Idioms
76 flashcards · English · by Hanne Leysen
To be in the pipeline
something planned that will be done in the future
to be on a roll
to have a long series of successes
to chow down
to eat food
down time
time to relax free time
to drone on
to continue to speak about something even though everyone is bored
to get egg on your face to end up with egg on your face to have egg on your face to be left with egg on your face
to be humiliated to be emberassed
to hype something up
to make something seem better than it is
to know the score
to understand the situation
the lion's share
the majority of something
a mental midget
someone who's not very intelligent someone who's stupid
to pass the buck
to try to give the responsibility to someone else
to put the kibosh on something
to stop something from happening
to play with a full deck
to have full mental capabilities
to run amok
to go crazy to be out of control
to talk someone's ear off
to talk for a very long time to someone
a tongue loosener
a drink to make/help someone speak about things
to work one's butt off
to work very hard
when push comes to shove
when things get a little pressed when the situation gets more active or intense
a "dear Jane/dear John" letter
a letter or email written to a spouse or partner to inform them that it's over
a tomboy a butch woman
a girl who acts like a guy
agony aunt agony uncle
an advice columnist
as happy as Larry
extremely delighted
Black Maria
the vehicle that transports prisoners
Bloody Mary
a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice and usually other spices or flavourings such as Worcestershire sauce, Peri-Peri sauce,...
Bob's your uncle
Used to say how quick and easy it is to do a particular task
Debbie Downer
A wet blanket A party pooper A spoilsport A killjoy
Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Anyone Anybody
John or Jane doe
an unknown or unidentified person
John Bull
the personification of the UK in general and England in particular
Jolly Roger
The pirate symbol
Moaning Minnie (NOT Myrtle)
a crybaby
Negative Nancy
Someone who commonly looks at the bad side of things
Peeping Tom
A person who likes spying on others
Plain Jane
an ugly duckling
The john
the toilet
To keep up with the Joneses
To make it a point to achieve your neighbour's lifestyle
To rob Peter to pay Paul
to give a temporary solution to give a stopgap solution
Uncle Tom
Derogatory term for black person who shows a servile attitude
a fighting chance
a fair chance a good chance
as dry as a bone
very dry
as fresh as a daisy
very fresh
as old as the hills
very old
as poor as a church mouse
very poor
as proud as a peacock
very proud
as pure as gold
very pure morally good
as quiet as a lamb
very quiet
as sweet as honey
very sweet
as white as a ghost
very white
bollocks
untruth lies nonsense
to dig your own grave
to cause your own failure
to fight fire with fire
to fight using the same methods as your opponent
to fight tooth and nail
to fight very hard
half the battle
half of the job done
to lay down one's arms
to stop fighting
an old wives' tale
something people believed in the past
to be on th ewarpath
to be very angry about something
to stick to your guns
to refuse to change your idease, in spite of pressure
thank goodness thank the heavens
an expression used to express relief
thanks a million
thank you very much thanks a lot
to be appreciative
to be thankful
to be grateful
to be thankful
to be hell-bent on
to be extremely determined to do something, without considering the risks or possible dangerous results
to be up in arms
to be angry about something to be protesting strongly
to be wrapped up in something
to be intensely absorbed in something
to catch red-handed
to catch in the act of doing something wrong
to come to terms with
to gradually accept a sad situation
to count your blessings
to be very thankful for what you have
to feel stuffed to be stuffed
to feel very full from eating a lot
to go cold turkey to quit something cold turkey
to quit a habit all at once, not gradually
to have second thoughts
to start doubting something
to keep mum
to keep something a secret
to talk turkey
to discuss a deal very seriously
to tear limb from limb
to rip to bits completely
to welcome somebody with open arms
to make somebody feel very welcome
with a heavy heart
sadly with regrets
you can thank your lucky stars
you were very lucky