American Idioms

American Idioms

A.

About time:

Nearly time, high time.

All-out:

Complete. Very strong.

him.

Awesome!:

Great or very good. “The movie that we watched yesterday was awesome!”

All set:

Ready (to go).

(From) all walks of life:

(From) all social, economic, and ethnic groups. ex.

for him, but he still lost the presidential election.

At all hours (of the night):

Very late at night, throughout the night. ex.

the night.

At each other's throats:

Fighting or arguing heavily. ex.

stopped.

B.

(To get on the) bandwagon:

To begin to like something/start doing something because it's popular,

else is doing it.

(A) basket- case:

A very nervous person, someone at the verge of being neurotic. ex.

the divorce turned John into a basket case.

(To) be a fan of someone/ something:

To like, idolize, admire someone/ or something. ex.

music.

(To) be in one's element:

To be completely comfortable doing something; To do something that comes very

naturally to someone. ex.

element.

(To) be up to no good:

To be planning something bad, mischievous, etc. ex.

eyes that he was up to no good.

(To) beat around the bush:

To avoid getting to the point. ex.

really think.

(To) beg to differ:

A polite way of saying

Believe it or not:

Used at the beginning sentence to state that something is true whether one chooses to

believe it or not. ex.

(To have a) big mouth:

To not be able to keep a secret. ex.

(A) bite to eat:

A snack, some food. ex.

(To) bite one's tongue:

To struggle not to say something that you want to say. ex.

but I had to bite my tongue because I had promised Bill I would not (tell her).

(A) Blast:

A great time. A fun time.

(To) break someone's heart:

To cause someone (strong) emotional pain. ex.

refused to marry him.

(To) break the news to someone/ to break

To tell someone some important news, usually bad news. ex.

break it to you, but your wife has been cheating on you.

(To) burst into tears:

To start crying suddenly.

C.

To) call it a day:

To end work and go home. ex.

(To) clear the table:

To remove all dishes, cutlery, etc. from a table after a meal.

(A) close call:

Something that is close to danger or an accident.

hit the motorbike.

Coast-to-coast:

From the Atlantic to the Pacific coast in the United States. ex.

to-coast trip in 70 hours

(To) come out of the closet:

To reveal that one is gay.

Come to think of it:

I just remembered. ex.

borrow.

(To) come up short:

To not quite achieve one's goal. ex.

but they came up short.

(To) crash:

To sleep. To go to bed.

(To) cramp someone's style:

To limit someone in some way. To limit someone from expressing themselves fully.

D.

(

To) die of boredom:

To be very bored.

Dirt cheap:

Very cheap (inexpensive).

nice.

Don't hold your breath:

Don't wait for it to happen because it probably won't.

with Tina? Don't hold your breath!

Don't let it get you down:

Don't let it upset you. Don't allow it to make you feel bad.

(To) do the dishes:

To wash the dishes.

(A) downer:

An event that causes one to be sad.

(A) drag:

Boring; a disappointment.

drag!

(To) drive someone crazy:

To make someone very agitated, upset, or emotional (either in a good or bad way).

teacher is so awful! He drives me crazy with his attitude.

(To) drop it:

To stop talking about something.

(To) drop the ball:

To make a mistake. (WARNING: This idiom is overused in the business world). ex.

it was John's fault? Yes, John really dropped the ball on this one.

(A) dream come true:

A great thing. A dream or wish that has become reality. ex.

dream come true.

E.

Earful:

a strong verbal scolding. ex.

home at 4 AM.

Easy-going:

Tolerant. Laid-back. Relaxed.

Elbow room:

Enough space (room) to feel comfortable.

Enough is enough:

That is enough and there should be no more.

(To) enter one's mind:

To cross one's mind. To start thinking about something.

doctor? The thought never even entered my mind.

Every so often:

Once in while. Occasionally.

Every other:

Every second. Alternate. ex.

F.

(To) fall flat (on one's face):

To fail. To be unsuccessful. ex.

(To) feel like a new person:

To feel refreshed, rejuvenated.

(To) fall into place:

To become organized. To fit together. ex.

life began to fall into place.

(To) feel out of place:

To feel like you don't belong. ex.

strange people there and I felt a little out of place, so we left.

First and foremost:

First and most importantly.

(To) fix someone (some food - like cocoa, oatmeal, etc.):

To prepare (some food) for someone.

Flat broke:

Very poor. Having absolutely no money.

(To) follow one's heart:

To act according to your feelings/ emotions. ex.

followed my heart.

(A) full plate:

A busy schedule. ex.

plate right now.

Fun and games:

Playing around. Time spent doing worthless things. ex.

over. It's time to get down to work.

G.

(To) get a move on:

To go or do something quickly, to get going, etc. ex.

PM show we should get a move on.

(To) get carried away:

To exaggerate/ go too far/ to become emotional. ex.

shirts!

(To) get caught up:

To become involved, especially emotionally. ex.

couldn't think straight.

