An Idiom A Day

easy money

2008-02-23T03:52:00.000-08:00

easy money

Definition: money earned dishonestly or for doing very little work

Example: Think before you accept easy money.

keep house

2008-02-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

keep house

Definition: to cook, clean and do similar jobs around a house

Example: She keeps house for the two of us.

off the beaten track

2008-02-21T03:39:00.000-08:00

off the beaten track

Definition: far away from or not popular with other people

Examples: My uncle lives off the beaten track. ○ Her hobbies are quite off the beaten track.

hale and hearty

2008-02-20T03:32:00.000-08:00

hale and hearty

Definition: (of an old person) healthy and strong

Example: Getting up early to exercise every day keeps him hale and hearty.

play (it) safe

2008-02-19T03:26:00.000-08:00

play (it) safe

Definition: to avoid taking risks

Example: Let's play (it) safe and start a bit earlier.

Usage note: informal idiom

word for word

2008-02-18T03:19:00.000-08:00

word for word

Definition: in exactly the same words

Example: I was shocked to find that my article had been copied word for word.

in twos and threes

2008-02-17T03:10:00.000-08:00

in twos and threes

Definition: two and three at a time; in small numbers

Example: People are coming to see the exhibition in twos and threes.

a flash in the pan

2008-02-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

a flash in the pan

Definition: a success that lasts for a short time and is not repeated

Example: It seems that her latest album is just a flash in the pan.

by the skin of one's teeth

2008-02-15T02:51:00.000-08:00

by the skin of one's teeth

Definition: only just

Example: We managed to win the game by the skin of our teeth.

Usage note: informal idiom

look daggers at somebody

2008-02-14T02:47:00.000-08:00

look daggers at somebody

Definition: to look very angrily at somebody

Example: I turned and saw her looking daggers at me.

(as) fit as a fiddle

2008-02-13T02:41:00.000-08:00

(as) fit as a fiddle

Definition: very healthy

Example: Although he's in his eighties, my grandfather's as fit as a fiddle.

Usage note: informal idiom

go/sell like hot cakes

2008-02-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

go/sell like hot cakes

Definition: to sell very fast and in great numbers

Example: Mobile phones are going/selling like hot cakes in Asia.

on balance

2008-02-11T02:22:00.000-08:00

on balance

Definition: after considering all aspects or opinions

Examples: We've had quite a good year on balance. ○ On balance, people in this country prefer watching basketball to football.

Usage note: informal idiom

for kicks

2008-02-10T02:18:00.000-08:00

for kicks

Definition: for excitement

Example: Many people play dangerous sports just for kicks.

Usage note: informal idiom

smell a rat

2008-02-09T02:09:00.000-08:00

smell a rat

Definition: to suspect that something is wrong

Example: I smelled a rat when she said she was going to work late.

Usage note: informal idiom

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

2008-02-08T00:21:00.000-08:00

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

Definition: to be very successful in producing results (for/with something)

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

2008-02-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

under the weather

Definition: not healthy

Example: You look a little under the weather today.

Usage note: informal idiom

break even

2008-02-06T03:23:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-02-05T10:02:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

toss and turn

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

Example: He kept tossing and turning all night.

behind bars

2008-01-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

behind bars

Definition: in prison

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

Usage note: informal idiom

see red

2008-01-29T03:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

in a word

Definition: briefly

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

burn the midnight oil

2008-01-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-24T05:44:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-23T07:40:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-22T02:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-21T02:11:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-20T03:42:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-01-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-18T03:12:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-17T01:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-16T02:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-14T04:33:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

year after year

Definition: continuously for many years

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

rhyme or reason

2008-01-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

on cloud nine

Definition: very happy

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

Usage note: informal idiom

wave a magic wand

2008-01-07T23:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-07T05:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-01-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-04T00:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-03T02:14:00.000-08:00

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)

2008-01-02T03:17:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

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.

jump the gun

2007-12-31T08:07:00.000-08:00

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.

a foregone conclusion

2007-12-30T01:27:00.000-08:00

a foregone conclusion

Definition: a result that can be predicted

Example: It's a foregone conclusion that they'll win the championship again.

blot one's copybook

2007-12-29T06:43:00.000-08:00

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

make sense

2007-12-28T00:53:00.000-08:00

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

(as) blind as a bat

2007-12-27T04:02:00.000-08:00

(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

by degrees

2007-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

by degrees

Definition: in small stages; gradually

Example: By degrees the small country expanded its territory to become an empire.

first and foremost

2007-12-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

first and foremost

Definition: more than anything else

Example: Although my brother is involved in politics, he is first and foremost a lawyer.

