8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

1/7

List of idioms in the English language 1

List of idioms in the English languageThis is a list of idioms in the English language .

An idiom is a word or phrase, common in everyday conversation and understood within the culture, having a

meaning completely different than the meaning of it's words. In the example "Kick the Bucket" the listener

understands the meaning is "to die" which is completely different than actually kicking a bucket. An idiom is not be

confused with other Figures of speech such as a Metaphor - like "the man of steel" which invokes an image, or a

Simile - like "Faster than a speeding bullet" which compares two things, or Hyperbole - like "missed by a mile"

which creates a strong impression but is not meant to be taken literally.

: Top 0 9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A A bitter pill [to swallow] A situation or information that is difficult to accept. Ace To perform to a state of perfection. [A] piece of cake An action that is considered very easy to accomplish. A sore spot A topic which is painful or uncomfortable. Any port in a storm This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be

unacceptable.

[As] easy as pie An action that is considered very easy to accomplish. [As] fit as a fiddle In good physical health. [As] right as rain In good (often physical health). [As] nutty as a fruitcake Insane, strange, different, weird, crazy. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree [, The] For a child to be similar to his/her parent(s). Ants in the pants Indicates restlessness.

B Be a basket case To be crazy, jittery, or nervous. Beating around the bush To hint or discuss obliquely. Beat one's brains out To expend undue effort, often for an unlikely success. [Be] off one's rocker To be crazy. Be off one's trolley To be crazy. Bent out of shape [, Don't get all] To be crazy, jittery, or nervous, esp. for little reason. Bend over backwards Make a great effort.

Bite it A crude rejection of another's point. Bite me A crude rejection of another's point. Bite off more than you can chew To expend undue effort, often for an unlikely success. Bite the dust To die. Bite the bullet Undertake or accept a very difficult experience or task. Bite this A crude rejection of another's point. Blow up in your face To have something fail, often in spectacular fashion. Break a leg An ironic synonym for "good luck" or "do your best," typically with regard to an artistic

performance.

Bug To irritate, pester or bother.

Burning the midnight oil Working very late. Busting your chops To tease someone or to give them a hard time about something, often in a joking manner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ironyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hyperbolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Similehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metaphorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Figures_of_speechhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Idioms

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

2/7

List of idioms in the English language 2

By the skin of his/her teeth To narrowly avoid.

C Call it a day To declare the end of a task. Caught his/her eye To become aware of.

Cat among the pigeons -- Predator. [A] cinch Easy. Cloud Nine -- Heavenly.

[The] cold shoulder To pay no attention to or to disrespect. Come hell or high water In spite of whatever happens. Cut it out! A command to stop.

D Damned if you do, damned if you don't -- No win situation. No matter what you do there is a bad consequence.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

A warning not to be overly optimistic. Don't hold your breath A warning not to expect a certain result. Certainly not quickly. Down in the doldrums To be depressed, sad or lacking energy. Dig your own grave -- Do our say something that gets you in trouble.

Drag your feet To delay.

E Elevator doesn't reach the top floor -- Said of someone lacking intelligence.

Every dog has his day -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

Every rose has its thorns -- Every great situation has it's down points. An admonition not to complain when thingsare good.

Even a blind hog occasionally finds an acorn -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

Early bird gets the worm -- Admonition to rise early to succeed.

F Fall off one's perch to be humbled or shamed. Fall off the wagon a slip in sobriety and return to alcoholism.

Feel under the weather -- Feel sick or poorly Feel off-color -- Feel sick or poorly.

Fell off the back of a truck -- Indicates stolen goods.

Flying high -- Things are going great.

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

3/7

List of idioms in the English language 3

G Get off one's high horse -- Admonition not to be arrogant or display moral superiority over others.

Give someone a taste/dose of their own medicine -- To return a disfavour to another.

Give someone the runaround To be unhelpful by creating excuses, shifting blame or sending them on a fruitlesstask.

Give up the ghost -- To die, or finally reveal something (as a secret). God's blood

Got him by the short hairs To have another at a disadvantage.

H Hanged for a sheep as a lamb -- Thrown in too early.

Have itchy feet -- Want to move location or employment or change relationship.

Have cold feet To have fear or anxiety. Hold your horses -- Stop or slow down.

Horse of a different color

Special, different; a different situation. Hang a loose -- Chill, or relax.

