| Four-square
behind |
|
If
someone stands four-square behind someone, they give that person
their full support. |
| Fourth
estate |
|
This
is an idiomatic way of describing the media, especially the
newspapers. |
| Free
rein |
|
If
someone has a free rein, they have the authority to make the
decisions they want without any restrictions. ('Free reign' is a
common mistake.) |
| Free-for-all |
|
A
free-for-all is a fight or contest in which everyone gets
involved and rules are not respected. |
| French
leave |
|
To
take French leave is to leave a gathering without saying goodbye
or without permission. |
| Fresh
from the oven |
|
If
something is fresh from the oven, it is very new. |
| Freudian
Slip |
|
If
someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong
word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking
rather than what they think the other person wants to hear. |
| Friendly
footing |
|
When
relationships are on a friendly footing, they are going well. |
| Frog
in my throat |
|
If you
have a frog in your throat, you can't speak or you are losing
your voice because you have a problem with your throat. |
| From
a different angle |
|
If you
look at something from a different angle, you look at it from a
different point of view. |
| From
Missouri |
|
(USA)
If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof
before they will believe something. |
| From
pillar to post |
|
If
something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a
meaningless way, from one disaster to another. |
| From
rags to riches |
|
Someone
who starts life very poor and makes a fortune goes from rags to
riches. |
| From
scratch |
|
This
idiom means 'from the beginning'. |
| From
soup to nuts |
|
If you
do something from soup to nuts, you do it from the beginning
right to the very end. |
| From
the bottom of your heart |
|
If
someone does something from the bottom of their heart, then they
do it with genuine emotion and feeling. |
| From
the get-go |
|
(USA)
If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very
beginning. |
| From
the horse's mouth |
|
If you
hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from
the person concerned or responsible. |
| From
the sublime to the ridiculous |
|
If
something declines considerably in quality or importance, it is
said to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. |
| From
the word go |
|
From
the word go means from the very beginning of something. |
| Full
as a tick |
|
If you
are as full as a tick, you have eaten too much. |
| Full
bore |
|
If
something is full bore, it involves the maximum effort or is
complete and thorough. |
| Full
circle |
|
When
something has come full circle, it has ended up where it
started. |
| Full
Monty |
|
(UK)
If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not
reduced in any way. |
| Full
of beans |
|
If
someone's full of beans, they are very energetic. |
| Full
of hot air |
|
Someone
who is full of hot air talks a lot of rubbish. |
| Full
of oneself |
|
Someone
who acts in a arrogant or egotistical manner is full of
himself/herself. |
| Full
of piss and vinegar |
|
Someone
who's full of piss and vinegar is full of youthful energy. |
| Full
of the joys of spring |
|
If you
are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of
energy. |
| Full
swing |
|
If a
something is in full swing, it is going or doing well. |
| Full
throttle |
|
If you
do something full throttle, you do it with as much speed and
energy as you can. |
| Fullness
of time |
|
If
something happens in the fullness of time, it will happen when
the time is right and appropriate. |
| Fur
coat and no knickers |
|
Someone
with airs and graces, but no real class is fur coat and no
knickers. |
| Fuzzy
thinking |
|
Thinking
or ideas that do not agree with the facts or information
available |
|
| Game
on |
|
When
someone says 'Game on!', it means that they are accepting a
challenge or ready to get something done. |
| Game
plan |
|
A game
plan is a strategy. |
| Garbage
fee |
|
A
garbage fee is a charge that has no value and doesn't provide
any real service. |
| Garbage
in, garbage out |
|
If a
computer system or database is built badly, then the results
will be bad. |
| Gardening
leave |
|
(UK)
If someone is paid for a period when they are not working,
either after they have given in their notice or when they are
being investigated, they are on gardening leave. |
| Gather
pace |
|
If
events gather pace, they move faster. |
| Gather
steam |
|
If
something gathers speed, it moves or progresses at an increasing
speed. |
| Get
a grip |
|
If you
get a grip, you control your emotions so that they don't
overwhelm you. |
| Get
a handle on |
|
When
you get a handle on something, you come to understand it. |
| Get
a sheepskin |
|
Getting
a sheepskin (or your sheepskin) means getting a degree or
diploma. (Sheepskin
refers to the parchment that a degree is printed on-
parchment comes from sheepskin.) |
| Get
along famously |
|
If
people get along famously, they have an exceedingly good
relationship. |
| Get
away scot-free |
|
If
someone gets away scot-free, they are not punished when they
have done something wrong. ('Get off scot-free' is an
alternative.) |
| Get
away with murder |
|
If you
get away with murder, you do something bad and don't get caught
or punished.('Get away with blue murder' is also used.) |
| Get
back on the horse that bucked you |
|
When
you start drinking again after being hangover from drinking the
previous night. |
| Get
in on the act |
|
If
people want to get in on the act, they want to participate in
something that is currently profitable or popular. |
| Get
in on the ground floor |
|
If you
get in on the ground floor, you enter a project or venture at
the start before people know how successful it might be. |
| Get
it in the neck |
|
(UK)
If you get it in the neck, you are punished or criticized for
something. |
| Get
it off your chest |
|
If you
get something off your chest, you confess to something that has
been troubling you. |
| Get
my drift |
|
If you
get someone's drift, you understand what they are trying to say.
