IDIOMS LIST FOR IDIOMATIC ENGLISH COURSE

1. A BLACK LOOK- look at disapprovingly, scowl at someone

2. A WHITE ELEPHANT- expensive but useless possession
3. THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY- the worst member
4. A BLACK SPOT- a place on a road that is considered to be dangerous because several
accidents have happened there
5. A WHITE LIE- well-intentioned untruth
6. IN BLACK AND WHITE- official, in writing
7. AS WHITE AS A SHEET- extremely pale, as if frightened
8. IN THE BLACK / IN THE RED- earning money/losing money
9. BLACK EYE- harm done to one's character
10. BLACK ECONOMY- A segment of a country's economy that consists of black-market
activities, Economic activities which take place without the paying of taxes
11. OUT OF THE BLUE- At a completely unexpected time, suddenly
12. RED TAPE- over-strict attention to the wording and details of rules and regulations,
especially by government workers; official rules which do not seem necessary and
make things happen very slowly
13. GIVE SB THE GREEN LIGHT- to give permission for something to happen,
14. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON- almost never, rare
15. RED HERRING- Something that draws attention away from the central issue
16. A BOLT FROM / OUT OF THE BLUE - something that you do not expect to happen and
that surprises you very much,
17. HAVE GREEN FINGERS- to be good at keeping plants healthy and making them grow
18. THE SALT OF THE EARTH – the best people
19. A BUTTER-FINGERS - Someone who is clumsy with objects, and tends to let them slip
out of their hands. Someone who can't hold anything without dropping it. Can be
used as an insult.
20. NOT MY CUP OF TEA- Something that is in accord with one likes
21. FULL OF BEANS - Lively, energetic, in high spirits
22. PEANUTS - practically no money at all
23. TO BE IN A JAM- to be in difficult situation, have a problem
24. NO PICNIC- Difficult, no fun
25. HOT POTATO - A problem so controversial and sensitive that it is risky to deal with
26. AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER- A person who is far relaxed and never worry about the
future
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27. AS RED AS A BEETROOT- to become very red in the face, usually because you are
embarrassed
28. AS WARM AS TOAST- very warm and cozy
29. AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS IN A POD- very similar, two of a kind
30. SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES- to be sold very fast
31. SPEND MONEY LIKE WATER- spent money too much
32. GIVE SB THE RED-CARPET TREATMENT- very special treatment; royal treatment
33. PAINT THE TOWN RED- to go out and enjoy yourself in the evening, often drinking a
lot of alcohol and dancing
34. SEE RED – to be angry
35. SCREAM BLUE MURDER- to shout or to complain very loudly
36. CATCH SB RED-HANDED- to catch a person in the act of doing something wrong.
37. BLUE-EYED BOY- Someone can do no wrong, which is specially treated, especially by
an authority figure. ("She won't tell me anything about that; I’m her "blue eyed boy".)
38. RED-LETTER DAY - an important or significant day
39. CLOAK AND DAGGER- Marked by melodramatic intrigue and often by espionage,
mystery
40. TO CHOP AND CHANGE- to keep changing what you do or what you plan to do,
often in a way that is confusing and annoying for other people
41. TOUCH AND GO- Extremely uncertain or risky
42. FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL- to use a lot of effort to oppose someone or achieve
something
43. HARD AND FAST - Strictly or rigidly adhered to; strong, binding, and clearly defined.
Used especially to describe rules (I have some hard and fast rules in my company;
break them, and you're out of here.)
44. SAFE AND SOUND- unharmed and whole or healthy
45. SICK AND TIRED- Thoroughly weary, discouraged, or bored.
46. PROS AND CONS- advantages and disadvantages
47. UPS AND DOWNS- the mixture of good and bad things that happen
48. SPICK AND SPAN- Neat and clean
49. TO AND FRO- in one direction and then in the opposite direction
50. ODDS AND ENDS- a group of small objects of different types which are not very
valuable or important
51. INS AND OUTS- the correct and successful way to do something; the special things
that one needs to know to do something. (I don't understand the ins and outs of
politics. Jane knows the ins and outs of repairing computers.)

