700-plus-idioms-with-meanings-in-english
English IdiomsIdioms Lists

A List of 728 English Idioms with their Meanings

30 minutes read

 

idiom defINITION
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more because chances are you might lose everything.
A Blessing In Disguise Something good that isn’t recognized at first.
A Chip On Your Shoulder Being upset for something that happened in the past.
A Dime A Dozen Anything that is common and easy to get.
A Doubting Thomas A skeptic who needs personal evidence in order to believe something.
A Doubting Thomas A skeptic who needs physical evidence in order to believe something.
A Drop in the Bucket A very small part of something big.
A Drop in the Bucket A very small part of something whole.
A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted It’s easy for a foolish person to lose her money.
A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted It’s easy for a foolish person to lose his money.
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
A Leopard Can’t Change His Spots You cannot change who you are.
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned By not spending money you are saving money.
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
A Piece of Cake A task that can be accomplished very easily.
A Slap on the Wrist A very mild punishment.
A Taste Of Your Own Medicine When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
A Toss-Up A result that is still unclear and can go either way.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it.
Add Fuel To The Fire Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
Against The Clock Rushed and short on time.
All Bark And No Bite When someone is aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.
All Bark And No Bite When someone is threatening but not willing to engage in a fight.
All Bark And No Bite When someone is threatening and aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.
All Greek to me Meaningless and incomprehensible.
All Greek to me Meaningless.
All Greek to me Incomprehensible.
All In The Same Boat When everyone is facing the same challenges.
An Arm And A Leg Very expensive. A large amount of money.
An Axe To Grind To have a dispute with someone.
Apple of My Eye Someone who is cherished above all others.
As High As A Kite Anything that is high up in the sky.
At The Drop Of A Hat Willing to do something immediately.
Back Seat Driver People who criticize from the sidelines much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
Back To Square One Having to start all over again.
Back To The Drawing Board When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over.
Baker’s Dozen Thirteen.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.
Beat A Dead Horse To force an issue that has already ended.
Beating Around The Bush Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Bend Over Backwards Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Between A Rock And A Hard Place Stuck between two very bad options.
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew To take on a task that is way to big.
Bite Your Tongue To avoid talking.
Blood Is Thicker Than Water The family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue Moon A rare event.
Blue Moon A rare occurance.
Break A Leg Good luck.
Buy A Lemon To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems.
Can’t Cut The Mustard Someone who isn’t adequate enough to participate.
Can’t Cut The Mustard Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems with eating anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems with drinking anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no complications with eating anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no complications with drinking anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no ill effects with eating anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no ill effects with drinking anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems complications effects with eating anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems complications effects with drinking anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems ill effects with eating anything.
Cast Iron Stomach Someone who has no problems ill effects with drinking anything.
Charley Horse Stiffness in the leg.
Charley Horse A leg cramp.
Chew someone out Verbally scold someone.
Chip on his Shoulder Angry today about something that occured in the past.
Chow Down To eat.
Close but no Cigar To be very near and almost accomplish a goal but fall short.
Come Hell Or High Water Any difficult obstacle.
Come Hell Or High Water Any difficult situation.
Crack Someone Up To make someone laugh.
Cross Your Fingers To hope that something happens the way you want it to.
Cry Over Spilt Milk When you complain about a loss from the past.
Cry Wolf Intentionally raise a false alarm.
Cup Of Joe A cup of coffee.
Curiosity Killed The Cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Cut to the Chase Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
Dark Horse One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
Dead Ringer 100% identical. A duplicate.
Devil’s Advocate Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the arguement. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in to another debater.
Dog Days of Summer The hottest days of the summer season.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch Don’t rely on it until your sure of it.
Don’t Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth When someone gives you a gift don’t be ungrateful.
Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Doozy Something outstanding.
Down To The Wire Something that ends at the last minute.
Down To The Wire Something that ends at the last few seconds.
Down To The Wire Something that ends at the last moment.
Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.
Drink like a fish To drink very heavily.
