IDIOMS AND PHRASES

1. A hot potato - A controversial issue or situation which is awkward to deal with.

2. Add insult to injury - Make a situation or conflict intensify
3. Back to the drawing board - Used to indicate that an idea, scheme, or proposal has been
unsuccessful and that a new one must be devised.
4. Ball in your court - Someone else’s turn to make a move.
5. Barking up the wrong tree - To attempt or pursue a futile course of action.
6. Beat around the bush - To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly
about an unpleasant or sensitive topic.
7. Blessing in disguise - An unfortunate event or situation that results in an unforeseen positive
outcome.
8. Best of both worlds - Refers to an item or situation that offers the benefits of two disparate or
competing items or situations
9. Caught between two stools - Come between two alternatives, and so fail to fulfill either of
them.
10. Jump the gun – Do something too soon without proper thinking.
11. Cry over spilt milk - To be upset over something that cannot be fixed, often something minor.
12. Burn the midnight oil - To stay up late working on a project or task.
13. Devil’s advocate - A person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate
or test the strength of the opposing arguments.
14. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket - Don't risk everything on the success of one venture.
15. Every cloud has a silver lining - Every negative situation has the potential to result in or
produce something positive or beneficial.
16. Hit the nail on the head – To be correct or accurate
17. Jump on the bandwagon - Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely
to be successful.
18. Kill two birds with one stone - Achieve two aims at once.
19. Bite off more than you can chew – Try to do something that is too difficult for you.
20. Let the cat out of the bag - Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.
21. Make a long story short - Used to indicate that you are providing just the basic facts rather
than giving a lengthy explanation for something.
22. Once in a blue moon – Very rarely
23. Piece of cake – Something very easy to do
24. Sit on the fence – To not take any side.
25. When pigs fly – Describing impossibility.
26. A bird’s eye view – Looking down on something from a higher position.
27. At the eleventh hour – The last moment or almost too late
28. Apple of an eye – Someone who is above all others
29. At sixes and sevens – A state of total confusion.
30. New broom sweeps well – Someone with new ideas can make great changes.
31. Dance to one’s tunes – To get along with someone else’s wish or views
32. Like a fish out of water – Very uncomfortable, in an unfamiliar situation.
33. Break the ice – Getting along when stranger’s meet
34. Be on cloud nine – A state of happiness.
35. To blow one’s own trumpet – To talk boastfully about one’s achievements.
36. Face the music – To confront with the unpleasant consequences of one’s action.
37. Feather in one’s cap – Achievement or success
38. Foot in mouth – Do or say something that you shouldn’t have
39. To give someone a hand – Help
40. Have ant’s in pants – Restless
41. Cut no ice – Fail to influence or make no effect.
42. Be in a tight spot – Be in a difficult situation.
43. In full swing – At the highest level of activity.
44. Not your cup of tea – Not liked by you or interesting to you.
45. Call it a day – Decide to stop doing something.
46. Bell the cat – To attempt something very difficult.
47. In black and white – In writing or print
48. Lion’s share – The largest part of something
49. Turn the clock back – Return to the earlier time period or situation.
50. Old flames die hard - Difficult to forget old things
51. Read between the lines – Look for or discover a meaning that is implied
52. Through thick and thin – Under all circumstance
53. To kill time – Do something to keep yourself busy when waiting for something else.
54. Building castle in the air – Plans that are impossible.
55. A cock and bull story – A fanciful and unbelievable tale
56. Separate the wheat from the chaff – Separate the valuable from the worthless
57. On the top of the world – To feel extremely happy.
58. Hit the sack – To go to bed.
59. Strike while the iron is hot – Act quickly when the opportunity comes by.
60. Left out in cold - Ignored