English Idioms

001. It’s about time you showed up.[ You finally arrived.]

002. He’s afraid of his own shadow.[ He’s easily frightened.]

003. We’re working against the clock.[ We haven’t much time.]

004. All systems go.[ Everything is ready.]

005. I’m all thumbs.[ I’m clumsy.]

006. She went all out with her baking.[ She baked all that she could.]

007. I asked for a ballpark figure on the cost of the trip.[ I asked for an estimated cost for the trip.]

008. We were banking on George’s help.[ We were relying on George’s help.]

009. Elena’s a big fan of hip-hop.[ Elena likes hip-hop.]

010. We had a blast at the mall.[ We had fun at the mall.]

011. It costs an arm and a leg.[ It’s very expensive.]

012. He’s asleep at the switch.[ He’s not paying attention.]

013. She’s at sixes and sevens.[ She’s not organized.]

014. I’ll take a baker’s dozen.[ I’ll take thirteen.]

015. Tom is a real ball of fire.[ Tom is good and quick.]

016. Stop beating around the bush.[ Stop avoiding the issue.]

017. Carl’s just biding his time.[ Carl’s just waiting for a chance.]

018. Ned is boning up on his German.[ Ned is reviewing his German lessons.]

019. The bottom line is NO![ The final answer is NO!]

020. The show brought down the house.[ The show was a great success.]

021. Don’t burn the midnight oil.[ Don’t stay up too late.]

022. I’m going to catch forty winks.[ I’m going to take a nap.]

023. Jill caught his eye.[ Jill attracted his attention.]

024. He had his wings clipped.[ His activities were restricted.]

025. Tara gave him the cold shoulder.[ Tara ignored him.]

026. The prisoner came clean.[ The prisoner confessed.]

027. Hal’s a company big shot.[ Hal’s an important person in the company.]

028. He was dead to the world.[ He was in a deep sleep.]

029. Bill is down in the dumps.[ Bill is depressed.]

030. Drop me a line soon.[ Write me a letter soon.]

031. He was the fair-haired boy.[ He was the favorite.]

032. Her feet are on the ground.[ She is sensible.]

033. No one can fill his shoes.[ No one can replace him.]

034. They flew the coop.[ They disappeared.]

035. Get off my back.[ Stop bothering me.]

036. Gail got the ax.[ Gail was fired from her job.]

037. I think I got the feel of it.[ I think I have learned to do it.]

038. We just got wind of it.[ We just heard about it.]

039. Go fly a kite.[ Go away.]

040. John’s a good egg.[ John is a good person.]

041. Mom’s got a green thumb.[ Mom is a successful gardener.]

042. The girls are having a ball.[ The girls are enjoying themselves.]

043. I think he has a screw loose.[ I think he’s a little crazy.]

044. Keep your head above water.[ Stay out of trouble.]

045. My heart goes out to her.[ I feel sorry for her.]

046. I have to hit the books tonight.[ I have to study tonight.]

047. I have a little hole-in-the-wall.[ I have a small, inexpensive apartment.]

048. Gene is always in a fog.[ Gene is always confused.]

049. Joe’s in hot water.[ Joe’s in trouble.]

050. It’s still up in the air.[ It’s still undecided.]

051. Just jump through the hoops.[ Just do what you are told to do.]

052. Keep your nose clean.[ Stay out of trouble.]

053. Keep the ball rolling.[ Continue the activity.]

054. I will leave no stone unturned.[ I will try everything.]

055. Let your hair down tonight.[ Relax tonight.]

056. He lost his shirt on that bet.[ He lost his fortune on that bet.]

057. It happens once in a blue moon.[ It happens very seldom.]

058. Our plans are still up in the air.[ Our plans are still not decided.]

059. I didn’t know he was so well-off.[ I didn’t know he was wealthy.]

060. Let’s zero in on that idea.[ Let’s focus our attention on that idea.]

061. He’s still on the fence.[ He’s still undecided.]

062. Did he pop the question?[ Did he ask you to marry him?]

063. I put two and two together.[ I used the facts to make my decision.]

064. By evening she was run ragged.[ By evening she was very tired.]

065. I see the light now.[ I understand now.]

066. We did it on a shoe string.[ We did it with very little money.]

067. Don’t spread yourself thin.[ Don’t do many things at once.]

068. You bet.[ Certainly.]

069. He took pains with his work.[ He was very careful with his work.]

070. The boys thumbed a ride home.[ The boys hitchhiked home.]

071. I’ll do it when hell freezes over.[ I’ll never do it.]

072. Can you lend me a hand?[ Can you help me?]

073. Mr. Divens has a heart of gold.[ Mr. Divens is kind and generous.]

074. Give me a break, will you?[ Stop bothering me, will you?]

075. He zonked out in the chair.[ He fell asleep in the chair.]

076. Cut it out, will you?[ Stop doing that, will you?]

077. It’s raining cats and dogs.[ It’s raining very hard.]

078. Tony doesn’t have a prom date; Jill’s in the same boat.[ Tony doesn’t have a prom date; Jill doesn’t have one either.]

