|
Idiom |
Definition |
Usage |
| a
basket case |
|
|
| a
bitter pill to swallow |
|
|
| about time |
more than long enough |
It's about time
that you returned that book to me. |
| a
breath of fresh air |
|
|
| absent minded |
forgetful |
She is really
absent minded. |
| according to
Hoyle |
Strictly by the rules |
According to
Hoyle, you are not allowed to enter this room. |
| ACE IN
THE HOLE |
a hidden but effective means of winning a conflict
The expression originates from some forms of the card game
poker, in which players have both community cards and
private (“hole”) cards in their hands. To have an ace in
one’s private hand means that one can win the game without
others suspecting ahead of time. |
1. The other team thinks they can win this basketball game,
but that’s only because we haven’t put our best player in
yet. He’s our ace in the hole.
2. It looked like the politician would lose the debate until
he brought up his ace in the hole, an argument that nobody
could refute. |
| ACE UP
(ONE’S) SLEEVE |
to have an effective but hidden means to accomplish
something
The expression originates from card games like poker, in
which players might hide an extra ace up their sleeves to
use in case they were losing the game and wanted to cheat. |
1. It looks like Joanne is going to lose, but I wouldn’t be
too sure. She may have an ace up her sleeve.
2. No matter how many times I think Paul might lose to me in
a game of chess, he never does. He always has an ace up his
sleeve and wins every game. |
|
ACHILLES’ HEEL |
a person’s weakness or the vulnerable spot in his or her
character
Achilles was a figure in Greek mythology who was
invulnerable in battle except for his heel. It was the one
weak spot on his body. |
1. We’ve got to find his Achilles’ heel if we hope to defeat
him.
2. John appears to be a highly respected citizen, but I’m
sure he has his Achilles’ heel. |
| ACID
TEST |
the most crucial or important test of worth
The expression originates from the use of nitric acid on
gold to determine whether the gold was genuine. |
1. Parents might be willing to buy this new toy for their
children but the real acid test is whether or not the
children themselves like it.
2. The acid test for laundry soap is not how well it cleans
in hot water, but how well it cleans in cold water. |
| ACROSS
THE BOARD |
equally for everyone, for everything, or in all cases |
1. The boss made some people angry. He gave 5% pay raises
across the board but some people thought they should have
gotten more than others.
2. The car dealership was cutting prices across the board.
Every car was on sale, not just a few. |
|
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS |
the things that people do (actions) are more important than
the things they say (words)
This expression implies that we can learn about a person’s
true intentions by looking at what they do rather than what
they say. |
1. She’s promised to be nicer to her sister from now on, but
actions speak louder than words.
2. Every politician will claim that he or she cares about
the problems of the average person, but actions speak louder
than words. |
| a day
late and a dollar short |
|
|
| add up |
be reasonable |
His excuse didn't seem
to add up. |
| a fish
out of water |
|
|
| a game
plan |
|
|
| ahead of time |
early |
We started the meeting
ahead of time. |
| air one's dirty
laundry |
reveal his embarrassing
secrets |
She began to air
his dirty laundry at the party. |
|
ALBATROSS AROUND (ONE’S) NECK |
something or someone that is a burden and difficult to get
rid of
An albatross is a large sea bird. The expression comes from
the poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel T.
Coleridge, in which a sailor shoots a helpful albatross with
a crossbow, bringing bad luck on the crew of the ship. The
other sailors hang the bird around the sailor’s neck as
punishment.
Synonym: millstone around (one’s) neck |
1. That car costs you so much to repair. It has become an
albatross around your neck. Why don’t you get rid of it?
2. I hired my wife’s brother to work in my business but he’s
worthless. He doesn’t do anything. He really is an albatross
around my neck. |
| all along |
the entire time |
I knew you were seeing
someone else all along. |
| all at once |
Suddenly |
All at once,
the fans rushed onto the field. |
| all day long |
the entire day |
She has been waiting for
the mail to arrive all day long. |
| all
ears |
|
|
| all in all |
After considering
everything |
All in all,
the meeting was a success. |
| ALL
KIDDING ASIDE |
speaking seriously |
1. That was a good joke, but all kidding aside, we have to
get to work now.
2. What you’re telling me sounds unbelievable. All kidding
aside, are you serious? |
| all of a sudden |
Suddenly |
All of a sudden,
the tornado hit the small town. |
| all right |
okay |
She said that it would
be all right for me to come to the party. |
| all the time |
continually |
She asks for money
all the time. |
| ALL
THUMBS |
uncoordinated and awkward, especially with one’s hands |
1. I’ve tried to put this toy together according to the
instructions, but I’m all thumbs. I can’t seem to get the
parts to fit.
2. Peter seems to be all thumbs today. He keeps dropping his
tools. |
| ALL WET |
wrong to the point of being silly or unbelievable
Compare to: not know beans about (something); out to lunch;
for the birds; talk through (one’s) hat |
1. He’s all wet if he thinks I’m going to believe his lies.
2. Don’t listen to Maria. She doesn’t know what she’s
talking about. She’s all wet. |
| ALONG
FOR THE RIDE, GO/COME |
to be present for an activity without taking part in it
The expression suggests that the ride itself is the extent
of the person’s participation in the activity, and that the
person does not take part in the activity that is the
purpose of the ride. |
1. Janet’s brothers went up into the mountains to do some
fishing. Janet doesn’t fish, but she went along for the
ride.