be (dead) set against

2007-12-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

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.

at a (single) glance

2007-12-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

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

doubting Thomas

2007-12-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

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.

feel/go hot and cold (all over)

2007-12-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

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

Idioms Containing Special Keywords

2007-12-20T01:43:00.000-08:00

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

out of the blue | see red

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

doubting Thomas | keep up with the Joneses

Idioms Related to Special Themes

2007-12-20T01:42:00.000-08:00

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

on cloud nine

Health

(as) fit as a fiddle | hale and hearty | under the weather

Power

lay down the law

Thrift

tighten one's belt

Idioms Used in Special Fields

2007-12-20T01:40:00.000-08:00

Idioms Used in Special Fields

Business

at your earliest convenience | break even

Law

prefer/press charges (of) (against)

Idiomatic Pairs

2007-12-20T01:39:00.000-08:00

Idiomatic Pairs

Pairs of Nouns

rhyme or reason | ups and downs

Pairs of Verbs

toss and turn

Pairs of Adjectives

hale and hearty

Pairs of Adverbs

first and foremost

Identical Pairs

eyeball to eyeball (with) | word for word | year after year

Idioms Used as Adverbs

2007-12-20T01:36:00.000-08:00

Idioms Used as Adverbs

Idioms Used as Adjectives

2007-12-20T01:35:00.000-08:00

Idioms Used as Adjectives

Idioms Used as Nouns

2007-12-20T01:34:00.000-08:00

Idioms Used as Nouns

Verbal Idioms

2007-12-20T01:33:00.000-08:00

Verbal Idioms

Formal Idioms

2007-12-20T01:32:00.000-08:00

Formal Idioms

at your earliest convenience

Informal Idioms

2007-12-20T01:31:00.000-08:00

Informal Idioms

Idioms - A

2007-12-20T01:30:00.000-08:00

Idioms - A

Idioms - B

2007-12-20T01:29:00.000-08:00

Idioms - B

Idioms - C

2007-12-20T01:28:00.000-08:00

Idioms - C

come out of the closet | compare notes (with) (on)

Idioms - D

2007-12-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

Idioms - D

do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with) | doubting Thomas

Idioms - E

2007-12-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

Idioms - E

easy money | eyeball to eyeball (with)

Idioms - F

2007-12-20T01:24:00.000-08:00

Idioms - F

Idioms - G

2007-12-20T01:22:00.000-08:00

Idioms - G

go downhill | go/sell like hot cakes | grease somebody's palm

Idioms - H

2007-12-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Idioms - H

hale and hearty | hot under the collar

Idioms - I

2007-12-20T01:19:00.000-08:00

Idioms - I

in a row | in a word | in twos and threes

Idioms - J

2007-12-20T01:18:00.000-08:00

Idioms - J

jump the gun

Idioms - K

2007-12-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

Idioms - K

keep house | keep up with the Joneses

Idioms - L

2007-12-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

Idioms - L

lay down the law | let the cat out of the bag | look daggers at somebody

Idioms - M

2007-12-20T01:14:00.000-08:00

Idioms - M

make sense

Idioms - N

2007-12-20T01:13:00.000-08:00

Idioms - N

not in the least | number one

Idioms - O

2007-12-20T01:12:00.000-08:00

Idioms - O

off the beaten track | on balance | on cloud nine | out of the blue

Idioms - P

2007-12-20T01:10:00.000-08:00

Idioms - P

pay through the nose (for) | play (it) safe | prefer/press charges (of) (against)

Idioms - Q

2007-12-20T01:09:00.000-08:00

Idioms - Q

quite a few

Idioms - R

2007-12-20T01:06:00.001-08:00

Idioms - R

rhyme or reason

Idioms - S

2007-12-20T01:06:00.000-08:00

Idioms - S

see red | smell a rat | straight from the shoulder

Idioms - T

2007-12-20T01:05:00.000-08:00

Idioms - T

the gift of the gab | tighten one's belt | toss and turn | turn over a new leaf

Idioms - U

2007-12-20T01:04:00.000-08:00

Idioms - U

under the weather | ups and downs

Idioms - V

2007-12-20T01:03:00.001-08:00

Idioms - V

vicious circle

Idioms - W

2007-12-20T01:03:00.000-08:00

Idioms - W

wave a magic wand | word for word

Idioms - X

2007-12-20T01:02:00.000-08:00

Idioms - X

No idioms yet.

Idioms - Y

2007-12-20T01:01:00.000-08:00

Idioms - Y

year after year