English Idioms

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borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> face=Arial>Idiom	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> face=Arial>Meaning
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> Have an axe to grind	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> If you have an axe to grind, you have personal reasons for becoming involved in something or adopting a particular attitude. "It was decided that the best candidates would be selected by a recruitment agency who had no axe to grind within the company."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> Have your back to the wall	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> At someone's beck and call	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> If a person is at somebody's beck and call, they are always ready to do things for them or obey orders to please them. "Parents should not be at the beck and call of their children."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0> Below the belt	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   An action or remark described as below the belt means that   it is considered unfair or cruel.   "Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals   below the belt."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Birds of a feather	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To say that two people are birds of a feather means that they   are very similar in many ways.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Breathe down someone's neck	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If somebody is breathing down your neck, they are watching you   too closely and making you feel uncomfortable.   "The atmosphere at work isn't great; the boss keeps breathing down   our necks all the time
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Build bridges.	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If a person builds bridges between opposing groups, they help   them to cooperate and understand each other better.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   face=Arial>Dance attendance (on somebody)	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you dance attendance on someone, you are constantly available   for that person and attend to their wishes.   "She's rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance   on her."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Let sleeping dogs lie!	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If someone tells you to let sleeping dogs lie, they are asking you   not to interfere with a situation so that it does not become a problem.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   See eye to eye with someone.	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To see eye to eye with somebody means that you agree with   them.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Fair-weather friend	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Someone who acts as a friend when times are good, and is not there   when you are in trouble, is called a fair-weather friend.   "I thought I could count on Bill, but I've discovered he's just a   fair-weather friend."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Get on like a house on fire	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Two people who get on like a house on fire have similar interests   and quickly become good friends.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Get a raw deal.	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you say that someone has got a raw deal, you think they    have been treated unfairly or badly.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Go with the flow	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you go with the flow, you follow the general tendency and go   along with whatever happens.   "When my colleagues organize an office party, I just go with the flow   when it comes to the details. "
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Good walls make good neighbours	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   This expression means that respecting one another's privacy   helps create a good relationship between neighbours.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Play gooseberry	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you play gooseberry, you join or accompany two people who   have a romantic relationship and want to be alone.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Help a lame dog over a stile	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you help a lame dog over stile, you help someone who is   in difficulty or trouble.   "You can trust him - he always helps a lame dog over a stile."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Herding cats	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation   which involves people who all want to act independently.   "Organizing an outing for a group of people from different countries   is like herding cats!
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Know someone/something inside out.	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you know someone or something inside out, you know them   very well.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   It takes two to tango	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument   cannot be the fault of one person alone   "OK, we've heard Jack's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Keep someone at arm's length	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you keep someone at arm's length, you do not allow yourself   to become too friendly with them.   "It's not easy to become friends with Sophie; she tends to keep   everyone at arm's length."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   At loggerheads	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you are at loggerheads with a person or organization,   you disagree very strongly with them.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   face=Arial>Nodding terms	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you are on nodding terms with someone, you don't know them   very well, just well enough to say 'hello' when you meet them.   "We haven't made any friends yet but we're on nodding terms with   out neighbours."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To be at odds with somebody	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If one person is at odds with another, they disagree with   each other.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Play the game	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you play the game, you accept to do things according to   the rules laid down by others.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Pull strings	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If somebody pulls strings, they use influential friends in order   to obtain an advantage.   "David found a job easily - his Dad just pulled a few strings!"
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Send someone packing	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you send someone packing, you tell them to leave, in a very   forceful and unfriendly way.   "When Amanda discovered that Jack had been unfaithful,   she sent him packing."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Rub shoulders	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you rub shoulders with someone, you have an opportunity to   meet and talk to a person who is wealthy, famous or distinguished.   "In her job in public relations, she sometimes rubs shoulders with   famous people."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Give someone the cold shoulder.	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To give someone the cold shoulder means to deliberately   ignore someone.   "After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Significant other	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   The term significant other refers to a person, such as a spouse,   partner or lover, with whom you have a long-term relationship.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0 align=left>   Sface=Arial>peak the same language	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0 align=left>   If two or more people speak the same language, they have similar   tastes and ideas.   "We work well together because we speak the same language."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   face=Arial>Speed networking	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   This refers to a relatively new urban trend which consists in   making a potential business contact by briefly talking to a series of   people at an organised event and exchanging contact details.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Starter marriage	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   A starter marriage is a short-lived first marriage that ends in   divorce with no kids, no property and no regrets.
A stormy relationship	If you have a stormy relationship with someone, you have a lot of   arguments and disagreements.   "After a very stormy relationship, they decided to separate."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0 align=left>   Sface=Arial>trange bedfellows	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0 align=left>   This expression refers to the unusual or unlikely association of two or   more people, companies or states.   "A car manufacturer and a bakery - strange bedfellows don't you think?"
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To be as thick as thieves	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If two people are "as thick as thieves", it means that they are   very good friends.
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Two's company ... (three's a crowd)	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer   to be alone together than to have someone else with them.   "Would you like to come to the cinema with us?"   "I'd rather not, thanks. Two's company..."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   Walking papers	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   If you are given your walking papers, your contract or a   relationship is ended.   "After causing a diplomatic incident, Carter got his walking papers."
borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>  On the same wavelength	borderColorDark=#c0c0c0>   To say that two people are on the same wavelength means   that they understand each other well because they share   the same interests and opinions.