2. I don’t need to do any shopping, but perhaps I’ll come
along for the ride if that’s okay with you. |
| a mile
a minute |
|
|
| an arm
and a leg |
|
|
|
another one bites the dust |
|
|
| a
piece of cake |
|
|
| APPLE
OF (ONE’S) EYE |
a person or thing that is precious or loved above all else
Centuries old, this expression stems from the ancient belief
that the pupil of the eye was solid and shaped like an
apple. The pupil was considered precious since one could not
see without it. |
1. Richard is so attached to his daughter that he would do
anything for her. She’s the apple of his eye.
2. The boy won’t behave in school, but you can’t convince
his parents. He’s the apple of their eye. |
| ARMED
TO THE TEETH |
well-equipped with weapons
The expression suggests having weapons (arms) from one’s
toes to one’s teeth. |
1. The police won’t enter the bank where the thief is. He’s
armed to the teeth.
2. The invading soldiers were armed to the teeth. There was
no way the defenders could hope to win. |
| as a rule |
Usually |
As a rule
I usually get up at 8:00 AM every morning. |
| as far as |
To the extent |
As far as
I know he will be here in a few minutes. |
| asking for
trouble |
probably going to have a
problem |
He is asking for
trouble if he misses another class. |
| asleep at the
switch |
not alert to the
opportunity |
He missed the chance to
apply for the job because he was asleep at the
switch. |
| as long as |
Provided that |
As long as
you promise to be careful you can borrow my car. |
| |
|
|
| AS THE
CROW FLIES |
directly or in a straight line, without roads
The expression is used to describe the distance between two
points as an airplane or bird might fly, without taking into
account the twists and turns in the road. |
1. The town is 25 miles from here as the crow flies, but
it’s over 40 miles by car.
2. As the crow flies, the airport isn’t very far, but you
can’t get there directly. You have to drive around the
mountains. |
| as usual |
most of the time |
She forgot to bring her
book to class as usual. |
| as well as |
in addition to |
You should bring paper
as well as a pen. |
| as yet |
Until now |
As yet,
she has not told me about her plans. |
| at a loss |
for less than the
company paid for them |
The cars were sold
at a loss. |
| at an end |
over |
The long career of the
company's president appears to be at an end. |
| at cross
purposes |
have opposite ways to do
something |
They are at
cross purposes and are always arguing about what to
do. |
| at fault |
to blame |
The truck driver was
at fault in the accident. |
| at first |
At the beginning |
At first
she did not want to go but later she changed her mind. |
| at first blush |
When first seen |
At first blush
he seemed like a good worker but he is actually lazy. |
| at heart |
basically |
She is a very nice
person at heart although many people
dislike her. |
| at home |
in the house |
Her shoes are at
home. |
| at last |
finally |
I was waiting all
morning for her call and at last it came. |
| AT
LOGGERHEADS |
in strong disagreement, in a quarrel; at an impasse |
1. They have been arguing all day about what to do. They
really are at loggerheads.
2. John and Richard are at loggerheads about what would be a
fair price for the car. John thinks Richard’s price is far
too low. |
| at odds |
in disagreement |
He has been at
odds with his boss for many weeks now. |
| at one's beck
and call |
ready to serve him |
His eldest daughter is
always at his beck and call. |
| at the
drop of a hat |
|
|
| at the end of
one's rope |
at the limit of his
ability to cope |
He is at the end
of his rope with this situation. |
| AT
(ONE’S) WITS’ END |
at a loss about what to do next; in a state of frustration
Synonyms: at the end of (one’s) rope
Compare to: keep (one’s) wits about (oneself); use (one’s)
wits; scared out of (one’s) wits
The word wits means mental abilities. |
1. When the woman looked around and couldn’t find her little
daughter, she looked up and down every aisle in the store
until she was at her wits’ end. She was almost hysterical
when another customer in the store suggested that she notify
the store’s security officer.
2. We can’t seem to persuade our son to stay in school. We
have tried every argument we can think of, but nothing seems
to help. We don’t know what to do, and we’re at our wits’
end. |
| attend to |
take care of |
The clerk decided to
attend to another customer first. |
| AT THE
DROP OF A HAT |
on any pretext; without needing an excuse or reason They’ll
put down their tools at the drop of a hat. |
1. Those workmen look for any reason to stop working.
2. Nancy really doesn’t want to stay in her present job.
She’ll leave for another one at the drop of a hat. |
| AT THE
END OF (ONE’S) ROPE |
no longer able to deal with a bad situation
Synonyms: at (one’s) wits’ end |
1. I just don’t know what to do with my son. He has
misbehaved all day. I’m at the end of my rope.
2. We can’t tolerate that dog anymore. We’re going to give
it away because we’re at the end of our rope. |
| a wolf
in sheep's clothing |
|
|
| AX TO
GRIND |
a hidden reason for wanting something or for not liking
someone or something |
1. Don’t listen to Claudia when she tells you how bad that
teacher is. She has had an ax to grind since he failed her
last year.
2. Why do you keep telling me not to buy anything from that
store? Do you really think they sell bad products, or do you
have some kind of an ax to grind? |