Drive someone up the wall To irritate and annoy very much.
Drive someone up the wall To annoy very much.
Drive someone up the wall To irritate very much.
Dropping Like Flies A large number of people either falling dying.
Dropping Like Flies A large number of people either falling ill.
Dry Run Rehearsal.
Eighty Six A certain item is no longer available.
Eighty Six To throw away.
Elvis has left the building The show has come to an end. It’s all over.
Ethnic Cleansing Killing of a certain ethnic group on a massive scale.
Ethnic Cleansing Killing of a certain religious group on a massive scale.
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining Be optomistic even difficult times will lead to better days.
Everything But The Kitchen Sink Almost everything and anything has been included.
Excuse my French Please forgive me for cussing.
Cock and Bull Story An unbelievable tale.
Cock and Bull Story An unbelievable tale.
Feeding Frenzy An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
Field Day An enjoyable day.
Field Day An enjoyable circumstance.
Finding Your Feet To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
Finger lickin’ good A very tasty food.
Finger lickin’ good A very tasty meal.
Fixed In Your Ways Not wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
Fixed In Your Ways Not willing to change from your normal way of doing something.
Flash In The Pan Something that shows potential in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Flash In The Pan Something that shows looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Flea Market A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.
Flesh and Blood Living material of which people are made of.
Flip The Bird To raise your middle finger at someone.
Foam at the Mouth To be enraged and show it.
Fools’ Gold Iron pyrites a worthless rock that resembles real gold.
French Kiss An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
From Rags To Riches To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Fuddy-duddy An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
Full Monty The whole thing.
Full Monty Completely nude.
Funny Farm A mental institutional facility.
Get Down to Brass Tacks To become serious about something.
Get Over It To move beyond something that is bothering you.
Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Someone who is having a horrible day.
Get Your Walking Papers Get fired from a job.
Give Him The Slip To get away from. To escape.
Go Down Like A Lead Balloon To be received badly by an audience.
Go For Broke To gamble everything you have.
Go Out On A Limb Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone.
Go Out On A Limb Put yourself in a tough position in order to support something.
Go The Extra Mile Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Good Samaritan Someone who helps others when they are in need with no discussion for compensation and no thought of a reward.
Graveyard Shift Working hours from about 12 am to 8 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
Great Minds Think Alike Intelligent people think like each other.
Green Room The waiting room especially for those who are about to go on a tv.
Green Room The waiting room especially for those who are about to go on a radio show.
Gut Feeling A personal intuition you get especially when feel something may not be right.
Haste Makes Waste Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
Hat Trick When one player scores three goals in the same game.
He Lost His Head Angry and overcome by emotions.
Head Over Heels Very excited and joyful especially when in love.
Head Over Heels Very joyful especially when in love.
Head Over Heels Very excited especially when in love.
Hell in a Handbasket Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
High Five Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
High on the Hog Living in Luxury.
Hit The Books To study especially for a test.
Hit The Books To study especially for a exam.
Hit The Hay Go to sleep.
Hit The Hay Go to bed.
Hit The Nail on the Head Say something exactly right.
Hit The Nail on the Head Do something exactly right.
Hit The Sack Go to bed.
Hit The Sack Go to sleep.
Hocus Pocus In general a term used in trickery.
Hocus Pocus In general a term used in magic.
Hold Your Horses Be patient.
Icing On The Cake When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
Idle Hands Are The Devil’s Tools You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
If It’s Not One Thing It’s Another When one thing goes wrong then another and another…
In Like Flynn To be easily successful especially when romantic.
In Like Flynn To be easily successful especially when sexual.
In The Bag To have something secured.
In The Buff Nude.
In The Heat Of The Moment Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
In Your Face An aggressive and bold confrontation.
It Takes Two To Tango A two person conflict where both people are at fault.
It’s A Small World You frequently see the same people in different places.
Its Anyone’s Call A competition where the outcome is difficult to predict.
Its Anyone’s Call A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge.
Jaywalk Crossing the street without using the crosswalk.
Joshing Me Tricking me.
