A-Idioms Part IV

Question 1

ll ages and stripesacross the ditch

Answer 1

travelling between Australia and New Zealand, it means “going to the other side” of the Tasman Sea

Question 2

across the pond

Answer 2

‘on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean’, and is used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker’s location

Question 3

act of God

Answer 3

is something like an earthquake or floods that human beings cannot prevent or control

Question 4

act of war

Answer 4

is a action that is either intended to start a war or that is interpreted as being sufficient cause for a war

Question 5

act your age, not your shoe size

Answer 5

stop behaving immaturely- it is often said to adults who are acting like overgrown children and to school-age children who are acting like overgrown toddlers

Question 6

after your own heart

Answer 6

having the same opinions or interests as you

Question 7

against the clock

Answer 7

you do it as fast as possible and try to finish it before a certain time

Question 8

against the grain

Answer 8

it is very difficult for you to accept it or do it, because it conflicts with your previous ideas, beliefs, or principles

Question 9

against one’s better judgement

Answer 9

contrary to what one feels to be wise or sensible

Question 10

age before beauty

Answer 10

is a general expression of respect for wisdom over looks

Question 11

ahead of time

Answer 11

at an earlier or previous time

Question 12

air your dirty laundry

Answer 12

to discuss or argue about private or embarrassing things in front of others

Question 13

an albatross around the neck

Answer 13

a heavy burden or an obstacle to success

Question 14

alike as two peas in a pod

Answer 14

two people are very similar in appearance, behaviour, or emotion

Question 15

alive and kicking

Answer 15

to continue to live or exist and be full of energy

Question 16

all and sundry

Answer 16

is a way of emphasising ‘all’, like saying ‘each and every one’

Question 17

all bark and no bite

Answer 17

full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious

Question 18

all bets are off

Answer 18

used to describe a situation in which it is impossible to be sure about what will happen

Question 19

all ages and stripes

Answer 19

people of all different types and ages, essentially encompassing a diverse group regardless of their age or background

Question 20

all dressed up with nowhere to go

Answer 20

fashionably or smartly dressed for an anticipated occasion that does not take place

Question 21

all ears

Answer 21

to be listening eagerly or paying close attention

Question 22

all thumbs/ all fingers and thumbs

Answer 22

physically awkward, especially with respect to the hands

Question 23

all hat and no cattle

Answer 23

someone talks big but doesn’t follow through with action

Question 24

all heart

Answer 24

to be very kind and generous

Question 25

all hell breaks loose

Answer 25

a situation suddenly becomes violent and noisy, especially with people arguing or fighting

Question 26

all in a day's work

Answer 26

If something is all in a day's work, it is nothing special.

Question 27

all in your head

Answer 27

If something is all in your head, you have imagined it and it is not real.

Question 28

all mod cons

Answer 28

British idiom that means "all modern conveniences

Question 29

all over bar the shouting

Answer 29

If an activity is all over bar the shouting, the result of it is known, but it has not been officially finished or announced, so people can still say that a different result is possible

Question 30

all over Hell's half acre

Answer 30

everywhere or all over the place. It's used to describe when something has been scattered or blown away

Question 31

all roads lead to Rome

Answer 31

there can be many different ways of doing something

Question 32

all square

Answer 32

to be mutually clear of all debts or obligations, or to have equal scores

Question 33

all the tea in China

Answer 33

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.