(To) get down to business:

To start working seriously. ex.

(To) get that all the time:

To hear something constantly. ex.

all the time.

(To) get one's foot in the door

To get started in a process. To attain a favorable position which will help one work

toward a goal. ex.

(To) get one's fill of something:

To have enough of something. To have a lot of something. ex.

trouble lately.

(To) get on someone's nerves:

To annoy someone. To bother or irritate someone.

(To) get something off one's chest:

To say something that has been on your mind. To say something that has been bothering

you.

chest.

(To) get something straight:

To clarify something. To understand something clearly.

(To) give someone a call:

To call someone (on the telephone).

(To) give someone the benefit of the doubt:

To believe in someone despite information that makes them seem guilty of something. ex.

(To) give someone a piece of one's mind:

To bawl someone out. To let someone know how one really feels.

my parking spot, I really gave him a piece of my mind.

(A) go- getter:

an aggressive employee, a hard worker.

initiative.

(To) go overboard:

To do too much. To exaggerate.

preparations.

(To) go to someone's head:

To make someone overly conceited or proud. ex.

his head.

(To) a golden opportunity:

A good chance to succeed, a good investment. ex.

restaurant. I missed a golden opportunity.

H.

Hands down:

Easily. By far. ex.

Hang on:

Be prepared for fast and/or rough movement.

(To) hate someone's guts:

To hate someone very much.

(To) have a big mouth:

To be a gossiper. To be a person who can't keep a secret. ex.

has a big mouth.

(To) have a lot going for (someone):

To have a lot of good things in one's life. To have many things working to one's benefit.

ex.

(To) have mixed feelings (about something):

To be unsure or uncertain about something.

(To) have one's hands full:

To be busy, occupied with some kind of activity, work, etc. ex.

with my three children.

(To) have one's heart set on something:

To really want something to happen. To expect something to happen. ex.

heart set on going to London this summer.

(A) hit:

A popular song or film. ex.

Titanic

was a hit (movie).

(To) hit the spot:

To satisfy a need exactly. To be exactly right (often said about food or drinks). ex.

was a delicious meal - It hit the spot.

(To) hit bottom:

To reach the lowest point.

(To) hit the road:

To leave, start on a trip, etc. ex.

Hold on!

Wait.

(To be) homesick

To miss one's home, country, city, etc.

go back to Italy.

How on earth...? How in the world...?

When asking a question,

that something incredible or very hard to believe happened.

that job? (it was very hard to get)

to fix)

I.

If worst comes to worst:

If things get really bad. ex.

In broad daylight:

Publicly visible in the daytime. ex.

broad daylight.

In good shape/ condition:

Physically and functionally sound and sturdy.

ex.

In mint condition:

In perfect condition (not used for people).

In no mood to do something:

To not feel like doing something. To not want to do something. ex.

cook dinner tonight.

In season:

Currently available for selling (often said of fresh fruit and vegetables). ex.

are very cheap now because they're in season.

In stock:

Available for purchase, as in goods in a store. ex.

in stock? No, I'm sorry we don't.

In the same boat:

In the same situation (usually negative).

In and out:

Coming in and going out often. ex.

J.

Jam-packed:

Very crowded. ex.

(To) jump the gun:

To get something started too soon. To start too soon. ex.

before we launch this product. We don't want to jump the gun.

(To) jump at:

To quickly accept. ex.

Just about:

Almost. ex.

Just now:

Just a minute ago.

K.

(To) keep an eye on:

To watch. To pay attention to. ex.

on the baby for 10 minutes?

(To) keep a straight face:

To force oneself not to laugh, even though one wants to. ex.

things, and I was finding it hard to keep a straight face.

(To) keep one's cool:

To remain calm.

(To) keep one's word:

To uphold one's promise. ex.

(To) keep someone posted:

To keep someone informed.

(To) keep something to oneself:

To not let others know about something. To not reveal something. ex.

anyone about your time in prison. Keep it to yourself.

(To) keep track of:

To maintain a record of. ex.

track of my expenses.

(To) kick back:

To relax.

(To) kick oneself:

To regret.

(To) kill time:

To waste time.

Knock it off!:

Stop it!

Knock on wood:

A phrase said to cancel out (imaginary) bad luck.

(To) know something inside- out:

To know something completely and thoroughly. ex.

this neighborhood inside-out.

Know-it-all:

A person who acts like they know everything. ex.

real know-it-all.

L.

(A) lady-killer:

A handsome man; a man who charms women. This does NOT mean

Last but not least:

Last in order but not last in importance. ex.

parents.

(To) lay low:

SEE

(To) leave someone high and dry:

To leave someone helpless. ex.

(To) leave someone in peace/ alone:

To stop bothering someone. ex.

(To) let off steam:

To release energy or anger. ex.

he's just letting off a little steam.

(To) let someone off the hook:

To release someone from responsibility. ex.

dishes, but her mom didn't let her off the hook.