Download docx - Idioms in English. Carlos Mirasierras

Idioms in English by Carlos Mirasierras

Idioms in English.

(Text reviewed, corrected & Augmented by Carlos Mirasierras)

It consists of three columns that contain, on the reading direction, the idiom, its meaning, and the example.

(Have a look at: Phrasal Verbs by Carlos Mirasierras, an Approach Towards Bilingualism)

Idiom Meaning Example

a babe in arms

a baby, or a child who is still wet behind the ears, and it means that he, or she is still quite young

David was just a babe in arms when we emigrated to US. He was still very young.

There was a young girl with a babe in arms waiting for a bus, but no bus came along .

a babe in the woods

a defenseless person; a naive and young person

He's just a babe in the woods, so he needs someone to protect him because he's an inexperienced person .

a bad taste a feeling that I left the meeting with a

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in my mouth something is false or unfair, a feeling of ill will

bad taste in my mouth. There was a lot of dishonesty in the room. So it left me a bad taste in my mouth

a bad time To cause a lot of teasing, to give a rough time

The classmates gave John a bad time because of his pink shorts. He was wearing a pair of shorts that are not, in any case, appropriate for a boy.

a ball-park figure

a number that is near the total; it's an approximate figure

Fifty is a ball-park figure, because it's close to the number of people in our class.

a bar fly a person who often goes to bars or lounges

Every evening Penny goes to John's pub to have some fun. So, she's quite a bar fly.

a bar star a girl who goes to bars to drink and find friends

Lola was known to be a bar star during her youth, but now she's a different person.

a bare-faced lie

a deliberate lie, a planned

His statement to the police was false. The

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lie cops could see that it was a bare-faced lie.

a barnburner

an exciting event; an impressive success

The group played their old songs and it was indeed a barnburner, and an event to be remembered for years.

a barrel of laughs

a lot of fun, a person who makes you laugh

Hey guys, let's invite Joe to our party. He's a barrel of laughs, and we'll have a whale of a time.

a basket case

a person who is very nervous, or in bad shape

If Gloria undergoes a nervous breakdown, she'll be a basket case to be treated by a doctor.

a bawling out

To give somebody a scolding, a lecture, an earful

Dad gave me a bawling out because I forgot to do my chores. He gave a bawling out, a scolding, a lecture, a telling-off, etc.

a bed of roses

an easy life, a pleasant place where to work or stay

Who said that retirement is a bed of roses? To be in Miami surrounded by beauties would be

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indeed a bed of roses.

a bee in one's bonnet

To be upset, a bit angry, to be on edge

Aunt Betsy was kind of cranky, as if she had a bee in her bonnet. (Kind of:

somewhat, rather)

a beehive of activity

This is a busy place, or a room full of working people

The kids are making crafts. It's indeed a beehive of activity in the class.

a big rig (in USA & Canada)

a big truck, a semi-trailer truck

Do you have a driver's license? Have you ever driven a big rig?

a big shot, to be a big shot

To be an important person, to be a boss, a big wheel

On payday he spends money like a big shot; he buys drinks for all and gives the barmen good tips.

a big wheel a person with power, a big shot

Barry has been acting like a big wheel since he got promoted.

a big wig an important person, a president etc., a VIP

Barry is a big wig in Gulf Oil, I think he's a vice president or something like that.

a bimbo A good Don't call John's

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looking foolish girl, an airhead

girlfriend a bimbo, she's not a piece of meat, she's very intelligent.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

It means that having one is better than seeing many

You must remember that when searching for a better job: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; you must not forget that my friend

a bit at sea To be a bit unsure, uncertain

He seems a bit at sea since his brother died because they were very close.

(a bit) dense

To be difficult to understand because of complexity.

This novel is, to my taste, a bit dense. Math is for all students a dense subject.

a bit off, or a little off

To be a little crazy, unbalanced

Kate talks to herself when she's alone. Do you think she's a bit off?

a bitch a complaining What a bitch! She

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woman, a woman who nags

complains to us and criticizes her classmates for our supporting the teacher .

a bite to eat a lunch, a snack

We can grab a bite to eat at the arena. They sell snacks there.

a bitter pill to swallow

a negative event, a loss, a painful experience

Divorce is a bitter pill to swallow for Marianne, because she believes in the marriage institution.

a black mark

a mark beside your name that indicates something bad about you.

If you cause an accident, you get a black mark beside your name. We were given a black mark for our behavior.

a blackout A cutoff of electrical power as a result of a shortage of electricity.

