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idioms 4 students
1- A bit much If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.
2- A day late and a dollar short If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
3- A fool and his money are soon parted This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly.'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
4- A little bird told me If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
5- A OK If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.
6- A poor man's something Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.
7- A1 If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.
8- Abide by a decision If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.
9- About face If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.
10- Above board If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.
11- Absence makes the heart grow fonder This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.
12- Achilles' heel A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.
13- Acid test An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.
14- Across the board If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.
15- Against the grain If doing something goes against the grain, you're unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.
16- Agony aunt An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones.
17- Ahead of the pack If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.
18- Albatross around your neck An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.
19- All along If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.
20- All and sundry This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.
21- All ears If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.
22- All fingers and thumbs If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity.'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the idiom.
23- All hat, no cattle When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.
24- All hell broke loose When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
25- All mod cons If somehing has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.
26- All mouth and trousers Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver.
'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.
27- All over the place If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.
28- All over the shop If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.
29- All road lead to Rome This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.
30- All skin and bone If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.
31- All talk and no trousers Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
32- All the tea in China If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
33- All-singing, all-dancing If something's all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.
34- Alter ego An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means 'other self'.
35- Always a bridesmaid, never a bride If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.
36- Ambulance chaser A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.
37- Amen Some use 'Amen' or 'Amen to that' as a way of agreeing with something that has just been said.
38- An old flame An old flame is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked on fondly and with affection.
39- Ants in your pants If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.
40- Any port in a storm This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
41- Apple of your eye Something or,more often, someone that is very special to you is the 'apple of your' eye.
42- Argue the toss If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
43- Arm and a leg If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
44- Armed to the teeth If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.
45- As a rule If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.
46- As cold as ice This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.
47- As cool as a cucumber If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.
48- As mad as a hatter This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.
49- As neat as a new pin This idiom means tidy and clean.
50- As one man If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.
51- As the actress said to the bishop This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
52- As the crow flies This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.
53- Asleep at the switch If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the wheel' is an alternative.
54- Asleep at the wheel If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the switch' is an alternative.
55- At a loose end If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
56- At death's door If someone looks as if they are at death's door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.
57- At loggerheads If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can't agree on anything.
58- At loose ends If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
59- At odds If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.
60- At sea If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.
61- At the coalface If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.
62- At the drop of a hat If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you'd do it immediately.
63- At the end of your rope If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
64- At the end of your tether If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
65- At your wit's end If you're at your wit's end, you really don't know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.
66- Avowed intent If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.
67- Awe inspiring Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.
68- AWOL AWOL stands for "Absent Without Leave", or "Absent Without Official Leave". Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.
69- Axe to grind If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out.
70- Babe in arms A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position.
71- Babe in the woods A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
72 Baby boomer A baby boomer is someone born during 1945-1965, a period when the population was growing fast.
73- Back burner If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority.
74- Back foot If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
75- Back the wrong horse If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.
76- Back to square one If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again.
77- Back to the drawing board If you have to go back to the drawing board, you have to go back to the beginning and start something again.
78- Backseat driverA backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome.
79- Bad blood If people feel hate because of things that happened in the past, there is bad blood between them.
80- Bad egg A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg.Good egg is the opposite.
81- Bad taste in your mouth If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.
82- Bad workers always blame their tools "A bad worker always blames their tools" If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case.
83- Baker's dozen A Baker's dozen is 13 rather than 12.
84- Bald as a coot A person who is completely bald is as bald as a coot.
85- Ball is in your court If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
86- Ballpark figure A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.
87- Banana republic Banana republic is a term used for small countries that are dependent on a single crop or resource and governed badly by a corrupt elite.
88- Bandit territory An area or an industry, profession, etc, where rules and laws are ignored or flouted is bandit territory.
89- Baptism of fire A baptism of fire was a soldier's first experience of shooting. Any unpleasant experience undergone, usually where it is also a learning experience, is a baptism of fire.
90- Bar fly A bar fly is a person who spends a lot of time drinking in different bars and pubs.
