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English idioms (without example) > 2801-end > Flashcards

2801-end Flashcards

1
Q

fight a losing battle

A

If someone isáfighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding.

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2
Q

streets ahead

A

If a person or organisation isástreets aheadáof another, they are much better or more advanced.

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3
Q

Chinese arithmetic

A

If something is very complicated or difficult to understand, it is said to be likeáChinese arithmetic.

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4
Q

kindred spirit

A

People who have a lot in common and share the same beliefs, attitudes and feelings areákindred spirits.

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5
Q

hard as nails

A

A person who is (as)áhard as nailsáis unsentimental and shows no sympathy.

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6
Q

how the other half lives

A

This expression refers to the way of life of another social group.

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7
Q

dig one’s own grave

A

A person whoádigs their own graveádoes something which causes their own downfall.

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8
Q

fiirst come first served

A

This expression means that there will be no favouritism or preferential treatment.

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9
Q

take leave of your senses

A

To say to someoneá’have you taken leave of your senses?’ámeans that you think their behaviour is crazy.

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10
Q

throw a tantrum

A

If a person, especially a child,áthrows a tantrum,áthey become angry and behave in an unreasonable way.

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11
Q

out of circulation

A

Someone who isáout of circulationáis unavailable or not joiningá in activities with others.

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12
Q

cover your tracks

A

If youácover your tracks, you conceal or destroy evidence of what you have been doing or where you have been.

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13
Q

down the drain

A

To say that money, time or energy has goneádown the drainámeans that it has been wasted or lost.

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14
Q

win-win

A

The termáwin-winárefers to a situation or proposition where both or all parties benefit from the outcome.

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15
Q

brain like a sieve

A

Someone who has aábrain like a sieveáhas a very bad memory and forgets things easily.

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16
Q

the sky’s the limit

A

To sayáthe sky’s the limitámeans that there is no limit to the possibility of success or progress for someone or something.

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17
Q

nice as pie

A

If a person isáas nice as pie, they are surprisingly kind and friendly.

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18
Q

dog’s life

A

People use this expression when complaining about a situation or job which they find unpleasant or unsatisfactory.

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19
Q

back-of-the-envelope calculation

A

This expression refers to a quick approximate calculation done informally, as on the back of an envelope.

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20
Q

follow suit

A

If youáfollow suit, you do the same as another person has just done.

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21
Q

a stone’s throw away

A

To say that something isáa stone’s throw awayámeans that it is just a short distance away.

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22
Q

bane of one’s life

A

To say that something is theábane of your lifeámeans that it is the cause of your problems or your unhappiness.

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23
Q

shot in the dark

A

To refer to a question or statement as aáshot in the darkámeans that it is a complete guess, but at the same time it might be close to the truth.

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24
Q

square peg in a round hole

A

To say that a person isáa square peg in a round holeámeans that they are not suitable for the job they are doing or the situation they are in.