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52. DOWN AND OUT- Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless (After losing his
job, car, and home, he was completely down and out.)
53. CUT AND DRIED- usual and uninteresting
54. HALE AND HEARTY- an old person who is hale and hearty is still very healthy and
strong
55. GO AT EACH OTHER HAMMER AND TONGS- to go hard at something put all your
effort and power into it.
56. GO TO RACK AND RUIN- Become decayed, decline or fall apart,
57. ON AND OFF- sometimes but not regularly or continuously
58. FEW AND FAR BETWEEN - not very many or not appearing very frequently; very few;
few and widely scattered
59. GRIN AND BEAR IT- to accept something unpleasant with good humor
60. TOSS AND TURN- to be unable to sleep because of worrying
61. PICK AND CHOOSE- to choose very carefully from a number of possibilities; to be
selective.
62. GIVE AND TAKE- the exchange of some of what you want for some of what someone
else wants (We reached an agreement after many hours of bargaining and give and
take.)
63. A BLOW BY BLOW- Described in minute detail (Tell me about last night's party, blow
by blow)
64. HAVE STH UP YOUR SLEEVE- something secret you can use, hidden but ready to be
used
65. BE DEALT A LOUSY HAND- means that they have been very unfortunate in some
way(s) in their life
66. I WOULDN’T PUT MY MONEY ON IT- not to believe that someone will do something
or something will happen
67. WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN- at the final, critical moment; when things really get
difficult, when you are in a difficult or dangerous situation
68. THE LUCK OF THE DRAW- if something is the luck of the draw, it is the result of
chance and you have no control over it (You can't choose whom you play against. It's
just the luck of the draw)
69. AT STAKE - ready to be won or lost; at risk; hanging in the balance, in danger of being
lost
70. BE ON THE CARDS - to be likely to happen
71. IT’S A TOSS-UP - It's hard to tell the winner, and it could be won by either player or
either team. Izjednaceno!
72. AGAINST ALL THE ODDS- despite very low probability; in a most unlikely way

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73. HIT THE JACKPOT- to be exactly right; to find exactly what was sought, to succeed
74. PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT- to work or negotiate correctly and skillfully, to do the
correct things to achieve a desired result
75. IN A RUT- in a type of boring habitual behavior, kept in an established way of living
or working that never changes
76. I DON’T KNOW WHETHER I’M COMING OR GOING - to be unable to think clearly and
decide what to do because you have so many things to deal with
77. LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL- the end of a difficult period or job
78. GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS- to end your relationship
79. GO OFF THE RAILS - to be spoiled by bad management, to start behaving strangely or
in a way that is not acceptable to society
80. AT A CROSSROADS- at the point where a decision must be made
81. FOLLOW IN SOMEBODY’S FOOTSTEPS- to do the same job or the same things in your
life as someone else, especially a member of your family
82. A DEAD-END JOB- A job with little or no hope of advancement or increased pay. One
may be in a dead-end job because one lacks the skills to advance or simply because
there are no better jobs available
83. RUN OUT OF STEAM - to lose the energy or interest to continue
84. GO / GET NOWHERE FAST- to not progress
85. MY LIPS ARE SEALED- something you say to let someone know that you will not tell
anyone else what they have just told you
86. BOYS WILL BE BOYS- it is expected that men will behave badly
87. BEGGARS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS- something that you say which means when you
cannot have exactly what you want, you must accept whatever you can get
88. A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME- something that you say in order to let someone know that
you are not going to tell them who gave you the information being discussed
89. IT TAKES ALL SORTS- something that you say which means that all people are
different and even strange people should be accepted
90. SERVES YOU RIGHT- Be deserved under the circumstances (That punishment serves
him right after what he's done to you)
91. SUIT YOURSELF- You decide the way you want it.; Have it your way
92. I CAN’T BE BOTHERED- When you really aren't in the mood to do something,
generally because you are tired, feeling lazy or it's not important
93. JUST MY LUCK- something that you say when something bad happens to you:
94. IT’S MY HEAD THAT’S ON THE BLOCK- to risk doing something which will make other
people lose their good opinion of you if it fails

