A good many
Meaning: A lot
of.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Did
anyone enter the building while you were talking?
Speaker B: A good
many people I should think.
All hands on deck
Meaning: The
phrase is said when there is some kind of emergency, and it requires everyone
to work hard; something that takes a lot of effort.
Example: It’s
been a bit of an all hands on deck effort organizing this
meeting.
All hell broke
loose
Meaning: A
situation that suddenly gets out of control and people start
fighting or
arguing.
Example: When a
fan at a rock concert jumped onto the stage, all hell broke loose.
All walks of life
Meaning: People
of all social and economic classes.
Example: In the
19th century, this game was played by all walks of life.
A mile a minute
Meaning:
Extremely fast; very rapidly.
Example: My
friend talks a mile a minute about his cars.
An awful lot
Meaning: A large
amount; very much.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Our
friend is completely devastated by the death of his parents.
What can we do
about it?
Speaker B: Not an
awful lot, unfortunately.
Any port in a
storm
Meaning: To
emphasize that in a bad situation you will accept any help or take advantage of
any opportunity.
Example: Thanks,
Dan! It's not an ideal solution, but hey, any port in a
storm.
Article of faith
Meaning:
Something you deeply believe in.
Example: This
book is an article of faith for her.
As broad as it’s
long
Meaning: With no significant
difference; without any advantage; the same.
Example: Hotel A
is a little cheaper, but Hotel B has free breakfast, so it's as broad as it's
long.
As drunk as a
lord
Meaning:
Extremely drunk.
Example: He was
as drunk as a lord.
As good a place as
any
Meaning: Not
perfect, but not worse than any other.
Example: This
hotel is as good a place as any to spend the night; It was just as good a place
as any to spend the weekend.
As keen as
mustard
Meaning:
Extremely excited, interested, or enthusiastic.
Example: John got
a job at a big company because he was as keen as
mustard.
As long as one’s
arm
Meaning:
Extremely long.
Example: My wife
owes money to a list of people as long as my arm.
At a low ebb
Meaning: In a
state of weakness.
Example: Our
economy is at a low ebb; Her health is at a low ebb; My
business is now
at a low ebb.
At long last
Meaning: Finally;
after a long wait.
Example: At long
last pizza has arrived; At long last the project was
finished.
A torrid time
Meaning: A
difficult period filled with problems and challenges.
Example: Our team
will definitely face a torrid time in tomorrow's game; I had a torrid time
during the championship.
At your earliest
convenience
Meaning: As soon
as possible.
Example: Please
reply to my letter at your earliest convenience.
Avoid something
like the plague
Meaning: To avoid
something as much as possible.
Example: Rita's
been avoiding me like the plague ever since I confessed my love for her.
Back the wrong
horse
Meaning: To
support something unsuccessful; make the wrong choice or
decision.
Example: You
really backed the wrong horse when you bought this
abandoned house;
Despite their vast experience, investors sometimes end
up backing the
wrong horse.
Barking up the
wrong tree
Meaning: Follow
the wrong course of action; doing something that will not produce the result
you want.
Example: If you
expect me to solve all your financial problems, then you,
my dear friends,
are barking up the wrong tree.
Batten down the
hatches
Meaning: To
prepare for a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: Many
companies are battening down the hatches before the crisis.
Be a barrel of
fun
Meaning: Be very
cheerful, sociable, and enjoyable.
Example: My
friend Joe is a real barrel of fun; Festivals are always a barrel of fun.
Be at a loose end
Meaning: Not
knowing what to do; have nothing to do.
Example: You can
come and help me clean up if you're at a loose end; Get out and take a walk if
you're at a loose end.
Beat someone
hollow
Meaning: To
defeat someone easily and thoroughly.
Example: We
scored an incredible 130 points per game and beat that team hollow.
Be beside
yourself
Meaning: Being
overwhelmed by strong feelings or emotions; unable to
think clearly or
control oneself.
Example: Tanya
was beside herself with grief when her husband died; John was beside himself
with excitement.
Be chasing your
own tail
Meaning: To do
something extremely inefficient or unproductive.
Example: I need
to start taking only effective steps towards my goal and
stop chasing my
own tail.
Bee’s knees
Meaning:
Excellent; of a very high standard; ideal.
Example: Ron
thinks he's the bee's knees; This TV show is the bee's knees; Christmas dinner
was just the bee's knees.
Be for the high
jump
Meaning: Prepare
to be punished; to warn someone that you will punish
them if they do
something wrong/illegal.
Example: If I
catch you stealing, you'll be for the high jump.
Before your very
eyes
Meaning: Right in
front you; while you are watching.
Example: Thank
you for coming to see our magic show! Before your very eyes, I will make this
ball disappear.
Beggar belief (or “beggar
description”)
Meaning:
Impossible or not worth believing; impossible to describe or
explain.
Example: It
almost beggars belief that you completed the project on your
own, without any
help; Her beauty beggars description!
Be in a tight
corner
Meaning: To be in
a difficult or tough situation.
Example: With
funding being cut, my science project is in a tight corner.
Be in deep water
Meaning: To get
into serious trouble.
Example: Having lost
all his savings in the casino, he is now in deep water; Sarah has been in deep
water since she lost her job.
Be in over your
head
Meaning: To be
involved in a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation that you cannot
handle due to lack of strength, knowledge, or experience.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: I can
beat them all, I have enough resources.
Speaker B: No,
you can't! You are in over your head and you know it.
Be in the soup
Meaning: To be in
serious trouble.
Example: If Tony
and his wife find out what you've done, you'll be in the
soup.
Belt and braces
Meaning: Do some
extra actions to make sure something is safe; providing
double security.
Example: I have a
very important meeting tomorrow, so I set an alarm on
my phone, tablet,
and watch - belt and braces, I admit.
Be on the best of
terms with someone (or “be on good terms”)
Meaning: To have
a good/excellent relationship with someone.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Do you
think Dan will agree to hire me?