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25
cloud cuckoo land
This expression refers to an imaginary unrealistic place where everything is perfect and impossible things can happen.
26
dicey situation
Any situation that is potentially risky or dangerous is called aádicey situation.
27
for crying out loud
This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or anger.
28
sweetheart deal
The termásweetheart dealáis used to refer to an abnormally lucrative arrangement between two parties.
29
red flag to a bull
To say that a statement or action is like aáred flag to a bullámeans that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
30
chime in
If youáchime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially to repeat or agree with something.
31
raise the roof
When peopleáraise the roof,áthey make a lot of noise by cheering, shouting, whistling or clapping their hands.
32
even the score
When a person decides toáeven the score, they try to get their revenge on someone who has cheated or done them harm.
33
sell ice to Eskimos
This expression is used to describe a person who has the ability to persuade someone to accept something totally unnecessary or useless.
34
tip of the iceberg
Theátip of the icebergáis the part that is known of a problem or situation which is thought to be much more serious.
35
blow a fuse
If youáblow a fuse, you suddenly lose your temper and become very angry.
36
sweep underárug
If youásweep something under the rugá(or carpet), you try to hide it because it is embarrassing.
37
thinly veiled
If something such as a feeling or reaction isáthinly veiled,áit is barely hidden.
38
fiddling while Rome burns
To say that someone isáfiddling while Rome burns means that they are doing unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with.
39
head against brick wall
If youábang your head against a brick wall, you continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
40
pay over the odds
If youápay over the odds,áyou pay too much or you pay more for something than it is really worth.
41
sharp practice
Trying to achieve something by using underhand, deceitful or dishonourable means, that are barely within the law, is calledásharp practice.
42
figment of imagination
Aáfigment of one's imaginationáis an appearance, event or incident that is not considered to be real but only imaginary.
43
wet the baby's head
This expression means to have drink to celebrate the birth of a baby.
44
fat hits the fire
When trouble breaks out, or a situation deteriorates as a result of something said or done, it is said thatáthe fat hits the fire.
45
sitting duck
To refer to someone asáa sitting duckámeans that they are an easy target to criticize, attack, etc.
46
save the day
If you find a solution to a serious problem, and ensure the success of something that was expected to fail, youásave the day.
47
(scream) blue murder
Someone whoáscreams blue murderáshouts or complains very loudly as if something very serious has happened.
48
stand the test of time
If somethingástands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years.
49
fall short of
If something proves inadequate or insufficient, or does not reach the required standard, itáfalls short ofáwhat is expected.
50
anotherástringáto your bow
If you haveáanother string to your bow,áyou have another skill or possible course of action if everything else fails.
51
take a stand
If youátake a stand,áyou adopt a firm position on an issue and publicly declare whether or not you support it.
52
walking encyclopaedia
This term refers to a person who is very knowledgeable about a lot of subjects.
53
dance to someone's tune
If youádance to someone's tune, you do whatever that person tells you to do.
54
spread oneself too thin
If youáspread yourself too thin,áyou do too many things at the same time and can't do any of them well.
55
settle a score
Toásettle a scoreáis to retaliate against someone or take revengeá for a past wrong.
56
money talks
Money talksámeans that people with a lot of money have power and influence.
57
lose one's marbles
If someoneáloses their marbles,áthey become mentally confused, or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
58
take theárougháwith the smooth
If youátake the rough with the smooth, you accept what is unpleasant or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy.
59
saved by the bell
If you areásaved by the bell,ásomething happens at the last minute to rescue you from a difficult situation.
60
(not) in rightámind
To say that someone isánot in their right mindámeans that they are not behaving in a logical or sensible way.
61
eat/dip into one's savings
If youáeat or dip into your savings, you spend part of the money you have put aside for future use.
62
play the game
If youáplay the game, you accept to do things according to generally-accepted customs or code of behaviour.
63
like it or lump it!
If you tell someone toálike it or lump it,á you mean that they will have to accept something even if they don't like it, because the situation is not going to change.
64
every dog has its day
This expression means that everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
65
no use crying over spilt milk
This expression means that it is useless to complain or have regrets about something that is done and cannot be changed.
66
like aácatáon hot bricks
A person who isálike a cat on hot bricksáis very nervous or restless.
67
play with fire
People who take unnecessary risks or behave in a dangerous way areplaying with fire.
68
himalayan blunder
If you stupidly make a serious mistake or error, you commit aHimalayan blunder.
69
lose your shirt
If youálose your shirt,áyou lose all your money or possessions, especially as a result of speculation or gambling.
70
guinea pig
People who are used aságuinea pigsáare people on whom new methods, treatment or ideas are tested.
71
loan shark
Aáloan sharkáis a person who lends money at extremely high interest rates to people who are unable to obtain a loan from the bank.
72
be anáitem
To say that two peopleáare an itemámeans that they are involved in a romantic relationship.
73
wither on the vine
If somethingáwithers on the vine,áit comes to an end or ceases to exist because people do not support or encourage it.
74
(come)áhelláor high water
If you declare that you will do somethingácome hell or high water,áyou mean that you will do it in spite of the difficulties involved.
75
small hours
The termá'the small hours'ámeans after midnight or the very early hours of the day.
76
draw the line
If you decide toádraw the line, you determine when an activity or situation becomes unacceptable.
77
laughing stock
A person who does something stupid or ridiculous which causes others to laugh becomesáa laughing stock.
78
more than meets the eye
When something is more complicated, difficult or interesting than it appears, it is said that there isámore (to it) than meets the eye.
79
cost aápretty penny
If somethingácosts a pretty penny, it costs a lot of money.
80
all things to all people
If you areáall things to all people,áyou please or satisfy everyone.
81
get a second bite/two bites at the cherry
This expression means that you get a second opportunity to do or try something.
82
pay dearly for
Ifáyouápay dearlyáfor something that you do or say, you suffer a lot as a result of it.
83
worth your while
If something isáworth your while,áit is a useful thing to do and deserves the time spent on it.
84
fiftháwheel
This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless.
85
put in the right perspective
When peopleásee or put things in their right perspective, they keep in proportion all the elements of a situation, without exaggerating the importance of any aspect.
86
redress the balance
An effort toáredress the balanceáis an attempt to make things equal.
87
more heat than light
If a discussion or debate generatesámore heat than light, it causes anger or intense reaction but doesn't clarify anything.
88
music to one's ears
If something isámusic to your ears,áthe information that you receive makes you feel very happy.
89
on the stump
Before an election, whená politicians are campaigning for support and votes, they areáon the stump.
90
at cross purposes
If two people areáat cross purposes, there is a misunderstanding as to what each one is talking about.
91
put/lay one's cards on the table
If youáput your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly about your feelings and intentions.
92
throw your hat into the ring
If youáthrow or toss your hat in the ring, you announce that you are going to enter a competition or take up a challenge.
93
feel blue
Toáfeel blueámeans to have feelings of deep sadness or depression.
94
Freudian slip
A Freudian slip is a mistake made by a speaker which is considered to reveal their true thoughts or feelings.
95
put on a brave face
When confronted with difficulties, if youáput on a brave face,áyou try to look cheerful and pretend that the situation is not as bad as it is.
96
burn the candle at both ends
If youáburn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up early.

English idioms (without example) (15 decks)

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