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English Idioms > Part 2 > Flashcards

Part 2 Flashcards

(100 cards)

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1
Q

Cry over spilt milk

A

To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

Example: Don’t cry over spilt milk—just learn from your mistake.

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2
Q

A blessing in disguise

A

Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.

Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.

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3
Q

Kill two birds with one stone

A

To accomplish two tasks in one effort.

Example: By studying on the train, I kill two birds with one stone.

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4
Q

Hit the nail on the head

A

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

Example: You hit the nail on the head with that analysis.

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5
Q

Bite the bullet

A

To endure something unpleasant with courage.

Example: I had to bite the bullet and go to the dentist.

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6
Q

Let the cat out of the bag

A

To reveal a secret.

Example: He let the cat out of the bag about her surprise party.

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7
Q

Barking up the wrong tree

A

Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course.

Example: If you think I stole it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

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8
Q

Spill the beans

A

To reveal a secret.

Example: Don’t spill the beans before her birthday!

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9
Q

The ball is in your court

A

It’s your decision or responsibility now.

Example: I’ve done my part—now the ball is in your court.

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10
Q

Jump the gun

A

To act too soon or prematurely.

Example: We shouldn’t jump the gun and accuse him without evidence.

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11
Q

Miss the boat

A

To miss an opportunity.

Example: He missed the boat by not applying earlier.

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12
Q

Burn bridges

A

To destroy relationships permanently.

Example: Don’t burn bridges with your old employer.

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13
Q

Put all your eggs in one basket

A

To rely on one plan or resource.

Example: Diversify your investments—don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

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14
Q

Throw in the towel

A

To give up.

Example: After many failures, he finally threw in the towel.

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15
Q

Hit the books

A

To study hard.

Example: I have exams coming—I need to hit the books.

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16
Q

Face the music

A

To accept the consequences.

Example: He cheated, now he must face the music.

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17
Q

Keep your fingers crossed

A

To hope for good luck.

Example: I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the results.

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18
Q

Get out of hand

A

To become uncontrollable.

Example: The party got out of hand after midnight.

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19
Q

The tip of the iceberg

A

A small part of a bigger problem.

Example: The corruption scandal was just the tip of the iceberg.

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20
Q

Bite off more than you can chew

A

To take on more responsibility than you can handle.

Example: Don’t bite off more than you can chew with that project.

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21
Q

On cloud nine

A

Extremely happy.

Example: She was on cloud nine after winning the competition.

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22
Q

Make a mountain out of a molehill

A

To exaggerate a minor issue.

Example: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill—it’s just a small scratch.

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23
Q

Burn the midnight oil

A

To work late into the night.

Example: He burned the midnight oil before his final exams.

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24
Q

Back to the drawing board

A

Start again from the beginning.

Example: The plan failed—we’re back to the drawing board.

