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Free Language Lessons: 06/22/11

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Common English Idioms

List of Common English Idioms and Phrases with Their Meaning

above board: honest, open
ad lib: improvise, interpolate
after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless
against the grain: contrary to someone’s feelings, principles
all along: all the time
all ears: eager to listen
all of a sudden: no difference
all thumbs: clumsy
apple of one’s eye: very dear, precious
apple of discord: subject of envy or quarrel
as a rule: generally, usually
as far as I know: if I have correct information
as far as I am concerned: in my opinion
as for me/ as to me: in my opinion
as well: also, too
at first sight: from the first glance; at once; at first glance
at odds with: in disagreement with
at random: at this time
backseat driver: a passenger who tells you how to drive
ballpark figure: approximate estimate (in figures)
bark at the moon: do a useless thing; waste time
bark up the wrong tree: accuse or pursue the wrong person; misdirect one’s efforts
be about to: ready
be all in: be extremely tired
be back on one’s feet: healthy again or better financially
beat around the bush: avoid giving a clear/definite answer
be behind the times: be old-fashioned, outdated
be beside oneself: be very upset, nervous, worried
be better off: be in a better situation (financially)
be broke: have no money at all; be penniless, bankrupt
be hard on something or someone: treat roughly
be high on one’s list: be one of the most important things
be in charge of something: be responsible for
be in good health: be healthy
be in poor health: be not healthy
be in good shape: be physically fit; in good condition
be in bad shape: be in bad state; in bad condition
be in the red: be in debt
be on/at the point of something: be on the verge of something; be close to doing something
be out of date: be outdated
be out of sorts: be in bad temper
be pressed for time, for money: not to have enough time, money
be to blame: be responsible for a mistake, for something wrong
be touch and go: risky, dangerous; uncertain of the result
be up and around / about: able to be out of bed after an illness
be up to one’s ears in work: be very busy
beat around/about the bush: avoid giving a clear or definite answer
beat one’s brains out: make great efforts, often unsuccessfully
before long: soon
big shot: important person
bite off more than one can chew: try to do more than one can
bite the bullet: accept painful but necessary action
bite the dust: be killed; die; suffer defeat
bite the hand that feeds one: repay kindness with evil
black sheep: a good-for-nothing member of the family
blind date: a meeting between a man and a woman (who have never met before) arranged by their friends
blow it: lose the chance
bottom line: main result; main factor
break someone’s heart: hurt deeply
break the ice: overcome awkwardness or shyness
break the news (to someone): tell important news
bring home the bacon: earn the living for the family
by all means: definitely, certainly
by heart: by memorizing
by hook or by crook: by any possible means
by oneself (by myself, by himself, etc.): alone; on one’s own
by the way: incidentally
call a halt to something: terminate, stop something
call a spade a spade: use plain, direct words
call it a day: consider work finished for the day
call the shots: give orders; be in control of something
call the tune: give orders; be the most important person in some situation
carry weight: be important
castles in the air: daydreaming about success
catch someone’s eye: attract attention
catch one’s breath: stop and rest
catch someone off guard: catch someone unprepared
catch someone red-handed: find someone in the act of doing wrong
close call: a narrow escape; a bad thing that almost happened
come to one’s senses: act normally and reasonably again
come true: become reality
cross one’s mind: occur to someone
do one’s best: try very hard
do one’s bit: do what’s needed
do someone good: be good for someone
do something behind someone’s back: do (harmful) things secretively
down to earth: practical
draw the line: set a limit; impose a restriction
duty calls: must fulfill obligations
eat one’s words: take back one’s words
every now and then: occasionally
every other: every second one
fall in love (with): begin to love
fall out of love: stop loving
false alarm: untrue signal; untrue rumor
a far cry from something: not nearly as good
feel it in one’s bones: expect something bad to happen
feel like doing something: want to do; be inclined to do something
few and far between: rare, scarce
find fault with someone or something: criticize; complain about
first things first: important things come before others
fly off the handle: get angry
follow in someone’s footsteps: do the same thing
foot the bill: pay the bill
for good: forever