Keep An Eye On Him You should carefully watch him.
Keep body and soul together To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive .
Keep your chin up To remain joyful in a tough situation.
Kick The Bucket Die.
Kitty-corner Diagonally across. Sometimes called Catty-Corner as well.
Knee Jerk Reaction A quick and automatic response.
Knock On Wood Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
Know the Ropes To understand the details.
Last but not least An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him.
Last but not least An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before her.
Lend Me Your Ear To politely ask for someone’s full attention.
Let Bygones Be Bygones To forget about a disagreement.
Let Bygones Be Bygones To forget about a arguement.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie To avoid restarting a conflict.
Let The Cat Out Of The Bag To share a secret that wasn’t suppose to be shared.
Level playing field A fair competition where no side has an advantage.
Like a chicken with its head cut off To act in a frenzied manner.
liquor someone up To get someone drunk.
Long in the Tooth Old people.
Loose Cannon Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.
Make No Bones About To state a fact so there are no doubts.
Make No Bones About To state a fact so there are no objections.
Method To My Madness Strange actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.
Method To My Madness Crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.
Mumbo Jumbo Nonsense.
Mumbo Jumbo Meaningless speech.
Mum’s the word To keep quiet. To say nothing.
Nest Egg Savings set aside for future use.
Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You Don’t hurt anyone that helps you.
New kid on the block Someone new to the group.
New kid on the block Someone new to the area.
New York Minute A minute that seems to go by quickly especially in a fast paced environment.
No Dice To not agree. To not accept a proposition.
No Room to Swing a Cat An unusually small space.
No Room to Swing a Cat An unusually confined space.
Not Playing With a Full Deck Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off On The Wrong Foot Getting a bad start on a relationship.
Off On The Wrong Foot Getting a bad start on a task.
Off The Hook No longer have to deal with a tough situation.
Off the Record Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to him.
Off the Record Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to her.
On Pins And Needles Anxious especially in anticipation of something.
On Pins And Needles Nervous especially in anticipation of something.
On The Fence Undecided.
On The Same Page When multiple people all agree on the same thing.
Out Of The Blue Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.
Out On A Limb When someone puts them self in a risky situation.
Out On The Town To enjoy yourself by going out.
Over My Dead Body When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
Over the Top Very excessive.
Pass The Buck Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.
Pedal to the metal To go full speed especially while driving a vehicle.
Peeping Tom Someone who observes people in the nude people mainly for his own gratification.
Peeping Tom Someone who observes people in the sexually active people mainly for his own gratification.
Pick up your ears To listen very carefully.
Pig In A Poke A deal that is made without first examining it.
Pig Out To eat alot and eat it quickly.
Pipe Down To shut-up.
Pipe Down To be quiet.
Practice Makes Perfect By constantly practicing you will become better.
Pull the plug To stop something. To bring something to an end.
Pulling Your Leg Tricking someone as a joke.
Put a sock in it To tell noisy person to be quiet.
Put a sock in it To tell noisy group to be quiet.
Queer the pitch Destroy a plan.
Queer the pitch Ruin a plan.
Raincheck An offer that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
Raincheck A deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
Raining Cats and Dogs A very loud and noisy rain storm.
Ring Fencing Seperated usual judgement to guarantee protection especially project funds.
Rise and Shine Time to get out of bed and get ready for work.
Rise and Shine Time to get out of bed and get ready for school.
Rome Was Not Built In One Day If you want something to be completely properly then its going to take time.
Rule Of Thumb A rough estimate.
Run out of steam To be completely out of energy.
Saved By The Bell Saved at the last possible moment.
Scapegoat Someone else who takes the blame.
Scot-free To escape and not have to pay.
Sick As A Dog To be very sick.
Sitting Shotgun Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.
Sixth Sense A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.
Skid Row The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.
Smell A Rat To detect somone in the group is betraying the others.
Smell Something Fishy Detecting that something isn’t right and there might be a reason for it.
Son of a Gun A scamp.
Southpaw Someone who is left-handed.