Speaker B: I'm
not on the best of terms with Dan at the moment, so you'll
have to ask him
yourself.
Be on tenterhooks
Meaning: Very
nervous, excited, and thrilled because you are wondering
what is going to
happen in a specific situation.
Example: We were
on tenterhooks all evening waiting for the big news; I've been on tenterhooks
all month, waiting for the DNA test results.
Be on the cusp of
Meaning: To be at
the time when a situation/condition is going to change.
Example: We're on
the very cusp of the new world.
Be on the skids
Meaning: To be in
a difficult or bad situation.
Example: Their
family business seems to be on the skids.
Between the devil
and the deep blue sea
Meaning: In a bad
situation with two equally unpleasant options.
Example: With all
my debts, I'm really between the devil and the deep blue sea, because I need to
sell either my house or business.
Blot on something
Meaning: A fault
or mistake that ruins someone's reputation; something that spoils something.
Example: A
serious blot on my career; This incident is a blot on our family name.
Blow something or
someone out of the water
Meaning:
Completely destroy, ruin, or defeat someone/something.
Example: These
terrible reviews from the critics will blow my restaurant
out of the water.
Bone of
contention
Meaning:
Something that people argue about; subject of a disagreement.
Example: The main
bone of contention between us is money.
Bring something
to the table
Meaning: To
contribute; to provide something useful to others in your
group; bring up
for discussion.
Example: Our new
worker will bring many important skills to the table; So, John, what are you
going to bring to the table besides your vast experience?
Burn the midnight
oil
Meaning: To
work/read/study late into the night.
Example: I have
to burn the midnight oil to finish my homework.
Bursting at the
seams
Meaning:
Extremely full or crowded.
Example: When the
whole family comes home for Christmas, our house is bursting at the seams.
Burst someone’s
bubble
Meaning: To end
someone's illusions, dreams, beliefs, or hopes by telling
them the truth.
Example: I don't
want to burst your bubble, but she's gone and won't come back to you.
By jove
Meaning: To
emphasize that you are very surprised or excited.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Thank
you for your testimony, sir. But before we let you go,
there's one more
thing I need to do.
Speaker B: What
exactly?
Speaker A: I will
take your fingerprints and a hair sample.
Speaker B: Will
you, by jove? Well, get on with it then!
By leaps and
bounds
Meaning:
Extremely fast.
Example: His
English is improving by leaps and bounds; Her admiration for him was growing by
leaps and bounds.
By the look of
things/it
Meaning: Based on
the information you have at the moment.
Example: By the
look of things, he did not commit a crime; Prices are going to go up, by the
look of it.
Call a spade a
spade
Meaning: Speak
directly and clearly about something, even if it is
unpleasant.
Example: Let's
call a spade a spade - you cheated on me with my best
friend!
Cannot do
something for toffee
Meaning: Be very
incompetent and extremely bad at something.
Example: I can't
drive a truck for toffee; I can't sing for toffee.
Can’t make head
nor tail of something
Meaning: Can't
understand something at all.
Example: I
couldn't make head nor tail of that old book.
Carved in stone
Meaning: Cannot
be changed; permanent.
Example: You can
pitch us your ideas about our product, we haven't carved anything in stone yet.
Cast a shadow
over/on
Meaning: To make
a situation less encouraging, enjoyable, or hopeful and more unpleasant.
Example: The sad
news about his health condition cast a shadow over our meeting.
Catch someone
red-handed
Meaning: To
discover (or catch) someone in the act of committing a crime or doing something
bad or illegal.
Example: Finn was
caught red-handed in a robbery; The police caught her red-handed with stolen
diamonds in her purse.
Cat got your
tongue?
Meaning: To
emphasize that someone is unusually quiet.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: You
have lipstick marks on your neck. Who is she?
Speaker B: Ohhh.
Speaker A: What's
the matter? Cat got your tongue?
Champagne tastes,
beer wages (or “champagne taste on a beer budget”)
Meaning: Someone
with expensive preferences and low income.
Example: Tina
spent her entire salary on a designer jacket, she definitely
has champagne taste
on a beer budget.
Clip someone’s
wings
Meaning: To limit
someone's power, freedom, or comfort.
Example: Her
parents clipped her wings by refusing to pay for her
luxurious life.
Close the
door/stable door after the horse has bolted
Meaning: To
emphasize that it is too late to take action to prevent
something
undesirable/unwanted from happening, because it has already
happened.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Hello
sir! We would like to offer you a free alarm system for
your store.
Speaker B: Thanks
for the offer, but I've already been robbed, so it's a bit
late to close the
door after the horse has bolted.
Come a cropper
Meaning: To fail
badly; to fall down.
Example:
Investors have come a cropper on this project; Dan came a
cropper on the
ski slopes and broke his arm.
Come from behind
Meaning: To win
unexpectedly while in a losing position.
Example: The red
team came from behind to beat the green team 6-5.
Cook someone’s
goose
Meaning: To ruin
someone's plans; prevent success.
Example: This
front-page scandal news will surely cook his goose.
Cook the books
Meaning: To
falsify a company's financial records.
Example: He made
thousands from cooking the books before the fraud
department caught
him.
Couldn’t fight
their way out of a paper bag
Meaning: Weak or
ineffective; without much energy or ability.
Example: He’s
absolutely useless as an ally - he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag!
Counsel of
despair
Meaning: An
admission of defeat or failure.
Example: It is
sad to hear such a counsel of despair from our government
about the
situation with our economy.
Crawl out of the
woodwork
Meaning: To
suddenly or unexpectedly appear after a long time (usually for selfish
purposes).
Example: After
his song became a number one hit, his ex-girlfriend came
crawling out of
the woodwork.
Cry for the moon
Meaning: To wish
for something unattainable.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: I do
not have time for anything. I wish there were at least 40
hours in a day.
Speaker B: Well,
you're crying for the moon!
Cute as a button
Meaning:
Adorable; graceful; very cute.