Hit it out of the park A big accomplishment or success.

I [It's] no use crying over spilt milk -- What's done is done. Don't dwell on failures.

[It's] up and at 'em -- Get going.

It is what it is -- Admonition not to over analyse a situation but to just accept it for what it is.

It isn't over until the fat lady sings -- There is more yet to happen.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- Admonition to stop being different and start doing what works instead.

J Jump all over someone -- Verbally harrass someone.

Jump the gun To start too soon.

K Kettle of fish -- Type of thing. Situation.

Kill joy -- Someone who prevents others having fun.

Kick the bucket To die. Kick the can -- To die.

Knock your block off -- To physically fight with someone.

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

4/7

List of idioms in the English language 4

L Lay one's cards on the table To reveal previously unknown intentions, or to reveal a secret. Leave no stone unturned -- To try all possibilities

Lick one's wounds To sulk after being defeated. Like a maggot in a meat barrel -- An unwanted thing in the midst of otherwise pristine surroundings.

M Make a mountain out of a mole hill To consider overly important. [Can't] make heads or tails of Not able to understand. More than one way to skin a cat -- Admonition to look beyond the obvious solution to a problem.

N No room to swing a cat -- A small space.

No room at the inn -- All spaces, seats, positions are taken.

Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier Lacking in intelligence. Not the sharpest tool in the shed Lacking in intelligence. Never say die -- Admonition not to give up.

Never say never -- Admonition not to give up.

No guts, no glory If you don't risk anything you will never accomplish much. AKA No risk, no reward

O On the road to recovery -- On the way to being healthy again. Healing has commenced.

On the fence -- Undecided.

On the ball -- Organised and progressing matters well. Over the hill -- Older than middle aged.

On pins and needles -- In a state of extreme anticipation.

Over the moon -- Exceedingly happy.

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch A single disruptive or ill-behaving person has a negative influence on allthe others around them, typically inciting them to or leading them in some bad behavior.

P Pop one's clogs To die. Pot calling the kettle black, The -- Acting superior to another, when the reality is you're both the same.

Pretty Boy Nothin' upstairs -- Handsome but dim.

Pulling your leg Making a joke at your expense. Put one's foot in one's mouth To say something embarrassing. Pushing up daisies The state of being dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AKA

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

5/7

List of idioms in the English language 5

Q Quiet as a mouse To be well-behaved and silent.

R Recharge one's batteries -- Recuperate. Do something to energize yourself after tiring expereince.

Right as rain -- Good. Trusted.

Rock your socks off -- Awe you.

S Smoke and mirrors Not the real deal. An illusion.

Spill the beans To reveal secret or private information. Stem the tide Stop or slow an large number of things. Trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse

Straighten up and fly right Admonition to change life for better.

Sugar the pill Make a negative thing less so.

Sweep you off your feet Impress someone often to romatically impress someone. Swing for the fence To make an extreme effort to get something done in one stroke or attempt.

T The lights are on, but nobody's home -- Indicates someone lacks intelligence

Tighter than a [animal]'s ass in fly time -- Tight.

Time is money -- Admonition to speed up in work or indication that conversation is ending.

Tip of the iceberg -- Indication that what we see / know in this case is very little.

Takes the biscuit -- A surpurlative event. Unusual occassion.

U Under the weather Feel sick or poorly

Until the cows come home A long time. Until late.

V Vent your spleen Explain your anger or strong emotion (usually negative emotion)

Vertically challenged short

Vicious circle A serries of events which each triggers the other with increasngly negative results.

[A] voice in the wilderness Solitary voice(s) expounding a truth. Different opinion than most people. Vote with your feet To leave a situation as you do not agree with it.

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

6/7

List of idioms in the English language 6

W Walking on egg shells -- To feel that anything you say or do will upset someone.

Walking on thin ice -- To be in a dangerous situation.

Wolf in sheep's clothing A person who appears good, but is actually evil. When in Rome...[do as the Romans do] To follow the local customs or pattern of behavior; don't stand out or be

different.

X X it out -- To cross out, or negate.

Y Yanking your chain To tease someone playfully. You've got to be kidding! To express disbelief.

Z Zip it -- Be quiet.