The blackout was caused by technical difficulties at the power station; the electricity supply was restored at around 4:30.

a blackout (this is in case of war)

a policy that requires lights to be turned off in the event of a

Blackouts prevented bombers from seeing their targets at night. State officials ordered

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bombardment. blackouts during WW II.

(To give s. o.) a blank look

To look back at s.o. with a neutral look on one's face

When I called her name, she gave me a blank look, as though she didn't know me.

(To have) a blast

To have a great time, have a lot of fun

The students were having a blast until the teacher walked in, and all the fun came to an end.

a blessing in disguise

A problem that becomes a benefit or advantage

The rainstorm was a blessing in disguise because it stopped the fire.

blow-by-blow account, (blow-by-blow description)

A detailed description of an event

The lawyer got the witness to give a blow-by-blow description of the argument.

a blowout To win by a large score, have an easy victory.

"Did the Flames win?" "Yea, it was a blowout, they won 11-2".

a blowout To have a flat tire, a tire that breaks

We were late because our van had a blowout on

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suddenly the freeway.

a bone to pick

something to argue about; a matter to discuss

Joe sounded angry when he said that he had a bone to pick with you.

a breath of fresh air

A welcome relief, a nice change, a new presence

Having Lisa around the house is a breath of fresh air, because she's so nice.

a breath of wind

a breeze, a light wind

In the evening, the lake was calm. There wasn't even a breath of wind.

a brick a dependable person, a friend who always helps

Paul helped me get through my divorce. He's a real brick!

(To be) a brick short of a full load

To be mentally slow; lack intellectual ability

He's a brick short of a full load if he thinks that he can buy my car at that price.

a budding genius

a child who appears to be very intelligent

The newspaper described Pam as "a budding genius" on the violin.

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a bull in a china shop

a big, reckless person in a room full of fragile things.

Imagine a 300-pound football player at a tea party, and you have a bull in a china shop.

a bum rap; To take the rap

unfair blame, unjust sentence, a false charge.__

Take the blame for doing

something.

It was a bum rap. Eddie didn't steal those paintings._____________

I won't take the rap for a crime I didn't commit.

a bummer an unfortunate event, a bad experience.

"Somebody broke a window in his car and stole his stereo." "That's a bummer."

a bun in the oven

Pregnant woman, expecting a baby

Mabel has a bun in the oven. The baby's due in April.

a bunch of malarkey

an untrue story, insincere or foolish talk, a lot of bunk

"Do you believe what the futurologist said about your future?" "No, to me It's a bunch of malarkey."

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(To be) a bundle of nerves

a very nervous person; uptight person

Mary has so many problems - she's just a bundle of nerves.

a card a witty amusing person who makes jokes

He is such a card, he's always making jokes of everything.

a case of an example of, it's a case of

Look at Bosnia. That's a case of ethnic civil war.

a caution a very amusing or surprising person

She's a caution, she told her friends that she was a victim of ugliness in the presence of handsome men.

a cheap drunk

a person who gets drunk on one or two drinks

Joan admits she's a cheap drunk. Her limit is two drinks.

a checkup a doctor's examination, a medical examination

If you are not feeling well, go to the doctor for a checkup.

a chicken in every pot

enough food for every family,

Delinquency would be a problem of the past if there'd be a chicken in

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prosperity for all

every pot.

a chin wag a light informal conversation, a chat.

The grandmothers were gathered around the table having a chin wag about their grandchildren.

a chip off the old block

a boy who is like his dad - like father, like son

Eric is a chip off the old block: He has his mother's looks and his father's personality.

a chunk of change

a large amount of money, a few grand, big bucks

I bet he paid a chunk of change for that car; at least 300 grand ($ 300,000).

a clean bill of health

a good report from the doctor

You'll never get a clean bill of health if you don't stop eating fat meat!

a cliff-hanger

an episode that ends in suspense

The match was indeed a cliffhanger.

a close call close to danger or an accident, a narrow

It can be described as a close call as the train nearly hit the bus when both were in the middle

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escape, close shave

of the crossing.

a close shave

very close to serious injury or death, close call

The old man described his fight with the bear as a close shave; he had a narrow escape

a clutch hitter (baseball)

a batter who hits when runners are on base

Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with runners on base.

a common thread

A similar idea or pattern to a series of events

All of these incidents are related. There is a common thread to all of them.