Example: Your
little sister is cute as a button.
Cut short
Meaning: To end
something earlier than expected or planned.
Example: He was a
promising surgeon, but his career was cut short by a
terrible accident
with his left hand.
Cut something to
the bone
Meaning: To cut
down severely; reduce to the bare minimum.
Example: We need
to cut our expenses to the bone.
Die in vain
Meaning: To die
for nothing; to sacrifice yourself for a cause that ends up being useless.
Example: Commander,
you need to retreat! Don't let your warriors die in
vain.
Dig one’s heels
in
Meaning: To
emphasize that you do not want to change your plans; to
refuse to do
something.
Example: I tried
to persuade her to choose another restaurant, but she dug her heels in.
Discretion is the
better part of valour
Meaning: To
emphasize that it is better to avoid unnecessary risks or
unpleasant
situations.
Example: Danny,
my boy, discretion is the better part of valour, so don't be a hero and go
home!
Dock someone’s wages
Meaning: To
reduce the amount of money you pay someone as a
penalty/punishment.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Boss,
John delivered the package, but it's damaged. Should I
accept it and pay
him?
Speaker B: Fine,
but dock his wages.
Don’t give up the
day job
Meaning: Make it
clear to someone that you do not believe in the success of their new idea,
plan, project, or hobby (in a playful and non-offensive
manner).
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: What
do you think of my new book idea?
Speaker B: Hmm,
interesting idea, but don't give up the day job.
Do someone a
world of good
Meaning: To make
someone feel better or much healthier; to be very helpful for someone.
Example: The
mountain air will do you a world of good.
Down in the dumps
Meaning:
Extremely sad; unhappy; very depressed.
Example: Vince
has been down in the dumps ever since his wife died.
Dress in layers
Meaning: Dress
warmly; wear several types of clothing at once to keep
warm.
Example: You're
going to Norway, so dress in layers.
Drop a clanger
Meaning: To say
or do something foolish or embarrassing.
Example: I
dropped a clanger when I asked him about the wedding on our first date.
Easy on the
eye/ear
Meaning: Pleasant
to look at or listen to.
Example: I
painted my bedroom in pastel colours to make it easy on the
eye; I like
classical music because it's easy on the ear.
Eat someone out
of house and home
Meaning: To eat a
lot of someone’s food, especially when you're a guest in their house (often
said in a humorous manner).
Example: Aunt
Lucy, Uncle John, I didn't invite you here to eat me out of house and home.
Educated guess
Meaning: An
assumption based on knowledge of the situation and therefore most likely
correct.
Example: As a
mechanic, I can't say exactly how much it will cost to repair your car, but I
can make an educated guess.
Every dog has its
day
Meaning: Everyone
has at least one happy or successful moment in life.
Example: Your
startup has failed, but don't lose hope and remember that
every dog has its
day.
Fall by the
wayside
Meaning: To fail
to finish an activity; no longer be effective.
Example: Many
clubs and resorts fall by the wayside during a recession.
Fall into the
wrong hands
Meaning: To be
discovered by your enemy; to be discovered by
unfriendly/dangerous
people.
Example: If this
document falls into the wrong hands, then it could be
catastrophic.
Fat chance
Meaning: Not
likely to happen; extremely unlikely.
Example: Let's
face it, you have a fat chance of getting the job; Fat chance we can get there
on time.
Faux pas
Meaning: A social
mistake; embarrassing error; something socially
awkward.
Example: Arriving
at the party early or on time is a faux pas.
Fit to drop
Meaning: Very
tired.
Example: After
the marathon we were fit to drop.
Flatter to
deceive
Meaning: Looks
promising at first glance, but ends up being very
disappointing.
Example: As with
most new investment companies, their early success
flattered to
deceive.
Flog/beat a dead
horse
Meaning: To keep
wasting energy or time on something when there is no
chance of
success.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Stop
asking me these questions, I won't tell you anyway.
Speaker B: But I
need answers. Tell me everything you know!
Speaker A: You do
like flogging a dead horse, don't you?
Fly off the
handle
Meaning: To
become very angry; to lose control; react too angrily to
something
insignificant.
Example: I'm
sorry I unintentionally pushed your girlfriend, but there's no need to fly off
the handle.
For donkey’s
years
Meaning: For a
very long time.
Example: I've had
this ring for donkey's years; The new railway won't be
ready for
donkey's years.
For want of a
better word/term
Meaning: Lacking
a more precise word/term; to emphasize that you cannot think of a more accurate
way of explaining what you mean.
Example: He is,
for want of a better word, a grumbler; She should behave more respectfully or,
for want of a better word, decently.
Friends in high
places
Meaning:
Influential and powerful people who will help you in case of
emergency.
Example: I have
plenty of friends in high places, so finding a new job is not a problem.
Get a grip on
yourself
Meaning: To make
an effort to control your behaviour, manners, or
emotions.
Example: Get a
grip on yourself and stop crying!
Get your hands on
someone
Meaning: To catch
or find someone.
Example: When I
get my hands on him, he will have to pay off his debts.
Give someone the
runaround
Meaning: To delay
someone by providing useless information or directions.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: When
do you plan to launch the project?
Speaker B: On
Monday or Wednesday. Maybe Saturday. Or maybe a week from now.
Speaker A: Sounds
like you're giving me the runaround. I need to know
exactly when this
project will be launched!
Go at it hammer
and tongs
Meaning: With
great energy, power, passion, or enthusiasm; very
intensively; to
have a very noisy argument.
Example: Our
neighbors were going at it hammer and tongs all night.
Go down like a
lead balloon
Meaning: To be
extremely unsuccessful, unloved, or unpopular.
Example: His
political joke went down like a lead balloon; These stupid
questions go down
like a lead balloon.
Go down like
ninepins
Meaning: To be
damaged in large numbers; when a lot of people suddenly become ill.
Example: Trees
and road signs were going down like ninepins in a storm.
