IDIOMS

Under the weather = to feel ill

Fair and square = being direct or fair.
To spill the beans = to give away a secret
To break a leg = to wish someone luck
To risk life and limb = to risk a lot
To pull someone’s leg = to play a practical joke
Through thick and thin = to be loyal no matter what
Once in a blue moon = rarely/ very rare
Come rain or shine = no matter what
To beat around the bush = to avoid talking about what’s important
To sell like hot cakes = quick sellout
Left out in the cold = being ignored
Keep an ear to the ground = staying informed and updated about everything
In for a penny, in for a pound = that someone is intentionally investing his time or money
for a particular project or task
A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush = an opportunity in hand, currently, is better
than a prospect in the future, because time never repeats itself
Every cloud has a silver lining = bad things one day eventually lead to good things
Bear a grudge = to continue to feel angry or unfriendly for someone or something because
of a particular past incident.
By the skin of your teeth = to just barely get by or make it
Easier said than done = not as easy as it appears to be.
To break the ice = to get the conversation going
A dime a dozen = very common, quite ordinary
Get out of hand = when a situation gets out of control
Fish out of water = to be in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable place.
Piece of cake = very easy.
On the line = to risk something or have something at risk.
Spill the beans = to tell a secret.
Straight from the horse's mouth = to hear information directly from the person involved.
Call it a day = to stop working/decide or agree to stop doing sth.
Penny wise and pound foolish= to worry about or obsess over unimportant details while
ignoring the important ones.
On thin ice = in a dangerous or risky situation with much margin for error.
Twist my arm = to convince someone with persistence.
Cut to the chase = to get directly to the point.
See eye to eye = to agree, compromise or understand the other person's perspective.
Rings a bell = sounds familiar or reminds you of something.
Cost an arm and a leg = to be very expensive.
Through thick and thin = throughout good times and bad times.
Pour one’s heart out = to tell or confess something emotional.
To be at loggerheads = to argue, to disagree
To keep a stiff upper lip = to be reserved
A matter of time = certain to happen at some time in the near future.
A pick-me-up = a thing that makes one feel more energetic or cheerful.
A state of affairs = a situation or set of circumstances
A stitch in time saves nine = better think and act ahead
A train of thought = a series of thoughts or ideas that someone is having
Bear with me = be patient
Bread and butter = basic and important
Far-fetched = unlikely and unconvincing; implausible
Just in the nick of time = just before the last moment when something can be changed or
something bad will happen
Next to nothing = very little
Not by any stretch of the imagination = used to emphasize that something is not true, does not
happen
On the run = trying to avoid being captured
Out of sight, out of mind = a person stops thinking about something or someone if he or she does
not see that thing or person for a period of time
Part and parcel of = not separated.
Peace of mind = a feeling of being safe or protected
At all times = without stopping or changing at any time : always.
The turn of the century = the time when a particular century ends and another begins
To be at stake = it is being risked and might be lost or damaged if you are not successful
To be beyond belief = tobe shocked.
To be called to account for /to account for = If someone is called, held, or brought to account for
something they have done wrong, they are made to explain why they did it, and are often criticized
or punished for it.
To be sick and tired of = thoroughly fatigued or bored
To brace for the worst = prepare yourself for something unpleasant or difficult
To burn the candle at both ends = to work or do other things from early in the morning until late
at night and so get very little rest
To come to mind = to remember
To come to nothing /nought = to disappear
To come to terms with = to come to an agreement
To cry over spilled milk = there's no point to being upset over something that has already
happened and cannot be changed
To cut to the chase = come to the point
To drop a hint = to suggest in a discreet way
To earn a living = to survive, to make ends meet
To keep it under your hat = not to disclose
To kick the bucket = to die
To leave high and dry = to do something that is not at all convenient for someone and puts them
in a very difficult situation
To make a mountain out of a molehill = to exaggerate
To paint the town red =go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.
To play hooky = to skip classes/meetings
To pop into one's mind /head = to come to mind quickly
To pull someone's leg = to mock at someone
To think outside the box = think in an original or creative way.
Up one's sleeve =to have/keep a secret method, trick, etc., that one can use when it is needed
Up-to-date = incorporating the latest developments and trends.
Up-to-the minute = most recent
Where there's a will, there's a way = if someone really wants to do something, they will find a
way to do it, even if there are things that make it hard to do
With all due respect = used as a polite formula preceding, and intended to mitigate the effect of,
an expression of disagreement or criticism
Be at a loose end – TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO
Let off steam – TO UNWIND
Put your feet up – TO RELAX
A couch potato – TO BE LAZY
Take five – TO TAKE A BREAK
Recharge your batteries – TO RECOVER
Be down to earth – TO BE HUMBLE OR REALISTIC
Go with the flow – TO BE EASY GOING
Be in the middle of nowhere – TO BE A IN THE STICKS
Have itchy feet – TO WANT TO MOVE OR PROGRESS
To take a short cut – TO TAKE A SHORTER ROUTE
Be a stone throw away – TO BE VERY CLOSE
Be a globetrotter – TO HAVE TRAVELLED A LOT
Cover all the bases – TO DO A BIT OF EVERYTHING
With flying colours – TO DO SOMETHING WELL
Have the gift of the gab – TO BE CONVINCING
A drop in the ocean – A SMALL AMOUNT
Be on the dole – TO BE UNDEMPLOYED
Fall short – NOT BE ENOUGH
Break even – NO PROFIT BUT NO LOSS EITHER
Be skint – TO NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY
In a flash – TO DO SOMETHING FAST
In the nick of time – TO BE JUST IN TIME
Lose track of time – TO NOT KNOW THE TIME
Once in a blue moon – TO DO SOMETHING RARELY
On the spur of the moment – SUDDENLY
Keep a straight face – TO REMAIN SERIOUS
Keep your hair on – TO REMAIN CALM
Never look a gift horse in the mouth – DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING
YOU ARE GIVEN
Grin and bear it – ACCEPT A DIFFICULT SITUATION
Give the green light – TO GIVE PERMISSION
Be a busy body – TO BE NOSY/ TO GOSSIP ABOUT SOMETHING
Have a change of heart – TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT SOMETHING
Rain cats and dogs – TO RAIN A LOT
Out of the blue – SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
Have green fingers – BE GOOD AT GROWING PLANTS AND FLOWERS
Smell something fishy – TO BE SUSPICIOUS
Turn a blind eye – TO NOT TAKE NOTICE OF SOMETHING
Pull a few strings – TO USE YOUR INFLUENCE TO YOUR OWN ADVANTAGE
Gain the upper hand – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING
Out of this world – TO BE REALLY GOOD
Cost an arm and a leg – TO BE EXPENSIVE
Spend an arm and a leg – TO COST AN ARM AND A LEG
Be over the moon – TO BE VERY HAPPY
Be on cloud nine – TO BE VERY HAPPY
See eye to eye – TO AGREE
Be in the clouds – TO BECOME DISTRACTED
Jump for joy – TO BE EXCITED
Tie the knot – TO GET MARRIED
Be like two peas in a pod – TWO PEOPLE WHO LOOK OR BEHAVE THE SAME
Have butterflies in your stomach – TO BECOME NERVOUS
Be on the same wave length – TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER
Be your flesh and blood – BE RELATED TO YOU/TO BE IN YOUR FAMILY
Be on good terms – TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AFTER A DIFFICULT
SITUATION