Idioms with Meanings
An Idiom is a natural manner of speaking to a native speaker of a language.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.
A blessing in disguise: Something good that is not recognized at first.
A drop in the bucket: A very small part of something big or whole.
A fool and his money are easily parted: It is easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.
A house divided against itself can not stand: Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.
A leopard can not change his spots: You can not change who you are.
A penny saved is a penny earned: By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little)
A picture paints a thousand words: A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
A piece of cake: A task that can be accomplished very easily.
A slap on the wrist: A very mild punishment.
A taste of your own medicine: When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
A toss-up: A result that is still unclear and can go either way.
Actions speak louder than words: It is better to actually do something than just talk about it.
Add fuel to the fire: Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.
All bark and no bite: When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.
All in the same boat: When everyone is facing the same challenges.
An arm and a leg: Very expensive. A large amount of money.
Apple of my eye: Someone who is cherished above all others.
As high as a kite: Anything that is high up in the sky.
At the drop of a hat: Willing to do something immediately.
Back seat driver: People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.
Beat a dead horse: To force an issue that has already ended.
Beating Around the bush: Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Bend over backwards: Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Bite your tongue: To avoid talking.
Blood is thicker than water: The family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue Moon: A rare event or occurance.
Break a leg: A superstitious way to say, good luck' without saying 'good luch', but rather the opposite.
Buy a lemon: To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.
Can't cut the mustard: Someone who is not adequate enough to compete or participate.
Cast iron stomach: Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.
Charley horse: Stiffness in the leg/A leg cramp.
Chew someone out: verbally scold someone.
Close but no ciger: To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.
Crack someone up: To make someone laugh.
Cross your fingers: To hope that something happens the way you want it to.
Cry over spilt milk: When you complain about a loss from the past.
Curiosity killed the cat: Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Cut to the chase: Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.
Dark Horse: One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.
Dead ringer: 100% identical. A Duplicate
Dog days of summer: The hottest days of the summer season.
Don't count chickens before they hatch: Don't rely on it until you are sure of it.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Doozy: Something outstanding.
Down to the wire: Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.
Drastic times call for drastic measures: When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.
Drink like a fish: To drink very heavily.
Drive someone up the wall: To irritate and /or annoy very much.
Dropping like flies: A large number of people either falling ill or dying.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to be better days.
Cock and bull story: An unbelievable tale.
Feeding frenzy: An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
Field day: An enjoyable day or circumstance.
Fending your feet: To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
Finger licking good: A very tasty food or meal.
Fixed in your ways: Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
Flash in the pan: Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Flea market: A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.
Flip the bird: To reaise your middle finger at someone.
French kiss: An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
From rags to riches: To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Fuddy-Duddy: An old fashioned and foolish type of person.
Get down to brass tacks: To become serious about something.
Get up on the wrong side of the bed: Someone who is having a horrible day.
Go for broke: To gamble everything you have.
Go out on a limb: Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.
Go the extra mile: Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Good samaritan: Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reqard.
Graveyard shift: Working hours from about 12:00 am to 08:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
Great minds think alike: Intelligent people thin like each other.
Green room: Then waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.
Gut feeling: A personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may bot be right.
Haste makes waste: Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
Hat trick: When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.
Have an axe to grind: To have a dispute with someone.
He lost his head: Angry and overcome by emotions.
Head over heels: Very excited and joyful, especially when in love.
High five: Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
High on the hog: Living in luxury.
Hit the books: To study, especially for a test or exam.
Hit the Nail on the head: Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.
Hit the sack: Go to bed or go to sleep.
Hold your horses: In general, a term used in magic or trickery.
Hold your horses: Be patient.
Icing on the cake: When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
Idle hands are the Devil's tools: You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
In like flynn: To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.
In the bag: To have something secured.
It's a small world: you frequently see the same people in different places.
Keep an eye on him: You should carefully watch him.
Keep body and soul together: To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive.
Keep your chin up: To remain joyful in a tough situation.
Knee jerk reaction: A quick and automatic response.
Last but not least: An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him/her.
Lend me your ear: To politely ask for someone's full attention.
Let sleeping dogs lie: To avoid restarting a conflict.
Let the cat out of the bag: To share a secret that was not suppose to bed shared.
Method to my madness: Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.
Mumbo Jumbo: Nonsense or meaningless speach.
Nest Egg: Savings set aside for future use.
Never bite the hand that feeds you: Dont' hurt anyone that helps you.
New kid on the block: Someone new to the group or area.
New York minute: A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.
No room to swing a cat: An unsually small or confined space.
Off on the wrong foot: Getting a bad start on a relationship or talk.
On pins and needles: Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
On the fence: Undecided.
On the same page: When multiple people all agree on the same thing.
Out of the blue: Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs:
Out on a limb: when someone puts himself in a risky situation.
Out on the town: To enjoy yourself by going out.
Over my dead body: When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
Over the top: Very excessive.
Pass the buck: Avoid responsibilities by giving it to someone else.
Pedal to the metal: To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.
Peeping Tom: Someone who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for his own gratification.
Pick up your ears: To listen very carefully.
Pig out: To eat a lot and eat it quickly.
Pipe down: To shut-up or be quiet.
Pull the plug: To stop something. To bring somethng to an end.
Queer the pitch: Destroy or ruin a plan.
Raincheck: An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.
Raining cats and dogs: A very loud and nosiy rain storm.
Rise and shine: Time to get out of bed and get ready for work/school.
Rome was not built in one day: If you want something to be completed properly, then it's going to take time.
Rule of thumb: A rough estimate.
Run out of steam: To be completely out of energy.
Scot-free: To escape and not have to pay.
Sick as a Dog: To be very sick (with the flu or a cold).
Sixth sense: A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.
Skid row: The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.
Smell something Fishy: Detecting that somethng isn't right and there might be a reason for it.
Southpaw: Someone who is left handed.
Spitting image: The exact likeness or kind.
Start from scratch: To do it all over again from the beginning.
The ball is in your court: It is your decision this time.
The best of the both worlds: There are two choices and you have them both.
The last straw: When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.
Third times a charm: After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.
Tie the knot: To get married.
To steal someone's thunder: To take the credit for something someone else did.
Tongue and cheek: Humor, not to be taken serious.
Turn a blind eye: Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
Under the weather: Feeling ill or sick.
Variety is the spice of life: The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.
Water under the bridge: Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore.
When pigs fly: Something that will never ever happen.
Wild and wolly: Uncultured and without laws.
You can't judge a book by its cover: Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.