('Catch their drift' is an alternative form.) |
| Get
off the ground |
|
If a
project or plan gets off the ground, it starts to be put into
operation. |
| Get
on like a house on fire |
|
If
people get on like a house on fire, they have a very close and
good relationship. |
| Get
on your nerves |
|
If
something gets on your nerves, it annoys or irritates you. |
| Get
on your soapbox |
|
If
someone on their soapbox, they hold forth (talk a lot) about a
subject they feel strongly about. |
| Get
out of bed on the wrong side |
|
If you
get out of bed on the wrong side, you wake up and start the day
in a bad mood for no real reason. |
| Get
out of your pram |
|
(UK)
If someone gets out of their pram, they respond aggressively to
an argument or problem that doesn't involve them. |
| Get
the axe |
|
If you
get the axe, you lose your job.
('Get the ax' is the American spelling.) |
| Get
the ball rolling |
|
If you
get the ball rolling, you start something so that it can start
making progress. |
| Get
the green light |
|
If you
get the green light to do something, you are given the necessary
permission, authorization. |
| Get
the monkey off your back |
|
If you
get the monkey off your back, you pass on a problem to someone
else. |
| Get
the nod |
|
(UK)
If you get the nod to something, you get approval or permission
to do it. |
| Get
the picture |
|
If you
get the picture, you understand a situation fully. |
| Get
the show on the road |
|
If you
get the show on the road, you put a plan into operation or begin
something. |
| Get
to grips |
|
If you
get to grips with something, you take control and do it
properly. |
| Get
up and go |
|
If
someone has lots of get up and go, they have lots of enthusiasm
and energy. |
| Get
wind of |
|
If you
get wind of something, you hear or learn about it, especially if
it was meant to be secret. |
| Get
your ducks in a row |
|
If you
get your ducks in a row, you organize yourself and your life. |
| Get
your feathers in a bunch |
|
If you
get your feathers in a bunch, you get upset or angry about
something. |
| Get
your feet wet |
|
If you
get your feet wet, you gain your first experience of something. |
| Get
your goat |
|
If
something gets your goat, it annoys you. |
| Get
your hands dirty |
|
If you
get your hands dirty, you become involved in something where the
realities might compromise your principles. It can also mean
that a person is not just stuck in an ivory tower dictating
strategy, but is prepared to put in the effort and hard work to
make the details actually happen. |
| Get
your head around something |
|
If you
get your head around something, you come to understand it even
though it is difficult to comprehend. |
| Get
your teeth into |
|
If you
get your teeth into something, you become involved in or do
something that is intellectually challenging or satisfying.
('Dig you teeth into' and 'sink your teeth into' are also
used.) |
| Get
your wires crossed |
|
If
people get their wires cross, they misunderstand each other,
especially when making arrangements.
