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IDIOMS A-G
Common Sayings in American English
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ACHILLES' HEEL | THE ONE WEAKNESS, FAULT, FLAW, OR VULNERABLE SPOT IN ONE’S CHARACTER |
| ALBATROSS AROUND YOUR NECK | DIFFICULT BURDEN THAT YOU CAN’T GET RID OF OR A REMINDER OF SOMETHING YOU DID THAT WAS WRONG |
| ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD | SOMETHING THAT SEEMS ATTRACTIVE AND VALUABLE AT FIRST BUT TURNS OUT TO BE WORTHLESS |
| ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE | TO MAKE A BAD SITUATION WORSE; TO DO OR SAY SOMETHING THAT CAUSES MORE TROUBLE OR MAKES SOMEONE ANGRIER |
| AS THE CROW FLIES | TAKING THE SHORTEST AND MOST DIRECT ROUTE MEASURED IN A STRAIGHT, DIRECT LINE BETWEEN TWO PLACES |
| BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD | TO START PLANNING A FAILED PROJECT ALL OVER FROM THE BEGINNING |
| BALLPARK FIGURE | A ROUGH ESTIMATE |
| BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES | TO GET READY FOR TROUBLE; PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY |
| BEAT A DEAD HORSE | TO PURSUE A USELESS GOAL; TO CONTINUE ARGUING A POINT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED |
| BEAT AROUND THE BUSH | TO AVOID ANSWERING A QUESTION OR GETTING TO THE POINT |
| BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH | WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IS BETTER THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT GET IN THE FUTURE; A GUARANTEE IS WORTH MORE THAN A PROMISE |
| BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU | TO TURN AGAINST SOMEONE WHO HELPS YOU; TO DO HARM TO SOMEONE WHO DOES GOOD THINGS FOR YOU |
| BULL IN A CHINA SHOP | A CLUMSY PERSON WHO HANDLES THINGS ROUGHLY AND WITHOUT THOUGHT |
| BURY THE HATCHET | TO SETTLE AN ARGUMENT OR MAKE PEACE |
| CALL YOUR BLUFF | TO DEMAND THAT SOMEONE PROVE A CLAIM; TO CHALLENGE SOMEONE TO CARRY OUT A THREAT |
| CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEY THAN VINEGAR | MORE CAN BE ACCOMPISHED BY BEING PLEASANT THAN BY BEING DISAGREEABLE |
| CATCH SOMEONE RED-HANDED | GETTING CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF DOING SOMETHING WRONG |
| CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE | WHEN SOMEONE IS UNUSUALLY QUIET |
| CHEW THE FAT | TO BE QUARRELSOME, AGGRESSIVE, OR RUDE; ALWAYS READY TO FIGHT OR ARGUE |
| COLD SHOULDER | UNFRIENDLY TREATMENT OF A PERSON BY IGNORING HIM OR HER |
| COOKING WITH GAS | PERFORMING WITH SKILL, ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM, AND EXCELLENCE |
| COOL AS A CUCUMBER | COOL AS A CUCUMBER |
| CREAM OF THE CROP | THE BEST OF ALL; TOP CHOICE |
| CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE | TO INJURE YOURSELF OUT OF ANGER TOWARD ANOTHER; TO MAKE A SITUATION WORSE FOR YOURSELF, JUST TO GET BACK AT SOMEONE ELSE |
| CUTTING EDGE | IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THE LATEST ADVANCES (IE I-PHONE) |
| DIME A DOZEN | VERY COMMON AND INEXPENSIVE; EASY TO GET AND AVAILABLE ANYWHERE |
| DOG DAYS OF SUMMER | THE HOTTEST AND MOST HUMID DAYS OF SUMMER, USUALLY MUCH OF JULY AND AUGUST |
| DON’T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH | DON’T COMPLAIN IF A GIFT IS NOT PERFECT; TAKE WHAT YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN WITHOUT CRITICISM |
| DOSE OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE | THE SAME OR A SIMILAR BAD THING DONE BACK TO THE PERSON WHO DID IT FIRST; “KARMA” |
| EAT YOUR WORDS | TO TAKE BACK WHAT YOU SAID; TO ADMIT HUMBLY THAT YOU WERE WRONG |
| EGG ON YOUR FACE | TO BE VERY EMBARRASSED OR HUMILIATED FOR SOMETHING FOOLISH THAT YOU DID OR SAID |
| ELBOW GREASE | HARD, ENERGETIC MANUAL LABOR |
| EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK | TO USE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, WHETHER NEEDED OR NOT |
| FACE THE MUSIC | TO ENDURE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS; TO TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE COMING TO YOU |
| FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND | A PERSON WHO IS A FRIEND ONLY WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL |
| FIFTH WHEEL | UNNEEDED, EXTRA PERSON |
| FISH OR CUT BAIT | DO ONE THING OR ANOTHER, BUT STOP DELAYING; MAKE A CHOICE; ACT NOW OR GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A TURN |
| FISH OUT OF WATER | A PERSON WHO IS OUT OF HIS OR HER USUAL PLACE; SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T FIT IN OR IS HELPLESS IN A SITUATION |
| FLOTSAM AND JETSAM | COLLECTION OF MOSTLY WORTHLESS AND USELESS OBJECTS; ODDS AND ENDS; RUBBISH AND REFUSE |
| FLY IN THE OINTMENT | A SMALL ANNOYANCE THAT SPOILS AN OTHERWISE PLEASEANT SITUATION |
| FOOD FOR THOUGHT | AN INTERESTING IDEA WORTH THINKING ABOUT CAREFULLY |
| FULL OF BEANS | LIVELY, HAPPY AND ENERGETIC, HIGH-SPIRITED |
| GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD | GET GOING; MOVE FORWARD; GET THE STARTED |
| GET YOUR GOAT | TO ANNOY VERY BADLY; TO MAKE A PERSON ANGRY |
| GIFT OF GAB | SKILL IN TALKING, ESPECIALLY IN AN INTERESTING A COLORFUL WAY |
| GO FLY A KITE | GO AWAY; LEAVE; STOP BOTHERING ME |
| GREEN WITH ENVY | EXTREMELY JEALOUS |
| GREEK TO ME | TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND; UNKNOWN |
| GET UNDER YOUR SKIN | TO BOTHER OR UPSET SOMEONE |
| GET YOUR FEET WET | TO HAVE A FIRST EXPERIENCE IN SOMETHING TO BEGIN TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME |
| GIVE SOMEONE THE THIRD DEGREE | USE MENTAL OR PHYSICAL PRESSURE TO GET INFORMATION OR A CONFESSION FROM SOMEONE |
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