Spitting Image The exact likeness.
Spitting Image The exact kind.
Start From Scratch To do it all over again from the beginning.
The Ball Is In Your Court It is your decision this time.
The Best Of Both Worlds There are two choices and you have them both.
The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall While the bigger and stronger opponent might be alot more difficult to beat when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.
The Last Straw When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.
The Whole Nine Yards Everything. All of it.
Third times a charm After no success the first two times the third try is a lucky one.
Tie the knot To get married.
Til the cows come home A long time.
To Make A Long Story Short Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his audience from losing attention.
To Make A Long Story Short Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep her audience from losing attention.
To Steal Someone’s Thunder To take the credit for something someone else did.
Tongue-in-cheek Humor not to be taken serious.
Turn A Blind Eye Refuse to acknowledge something you know is legit.
Turn A Blind Eye Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real.
Twenty three skidoo To be turned away.
Under the weather Feeling ill.
Under the weather Feeling sick.
Up a blind alley Going down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.
Use Your Loaf Use your head. Think smart.
Van Gogh’s ear for music Tone deaf.
Variety Is The Spice Of Life The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.
Wag the Dog A diversion away from something of greater importance.
Water Under The Bridge Anything from the past that isn’t significant anymore.
Water Under The Bridge Anything from the past that isn’t important anymore.
Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve To openly and freely express your emotions.
When It Rains It Pours Since it rarely rains when it does it will be a huge storm.
When Pigs Fly Something that will never ever happen.
Wild and Woolly Uncultured and without laws.
Wine and Dine When somebody is treated to an expensive meal.
Without A Doubt For certain.
X marks the spot A phrase that is said when someone finds something he has been looking for.
X marks the spot A phrase that is said when someone finds something she has been looking for.
You Are What You Eat In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover Decisions shouldn’t be made primarily on appearance.
You Can’t Take it With You Enjoy what you have and not what you don’t have since when you die you cannot take things with you.
Your Guess Is As Good As Mine I have no idea.
Zero Tolerance No crime big or small will be overlooked.
Zero Tolerance No law breaking big or small will be overlooked.
Zero Tolerance No crime will be overlooked.
Zero Tolerance No law breaking will be overlooked.
A hot potato Speak of an issue which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed.
A penny for your thoughts A way of asking what someone is thinking.
Actions speak louder than words People’s intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
Add insult to injury To further a loss with mockery.
Add insult to injury To further a loss with indignity.
Add insult to injury To worsen an unfavorable situation.
An arm and a leg Very expensive.
An arm and a leg Very costly.
An arm and a leg A large amount of money.
At the drop of a hat Meaning: without any hesitation.
At the drop of a hat Instantly.
Back to the drawing board When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over.
Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision.
Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next step.
Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place.
Barking up the wrong tree Accusing the wrong person.
Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves.
Beat around the bush Avoiding the main topic.
Beat around the bush Not speaking directly about the issue.
Best of both worlds Having all of the benefits.
Best thing since sliced bread A good invention.
Best thing since sliced bread A good innovation.
Best thing since sliced bread A good plan.
Best thing since sliced bread A good idea.
Bite off more than you can chew To take on a task that is way to big.
Blessing in disguise Something good that isn’t recognized at first.
Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night.
Burn the midnight oil Alluding to the time before electric lighting.
Can’t judge a book by its cover Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
Caught between two stools When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
Costs an arm and a leg Expensive.
Cross that bridge when you come to it Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary.
Cry over spilt milk When you complain about a loss from the past.
Curiosity killed the cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Cut corners When something is done badly to save money.
Cut the mustard To succeed.
Cut the mustard To come up to expectations.
Cut the mustard Adequate enough to compete.
Cut the mustard Adequate enough to participate.
Devil’s Advocate To present a counter argument.
Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched Don’t make plans for something that might not happen.
Don’t give up the day job You are not very good at something.
Don’t give up the day job You could definitely not do it professionally.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Drastic times call for drastic measures When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.
Elvis has left the building The show has come to an end.
