American idioms

1. Across the board: INCLUDING EVERYONE

2. Air one ’ s dirty laundry in public: DISCUSS PERSONAL PROBLEMS
ONPENLY
3. All along: ALL THE TIME
4. All ears: EAGER TO LISTEN
5. An arm and a leg: LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY
6. Ants in one ’ s pants: NERVOUS, ANXIOUS
7. Apple doesn ’t fall far from the tree: BEING SIMILAR TO A PARENT OR
FAMILY MEMBER
8. Apple of one ’ s eye: SOMEONE SPECIAL, USUALLY A SON OR A
DAUGHTER
9. At fault: RESPONSABLE FOR MAKING ERRORS
10. At odds: IN DISAGREEMENT
11. At one ’ s wit’ s end: ANXIOUS, FRANTIC
12. An earful: INTERESTING GOSSIP INFORMATION
13. Cut out: be talent
14. Comeback: be successful again
15. Count on; Rely on-trust
16. Con; lie
17. Come clean: Tell the truth.
18. Come a long way: Make a great progress
19. Chalk up; a record-score
20. Call it quits: Stop-finish
21. Call of: Cancel
22. Call someone’s bluff: Have someone prove what they say
23. Call the shots: give orders
24. Can of worms: complex problem
25. Carried away: Adversely Influenced by strong emotion
26. Catch on: understand
27. Catch someone red-handed: Find one in the act of doing something wrong
28. Change of heart: A change in the way one feels about something- change opinión
about something
29. Chip in: contribute
30. Chip on one ´ s shoulder: angry
31. Clear the air: calm the bad humor or angry
32. Coast is clear: No enemy is in sight.
33. Dawn on: TO BECOME SUDDENLY CLEAR TO (A PERSON) / SER DIRECTO
34. Dead end job: A JOB IN WHICH THERE IS NO CHANCE OF PROGRESSING
35. DIG UP: TO DISCOVER SECRET OR FORGOTTEN FACTS BY SEARCHING
VERY CAREFULLY
36. DIME A DOZEN: REFERS TO SOMETHING THAT IS INEXPENSIVE,
COMMON OR EASY TO OBTAIN
37. DISH OUT: TO DISTRIBUTE OR GIVE TO PEOPLE
38. DO WITHOUT: TO MANAGE WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING
39. DOUBLE CHECK: TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT SOMETHING
IS CORRECT OR SAFE
40. DOUBLE CROSS: TO TRICK OR CHEAT SOMEONE WHO TRUSTS YOU
41. DOWN IN THE DUMPS: unhappy
42. DOWN TO EARTH:
PRACTICAL AND DIRECT IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE
43. Egg someone on: PUSH, URGE
44. Elbow Grease: STRENGHT FOR CLEANING
45. Elbow room: ENOUGH TO BE COMFORTABLE
46. End up: FINISH
47. FACE THE MUSIC: TO ACCEPT RESPONSABILITY FOR SOMETHING
YOU HAVE DONE
48. FACE UP TO: ACCEPT SOMETHING DIFICULT
49. FALL BEHIND: TO FAIL TO DO SOMETHING FAST/ FALLAR EN ALGO
APENAS EMPEZAMOS
50. FALL APART: STOP WORKING PROPERLY
51. FAIR AND SQUARE: HONESTLY AND ACORDING TO THE RULES
52. FALL FOR: BEGING IN LOVE
53. FAR FETCHED: DIFICULT TO BELIVE
54. FALSE ALARM: WARNING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRUE
55. FALL TROUGH: FAIL IN SOMETHING
56. FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS: feel wonderful with yourself
57. FEEL SORRY FOR: FEEL BAD FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
58. FILL SOMEONE IN: TO GIVE SOME EXTRA INFORMATION OR MANY
DETAILS
59. FIGURE OUT: TRY TO UNDERSTAND
60. GAME; Be ready
61. get a grip on oneself : take control of one’s feelings .
62. get a kick out of: enjoy.
63. get ahead: become successful
64. get along: manage.(administrar)
65. get around to; finally ind time to do something.
66. get cold feet: be afraid at the last minute, and lose conidence.
67. get away with murder: not be punished for wrongdoing / No ser castigada por
mala conducta
68. get even: get revenge, settle the score.
69. get in the swing of things: adapt or adjust to a new environment.
70. HALF BAKED: Silly, bad idea
71. HAND IT TO SOMEONE: Give credit, acknowledge
72. HAND SOMETHING ON A SILVER PLATTER: -Give something easy
73. HANDFUL: a lot of trouble, nuisance
74. HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES: Careful
75. HANDY: Canfixthing,useful,skilful
76. HANG IN THERE:Be patient
77. HARD FEELINGS: Anger,bitterness,resentment
78. H A S - BEEN -:Old glory
79. HAVE A BALL: Have a Good time
80. HAND TO MOUTH: Be poor or just live with the neccesary
81. HARD UP: in desperate need of something
82. HASSLE: A trouble some situation; something trouble some that interrupts a
personal routine.
83. HAVE A CRUSH ON; Be in love with someone
84. HAVE A PRAYER: have a chance.
85. HAVE IT COMING: deserve a punishment
86. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD: arrive at the correct answer. Describe exactly
what is causing a situation or problem.
87. HOLD BACK: conceal,hide. To not do something ,often because of fear
88. HOLD UP: delay,postpone.
89. HUSTLER: person who gets money aggressively or unethically. A dishonest
person
90. IN A BIND: IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION
91. IN A JAM: IN SOME PROBLEM OR TROUBLE
92. IN A NUTSHELL: SOMETHING EXPLAIN FAST OR JUST THE MAINS
POINTS
93. IN A PINCH: IF IS NECCESARY JUST IN AN EMERGENCY
94. IN A RUSH: EN APUROS-HURRYNG
95. IN ADVANCE: BEFORE A PARTICULAR TIME
96. IN BLACK AND WHITE: WRITTEN OR PRINTED, NOT JUST SAY
97. IN SOMEONE’S SHOES: IN THE PLACE OF EACHOTHER
98. IN STITCHES: LAUGH VERY HARD
99. IN THE RED : SPENDING MORE THAT YOU HAVE
100. Jack of all trades: PERSON WHO CAN DO MANY KINDS OF WORK
101. Jalopy: OLD CAR USUALLY IN POOR CONDITION
102. Jump the gun: START BEFORE YOU SHOULD
103. Jump the conclusions: MAKE QUICK BUT INJUSTIFIED
CONCLUSIONS
104. keep a stiff upper lip: be brave
105. Keep on: Continue.
106. keep one’s fingers crossed: wish for good luck.
107. Keep the head above the wáter: be relaxed
108. KEPT ONE’S NOSE CLEAN: stay out of trouble.
109. keep one’s shirt on: Be patient, wait
110. keep something under your hat: keep something a secret.
111. KEEP TABS ON: watch, check.
112. KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES: Pretend or show to have money
113. kick in the pants: Rejection, criticism.
114. kick oneself: Regret.
115. KICK SOMETHING AROUND: DISGUISE OR SAY IDEAS IN
RESPECT OF A TOPIC
116. kick the bucket : die
117. kid :A young person.
118. kid around: Fool, play, joke
119. KISS SOMEONE GOODBYE: Broke a relationship
120. KNOCK IT OFF: tell someone to stop doing something that annoys you
121. knock one dead: Greatly impress, surprise.
122. knock one for a loop: Surprise
123. Knock one’s head against the wall: Trying really hard without progress
124. KNOCK ONESELF OUT: knock oneself out – make a great effort and
enjoy the freedom
125. Knockout: a beautiful person or thing.
126. know if one is coming or going: Be able to think clearly.
127. know-how: Experience and knowledge.
128. Kosher: it means it is legitimate
129. land on one’s feet: come out of a bad situation successfully. aterrizar (land)
130. learn the ropes: acquire special knowledge of a job.
131. let on: reveal, inform, tell
132. Let one’s hair down: be informal, relaxed
133. let someone off the hook: excuse from a penalty or promise.
134. let the cat out of the bag : tell a secret.