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95. GO RIGHT OVER YOUR HEAD- if a piece of information goes over someone's head,
they do not understand it, to deal with someone at a higher level
96. I COULD DO IT STANDING ON MY HEAD- you can do it very easily, usually because
you have done it many times before
97. CAN’T MAKE HEAD NOR TAIL OF IT- to not be able to understand something at all
98. SAY STH OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD - based on what you remember, without giving
it too much thought or without precise knowledge
99. TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE- Two people working together have a better
chance of solving a problem than one person working alone.
100. HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS- to not know what is really happening
around you because you are paying too much attention to your own ideas
101. KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER - to manage to survive, especially financially
102. BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND- to refuse to think about an unpleasant
situation, hoping that it will improve so that you will not have to deal with it
103. LAUGH YOUR HEAD OFF- to laugh/scream/shout etc. very much and very
loudly
104. HEADS WILL ROLL - people will get into severe trouble.
105. HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE - to be involved in and have influence over many
different activities, often in a way that other people do not approve of
106. TO GREASE SB’S PALM- to bribe someone
107. FALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE- to fall deeply in love with someone,
especially suddenly.
108. KICK YOUR HEELS - to be forced to wait for a period of time
109. STICK YOUR NECK OUT- to take a risk
110. FOOT THE BILL- to pay for something; to pay for a bill
111. FALL ON DEAF EARS- if a request or advice falls on deaf ears, people ignore it
112. HAVE / GET YOUR FINGERS BURNT- to have a bad result from something, esp.
to lose money
113. NOT LIFT A FINGER- to not help someone to do something, usually because
you are lazy
114. COST AN ARM AND A LEG- to be very expensive
115. HAND IN GLOVE- very close to someone; if one person or organization is
working hand in glove with another, they are working together, often to do
something dishonest
116. KEEP YOUR HEAD - to be calm despite danger or difficulty
117. PUT YOUR SHOULDERS TO THE WHEEL- to work hard and make an effort
118. SEE EYE TO EYE - to agree about someone or something with someone else,
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119. LOSE HEART - to lose one's courage or confidence.
120. SET YOUR HEART ON STH - to decide to achieve something
121. TAKE HEART FROM STH - to feel happier or less worried because of something
122. HAVE THE HEART (TO DO STH)- To be hard hearted, callous, or unsympathetic
(I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't love her anymore.)
123. IN MY HEART OF HEARTS- if you know something in your heart of hearts, you
are certain of it although you might not want to admit it
124. HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART- to change one's attitude or decision, usually from
a negative to a positive position
125. A MAN / A WOMAN AFTER MY OWN HEART - if someone is a man or woman
after your own heart, you admire them because they do or believe the same things as
you
126. HAVE A HEART OF GOLD- to be extremely kind and helpful
127. SB’S HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE- if someone's heart is in the right place,
they are a good and kind person even if they do not always seem to be
128. SB’S HEART IS NOT IN IT- you do not feel something is exciting or interesting
enough to do
129. HEART-TO-HEART - a serious and intimate
130. A PAIN IN THE NECK- someone or something that is very annoying
131. A BUSYBODY- A person who meddles or pries into the affairs of others.
132. A TOMBOY- A girl who behaves in a way that is perceived to be stereotypically
boyish or masculine
133. A NAME-DROPPER- someone who pretends that famous people are his/her
friends
134. FIGHT LIKE CAT AND DOG- to argue violently all the time
135. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON- Fathers and sons resemble each other, and sons tend
to do what their fathers did before them
136. TIE THE KNOT- to get married
137. YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD- One's family member(s)
138. SPITTING IMAGE- A precise resemblance, especially in closely related persons.
(Dirk is the spitting image of his grandfather.)
139. RUN IN THE FAMILY- to be a common quality among members of a particular
family (His father and uncle were basketball stars in college, so athletic ability runs in
the family.)
140. AS DIFFERENT AS / LIKE CHALK AND CHEESE - if two people are like chalk and
cheese, they are completely different from each other
141. A BROKEN HOME- a family in which the parents have separated or divorced
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142. BITE SB’S HEAD OFF- to speak sharply and with great anger to someone
143. MAKE A MEAL OF STH - to spend more time or energy doing something than is
necessary
144. HAVE A SWEET TOOTH- to desire to eat many sweet foods-especially candy
and pastries
145. IT’S NOT MY TASTE - not attractive to me, not my style, not suited to my
preferences
146. I’VE HAD MY FILL OF STH - have or experience as much as you want of
something
147. LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH- to leave a bad feeling or memory
148. HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT - It can be used to say that one cannot or should
not have or want more than one deserves or can handle, or that one cannot or
should not try to have two incompatible things.
149. SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE- to admit that you have been wrong about someone
or something
150. A SECOND BITE AT THE CHERRY- another opportunity to do something
151. BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW- to try to do more than you are able to
do
152. EAT YOUR WORDS - to admit that what you said is wrong
153. GET YOUR TEETH INTO STH- to start to do something with a lot of energy and
enthusiasm
154. IN A PICKLE- in a mess; in trouble
155. GO PEAR-SHAPED- if a plan goes pear-shaped, it fails
156. BREAD AND BUTTER- something that provides you with regular income (Our
customers are our bread and butter, so treat them with respect.)
157. BUTTER SB UP- to flatter someone; to treat someone especially nicely in
hopes of receiving special favors; to praise someone in order to get them to like you
or do what you want
158. CHEESE OFF- to make someone very angry
159. HAVE EGG ON YOUR FACE- to be embarrassed by something one has done
160. TAKE STH WITH A PINCH OF SALT- to listen to a story or an explanation with
considerable doubt; do not completely believe it
161. ON THE BREADLINE- Dependent on public donations of food
162. STEW IN YOUR OWN JUICE- if you leave someone to stew in their own juice,
you leave them to worry about something bad that has happened or something
stupid they have done
163. THE ICING ON THE CAKE- something which makes a good situation even better