91- Barefaced liar A barefaced liar is one who displays no shame about lying even if they are exposed.
92- Bark is worse than their bite Someone who's bark is worse than their bite may well get angry and shout, but doesn't take action.
93- Barking up the wrong tree If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.
94- Barrel of laughs If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
95- Basket case If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped.
96- Bat an eyelid If someone doesn't bat an eyelid, they don't react or show any emotion when surprised, shocked, etc.
97- Be that as it may Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it's not going to change your opinions in any significant manner.
98- Be up the spout If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.
99- Bean counter A bean counter is an accountant.
100- Bear fruit If something bears fruit, it produces positive results.
101- Beard the lion in his own den If you confront a powerful or dangerous rival on their territory, you are bearding the lion in his own den.
102- Beat about the bush If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush.
103- Beat someone to the draw If you beat someone to the draw, you do someone before they do.
104- Beating a dead horse If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse.This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
105- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is in the eye of the beholder means that different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly.
106- Beauty is only skin deep This idiom means that appearances can be deceptive and something that seems or looks good may turn out to be bad.
107Beck and call Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call.
108Bedroom eyes Someone with bedroom eyes has a sexy look in their eyes.
109Bee in your bonnet If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.
110Bee's Knees If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class.
111Beeline for If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly.
112Behind closed doors If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors.
113Behind someone's back If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without telling them.
114Behind the times Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated.
115Believe in the hereafter A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life.
116Bells and whistles Bells and whistles are attractive features that things like computer programs have, though often a bit unnecessary.
117Belly up If things go belly up, they go badly wrong.
118Below par If something isn't up to standard, or someone isn't feeling or doing very well, they are below par.
119Below the belt If someone says something that is cruel or unfair, it is below the belt, like the illegal punches in boxing.
120Best thing since sliced bread If something is the best thing since sliced bread, it is excellent.
('The greatest thing since sliced bread' is also used.)
121Bet your bottom dollar If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
122Better late than never This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
123Better safe than sorry This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.
124Better the devil you know This is the shortened form of the full idion, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if th2ey are not ideal, than take a risk with an unkown person or thing.
125Between a rock and a hard place If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a position where you have to choose between unpleasant alternatives, and your choice might cause you problems; you will not be able to satisfy everyone.
126 Between the devil and the deep blue sea If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficult choice.
127Between the lines If you read between the lines, you find the real massage in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interprtation of the words.
128Beyond a shadow of a doubt If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.
129Beyond belief If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.
130Beyond our ken If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.
131Beyond the pale If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.
132Big Apple The Big Apple is New York.
133Big bucks If someone is making big bucks, they are making a lot of money.
134Big cheese The big cheese is the boss.
135Big fish An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.
136Big fish in a small pond A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.
137Big hitter A big hitter is someone who commands a lot of respect and is very important in their field.
138Big picture The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.
139Big time This can be used to with the meaning 'very much'- if you like something big time, you like it a lot.
140Bigger fish to fry If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry.
141Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.
142Bird's eye view If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.
143Bird-brain Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid.
144Birds and the bees If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex.
145Birds of a feather flock together This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.
146Birthday suit If you are in your birthday suit, you are naked.
147Bit between your teeth If you take or have the bit between your teeth, you take or have control of a situation. (Bit = piece of metal in a horse's mouth)
148Bit part If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.
149Bit player A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.
150Bite off more than you can chew If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.
151Bite the bullet If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided.
152Bite the dust This is a way of saying that somebody has died, especially if they are killed violently like a soldier in battle.
153Bits and bobs Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as odds and ends.
154Bitter end If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.
155Bitter pill to swallow A bitter pill to swallow is something that is hard to accept.
156Black and white When it is very clear who or what is right and wrong, then the situation is black and white.
157Black as Newgate's knocker If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.
158Black hole If there is a black hole in financial accounts, money has disappeared.
159Black sheep Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough.
160Blessing in disguise If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise.
161Blind as a bat If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat.