Go easy on
someone
Meaning: To treat
someone more gently, less harshly.
Example: Go easy
on your son, he's just a kid.
Go off-book
Meaning: To not
follow the script; disturb the order of things.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: I have
an idea! Let's take half of Mike's share for ourselves.
Speaker B: I have
a better idea! Let's split the money between the three of us and leave Mike
aside.
Speaker C: Stop
arguing! Let's stick to the plan. I don't like it when you two go off-book like
this.
Go off the rails
Meaning: Start
behaving in an uncontrollable or intolerable way.
Example: My
daughter started going off the rails shortly after graduation.
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make
an extra effort; do more than is expected of you.
Example: We need
to go the extra mile to release the game on time.
Go through the
floor
Meaning: To fall
to an ultra-low level.
Example: Due to
the crisis, resort prices have gone through the floor.
Guard your tongue
Meaning: Being
very careful about what you say.
Example: Guard
your tongue, woman, you're talking about my mother!
Hang in the
balance
Meaning: Not yet
decided; unsure of the future; not certain what will
happen to it.
Example: After
that scandal, the future of my company still hangs in the
balance.
Have a bone to
pick with someone
Meaning: To talk
to the person about the things that annoy you; to have an issue to discuss or
argue about.
Example: Darling,
I've got a bone to pick with you. Why did you decide to have dinner with your
ex-boyfriend again?
Have a bee in
your bonnet
Meaning: To talk
a lot about something or be extremely passionate about it (mostly in a very
annoying way).
Example: He's got
a bee in his bonnet about video games.
Have another
string to one’s bow
Meaning: To
emphasize that you have another plan/idea/skill to use if it's
needed.
Example: You're
right, my plan didn't work, but I have another string to my bow.
Have a short fuse
Meaning: To get
angry/mad very easily.
Example: Her boss
is known to have a short fuse.
Have bigger fish
to fry
Meaning: Have
more important things to do.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Could
you help me with my project?
Speaker B: Sorry,
I've got bigger fish to fry!
Have feet of clay
Meaning: To have
hidden flaws or weaknesses.
Example: Most of
the greatest minds in history had feet of clay; Fans don't want to see their
idols with feet of clay.
Have it in you
Meaning: To have
a certain quality/skill.
Example: You
don't have it in you to make the difficult choices.
Have one’s blood
up
Meaning: To be
angry or inflamed; to be in an aggressive or violent mood.
Example: Her
offensive jokes really got my blood up.
Have the stomach
for something
Meaning: To have
enough determination to do something difficult, risky, or unpleasant.
Example: I don't
have the stomach for a real fight; I have no stomach for
horror movies.
Have your back to
the wall
Meaning: Find
yourself in an extremely difficult situation with limited
options for
action.
Example: He
really has his back to the wall because of all his debts and
loans.
Have your fair
share of something
Meaning: A lot or
more than enough of something.
Example: Listen
to me Jonny, I've done my fair share of travelling and I'm telling you the most
delicious desserts can be found in Norway; He's had his fair share of failures
in his life.
Hold sway
Meaning: To have
a great influence on someone's opinion or behaviour; to control
someone/something.
Example: His
warriors hold sway over much of the continent; Traditional
values still hold
sway in our home.
Hot on the trail
of
Meaning: Close to
catching someone; close to finding something.
Example: A
detective is hot on the trail of a murder; Recruiters are hot on the trail of
young soccer stars.
Hot under the
collar
Meaning:
Extremely angry or embarrassed.
Example: I got
really hot under the collar when my ex-girlfriend showed up at the party.
If all else fails
Meaning: If all
other attempts have failed; if what was planned cannot
happen.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: You
look gorgeous! You've always been so stylish and unique in your outfits.
Speaker B:
Thanks! If all else fails, I can get into the fashion business.
In a bind
Meaning: To be in
a difficult, tough, or threatening situation.
Example: I'm in a
bind to pay my bills; This new schedule has put me in a bind.
In a stew
Meaning: Worried;
confused; upset.
Example: Jennifer
is all in a stew over her lost mobile phone.
In cold blood
Meaning: In an
unemotional way; in a cruel and calm way.
Example: She shot
him in cold blood.
In fits and
starts
Meaning: Not
stable; not smooth; often stops and then starts again.
Example: The
music player works in fits and starts.
In full swing
Meaning: At the
peak of activity.
Example: When my
girlfriend and I arrived, the party was in full swing.
In one piece
Meaning:
Unscathed; without being damaged.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Ouch,
an icicle just fell on me.
Speaker B: You in
one piece?
Speaker A: And
still breathing, thanks.
In someone’s bad
books
Meaning: In
someone's disfavour.
Example: I'm in
her bad books at the moment because I forgot to buy her a birthday present.
In store for
someone
Meaning: Forthcoming;
about to happen to someone; planned for someone.
Example: I have a
big surprise in store for you.
In the fullness
of time
Meaning:
Eventually; after a long time.
Example: I'm sure
she'll forgive me everything in the fullness of time; All her secrets will be
revealed in the fullness of time.
In words of one
syllable
Meaning: In clear
and simple language without complicated words and
expressions.
Example: Please
explain this theorem to me in words of one syllable; Could
you repeat your
speech in words of one syllable?
Itching to do
something
Meaning: Being
extremely impatient because you want to do/get something as soon as possible.
Example: She's
itching to go to college; He's itching to get back to work.
It’s high time
Meaning: To
emphasize that it's time to do what should have been done a
long time ago.
Example: It's
high time you realize that you're a father; It's high time you
got a job.
It’s no skin off
my nose
Meaning: To
emphasize that you don't care if someone does something,
because it's not
your responsibility.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: They
will stop working with us if we do not fulfil all the terms of the contract.
Speaker B: It’s
no skin off my nose, I'm just a trainee in this company.
Jog someone’s
memory
Meaning: To
refresh someone's memory; to help someone remember
something.
Example: His old
diary jogged his memory; That family photo jogged my memory.
