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365IdiomsAmerican English
an idiom a dayby Michael DiGiacomo, MBA
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365 More American English Idioms An Idiom A Day
by
Michael DiGiacomo, MBA
Published in New York, USA June 2015
PLEASE! DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES OF THIS BOOK
To Gloria…who never gets tired of fixing my typos J
COPYRIGHT © 2015 MICHAEL DIGIACOMO
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited. You may not, except
with my express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or
store it on any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.
This is an eBook. ISBN: 978-0-9915079-7-9
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A Message From Michael Thank you for your interest in 365 More American English Idioms. My first book of 365 American Idioms was published in 2013 and due to popular demand, I am happy to present this latest book. My name is Michael DiGiacomo, and I am a native New Yorker. I have been helping language students learn English since the early 1990’s. I began my formal language-teaching career in Sendai, Japan in 1994. Since then, I have worked in the ESL field as an instructor, a teacher trainer, an academic director, and a language school director. In 2004, I earned an MBA in Global Management. Now, I am the owner of Happy English, an English tutoring company in New York City. I teach students from all over the world both here in New York, and online in their country. Many of my students have given me inspiration for these lessons and this book grew out of some of those ideas. I believe that language study should be both enjoyable and practical. In 2010, I started a website to provide a variety of English lessons to students all over the world. I set out to create lessons that were practical, easy to understand, and useful for self-study. In June of 2014, I started the Happy English Podcast to provide portable audio lessons for convenient English Study. Idioms are commonly used in everyday, conversational English. I encourage you to study the lessons in this book, and begin using these phrasal verbs in your conversations. You will sound more natural when you do so. As always, thanks for studying with me! Find me online @ myhappyenglish.com
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Table of contents A Message From Michael .............................................................. 2
Table of contents ............................................................................ 3
1: all along ...................................................................................... 17 2: all the rage ................................................................................ 17
3: as sick as dog ............................................................................ 18
4: at your wits’ end ...................................................................... 18 5: at the end of your rope .......................................................... 19
6: back to the drawing board .................................................. 19 7: backseat driver ........................................................................ 20
8: ballpark figure ......................................................................... 20
9: bark up the wrong tree ......................................................... 21 10: basket case ............................................................................. 21
11: bat a thousand ....................................................................... 22 12: be in the lap of luxury ......................................................... 22
13: bean counter .......................................................................... 23
14: beat a dead horse ................................................................. 23 15: beat around the bush .......................................................... 24
16: beat it ....................................................................................... 24
17: beat someone to the punch ............................................... 25 18: bend over backwards ......................................................... 25
19: between a rock and a hard place .................................... 26 20: big cheese ............................................................................... 27
21: big deal .................................................................................... 27
22: bigmouth ................................................................................. 28 23: blow .......................................................................................... 28
24: blow your own horn ............................................................ 29
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25: blow off steam ....................................................................... 29
26: blow you away ....................................................................... 30 27: bomb ......................................................................................... 30
28: bombed .................................................................................... 31 29: booked ..................................................................................... 31
30: boondocks / boonies ........................................................... 32
31: booze ........................................................................................ 32 32: bored to death ....................................................................... 33
33: brain ......................................................................................... 33
34: breadwinner .......................................................................... 34 35: break the bank ...................................................................... 34
36: break up with someone ..................................................... 35 37: breath of fresh air ................................................................ 35
38: bright and early .................................................................... 36
39: brush up on ............................................................................ 36 40: burn someone up ................................................................. 37
41: burn the midnight oil .......................................................... 37
42: butter up ................................................................................. 38 43: buy time ................................................................................... 38
44: buzzed ...................................................................................... 39 45: by word of mouth ................................................................. 39
46: call it a day (a night) ............................................................ 40
47: can't stand .............................................................................. 40 48: can't stomach ......................................................................... 41
49: catch your eye ....................................................................... 41 50: caught dead (not be) ........................................................... 42
51: change your mind ................................................................ 42
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52: check out ................................................................................. 43
53: chicken (fraidy cat) ............................................................. 43 54: chill out .................................................................................... 44
55: chip on your shoulder ......................................................... 44 56: chocaholic ............................................................................... 45
57: clear the air ............................................................................ 45
58: close shave .............................................................................. 46 59: come up with ......................................................................... 46
60: couldn't care less .................................................................. 47
61: count on someone ................................................................ 47 62: crazy about ............................................................................. 48
63: cream of the crop ................................................................. 48 64: crunch time ............................................................................ 49
65: cut class ................................................................................... 49
66: cut it out! ................................................................................. 50 67: cut to the chase ..................................................................... 50
68: dawn on ................................................................................... 51
69: days are numbered .............................................................. 51 70: dead set against .................................................................... 52
71: do the trick ............................................................................. 52 72: do up ......................................................................................... 53
