idioms

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1- A bit much If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.
2- A day late and a dollar short If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
3- A fool and his money are soon parted This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly.'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
4- A little bird told me If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
5- A OK If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.
6- A poor man's something Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.
7- A1 If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.
8- Abide by a decision If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.
9- About face If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.
10- Above board If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.
11- Absence makes the heart grow fonder This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.
12- Achilles' heel A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.
13- Acid test An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.
14- Across the board If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.
15- Against the grain If doing something goes against the grain, you're unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.
16- Agony aunt An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones.
17- Ahead of the pack If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.
18- Albatross around your neck An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.
19- All along If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.
20- All and sundry This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.
21- All ears If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.
22- All fingers and thumbs If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity.'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the idiom.
23- All hat, no cattle When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.
24- All hell broke loose When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
25- All mod cons If somehing has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.
26- All mouth and trousers Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver.
'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.
27- All over the place If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.
28- All over the shop If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.
29- All road lead to Rome This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.
30- All skin and bone If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.
31- All talk and no trousers Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
32- All the tea in China If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
33- All-singing, all-dancing If something's all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.
34- Alter ego An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means 'other self'.
35- Always a bridesmaid, never a bride If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.
36- Ambulance chaser A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.
37- Amen Some use 'Amen' or 'Amen to that' as a way of agreeing with something that has just been said.
38- An old flame An old flame is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked on fondly and with affection.
39- Ants in your pants If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.
40- Any port in a storm This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
41- Apple of your eye Something or,more often, someone that is very special to you is the 'apple of your' eye.
42- Argue the toss If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
43- Arm and a leg If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
44- Armed to the teeth If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.
45- As a rule If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.
46- As cold as ice This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.
47- As cool as a cucumber If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.
48- As mad as a hatter This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.
49- As neat as a new pin This idiom means tidy and clean.
50- As one man If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.
51- As the actress said to the bishop This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
52- As the crow flies This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.
53- Asleep at the switch If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the wheel' is an alternative.
54- Asleep at the wheel If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully'Asleep at the switch' is an alternative.
55- At a loose end If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
56- At death's door If someone looks as if they are at death's door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.
57- At loggerheads If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can't agree on anything.
58- At loose ends If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
59- At odds If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.
60- At sea If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.
61- At the coalface If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.
62- At the drop of a hat If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you'd do it immediately.
63- At the end of your rope If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
64- At the end of your tether If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
65- At your wit's end If you're at your wit's end, you really don't know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.
66- Avowed intent If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.
67- Awe inspiring Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.
68- AWOL AWOL stands for "Absent Without Leave", or "Absent Without Official Leave". Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.
69- Axe to grind If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out.
70- Babe in arms A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position.
71- Babe in the woods A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
72 Baby boomer A baby boomer is someone born during 1945-1965, a period when the population was growing fast.
73- Back burner If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority.
74- Back foot If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
75- Back the wrong horse If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.
76- Back to square one If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again.
77- Back to the drawing board If you have to go back to the drawing board, you have to go back to the beginning and start something again.
78- Backseat driverA backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome.
79- Bad blood If people feel hate because of things that happened in the past, there is bad blood between them.
80- Bad egg A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg.Good egg is the opposite.
81- Bad taste in your mouth If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.
82- Bad workers always blame their tools "A bad worker always blames their tools" If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case.
83- Baker's dozen A Baker's dozen is 13 rather than 12.
84- Bald as a coot A person who is completely bald is as bald as a coot.
85- Ball is in your court If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
86- Ballpark figure A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.
87- Banana republic Banana republic is a term used for small countries that are dependent on a single crop or resource and governed badly by a corrupt elite.
88- Bandit territory An area or an industry, profession, etc, where rules and laws are ignored or flouted is bandit territory.
89- Baptism of fire A baptism of fire was a soldier's first experience of shooting. Any unpleasant experience undergone, usually where it is also a learning experience, is a baptism of fire.
90- Bar fly A bar fly is a person who spends a lot of time drinking in different bars and pubs.
91- Barefaced liar A barefaced liar is one who displays no shame about lying even if they are exposed.
92- Bark is worse than their bite Someone who's bark is worse than their bite may well get angry and shout, but doesn't take action.
