363 entries
Idioms
Everyday idioms - what they mean and where they came from.
A
- A bad break1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- A big askA favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- A bigger bang for your buckBetter value for your money.
- A bite to eatA small meal, possibly taken quickly when time is short.
- A bull and cowCockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- A doubting thomasA sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- A feather in ones capA symbol of achievement.
- A hot potatoA current issue which many people are talking about and which is controversial.
- A leopard cant change his spotsYou cannot change your innate self.
- A lot on your plateHaving many responsibilities.
- A picture paints a thousand wordsPictures are far more descriptive than words.
- A slap on the wristA mild rebuke, often given when a more severe punishment might be expected.
- A taste of your own medicineMistreatment you receive in retaliation to that you gave to others.
- A thorn in my fleshA persistent and difficult to ignore annoyance.
- A toss up1. The flip of a coin to decide on something. 2. A result, usually between two courses of action, which is uncertain and could go either way.
- A-Z List of Idioms
- Abso bloody lutelyA more emphatic version of ’Absolutely’.
- Act your ageBehave in a manner appropriate to your stage in life.
- AdageMoney always has a telling influence.
- Add fuel to the fireMake a bad situation even worse than it is.
- AgreementA kindred spirit. Someone who thinks as I do.
- Aint my first rodeoSaid by someone who has experience of a situation.
- Al deskoEating one’s lunch while still working. (A Pun on ’Al fresco’.).
- All bark and no biteHaving lots to say but not willing to engage in a fight.
- All in a days workTypical; a normal set of circumstances.
- All kidding asideSaid when you want people to realise you are speaking seriously, when they might otherwise think you were joking.
- All setReady to go.
- All the wayReferring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.
- All thumbsClumsy or physically inept.
- All to cockRuined or shambolic.
- Alpha momAn ambitious mother who aims to excel at work while raising children.
- Alphabet soupA jumble of words or letters, often referring to organisations known by their initials, like CIA or BBC.
- AmericaA day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- Amped upExcited and ready for action.
- An axe to grindA dispute with someone.
- An open and shut caseA straightforward legal case in which the outcome is clear.
- AnimalsIt’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- AphorismA proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Apples and pearsCockney rhyming slang for stairs.
- At the drop of a hatWith no delay.
- Australian originA favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
B
- Baby brainConfusion or forgetfulness caused by lack of sleep when caring for a new-born.
- Baby bumpThe protruding belly of a pregnant woman. Also used to describe the unborn child itself.
- Baby snatcherSomeone who enters into an amorous relationship with a much younger person.
- Bag ladyA homeless woman, who carries all her possessions in shopping bags.
- Barnet fairCockney rhyming slang for hair.
- Bat from the pavilion endSlang term for a homosexuality.
- Be a sportBe generous and/or sportsmanlike.
- Be glad to see the back ofBe happy when a person leaves or when an unpleasant situation is ended.
- Bend over backwardsMake extravagant efforts to avoid bias.
- Between the warsThe period between WWI and WWII.
- Beyond priceTo be so prized and valuable as to not be obtainable by money.
- BiblicalA very small part of a bigger whole.
- Bitch slapAn open-handed slap in the face intended to be humiliating.
- Bite off more than you can chewTake on a task that is more than one can manage.
- Bite your tongueAvoid speaking.
- Blood blisterCockney rhyming slang for sister.
- BlueA set meal provided at a reduced price.
- Body1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Brahms and lizstCockney rhyming slang for pissed.
- Brass monkey weatherExtremely cold weather. The full expression is 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.
- Brass tacksCockney rhyming slang for facts.
- Breast is bestSlogan of breastfeeding campaign.
- Bring your a gamePerform to the best of your ability.
- Brown out1. A partial failure of the electricity supply. 2. The exposing of one's buttocks in public.
- Brum brumChild's play idiom expressing the sound of a vehicle.
- BuildingAn upmarket hotel located in a revamped rural mansion.
- Burn the midnight oilTo work late into the night.
- BusinessA worker especially loyal to the employer he works for.
- Buy a lemonWaste money by purchasing a car that is frequently faulty.