73: do your best ........................................................................... 53
74: dog-‐eat-‐dog ............................................................................ 54 75: double take ............................................................................. 54
76: down for the count ............................................................... 55 77: down in the dumps .............................................................. 55
78: down the line ......................................................................... 56
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79: dress down (up) .................................................................... 56
80: drive you bananas (crazy) ................................................ 57 81: drop in the bucket ................................................................ 57
82: drop-‐dead gorgeous ............................................................ 58 83: drum up ................................................................................... 58
84: dump someone ...................................................................... 59
85: eager beaver .......................................................................... 59 86: face it ........................................................................................ 60
87: fair and square ...................................................................... 60
88: fall for ....................................................................................... 61 89: fat chance ................................................................................ 61
90: feel free .................................................................................... 62 91: first things first ..................................................................... 62
92: flat broke ................................................................................. 63
93: fly in the ointment ............................................................... 63 94: fool around ............................................................................. 64
95: for (in) a dog's age ............................................................... 64
96: for the birds ........................................................................... 65 97: forty winks ............................................................................. 65
98: from day one .......................................................................... 66 99: from scratch ........................................................................... 66
100: full of it .................................................................................. 67
101: gathering dust ..................................................................... 67 102: get a load of .......................................................................... 68
103: get canned ............................................................................ 68 104: get going ................................................................................ 69
105: get a handle on ................................................................... 69
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106: get it ....................................................................................... 70
107: get lost ................................................................................... 70 108: get off the ground .............................................................. 71
109: get on your back ................................................................. 71 110: get plastered ....................................................................... 72
111: get rid of ................................................................................ 72
112: get something straight ..................................................... 73 113: get the ball rolling ............................................................. 73
114: get the hang of something ............................................... 74
115: get the show on the road ................................................. 74 116: get something under your belt ...................................... 75
117: get your hopes up .............................................................. 75 118: ghost of a chance ................................................................ 76
119: give it a shot ......................................................................... 76
120: give it rest ............................................................................. 77 121: give me a break .................................................................. 77
122: give you the creeps ............................................................ 78
123: give you the ax .................................................................... 78 124: give you the cold shoulder .............................................. 79
125: give you the time of day ................................................... 79 126: give up ................................................................................... 80
127: give you static ..................................................................... 80
128: go by the book ..................................................................... 81 129: go crazy (nuts) .................................................................... 81
130: go for a spin ......................................................................... 82 131: go into business .................................................................. 82
132: go off the deep end ............................................................ 83
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133: go out on a limb .................................................................. 83
134: go over like a lead balloon .............................................. 84 135: go overboard ....................................................................... 84
136: go through the roof ........................................................... 85 137: go with the flow .................................................................. 85
138: good for you ......................................................................... 86
139: goose is cooked .................................................................. 86 140: grab something ................................................................... 87
141: greasy spoon ....................................................................... 87
142: green light ............................................................................ 88 143: gung ho .................................................................................. 88
144: had it up to here ................................................................. 89 145: hands are tied ..................................................................... 89
146: hang in there ....................................................................... 90
147: hang out ................................................................................ 90 148: happy camper ..................................................................... 91
149: have a blast .......................................................................... 91
150: have a screw loose ............................................................. 92 151: have an axe to grind .......................................................... 92
152: have an eye on .................................................................... 93 153: have it made ........................................................................ 93
154: have my back against the wall ...................................... 94
155: have your heart set on ..................................................... 94 156: head start ............................................................................. 95
157: hear someone out .............................................................. 95 158: history ................................................................................... 96
159: hit the nail on the head .................................................... 96
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160: hit the road .......................................................................... 97
161: hit the town .......................................................................... 97 162: hold out (for) ....................................................................... 98
163: hold your liquor ................................................................. 98 164: hold your tongue ................................................................ 99
165: hot and bothered ............................................................... 99
166: hot topic .............................................................................. 100 167: hothead ............................................................................... 100
168: if the shoe fits, wear it .................................................... 101
169: in a stew .............................................................................. 101 170: in any case .......................................................................... 102