93- Barking up the wrong tree If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.
94- Barrel of laughs If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
95- Basket case If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped.
96- Bat an eyelid If someone doesn't bat an eyelid, they don't react or show any emotion when surprised, shocked, etc.
97- Be that as it may Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it's not going to change your opinions in any significant manner.
98- Be up the spout If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.
99- Bean counter A bean counter is an accountant.
100- Bear fruit If something bears fruit, it produces positive results.
101- Beard the lion in his own den If you confront a powerful or dangerous rival on their territory, you are bearding the lion in his own den.
102- Beat about the bush If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush.
103- Beat someone to the draw If you beat someone to the draw, you do someone before they do.
104- Beating a dead horse If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse.This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
105- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is in the eye of the beholder means that different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly.
106- Beauty is only skin deep This idiom means that appearances can be deceptive and something that seems or looks good may turn out to be bad.
107Beck and call Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call.
108Bedroom eyes Someone with bedroom eyes has a sexy look in their eyes.
109Bee in your bonnet If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.
110Bee's Knees If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class.
111Beeline for If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly.
112Behind closed doors If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors.
113Behind someone's back If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without telling them.
114Behind the times Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated.
115Believe in the hereafter A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life.
116Bells and whistles Bells and whistles are attractive features that things like computer programs have, though often a bit unnecessary.
117Belly up If things go belly up, they go badly wrong.
118Below par If something isn't up to standard, or someone isn't feeling or doing very well, they are below par.
119Below the belt If someone says something that is cruel or unfair, it is below the belt, like the illegal punches in boxing.
120Best thing since sliced bread If something is the best thing since sliced bread, it is excellent.

('The greatest thing since sliced bread' is also used.)
121Bet your bottom dollar If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
122Better late than never This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
123Better safe than sorry This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.
124Better the devil you know This is the shortened form of the full idion, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if th2ey are not ideal, than take a risk with an unkown person or thing.
125Between a rock and a hard place If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a position where you have to choose between unpleasant alternatives, and your choice might cause you problems; you will not be able to satisfy everyone.
126 Between the devil and the deep blue sea If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficult choice.
127Between the lines If you read between the lines, you find the real massage in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interprtation of the words.
128Beyond a shadow of a doubt If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.
129Beyond belief If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.
130Beyond our ken If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.
131Beyond the pale If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.
132Big Apple The Big Apple is New York.
133Big bucks If someone is making big bucks, they are making a lot of money.
134Big cheese The big cheese is the boss.
135Big fish An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.
136Big fish in a small pond A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.
137Big hitter A big hitter is someone who commands a lot of respect and is very important in their field.
138Big picture The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.
139Big time This can be used to with the meaning 'very much'- if you like something big time, you like it a lot.
140Bigger fish to fry If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry.
141Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.
142Bird's eye view If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.
143Bird-brain Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid.
144Birds and the bees If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex.
145Birds of a feather flock together This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.
146Birthday suit If you are in your birthday suit, you are naked.
147Bit between your teeth If you take or have the bit between your teeth, you take or have control of a situation. (Bit = piece of metal in a horse's mouth)
148Bit part If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.
149Bit player A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.
150Bite off more than you can chew If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.
151Bite the bullet If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided.
152Bite the dust This is a way of saying that somebody has died, especially if they are killed violently like a soldier in battle.
153Bits and bobs Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as odds and ends.
154Bitter end If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.
155Bitter pill to swallow A bitter pill to swallow is something that is hard to accept.
156Black and white When it is very clear who or what is right and wrong, then the situation is black and white.
157Black as Newgate's knocker If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.
158Black hole If there is a black hole in financial accounts, money has disappeared.
159Black sheep Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough.
160Blessing in disguise If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise.
161Blind as a bat If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat.
162Blink of an eye If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens so fast it is almost impossible to notice it.
163Blood and thunder An emotional speech or performance is full of blood and thunder.
164Blood is thicker than water This idiom means that family relationships are stronger than others.
165Blood out of a stone If something is like getting blood out of a stone, it is very difficult indeed.
166Blood, sweat and tears If something will take blood, sweat and tears, it will be very difficult and will require a lot of effort and sacrifice.