Elvis has left the building It’s all over.
Every cloud has a silver lining Be optimistic.
Every cloud has a silver lining Even difficult times will lead to better days.
Far cry from Very different from.
Feel a bit under the weather Meaning: Feeling slightly ill.
Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone’s statement.
Give the benefit of the doubt Without proof.
Hear it on the grapevine To hear rumors about something.
Hear it on the grapevine To hear rumors about someone.
Hit the nail on the head Do something exactly right.
Hit the nail on the head Say something exactly right.
Hit the sack To go to bed.
Hit the sheets To go to bed.
Hit the hay To go to bed.
In the heat of the moment Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
It takes two to tango Actions need more than one person.
It takes two to tango Communications need more than one person.
Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend.
Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular activity.
Keep something at bay Keep something away.
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different things at the same time.
Last straw The final problem in a series of problems.
Let sleeping dogs lie Do not disturb a situation as it is – since it would result in trouble.
Let sleeping dogs lie Do not disturb a situation as it is – since it would result in complications.
Let the cat out of the bag To share information that was previously concealed.
Make a long story short Come to the point.
Make a long story short Leave out details.
Method to my madness Having a hidden purpose.
Miss the boat When someone missed her chance.
Miss the boat When someone missed his chance.
Not a spark of decency No manners.
Not playing with a full deck Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off one’s rocker Crazy.
Off one’s rocker Demented.
Off one’s rocker Out of one’s mind.
Off one’s rocker In a befuddled state of mind.
Off one’s rocker In a confused state of mind.
Off one’s rocker Senile.
On the ball When someone understands the situation well.
Once in a blue moon Meaning: Happens very rarely.
Picture paints a thousand words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
Piece of cake A job that is easy.
Piece of cake A task that is easy.
Piece of cake A job that is simple.
Piece of cake A task that is simple.
Put wool over other people’s eyes To deceive someone into thinking well of them.
See eye to eye When two people agree.
Sit on the fence When someone does not want to choose.
Sit on the fence When someone does not want to make a decision.
Speak of the devil This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
Steal someone’s thunder To take the credit for something someone else did.
Take with a grain of salt To not to take what someone says too seriously.
Taste of your own medicine When something happens to you that you have done to someone else.
To hear something straight from the horse’s mouth To hear something from the authoritative source.
Whole nine yards Everything.
Whole nine yards All of it.
Wouldn’t be caught dead Would never like to do something.
Your guess is as good as mine To have no idea.
Your guess is as good as mine I do not know the answer to a question.
A grey area Something unclear
A rip-off Too expensive
Add fuel to the fire To add more to an existing problem
As easy as ABC Something is very easy
Call it a day Time to quit
Cool as a cucumber To be very calm under stress
Crack a book Open up a book and study
Down to the wire At the last minute
Draw a blank Can’t remember
Fill in the blanks Provide more information
Get a kick out of it Really enjoy/like something
Get your act together Behave properly
Give it a shot To try to do something
Have mixed feelings Be unsure of how you feel
Have second thoughts Have doubts
In hot water Be in trouble
In the same boat Be in the same situation
It’s in the bag It’s a certainty
I’ve got your number To say you can’t be fooled by someone since you have them figured out
Miss the boat You missed your chance
Mumbo jumbo To call something total nonsense
Out of the blue With no warning
Pass with flying colors To succeed at something easily
Piece of cake Something very easy
Read between the lines Find the hidden meaning
Second to none The best
The icing on the cake Something additional that turns good into great
Cross your fingers For good luck
Fell on deaf ears People wouldn’t listen to something
Get cold feet Be nervous
Giving the cold shoulder Ignore someone
Have a change of heart Changed your mind
I’m all ears You have my full attention
It cost an arm and a leg It was expensive
Play it by ear Improvise
See eye to eye Agree
Slipped my mind I forgot
Speak your mind Say what you really feel
A bull in a china shop Someone who is very clumsy
A little birdie told me Someone told me a secret
Bee in her bonnet She is upset
Birdbrain Someone who is not very smart
Busy as a bee To be very active and working hard at something
Cat got your tongue? Why aren’t you talking?