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25
In the blink of an eye
Very quickly. ## Footnote Example: It was all over in the blink of an eye.
26
Give someone the cold shoulder
To ignore someone deliberately. ## Footnote Example: She gave me the cold shoulder at the party.
27
A piece of the pie
A share of something (usually money or success). ## Footnote Example: Everyone wants a piece of the pie in a booming market.
28
A slap on the wrist
A mild punishment. ## Footnote Example: The criminal got a slap on the wrist for a serious crime.
29
A stitch in time saves nine
Fix a problem early to prevent it from worsening. ## Footnote Example: Repair that leak—a stitch in time saves nine.
30
Add insult to injury
To make a bad situation worse. ## Footnote Example: He was fired and then, to add insult to injury, denied his salary.
31
At the drop of a hat
Without hesitation or delay. ## Footnote Example: She’d help you at the drop of a hat.
32
Bark is worse than bite
Someone’s words are harsher than their actions. ## Footnote Example: Don’t be scared—his bark is worse than his bite.
33
Between a rock and a hard place
In a difficult situation with no good options. ## Footnote Example: I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place—both choices are bad.
34
Break the bank
To cost too much. ## Footnote Example: That luxury car will break the bank.
35
Build castles in the air
To make unrealistic plans or dreams. ## Footnote Example: Stop building castles in the air and focus on reality.
36
Call it a day
To stop working for the day. ## Footnote Example: We’ve done enough—let’s call it a day.
37
Caught red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong. ## Footnote Example: He was caught red-handed stealing from the store.
38
Devil’s advocate
Someone who argues against a point just for the sake of debate. ## Footnote Example: Let me play devil’s advocate for a moment.
39
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Don’t judge someone or something by appearance alone. ## Footnote Example: He may look grumpy, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
40
Don’t put the cart before the horse
Don’t do things in the wrong order. ## Footnote Example: Planning the wedding before proposing is putting the cart before the horse.
41
Face the music
Accept the consequences of one’s actions. ## Footnote Example: He’ll have to face the music for breaking the rules.
42
Fly off the handle
Suddenly become very angry. ## Footnote Example: He flew off the handle when he saw the broken vase.
43
Give someone the benefit of the doubt
Believe someone’s statement without proof. ## Footnote Example: I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt this time.
44
Hit the jackpot
To achieve great success or win something big. ## Footnote Example: He hit the jackpot with that new business deal.
45
In hot water
In trouble. ## Footnote Example: She got into hot water for missing the meeting.
46
In the nick of time
Just in time. ## Footnote Example: We reached the station in the nick of time.
47
Jump the gun
Act too soon or before the proper time. ## Footnote Example: Don’t jump the gun—wait for instructions.
48
Keep your fingers crossed
Hope for a positive outcome. ## Footnote Example: I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the exam results.
49
Kill two birds with one stone
Accomplish two tasks with one action. ## Footnote Example: By going to Delhi for work and visiting family, I killed two birds with one stone.
50
Let bygones be bygones
Forget past disagreements. ## Footnote Example: Let’s let bygones be bygones and be friends again.
51
Let the cat out of the bag
Reveal a secret. ## Footnote Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
52
Make ends meet
To earn just enough money to live. ## Footnote Example: It’s hard to make ends meet on a low salary.
53
Not one’s cup of tea
Not something one enjoys. ## Footnote Example: Horror movies aren’t my cup of tea.
54
On thin ice
In a risky or dangerous situation. ## Footnote Example: He’s on thin ice with his boss after that mistake.
55
Pull someone’s leg
Joke or tease someone. ## Footnote Example: Relax, I was just pulling your leg.
56
Put all your eggs in one basket
Depend entirely on one plan or investment. ## Footnote Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—diversify your efforts.
57
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Important things take time to complete. ## Footnote Example: Be patient—Rome wasn’t built in a day.
58
See eye to eye
Agree completely. ## Footnote Example: We don’t always see eye to eye on politics.
59
Steal someone’s thunder
Take credit for someone else’s idea. ## Footnote Example: He stole my thunder by announcing my idea as his.
60
Take it with a grain of salt
Be skeptical or not take something too seriously. ## Footnote Example: Take what he says with a grain of salt—he exaggerates a lot.
61
The ball is in your court
It’s your decision or responsibility now. ## Footnote Example: I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.
62
The best of both worlds
A situation where you get all the advantages. ## Footnote Example: Working part-time gives me the best of both worlds — money and free time.
63
The last straw
The final problem in a series of problems. ## Footnote Example: Forgetting my birthday was the last straw.
64
Through thick and thin
Under all conditions, no matter how difficult. ## Footnote Example: They stayed friends through thick and thin.
65
Under the weather
Feeling ill. ## Footnote Example: I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
66
Up in the air
Uncertain or undecided. ## Footnote Example: Our plans are still up in the air.
67
Water under the bridge
Past events that are no longer important. ## Footnote Example: Let’s forget our argument — it’s water under the bridge.
68
When pigs fly
Something that will never happen. ## Footnote Example: He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.
69
You can’t judge a book by its cover
Don’t judge something by its appearance only. ## Footnote Example: She looks shy, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.
70
Your guess is as good as mine
I don’t know either. ## Footnote Example: Who will win? Your guess is as good as mine.
71
Zip your lip
Keep quiet, don’t reveal a secret. ## Footnote Example: Zip your lip about the surprise party.
72
Break the ice
To start a conversation or relationship easily. ## Footnote Example: He told a joke to break the ice.
73
Bite off more than you can chew
Take on more than you can handle. ## Footnote Example: She bit off more than she could chew by accepting three jobs.
74
Cry over spilled milk
Be upset about something that cannot be changed. ## Footnote Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk.
75
Cut corners
Do something badly or cheaply. ## Footnote Example: They cut corners to finish the project on time.
76
Hit the sack
Go to bed. ## Footnote Example: I’m tired; time to hit the sack.
77
Miss the boat
Miss an opportunity. ## Footnote Example: I missed the boat by not applying on time.
78
On the ball
Alert and quick to respond. ## Footnote Example: She’s really on the ball during meetings.
79
Pull yourself together
Calm down and behave normally. ## Footnote Example: After the shock, he pulled himself together.
80
Sit on the fence
Avoid making a decision. ## Footnote Example: Don’t sit on the fence — choose a side.
81
Spill the beans
Reveal a secret. ## Footnote Example: He spilled the beans about the surprise party.
82
Take it with a grain of salt
Don’t completely believe something. ## Footnote Example: Take his story with a grain of salt.
83
The elephant in the room
An obvious problem no one wants to discuss. ## Footnote Example: The budget cuts are the elephant in the room.
84
Throw in the towel
Give up. ## Footnote Example: After several failed attempts, she threw in the towel.
85
Twist someone’s arm
Persuade someone to do something they don’t want to. ## Footnote Example: I didn’t want to go, but she twisted my arm.
86
Up a creek without a paddle
In a difficult situation without help. ## Footnote Example: Without the documents, I’m up a creek without a paddle.
87
Wear your heart on your sleeve
Show your emotions openly. ## Footnote Example: He always wears his heart on his sleeve.
88
You can’t have your cake and eat it too
You can’t enjoy two incompatible things at once. ## Footnote Example: You can’t stay out late and expect to be fresh for work.
89
Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
You take more food than you can eat. ## Footnote Example: Don’t fill your plate so much — your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
90
Zip it
Be quiet. ## Footnote Example: Zip it during the movie!
91
Ace up your sleeve
A hidden advantage. ## Footnote Example: She had an ace up her sleeve for the negotiation.
92
Barking up the wrong tree
Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course. ## Footnote Example: If you think I’m responsible, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
93
Break a leg
Good luck. ## Footnote Example: Break a leg in your exam!
94
Call it a day
Stop working for the day. ## Footnote Example: Let’s call it a day; we’ve done enough.
95
Cut the mustard
Meet expectations. ## Footnote Example: He didn’t cut the mustard as a leader.
96
Get out of hand
Become uncontrollable. ## Footnote Example: The party got out of hand quickly.
97
Hit the nail on the head
Describe exactly what is causing a situation. ## Footnote Example: You hit the nail on the head with your analysis.
98
Let the cat out of the bag
Reveal a secret by accident. ## Footnote Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the promotion.
99
On thin ice
In a risky situation. ## Footnote Example: You’re on thin ice with the manager.
100
Pull someone’s leg
Joke or tease someone. ## Footnote Example: I was just pulling your leg about the mistake.

English Idioms (3 decks)

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