079. Harry put his foot in his mouth again.[ Harry said something that made him appear foolish again.]

080. This letter belongs in the circular file.[ This letter belongs in the trash.]

081. His yellow hat made him stand out in the crowd.[ He was easy to find in the crowd because of his yellow hat.]

082. Please get in touch with me by Friday.[ Please telephone or write to me by Friday.]

083. Hang on and I’ll ask my sister if she has the tickets.[ Wait while I ask my sister if she has the tickets.]

084. Don’t give up now, you’ve almost got it.[ Don’t quit now, you’ve almost got it.]

085. I’d give my right arm to know what he said.[ I’d pay a large price to know what he said.]

086. I never believed he’d turn his back on me like this.[ I never believed he would leave me.]

087. Karyn’s new job was in the bag.[ The arrangements for Karyn’s new job were complete.]

088. I was banking on getting that raise.[ I believed I was getting that raise.]

089. Carol spilled the beans about Arne’s surprise party.[ Carol told someone about Arne’s surprise party.]

090. I’ve been beating my brains out trying to find the answer.[ I’ve worked hard to find the answer.]

091. I don’t know if he’ll beat the rap.[ I don’t know if the court will find him innocent.]

092. When Tommy was late, Anna was beside herself with fear.[ When Tommy was late, Anna was extremely fearful.]

093. Art surprised everyone when he made it big.[ Art surprised everyone when he became a success.]

094. I will never have another blind date![ I will never again agree to a date arranged by other people in which I do not know the person.]

095. Cory missed the boat when he turned down the boss’s offer.[ Cory missed a good opportunity when he turned down the boss’s offer.]

096. Tom said he has a bone to pick with Penny.[ Tom said he has problem to resolve with Penny.]

097. The president discussed the issue with his brain trust.[ The president discussed the issue with his group of experts.]

098. They found a bug in the mayor’s phone.[ They found a hidden listening device in the mayor’s phone.]

099. He turned his room upside down looking for his wallet.[ He looked everywhere in his room for his wallet.]

100. Ahmed got cold feet when he reached the diving board.[ Ahmed was nervous when he reached the diving board.]

101. I think I’ll just bum around the museum for an hour or so.[ I think I’ll wander around in the museum for an hour or so.]

102. Bundle up or you’ll catch a cold.[ Dress warmly or you’ll become ill.]

103. I bumped into my old boyfriend at the game last night.[ I met my former boyfriend at the game last night.]

104. No one bought his excuse for being late again.[ No one believed his excuse for being late again.]

105. I’m tired; I think I’ll call it a day.[ I’m tired; I think I’ll stop working now.]

106. It never crossed my mind that it was a fake diamond.[ I did not think that it was a fake diamond.]

107. I’m too shy; I don’t think I’m cut out to be an actress.[ I’m too shy; I don’t think I have the right qualities to be an actress.]

108. This car can stop on a dime.[ This car can stop very quickly.]

109. His constant singing can drive you to drink.[ His constant singing can irritate you.]

110. Ella was always on the edge.[ Ella was always very nervous.]

111. While she was sick, she fell behind her class in math.[ While she was sick, she did not continue in math at the same pace as her classmates.]

112. Taking drugs is playing with fire.[ Taking drugs is very dangerous.]

113. Mom will hit the ceiling when she sees this mess.[ Mom will be very angry when she sees this mess.]

114. It was hard to hold my tongue while I listened to the lies.[ While I listened to the lies, I was very tempted to speak out against them.]

115. He was put in a hospital because he lost his mind.[ He was put in a hospital because he became insane.]

116. Aspirin is an over-the-counter drug.[ Aspirin can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.]

117. Kim had taken great pains with the sign and it looked great.[ Kim had been very careful making the sign and it looked great.]

118. Nina passed a remark about Georgio’s haircut.[ Nina said something unkind about Georgio’s haircut.]

119. The man’s mother passed away in April.[ The man’s mother died in April.]

120. Ed’s car was stolen and he tried to pin it on Tony.[ Ed’s car was stolen and he blamed Tony.]

121. Steve decided he would pop the question on Rose’s birthday.[ Steve decided he would propose marriage on Rose’s birthday.]

122. If we put our heads together we could think of a good present.[ If we work together we could think of a good present.]

123. She ran into her secretary at the library.[ She unexpectedly met her secretary at the library.]

124. Bob’s father was in his second childhood.[ Bob’s father was old and returning to childish behavior.]

125. It’s about time you got here![ Finally you’ve arrived!]

126. Cindy burst into tears.[ Cindy started to cry.]

127. Amos can really carry a tune.[ Amos can sing well.]

128. Jaime cleared the table.[ Jaime removed the dishes and other things from the table.]

129. Hector cleared the fence easily.[ Hector jumped over the fence and there was space between him and the fence.]

130. Come to think of it, I already have a red sweater.[ I remember now that I already have a red sweater.]

131. We have to cover a lot of ground before this works.[ We have to do many more things before this will work.]

132. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a lower price.[ It is not likely that it will be sold at a lower price.]

133. Did Marianne do the dishes before she left?[ Did Marianne wash the dishes before she left?]

134. All the preparation went down the drain when the game was cancelled.[ All the preparation was wasted when the game was cancelled.]