171: in charge of ........................................................................ 102 172: in good hands .................................................................... 103
173: in good spirits ................................................................... 103
174: in no time ........................................................................... 104 175: in person ............................................................................. 104
176: in progress ......................................................................... 105
177: in seventh heaven ............................................................ 105 178: in the doghouse ................................................................ 106
179: in the driver's seat ........................................................... 106 180: in the mood ........................................................................ 107
181: in the nick of time ............................................................ 107
182: in your / that neck of the woods ................................. 108 183: into something .................................................................. 108
184: it's a deal ............................................................................. 109 185: it's in the bag ..................................................................... 109
186: jump at the chance .......................................................... 110
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187: jump the gun ..................................................................... 110
188: jump to conclusions ........................................................ 111 189: just what the doctor ordered ....................................... 111
190: keep an eye out ................................................................. 112 191: keep in touch with ........................................................... 112
192: keep it up ............................................................................ 113
193: keep you posted ............................................................... 113 194: keep something under your hat ................................. 114
195: keep your chin up ............................................................ 114
196: keep your eyes peeled ................................................... 115 197: keep your head above water ....................................... 115
198: kick the habit .................................................................... 116 199: kid around .......................................................................... 116
200: kill two birds with one stone ....................................... 117
201: killer ..................................................................................... 117 202: last resort ........................................................................... 118
203: lay your cards on the table ........................................... 118
204: leadfoot ............................................................................... 119 205: leave you holding the bag ............................................. 119
206: let sleeping dogs lie ......................................................... 120 207: let you go ............................................................................ 120
208: level with you .................................................................... 121
209: lighten up ........................................................................... 121 210: like a chicken with its head cut off ............................. 122
211: like crazy ............................................................................ 122 212: like pulling teeth .............................................................. 123
213: live it up .............................................................................. 123
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214: live with it .......................................................................... 124
215: load off your mind ........................................................... 124 216: loaded .................................................................................. 125
217: look forward to ................................................................. 125 218: look sharp .......................................................................... 126
219: lose it .................................................................................... 126
220: lose your cool .................................................................... 127 221: lose your marbles ............................................................ 127
222: lose your touch ................................................................. 128
223: lost cause ............................................................................ 128 224: lucky dog ............................................................................ 129
225: make a fortune ................................................................. 129 226: make do .............................................................................. 130
227: make ends meet ............................................................... 130
228: make a fool of yourself ................................................... 131 229: make it ................................................................................. 131
230: make a living ..................................................................... 132
231: make out (1) ...................................................................... 132 232: make out (2) ...................................................................... 133
233: make out (3) ...................................................................... 133 234: make a pig of yourself .................................................... 134
235: make sense ........................................................................ 134
236: make time for .................................................................... 135 237: make tracks ....................................................................... 135
238: make up your mind ......................................................... 136 239: make your day .................................................................. 136
240: make your mouth water ................................................ 137
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241: mess up ............................................................................... 137
242: milk something ................................................................. 138 243: miss the boat ..................................................................... 138
244: nada ...................................................................................... 139 245: nerd vs geek ...................................................................... 139
246: nervous wreck .................................................................. 140
247: nip something in the bud .............................................. 140 248: no laughing matter .......................................................... 141
249: no matter how you slice it ............................................ 141
250: no strings attached .......................................................... 142 251: no sweat .............................................................................. 142
252: no use crying over spilt milk ....................................... 143 253: no wonder .......................................................................... 143
254: not have a clue .................................................................. 144
255: not long for this world ................................................... 144 256: not sleep a wink ............................................................... 145
257: nothing to write home about ....................................... 145
258: nuts and bolts ................................................................... 146 259: odds and ends ................................................................... 146
260: off the wall ......................................................................... 147 261: on a shoestring ................................................................. 147
262: on deck ................................................................................ 148
263: on edge ................................................................................ 148 264: on standby .......................................................................... 149
265: on the brink ....................................................................... 149 266: on the fence ....................................................................... 150
267: on the go ............................................................................. 150
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268: on the job ............................................................................ 151
269: on the run ........................................................................... 151 270: on thin ice ........................................................................... 152
271: on the take ......................................................................... 152 272: onto something ................................................................. 153