(To put) a contract out on s.o.

to order someone to kill someone else

There's a contract out on Mike. The boss doesn't like him.

a coon's age

A long time, many years

We haven't been out to the coast in a coon's age. It's (it has) been years.

a crash course

a short and intense course that has the

He took a crash course in cooking and bought a

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main facts and skills

cafe near the port.

a crush on sudden feeling of love or romance

Judy has a crush on Tim. See the way she looks at him.

a crying shame

a very unfortunate situation; a real shame

It's a crying shame that they didn't have fire insurance.

a cut above superior, better

Your shirt is beautiful, but mine is a cut above yours.

a cut-up someone who plays practical jokes on others

When Marsha takes a couple of drinks she becomes a real cut-up and spoils the fun.

a daredevil a daring person

What a daredevil! She jumped across a ten-foot chasm!

a dead giveaway

something that reveals a fact or an intention completely

The smile on her face was a dead giveaway that she got the job.

a dead heat a race that A photograph of the

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finishes in a tie for first place

finish line proved that the race ended in a dead heat.

a dead loss a complete loss; a write-off (a vehicle that is too damaged to repair)

My investment was a dead loss. This car is a dead loss after the accident; it's a complete write-off because it cannot be repaired.

a dead ringer

a person who is identical to another.

Chad is a dead ringer for Mel Gibson. They look like twins.

a hell of a time; a dickens of a time

a difficult task, a task with problems,

I had a hell of a time with the Social Security Administration. They had a dickens of a time with their new neighbors.

(To be) a different kettle of fish

(to be) different, be not the same

A cult is not a religion. A cult is a different kettle of fish, so they are completely different.

a dialogue of the deaf

a waste of time

The negotiations resulted in a dialogue of the deaf.

To be a dime a dozen

very cheap, low priced, dirt cheap; to be

He can still remember when eggs were cheap, when they were a dime a

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abundant, cheap and common

dozen.

People who can write good books are not a dime a dozen nowadays.

a dog's age a long time, a coon's age

Mel! I haven't seen you for a dog's age; it's been at least ten years!

a dog's breakfast (UK)

something that has been done very badly

This book is a dog's breakfast. It's very badly written and contains a lot of useless info.

(To lead) a dog's life

To lead a poor life.

She's certainly leading a dog's life.

a doggy baga bag or container for that food you don't eat at the restaurant or café

If we can't eat all the lobster, ask for a doggy bag and we'll take it home. We can have it for lunch tomorrow.

a double-edged sword

a device that can help you and hurt you

Truth is a double-edged sword. It can imprison me or set me free.

a downer (drug)

a drug that relaxes you; a

Before bedtime he took a downer to help him relax

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sedative and sleep.

a downer (sadness)

a depressing experience

News of the war was a downer. Most of the people dreaded war.

a drag a boring time Mary's party was a drag. We ended up talking about our jobs.

a dressing down

a scolding, a lecture

Mother gave me a dressing down when she learned that I'd been fired.

a drop in the bucket

an insignificant contribution toward solving a large problem

This donation is only a drop in the bucket, but it is appreciated anyway.

a duke's mixture

an odd combination of things, a strange mixture of items.

When Lynn opened the lid of the box she found a duke's mixture - everything from jewelry to birdseed!

a dust-up a fight, a skirmish; set-

The boys argued and had a little dust-up, but

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to no one got hurt.

a fair shake a fair deal, a just settlement

The insurance company gave us a fair shake - paid all our damages.

a falling out a disagreement, a break in friendship

Guy and Jean had a falling out. They argued about religion.

a false move

a wrong move, a threatening action

A man with a gun said, "If you make a false move, you're dead."

a far cry not similar, very different

This is a good sherry, but it's a far cry from the Port.

a faraway look

the eyes show thoughts of a distant place or friend

When I mention horses, you get a faraway look in your eyes.

a fart in a windstorm

(A fart is a discharge of intestinal gas)

an act that has no effect, an unimportant event

A letter to the editor of a paper is like a fart in a windstorm.

a fat lip a hit on the lip, an injured lip

Stop bothering her or I'll give you a fat lip. I'll hit you.

a feather in an honor, a Because you are Karen's 17

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your cap credit to you. An achievement you can be proud of

teacher, her award is a feather in your cap. - An order for 28 new aircraft is quite a feather in Boeing's cap.

a few bricks short of a full load

Lacking in intellectual ability

When Moe began eating bugs, we knew that he was a few bricks short.

