The Idiom List (note: "sth" = something, "sb" = somebody)ring a bellA: Do you know April ONeil?B: Hmm. Maybe. That name rings a bell.Definition

= is familiar to you but you can't remember where you heard it

on the one hand / on the other handOn the one hand, Peters roommate is kind. On the other hand, hes quite messy.Definition

= (expression used to when considering the advantages and disadvantages of sth)

have/keep an open mindI tried to keep an open mind about Allan even though Id heard some bad things about him.Definition

= be openminded

on the tip of your tongueHis name was on the tip of my tongue but I couldnt remember it.Definition

= used to say you arealmostable to remember something, but you can't

a hangover (noun) / hung-over (adj)Tyler was too hung-over from last nights party to go to work.Definition

= unwell from drinking too much alcohol on the previous day

~ishLets meet around 4ish.Definition

= used to make sth more vague and less exact

fed upIm fed up with my neighbours dog.Definition

= so angry that you can no longer tolerate any more of sth

Big deal!It takes you 15 minutes to walk to school? Big deal!Definition

= a sarcastic expression meaning that sth is actually NOT a big deal.

Give sb a handMy dad gave me a hand with my homework.Definition

let the cat out of the bagIt was going to be a surprise party, until Todd let the cat out of the bag.Definition

= told the secret so other people found out too early

give it a shotIf you think you can make the team, then give it a shot.Definition

= give it a try

No way!A: George, Im pregnant.B: No way!Definition

= similar to "that can't be possible!" / "I don't believe you!"

The more the merrier.A: Can I invite my brother?B: Sure. The more the merrier.Definition

= used to say that the more of sth there is, the better it will be.

give it your allEven though I lost the race, I gave it my all.Definition

= tried your hardest

first-handI saw the accident happen, first-hand.Definition

= you experienced it personally

a dead endLets not take this path. It leads to a dead end.Definition

= a place with only an end

time fliesTime flies when your having fun.Definition

= time passes quickly

pull sbs legYou have 6 brothers? Youre pulling my leg!Definition

= same as "You're joking!"

have sth on your mindWhen Dana has something on her mind, she likes to go for a long walk by herself.Definition

= to have a certain topic in your thoughts

keep trackI use my watch to keep track of time.Definition

= to monitor the time

from scratchMy aunt made the cake from scratch.Definition

= from nothing (without any already-prepared materials)

off the top of your headHe asked me to tell him a joke, but I couldnt think of one off the top of my head.Definition

= using only the ideas you have in your head at that moment

learn your lessonThe boy learned his lesson. Hell never play with fire again.Definition

= to learn sth important about life from making a mistake/doing something wrong

keep/bear in mindThe professor told his students to keep in mind that they only have 50 minutes to complete the test.Definition

= not forget; remember

speak your mindTimmy was afraid to speak his mind in front of his schoolmates.Definition

= say what you honestly feel

Just my luck!It rained on my only day off. Just my luck!Definition

= expression used when sth unlucky happens to you. It implies that unlucky things happen to you, thusyour luckis bad luck

Theres nothing to it.Why dont you make a simple website for your business? Theres nothing to it.Definition

= it's very easy; it's a piece of cake

get out of hand

The house party got out of hand, so we had to call the police.Definition

= got out of control

cut a long story shortTo cut a long story short, Lisa and I have had some interesting experiences together.Definition

= to make a long story shorter so it takes less time to say

a piece of cakeThe test was a piece of cake. I finished it in 20 minutes.Definition

= very easy

break the iceAt the start of the meeting, Mike tried to break the ice by telling a joke.Definition

= to initiate social interaction/conversation. (Note: the ice is that cold feeling when no one is talking or people dont know each other. You break the ice by beginning to speak or starting an activity (e.g. telling a joke, or doing a warm-up activity))

go out of your way to do sth

I went out of my way to help Jenny find an apartment, and she didnt even say thanks!Definition

= to take extra time to make an additional effort to do sth

cross your mindThe thought never even crossed my mind.Definition

= to think about sth; to consider sth

road rageI dont like being in the car with Gary. He has difficulty controlling his road rage.Definition