Jumping-off point
Meaning: A
starting point for an activity, journey, or project.
Example:
Amsterdam is the best jumping-off point for a trip to the
Netherlands.
Jumping on
shadows
Meaning: Being
intensely frightened by things that shouldn't normally
frighten you.
Example: Ever
since she returned from the expedition, she's been acting
strangely -
jumping on shadows, constantly checking if the front door is
closed.
Keep a low
profile (or “keep the spotlight off”)
Meaning: To avoid
attracting attention.
Example: I hope
you will try to keep a low profile tonight. Don't forget that the police are
looking for you.
Keep one’s chin
up
Meaning: To stay
cheerful during difficult or challenging times.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Don't
worry so much about bad test results, you'll retake them in a month and get the
highest possible score. I believe in you!
Speaker B: I'll
try my best to keep my chin up, thanks dad.
Keep one’s nose
to the grindstone
Meaning: To do
intensive, heavy, or continuous work.
Example: Dina's
got to keep her nose to the grindstone to feed her family.
Keep one’s powder
dry
Meaning: To
remain calm and be fully prepared for a particular
situation/event.
Example: Conflict
may not arise, but there is no harm in keeping your
powder dry.
Keep one’s eyes
peeled
Meaning: To watch
very carefully.
Example: Just
drive slowly and keep your eyes peeled.
Keep one’s hair
on
Meaning: To urge
someone not to panic and stay calm.
Example: Keep
your hair on, we're almost there!
Keep tabs on
Meaning: To watch
someone/something carefully; always know where
someone/something
is.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Where
is Jimmy?
Speaker B: How should
I know? I don't keep tabs on him.
Kill or cure
Meaning: Either
success or total failure.
Example: This
project will be kill or cure for our company; This discovery
will kill or cure
our research.
Know something by
heart
Meaning: To
memorize something completely.
Example: I'm
pretty sure I know this song by heart.
Labour the point
Meaning: Keep
talking or pitching your idea/plan in a boring or annoying
manner.
Example: I don't
want to labour the point, but you should know that my
project is much
better.
Lead someone a
merry dance
Meaning: To treat
someone unfairly or badly over period of time; to cause a lot of problems.
Example: She led
me a merry dance before I finally got her to sign the
divorce papers.
Lead someone down
the garden path
Meaning: To mislead;
cheat; deceive.
Example: Vince
may have led me down the garden path with that
investment
opportunity.
Leap in the dark
Meaning: An
action performed without the certainty of what will happen as a result.
Example: It would
be a leap in the dark to start a company without testing
your product; My
move to Europe was a leap in the dark.
Leave in the
lurch
Meaning: To
leave/abandon someone at a time when they really need your assistance or
support.
Example: My
colleagues left me in the lurch and I had to finish the report
myself.
Leave no stone
unturned
Meaning: To do
everything you can to find something.
Example: Ginny
left no stone unturned in her search for her real parents.
Lend an ear
Meaning: To
listen to someone in a friendly and sympathetic manner.
Example: Could
you please lend me your ear for a minute? I have a
confession to
make; My friends are always ready to lend an ear to me.
Lie low
Meaning: To
remain hidden; to try not to be seen or noticed.
Example: After
the last fraud, the scammers decided to lie low for a while.
Load the dice
against someone
Meaning: To put
someone at a disadvantage.
Example: Lack of
experience loaded the dice against Sarrah as a candidate for the position.
Long shot
Meaning: With
very little chance of success.
Example: It's a
long shot, but I still want to try to get the job.
Loosen someone’s
tongue
Meaning: To make
someone speak more openly or freely.
Example: The beer
had loosened John's tongue.
Lose one’s bottle
Meaning: To lose
one's nerve or courage in a stressful situation.
Example: I wanted
to fight him back, but I lost my bottle at the last minute.
Magic touch
Meaning: The
ability to do something extremely well.
Example: He has a
magic touch in the kitchen; Dan seems to have a magic touch with cars.
Make a meal of
something (or “make a big deal of something”)
Meaning: To treat
something in a way that makes it seem more significant, valuable, or important
than it actually is.
Example: Students
always make such a meal of the simplest test; He made such a meal of that task
- it only took him half an hour!
Make a rod for
your own back
Meaning: To do
something that will cause you trouble/problems in the
future.
Example: Our
management made a rod for their own back when they fired all the highly skilled
workers.
Move heaven and
earth
Meaning: To try
as hard as you can to achieve something; to stop at
nothing.
Example: I had to
move heaven and earth to get my dream job.
Nip something in
the bud
Meaning: To stop
something at an early stage before it becomes a big
problem.
Example: It is
extremely important to nip this problem in the bud.
Nod is as good as
a wink
Meaning: To
emphasize that there is no need to explain something further,
because the
person already understands or knows enough about it.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Do you
know why Tanya is so upset?
Speaker B: All I
know is that she met her ex-boyfriend at the supermarket.
Speaker A: Come
on, a nod is as good as a wink. It's all because of him.
No holds barred
Meaning: Without
any restrictions or limits.
Example: In my
house you can do whatever you want, no holds barred.
No picnic
Meaning: Quite
difficult or unpleasant.
Example: College
life is no picnic; Being a single parent is no picnic.
No prizes for
guessing
Meaning: To
emphasize that it is very easy to guess something; something that is very
obvious.
Example: No
prizes for guessing where John is; No prizes for guessing the answer to that
simple question.
Not a bed of
roses
Meaning: Having
some unpleasant aspects.
Example: My job
is not a bed of roses.
Not a hair out of
place
Meaning: To have
a very neat/tidy appearance.
Example: He was
so gorgeous in his new suit, not a hair out of place; She
was splendidly
dressed, not a hair out of place.
Not budge an inch
Meaning: To
refuse to change your mind/position.
Example: I tried
to negotiate a better offer but they wouldn't budge an inch.
Not have a care
in the world
Meaning: Without
worrying about anything.