162Blink of an eye If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens so fast it is almost impossible to notice it.
163Blood and thunder An emotional speech or performance is full of blood and thunder.
164Blood is thicker than water This idiom means that family relationships are stronger than others.
165Blood out of a stone If something is like getting blood out of a stone, it is very difficult indeed.
166Blood, sweat and tears If something will take blood, sweat and tears, it will be very difficult and will require a lot of effort and sacrifice.
167Blow a gasket If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.
168Blow hot and cold If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.
169Blow off steam If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
170Blow out of the water If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.
171Blow the cobwebs away If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.
172Blow your stack If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.
173Blue blood Someone with blue blood is royalty.
174Blue-eyed boy Someone's blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.
175Bolt from the blue If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.
176Bone of contention If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is a bone of contention.
177Bone to pick If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.
178Born with a silver spoon in your mouth If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you are born into a rich family.
179Bottom line In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.
180Box and dice Box and dice means everything.
181Box clever If you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.
182Brass monkey If it's brass monkey weather, or cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, it is extremly cold.
183Brass tacks If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.
184Break a leg This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck.
185Break even If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.
186Break ground If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before.'Ground-breaking' is used an adjective.
187Break the ice When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing.
188Break your duck If you break your duck, you do something for the first time.
189Breathe your last When you breathe your last, you die.
190Brighten up the day If something brightens up your day, something happens that makes you feel positive and happy all day long.
191Bring a knife to a gunfight If someone brings a knife to a gunfight, they are very badly prepared for something.
192Bring someone to book If somebody is brought to book, they are punished or made to account for something they have done wrong.
193Bring the house down Something that brings the house down is acclaimed and praised vigorously.
194Broad church If an organisation is described as broad church, it is tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas.
195Broad strokes If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.
196Brown nose When someone tries to make themselves popular with somebody, usually in a position of authority, especially by flattering them, they are brown nosing.
197Brownie points If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.
198Brush under the carpet If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others.
199Bull in a China shop If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful.
200Bun in the oven If a woman has a bun in the oven, she is pregnant
2- A day late and a dollar short If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
3- A fool and his money are soon parted This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly.'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
4- A little bird told me If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
5- A OK If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.
6- A poor man's something Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.
7- A1 If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.
8- Abide by a decision If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.
9- About face If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.
10- Above board If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.
11- Absence makes the heart grow fonder This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.
12- Achilles' heel A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.
13- Acid test An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.
14- Across the board If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.
15- Against the grain If doing something goes against the grain, you're unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.
16- Agony aunt An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones.
17- Ahead of the pack If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.
18- Albatross around your neck An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.
19- All along If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.
20- All and sundry This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.
21- All ears If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.
22- All fingers and thumbs If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity.'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the idiom.
23- All hat, no cattle When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.
24- All hell broke loose When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
25- All mod cons If somehing has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.
26- All mouth and trousers Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver.
'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.
27- All over the place If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.
28- All over the shop If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.
29- All road lead to Rome This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.
30- All skin and bone If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.
31- All talk and no trousers Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
32- All the tea in China If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
33- All-singing, all-dancing If something's all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.
34- Alter ego An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means 'other self'.
35- Always a bridesmaid, never a bride If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.
36- Ambulance chaser A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.
37- Amen Some use 'Amen' or 'Amen to that' as a way of agreeing with something that has just been said.
38- An old flame An old flame is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked on fondly and with affection.
39- Ants in your pants If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.
40- Any port in a storm This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
41- Apple of your eye Something or,more often, someone that is very special to you is the 'apple of your' eye.
42- Argue the toss If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
43- Arm and a leg If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
44- Armed to the teeth If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.
45- As a rule If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.
46- As cold as ice This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.
47- As cool as a cucumber If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.
48- As mad as a hatter This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.
49- As neat as a new pin This idiom means tidy and clean.
50- As one man If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.
51- As the actress said to the bishop This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
52- As the crow flies This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.
53- Asleep at the switch If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the wheel' is an alternative.
54- Asleep at the wheel If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the switch' is an alternative.
