101 American English Idioms

Question 1

Animal Idiom

feel that something is wrong

Answer 1

Smell a Rat

When I got an e-mail asking for my password, I should have smelled a rat.

Question 2

Animal Idiom

become run-down

Answer 2

Go to the Dogs

After Joe retired, the business went to the dogs.

Question 3

Animal Idiom / adjective

strange and suspicious

Answer 3

fishy

Question 4

Animal Idiom

take decisive action in a difficult situation

Answer 4

Take the Bull by the Horns

Why don’t you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?

Question 5

Animal Idiom

quite a different matter

Answer 5

a horse of a Different Color

That’s what we’ll do when he gets here. But if he doesn’t show up … well, that’s a horse of a different color.

Question 6

Animal Idiom

inform beforehand

Answer 6

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

Question 7

Animal Idiom

uninteresting and meaningless

Answer 7

For the Birds

This conference is for the birds—let’s leave now.

Question 8

Animal Idiom

from a reliable source

Answer 8

Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

I know it’s true, because I got it straight from the horse’s mouth – Katie told me herself.

Question 9

Animal Idiom

play around

Answer 9

Horse Around

He was horsing around in the kitchen and broke my favourite bowl.

Question 10

Animal Idiom

can’t talk?

Answer 10

Cat Got Your Tongue?

You’ve been unusually quiet tonight,” she said. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Question 11

idiom

bother someone

Answer 11

Get in Someone’s Hair

My flatmate has been** getting in my hair **a lot recently.

Question 12

idiom

express one’s opinions loudly

often used in a negative context

Answer 12

Shoot Off One’s Mouth

also => shoot one’s mouth off

Try not to shoot your mouth off about this to anyone.

Question 13

idiom

(become angry with someone)

Answer 13

Jump Down Someone’s Throat

I made the mildest of criticisms and he jumped down my throat.

Question 14

idiom

(pay too high a price)

Answer 14

Pay Through the Nose

If you drive into the city, you have to pay through the nose for parking.

Question 15

idiom

(not serious)

Answer 15

Tongue-In-Cheek

(also: with your tongue in your cheek)

He said that he was a huge fan of the president, although I suspect it was tongue in cheek.

Question 16

idiom

(fool someone)

Answer 16

Pull Someone’s Leg

Is it really your car or are you pulling my leg?

Question 17

idiom

(improvise as one goes along)

to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier:

Answer 17

Play It by Ear

We can’t make a decision yet. Let’s just play it by ear.

Question 18

idiom

(take a risk)

Answer 18

Stick Out One’s Neck

also : stick one’s neck out

I’m really sticking my neck out by investing my money in this idea.

Question 19

idiom

(hurry!)

old-fashioned informal

Answer 19

Shake a Leg

Come on, Nick, shake a leg or we’ll never be ready in time.

Question 20

idiom

(clumsy)

Answer 20

All Thumbs

also : (UK all fingers and thumbs)

Can you untangle this thread for me? I’m all thumbs today.

Question 21

idiom

(to have no good defense for one’s opinions or actions)

Answer 21

Not Have a Leg to Stand On

If you have no witnesses, you don’t have a leg to stand on.

Question 22

idiom

(stop bothering someone)

Answer 22

Get Off Someone’s Back

Why don’t you get off my back! I’m doing my best.

Question 23

idiom

(annoy someone greatly)

Answer 23

Drive Someone Up a Wall

My flat-mate is driving me up the wall.
synonym: drive someone crazy

Question 24

idiom

(lead someone on dishonestly)

Answer 24

String Someone Along

He strung her along for years, saying he’d marry her and divorce his wife.

Question 25

# idiom (betray someone)

Answer 25

**Sell Someone Down the River** ## Footnote He has been **sold down the river** by the people who were supposed to protect him.

Question 26

# idiom (abandon someone)

Answer 26

**Leave Someone High and Dry** ## Footnote They pulled out of the deal at the last minute **leaving us high and dry.**

Question 27

# idiom (underestimate someone)

Answer 27

**Sell Someone Short** ## Footnote Don't **sell yourself short** - you've got the skills and the experience.

Question 28

# idiom (insincere talk)

Answer 28

**Snow Job** ## Footnote The media, once again, is giving us a** snow job**.

Question 29

# idiom (reveal a secret)

Answer 29

**Spill the Beans** ## Footnote So who **spilled the beans** about her affair with David?

Question 30

# idiom (deceive someone)

Answer 30

**Feed Someone a line** ## Footnote She **fed me a line** about not having budgeted for pay increases this year.

Question 31

# idiom (set aside for future use)

Answer 31

**On Ice** ## Footnote Both projects are** on ice** until the question of funding is resolved.