Example: I miss
the old school days, when I didn't have a care in the world.
Not have a leg to
stand on
Meaning: To have
no proof of your rightness/correctness.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: What
is your evidence?
Speaker B: I
don't have a leg to stand on. It's only my word against hers.
Not in one’s
right mind
Meaning: Mentally
ill; cannot think clearly.
Example: Leave
her alone, she's not in her right mind; I know he's scared to death, but I need
him in his right mind!
Not best pleased
Meaning: Annoyed;
irritated; angry; unhappy.
Example: I wasn't
best pleased when my mother married again; and so soon after my father's death!
No two ways about
it
Meaning:
Definitely; for sure; without a doubt.
Example: If you
leave me here alone and go drink beer with your friends,
I'll break up
with you! No two ways about it!
Off one’s hands
Meaning: Removed
from one's responsibility; no longer needing to be
looked after.
Example: If you
are unable to complete these tasks, I'll be glad to take them off your hands.
Off the mark
Meaning: Not
correct; inaccurate; wrong ("on the mark" - correct/right).
Example: Your remark
is off the mark; The facts she provided are way off the mark.
Of the essence
Meaning:
Absolutely necessary in a particular situation.
Example: Speed is
of the essence in dealing with an emergency; We must hurry, time is of the
essence!
On a hiding to nothing
Meaning: Without
the slightest chance of success; sure to fail.
Example: He's on
a hiding to nothing in this competition.
One for the books
Meaning: Very
surprising or unexpected.
Example: His
last-minute goal was one for the books.
On speaking terms
Meaning: Amicable
or friendly enough to talk (often used in negative
form).
Example: I'm not
on speaking terms with my family; I don't know how after all his intrigues and
betrayals she's somehow still on speaking terms with
him; We're on
speaking terms with John, but I wouldn't say we're real
friends.
On the loose
Meaning: A
dangerous animal/criminal who walks free (mostly because
they have escaped
from prison/cage).
Example: He's
still on the loose - but not for long. The police have already blocked all
exits from the city.
On the verge of
something (or “on the brink of something”)
Meaning: Very
close to experiencing something; the moment when
something is
about to happen.
Example: We are
on the verge of a big discovery; We stand on a brink of a great change.
On your own head
be it
Meaning: To warn
someone that they will have to take full responsibility for what they are about
to do.
Example: If you
choose to disobey my order, then on your own heads be it!
Out of sorts
Meaning: Slightly
ill/unwell/unhappy.
Example: He's
feeling a bit out of sorts.
Out of the corner
of one’s eye
Meaning: Looking
at something indirectly; when you see something briefly, rather than clearly.
Example: Out of
the corner of my eye, I saw my wife talking to some
stranger.
Over the hill
Meaning: No
longer young and fit; too old to perform as well as before.
Example: Ron is
over the hill as a professional basketball player.
Pale into
insignificance
Meaning: To
appear less important, significant, or impressive when
compared with something
else.
Example: All my
problems pale into insignificance when compared to the problems of the
homeless.
Paragon of virtue
Meaning: One who
has perfect moral values.
Example: Ron was
considered to be a paragon of virtue; I don't expect any billionaire to be a
paragon of virtue.
Pass the buck
Meaning: To shift
the responsibility to someone else.
Example: It's
your fault because you're in charge, so don't try to pass the
buck.
Perish the
thought
Meaning: To
emphasize that the proposed idea/concept/plan is ridiculous
and unlikely to
be implemented.
Example: I will
never marry her - perish the thought!
Pipe dream
Meaning:
Something that is not destined to come true.
Example: His
plans to become president of several countries at once are
simply pipe
dreams.
Plain sailing
Meaning: Without
problems; smooth; easy.
Example: Her
surgery was plain sailing; Pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing.
Play into
someone’s hands
Meaning: To do
something that will be to your disadvantage and to your
opponent's
advantage; to act in the way your opponent wants you to act.
Example: It would
be playing into Rita's hands to react to her humiliating
jokes.
Play your cards
right
Meaning: To
behave in a way that is beneficial in a given situation; to do
something in a
well-planned way.
Example: If you
play your cards right, you can win this competition.
Pull out all the
stops
Meaning: To make
every possible effort; do the best you can.
Example: The
police pulled out all the stops to find the robber; Dan pulled
out all the stops
to finish the project on time.
Pull someone’s
leg
Meaning: To tell
someone a lie, as a joke.
Example: Calm
down Ian, it's not true, I was only pulling your leg.
Pull the plug
Meaning: To
prevent further activity; to prevent something from continuing.
Example: I have
enough power to pull the plug on your career; She decided to pull the plug on
her research.
Put it down to
experience
Meaning: To
regard a bad, difficult, or unpleasant situation as a learning
experience rather
than a punishment.
Example: Everyone
makes mistakes, don't worry so much and put it down to experience.
Put someone wise
to something
Meaning: To
clarify something for someone; to tell someone about
something.
Example: I showed
up at the appointed time. Tommy put me wise to the
situation and we started
negotiations.
Put something to
bed
Meaning: To
successfully deal with something; to finish work on
something.
Example: Before
putting the agreement to bed, we must clarify a few
clauses; Let's
just put the issue to bed and stop arguing!
Put the cart
before the horse
Meaning: To do
something in the wrong order.
Example: Aren't
you putting the cart before the horse by choosing a
wedding venue
before the actual proposal?
Raining cats and
dogs
Meaning: Heavy
rain.
Example: Better
stay at home, it's raining cats and dogs outside.
Rain on someone’s
parade
Meaning: To do
something that ruins someone's plans; dampen one's
excitement.
Example: I hate
to rain on your parade, but I think your name on the list of finalists is just
a typo. You took 25th place, not third, sorry.
Ride for a fall
Meaning: To do
something unwise and reckless that will lead to failure or injury.
Example: Nina's
riding for a fall with the dubious investments she's been
making lately.
