An Idiom A Day: 2008

Examples: Regular exercise has worked wonders for my health. ○ The new manager is expected to do miracles with the company, which is now nearing bankruptcy.

Usage note: informal idiom

under the weather

Definition: not healthy

Example: You look a little under the weather today.

Usage note: informal idiom

break even

Definition: to make neither a profit nor a loss

Example: Under the circumstances it is enough just to break even.

Usage note: often used in business

compare notes (with) (on)

compare notes (with somebody) (on something)

Definition: to exchange opinions (with somebody) (on something)

Example: Our teacher asked us to read the novel and then compare notes with each other on it.

fly off the handle

Definition: to become very angry suddenly

Example: He flew off the handle when I mentioned her name.

Usage note: informal idiom

go downhill

Definition: to become worse; to deteriorate

Example: The company, which used to be one of the world's leaders, started to go downhill five years ago.

forty winks

Definition: a short sleep during the day

Example: I was having forty winks when the phone rang.

Usage note: informal idiom

let the cat out of the bag

Definition: to reveal a secret by mistake

Example: Our plan for a surprise party was foiled by Tom, who let the cat out of the bag.

toss and turn

Definition: to change one's position restlessly while trying to sleep

Example: He kept tossing and turning all night.

behind bars

Definition: in prison

Examples: The robber is now behind bars. ○ He spent four years behind bars.

Usage note: informal idiom

see red

Definition: to become very angry

Example: I saw red when he said I was a fool.

Usage note: informal idiom

a blessing in disguise

Definition: something that seems to be bad but is actually good

Example: Losing that match was a blessing in disguise; we wouldn't have realized our weakness if we'd won.

in a word

Definition: briefly

Example: What he told me was, in a word, nonsense.

burn the midnight oil

Definition: to work until late at night

Example: I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight to get the essay finished.

out of the blue

Definition: unexpected(ly)

Example: His arrival was completely out of the blue/He arrived completely out of the blue.

turn over a new leaf

Definition: to change one's way of life and behave in a better way

Example: He's turned over a new leaf and now spends more time looking after his children.

the gift of the gab

Definition: the ability to speak easily and expressively

Example: My brother, who is a politician, certainly has the gift of the gab.

Usage note: sometimes derogatory

at your earliest convenience

Definition: as soon as possible

Example: Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Usage note: formal idiom, often used in business

for keeps

Definition: for ever; permanently

Examples: Can I have it for keeps? ○ I didn't know we were leaving for keeps.

Usage note: informal idiom

number one

Definitions: 1. (the) most important or best 2. oneself

Examples: 1. Our number one priority is to reduce poverty. ○ This travel agency is number one. 2. All he ever thinks about is looking after number one.

Usage note: informal idiom

pay through the nose (for)

pay through the nose (for something)

Definition: to pay too much (for something)

Example: You'll have to pay through the nose for a cup of coffee in that restaurant.

Usage note: informal idiom

vicious circle

Definition: a situation in which one problem causes another, which again causes the first problem

Example: If you borrow money but can't pay it back, you'll have to borrow from another person to pay the first - this is a vicious circle.

ups and downs

Definition: good and bad things that happen to people

Example: Like other people who work in this field, we've had our ups and downs.

tighten one's belt

Definition: to eat or spend less

Example: With prices sky-rocketing, we will have to tighten our belt.

Usage note: belt-tightening (noun): Some belt-tightening is needed in this difficult period.

quite a few

Definition: many

Examples: He's written quite a few books on this subject. ○ Quite a few of my songs were recorded during this period.

lay down the law

Definition: to tell people what they should do, without caring about their feelings or opinions

Example: Being the boss doesn't mean that you can lay down the law.

hot under the collar

Definition: angry

Examples: He got very hot under the collar when I pointed out his mistake. ○ The new law is getting many pensioners hot under the collar.

Usage note: informal idiom

year after year

Definition: continuously for many years

Example: Doing the same job year after year must be very boring.

rhyme or reason

Definition: logic or sense

Example: There is no rhyme or reason whatsoever to the way he makes his decisions.

Usage note: usually used in negative sentences

grease somebody's palm

Definition: to give money to somebody in authority to persuade them to do something dishonest; to bribe somebody

Example: It was found that the smugglers had been greasing the palm of several high-ranking police officers.

Usage note: informal idiom

on cloud nine

Definition: very happy

Example: My brother's on cloud nine after getting married.

Usage note: informal idiom

wave a magic wand

Definition: to solve a problem with no effort

Example: You can't wave a magic wand and become expert at writing overnight.

straight from the shoulder

Definition: directly and honestly

Example: 'You're talking nonsense,' she gave it to him straight from the shoulder.

keep up with the Joneses

Definition: to try to own the same things as other people in order to seem as good as them

Example: 'John's bought a sports car.' 'Well, he's only keeping up with the Joneses.'

Usage note: informal idiom, often derogatory

eyeball to eyeball (with)

eyeball to eyeball (with somebody)

Definition: face to face (with somebody), especially in an angry way

Examples: The demonstrators confronted the police eyeball to eyeball. ○ I found my son arguing eyeball to eyeball with another kid.

not in the least

Definition: not in any way; not at all

Examples: To my surprise, he was not in the least tired after the long journey. ○ 'Does my smoking bother you?' 'No, not in the least.'

come out of the closet

Definitions: 1. to announce something embarrassing that has been kept secret 2. to announce that one is attracted to people of the same sex (homosexual)

Examples: 1. Scott came out of the closet and admitted that he had been jobless for nearly two years. 2. Many gays would rather not come out of the closet.

prefer/press charges (of) (against)

prefer/press charges (of something) (against somebody)

Definition: to accuse somebody formally of a crime

Example: Do you have enough evidence to prefer/press charges (of professional misconduct) (against him)?

Usage note: legal idiom

in a row

Definition: without a break; in succession

Examples: This is the fifth time in a row that the club has won this tournament. ○ The man hasn't eaten anything for three days in a row.

Search Idioms

Subscription

A Phrasal Verb A Day

English Learning Resources

Site Navigation

Contact

easy money

keep house

off the beaten track

hale and hearty

play (it) safe

word for word

in twos and threes

a flash in the pan

by the skin of one's teeth

look daggers at somebody

(as) fit as a fiddle

go/sell like hot cakes

on balance

for kicks

smell a rat

do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with something)

under the weather

break even

compare notes (with somebody) (on something)

fly off the handle

go downhill

forty winks

let the cat out of the bag

toss and turn

behind bars

see red

a blessing in disguise

in a word

burn the midnight oil

out of the blue

turn over a new leaf

the gift of the gab

at your earliest convenience

for keeps

number one

pay through the nose (for something)

vicious circle

ups and downs

tighten one's belt

quite a few

lay down the law

hot under the collar

year after year

rhyme or reason

grease somebody's palm

on cloud nine

wave a magic wand

straight from the shoulder

keep up with the Joneses

eyeball to eyeball (with somebody)

not in the least

come out of the closet

prefer/press charges (of something) (against somebody)

in a row

A-Z Lists of Idioms

Categories of Idioms

Learn English Online

Archive of Idioms