a fifth wheel a useless object, an unnecessary device

The team already had two guards, so I felt like a fifth wheel.

a fighting chance

a fair chance, a good chance

If I can get a job interview, I'll have a fighting chance.

a fill-up a full tank of gasoline

We got a fill-up before we left Winnipeg. The truck needed gas.

a fine line a close relationship, not much difference

Sometimes there is a fine line between love and lust.

a fine-toothed comb

a careful search, a search for a

She read the file carefully, and went over it with a fine-

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detail toothed comb.

a firm hand a strong sense of management; a high degree of discipline and direction

I had to use a firm hand with Perry when he was a child. He had a problem with discipline.

a flash in the pan

someone or something that draws a lot of attention for a very brief time

I'm afraid that my success as a painter was just a flash in the pan. My career was only a flash in the pan

a fleeting glance

a very brief look, a quick glance

A fleeting glance from Jane would make his heart beat wildly.

a fly on the wall

someone who can secretly see and hear what happens

I would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.

a fool and his money are soon parted

people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly.

After he had spent his fortune, he remembered this saying: A fool and his money are soon parted.

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a foregone conclusion

a certain conclusion, a predictable result

That he'll graduate is a foregone conclusion because he's a good student.

a free-for-all a fight without rules

There was a free-for-all after the dance, and Bryan got hurt.

a free hand complete authority, freedom to do or decide as one sees fit.

The President gave Ms. Drake a free hand in choosing the means of transportation.

a freeze on a stoppage; a decision to stop spending, hiring etc.

Right now there's a freeze on hiring new personnel for the power station.

a fresh pair of eyes

a different reader, one who has not seen the writing

A fresh pair of eyes may find many errors in this report.

a fresh start starting again, a new life

In Canada, you will have a fresh start, and so begin a new life.

a full house (cards)

a pair plus three of a kind,

In our last game of poker, you dealt me a

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e.g., 2 kings and 3 aces

full house.

a full plate a busy schedule, a lot to do

Nancy has a full plate these days. She has many bills to pay.

a gaggle of geese

a flock of geese, a bunch of geese

A gaggle of geese met us as we drove into the farmyard.

a game one a willing player I can see that Jim's a game one. She plays hard and doesn't quit.

a ghost of a chance

a very small possibility.

That car doesn't have a ghost of a chance. It's too slow!

(To have) a glow on

(to be) slightly drunk, to be tipsy

Myrna had a glow on after having drunk two glasses of wine.

(To give sth) a go

make an attempt at something

I never sat on a horse before but I'll give it a go

a go-getter someone who has a lot of energy and confidence and

I remember him as a real go-getter despite all the setbacks he had to face.

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wants to succeed

a going concern,

going concern is a business that works very well, it's going great guns

The book-keepers affirm that the business is a going concern. So there's nothing to be worried about

a golden opportunity

a good chance to succeed, an excellent opportunity

I missed my golden opportunity to prepare myself for a good job.

a goner A person who is in need of help, or beyond help

he was a goner because he was too far away for the lifeguards to see him.

a good arm the ability to throw a baseball or a football

Doug is short, but he has a good arm. He's an excellent passer.

a good egg a good-natured person,

Everybody likes Marsha, she's a good egg.

(To have) a good head on one's shoulders

To be intelligent and sensible, have common sense

Mary doesn't do well in school, but she's got a good head on her shoulders

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a good sport a person who is fair and friendly

What a good sport! You never complain, even when you lose.

(with) a grain of salt, or with a pinch of salt

take it with a grain of salt (with a suspicion)

I took his story with a grain of salt, or with a pinch of salt

a grain of truth

a bit of truth There's not a grain of truth in what Brian says. It's all untrue.

a handful a child who is difficult to manage

Jason is a real handful for his mother because he's not easy to manage.

a handout free food or money, alms

I'm not asking for a handout. I'll pay you back when I find work.

a hard day a day full of hard work

You look tired, Dear. Did you have a hard day at the office?

a hard-on an erect penis, a hard penis

I saw he had a hard-on but tried to conceal it using a tablecloth.

a hard row to hoe

a difficult task or situation to

Teachers have a tough row to hoe in today's

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deal with, many problems

schools because of money problems

a hard time teasing or bugging, annoying

Ken will give you a hard time because you missed the chance of promotion.

a hassle a problem, a bother

The tax reform is a hassle this year. It's difficult to understand.

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