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164. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE- You should try many different kinds of
experiences, because trying different things keeps life interesting.
165. THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD- if someone or something is described
as the best thing since sliced bread, people think they are extremely good, often
better than they really are
166. DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET- to risk your money or your
reputation in support of one idea or plan
167. CLOSE CALL- something bad that almost happened; a very difficult decision
168. ON THE LINE- at risk of failing or being harmed
169. PLAY IT SAFE- to avoid any risk
170. OUT OF THE WOODS - Out of difficulties, danger or trouble,
171. WEAR YOUR SUNDAY BEST- one's best clothing, which one would wear to
church
172. CUT A DASH - To have a striking, attractive, and elegant appearance (in one's
style of clothes)
173. SOMEBODY IS NO OIL PAINTING - if someone is no oil painting, they are not
attractive
174. PAST IT - to be too old for a particular activity
175. LOOK THE PICTURE OF HEALTH- to look very healthy, innocent
176. BE ALL SMILES- to look very happy and friendly, especially when other people
are not expecting you to
177. START TO LOOK YOUR AGE- to look as old as you really are
178. LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM- if someone looks like the cat that
got the cream, they annoy other people by looking very pleased with themselves
because of something good that they have done
179. LOOK LIKE A DROWNED RAT- to be very wet, especially because you have
been in heavy rain
180. BE A CHIP OFFTHE OLD BLOCK- a person (usually a male) who behaves in the
same way as his father or resembles his father
181. DRESSED TO KILL- dressed in fancy or stylish clothes; wearing clothes that are
intended to make people notice you
182. MUTTON DRESSED AS A LAMB- an offensive way of saying that a woman is
dressed in a style that is more suitable for a much younger woman
183. BE DOWN IN THE MOUTH- to be sad
184. A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES- something you are happy to see
185. ROUGH DIAMOND- an intrinsically trustworthy or good person with uncouth
manners or dress