= extreme anger when driving

go on aboutThe old man went on about his school days for nearly an hour.Definition

= to speak for too long about sth uninteresting

slip your mindI was going to return the library books today after work, but the thought slipped my mind.Definition

= used to say you forgot to do sth

have/throw a fitThe baby threw a fit when I took his toy away.Definition

= to get angry and begin acting like an angry child

The ball is in your court

The ball is in their court now. Lets wait for their decision.Definition

= used to say that YOU now have control of the situation

make your dayFinding a fifty-dollar bill on the ground made my day.Definition

= used to say that sth made your day special (and great).

a rip off / to rip sb off

Six dollars for a cup of coffee?! What a rip off!Definition

= sth very over-priced

get a kick out of sthI get a kick out of reading science fiction novels.Definition

= to get enjoyment from sth

catch sbs eyeThe bright advertisement caught my eye.Definition

= to grab sb's attention and make them look at sth

jump the gunI jumped the gun and asked Gail to marry me. She said she wasn't sure what to say.Definition

= to do sth too soon.

give sb a piece of your mindThe angry worker gave his boss a piece of his mind.Definition

= to speak angrily to sb about sth bad they have done

cross your fingersKate crossed her fingers and hoped it wouldnt rain on her wedding day.Definition

= (Westerners cross their fingers when they want good luck)

cost (sb) an arm and a legThe designer handbag cost her an arm and a leg.Definition

= to cost a LOT of money

be in hot waterKen was in hot water about forgetting his wedding anniversary.Definition

= to be in trouble

in a bindSusan is really in a bind. She has two essays due tomorrow and she hasn't started either of them.Definition

= in a difficult situation; stuck in a difficult situation

an eye-openerThe film on global warming was a real eye-opener for Tom.Definition

= sth that makes you see or think about sth differently from then on

let off steamTed plays squash when he needs to let off steam.Definition

= to release anger and frustration

read between the linesYou can figure out the authors opinion by reading between the lines.Definition

= to find the hidden meaning in sth that is written or said

go all outWe went all out and booked a five-star hotel for our trip.Definition

= to use all of your energy or resources (e.g. money in the above example) to do sth

out of lineMarks comment was out of line. He shouldnt have said that to a client.Definition

= inappropriate; not in accordance with how sb is supposed to behave

be on sbs backMy manager is on my back about being at work on time.Definition

= to persistently urge sb to do (or not to do) sth

would not be seen/caught deadI wouldnt be seen dead wearing an ugly dress like that.Definition

= used to say that you would NEVER do sth

have mixed feelingsLarry has mixed feelings about his new job.Definition

= to be unsure about sth

draw a blankWhen asked for her postal code, Amy drew a blank.Definition

= to be unable to remember anything

You name it.A: Daddy, can I have anything on the menu?B: Sure. You name it, you got it.Definition

= synonym of 'whatever you want'; anything

know your stuffJim has been a mechanic for 20 years. He really knows his stuff.Definition

= to know sth well

left, right and centreBusinesses were closing in town left, right and centre.Definition

= everywhere

a change of heartAfter seeing a mouse on the floor, I had a change of heart about eating at the restaurant.Definition

= a change of feeling; used to say you changed your mind about sth

a long haul

Peter told his boss that he wouldnt quit. Hes in it for the long haul.Definition

= the long road; the option that takes the most time

be man enoughGeorge was the only one man enough to admit he had made a mistake.Definition

= strong enough in character, or strong enough as a man

be second to noneThe apple pie at this restaurant is second to none.Definition

= the best

know/learn the ropesIt took me a month to learn the ropes at my new job.Definition

= the process of learning about sth so you are comfortable with it

a breath of fresh airThe new employee, Gail, is a breath of fresh air in the office.Definition

= sth new that adds life and energy to a situation

get your act togetherThe coach told me that if I didnt get my act together, Id be kicked off the team.Definition

= start behaving properly

set your heart on sthEric has his heart set on participating in the Olympics.Definition