Cry crocodile tears To pretend to be upset
Curiosity killed the cat Asking too many questions may get you in trouble
Different kettle of fish Something completely different
Doggy bag A bag to take home leftovers from a restaurant
Fish out of water Being somewhere you don’t belong
For the birds Something that is not worth anything
Get off your high horse Quit thinking you are better than others
Goose is cooked Now you’re in trouble
Hold your horses Wait a minute
Horse of a different color Something that is quite different
Horse of a different color Separate issue
Hot dog A person doing athletic stunts that are dangerous
Let the cat out of the bag Tell a secret
Make a mountain out of a molehill Make something unimportant into a big deal
Night owl Someone who stays up late
Pig out To eat a lot
Put a bug in his ear Make a suggestion
Raining cats and dogs It is raining very hard
Snail’s pace To move extremely slow
Stir a hornet’s nest To cause a lot of trouble
Teacher’s pet The teacher’s favorite student
The world is your oyster You can achieve whatever/go wherever you want
When pigs fly To say something is impossible
Wolf in sheep’s clothing A person who pretends to be nice but is not
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks It’s harder for older people to learn new things
A bitter pill A information that is unpleasant but must be accepted.
A bitter pill A situation that is unpleasant but must be accepted.
A hot potato A controversial situation that is awkward to deal with.
A hot potato A controversial issue that is unpleasant to deal with.
A hot potato A controversial situation that is unpleasant to deal with.
A hot potato A controversial issue that is awkward to deal with.
A dime a dozen Anything that is common to get.
A dime a dozen Anything that is available anywhere.
A dime a dozen Anything that is inexpensive to get.
A dime a dozen Anything that is easy to get.
Ace in the hole A hidden strength.
Ace in the hole A secret strength.
Ace in the hole An unrevealed advantage.
Achilles’ heel A metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength.
All ears Listening intently.
All ears Fully focused.
All ears Awaiting an explanation.
Ace in the hole A hidden strength.
Ace in the hole A secret strength.
All thumbs Clumsy.
All thumbs Awkward.
An arm and a leg Very costly.
An arm and a leg Very expensive.
An arm and a leg A large amount of money.
Apple of discord Anything causing trouble.
Apple of discord Anything causing discord.
Apple of discord Anything causing jealousy.
At the drop of a hat Without any hesitation.
At the drop of a hat Instantly.
Back to the drawing board When an attempt fails and it’s time to start planning all over again.
Ball is in his court It is up to him to make the next decision.
Ball is in her court It is up to her to make the next decision.
Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision.
Ball is in his court It is up to him to make the next step.
Ball is in her court It is up to her to make the next step.
Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next step.
Balls to the wall! Full throttle.
Balls to the wall! At maximum speed.
Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place.
Basket case One made powerless as by nerves.
Basket case One made powerless as by panic.
Basket case One made powerless by stress.
Basket case One made ineffective as by nerves.
Basket case One made ineffective as by panic.
Basket case One made ineffective as by stress.
Beating a dead horse To uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of resolution.
Beat around the bush To treat a topic but omit its main points.
Bed of roses Easy and comfortable.
Bird Brain a person that is not too smart.
Bird Brain A person that acts stupid.
Bite off more than one can chew To take on more responsibility than one can manage.
Bite the bullet To endure a painful situation that is unavoidable.
Bite the bullet To endure a unpleasant situation that is unavoidable.
Bite the dust Euphemism for death.
Bought the farm Euphemism for death.
Bite the dust Euphemism for dying.
Bought the farm Euphemism for dying.
Break a leg Good luck.
Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night.
Bust one’s chops To exert oneself.
By the seat of one’s pants To achieve through instinct.
By the seat of one’s pants To do something without advance preparation.
By the skin of one’s teeth Narrowly.
By the skin of one’s teeth Barely.
Call a spade a spade To speak the truth.
Call it a day To declare the end of a task.
Cat nap A nap.
