29/11/2017
ENGLISH IDIOMS
200+ Common English Idioms and Phrases with Their Meaning
Learn commonly used idioms in daily English conversation
• above board: honest, open
• ad lib: improvise, interpolate
• after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless
• against the grain: contrary to someone's feelings, principles
• all along: all the time
• all ears: eager to listen
• all of a sudden: no difference
• all thumbs: clumsy
• apple of one's eye: very dear, precious
• apple of discord: subject of envy or quarrel
• as a rule: generally, usually
• as far as I know: if I have correct information
• as far as I am concerned: in my opinion
• as for me/ as to me: in my opinion
• as well: also, too
• at first sight: from the first glance; at once; at first glance
• at odds with: in disagreement with
• at random: at this time
• backseat driver: a passenger who tells you how to drive
• ballpark figure: approximate estimate (in figures)
• bark at the moon: do a useless thing; waste time
• bark up the wrong tree: accuse or pursue the wrong person; misdirect one's efforts
• be about to: ready
• be all in: be extremely tired
• be back on one’s feet: healthy again or better financially
• beat around the bush: avoid giving a clear/definite answer
• be behind the times: be old-fashioned, outdated
• be beside oneself: be very upset, nervous, worried
• be better off: be in a better situation (financially)
• be broke: have no money at all; be penniless, bankrupt
• be hard on something or someone: treat roughly
• be high on one's list: be one of the most important things
• be in charge of something: be responsible for
• be in good health: be healthy
• be in poor health: be not healthy
• be in good shape: be physically fit; in good condition
• be in bad shape: be in bad state; in bad condition
• be in the red: be in debt
• be on/at the point of something: be on the verge of something; be close to doing something
• be out of date: be outdated
• be out of sorts: be in bad temper
• be pressed for time, for money: not to have enough time, money
• be to blame: be responsible for a mistake, for something wrong
• be touch and go: risky, dangerous; uncertain of the result
• be up and around / about: able to be out of bed after an illness
• be up to one's ears in work: be very busy
• beat around/about the bush: avoid giving a clear or definite answer
• beat one's brains out: make great efforts, often unsuccessfully
• before long: soon
• big shot: important person
• bite off more than one can chew: try to do more than one can
• bite the bullet: accept painful but necessary action
• bite the dust: be killed; die; suffer defeat
• bite the hand that feeds one: repay kindness with evil
• black sheep: a good-for-nothing member of the family
• blind date: a meeting between a man and a woman (who have never met before) arranged by their friends
• blow it: lose the chance
• bottom line: main result; main factor
• break someone's heart: hurt deeply
• break the ice: overcome awkwardness or shyness
• break the news (to someone): tell important news
• bring home the bacon: earn the living for the family
• by all means: definitely, certainly
• by heart: by memorizing
• by hook or by crook: by any possible means
• by oneself (by myself, by himself, etc.): alone; on one's own
• by the way: incidentally
• call a halt to something: terminate, stop something
• call a spade a spade: use plain, direct words
• call it a day: consider work finished for the day
• call the shots: give orders; be in control of something
• call the tune: give orders; be the most important person in some situation
• carry weight: be important
• castles in the air: daydreaming about success
• catch someone's eye: attract attention
• catch one's breath: stop and rest
• catch someone off guard: catch someone unprepared
• catch someone red-handed: find someone in the act of doing wrong
• close call: a narrow escape; a bad thing that almost happened
• come to one's senses: act normally and reasonably again
• come true: become reality
• cross one's mind: occur to someone
• do one's best: try very hard
• do one's bit: do what's needed
• do someone good: be good for someone
• do something behind someone's back: do (harmful) things secretively
• down to earth: practical
• draw the line: set a limit; impose a restriction
• duty calls: must fulfill obligations
• eat one's words: take back one's words
• every now and then: occasionally
• every other: every second one
• fall in love (with): begin to love
• fall out of love: stop loving
• false alarm: untrue signal; untrue rumor
• a far cry from something: not nearly as good
• feel it in one's bones: expect something bad to happen
• feel like doing something: want to do; be inclined to do something
• few and far between: rare, scarce
• find fault with someone or something: criticize; complain about
• first things first: important things come before others
• fly off the handle: get angry
• follow in someone's footsteps: do the same thing
• foot the bill: pay the bill
• for good: forever
• for the time being: for now; at this time
• frame of mind: mental state
• from now on: now and in the future
• from the word go: from the very beginning
• get a grip on oneself: take control of one's feelings
• get carried away: get too excited and enthusiastic about something
• get cold feet: be afraid to do something
• get even with someone: have one's revenge
• get in touch with someone: contact someone
• get to the bottom of something: know deeply
• get to the point: speak directly about the subject; come to the point
• Give me a break!: Stop it! Enough!