167Blow a gasket If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.
168Blow hot and cold If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.
169Blow off steam If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
170Blow out of the water If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.
171Blow the cobwebs away If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.
172Blow your stack If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.
173Blue blood Someone with blue blood is royalty.
174Blue-eyed boy Someone's blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.
175Bolt from the blue If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.
176Bone of contention If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is a bone of contention.
177Bone to pick If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.
178Born with a silver spoon in your mouth If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you are born into a rich family.
179Bottom line In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.
180Box and dice Box and dice means everything.
181Box clever If you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.
182Brass monkey If it's brass monkey weather, or cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, it is extremly cold.
183Brass tacks If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.
184Break a leg This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck.
185Break even If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.
186Break ground If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before.'Ground-breaking' is used an adjective.
187Break the ice When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing.
188Break your duck If you break your duck, you do something for the first time.
189Breathe your last When you breathe your last, you die.
190Brighten up the day If something brightens up your day, something happens that makes you feel positive and happy all day long.
191Bring a knife to a gunfight If someone brings a knife to a gunfight, they are very badly prepared for something.
192Bring someone to book If somebody is brought to book, they are punished or made to account for something they have done wrong.
193Bring the house down Something that brings the house down is acclaimed and praised vigorously.
194Broad church If an organisation is described as broad church, it is tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas.
195Broad strokes If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.
196Brown nose When someone tries to make themselves popular with somebody, usually in a position of authority, especially by flattering them, they are brown nosing.
197Brownie points If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.
198Brush under the carpet If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others.
199Bull in a China shop If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful.
200Bun in the oven If a woman has a bun in the oven, she is pregnant.
201Burn the candle at both ends Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which are likely to affect their health badly.
202Burn the midnight oil If you stay up very late working or studying, you burn the midnight oil.
203Burn your bridges If you burn your bridges, you do something that makes it impossible to go back from the position you have taken.
204 Bury the hatchet If you bury the hatchet, you make peace with someone and stop arguing or fighting.
205Bury your head in the sand If someone buries their head in the sand, they ignore something that is obviously wrong.
206Busman's holiday A busman's holiday is when you spend your free time doing the same sort of work as you do in your job.
207Busted flush Someone or something that had great potential but ended up a useless failure is a busted flush.
208Butter wouldn't melt in their mouth If someone looks as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, they look very innocent.
209By a hair's breadth If a person escapes from some danger by a hair's breadth, they only just managed to avoid it. The breadth is the thickness of a hair, so they probably feel somewhat lucky because the margin between success and what could easily have been failure was so close.
210By a long chalk If you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably.
211By a whisker If you do something by a whisker, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing.
212By hook or by crook If you are prepared to do something by hook or by crook, you are willing to do anything, good or bad, to reach your goal.
213By the back door If something is started or introduced by the back door, then it isn't not done openly or by following the proper procedures.
214By the book If you do something by the book, you do it exactly as you are supposed to.
215By the skin of your teeth If you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing.
216By word of mouth If something becomes known by word of mouth, it gets known by being talked about rather than through publicity or advertising, etc.
217Call a spade a spade A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt to conceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.
218Call the shots If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do.
219Can of worms If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.
0Can't hold a candle If something can't hold a candle to something else, it is much worse.
221Card up your sleeve If you have a card up your sleeve, you have a surprise plan or idea that you are keeping back until the time is right.
222Carpetbagger A carpetbagger is an opportunist without any scruples or ethics, or a politican who wants to represent a place they have no connection with.
223Carrot and stick If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment.
224Carry the can If you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn't do it or are only partly at fault.
225Cash in your chips If you cash in your chips, you sell something to get what profit you can because you think its value is going to fall. It can also mean 'to die'.
226Cast doubt on If you make other people not sure about a matter, then you have cast doubt on it.
227Cast your mind back If somebody tells you to cast your mind back on something, they want you to think about something that happened in the past, but which you might not remember very well, and to try to remember as much as possible.
228Castles in the air Plans that are impractical and will never work out are castles in the air.
229Cat among the pigeons If something or someone puts, or sets or lets, the cat among the pigeons, they create a disturbance and cause trouble.
