IDIOMS AND PHRASES

1.bull in china shop - one who causes damages

2.a chip on your shoulder – being upset for something that happened in the past
3.a damp squib – complete failure
4.a dime a dozen - anything that is common and easy to get
5.a doubting Thomas – a skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe
something
6.a drop in the bucket – a very small part or something big or whole
7.a gentlemen at large – an un reliable person
8.a green horn – in experienced
9.a lost cause – a hopeless case
10.a man of straw – a weak person
11.a mares nest - a week person
12.a piece of cake - a task that can be accomplished very easily
13.a slap on the wrist – a wild punishment
14.above board – fair and honest
15.against the clock - rushed and short on time
16. add fuel to the fire – make situation bad and verse
17.alpha and omega – beginning and end
18.all in all – considering everything
19.all of a sudden – suddenly without warning
20.all and sundry – without making any distinction
21.an eye wash - a pretence
22. an iron hand – by force
23.apple to my eye – someone who is cherished above all others
24.as soon as - just after
25.at odds – in dispute
26.at sixes and seven – persons having different opinion
27.at the drop of a hat – willing to something immediately
28.back and call – at the service
29.bank on - depend on
30.bag and baggage – with all goods
31.bankers dozen – thirteen
32.bated breath – in anxiety expectancy
33. beat a dead horse – to force an issue that has already ended
34.beating around the bash – avoiding main topic
35.bend over backwards – willing to do anything
36.bite your tongue - to avoid talking
37.black and white – in writing
38.blood is thicker than water – the family bond is closer than anything
39.blow hot and cold – show favour at one time and unfavour at other
40.blue moon - a rare event or occurrence
41.body and sour – entirely
42.buy a lemon – purchase a vehicle constantly gives problems
43.by all means – certainly
44. by hook or by crook – by any means
45.by leaps and sound – speedily
46.by heart - by memorizing
47.charley horse – stiffness in the leg
48.by oneself – alone without assistance
49.cats and bull story – un true story
50.cats and dogs – heavy rain
51.chew someone out – verbally scold someone
52.call a spade a spade – straight talks
53.come hell or high water – obstacle or difficult situation
54.chow down – to eat
55.cry wolf – intentionally create a false alarm
56. cut and dried – ready made form
57.crack someone up to – to make someone laugh
58.cock and bull story – untrue story
59.dead ringer – 100% identical
60.cup of Joe – a cup of coffee
61.damp squib – complete failure
62.gentle man at large - an reliable person
63.green horn - inexperienced
64.lost cause – a hope less cause
65.a man of straw – a weak person
66.a steal – very expensive
67.a mare nest – a false intention
68.above all – mainly
69. by heart – by memorizine
70.by one self – alone
71.give in – surrender
72.doozy – something out side
73.green room – waiting room
74.joshing room – tricking me
75.kitty corner – diagonally occurs
76.kick the bucket – die
77.last strew – final series of acceptable action
78.a stalking horse – pretence
79.a toss up – result that is still unclear and go either way
80.take to ones heels – run away
81.bring home – in convince
82. hand me down – wed things
83.have a blast – have a great time
84. absent minded – to be forgetful
85.count heads – to count people
86.make up your mind - decide
87.Hair rising – very frightening
88.egg on – urge someone on
89.in apple pie order – in perfect order
90.safe as house – very safe
91.full house – a full theatre
92.home sick - when you your home
93.give up hope – to stop hoping for something
94.horse sense – common sense
95.all ears – listen very attentively
96.hungry as bear – very hungry
97.out like a light – fall asleep quickly
98.at all times – always
99.take heart – have courage
100.green belt – an area of fields and trees around town
101.the silver screen – the cinema
102.as white as a sheet – in a state of great fear
103.the green light – permission
104.green thumb – be skillful in the garden
105.dog days – very hot days
106.piggy bank – a small bank
107.keep your chin up – be happy
108.from scratch – from the very beginning
109.on edge – nervous
110.get on in years – growing old
111.a bag egg – they cannot be trusted
112.bag of bones – extremely thin
113.have a ball – enjoy
114.be my guest – to give someone permission to do
115.ring a bell – it is vaguely familiar to you but you can’t remember the exact details
116.it’s beyond me – impossible to understand
117.big cheese – a person has lot of power and influence in an organization
118.bite your tongue – try not to say what really think of feel
119.black mode- to be irritatable
120.in black white – written proof
121.black gold - black colour and high value of oil
122.blind as a bat – someones vision is very poor
123.block buster – something that is out stanging
124.make your blood boil – makes you really angry