Rob someone blind
Meaning: To cheat
someone and take their money; to steal everything
someone owns.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Hello
madam! Would you like to multiply your savings? For
just a thousand
pounds, I can tell you how to do it.
Speaker B: You
are trying to rob me blind. I won't buy it!
Rocky road
Meaning: A
difficult/challenging period.
Example: The
rocky road to the championship.
Rub
shoulders/elbows with
Meaning: To spend
time with someone.
Example: She
loves rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.
Rue the day
Meaning: To curse
or bitterly regret a moment in your life; to be very sorry for something.
Example: I rue
the day I lost my wife; When I find him, he'll rue the day he was born!
Said the pot to
the kettle (or “the pot calling the kettle black”)
Meaning: A witty
remark to someone who says something bad/insulting
about another
person, when they themselves are guilty of the same thing.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: He is
so arrogant and selfish!
Speaker B: Said
the pot to the kettle.
Sail close to the
wind
Meaning: To do
something dangerous, risky, illegal, or unacceptable.
Example: Illegal
tobacco company was sailing close to the wind.
Salt something
away
Meaning: To save
something for later.
Example: Don't
worry about the wedding expenses, I have fifty thousand
pounds salted
away for that.
Say your piece
Meaning: To state
your opinion; to say what you want to say.
Example: Stop
glaring at us! Just say your piece about the incident.
See fit
Meaning: To
consider proper or desirable.
Example: When you
find this fraudster, deal with him however you see fit.
See the light of
day
Meaning: To come
into existence; first time to appear.
Example: This
video game first saw the light of day in 2005.
Serve someone
right
Meaning: To
emphasize that someone deserves all the bad things that
happen to them.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: He is
in trouble with the law again.
Speaker B: It
serves him right!
Set someone’s
mind at ease
Meaning: Help
someone to calm down/stop worrying.
Example: He could
set her mind at ease by telling her the truth.
Set something in
motion
Meaning: To start
a process/series of events.
Example: By not
taking their money, you set the bankruptcy in motion.
Settle a score
Meaning: To
punish or harm someone for something bad that they did to
you in the past;
take revenge; pay the debt off.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Will
you join us to fight the hooligans from 15th Street?
Speaker B: Yes, I
have some scores to settle with them.
Shadow of one’s
former self
Meaning: Not as
good, powerful, or capable as before.
Example: Three years
after her injury, she returned to the basketball court,
but was only a
shadow of her former self.
Shed some light
Meaning: To
provide additional/missing information about something.
Example:
Hopefully these documents will shed some light on her past.
Sitting duck
Meaning: Easy
target; someone who is very easy for the enemy to attack.
Example: Without
body armor and a helmet, I'm a sitting duck for the
enemy; children
are often sitting ducks for scammers.
Sitting pretty
Meaning: To be in
a good, comfortable, privileged, or favored position.
Example: Cariba
really is sitting pretty with her new job as CEO; With
profits up 200
percent, my company is sitting pretty.
Slip of the
tongue
Meaning:
Something that was said by accident/mistakenly.
Example: Did I call
you Rachel? It must have been a slip of the tongue.
Small wonder
Meaning: Not
surprising.
Example: It's
small wonder he wanted me back, I'm the best girlfriend on a planet; It’s small
wonder the kids are bored.
Smarten up your
act
Meaning: To
improve your behavior; make more of an effort.
Example: Tell
your king that he'll have to smarten up his act if he needs me as an ally.
Someone’s lot in
life
Meaning: General
state of life; general situation in life.
Example: John
seems happy enough with his lot in life; He tried to accept the bankruptcy of
his company as his lot in life, but he could not.
Splinter off from
something
Meaning: To
separate from the greater part of something; to separate from a larger group.
Example: Small
group splintered off from main camp.
Squeeze something
out of someone
Meaning: To force
someone to do or give something (mostly information).
Example: It's
just a shame we couldn't squeeze anything out of Dan and his accomplices. They
probably could have told us some interesting things about the robbery!
Stand your ground
(or “hold your ground”)
Meaning: To
refuse to change your opinion; continue to support a particular position or
point of view in an argument; to stay where you are when someone threatens or
intimidates you.
Example: Our
meeting was unsuccessful because Harry stood his ground
and refused to
accept any of our offers; The hooligans threatened him, but John stood his
ground.
Stem the tide
Meaning: To stop
the growth or continuation of something.
Example: These
strict measures are designed to stem the tide of illegal
immigration.
Straight from the
horse’s mouth
Meaning: To hear
information from someone who knows for sure that it's
true (mainly
because that person has personally seen or heard something
that confirms the
accuracy of the information).
Example: Oh,
you're here! John already told me what's been happening, but I'd like to hear
it straight from the horse's mouth.
Strain every
nerve
Meaning: To make
every possible effort; do the best you can.
Example: I will
strain every nerve to finish the book.
Sure as eggs is
eggs
Meaning: Without
any doubt; for certain.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Are
you sure you are pregnant?
Speaker B: Sure
as eggs is eggs!
Sweep something
under the carpet
Meaning: To
deliberately ignore a problem/issue in the hope that it will be overlooked or
forgotten.
Example: You
can't just sweep your financial problems under the carpet.
Sweep the board
Meaning: To win
everything possible.
Example: My team
swept the board in the boxing competition.
Take a hint
Meaning: To
understand something that is suggested or offered to you
indirectly.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Nancy,
would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
Speaker B: I'd
love to, but I have a lot of work to do. And besides, my knee hurts. So, uh...
Speaker A: Okay,
I can take a hint.
Take it from me
Meaning: To
emphasize that you are absolutely sure of what you are saying.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: What
is your opinion of John?
Speaker B: You
can take it from me, he's a wonderful man.
Take matters into
your own hands
Meaning: To do
something yourself because others have refused or failed.
Example: We
failed his order to eliminate the target. So he took matters into
his own hands and
killed the target.
Take something as
read
Meaning: To agree/accept
that something is true without any evidence.