230Cat nap If you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.
231Cat's whiskers Something excellent is the cat's whiskers.
232Catch as catch can This means that people should try to get something any way they can.
233Chalk and cheese Things, or people, that are like chalk and cheese are very different and have nothing in common.
234Change horses in midstream If people change horses in midstream, they change plans or leaders when they are in the middle of something, even though it may be very risky to do so.
235Charity begins at home This idiom means that family members are more important than anyone esle, and should be the focus of a person's efforts.
236Chase rainbows If someone chases rainbows, they try to do something that they will never achieve.
237Cheap as chips If something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.
238Cherry pick If people cherry pick, they choose things that support their position, while ignoring things that contradict it.
239Chew the cud If you chew the cud, you think carefully about something.
240Chew the fat If you chew the fat with someone, you talk at leisure with them.
241Chickenfeed If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.
242Chinese walls Chinese walls are regulatory information barriers that aim to stop the flow of information that could be misused, especially in financial corporations.
243Chinese whispers When a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.
244Chip off the old block If someone is a chip off the old block, they closely resemble one or both of the parents in character.
245Cigarette paper If you cannot get or put a cigarette paper between people, they are so closely bonded that nothing will separate them or their positions on issues.
246Clapham omnibus The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary man in the street.
247 Clean as a whistle If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean 'completely', though this meaning is less common nowadays.
248Clean bill of health If something or someone has a clean bill of health, then there's nothing wrong; everything's fine.
249Clean slate If you start something with a clean slate, then nothing bad from your past is taken into account.
250Clear as mud If something is as clear as mud, then it is very confusing and unclear.
251Cliffhanger If something like a sports match or an election is a cliffhanger, then the result is so close that it cannot be predicted and will only be known at the very end.
252Close but no cigar If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.
253Close call If the result of something is a close call, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the parties involved and to say who has won or whatever.
254Close the stable door after the horse has bolted If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.
'Close the barn door after the horse has bolted' is alternative, often used in American English.
255Closed book to me If a subject is a closed book to you, it is something that you don't understand or know anything about.
256Cloud cuckoo land If someone has ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic, they are living on cloud cuckoo land.
257Cloud nine If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy.('cloud seven' is a less common alternative)
258Cloud of suspicion If a cloud of suspicion hangs over an individual, it means that they are not believed or are distrusted.
259Cloud on the horizon If you can see a problem ahead, you can call it a cloud on the horizon.
260Clutch at straws If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.
261Coals to Newcastle Taking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnnecessary.
262Cock and bull story A c*** and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.
263Cold feet If you get cold feet about something, you lose the courage to do it.
264Cold fish A cold fish is a person who doesn't show how they feel.
265Cold light of day If you see things in the cold light of day, you see them as they really are, not as you might want them to be.
266Cold sweat If something brings you out in a cold sweat, it frightens you a lot.
267Cold turkey If someone suddenly stops taking drugs, instead of slowly cutting down, they do cold turkey.
268Collateral damage Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.

269 Collect dust If something is collecting dust, it isn't being used any more.
270 Come a cropper Someone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.
271 Come clean If someone comes clean about something, they admit to deceit or wrongdoing.
272 Come hell or high water If someone says they'll do something come hell or high water, they mean that nothing will stop them, no matter what happens.
273 Come rain or shine If I say I'll be at a place COME RAIN OR SHINE, I mean that I can be relied on to turn up; nothing, not even the vagaries of British weather, will deter me or stop me from being there.
274 Come to grips If you come to grips with a problem or issue, you face up to it and deal with it.
275 Come what may If you're prepared to do something come what may, it means that nothing will stop or distract you, no matter how hard or difficult it becomes.
276 Comfort zone It is the temperature range in which the body doesn't shiver or sweat, but has an idiomatic sense of a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.
277 Constitution of an ox If someone has the constitution of an ox, they are less affected than most people by things like tiredness, illness, alcohol, etc.
278 Cook someone's goose If you cook someone's goose, you ruin their plans.
279 Cook up a storm If someone cooks up a storm, they cause a big fuss or generate a lot of talk about something.
280 Corner a market If a business is dominant in an area and unlikely to be challenged by other companies, it has cornered the market.