 English idioms relating to
ANXIETY - FEAR - NERVOUSNESS

Afraid of one's own shadow

A person who is afraid of their own shadow is very nervous
  or easily frightened.
  "I've never seen anyone so easily scared - she's afraid of her
  own shadow."

Bundle of nerves

If you describe somebody as a bundle of nerves, you mean that
  they are very nervous, tense or worried.
  "My son is doing his driving test today. Needless to say he's a bundle
  of nerves!"

Have butterflies in your stomach

 If you have butterflies in your stomach, you are feeling very nervous.
  "At the beginning of an exam, I always have butterflies in my stomach."

Like a cat on hot bricks

A person who is like a cat on hot bricks is very nervous or restless.
  "The week before the results were published, she was like a cat on
  hot bricks."

On the edge of one's seat

 Someone who is on the edge of their seat is very interested in
  something and finds it both extremely exciting and nerve-wracking.
  "Look at Bob! He's on the edge of his seat watching that rugby match."

And all that jazz

This idiom means that everything related or similar is included.

Bells on

(USA) To be somewhere with bells on means to arrive there happy and delighted to attend.

Blow your own horn

If you blow your own horn, you boast about your achievements and abilities. ('Blow your own trumpet' is an alternative form.)

Blow your own trumpet

If someone blows their own trumpet, they boast about their talents and achievements. ('Blow your own horn' is an alternative form.)

Call the tune

The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.

Change your tune

If someone changes their ideas or the way they talk about them, they change their tune.

Clear as a bell

If something is as clear as a bell, it is very clear or easy to understand.

Face the music

If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.

Fiddle while Rome burns

If people are fiddling while Rome burns, they are wasting their time on futile things while problems threaten to destroy them.

Fine tuning

Small adjustments to improve something or to get it working are called fine tuning.

Fit as a fiddle

If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.

For a song

If you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap.

It takes two to tango

This idiom is used to suggest that when things go wrong, both sides are involved and neither side is completely innocent.

Music to my ears

If something someone says is music to your ears, it is exactly what you had wanted to hear.

Play second fiddle

If you play second fiddle, you take a subordinate role behind someone more important.

Pull out all the stops

If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you possibly can to achieve the result you want.

See you on the big drum

A good night phrase to children.

Strike a chord

If strikes a chord, it is familiar to you, reminds you of something or is connected to you somehow.

Toot you own horn

If someone toot their own horn, they like to boast about their achievements.

Whistle for it

If someone says that you can whistle for something, they are determined to ensure that you don't get it.

Whistle-stop tour

A whistle-stop tour is when someone visits a number of places quickly, not stopping for long.

Whistling Dixie

(USA) If someone is whistling Dixie, they talk about things in a more positive way than the reality.

Whistling in the dark

If someone is whistling in the dark, they believe in a positive result, even though everybody else is sure it will not happen.

You can't unring a bell

This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can't be undone.

cool as a cucumber

MEANING: calm, not nervous or anxious

EXAMPLE:

He is always as cool as a cucumber and never worries about anything.

couch potato

MEANING: a very lazy person

EXAMPLE:

He is a real couch potato and just sits around watching TV and staying indoors all day.

cream of the crop

MEANING: best of a group, the top choice

EXAMPLE:

The company is well-known as a good place to work and is always able to hire the cream of the crop of university graduates.

cry over spilt milk

MEANING: cry or complain about something that has already happened

EXAMPLE:

Don’t cry over spilt milk. The past is past and you can’t do anything to change it.

cup of tea

MEANING: something one enjoys or does well

EXAMPLE:

Going to art galleries is not my cup of tea so I think that I will stay home this evening and not go with you.

hot potato

MEANING: a question or argument that is controversial and difficult to settle

EXAMPLE:

The issue of building the nuclear power plant is a real hot potato for the local town

 council.

out to lunch

MEANING: crazy, mad

EXAMPLE:

She is totally out to lunch and you should never believe what she tells you.

piece of cake

MEANING: a task that is easily accomplished

EXAMPLE:

It was a piece of cake. I had everything done before lunch this morning.

American  Idioms

Go Dutch

It takes at least two people to go Dutch for the simple reason that when we go Dutch we share the cost of something, each person paying his or her own expenses. "Hans invited Gretchen to join him for lunch. Knowing he hasn't much money, Gretchen has insisted that they go Dutch."

American  Idioms

Go Dutch

It takes at least two people to go Dutch for the simple reason that when we go Dutch we share the cost of something, each person paying his or her own expenses. "Hans invited Gretchen to join him for lunch. Knowing he hasn't much money, Gretchen has insisted that they go Dutch."