135. Let the chips fall where they may: Act regardless of consequences. actuar sin

importar las consecuencias

136. like a ton of bricks strongly: forcefully.
137. live high off the hog: have many luxuries, be very comfortable.
138. live it up; pursue pleasure, have a good time.
139. make a dent in: To reduce an amount of something, money or work. To
show initial progress.
140. make a hit: be successful
141. make ends meet: Pay for basic needs when money is low
142. make fun of: that means to tease, ridicule, or joke about someone or
something, often in a derogatory way.
143. make it up to someone: To do something good for someone you have upset,
in order to become friends with them again
144. make of something: To see, hear, or understand someone with difficulty
145. make one’s hair stand on end: Cause fear or terror in someone.
146. make one’s mouth wáter; The tendency to salivate when presented with a
delicious meal
147. make out: Do, progress, succeed
148. make sense: be logical
149. OFF AND ON: occasionally- sometimes.
150. Off color: in bad taste, rude, dirty.
151. off one’s rocker: be crazy
152. Off the record: private
153. old flame: ex girlfriend-boyfriend
154. on guard: careful
155. on one’s shoulders: one’s responsabilities
156. on pins and needles: nervous, excited
157. on the ball: paying attention and doing things well
158. On the level: honest person
159. RACK ONE’S BRAIN: try to hard to think or remember.
160. RACKET: EASY, WELL-PAYING JOB, BUSINESS
THAT CHEATS CUSTOMERS
161. R A I S E E Y E B R O W S ; cause surprise or disapproval, shock.
162. RAW DEAL: INJUSTICIE
163. R E A D B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S ; understand things that are not
said, find a hidden meaning.
164. RED TAPE: excessive formalities in official business. bureaucratic tasks
formality, oficial
165. Right off the bat: in the beginning
166. RIGHT UNDER ONE’S NOSE: IN AN OBVIOUS NEARBY PLACE.
167. RING A BELL: REMEMBER ONE OF SOMETING FAMILIAR
168. Rip off: cheat, rob
169. UP ONE’S ALLEY: SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY
170. UNDER THE WEATHER: NOT FELLING WELL
171. USE ONE’S NOODLES: TO THINK LOGICALL
172. UP TO SOMEONE: SOMEONE’S CHOICE
173. YOU’RE KIDING: JUST A JOKE
174. YELL BLOODY MURDER: EMOTIONAL ANGER