Champ at the bit To show impatience when delayed.
Champ at the bit To show frustration when delayed.
Cheap as chips Inexpensive.
Cheap as chips Good value.
Chew the fat To chat idly.
Chew the fat To waste time talking.
Chink in one’s armor An area of vulnerability.
Clam up To become silent.
Clam up To stop talking.
Cold shoulder To display aloofness and disdain.
Couch potato A lazy person.
Crocodile tears Fake tears
Crocodile tears Drama tears.
Cut off your nose to spite your face Pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger
Cut a rug To dance
Cut the cheese To fart.
Cut the mustard To perform well.
Cut the mustard To meet expectations.
Dig one’s heels in On genuine objection to some process.
Dig one’s heels in On genuine objection to some action.
Dig one’s heels in On genuine objection to some motion.
Don’t count chickens before they hatch Don’t make plans for something that may not happen.
Don’t count chickens before they hatch Don’t make an assumption about something that does not have a definitively predetermined outcome.
Don’t have a cow Don’t overreact.
Drop a dime Make a telephone call
Drop a dime To be an informant.
Elephant in the room An obvious issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature.
Elephant in the room An pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature.
Fit as a fiddle In good physical health.
For a song Almost free. Very cheap.
Fly in the ointment The one tiny drawback that ruins it.
From A to Z Covering a complete range.
From A to Z Comprehensively.
To make from scratch Make from original ingredients.
To make from scratch Start from the beginning with no prior preparation.
From scratch Make from original ingredients.
From scratch Start from the beginning with no prior preparation.
He/She is a sandwich short of a picnic The person is lacking intelligence.
Get bent out of shape To take offense.
Get bent out of shape To get worked up.
Get bent out of shape To get aggravated.
Get bent out of shape To get annoyed.
Get your goat To irritate someone.
Grasp the nettle To tackle a problem in a bold manner despite the difficulty of doing so.
Grasp the nettle To tackle a problem in a bold manner despite the complexity of doing so.
Grasp the nettle To solve a problem despite short-term adverse consequences.
Grasp the nettle To tackle a problem in a bold manner.
Have a blast To have a good time.
Have a blast To enjoy oneself.
Have eyes in the back of one’s head Someone can perceive things and events that are outside of their field of vision.
Head over heels Besmitten.
Head over heels Infatuated.
Heard it through the grapevine You learned something through means of a rumor.
Hit the ceiling To become enraged.
Hit The Nail On The Head To describe exactly what is causing a problem.
Hit The Nail On The Head To describe exactly what is causing a situation.
Hit The Nail On The Head To do exactly the right thing.
Hit The Nail On The Head To do something in the most effective and efficient way.
Hit The Nail On The Head To say exactly the right thing.
Hit The Nail On The Head To find the exact answer.
Hit The Nail On The Head To be accurate.
Hit The Nail On The Head Correct about something.
Hit the road To leave.
Hit the sack To go to bed.
Hit the sheets To go to bed.
Hit the hay To go to bed.
Hit the sack To go to sleep.
Hit the sheets To go to sleep.
Hit the hay To go to sleep.
Hit the spot To be particularly pleasing.
Hit the spot To be particularly appropriate.
Hit the spot To be just right.
Hook line and sinker To be completely fooled by a deception.
Ignorance is bliss Life is good when you’re naive to the hardships happening all around
Jump ship Leave a activity suddenly.
Jump ship Leave a job suddenly.
Jump ship Leave a organization suddenly.
Just my two cents Just the information I have on the subject.
Kick the bucket Euphemism for death.
Kick the bucket Euphemism for dying.
Kick the habit Stop engaging in a habitual practice.
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different tasks at the same time and with a single action.
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different tasks at the same time.
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different tasks with a single action.
Let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret.
Look a gift horse in the mouth To find fault with something that has been received as a gift.
Look a gift horse in the mouth To find fault with something that has been received as a favor.
Method to (one’s) madness Despite someone’s random approach there is actually some structure to it.