= to be firmly resolved to do sth

take sb/sth for grantedKeith took it for granted that his girlfriend would always stay with him. Then, one day, she was gone.Definition

= to assume too confidently that you'll have sth in the future or forever

play it by earA: How long will you stay in Australia?B: Im not sure. Im just going to play it by ear.Definition

= to improvise; to not make a plan but decide what to do as you do it

put all your eggs in one basketGreg invested his money in a few different areas. He didnt want to put all his eggs in one basket.Definition

= to put all of sth you have in the same area (note: generally viewed as a bad thing to do)

Birds of a feather (flock together)A: Its funny that all of Kates friends are attractive.B: So is she. I guess birds of a feather flock together.Definition

= similar people tend to spend time with each other.

have second thoughtsIm starting to have second thoughts about my new apartment.Definition

= to have doubts

pay the price for sthDont touch my stuff. If you do, youll pay the price.Definition

= to suffer as a consequence of doing sth

a basket caseDarryls ex-wife is a total basket case.Definition

= a crazy person; a nut

on the dotWe arrived at 8 oclock on the dot.Definition

= exactly

not have a clueI dont have a clue where Nunavut is.Definition

= to have no idea or absolutely no knowledge (about sth)

have a shot atOur team has a shot at winning the championship.Definition

= has a chance

the word spreadIt took only an hour for word to spread around the office that John had been fired.Definition

= for some news to spread ("the word" = some news)

safe and soundI arrived home from my trip safe and sound.Definition

= safe

be a pain (in the neck)My brother is a real pain in the neck sometimes.Definition

= to be annoying/irritating

be in the same boatThe governments of Portugal and Greece are in the same boat. They both need financial assistance.Definition

= to be in the same situation

be/feel at homeAfter two years, James felt at home in Prague.Definition

= to feel comfortable, as if you were in your home or hometown

be in sbs good booksRyan is not in his fathers good books right now because he scratched his car.Definition

= to be on someone's good side; to be thought of as someone's friend or ally

get out of bed on the wrong sideId avoid talking with Bob today. He mustve got out of bed on the wrong side.Definition

= to wake up in a bad mood

up-and-comingRoger is an up-and-coming hockey player from Toronto.Definition

= young and rising to the top; new and becoming successful

get into gearYoud better get into gear or youll be late.Definition

= hurry up; start moving at a faster speed

out of the blueOne day, out of the blue, I received a letter from my former schoolmate.Definition

= unscheduled; without previous warning

set the record straightIn a TV interview, the politician set the record straight about his experiences in the military.Definition

= to clarify what is true/factual about a story or thing

keep an eye onThe security guard kept an eye on the suspicious man.Definition

= watch closely; monitor

a grey areaBecause of a grey area in his job description, Peter was not exactly sure what all of his responsibilities were.Definition

= a vague area; an unclear area; an area that is neither black nor white

get/let sb off the hookLuckily for her, the policeman let Jane off the hook for parking her car in a no-parking zone.Definition

= to let someone go free instead of holding them responsible for sth bad

out of sight, out of mind.Jim was happy when his ex-girlfriend moved out of his apartment out of sight, out of mind.Definition

= this means that if you do not see someone regularly, you will stop thinking about them.

give sb the cold shoulderTed gave his ex-girlfriend the cold shoulder when he saw her at the party.Definition

= to ignore sb

The ins and outsIt took Alan a year to learn all the ins and outs of his job.Definition

= to know all aspects of sth; to know completely how sth works

line of workThe fireman said that injuries were common in his line of work.Definition

= job field; type of work

make do

I forgot to buy groceries so I had to make do with what was left in the fridge.Definition

= to survive/get by with what you have at that moment

get sth off your chest

A: Keith, theres something I need to get off my chest.B: Whats bothering you? Tell me.Definition

= to say something serious or difficult that you have been thinking about for a while.

know sth like the back of your handTakeshi knows the streets of Kyoto like the back of his hand.Definition

= to be very familiar with sth

in the bagAfter scoring their fourth goal, the victory was in the bag.Definition

= certain to be secured/obtained;

be on the ballGreg isnt on the ball today. He keeps making silly mistakes.Definition