273: open-‐minded ..................................................................... 153
274: out loud ............................................................................... 154 275: out of it ................................................................................ 154
276: out of sorts ......................................................................... 155
277: out of the picture ............................................................. 155 278: out of the woods ............................................................... 156
279: out of work ......................................................................... 156 280: over the hill ........................................................................ 157
281: over your head ................................................................. 157
282: pass out ............................................................................... 158 283: pay your dues .................................................................... 158
284: pick up the pace ............................................................... 159
285: piece of your mind ........................................................... 159 286: pig out .................................................................................. 160
287: pitch in ................................................................................ 160 288: play along ........................................................................... 161
289: plug away ........................................................................... 161
290: plug something ................................................................. 162 291: pound the pavement ....................................................... 162
292: pull an all-‐nighter ............................................................ 163 293: pull punches ...................................................................... 163
294: pull your leg ....................................................................... 164
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295: pull through ....................................................................... 164
296: pull yourself together .................................................... 165 297: punch it ............................................................................... 165
298: put all your eggs in one basket ................................... 166 299: put you on .......................................................................... 166
300: put something on the back burner ............................ 167
301: put up with ......................................................................... 167 302: put your foot in your mouth ......................................... 168
303: rain on your parade ........................................................ 168
304: rant and rave ..................................................................... 169 305: rest assured ....................................................................... 169
306: ride his coattails ............................................................... 170 307: right on the money .......................................................... 170
308: right-‐hand man ................................................................. 171
309: rip off ................................................................................... 171 310: rip someone off ................................................................ 172
311: rock the boat ..................................................................... 172
312: rolling in dough ................................................................ 173 313: save the day ....................................................................... 173
314: second nature ................................................................... 174 315: second wind ....................................................................... 174
316: sell like hotcakes ............................................................. 175
317: set the record straight ................................................... 175 318: shake in your boots ......................................................... 176
319: shell out .............................................................................. 176 320: shot in the dark ................................................................ 177
321: shut up ................................................................................. 177
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322: sit tight ................................................................................ 178
323: slack off ............................................................................... 178 324: smash-‐hit ............................................................................ 179
325: spaced out .......................................................................... 179 326: spill the beans ................................................................... 180
327: spring for ............................................................................ 180
328: square up ............................................................................ 181 329: steal ...................................................................................... 181
330: stick to your guns ............................................................ 182
331: stick-‐in-‐the-‐mud .............................................................. 182 332: strapped (for cash) ......................................................... 183
333: stressed out ....................................................................... 183 334: stretch the truth ............................................................... 184
335: strike it rich ....................................................................... 184
336: suck it up ............................................................................ 185 337: sure thing ........................................................................... 185
338: sweat it ................................................................................ 186
339: sweep something under the rug ................................. 186 340: sweet tooth ........................................................................ 187
341: take in .................................................................................. 187 342: take it easy ......................................................................... 188
343: take sides ............................................................................ 188
344: take something by storm .............................................. 189 345: talk into ............................................................................... 189
346: tell off ................................................................................... 190 347: things are looking up ...................................................... 190
348: think straight .................................................................... 191
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349: throw in the towel ........................................................... 191
350: tied up .................................................................................. 192 351: to die for ............................................................................. 192
352: top dollar ............................................................................ 193 353: turn in .................................................................................. 193
354: turn off / turn on .............................................................. 194
355: turn up the heat ................................................................ 194 356: twist your arm .................................................................. 195
357: underway ........................................................................... 195
358: up a creek (without a paddle) ..................................... 196 359: up in arms .......................................................................... 196
360: water under the bridge .................................................. 197 361: weather the storm ........................................................... 197
362: well-‐off ................................................................................ 198
363: wine and dine .................................................................... 198 364: wing it .................................................................................. 199
365: wiped out ............................................................................ 199
366: wired .................................................................................... 200 367: wolf down ........................................................................... 200
368: work your tail off ............................................................. 201 Other books by Michael DiGiacomo, MBA ......................... 202
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1: all along Definition from the beginning Usage Notes We usually use "know" with all along. Structure [someone] knows all along that ~ Examples ! Jack knew all along that the salesman was lying to him. ! I knew all along that trying to repair my computer would
be difficult.