C
- Calendar yearTwelve months beginning from the first of January.
- Cant cut the mustardUnable to meet the demands put upon you.
- Cast iron stomachSaid to be possessed by someone who is able to eat anything with no ill effects.
- Caught between two stoolsFinding it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
- Caught by the short hairsTrapped by an opponent in a situation you can't escape.
- Chasing tailOf a man pursuing women.
- Chew someone outVerbally scold someone.
- ChildhoodA slang term for small child.
- ChildrenThe protruding belly of a pregnant woman. Also used to describe the unborn child itself.
- ClicheBetter value for your money.
- Clock1. Almost time. 2. High time.
- ClothesA symbol of achievement.
- Cockney rhyming slangCockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- ColourA deliberate provocation.
- Come hell or high waterDespite any great difficult or obstacle.
- ComedyMake someone laugh.
- Company manA worker especially loyal to the employer he works for.
- ConflictCockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- Corduroy roadA road that is ridged and furrowed like the fabric.
- CountryAn upmarket hotel located in a revamped rural mansion.
- Crack someone upMake someone laugh.
- Cream crackeredCockney rhyming slang for knackered. - note, when this term was coined, cream crackers were a popular snack in the UK.
- CrimeA person or thing having good underlying qualities while appearing to be coarse and unpolished.
- Cross your fingersTo hope that something happens.
- Crunch timeThe period of time just before a project has to be completed.
- Currant bunCockney rhyming slang for sun.
D
- Daisy rootsCockney rhyming slang for boots.
- DanceDance in a stylish way.
- DateBehave in a manner appropriate to your stage in life.
- Day surgeryMinor surgery that does not require the patient to stay in hospital overnight.
- Dead white european maleDerogatory reference to someone who has an unjustified reputation.
- DeathThe reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- Designated driverSomeone who agrees not to drink alcohol at a social event in order to be sober enough to drive others home.
- Dial down1. Adjust a device to reduce sound or temperature. 2. Reduce one's emotional reaction to something.
- Dicky dirtCockney rhyming slang for shirt.
- Discussing ugandaEuphemism for sex.
- DisgustSaid of someone who the speaker has a deep dislike of.
- Dog and boneCockney rhyming slang for telephone.
- Dog days of summerThe hottest days of the summer season.
- Dont bite the hand that feeds youDon't hurt someone that helps you.
- Dont cry over spilt milkDon't fret pointlessly about some mistake or loss when it can't be remedied.
- Dont give up the day jobSaid to someone who is a poor performer at a task - suggesting that they wouldn't be able to succeed at it professionally.
- Dont look a gift horse in the mouthWhen you receive a gift accept it with good grace and don't find fault with it.
- Dont put all your eggs in one basketDon't risk all your property on a single venture.
- Double headerA sports expression denoting two events held at the same time.
- DrinkA slang term for lager.
- Drive someone up the wallIrritate or annoy very much.
- Dry runA rehearsal.
E
- EducationThe joint name given to Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard universities.
- EffortA favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- EmotionA day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- EmploymentTypical; a normal set of circumstances.
- Enhanced interrogation techniquesEuphemism for torture.
- EuphemismThe reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- Everything but the kitchen sinkEverything imaginable.
- Evil twinAn imaginary double, humorously referred to in order to explain the uncharacteristic bad behaviour of a normally moral person. Usually used light-heartedly. The expression formed as an allusion to plots in films involving actual evil twins.
- ExcellenceTo be so prized and valuable as to not be obtainable by money.
- ExcessA favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
F
- Failure1. Something sadly neglected. 2. A person or thing of untidy appearance.
- Fairytale endingA happy simplistic ending to a story similar to those found in fairy tales.
- FamilyFailure is certain if those on the same side argue amongst themselves.
- Far cry fromVery different from.
- FashionVery smartly dressed, in one's best clothes.
- Fell off the back of a lorryA coy reference to an item that has been stolen.
- Fire the imaginationInspire with enthusiasm.
- First among equalsThe most senior person in a group of equal rank.
- First worldThe industrialised affluent and wealthy nations.