= to be thinking well and reacting quickly

off and on / on and offTara and Mike have been seeing each other off and on for a year now.Definition

= intermittently

for the time beingI plan to move into my own apartment in September. For the time being, Im staying with friend Doug.Definition

= just for the present moment

burn your bridgesJack tried to be kind to his boss when he quit in job because he didnt want to burn his bridges.Definition

= ruin a relationship, resulting in you being unable to return somewhere

get/be given the sack / sack (verb)Alan got the sack for repeatedly coming into work late.Definition

= to be fired

on the back burnerThe project was put on the back burner while the company focused on a more immediate problem.Definition

= set as a lower priority

get cold feetIts normal to get cold feet before your wedding day.Definition

= to become nervous/frightened right before sth you had planned to do

hit rock bottomAfter being fired and then kicked out of his apartment, Jake really hit rock bottom.Definition

= to be in the lowest situation, e.g. without money or friends. to be in the unhappiest situation of your life

talk shopEveryone agreed not to talk shop at the staff party.Definition

= to talk about work-related things

start/get the ball rollingIts time we start the ball rolling on the new project.Definition

= to take the first step to begin a process

get your foot in the doorJanice took a position as an administrative assistant to get her foot in the door at the famous fashion company.Definition

= to complete the first step towards achieving an opportunity

well-off / well-to-doLloyd comes from a well-to-do family. His friends often ask to borrow money from him.Definition

= rich; wealthy

pull your weightLisa had to work extra hard because a few members of the team werent pulling their weight.Definition

= to do your share of the work; to contribute your share of effort

a gut feelingI have a gut feeling that something bad is going to happen today.Definition

= an intuitive feeling

if need beIf need be, we can take a taxi home.Definition

= If necessary,..

in the middle of nowhereTheir car broke down in the middle of nowhere.Definition

= in a place far away from anywhere known to you

go with the flowJake didnt want to go to another bar, but everyone else did, so he went with the flow.Definition

= to let yourself to be guided by the choices of others

play your cards rightIf Linda plays her cards right, she could be the department manager by next year.Definition

= make the appropriate moves/choices

follow in sbs footstepsBill chose to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a dentist.Definition

= follow someone else's path

have your heart set on sth

Alan has his heart set on participating in the 2020 Olympics.Definition

= to be firmly resolved to do sth

You can say that again!A: I met your boss today. Hes a real jerk.B: You can say that again!Definition

= expression that means that you definitely agree with what was just said.

Im all earsA: Doug, Ive discovered the meaning of life.B: Really? Im all ears.Definition

= I'm listening intently.

small talkAfter some small talk, the interview began.Definition

= discussion about light topics such as the weather

put sth on holdGreg had to put his weekend plans on hold and go into the office on Saturday for a few hours.Definition

= to postpone sth

common groundThe two boys had some common ground: they both loved football.Definition

= something held in common; a common interest or trait

politically (in)correctMarcel told a politically incorrect joke at the company party. No one laughed.Definition

= politically correct = worded in a sensitive way that will not harm the audience

have had it up to hereIve had it up to here with this mess! Clean your room now!Definition

= I'm fed up; I've had enough; something said when you cannot handle anymore of something that is aggravating you

have your work cut outIf we want to finish this by Friday, then weve really got our work cut out for us.Definition

= expression that means you have a lot of work to do in little time

get the picture

A: The fight was horrible. One man kept punching the other again and again and againB: OK. Thats enough. I get the picture.Definition

= to understand what is being illustrated or explained

see eye to eyeMike and his father dont see eye to eye on the issue of abortion.Definition

= to agree on sth; to have the same views on sth

call it a dayIts already 6 pm. Lets call it a day.Definition

= expression said near the end of a day which means "That's enough for today. Let's end and go home."

twist sbs armI really had to twist my sisters arm to get her to pick me up from the airport.Definition

= to make a great effort to convince sb to do sth for you

bring sth to lightThe report brought some previously unknown facts to light about the causes of cancer.Definition

= to make something previously unknown become known

be in the dark / keep sb in the darkMost of the employees were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute.Definition