281 Couch potato A couch potato is an extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food.
282 Could eat a horse If you are very hungry, you could eat a horse.
283Crash a party If you crash a party, or are a gatecrasher, you go somewhere you haven't been invited to.
284 Cream of the crop The cream of the crop is the best there is.
285 Crocodile tears If someone cries crocodile tears, they pretend to be upset or affected by something.
286 Cross to bear If someone has a cross to bear, they have a hevay burden of responsibility or a problem that they alone must cope with.
287 Cry wolf If someone cries wolf, they raise a false alarm about something.
288 Cry your eyes out If you cry your eyes out, you cry uncontrollably.
289 Cry-baby A cry-baby is a person who gets emotional and cries too easily.
290 Curate's egg If something is a bit of a curate's egg, it is only good in parts.
291 Curiosity killed the cat As cats are naturally curious animals, we use this expression to suggest to people that excessive curiosity is not necessarily a good thing, especially where it is not their business.
292 Curve ball If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
293 Cut and dried If something is cut and dried, then everything has already been decided and, in the case of an opinion, might be a little stale and predictable.
294 Cut down the tall poppies If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd.
295 Cut it fine If you cut it fine, you only just manage to do something- at the very last moment.'Cut things fine' is the same. 'Cut it a bit fine' is a common variation.
296 Cut off your nose to spite your face If you cut off your nose to spite your face, you do something rash or silly that ends up making things worse for you, often because you are angry or upset.
297 Cut the Gordian knot If some cuts the Gordian knot, they solve a very complex problem in a simple way.
298 Cut the mustard If somebody or something doesn't cut the mustard, they fail or it fails to reach the required standard.
299 Cut to the chase If you cut to the chase, you get to the point, or the most interesting or important part of something without delay.
300 Cut to the quick If someone's cut to the quick by something, they are very hurt and upset indeed.
301 Cut your teeth on The place where you gain your early experience is where you cut your teeth.
302 Cutting edge Something that is cutting edge is at the forefront of progress in its area.
303 Daft as a brush Someone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.
304 Damp squib If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.
305 Dark horse If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery.
306 Daylight robbery If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery; open, unfair and hard to prevent. Rip-off has a similar meaning.
307 Dead and buried If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered.
308 Dead as a dodo If something's dead as a dodo, it is lifeless and dull. The dodo was a bird that lived the island of Mauritius. It couldn't fly and was hunted to extinction.
309 Dead as a doornail This is used to indicate that something is lifeless.
310 Dead duck If something is a dead duck, it is a failure.
311 Dead heat If a race ends in a dead heat, two or more finish with exactly the same result.
312 Dead in the water If something is dead in the water, it isn't going anywhere or making any progress.
313 Dead man walking A dead man walking is someone who is in great trouble and will certainly get punished, lose their job or position, etc, soon.
314 Dead men's shoes If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be reached by dead men's shoes' by getting rid of them.
315 Dead to the world If somebody's fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around them, he or she's dead to the world.
316 Dear John letter A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.
317 Death of a thousand cuts If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.
318 Death warmed up If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)
319 Demon weed Tobacco is the demon weed.
320 Derring-do If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.
321 Devil finds work for idle hands When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don't have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality.
322 Devil is in the detail When people say that the devil in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.
323 Devil's advocate If someone plays Devil's advocate in an argument, they adopt a position they don't believe in just for the sake of the argument
324 Die is cast If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.
325 Different kettle of fish If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced. 326Discerning eye If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.
327 Do a runner If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.
329 Do their dirty work Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'.
330 Dog and pony show A dog and pony show is a pesentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
331
Dog days Dog days are very hot summer days.
332
Dog eat dog In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.
333
Dog in the manger If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.
334
Dog tired If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.
335
Dog's dinner Something that is a dog's dinner is a real mess.
336
Dog's life If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.
337
Dog-eared If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition,with torn pages, etc.
338
Doggy bag If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven't eaten for you to take home.
339
Doldrums If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed.If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn't making any progress.
340
Don't judge a book by the cover This idiom means that you should not judge something or someone by appearances, but should look deeper at what is inside and more important.
341
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.
342
Don't upset the applecart If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.