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186. DARK HORSE- someone or something whose abilities, plans, or feelings are
little known to others.
187. WET BLANKET- a dull or depressing person who spoils other people's
enjoyment
188. NOSY PARKER- a nosy person (Look, you nosy parker, mind your own business.
189. SHRINKING VIOLET- someone who is very shy and not assertive.
190. LIVE WIRE- an energetic and vivacious person
191. PAPER TIGER- Something that appears dangerous but is not
192. SMART ALEC- cocky, arrogant, conceited, brash, swaggering, egotistical,
cocksure, overconfident, swollen-headed, full of yourself
193. MAN / WOMAN OF THE WORLD- a sophisticated woman who has had much
experience of the world.
194. BE A LAW UNTO HIMSELF / HERSELF - one who ignores laws or rules; one who
sets one's own standards of behavior.
195. TALK THE HIND LEG(S) OF A DONKEY- if you say that someone can talk the
hind leg off a donkey, you mean that they talk a lot
196. WOULDN’T HURT / HARM A FLY- if you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly,
you mean that they are a gentle person and that they would not do anything to
injure or upset anyone
197. COLD FISH - a person who is distant and unfeeling.
198. GOOD SAMARITAN- A compassionate person who unselfishly helps others
199. A WASTE OF SPACE- something that is completely without value
200. PROPHET OF DOOM / DISASTER- someone who always expects bad things to
happen
201. BE AS PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW- to be morally good
202. FOR SB’S EYES ONLY- used for saying that only one person is allowed to see a
document, letter
203. BE A SIGHT / LOOK A SIGHT-
204. THE APPLE OF MY EYE- A most favorite or cherished person
205. NOT SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES - to pay too much attention to details and
not understand the general situation
206. HAVE A ROVING EYE- to be flirtatious; to be interested in having sexual
relations outside of marriage
207. TURN A BLIND EYE- to ignore something and pretend you do not see it
208. CRY YOUR EYES OUT- to cry very hard
209. LOOK DAGGERS AT SB- to give someone a dirty look; to look very angrily at
someone
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210. NOT SEE SB FOR DUST- if you say that you won't see someone for dust, you
mean that they will leave a place very quickly, usually in order to avoid something
211. SWEAR BLIND- to say that something is completely true, especially when
someone does not believe you
212. HAVE AN EAR FOR STH- to have the ability to learn music or languages
213. FACE THE MUSIC- to accept responsibility for something you have done
214. BE OUT ON YOUR EAR- to be forced to leave your job because you have done
something wrong, or because your work is not good enough
215. BIG NOISE- the important current news; the current scandal
216. GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER- to be heard and then soon ignored or
forgotten
217. HAVE A FAMILIAR RING TO STH- to seem as if you have heard it or
experienced it before
218. YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP- to be extremely quiet
219. MY EARS ARE BURNING- Said by or of someone who did not witness people
talking about him or her, intuiting that this is the case
220. KEEP YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND- to devote attention to watching or listening
for clues as to what is going to happen
221. TOUCH WOOD / KNOCK ON WOOD- to rap on something made of wood. (Said
as a wish for good luck. Usually a phrase attached to another statement. Sometime
said while knocking or rapping on real wood.)
222. BE UNDER SB’S THUMB- if you are under someone's thumb, they control you
completely
223. A RAP ON /OVER THE KNUCKLES - a punishment which is not very severe but
which warns you not to behave that way again
224. CLUTCH / GRASP AT STRAWS- Make a desperate attempt at saving oneself
225. BE ALL FINGERS AND THUMBS- to be awkward with your hands and keep
making mistakes
226. GIVE SB A TASTE OF HIS / HER OWN MEDICINE- a sample of the
unpleasantness that one has been giving other people
227. HAS THE CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?- Why are you not saying anything? (Often
said by adults to children.)
228. KICK UP A STINK / FUSS- to cause an argument about something that seems
wrong
229. THERE’S NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE(S)- There is no explanation for people's
preferences.
230. GET YOUR TONGUE AROUND STH - to pronounce a difficult word or phrase

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231. CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE- to hurt yourself in an effort to
punish someone else; to do something because you are angry, even if it will cause
trouble for you
232. STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH- directly from the source, not just a
horse
233. FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH - someone or something that has suddenly become
very popular, but may not remain popular for long
234. BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN HIS MOUTH- if butter wouldn't melt in
someone's mouth, they look as if they would never do anything wrong although you
think they would
235. AS PLAIN AS THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE- to be very obvious
236. A SLIP OF THE TONGUE- a mistake you make when speaking, such as using the
wrong word
237. THROW / PUT SB OFF THE SCENT - if you throw someone off the scent, you
give them false or confusing information to try to stop them discovering something
238. NO SKIN OFF MY NOSE- no difficulty for someone; no cause for concern to
someone.
239. KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP - Show courage in the face of pain or adversity. (I
know you're upset about losing the game, but keep a stiff upper lip.)
240. WHISPER SWEET NOTHINGS- To murmur words of affection to someone in a
flirtatious manner. These words may be genuine or less serious.
241. FOLLOW YOUR NOSE- to make decisions by thinking of how you feel about
someone or something instead of finding out information about them
242. NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH- to be ungrateful to someone who
gives you something; to treat someone who gives you a gift badly. (Usually with a
negative.)

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