jump the gun
Definition: to do something too soon, without thinking carefully enough about it
Example: I told her to wait until the January sales but she jumped the gun and bought the dress the next day.
Read more...a foregone conclusion
a foregone conclusion
Definition: a result that can be predicted
Example: It's a foregone conclusion that they'll win the championship again.
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blot one's copybook
blot one's copybook
Definition: to spoil one's reputation
Example: The prime minister blotted his copybook by being involved in the scandal.
Usage note: informal idiom
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make sense
make sense
Definitions: 1. to have a meaning 2. to be sensible or reasonable
Examples: 1. The words are jumbled up and make no sense/don't make (any) sense. 2. It doesn't make (any) sense to spend so much money on a second-hand car.
Usage note: often used with words such as some, much, any and no
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(as) blind as a bat
(as) blind as a bat
Definition: unable to see anything; completely blind
Example: He's as blind as a bat without his glasses.
Usage note: humorous idiom
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by degrees
by degrees
Definition: in small stages; gradually
Example: By degrees the small country expanded its territory to become an empire.
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first and foremost
first and foremost
Definition: more than anything else
Example: Although my brother is involved in politics, he is first and foremost a lawyer.
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be (dead) set against
be (dead) set against something/doing something
Definition: to be completely opposed to something/doing something
Example: She's dead set against (the idea of) working overseas.
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at a (single) glance
at a (single) glance
Definition: with one look; almost immediately
Example: The cashier can tell at a glance if a banknote is counterfeit.
Usage note: often used in titles of lists of facts: The European Union at a glance
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doubting Thomas
doubting Thomas
Definition: a person who refuses to believe something until they are given clear proof
Example: My friend Jack is a real doubting Thomas - he wouldn't believe I'd stayed in that resort until I showed him my photo.
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feel/go hot and cold (all over)
feel/go hot and cold (all over)
Definition: to experience a sudden feeling of shock
Example: I went hot and cold all over when I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to lock the door.
Usage note: informal idiom
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Idioms Containing Special Keywords
Idioms Containing Special Keywords
Animals
(as) blind as a bat | let the cat out of the bag | smell a rat
Clothes
hot under the collar | tighten one's belt
Colors
Numbers
forty winks | in twos and threes | number one | on cloud nine
Parts of the Body
by the skin of one's teeth | eyeball to eyeball (with) | grease somebody's palm | pay through the nose (for) | straight from the shoulder
Proper Names
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Idioms Related to Special Themes
Idioms Related to Special Themes
Anger
eyeball to eyeball (with) | fly off the handle | hot under the collar | look daggers at somebody | see red
Fear
feel/go hot and cold (all over)
Happiness
Health
(as) fit as a fiddle | hale and hearty | under the weather
Power
Thrift
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Idioms Used in Special Fields
Idiomatic Pairs
Idiomatic Pairs
Pairs of Nouns
rhyme or reason | ups and downs
Pairs of Verbs
Pairs of Adjectives
Pairs of Adverbs
Identical Pairs
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Idioms Used as Adverbs
Idioms Used as Adverbs
at a (single) glance | at your earliest convenience | behind bars | by degrees | by the skin of one's teeth | eyeball to eyeball (with) | first and foremost | for keeps | for kicks | in a row | in a word | in twos and threes | not in the least | off the beaten track | on balance | out of the blue | straight from the shoulder | word for word | year after year
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Idioms Used as Adjectives
Idioms Used as Adjectives
(as) blind as a bat | (as) fit as a fiddle | hale and hearty | hot under the collar | number one | on cloud nine | out of the blue | under the weather
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Idioms Used as Nouns
Idioms Used as Nouns
a blessing in disguise | a flash in the pan | a foregone conclusion | doubting Thomas | easy money | forty winks | rhyme or reason | the gift of the gab | ups and downs | vicious circle
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Verbal Idioms
Verbal Idioms
be (dead) set against | blot one's copybook | break even | burn the midnight oil | come out of the closet | compare notes (with) (on) | do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with) | feel/go hot and cold (all over) | fly off the handle | go downhill | go/sell like hot cakes | grease somebody's palm | jump the gun | keep house | keep up with the Joneses | lay down the law | let the cat out of the bag | look daggers at somebody | make sense | pay through the nose (for) | play (it) safe | prefer/press charges (of) (against) | see red | smell a rat | tighten one's belt | toss and turn | turn over a new leaf | wave a magic wand
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Informal Idioms
Informal Idioms
(as) fit as a fiddle | behind bars | blot one's copybook | by the skin of one's teeth | do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with) | feel/go hot and cold (all over) | fly off the handle | for keeps | for kicks | forty winks | grease somebody's palm | hot under the collar | keep up with the Joneses | number one | on balance | on cloud nine | pay through the nose (for) | play (it) safe | see red | smell a rat | under the weather
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Idioms - A
Idioms - A
a blessing in disguise | a flash in the pan | a foregone conclusion | (as) blind as a bat | (as) fit as a fiddle | at a (single) glance | at your earliest convenience
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Idioms - B
Idioms - B
be (dead) set against | behind bars | blot one's copybook | break even | burn the midnight oil | by degrees | by the skin of one's teeth
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Idioms - F
Idioms - F
feel/go hot and cold (all over) | first and foremost | fly off the handle | for keeps | for kicks | forty winks
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Idioms - P
Idioms - P
pay through the nose (for) | play (it) safe | prefer/press charges (of) (against)
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Idioms - T
Idioms - T
the gift of the gab | tighten one's belt | toss and turn | turn over a new leaf
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Idioms - All
Idioms - All
A
a blessing in disguise | a flash in the pan | a foregone conclusion | (as) blind as a bat | (as) fit as a fiddle | at a (single) glance | at your earliest convenience
B
be (dead) set against | behind bars | blot one's copybook | break even | burn the midnight oil | by degrees | by the skin of one's teeth
C
come out of the closet | compare notes (with) (on)
D
do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with) | doubting Thomas
E
easy money | eyeball to eyeball (with)
F
feel/go hot and cold (all over) | first and foremost | fly off the handle | for keeps | for kicks | forty winks
G
go downhill | go/sell like hot cakes | grease somebody's palm
H
hale and hearty | hot under the collar
I
in a row | in a word | in twos and threes
J
K
keep house | keep up with the Joneses
L
lay down the law | let the cat out of the bag | look daggers at somebody
M
N
O
off the beaten track | on balance | on cloud nine | out of the blue
P
pay through the nose (for) | play (it) safe | prefer/press charges (of) (against)
Q
R
S
see red | smell a rat | straight from the shoulder
T
the gift of the gab | tighten one's belt | toss and turn | turn over a new leaf
U
under the weather | ups and downs
V
W
wave a magic wand | word for word
Y
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