- First world problemA relatively trivial problem only affecting the affluent.
- Fixed in your waysUnwilling to change from your habitual way of doing things.
- Flea pitA downmarket cinema - allegedly verminous.
- FoodA small meal, possibly taken quickly when time is short.
- FrenchPlease forgive me for swearing.
- Frock upWear a smart or formal dress for a special occasion.
- FruitCockney rhyming slang for stairs.
- Full of bullTalking hot air.
G
- Gee geeChildish term for a horse.
- Gender benderA person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by 'bender' being an earlier slang term for homosexual.
- Get a gold starEarn a merit point for doing well.
- Get on boardAccept and participate with an idea or project.
- Get out of handBecome chaotic and uncontrollable.
- Get out of the wrong side of the bedBe grumpy because you are having a bad day.
- Get your head aroundUnderstand something, especially something difficult to comprehend because it is complex or surprising.
- Ginger beerCockney rhyming slang for queer.
- Give him an inch and hell take a mileallow someone a small concession and they will take advantage and try to take more.
- Give the benefit of the doubtDecide to believe a statement which isn't proven.
- Give the slipTo get away from. To escape.
- Gnats bollockA very small (imaginary) unit of measurement.
- Go ape shitBecome excessively agitated and excited.
- Go belly upBecome badly and permanently inoperative.
- Go down like a lead balloonBe received badly.
- Go for brokePut every resource into getting a particular result.
- Go the extra mileGoing beyond what is usually required. Make an extra effort.
- Greek originA fatal weakness in an otherwise strong person or thing.
H
- HabitYou cannot change your innate self.
- Had a good warTo have been successful during a military campaign.
- HairA day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- HappinessAn apparent misfortune that works to the eventual benefit of the recipient.
- Happy sadA bittersweet feeling combining both happiness and sadness.
- Harry spankersBrand spanking new.
- Have a blastHave an especially good time.
- He makes my flesh (or skin) crawl (or creep)Said of someone who the speaker has a deep dislike of.
- Hear it on the grapevineHear rumors about something from an anonymous informal contact.
- Hell bentDetermined to achieve something at all costs.
- Help yourselfInvitation to take something freely.
- Hidden in plain sightSomething that defies apprehension by being too obvious.
- High seasonThe most popular time to visit a resort or attraction - when prices are highest.
- Hit the booksTo study, especially for a test or exam.
- Hit the sackRetire to bed.
- Holy shitAn expression of extreme surprise or disbelief.
- HonestyDecide to believe a statement which isn't proven.
- Household itemsA very small part of a bigger whole.
- HyperboleThe reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
I
- I cant be doing with itI am unwilling to tolerate it.
- I cant think straightI'm overwhelmed and stressed and it is affecting my ability to think.
- Idiom categories
- Idioms coined in Britain
- Idioms coined in the USA
- If its not one thing, its anotherSaid after more than one thing goes wrong.
- In cahoots withTo be in a partnership with, often for unscrupulous purposes.
- In the heat of the momentIn an overwhelming situation, causing you to act rashly.
- It takes two to tangoIt takes two people to cause a problem between them.
- Its not rocket scienceSaid of something that isn't complex or difficult to understand.
J
K
L
- LanguagePictures are far more descriptive than words.
- LatinLatin expression meaning seize the day.
- LegalA straightforward legal case in which the outcome is clear.
- Lend me your earPolitely ask for someones full attention.
- Lets rewindA suggestion that the thing under consideration has gone along unproductive lines and should be looked at again from the beginning.
- Link farmA website that exists primarily to display links to another website, with the intention of improving the search status of the second site.
- Link rotThe tendency of WWW addresses to become out of date and point to unavailable pages.
- Liquor someone upTo supply or to drink alcoholic drink.
- Little devilAn exclamation of surprise and annoyance, directed at someone who has behaved badly or performed some kind of prank. Often applied to children.
- Little fish in a big pondSomeone considered unimportant compared to their more significant peers.
- LocationSome endeavours either succeed or they don’t - to miss narrowly is still failure.
- Lord fredCockney rhyming slang for bed.