2: all the rage Definition widely popular Usage Notes We use all the rage when we talk about trends. Structure [something] is all the rage Examples ! The hula-hoop was all the rage in the 1960's. ! Do you remember when the Rubik's Cube was all the
rage?
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3: as sick as dog Definition very sick; very ill Usage Notes In the old days people thought that dogs had viruses. When you are as sick as a dog, you're very sick. Structure [someone] is as sick as a dog Examples ! I didn't go to work yesterday because I was as sick as
a dog. ! Even though Randy was as sick as a dog, he still went
to school.
4: at your wits’ end Definition to have no more patience to endure a situation or person Usage Notes A person can be at their wits’ end when they can no longer tolerate a particular person or situation Structure [someone] is at their wits’ end Examples ! I was at my wits’ end when my flight was delayed for
six hours, and then cancelled. ! I've tried everything to make her happy, but she is still
not satisfied. I'm at my wits’ end!
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5: at the end of your rope Definition to be in a bad situation with no more options to resolve it Usage Notes A person can be at the end of their rope when facing a difficult sitiuation with no way to resolve it. Structure [someone] is at the end of their rope Examples ! When my boss rejected my third proposal I was at the
end of my rope. ! Jen was at the end of her rope when she ran out of
gas on a deserted highway at 2am.
6: back to the drawing board Definition to start over from the beginning Usage Notes A person can be back to the drawing board when they realize their original plan is not good and needs to be revised. The subject can be either a person or it. Structure [someone] or [something] is back to the drawing board Examples ! The boss rejected our proposal, so we are back to the
drawing board. ! This marketing campaign was a total failure. It's back to
the drawing board!
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7: backseat driver Definition a passenger in a car who gives unwanted suggestions to the driver Usage Notes A person can be a back seat driver from any position in the car. Structure [someone] is a back seat driver Examples ! I hate driving with Andy because he's a backseat
driver. ! Stop being a backseat driver, dad. I know what I'm
doing!
8: ballpark figure Definition an approximate amount or price Usage Notes A ballpark figure is an approximation given about a price, weight, distance, etc. Structure [something] is a ballpark figure Examples ! Can you give me a ballpark figure about how long it
will take to repair my car? ! I asked the tour guide for a ballpark figure and he said
over 10,000 people a day visit this museum.
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9: bark up the wrong tree Definition to be mistaken; to have the wrong idea Usage Notes This idiom comes from hunting, and refers to the action of a dog that mistakenly believes it's prey is in a particular tree. In such a case, the dog is barking up the wrong tree. Structure [someone] barks up the wrong tree Examples ! Bob was barking up the wrong tree when he tried to
ask Amy for a date. She only dates rich guys. ! You'll be barking up the wrong tree if you ask the
boss for a raise. This company never gives raises.
10: basket case Definition to be very anxious or nervous about a certain situation Usage Notes A person who is a basket case is very nervous or anxious about something Structure [someone] is a basket case Examples ! I was a basket case when I heard she was in a car
accident. ! When Aaron found out he was getting fired, he was a
basket case.
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