Example: We took
it as read that he was a spy; Let's take it as a read that he was the first to
invent this method.
Take the bull by
the horns
Meaning: To
confidently deal with a dangerous or difficult situation.
Example: I know
that you are a very empathetic person, but it's time to take the bull by the
horns and fire inefficient employees.
Tall order
Meaning: A
request or task that is extremely difficult to complete.
Example:
Completing this task on time was a tall order, but we did it;
Spending more
time with kids is a tall order for busy parents.
Thank your lucky
stars
Meaning: To be
extremely grateful.
Example: You
should thank your lucky stars that you managed to survive
the accident.
That’s one way of
putting it
Meaning: To
emphasize that someone said something completely different from the intended
meaning of their words (mostly in a sarcastic or flirty manner).
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: You
look really hot!
Speaker B: Well,
that's one way of putting it.
The jury is still
out
Meaning: To
emphasize that something has not yet been decided/answered.
Example: The jury
is still out on whether red wine can be good for you.
The lion’s share
Meaning: Bigger
half; largest part.
Example: I spend the
lion's share of my salary on rent.
The mists of
time/history
Meaning: To
emphasize that something happened so long ago that you
barely remember
it.
Example: The
answer is lost in the mists of time; The origins of this phrase
are lost in the
mists of history/time.
The more the
merrier
Meaning: To
emphasize that more people will make the event or activity
more enjoyable.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Can I
bring my brother to your birthday party?
Speaker B: Sure,
the more the merrier!
There’s no
telling
Meaning:
Impossible to know for sure.
Example: If he
fails in negotiations, there's no telling how many people will lose their jobs.
There’s no time
like the present
Meaning: To
emphasize that now is the best time to do something.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: When
would you like to meet?
Speaker B:
There's no time like the present. See you in an hour at our
favourite cafe.
There’s safety in
numbers
Meaning: To
emphasize that when you are in a large group with other
people, you are
less likely to be harmed.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: We are
lost in the woods at night. What should we do?
Speaker B: We
must stick together. There's safety in numbers.
The worse for
wear
Meaning:
Exhausted; tired; in poor condition; beaten up from use.
Example: He was
slightly the worse for wear after a grueling workout; Your jacket seems to be
the worse for wear - I'll buy you a new one.
Throw a spanner
in the works
Meaning: To
prevent things from going as planned (mainly by causing
problems or
difficulties).
Example: I was
ready to publish my novel when my little sister threw a
spanner in the
works by deleting the book from my computer.
Throw cold water
on something
Meaning: To
destroy someone's enthusiasm for something; be extremely
pessimistic about
someone's plans or ideas.
Example: You're
always throwing cold water on my ideas!
Tie up loose ends
Meaning: To deal
with little issues/problems left unresolved from
something; to
complete minor matters that are the result of a previous
action.
Example: It was
almost a perfect heist. With all the witnesses under control,
all that remained
was to tie up loose ends.
Till the cows
come home
Meaning: For a
long period of time.
Example: You can
convince me till the cows come home, but I won't
change my mind.
To someone’s
liking
Meaning: Fitting
someone's preferences; enjoyable to someone.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A:
Everything to your liking, thus far?
Speaker B:
Couldn't be better, thank you.
To the untrained
eye/ear
Meaning: Without
special knowledge of the subject.
Example: To the
untrained eye, it looks like a stack of old papers. But,
believe it or
not, this is the original manuscript of my first book.
Tough act to
follow
Meaning: Someone
or something so successful, exemplary, or effective that it overshadows
anything that follows.
Example: John was
a tough act to follow - a Nobel laureate with 40 years of experience in the
field; Finding a replacement for my colleague Dan will be a tough act to
follow.
To your heart’s
content
Meaning: As long
as you wish; as much as you want.
Example: You can
circle Paris to your heart's content; His wife let him eat and drink to his
heart's content.
Treat/handle with
kid gloves
Meaning: To treat
someone/something very gently and carefully; be
extremely polite
and kind.
Example: She
needs to be handled with kid gloves; We must treat the
situation with
kid gloves.
Trouble is
brewing (or “something is brewing”)
Meaning: A
dangerous or difficult situation is developing.
Example: The
informant made it clear that something was brewing and that you and your family
were in great danger.
True to form
Meaning: Behaving
in expected or predictable manner; as usual.
Example: True to
form, Rita and Sam are late again; True to form, John
asked to borrow
some more money; True to form, she missed the flight.
Try your hand at
something
Meaning: To do
something for the first time.
Example: I’ve
always wanted to try my hand at scuba diving.
Until all hours
Meaning: Very
late; until a very late hour.
Example: We were
up talking until all hours.
Until the dust
settles
Meaning: Until
the situation becomes calmer.
Example: You've
caused a lot of trouble, and we'll have to leave town until the dust settles.
Walk with a
spring in your step
Meaning: Walk
energetically and happily.
Example: As Rita
walked into the school that morning, there was a spring in her step.
Water under the
bridge
Meaning:
Something that happened a long time ago and doesn't bother you anymore.
Example: I
forgive you, my dear friend! And that quarrel is just water under the bridge!
When push comes
to shove
Meaning: When a
situation becomes critical and you need to act; when a
decision needs to
be made; when something can no longer be ignored.
Example: Only
Bella was there to help me when push came to shove.
With flying
colours
Meaning:
Successfully.
Example: He
passed his college entrance exam with flying colours.
With one accord
Meaning: All
together; in full agreement; at the same time.
Example: With one
accord they left the room; We made the decision with one accord.
Without a hitch (or “with no hitches”)
Meaning:
Smoothly, easily, without any difficulties or problems.
Example: The
parade went off without a hitch; The knee surgery went
without a hitch.
Worth your while
Meaning:
Something that is worth your attention/time and you can gain
some benefit or
advantage from it.
Dialogue example:
Speaker A: Is it
really worth your while to keep looking for your
grandmother's
necklace?
Speaker B: Yes, that necklace is a family heirloom.