344 Don't hold your breath If you are told not to hold your breath, it means that you shouldn't have high expectations about something.
345 Don't wash your dirty laundry in public People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)
346 Done to death If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has stopped being funny.
347 Donkey's years This idiom means 'a very long time'.
348 Doormat A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat.
349 Double Dutch If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
350 Double take If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how shocked or surprised they are.
351 Double whammy A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.
352 Double-edged sword If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword; it cuts both ways.
353 Down and out If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.
354 Down at heel Someone who is down at heel is short of money. ('Down in heel' is used in American English)
355 Down for the count If someone is down for the count, they have lost a struggle, like a boxer who has been knocked out.
356 Down in the doldrums If somebody's down in the doldrums, they are depressed and lacking energy.
357 Down in the dumps If someone's down in the dumps, they are depressed.
358 Down the pan If something has gone down the pan, it has failed or been ruined.
359 Down the tubes If something has gone down the tubes, it has failed or been ruined.
360 Down to the wire If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.
361 Drag your feet If someone is dragging their feet, they are taking too long to do or finish something, usually because they don't want to do it.
362 Drag your heels If you drag your heels, you either delay doing something or do it as slowly as possible because you don't want to do it.
363 Draw a blank If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don't get any useful information.
364 Draw a line in the sand If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which things will be unacceptable.
365 Draw a long bow If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.
366 Draw the line When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.
367 Draw the shortest straw If someone draws the shortest straw, they lose or are chosen to do something unpleasant.
368 Dressed to the nines If you are in your very best clothes, you're dressed to the nines.
369 Drink like a fish If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.
370 Drive a wedge If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.
371 Drive someone up the wall If something or someone drives you up the wall, they do something that irritates you greatly.
372 Drop in the ocean A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.
373 Drunk as a lord Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
374 Dry as a bone If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.
375 Duck soup If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
376 Duck to water If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.
377 Dull as ditchwater If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)
378 Dunkirk spirit Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.
379 Dutch auction If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.
380 Dutch courage Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.
381 Dutch uncle A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.
382 Dwell on the past Thinking too much about the past, so that it becomes a problem is to dwell on the past.
383 Dyed-in-the-wool If someone is a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of a political party, etc, they support them totally, without any questions.
384 Each to their own Different people have different preferences.
In American English, 'Each to his own' is more common.
385 Eager beaver A person who is extremely keen is an eager beaver.
386 Eagle eyes Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small.
387 Early bath If someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or lose their job or position earlier than expected because things have gone wrong.
388 Early bird catches the worm The early bird catches the worm means that if you start something early, you stand a better chance of success.
389 Easier said than done If something is easier said than done, it is much more difficult than it sounds. It is often used when someone advises you to do something difficult and tries to make it sound easy.
390 Easy as pie If something is easy as pie, it is very easy indeed.
391 Easy come, easy go This idiom means that money or other material gains that come without much effort tend to get spent or consumed as easily.
392 Eat crow If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
393 Eat humble pie If someone apologises and shows a lot of contrition for something they have done,they eat humble pie.
394 Eat like a bird If someone eats like a bird, they eat very little.
395 Eat like a horse Someone who eats like a horse, eats a lot.
396 Eat like a pig If some eats like a pig, they either eat too much or they have bad table manners.
397 Eat someone alive If you eat someone alive, you defeat or beat them comprehensively.
398 Economical with the truth If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.
399 Egg on your face If someone has egg on their face, they are made to look foolish or embarrassed.
400 Elbow grease If something requires elbow grease, it involves a lot of hard physical work.
401 Elbow room If you haven't got enough elbow room, you haven't got enough space.
402 Elephant in the room An elephant in the room is a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
403 Eleventh hour If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens right at the last minute.
404 Even keel If something is on an even keel, it is balanced.
405 Even Stevens If everything is equal between people, they are even Stevens.
406 Every cloud has a silver lining People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.
407 Every man for himself If it's every man for himself, then people are trying to save themselves from a difficult situation without trying to help anyone else.
408 Every man jack If every man jack was involved in something, it is an emphatic way of saying that absolutely everybody was involved.