• give someone a hand: help someone
• go back on one's word: break a promise
• go from bad to worse: become much worse
• go to pieces: get very upset; fall apart
• go with the flow: lead a quiet life
• have a ball: have a good time
• have a bone to pick with someone: complain or discuss something unpleasant
• have a sweet tooth: love eating sweet things
• have a word with someone: talk to someone
• have no business doing something: have no right to do something
• have one's hands full: be very busy
• hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing
• hold one's tongue: keep silent; refrain from speaking
• ill at ease: uncomfortable
• in advance: well before
• in cold blood: mercilessly
• in fact: actually; in reality
• in hot water: in trouble; in a difficult situation
• in someone's shoes: in another person's position
• in the long run: in the end
• in the same boat: in the same situation
• in the clear: free from blame
• it goes without saying: should be clear without words
• jump at the opportunity: accept the opportunity eagerly
• just as soon: prefer; would rather
• just in case: to be on the safe side
• keep a straight face: try not to laugh
• keep company: accompany
• keep in mind: bear in mind; consider; remember
• keep one's word: fulfill a promise
• keep someone posted: inform someone
• keep one's fingers crossed: hope that nothing will go wrong
• kill time: fill time; spend empty time
• know the ropes: be very familiar with some business
• lay one's cards on the table: be frank and open
• lay one's life on the line: put oneself in a dangerous situation
• lead a dog's life: live in misery
• leave word: leave a message
• let go of something: release the hold
• let one's hair down: be relaxed and informal with other people
• let someone know: inform someone
• like father, like son: be like one's parent in something
• little by little: step by step; bit by bit; gradually
• lose one's temper: become angry
• lose one's way: get lost
• lose track of someone: not to know where someone is
• lucky break: a lucky chance
• make a living: earn money to provide for life
• make allowance(s) for something: take into consideration when judging
• make a point of: be sure to do something intentionally
• make friends: become friends
• make fun of someone or something: laugh at; joke about
• make room for someone: allow space for someone
• make up one's mind: decide
• make yourself at home: be comfortable; feel at home
• mean well: have good intentions
• might as well: maybe it's a good idea
• never mind: don't worry about it
• now and again: occasionally; now and then
• off the cuff: without preparation
• off the point: beside the point
• off the record: not for the public; unofficially
• once and for all: decidedly
• on credit: not having to pay cash right away
• on edge: nervous, irritable
• on guard: on the alert
• on hand: available
• on one hand/on the one hand: considering one side of the question
• on one's toes: alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties
• on purpose: intentionally
• on second thought: after thinking again
• on the alert: on guard
• on the carpet: called in by the boss for criticism
• on the go: on the move; busy, active
• on the other hand: considering the other side of the question
• on the spot: right there
• on the spur of the moment: without previous thought or plan
• on the tip of one's tongue: on the verge of saying but unable to remember
• out of one's mind: crazy
• out of one's way: away from one's usual route
• out of the question: not to be considered; impossible
• pack rat: a person who saves lots of unnecessary things
• pay attention: note something; be attentive to something
• pick a fight: start a quarrel
• put one's foot down: object strongly
• right away: immediately
• ring a bell: remind someone of something familiar but half-forgotten
• see red: become very angry
• take a break: stop for rest
• take it easy: relax; be calm
• take something for granted: accept as given
• take steps: take action; take measures
• take time: take a long time
• twist someone's arm: force someone to agree
• under the weather: feeling a little ill, a little unwell
• up-and-coming: showing promise of future success
• up in the air: undecided, unsettled
• up to date: modern, latest, current
• walk on air: be very happy
• waste one's breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose
• watch one's step: behave prudently; be careful
• white lie: unimportant lie
• word for word: in the same words