- Lose your headOvercome by emotion and out of control.
- Lose your touchLose an ability that you used to possess.
- LuckAn apparent misfortune that works to the eventual benefit of the recipient.
M
- MadnessNot facing reality; in a dream world.
- Make a sceneCause a disturbance.
- Mates ratesA discount price offered to friends.
- Medical1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Method to my madnessOdd actions that appear meaningless but are done for a good reason.
- Military1. A military command to turn when on parade. 2. A change from one’s previous position.
- Misfortune1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Miss the boatMissed the chance to take an opportunity.
- MoneyBetter value for your money.
- Mrs moptraditional English name for a cleaning woman.
- MusicInvitation to join in communal singing.
N
- NameA sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- NatureIt’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- NauticalA radical change.
- New arrivalColloquial term for a new-born baby.
- No rushSaid to someone to indicate that you aren't in a hurry for them to complete their task.
- No saintSomeone who might claim to be of good behaviour but has in fact a sordid past.
- No spring chickenSaid of people who are no longer young but may behave as though they were.
- NonsenseNonsense.
- Nose aroundInvestigate in an off-hand manner.
- Not all thereNot in possession of one's mental faculties.
- NumberSo commonplace as to be of little consequence.
O
- Off ones rockerCrazy; out of one's mind.
- On the fenceUnwilling to give one's view about which side you support.
- On the recordSomething said in confidence that the one speaking is happy to have repeated.
- On the same pageSeveral people agreeing.
- Open warfareEngaged in active fighting or dispute.
- Out on the townOut enjoying oneself.
P
- Partner upFind a companion.
- Patience1. Almost time. 2. High time.
- Peachy keenExcellent; wonderful.
- Pedal to the metalTo go at full speed, when driving a vehicle.
- Pen and inkCockney rhyming slang for stink.
- Perfect pitchThe ability to determine a musical note by ear.
- Phone it inPerform an act in an uncommitted disinterested manner.
- Photo bombSpoil a photograph by unexpectedly appearing in the picture and taking the attention away from the intended subject - usually as a prank.
- Pig outTo overeat in a slovenly manner.
- Pigs earCockney rhyming slang for beer.
- Pigs might flySaid when referring to something that is highly unlikely.
- PlaceAn idealistic dream of a sunny hideaway.
- Play devils advocateA person who takes a contrary position from the one being presented, either for the sake of argument or to test the validity of the opposing point of view.
- Play safeAvoid risk.
- Play the fieldIndulge in a series of sexual relationships.
- PoliticsA political contest in which the result is influenced by personality and image more than by policy.
- Porky piesCockney rhyming slang for lies.
- Potatoes (or taters) in the mouldCockney rhyming slang for cold.
- Potty mouthA foul mouthed person.
- PrideProud and arrogant.
- ProverbA proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- ProverbialA proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Pull the plugBring something to an end.
- Pull the wool over someones eyesDeceive someone.
- Pulling your legTricking someone as a joke.
Q
R
- ReduplicationChild's play idiom expressing the sound of a vehicle.
- RelaxationA work day which an employee is allowed to spend at home relaxing.
- ReligionA sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- Rest upTake a break from one's efforts.
- Revenge pornThe malicious posting of sexual images online to harm the reputation of an ex partner.
- RiskIt’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- Rome was not built in one dayMajor and important projects take time.
- Rosie leaCockney rhyming slang for tea.
- RubbishAssorted bits and pieces of rubbish; especially items that are found in the sea.
S
- Sad assA reference to an inept or undesirable person or thing.
- Scarper flowCockney rhyming slang for go.
- ScienceSaid of something that isn't complex or difficult to understand.
- Scrape togetherTo manage, with difficulty, enough of what is needed - especially money.
- Scrub upMake an effort to present oneself well dressed and smartly turned out.
- SecretsA secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.
- See eye to eyeWhen two or more people agree.
- SexThe reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- ShakespeareA state of euphoria with no basis in reality.
- Shoot down in flamesDestroy an argument or theory.
- Shoot straightTo talk or deal honestly.
- Shovel readyA building project in which all the preliminaries have been arranged.
