, and then change their
dry minds immediately afterwards, the change
occurs 'before the ink is dry'.
You can never tell when he's serious.  He's capable of
changing his mind before the ink is dry!
before you know If something takes place so suddenly that you don't
it have time to become aware of it, it happens before you
know it or before you know where you are.
The doorbell rang, and before we knew it a surprise birthday
party was under way!
before your very If someone does something before your very eyes, they
eyes do it in front of you, without attempting to hide what they
are doing.
Before my very eyes, he took the rubbish and threw it into the
neigbour's garden.

beggars can't be This expression means that you should not reject an offer
choosers if it is the only possibility you have. You have no choice.
"Beggars can't be choosers!"
behind bars Someone who is behind bars is in prison.
If you hang around with that gang, you'll find yourself behind
bars in
no time!
behind closed If something takes place behind closed doors, it is done
doors privately, with no observers or intruders.
The matter was discussed behind closed doors.
behind the times A person who is behind the times has old-fashioned
ideas and does not keep up with modern life in general.
Jane doesn't have a mobile phone.  She's completely behind
the times.
ring a bell If something rings a bell, it is vaguely familar to you, but
you can't remember the exact details.
John Bentley?  The name rings a bell but I don't remember
him.
with bells on If you go somewhere with bells on, you are delighted and
eager to go there.
Of course I'll be there - with bells on!
below the belt An action or remark described as below the belt is
considered to be unfair or cruel.
Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their
rivals below the belt.
tighten your belt If you need to tighten your belt, you must spend less
money or be careful how you spend it because there is
less available.
Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!
under one's belt If you have something under your belt, you have acquired
 experience or have satisfactorily achieved something.
You've got to have some work experience under your belt
before you can hope to get a permanent job.
bend over If you bend over backwards, you try very hard to do
backwards something, especially to please somebody.
The manager bent over backwards to try to make Jack stay,
but Jack wouldn't change his mind.
bend the truth If you bend the truth, you say something that is not
entirely true.
Ok, I bent the truth a bit.  I told him it was my natural colour,
but I didn't say that my hairdresser helped me to keep it
natural!
benefit of the If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you choose
doubt to believe that the person is innocent, honest or telling the
truth, because there is no evidence to the contrary.
Although he found it hard to believe Tom's explanation, the
teacher decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
bent out of If you get bent out of shape, you become annoyed or
shape upset about something that is usually not that important
or cannot be avoided.
Don't get bent out of shape if you're delayed.  We'll wait for
you.
beside yourself If you are beside yourself (with an emotion), you lose
your self-control because of the intensity of the emotion
you are feeling.
He was beside himself with grief when he lost his son.

best bet The action most likely to succeed is called one's best

bet.
Your best bet would be to try calling him at home.
best of one's When someone does something to the best of their
ability ability, they do it as well as they possibly can.
I felt nervous all through the interview, but I replied to the
questions the best of my ability.
best of both If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the
worlds benefits and advantages of two different things.
We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the
beach.  We have the best of both worlds.
best foot forward If you put your best foot forward, you do something as
fast as you can.
It's a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward
I should catch the next train.
bet your bottom If you bet your bottom dollar on something, you are
dollar absolutely certain of it.
Jack is very punctual.  You can bet your bottom dollar he'll be
here at 9 o'clock on the dot.
bet on the wrong If you back or bet on the wrong horse, for example the
horse loser in a contest, match or election, you support the
wrong person.
When I voted for him, I was convinced he would win, but I
backed the wrong horse.
better late than When someone does something late, this remark means
never that it is better to do it late than not do it at all.
Do you know what time it is? You promised you'd come early
to help me - but better late than never I suppose!
better safe than It's better to be too cautious than to be careless and
sorry have regrets later.
Let's book tickets in advance - better safe than sorry!
better still/worse This expression is used to emphasize that although
still something is good, bad, etc., something else makes it
even better, worse, etc.
Not only did he get a great offer, but better still, a house and
car come with the job.