toss and turn
Definition: to change one's position restlessly while trying to sleep
Example: He kept tossing and turning all night.
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behind bars
Definition: in prison
Examples: The robber is now behind bars. ○ He spent four years behind bars.
Usage note: informal idiom
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see red
see red
Definition: to become very angry
Example: I saw red when he said I was a fool.
Usage note: informal idiom
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a blessing in disguise
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.
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burn the midnight oil
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.
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out of the blue
out of the blue
Definition: unexpected(ly)
Example: His arrival was completely out of the blue/He arrived completely out of the blue.
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turn over a new leaf
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.
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the gift of the gab
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
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at your earliest convenience
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
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for keeps
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
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number one
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
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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
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vicious circle
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.
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ups and downs
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.
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tighten one's belt
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.
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quite a few
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.
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lay down the law
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.
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hot under the collar
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
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year after year
year after year
Definition: continuously for many years
Example: Doing the same job year after year must be very boring.
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rhyme or reason
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
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grease somebody's palm
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
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on cloud nine
on cloud nine
Definition: very happy
Example: My brother's on cloud nine after getting married.
Usage note: informal idiom
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wave a magic wand
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.
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straight from the shoulder
straight from the shoulder
Definition: directly and honestly
Example: 'You're talking nonsense,' she gave it to him straight from the shoulder.
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keep up with the Joneses
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
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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.
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not in the least
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.'
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come out of the closet
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.
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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
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in a row
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.
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