IDIOMS BANK

S/N IDIOM MEANING

1 Eat, sleep & breathe Being so enthusiastic and passionate about something that
something you think about it all the time.
2 Once in a blue moon Happens very rarely or once in a lifetime.
3 An arm and a leg Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.
4 Red tape Set of rules and/or regulations that slow or stop progress.
5 Red herring Unimportant matter that misleads and draws attention
away.
6 Put it in black and white Write down for confirmation or evidence.
7 Year in, year out Happens every year for many years in a row.
8 Green thumb Ability to make plants grow or be good at gardening.
9 Red in the face Embarrassed.
10 Hear it on the grapevine Hear something through informal or unofficial means, like
gossip.
1 True colours Someone's actual character.
2 Miss the boat Miss a chance or opportunity.
3 Hot potato Speak of a current issue which many people are talking
about and which is usually disputed.
4 Feeling under the weather Feeling unwell.
5 Do time (serve time) Spend time in prison.
6 Donkey's years A very long period of time.
7 Bottom falls out A plan or project that fails.
8 Chase rainbows Try to achieve something that is very difficult, impossible or
very desirable.
9 Pull wool over other people's Deceive someone into thinking well of them.
eyes
10 University of life Daily life and work where you learn more than you would
through formal education.
21 Out of time No time left to do something or a set time has been
reached.
22 Bring home the bacon Earn a living.
23 Tie the knot Get married.
24 Golden handshake Large sum of money given to someone when they retire
from a company.
25 Pot calling the kettle black Hypocritically criticise or accuse someone else is as guilty as
the person criticising.
26 Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone's statement, without proof.
27 Raise the white flag Accept defeat and surrender to the other party.
28 Time is money Time is a valuable commodity. Payment is needed before
doing something.
29 Red-eye Journey that leaves late in the night and arrives early in the
morning.
30 Black as night Very dark and hard to see.
31 Lining up all the ducks in a Being well organised in preparation for something.
row
32 Your guess is as good as mine Not knowing the answer.
33 This day and age These or modern times.
34 On time Not being late or something happening at the expected
time.
35 Proud as a peacock Very proud
36 White lie Little or harmless lie told to be polite and avoid hurting
someone's feelings.
37 On the brain Thinking or talking about something constantly.
38 Standing the test of time Something that lasts or continues to work well for a long
time.
39 The time is ripe The right or most opportune moment to do something.
40 First in, best dressed The opportunity is afforded to the first to arrive or present
themselves.
41 Kill time Do something whilst waiting.
42 Roll out the red carpet Greet a person with great respect and give them a big, warm
welcome.
43 Give the green light Provide permission to proceed.
44 Well-oiled machine Unit of people or a group of things working well together.
45 Learn the ropes Learn how to do a job or task properly.
46 Puppy love Temporary infatuation between young people.
47 Blue blood From noble, aristocratic or wealthy family.
48 Take with a grain (or pinch) of Not to take what someone says too seriously. Be sceptical
salt about something.
49 Time heals all wounds (or Feelings of hurt (usually emotional) will go away after some
time is a great healer) time has passed.
50 After the watershed A time when after which programmes for older audiences
may be aired on TV.