8/3/2019 Idioms_A-Z_Wiki

7/7

Article Sources and Contributors 7

Article Sources and ContributorsList of idioms in the English language Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=463553809 Contributors : 2005-02-26T18:45Z, 730 90, 80.255, Aaron Brenneman, Abhi madhani,Adzz, Aericanwizard, AgefAquarius, Ahoerstemeier, Alex S, Amelia Hunt, Andycjp, AnotherEris, Antaeus Feldspar, Apetc, Aponar Kestrel, Applejuicefool, Aranel, Avengerx, Balok,Beaker6971, Ben@liddicott.com, Benc, Bisected8, Blaxthos, BlueMoonlet, Bobblewik, Bobert, Bohemenian, Brbigam, Btyner, Caidence, Caleson, Cdw1952, Chariset, Chasek8, Chingartumadre,Chuffdogg, Ck lostsword, Cmdrjameson, Cmieuli, ContiE, Cprompt, Craigy90, Cromulent, CryptoDerk, Cyberevil, Czj, Darrendeng, DarthBinky, David Latapie, DavidBrooks, Dcljr,Deadcorpse, Deflective, Delldot, Denisarona, Dickgug, Dkemp, Dogwag25, Dorvaq, DrJJ, Draven Corvis, Drewgrant, DropDeadGorgias, Dukemeiser, Dysprosia, Edcolins, EikwaR, Elustran,Elving, Endurer, Eporres, Eric Mendelson, Ess-inc, Expaticus, ExplicitImplicity, Fisherm77, Fishhead64, FrankHamersley, Fredrik, Fredwen, Fuzheado, Fys, Gabriel iweka, Garik, GassyGuy,

Gatta, GeeJo, Ghede, Ghfan190, Gilgamesh, Graham87, Greg321, Gruffty, Gurch, H215KZiB, HTUK, Hadal, Hagbard13, Hammer2144, Harris7, Heliotic, HughJorgan, Ianblair23,Illuminatiscott, J heisenberg, J3ff, JackLumber, Jackhynes, Jason Potter, JasonBillie, Jc37, Jecowa, Jeffq, JimD, Jmw0000, Jooler, Jschwage, Kaldari, Karthik.raman, KellyCoinGuy, Ketanashah,Kevin Ryde, Kf4bdy, Kirun, Kizor, KlappCK, Knuckles sonic8, Kop, Kungfuadam, Lacshoet, LarryGilbert, Lehla, Lendorien, Lights, Lihaas, Lord of Night, Luke Parks, MER-C, MPS,MadUrban, Magda, Malcolm Farmer, ManniTheUnCanny, Masken, Mattbrundage, Matthew Platts, MavE, Max naylor, Mboverload, Meep116, Merosonox, Michael Hardy, MichaelWheeley,Moorlock, Moriori, Mpbx3003, Mr.troughton, Mtbjacob, Mulad, Muthadi, MuthuKutty, NLB, Nandesuka, Neilc, Netpsycho, Neutral-en, Noha307, Ntennis, Numbo3, Obsteve, OlEnglish,Oldmanbiker, Omicronpersei8, P0lyglut, Patl, Pauburn, Pearle, Pengo, Peripitus, Peterb12, Philwelch, PhotoBox, Pigsonthewing, Pink moon1287, Polylerus, Poor Yorick, Pretzelpaws, Qaz, Qutt,Quuxplusone, R. S. Shaw, RedWordSmith, Rei0, Revampedcomplexity, Rex071404, Robert A West, Robertcu, Robforrest125, Robnpov, Roccyraccoon, Ryan Reich, Ryanmcdaniel, Saccerzd,Sam Hocevar, Sandy bktpp, Sbard, Seanh, Serrin, ShaunMacPherson, Shewasagirl, Shimmera, Shultz, Sietse Snel, SigPig, SigmaEpsilon, SimonP, Smcfarland, Sparkleyone, Surrenderfire,TAKASUGI Shinji, Taestell, Tagishsimon, Tenkistar, TennisE, TexasAndroid, The JPS, The Rumour, The zoro, Thryduulf, TimBentley, TomTheHand, Torsin, Tregoweth, Troycano, Trumpetmarietta 45750, Trusilver, Tulkolahten, Tumble, Twin Bird, Vectro, Velho, Vino s, VolatileChemical, Vuo, WAS, Wereon, Wernher, West London Dweller, William Pietri, WilyD, Wl219,Wmahan, Xelpollodiablox, Yaris678, Yelyos, Yoyo2389, Zondor, 923 anonymous edits

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/