= to be uninformed; to not be told know what's happening

go up in smokeAfter breaking his leg, Darryls dream to play professional hockey went up in smoke.Definition

= to be wasted; to become impossible; when the chances of sth happening burn away

go downhillAfter his wife divorced him, Victors life really went downhill.Definition

= decline; become worse

at your fingertipsWith the World Wide Web, people have a vast amount of information at their fingertips.Definition

= directly accessible

poke fun atThe kids poked fun at George because he was wearing his t-shirt backwards.Definition

= to make fun of sb

Easier said than done.A: You should get a girlfriend whos beautiful AND kind.B: Easier said than done.Definition

= expression that means that sth is much easier to SAY than actually accomplish.

the bottom lineA: Doctor, whats the bottom line?B: If you dont quit smoking, youll die within a year.Definition

= the final result

call the shotsThe boss told Janet to call the shots while he was away.Definition

= to make the decisions

know/learn sth by heartHank knows every Elvis song by heart.Definition

= to memorize sth

get a move onIf we dont get a move on, well miss the bus.Definition

= to start moving; to start going

miss the pointYou missed the point. The book was about the problems of capitalism, not how to make money.Definition

= to fail to grasp the most important part of sth

hold/stand your groundAlthough their enemy outnumbered them, the soldiers stood their ground.Definition

= to stay in your position without running away.

be childs playThe tennis match was childs play for Ben.Definition

= a piece of cake; something so easy a child could do it

be only a matter of timeThe scientist said its only a matter of time before a big earthquake hits California.Definition

= used to say that sth will inevitably happen (sooner or later)

push your luckA: Dad, can I have another ice cream cone?B: Dont push your luck, kid.Definition

= to expect continued good fortune

raise (a few) eyebrowsFrancines short skirt raised a few eyebrows.Definition

= to make people slightly shocked or surprised

a matter of opinionThe best restaurant in Europe is, of course, a matter of opinion.Definition

= sth that is subjective

be that as it mayA: Tyler is such a selfish guy.B: Be that as it may, hes your brother. You have to love him.Definition

= expression that means "even though that is true" / "even so, .."

if/when push comes to shoveIf push comes to shove, Ill be here to support you.Definition

= if/when the situation becomes difficult/intense

against your better judgementAgainst his better judgement, Jim let his friend drive home drunk.Definition

= sth you did even though, at that time, you thought it was wrong thing to do

add insult to injuryTo add insult to injury, Gregs wife left him for his best friend.Definition

= to make an insulting situation even worse

the last strawWhen the boss told me to come in to work on Saturday, that was the last straw.Definition

= the final thing that causes sth to collapse or sb to lose their temper/get angry

be up in the airJims vacation plans were still up in the air.Definition

= for sth to be undecided; undetermined

not have the faintest/foggiest ideaI dont have the faintest idea where Wollongong is.Definition

= to not know sth at all

the icing on the cakePaula enjoyed the concert, and getting to meet the artist backstage after the show was the icing on the cake.Definition

= an additional thing that makes sth good become great

get/jump/leap on the bandwagon

Janet doesnt normally watch hockey but she jumped on the bandwagon because her citys team was in the playoffs.Definition

= to join the crowd; to do what most other people are doing

the fine/small printMy father reads the fine print on every contract he signs.Definition

= the information typed in a smaller font, usually on a contract

stuck/be in a rutThe singer was stuck in a rut. All of her recent songs sounded the same.Definition

= to be in a situation in which you cannot make any progress

run-of-the-millKate is a waitress at a run-of-the-mill bar and restaurant in London.Definition

= typical

face the musicTina knew that one day her parents would see her tattoo and then shed have to face the music.Definition

= to take responsibility for what you have done

to keep sth/sb at bay

Bodyguards kept the reporters at bay while the movie stars entered the theatre.Definition

= to keep a threat away from coming too near

be up in armsPeople were up in arms [about/over] the governments plan to raise the retirement age.Definition

= in an uproar; very angry

bite your tongueJack bit his tongue while his manager criticized his performance.Definition

