American Idioms 2, A

Question 1

A bolt from the blue

Answer 1

A sudden and unexpected event or piece of news (typically annoying)

Question 2

A cinch

Answer 2

An extremely easy task

Question 3

A few sandwiches short of a picnic

Answer 3

Abnormally stupid, not really sane

Question 4

A heavy cross to bear

Answer 4

An unpleasant or painful situation or person that you have to accept and deal with

“He lost all his crop to heavy rain. It was a heavy cross to bear for him”.

Question 5

A home bird

Answer 5

Somebody who prefers to spend his social and free time at home

Question 6

A life of its own

Answer 6

An independent existence

Question 7

A little bird told me

Answer 7

I don’t wish to divulge where I got the information

Question 8

A million and one

Answer 8

Very many

Question 9

A scaredy-cat

Answer 9

Someone who is excessively scared or afraid

Question 10

A second bite the cherry

Answer 10

A second chance to do something

Question 11

A sitting duck

Answer 11

A person or object in a vulnerable position that is easy to attack or injure

Question 12

A snowball’s chance in hell

Answer 12

Little to no likelihood of occurrence or success.

Question 13

A watched pot never boils

Answer 13

If you wait for something to happen it takes longer

Question 14

A wet blanket

Answer 14

A person who spoils other people’s fun

“If you are going to come to my party, you can’t be such a wet blanket”

Question 15

A whole raft of

Answer 15

A large collection of something

Question 16

Above the salt

Answer 16

Of high standing or honor

Question 17

Above water

Answer 17

Not in extreme difficulty. Especially said of finances

Question 18

Accident of birth

Answer 18

Luck in something due to family good fortune

Question 19

Accident waiting to happen

Answer 19

A dangerous way of setting up or organizing something

Question 20

According to hoyle

Answer 20

Properly, in accordance with established procedures

Question 21

Ace up one’s sleeve

Answer 21

A surprise advantage of which others are not aware

Question 22

Acid test

Answer 22

A crucial event that determines the worth of something

Question 23

After one’s own heart

Answer 23

Similar in a pleasing way

Question 24

After the fact

Answer 24

Too late; after something is completed or finalized

Question 25

**Ahead of the curve**

Answer 25

Offering ideas not yet in general circulation; highly creative.

Question 26

**Ahead of the game**

Answer 26

Making faster progress than anticipated; ahead of schedule.

Question 27

**Alive and kicking**

Answer 27

In good health despite health problems

Question 28

**All along**

Answer 28

For the entire time something has been happening

Question 29

**All And sundry**

Answer 29

Everyone(separately) Each one

Question 30

**All bets are off**

Answer 30

What seemed certain is now unclear

Question 31

**All eyes and ears**

Answer 31

Attentive

Question 32

**All fur coat and no knickers**

Answer 32

Superficially attractive, physically or otherwise

Question 33

**All good things must come to an end**

Answer 33

Everything that is deemed nice, end

Question 34

**All hands on deck**

Answer 34

Everyone must help

Question 35

**All hat and no cattle**

Answer 35

Pretentious, full of bluster

Question 36

**All hell breaks loose**

Answer 36

The situation becomes chaotic

Question 37

**All hell will let loose**

Answer 37

A situation suddenly becomes noisy and violent, usually with a lot of people arguing or fighting

Question 38

**All in good time**

Answer 38

Eventually; at a more favorable time in the future. This phrase encourages one to be patient

Question 39

**All in one piece**

Answer 39

Safely

Question 40

**A bit much**

Answer 40

More than is reasonable; a bit too much

Question 41

**A cut above**

Answer 41

Slightly better than

Question 42

**All told**

Answer 42

With everything taken into consideration

Question 43

**All up**

Answer 43

Finished

Question 44

**Answer back**

Answer 44

Respond impertinently; to talk back

Question 45

**Ants in your pants**

Answer 45

Restlessness

Question 46

**Any minute now**

Answer 46

Very soon

Question 47

**Any port in a storm**

Answer 47

If you’re in trouble, you’ll turn to anything that improves the situation

Question 48

**As bald as a coot**

Answer 48

Totally bald.

Question 49

**As calm as a toad in the sun**

Answer 49

To be very calm in a situation that can be unnerving

Question 50

**As mad as a hatter**

Answer 50

Someone being completely crazy

Question 51

**As nice as nine pence**

Answer 51

A place that is very well organized

Question 52

**Ask out**

Answer 52

Invite someone to go out, especially on a date

Question 53

**At daggers drawn**

Answer 53

Almost ready to fight

Question 54

**At odds**

Answer 54

To disagree about something ## Footnote *“They are at odds about the fundraiser that I hold on Saturday”.*