This document defines and provides examples for 116 common idioms used in the English language. Some examples of idioms included are "cast (or cut) someone adrift" meaning to abandon or isolate someone, "play devil's advocate" meaning to argue against something for the sake of argument, and "aid and abet" meaning to help and encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal.
This document defines and provides examples for 116 common idioms used in the English language. Some examples of idioms included are "cast (or cut) someone adrift" meaning to abandon or isolate someone, "play devil's advocate" meaning to argue against something for the sake of argument, and "aid and abet" meaning to help and encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal.
This document defines and provides examples for 116 common idioms used in the English language. Some examples of idioms included are "cast (or cut) someone adrift" meaning to abandon or isolate someone, "play devil's advocate" meaning to argue against something for the sake of argument, and "aid and abet" meaning to help and encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal.
2. play devil's advocate ----- see DEVIL 3. aid and abet -- help and encourage someone to do something wrong, especially to commit a crime 4. have people rolling in the aisles ------ make an audience laugh uncontrollably 5. an Aladdin's cave ----- a place full of valuable objects 6. all over the place ---- in a state of confusion or disorganization, 7. as American as apple pie ----- To reward people for something beyond merit 8. run amok ----------- behave uncontrollably and disruptively 9. have ants in your pant ----not be able to keep still because you are very excited or worried about something. 10. tied to someone's apron strings ----- too much under the influence and control of someone 11. out of the ark ------ extremely old-fashioned 12. apple of discord ---- a subject of dissension and angry 13. upset the apple cart ----- wreck an advantageous project or disturb 14. up to your armpits ---- deeply involved in a particular unpleasant situation or enterprise 15. an arrow in the quiver ------ one of a number of resources or strategies that can be drawn on or followed. 16. an atmosphere that you could cut with a knife ----- a general feeling of great tension or malevolence. 17. under the auspices of --- with the help, support, or protection of. 18. have an axe to grind ----- they are doing something for selfish reasons 19. babes in the wood --- inexperienced people in a situation calling for experience 20. back to the drawing board ----- used to indicate that an idea or scheme has been unsuccessful and a new one must be devised. 21. back to square one ---- back to the starting point, with no progress made 22. by the back door --- using indirect or dishonest means to achieve an objective. 23. take a back seat ---- take or be given a less important position or role. Compare with in the driver's seat 24. put backbone into someone --- encourage someone to behave resolutely 25. save someone's bacon ---- save someone's skin 26. bring home the bacon --- supply material provision or support, achieve success. 27. a bad quarter of an hour --- a short but very unpleasant period of time; an unnerving experience. 28. as bald as a coot ---- completely bald 29. a ball and chain ------ a severe hindrance(limitation) 30. the ball is in someone's court ---- it is that particular person's turn to act next 31. have the ball at your feet --- have your best opportunity of succeeding 32. in the ballpark ---- in a particular area or range 33. The Bamboo Curtain was the Cold War political demarcation between the Communist states of East Asia 34. jump on the bandwagon ------- join others in doing something or supporting a cause that is fashionable or likely to be successful. 35. a baptism of fire ---- a difficult introduction to a new job or activity. 36. the bare bones --- the basic facts about something, without any detail 37. with a bargepole --- used to express an emphatic refusal to have anything to do with someone or something 38. bark up the wrong tree ---- pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action 39. man (or go to) the barricades ---- strongly protest against a government or other institution or its policy 40. have bats in the (or your) belfry ---- be eccentric or crazy 41. with bated breath --- in great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly 42. batten down the hatches --- prepare for a difficulty or crisis. 43. a beam in your eye --- a fault that is greater in yourself than in the person you are finding fault with 44. spill the beans --- reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly. 45. Grin and bear ------suffer trouble or hardship without complaint 46. beat a hasty retreat --- withdraw, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant 47. at someone's beck and call --- always having to be ready to obey someone's orders immediately 48. the bee's knees --- something or someone outstandingly good 49. beggar on horseback --- a formerly poor person made arrogant or corrupt through achieving wealth and luxury 50. bell the cat ---- take the danger of a shared enterprise upon yourself. 