55- At a loose end If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
56- At death's door If someone looks as if they are at death's door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.
57- At loggerheads If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can't agree on anything.
58- At loose ends If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
59- At odds If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.
60- At sea If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.
61- At the coalface If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.
62- At the drop of a hat If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you'd do it immediately.
63- At the end of your rope If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
64- At the end of your tether If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
65- At your wit's end If you're at your wit's end, you really don't know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.
66- Avowed intent If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.
67- Awe inspiring Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.
68- AWOL AWOL stands for "Absent Without Leave", or "Absent Without Official Leave". Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.
69- Axe to grind If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out.
70- Babe in arms A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position.
71- Babe in the woods A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
72 Baby boomer A baby boomer is someone born during 1945-1965, a period when the population was growing fast.
73- Back burner If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority.
74- Back foot If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
75- Back the wrong horse If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.
76- Back to square one If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again.
77- Back to the drawing board If you have to go back to the drawing board, you have to go back to the beginning and start something again.
78- Backseat driverA backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome.
79- Bad blood If people feel hate because of things that happened in the past, there is bad blood between them.
80- Bad egg A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg.Good egg is the opposite.
81- Bad taste in your mouth If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.
82- Bad workers always blame their tools "A bad worker always blames their tools" If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case.
83- Baker's dozen A Baker's dozen is 13 rather than 12.
84- Bald as a coot A person who is completely bald is as bald as a coot.
85- Ball is in your court If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
86- Ballpark figure A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.
87- Banana republic Banana republic is a term used for small countries that are dependent on a single crop or resource and governed badly by a corrupt elite.
88- Bandit territory An area or an industry, profession, etc, where rules and laws are ignored or flouted is bandit territory.
89- Baptism of fire A baptism of fire was a soldier's first experience of shooting. Any unpleasant experience undergone, usually where it is also a learning experience, is a baptism of fire.
90- Bar fly A bar fly is a person who spends a lot of time drinking in different bars and pubs.
91- Barefaced liar A barefaced liar is one who displays no shame about lying even if they are exposed.
92- Bark is worse than their bite Someone who's bark is worse than their bite may well get angry and shout, but doesn't take action.
93- Barking up the wrong tree If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.
94- Barrel of laughs If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
95- Basket case If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped.
96- Bat an eyelid If someone doesn't bat an eyelid, they don't react or show any emotion when surprised, shocked, etc.
97- Be that as it may Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it's not going to change your opinions in any significant manner.
98- Be up the spout If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.
99- Bean counter A bean counter is an accountant.
100- Bear fruit If something bears fruit, it produces positive results.
101- Beard the lion in his own den If you confront a powerful or dangerous rival on their territory, you are bearding the lion in his own den.
102- Beat about the bush If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush.
103- Beat someone to the draw If you beat someone to the draw, you do someone before they do.
104- Beating a dead horse If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse.This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
105- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is in the eye of the beholder means that different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly.
106- Beauty is only skin deep This idiom means that appearances can be deceptive and something that seems or looks good may turn out to be bad.
107Beck and call Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call.
108Bedroom eyes Someone with bedroom eyes has a sexy look in their eyes.
109Bee in your bonnet If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.
110Bee's Knees If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class.
111Beeline for If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly.
112Behind closed doors If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors.
113Behind someone's back If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without telling them.
114Behind the times Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated.
115Believe in the hereafter A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life.
116Bells and whistles Bells and whistles are attractive features that things like computer programs have, though often a bit unnecessary.
117Belly up If things go belly up, they go badly wrong.
118Below par If something isn't up to standard, or someone isn't feeling or doing very well, they are below par.
119Below the belt If someone says something that is cruel or unfair, it is below the belt, like the illegal punches in boxing.
120Best thing since sliced bread If something is the best thing since sliced bread, it is excellent.
('The greatest thing since sliced bread' is also used.)
121Bet your bottom dollar If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
122Better late than never This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
123Better safe than sorry This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.