Nip (something) in the bud To stop something at an early stage.
No horse in this race No vested interest in the outcome of a particular contest.
No horse in this race No vested interest in the outcome of a particular debate.
Off one’s rocker Crazy.
Off one’s rocker Demented.
Off one’s rocker Out of one’s mind.
Off one’s rocker In a confused state of mind.
Off one’s rocker In a befuddled state of mind.
Off one’s trolley Senile.
Off one’s trolley Crazy.
Off one’s trolley Demented.
Off one’s trolley Out of one’s mind.
Off one’s trolley In a confused state of mind.
Off one’s trolley In a befuddled state of mind.
Off one’s trolley Senile.
Off the hook To escape a situation of obligation.
Off the hook To escape a situation of responsibility.
Off the hook To escape a situation of danger.
Once in a blue moon Something that occurs very rarely.
Own goal To do something accidentally negative against yourself.
Own goal To do something accidentally negative against your own team.
Pop one’s clogs Euphemism for death.
Pop one’s clogs Euphemism for dying.
the pot calling the kettle black Used when someone making an accusation is equally as guilty as those being accused.
Piece of cake A job that is pleasant.
Piece of cake A job that is simple.
Piece of cake A job that is easy.
Piece of cake A task that is pleasant.
Piece of cake A task that is simple.
Piece of cake A task that is easy.
Preaching to the choir To present a side of a discussion to someone who already agrees with it.
Preaching to the choir To present a side of a argument to someone who already agrees with it.
Preaching to the choir Wasting your time.
Pull somebody’s leg To tease.
Pull somebody’s leg To joke by telling a lie.
Pushing up daisies Euphemism for dying.
Pushing up daisies Euphemism for death.
Put the cat among the pigeons To create a disturbance and cause trouble.
Raining cats and dogs Raining really strong.
Raining cats and dogs Raining really hard.
Right as rain Needed.
Right as rain Appropriate.
Right as rain Essential.
Right as rain Hoped for.
Right as rain Perfect.
Right as rain Well.
Right as rain Absolutely right.
Rock the boat Say something that will cause problems.
Rock the boat Do something that will cause problems.
Rock the boat Say something that will upset people.
Rock the boat Do something that will upset people.
Shoot the breeze To chat idly.
Shoot the breeze Generally waste time talking.
Shooting fish in a barrel Frivolously performing a simple task.
Step up to the plate To deliver beyond expectations.
Screw the pooch To screw up.
Screw the pooch To fail in dramatic and ignominious fashion.
Sleep with the fishes Euphemism for dying.
Sleep with the fishes Euphemism for death.
Spill the beans Reveal someone’s secret.
Spin one’s wheels Expel much effort for no gain.
Spin one’s wheels Expel much effort for little gain.
Straw that broke the camel’s back Last in a line of unacceptable occurrences.
Take the biscuit To be particularly bad.
Take the biscuit To be particularly objectionable.
Take the biscuit To be particularly egregious.
Take the cake To be especially good.
Take the cake To be outstanding.
Take with a grain of salt To not take what someone says too seriously.
Take with a grain of salt To treat someone’s words with a degree of scepticism.
Throw under the bus To betray someone for selfish reasons.
Throw under the bus To sacrifice someone for selfish reasons.
Through thick and thin In both good and bad times.
Thumb one’s nose To express scorn.
Thumb one’s nose To disregard.
Tie one on To get drunk.
To steal someone’s thunder To take credit for something someone else did.
Trip the light fantastic To dance
Two a penny Cheap.
Two a penny Common.
Under my thumb Under my control
Under the weather Feel sick.
Under the weather Feel poor.
Under the weather Feel ill.
The whole nine yards Everything. All of it.
Wild goose chase A frustrating undertaking that accomplishes little.
Wild goose chase A lengthy undertaking that accomplishes little.
He holds the cards He controls the situation.
She holds the cards She controls the situation.
They hold the cards They control the situation.
You can say that again That is very true.
You can say that again Expression of wholehearted agreement.

 

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