51. bite your tongue ---- make a desperate effort to avoid saying something 52. put the bite on ---- blackmail,extort money from. 53. the black sheep --- a family or other group 54. blaze a trail --- be the first to do something and so set an example for others to follow. 55. a blessing in disguise --- an apparent misfortune that eventually has good results. 56. a chip off the old block: someone who is very similar in character to their father or mother 57. a blot on the escutcheon --- something that tarnishes your reputation 58. a blue-eyed boy -- the favourite of someone in authority. 59. Bob's your uncle -- everything is fine; problem solved 60. ride bodkin -- travel squeezed between two other people 61. a bolt from the blue --- a sudden and unexpected event or piece of news 62. give someone Bondi -- attack someone savagely 63. the boot is on the other foot --- the situation has reversed. 64. be born with a silver spoon in your mouth ------ to have a high social position and be rich from birth. 65. Pandora's box --- a process that once begun generates many complicated problems. 66. break a butterfly on a wheel ----- use unnecessary force in destroying something fragile or insignificant 67. a dogs breakfast ---- a confused mess or mixture. 68. take someone's breath away --- inspire someone with awed respect or delight; astonish someone 69. burn your bridges -- do something which makes it impossible to return to an earlier state 70. Buckley's chance -- forlorn hope; no chance 71. hide your light under a bushel -- Do not conceal your talents or abilities. 72. the butterfly effect -- the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere 73. have butterflies in your stomach --- have a queasy feeling because you are nervous. 74. cut the cackle stop talking aimlessly and come to the poin 75. have a cadenza be extremely agitated 76. in cahoots -- working or conspiring together, often dishonestly; in collusion 77. burn the candle at both ends --- Working late into the night and beginning again early in the morning. 78. have a card up your sleeve ---- have a plan or asset that is kept secret until it is needed 79. a magic carpet -- a means of sudden and effortless travel. 80. carved in stone - to be very difficult or nearly impossible to change. 81. let the cat out of the bag --- reveal a secret, especially carelessly or by mistake 82. in the catbird seat in a superior or more advantageous position 83. the cat's whiskers --- an excellent person or thing 84. an old chestnut -- a joke, story, or subject that has become tedious and boring as a result of its age and constant repetition. 85. pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire -- succeed in a hazardous undertaking for someone else's benefit. 86. a chink in someone's armour -- a weak point in someone's character, arguments, or ideas which makes them vulnerable to attack or criticism. 87. chickens come home to roost ---- your past mistakes or wrongdoings will eventually be the cause of present troubles 88. have a chip on your shoulder--- to seem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people 89. tap a person's claret make a person's nose bleed by a blow with the fist 90. a cloven hoof a symbol or indication of evil 91. on someone's coat-tails undeservedly benefiting from another's success 92. the cold shoulder a show of intentional unfriendliness; rejection 93. in cold blood without feeling or mercy; ruthlessly 94. cook the books alter records, especially accounts, with fraudulent intent or in order to mislead, 95. cudgel your brain (or brains) think hard about a problem 96. cut the Gordian knot solve or remove a problem in a direct or forceful way 97. at daggers drawn in a state of bitter enmity 98. a damp squib an unsuccessful attempt to impress; an anticlimax 99. go to Davy Jones's locker be drowned at sea 100. not playing with a full deck mentally deficient 101. delusions of grandeur a false impression of your own importance 102. play devil's advocate take a side in an argument that is the opposite of what you really want or think 103. dig in your heels resist stubbornly; refuse to give in. 104. dog eat dog a situation of fierce competition in which people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed. 105. for donkey's years for a very long time. 106. drink like a fish drink excessive amounts of alcohol, especially habitually 107. at the drop of a hat without delay or good reason 108. lame duck a person or thing that is powerless or in need of help 109. If you eat someone's dust, you are a long way behind them in a race or a competitive situation. 110. falls on deaf ears, it is completely ignored by the person who hears it. 111. eat someone's dust fall far behind someone in a competitive situation 112. eat someone's dust fall far behind someone in a competitive situation 113. don't put all your eggs in one basket don't risk everything on the success of one venture 114. at your wits' end: to be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next: 115. the eye of a needle a very small opening or space 116.
Would You Rather? A Funny Book for Families, Kids, Teens, Teachers, Summer Camps, And Long Trips!: Over 365 Interesting and Silly Questions. Includes a Special Holiday Section!