135. Please move, I need some elbow room.[ Please move, I need some space for myself.]

136. Every so often I think about my uncle.[ Occasionally I think about my uncle.]

137. Caleb and Raoul had a falling out last week.[ Caleb and Raoul had a disagreement last week.]

138. It’s time to get busy on my project.[ It’s time to start my project.]

139. Tony gets on my nerves.[ Tony annoys me.]

140. Don’t forget to give me a call when you arrive.[ Don’t forget to call me on the phone when you arrive.]

141. She gave the woman a piece of her mind.[ She told the woman what she thought and felt.]

142. Mom went overboard on the food for the party.[ Mom prepared too much food for the party.]

143. Olivia has a real sweet tooth.[ Olivia likes candy and other sweet-tasting things.]

144. I buy all of his hit movies.[ I buy all of his movies that are very popular.]

145. I’ll see if we have it in stock.[ I’ll see if we have it here at the store.]

146. The juniors and seniors were in the same boat.[ The juniors and seniors had the same situation.]

147. I’m just about finished with this book.[ I am nearly finished with this book.]

148. The baby kept me up all weekend.[ The baby prevented me from sleeping all weekend.]

149. Could you give me a lift to school tomorrow?[ Could you give me a ride to school tomorrow?]

150. Jody lost her temper at the meeting.[ Jody became angry at the meeting.]

151. You can make a bundle doing that.[ You can earn a lot of money doing that.]

152. The election was neck and neck.[ The number of votes for the candidates was nearly even.]

153. Do you need a hand?[ Do you need help?]

154. I’m using my nest egg for travel.[ I’m using the money I have saved for travel.]

155. It’s neither here nor there.[ It is not important.]

156. It’s no laughing matter.[ It is a serious matter.]

157. Building the box was no picnic.[ Building the box was not easy.]

158. No wonder they look alike—they’re cousins.[ It is not a surprise that they look alike — they are cousins.]

159. Now and then we look at the old photos.[ Occasionally we look at the old photos.]

160. Lunch will be on the house Thursday.[ Lunch will be free on Thursday.]

161. This was a piece of cake.[ This was easy.]

162. Richard and Karyn tied the knot in Las Vegas.[ Richard and Karyn got married in Las Vegas.]

163. A run for the money[ A tough competition or challenge.]

164. Made of money[ Very wealthy; having a lot of money.]

165. Be broke[ To have no money.]

166. Make a deposit[ To put money into a bank account.]

167. Be loaded[ To be very wealthy.]

168. Make a withdrawal[ To take money out of a bank account.]

169. Be minting it[ To be making a lot of money, often quickly or easily.]

170. Money doesn’t grow on trees[ Money is not easy to get; it requires effort and work.]

171. Be tightfisted[ To be very frugal or unwilling to spend money.]

172. Money is no object[ Cost doesn't matter; you're willing to pay whatever it takes.]

173. Bet your bottom dollar[ To be very confident about something.]

174. Money talks[ Money has influence or power; people often listen to those with money.]

175. Blank check[ Unlimited freedom to spend money or do something without restrictions.]

176. Money to burn[ Having more money than you need, often to the point of spending it wastefully.]

177. Bounce a check[ To write a check without having enough money in the bank to cover it.]

178. Monopoly money[ Fake or worthless money; something with no real value.]

179. Cash a check[ To exchange a check for cash.]

180. Pin money[ A small amount of money, usually for minor or personal expenses.]

181. Change a bill[ To exchange a larger bill for smaller denominations.]

182. On the money[ Exactly correct or accurate.]

183. Cost an arm and a leg[ To be very expensive.]

184. Pots of money[ A large amount of money.]

185. Easy money[ Money earned with little effort.]

186. Put money away[ To save money for the future.]

187. Endorse a check[ To sign the back of a check to approve it for deposit or cashing.]

188. For my money[ In my opinion; from my perspective.]

189. Put money on something[ To bet or gamble on something.]

190. Funny money[ Counterfeit or fake money; money that looks suspicious or is not legitimate.]

191. Put your money where your mouth is[ To back up your words with action, often by betting or investing.]

192. Get a loan[ To borrow money, usually from a bank or financial institution.]

193. Seed money[ Initial funding to help start a project or business.]

194. Get change[ To receive smaller denominations of money in exchange for a larger bill.]

195. Spend money like water[ To spend money carelessly or wastefully.]

196. Get your money’s worth[ To receive good value for the money you spend.]

197. Have money to burn[ To have more money than you need and be able to spend it freely.]

198. The smart money[ The money or investment made by knowledgeable or experienced people.]

199. Hit the ATM[ To go to an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) to withdraw cash.]

200. Throw good money after bad[ To waste more money on a failing project or situation.]

201. Hush money[ Money given to someone to keep them quiet or prevent them from revealing information.]

202. Throw money around[ To spend money carelessly or extravagantly.]

203. In the money[ To be financially successful or winning in a financial context.]

204. Throw money at something[ To try to solve a problem by spending money on it, often without careful thought.]
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