409 Every Tom, **** and Harry If every Tom, **** and Harry knows about something, then it is coomon knowledge.
410 Every trick in the book If you try every trick in the book, you try every possible way, including dishonesty and deceit, to get what you want.
411 Explore all avenues If all avenues are being explored, then every conceivable approach is being tried that could possibly get the desired result.
412 Eye for an eye This is an expression for retributive justice, where the punishment equals the crime.
413 F-word The F-word is a euphemism for '######'.
414 Face like thunder If someone has a face like thunder, they are clearly very angry or upset about something.
415 Face the music If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.
416 Face value If you take something at face value, you accept the appearance rather than looking deeper into the matter.
417 Facts of life When someone is taught the facts of life, they learn about sex and reproduction.
418 Fair and square If someone wins something fair and square, they follow the rules and win conclusively.
419 Fair crack of the whip If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
420 Fair shake of the whip If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
421 Fairweather friend A fairweather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.
422 Fall off the back of a lorry If someone tries to sell you something that has fallen of the back of a lorry, they are trying to sell you stolen goods.
423 Fall on your sword If someone falls on their sword, they resign or accept the consequences of some wrongdoing.
424 Familiarity breeds contempt This means that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.
425 Fast and furious Things that happen fast and furious happen very quickly without stopping or pausing.
426 Fat chance! This idiom is a way of telling someone they have no chance.
427 Fat head A fat head is a dull, stupid person.
428 Fat hits the fire When the fat hits the fire, trouble breaks out.
429 Fat of the land Living off the fat of the land means having the best of everything in life.
430 Fate worse than death Describing something as a fate worse than death is a fairly common way of implying that it is unpleasant.
431 Feather in your cap A success or achievement that may help you in the future is a feather in your cap.
432 Fed up to the back teeth When you are extremely irritated and fed up with something or someone, you are fed up to the back teeth.
433 Feel at home If you feel relaxed and comfortable somewhere or with someone, you feel at home.
434 Feel free If you ask for permission to do something and are told to feel free, the other person means that there is absolutely no problem
435 Feel the pinch If someone is short of money or feeling restricted in some other way, they are feeling the pinch.
436 Feeling blue If you feel blue, you are feeling unwell, mainly associated with depression or unhappiness.
437 Feet on the ground A practical and realistic person has their feet on the ground.
438 Fiddle while Rome burns If people are fiddling while Rome burns, they are wasting their time on futile things while problems threaten to destroy them.
439 Fifth columnist A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade.
440 Fifth wheel A fifth wheel is something unneccesary or useless.
441 Fighting chance If you have a fighting chance, you have a reasonable possibility of success.
442 Fine tuning Small adjustments to improve something or to get it working are called fine tuning.
443 Fine words butter no parsnips This idiom means that it's easy to talk, but talk is not action.
444 Finger in the pie If you have a finger in the pie, you have an interest in something.
445 Fingers and thumbs If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are being clumsy and not very skilled with your hands.
446 Fire away If you want to ask someone a question and they tell you to fire away, they mean that you are free to ask what you want.
447 Fire on all cylinders If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could.
448 First come, first served This means there will be no preferential treatment and a service will be provided to those that arrive first.
449 First out of the gate When someone is first out of the gate, they are the first to do something that others are trying to do.
450 First port of call The first place you stop to do something is your first port of call.
451 Fish out of water If you are placed in a situation that is completely new to you and confuses you, you are like a fish out of water.
452 Fishy If there is something fishy about someone or something, there is something suspicious; a feeling that there is something wrong, though it isn't clear what it is.
453 Fit as a fiddle If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.
454 Fit for a king If something is fit for a king, it is of the very highest quality or standard.
455 Fit of pique If someone reacts badly because their pride is hurt, this is a fit of pique.
456 Fit the bill If something fits the bill, it is what is required for the task.
457 Flash in the pan If something is a flash in the pan, it is is very noticeable but doesn't last long, like most singers, who are very successful for a while, then forgotten.