= to refrain from saying sth because you don't think it would be a good idea

leave a lot to be desiredThe design of our office building leaves a lot to be desired.Definition

= is unsatisfactory

off the beaten trackMike and Mary had dinner a quiet restaurant off the beaten track in Paris.Definition

= away from the area most people visit/go

pick sbs brainsMike is a marketing genius. People often invite him to lunch or dinner so they can pick his brains.Definition

= to ask someone many questions so you can learn from him/her

whet your appetiteThe 30-second trailer was designed to whet peoples appetites.Definition

= to make people want more; to stimulate your appetite so you desire more

sour grapesA: People with nice cars just want attention.B: That sounds like sour grapes because you cant afford one.Definition

= expression that means something was said out of jealousy

a blessing in disguiseLosing his job turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Afterward, Roger found his dream job.Definition

= a good thing that first appears as a bad thing

give sb the benefit of the doubtI told the teacher that it wasnt me who broke the window. Thankfully, he gave me the benefit of the doubt.Definition

= to choose to believe sth good about sb instead of believing sth bad (when you have the choice to believe either)

jog sbs memoryJeff said he couldnt remember the songs lyrics, but hearing the first few words jogged his memory.Definition

= to make sb remember sth

foot the billGeorge agreed to foot the bill for dinner.Definition

= to pay the bill for sth

have it in for sbA: Why are you hiding from your brother?B: He has it in for me. He knows I lost his football.Definition

= to be very angry at sb

be in the redThe company has been in the red since September.Definition

= at a deficit; running at a loss; losing money

get/catch wind of sthOnce the school principal caught wind of the problem, she called a teachers meeting.Definition

= to learn about some news;

a rule of thumbAs a rule of thumb, I dont eat food that smells bad.Definition

= a personal principle

be on the same wavelengthThe group members were all on the same wavelength, so they were able to finish their project quickly.Definition

= to think in a similar way to others

up to speedAfter her holiday, it took Kate a few hours to get back up to speed on the recent developments in her company.Definition

= to be updated; to not be behind; to have all the current information

play devils advocateAlthough Jim is against the death penalty, he told his friend he was for it just to play devils advocate.Definition

= to argue against sb just so you can hear your opponent's reasoning

bend/lean over backwardsLisa bent over backwards to get her brother a job in her company, so she was surprised to learn he quit today.Definition

= to make a great effort to do sth or help sb

pass the buckThe politician passed the buck onto someone else instead of accepting responsibility for the problem.Definition

= to pass blame onto sb else

take the plungeJerry has finally decided to take the plunge. Tomorrow he's going to start looking for an office job.Definition

= begin an important/difficult task that youve been thinking about for a long time (note: to plunge is into dive into something)

call sbs bluffWhen Mike heard his friend say she knew all of the worlds capitals, he called her bluff and asked her to name the capital of Mozambique.Definition

= to make sb prove that what they are saying is true

have a chip on your shoulder

Tim has had a chip on his shoulder about businesswomen since he lost his job to a woman three years ago.Definition

= to have anger about sth that happened in the past

breathe down sbs neckJim found it hard to focus on his work with his boss breathing down his neck.Definition

= to watch sb very closely (often in an annoying way)

climb to the top of the career/corporate ladderHaving children can be an obstacle for women who want to climb (to the top of) the corporate ladder.Definition

= to advance in a company by being promoted to the top

red tape

Marks visa application was held up for six months because of red tape.Definition

= rules and regulations that prevent you from achieving sth easily

give sb free reinWhen his father died, Mark was given free rein to do whatever he liked with the family business.Definition

= to give sb full control of sth

the be-all-and-end-all

Getting into Harvard Law School became the be-all-and-end-all of Tonys existence.Definition

= the only thing that matters; sth so good that it will end the search for sth better

blow sth out of proportionThe media blew the story out of proportion.Definition

= exaggerate sth; to make sth seem much more significant that it really is

bury the hatchetSusan and Mike agreed that it was time to bury the hatchet. They apologized and decided to be friends again.Definition

= to stop fighting and become friendly. (A hatchet is a small axe.)