124Better the devil you know This is the shortened form of the full idion, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if th2ey are not ideal, than take a risk with an unkown person or thing.
125Between a rock and a hard place If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a position where you have to choose between unpleasant alternatives, and your choice might cause you problems; you will not be able to satisfy everyone.
126 Between the devil and the deep blue sea If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficult choice.
127Between the lines If you read between the lines, you find the real massage in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interprtation of the words.
128Beyond a shadow of a doubt If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.
129Beyond belief If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.
130Beyond our ken If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.
131Beyond the pale If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.
132Big Apple The Big Apple is New York.
133Big bucks If someone is making big bucks, they are making a lot of money.
134Big cheese The big cheese is the boss.
135Big fish An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.
136Big fish in a small pond A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.
137Big hitter A big hitter is someone who commands a lot of respect and is very important in their field.
138Big picture The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.
139Big time This can be used to with the meaning 'very much'- if you like something big time, you like it a lot.
140Bigger fish to fry If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry.
141Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.
142Bird's eye view If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.
143Bird-brain Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid.
144Birds and the bees If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex.
145Birds of a feather flock together This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.
146Birthday suit If you are in your birthday suit, you are naked.
147Bit between your teeth If you take or have the bit between your teeth, you take or have control of a situation. (Bit = piece of metal in a horse's mouth)
148Bit part If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.
149Bit player A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.
150Bite off more than you can chew If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.
151Bite the bullet If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided.
152Bite the dust This is a way of saying that somebody has died, especially if they are killed violently like a soldier in battle.
153Bits and bobs Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as odds and ends.
154Bitter end If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.
155Bitter pill to swallow A bitter pill to swallow is something that is hard to accept.
156Black and white When it is very clear who or what is right and wrong, then the situation is black and white.
157Black as Newgate's knocker If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.
158Black hole If there is a black hole in financial accounts, money has disappeared.
159Black sheep Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough.
160Blessing in disguise If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise.
161Blind as a bat If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat.
162Blink of an eye If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens so fast it is almost impossible to notice it.
163Blood and thunder An emotional speech or performance is full of blood and thunder.
164Blood is thicker than water This idiom means that family relationships are stronger than others.
165Blood out of a stone If something is like getting blood out of a stone, it is very difficult indeed.
166Blood, sweat and tears If something will take blood, sweat and tears, it will be very difficult and will require a lot of effort and sacrifice.
167Blow a gasket If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.
168Blow hot and cold If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.
169Blow off steam If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
170Blow out of the water If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.
171Blow the cobwebs away If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.
172Blow your stack If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.
173Blue blood Someone with blue blood is royalty.
174Blue-eyed boy Someone's blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.
175Bolt from the blue If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.
176Bone of contention If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is a bone of contention.
177Bone to pick If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.
178Born with a silver spoon in your mouth If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you are born into a rich family.
179Bottom line In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.
180Box and dice Box and dice means everything.
181Box clever If you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.
182Brass monkey If it's brass monkey weather, or cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, it is extremly cold.
183Brass tacks If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.
184Break a leg This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck.
185Break even If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.
186Break ground If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before.'Ground-breaking' is used an adjective.
187Break the ice When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing.
188Break your duck If you break your duck, you do something for the first time.
189Breathe your last When you breathe your last, you die.
190Brighten up the day If something brightens up your day, something happens that makes you feel positive and happy all day long.
191Bring a knife to a gunfight If someone brings a knife to a gunfight, they are very badly prepared for something.
192Bring someone to book If somebody is brought to book, they are punished or made to account for something they have done wrong.
193Bring the house down Something that brings the house down is acclaimed and praised vigorously.
194Broad church If an organisation is described as broad church, it is tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas.
195Broad strokes If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.
196Brown nose When someone tries to make themselves popular with somebody, usually in a position of authority, especially by flattering them, they are brown nosing.
197Brownie points If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.
198Brush under the carpet If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others.
199Bull in a China shop If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful.
200Bun in the oven If a woman has a bun in the oven, she is pregnant
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