458 Flat out If you work flat out, you work as hard and fast as you possibly can.
459 Fleet of foot If someone is fleet of foot, they are very quick.
460 Flesh and blood Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.
461 Flogging a dead horse If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're flogging a dead horse.This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
461 Flowery speech Flowery speech is full of lovely words, but may well lack substance.
462 Fly off the handle If someone flies off the handle, they get very angry.
463 Fly on the wall If you are able to see and hear events as they happen, you are a fly on the wall.
[B464 Fools rush in where angels fear to tread[/b] This idiom is used where people who are inexperienced or lack knowledge do something that more informed people would avoid.
465 Football's a game of two halves If something's a game of two halves, it means that it's possible for someone's fortunes or luck to change and the person who's winning could end up a loser.
466 For a song If you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap.
467 For donkey's years If people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey's years.
468 For kicks If you do something for kicks, or just for kicks, you do it purely for fun or thrills.
469 For my money This idiom means 'in my opinion'.
470 For the time being For the time being indicates that an action or state will continue into the future, but is temporary. I'm sharing an office for the time being.
471 Forbidden fruit Something enjoyable that is illegal or immoral is forbidden fruit.
472 Foregone conclusion If the result of, say, a football match is a foregone conclusion, then the result is obvious before the game has even begun.
473 Forest for the trees If someone can't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
474 Foul play If the police suspect foul play, they think a crime was committed.
475 Fourth estate This is an idiomatic way of describing the media, especially the newspapers.
476 Freudian Slip If someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking rather than what they think the other person wants to hear.
477 From Missouri If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.
478 From pillar to post If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from one disaster to another.
479 From rags to riches Someone who starts life very poor and makes a fortune goes from rags to riches.
480 From scratch This idiom means 'from the beginning'.
481 From soup to nuts If you do something from soup to nuts, you do it from the beginning right to the very end.
482 From the horse's mouth If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned or responsible.
483 From the sublime to the ridiculous If something declines considerably in quality or importance, it is said to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.
484 From the word go From the word go means from the very beginning of something.
485 Full Monty If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.
486 Full of the joys of spring If you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy.
487 Full swing If a something is in full swing, it is going or doing well.
488 Fullness of time If something happens in the fullness of time, it will happen when the time is right and appropriate.
489 Game plan A game plane is a strategy.
490 ardening leave If someone is paid for a period when they are not working, either after they have given in their notice or when they are being investigated, they are on gardening leave.
491 Get along famously If people get along famously, they have an exceedingly good relationship.
492 Get on your soapbox If someone on their soapbox, they hold forth (talk a lot) about a subject they feel strongly about.
493 Get out of bed on the wrong side If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you wake up and start the day in a bad mood for no real reason.
494 Get the ball rolling If you get the ball rolling, you start something so that it can start making progress.
495 Get the green light If you get the green light to do something, you are given the necessary permission, authorisation.
496 Get to grips If you get to grips with something, you take control and do it properly.
497 Get up and go If someone has lots of et up and go, they are have lots of enthusiasm and energy.
498 Get your feet wet If you get your feet wet, you gain your first experience of something.
499 Get your hands dirty If you get your hands dirty, you become involved in something where the realities might compromise your principles.
500 Ghost of a chance If something or someone hasn't got a ghost of a chance, they have no hope whatsoever of succeeding.
501 Ghostly presence You can feel or otherwise sense a ghostly presence, but you cannot do it clearly only vaguely.
502 Gift of the gab If someone has the gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and interesting way.
503 Gilded cage If someone is in a gilded cage, they are trapped and have restricted or no freedom, but have very comfortable surroundings- many famous people live in luxury but cannot walk out of their house alone.
504 Give it some stick If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.
505 Give someone a piece of your mind If you give someone a piece of your mind, you criticise them strongly and angrily.
506 Give someone enough rope If you give someone enough rope, you give them the chance to get themselves into trouble or expose themselves.
507 Give someone stick If someone gives you stick, they criticise you or punish you.
508 Give up the ghost People give up the ghost when they die.
509 Give your eye teeth If you really want something and would be prepared to sacrifice a lot to get it, you would give your eye teeth for it.
510 Glass ceiling The glass ceiling is the discrimination that prevents women and minorities from getting promoted to the highest levels of companies and organisations.
511 Glutton for punishment If a person is described as a glutton for punishment, the happily accept jobs and tasks that most people would try to get out of. A glutton is a person who eats a lot.
512 Go against the grain A person who does things in an uncon