- Silver threads amongst the goldBlonde hair that is turning grey.
- Sit tightWait and take do nothing until the time is right for action.
- SlangCockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- Smell a ratTo begin to suspect that things aren't as they should be.
- Smell something fishyDetect that something isn't as it should be.
- Sniff testSniff an item of clothing (or food) to check if it might be suitable to wear (or eat).
- Sparrow fartJokey term for the early morning.
- SportBack to the beginning.
- Stab someone in the backHurt someone who was close to us by betraying them secretly and breaking their trust.
- Steal someones thunderTake the credit for something someone else did.
- Step up to the markMark yourself ready to take responsibility.
- Stranger things have happenedSaid when the feasibility of some unlikely event is questioned.
- StupidityA foolish person is very likely to lose his money.
- SuccessSomething that is extremely easy. Often used by children. Sometimes used by adults to demote an achievement that was accomplished with little apparent effort.
- Suck it upAccept a bad situation.
- SurpriseSomething that creates shock or surprise.
- Swing byDrop in for a visit.
- Swipe right(On the dating app Tinder) to indicate that you find someone unattractive by dragging one's finger to the right, across their screen image.
- Sympathy1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.
T
- Take a butchersCockney rhyming slang for look.
- Tea leafCockney rhyming slang for thief.
- TechnologyA measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during an industrial or domestic process.
- That friday feelingAnticipation of the weekend after a hard working week.
- That sucks1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.
- The author of your own misfortuneBe to blame for one's own problems.
- The ball is in your courtIt is your turn to make a decision.
- The best of both worldsThe benefits available from two apparently conflicting options.
- The best thing since sliced breadAn outstandingly good idea or plan.
- The big pondNickname of the Atlantic Ocean between the UK and the USA.
- The bull in the bowler hatJokey term for artificial insemination.
- The empty chairThe perceived absense of someone who is recently deceased.
- The glorious twelfthThe 12th of August - the start of the British grouse shooting season.
- The god squadenthusiastic Christian believers.
- The icing on the cakeSomething that makes a good situation even better.
- The sound of leather on willowThe sound of the ball on the bat in cricket.
- The town bikePromiscuous woman.
- The wheels have come offSaid when a previously promising enterprise goes irretrievably wrong.
- TheatreA superstitious way to wish 'good luck' to an actor before a performance while avoiding saying 'good luck' out loud, which is considered unlucky.
- Third times a charmThe third try is often successful.
- Throw the towel inGive up, especially to avoid further punishment when facing certain defeat.
- Til the cows come homeA long time to wait.
- TimeA small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.
- Titfer tatCockney rhyming slang for hat.
- ToolA proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Toy boyA woman's much younger male lover.
- TravelSomeone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.
- TrickeryA commodity that is bought without first examining it.
- Twenty three skidooInvitation to go away.
- Twist someones armPersuade someone to do something they don't really want to do.
- Two and eightCockney rhyming slang for state.
- Types of Phrase
U
V
W
- ‘Worldwide’ Idioms
- WaterSomeone in an unfamiliar circumstance.
- WeatherExtremely cold weather. The full expression is 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.
- Where theres muck theres brassDirt and muddle are evidence of products being manufactured and money (brass) being made.
- Wind someone upDeliberately draw attention to something with the intention of causing trouble.
- Winter drawers onBritish euphemistic joke.
- WorkA proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Would you adam and eve itCockney rhyming slang for would you believe it?
- Wouldnt be caught deadReferring to something you absolutely refuse to do.
X
Y
- Yarn bombingThe adorning of public buildings with knitted or crocheted material - either for fun or to make a political point.
- You can lead a horse to waterYou can encourage someone to to do something but, in the end, what they do is their own choice.
- You cant take it with youSuggestion that you should spend money and live life now as it will be no use to you after you die.
- You cant teach an old dog new tricksOnce animals (and people) are set in their ways they struggle to assimilate new ideas.
- Your guess is as good as mineI have no idea.
- Your number is upIt is now your turn. For instance, if 1. You are about to die. or 2. You have won a lottery.