125.feel blue – have feeling of deep sad or depression
126. blue eyed boy – favourite
127.A breeze – very easy
128.burn your fingers – suffer financially as a result of foolish behavior
129.a piece of cake – you consider it to be very easy
130.sell like hot cakes – sell quickly or in large quantities
131.can of worms - it is complicated unpleasant and difficult to deal with
132.cap in hand – ask for something in a very respective manner
133.put in your thinking cap – ask to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it
134.a cat nap – short sleeping during the day
135.childs play - very simple
136.off colour – looking or feeling ill
137.a couch potato – criticize for spending a lot of time
138.deaf ear – refuse to listen
139.dressed to kill – wearing very fashionable
140.face like thunder – look very angry
141. fat cat – disprove this way the rich use their money or power
142.fit as a fiddle – excellent state of health
143.five finger discount – take something without paying
144.full of beans- lively ,active and healthy
145.go for a song sold at un expectedly low price
146.green fingers - good at gardening
147.hit the road – begin a journey
148.hit the sack- to go to bed
149.all ears – listen very attentively
150.the apple of your eye – like them very much
151.chase rainbows – trying to get something which you will never get
152.eagle eyes notices things more easily
153.eat a horse – very hungry
154.have a poker face – show no emotion at all
155.free as a bird – completely free to do as you please
156.flora and fauna – plants and animals
157.good as gold - obedient and well behaved
158.not a hair out of place – perfect appearance
159.let’s one’s hair down - relax and enjoy
160.hard of hearing – cannot hear very well
161.out like a light – fall asleep quickly
162.idiot box – television
163.just around the corner – happen very soon
164.kick your self – angry with yourself for something
165.kill with kindness – can harm someone with excessive efforts of generosity
166.laughing stock – everyone laughs for something stupid
167.lion’s den – difficult situation and to face unfriendly people
168.lipe are sealed – promise not to reveal a secret
169.live wire – highly energetic and full of enthusiasm
170.white Christmas – when it snows at christmas and the ground is white
171.white as a ghost – a person who looks very pale and frightened
172.whiz kid - young talented and successful at doing something
173.use ones noodle - use your brain or your common sense
174.take it on the chin - breve and accept adversity , criticism or defeat without complaining
175.tears ones hair out - extremely agitated or distressed something
176.tight spot - someone who is in a very difficult situation
177.time after time - do it repeatedly or on many occasions
178.time of your life - you enjoy your self very much
179.tongue lashing - to scold someone severely
180.two pas in a pod - similar in appearance
181.sharp cookie - someone who is not easily deceived or fooled
182.go nuts - foolish , eccentric or mad
183.in a pickle - in a difficult situation and need help
184.flying high - to be very happy , to be joyful
185.roll up your sleeves - get ready for hard work
186.come clean - tell the truth
187.a social butterfly - a person who has a lot of friends and acquaintances and likes to fit from
one social event or other
188.like a scalded cat - move very fast ,because they are frightened or shocked
189.raining cats and dogs - raining very heavily
190.one horse town - a small , boring town where nothing much happens
191.night owl - someone who is lively and active at night and goes to bed very late
192.proud as a peacock - a person who is extremely proud
193.paper tiger- this term refers to a person , organisation or country that is less powerful or
threatening than they appear to be
194. have a whale of time - enjoy very much
195.rap on the knuckles - punished or reprimanded not very severely but as a reminder not to
do that again
196.skin some one alive - punish severely
197.reach for the moon - ambitious and try to achieve something even if it’s difficult
198.like a cat on hot bricks - a person who is very nervous or rest less
199.shake like a leaf - tremble with fear
200.follow ones nose - go straight ahead
201.pigs might fly - miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely
202.as different as chalk and cheese - two people who are extremely unlikely
203.as useful as a chocolate tea pot -which is of no practical use at all
204.like clockwise - everything happens exactly as expected
205.behind the times - a person has old fashioned ideas and does and does not keep up with
modern life in general
206.silver surfer - an elderly person who uses the internet
207.thin on the top - losing hair or going baid
208.collecting dust - not touched or used for a long period of time
209.house hold name or word - familiar
210.busman’s holiday - when you spend your spare time or your holidays doing the same sort
of activity as you do in your job