for the time being: for now; at this time
frame of mind: mental state
from now on: now and in the future
from the word go: from the very beginning
get a grip on oneself: take control of one’s feelings
get carried away: get too excited and enthusiastic about something
get cold feet: be afraid to do something
get even with someone: have one’s revenge
get in touch with someone: contact someone
get to the bottom of something: know deeply
get to the point: speak directly about the subject; come to the point
Give me a break!: Stop it! Enough!
give someone a hand: help someone
go back on one’s word: break a promise
go from bad to worse: become much worse
go to pieces: get very upset; fall apart
go with the flow: lead a quiet life
have a ball: have a good time
have a bone to pick with someone: complain or discuss something unpleasant
have a sweet tooth: love eating sweet things
have a word with someone: talk to someone
have no business doing something: have no right to do something
have one’s hands full: be very busy
hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing
hold one’s tongue: keep silent; refrain from speaking
ill at ease: uncomfortable
in advance: well before
in cold blood: mercilessly
in fact: actually; in reality
in hot water: in trouble; in a difficult situation
in someone’s shoes: in another person’s position
in the long run: in the end
in the same boat: in the same situation
in the clear: free from blame
it goes without saying: should be clear without words
jump at the opportunity: accept the opportunity eagerly
just as soon: prefer; would rather
just in case: to be on the safe side
keep a straight face: try not to laugh
keep company: accompany
keep in mind: bear in mind; consider; remember
keep one’s word: fulfill a promise
keep someone posted: inform someone
keep one’s fingers crossed: hope that nothing will go wrong
kill time: fill time; spend empty time
know the ropes: be very familiar with some business
lay one’s cards on the table: be frank and open
lay one’s life on the line: put oneself in a dangerous situation
lead a dog’s life: live in misery
leave word: leave a message
let go of something: release the hold
let one’s hair down: be relaxed and informal with other people
let someone know: inform someone
like father, like son: be like one’s parent in something
little by little: step by step; bit by bit; gradually
lose one’s temper: become angry
lose one’s way: get lost
lose track of someone: not to know where someone is
lucky break: a lucky chance
make a living: earn money to provide for life
make allowance(s) for something: take into consideration when judging
make a point of: be sure to do something intentionally
make friends: become friends
make fun of someone or something: laugh at; joke about
make room for someone: allow space for someone
make up one’s mind: decide
make yourself at home: be comfortable; feel at home
mean well: have good intentions
might as well: maybe it’s a good idea
never mind: don’t worry about it
now and again: occasionally; now and then
off the cuff: without preparation
off the point: beside the point
off the record: not for the public; unofficially
once and for all: decidedly
on credit: not having to pay cash right away
on edge: nervous, irritable
on guard: on the alert
on hand: available
on one hand/on the one hand: considering one side of the question
on one’s toes: alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties
on purpose: intentionally
on second thought: after thinking again
on the alert: on guard
on the carpet: called in by the boss for criticism
on the go: on the move; busy, active
on the other hand: considering the other side of the question
on the spot: right there
on the spur of the moment: without previous thought or plan
on the tip of one’s tongue: on the verge of saying but unable to remember
out of one’s mind: crazy
out of one’s way: away from one’s usual route
out of the question: not to be considered; impossible
pack rat: a person who saves lots of unnecessary things
pay attention: note something; be attentive to something
pick a fight: start a quarrel
put one’s foot down: object strongly
right away: immediately
ring a bell: remind someone of something familiar but half-forgotten
see red: become very angry
take a break: stop for rest
take it easy: relax; be calm
take something for granted: accept as given
take steps: take action; take measures
take time: take a long time
twist someone’s arm: force someone to agree
under the weather: feeling a little ill, a little unwell
up-and-coming: showing promise of future success
up in the air: undecided, unsettled
up to date: modern, latest, current
walk on air: be very happy
waste one’s breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose
watch one’s step: behave prudently; be careful
white lie: unimportant lie
word for word: in the same words

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