('Get your lines crossed' is also used.) |
| Ghost
of a chance |
|
If
something or someone hasn't got a ghost of a chance, they have
no hope whatsoever of succeeding. |
| Ghostly
presence |
|
You
can feel or otherwise sense a ghostly presence, but you cannot
do it clearly only vaguely. |
| Gift
of the gab |
|
If
someone has the gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and
interesting way. |
| Gild
the lily |
|
If you
gild the lily, you decorate something that is already ornate. |
| Gilded
cage |
|
If
someone is in a gilded cage, they are trapped and have
restricted or no freedom, but have very comfortable
surroundings- many famous people live in luxury but cannot walk
out of their house alone. |
| Girl
Friday |
|
A girl
Friday is a female employee who assists someone without any
specific duties. |
| Give
a big hand |
|
Applaud
by clapping hands. 'Let's give all the contestants a big hand.' |
| Give
a dog a bad name |
|
A
person who is generally known to have been guilty of some
offence will always be suspected to be the author of all similar
types of offence. Once someone has gained a bad reputation, it
is very difficult to lose it. |
| Give
and take |
|
Where
there is give and take, people make concessions in order to get
things they want in negotiations. |
| Give
as good as you get |
|
If you
give as good as you get, you are prepared to treat people as
badly as they treat you and to fight for what you believe. |
| Give
away the store |
|
(USA)
If someone gives away the store, they say or do something that
makes their position in negotiations, debates, etc, much weaker. |
| Give
it some stick |
|
(UK)
If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into
it. |
| Give
me a hand |
|
If
someone gives you a hand, they help you. |
| Give
me five |
|
If
someone says this, they want to hit your open hand against
theirs as a way of congratulation or greeting. |
| Give
someone a leg up |
|
If you
give someone a leg up, you help them to achieve something that
they couldn't have done alone. |
| Give
someone a piece of your mind |
|
If you
give someone a piece of your mind, you criticize them strongly
and angrily. |
| Give
someone a run for their money |
|
If you
can give someone a run for the money, you are as good, or nearly
as good, as they are at something. |
| Give
someone enough rope |
|
If you
give someone enough rope, you give them the chance to get
themselves into trouble or expose themselves. (The full form is
'give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves) |
| Give
someone stick |
|
(UK)
If someone gives you stick, they criticize you or punish you. |
| Give
someone the runaround |
|
If
someone gives you the runaround, they make excuses and give you
false explanations to avoid doing something. |
| Give
the nod |
|
(UK)
If you give the nod to something, you approve it or give
permission to do it. |
| Give
up the ghost |
|
People
give up the ghost when they die.
Machines stop working when they give up the ghost. |
| Give
your eye teeth |
|
If you
really want something and would be prepared to sacrifice a lot
to get it, you would give your eye teeth for it. |
| Given
the day that's in it |
|
(Irish)
This idiom is used when something is obvious because of the day
that it occurs: traffic, for example would be busy around a
football stadium on game day, given the day that's in it. On any
other day the traffic would be unexplainable, but because its
game day its obvious why there is traffic. |
| Glass
ceiling |
|
The
glass ceiling is the discrimination that prevents women and
minorities from getting promoted to the highest levels of
companies and organizations. |
| Glory
hound |
|
A
glory hound is a person seeking popularity, fame and glory. |
| Gloves
are off |
|
When
the gloves are off, people start to argue or fight in a more
serious way. ('The gloves come off' and 'take the gloves off'
are also used. It comes from boxing, where fighters normally
wear gloves so that they don't do too much damage to each
other.) |
| Glutton
for punishment |
|
If a
person is described as a glutton for punishment, the happily
accept jobs and tasks that most people would try to get out of.
A glutton is a person who eats a lot. |
| Gnaw
your vitals |
|
If
something gnaws your vitals, it troubles you greatly and affects
you at a very deep level. ('Gnaw at your vitals' is also used.) |
| Go
against the grain |
|
A
person who does things in an unconventional manner, especially
if their methods are not generally approved of, is said to go
against the grain. Such an individual can be called a maverick. |
| Go
awry |
|
If
things go awry, they go wrong. |
| Go
bananas |
|
If you
go bananas, you are wild with excitement, anxiety, or worry. |
| Go
blue |
|
If you
go blue, you are very cold indeed. ('Turn blue' is an
alternative form.) |
| Go
bust |
|
If a
company goes bust, it goes bankrupt. |
| Go
by the board |
|
When
something has gone by the board, it no longer exists or an
opportunity has been lost. |
| Go
by the boards |
|
If
something goes by the boards, it fails to get approved or
accepted. |
| Go
down like a cup of cold sick |
|
(UK)
An idea or excuse that will not be well accepted will go down
like a cup of cold sick. |
| Go
down like a lead balloon |
|
(UK)
If something goes down like a lead balloon, it fails or is
extremely badly received. |
| Go
down swinging |
|
If you
want to go down swinging, you know you will probably fail, but
you refuse to give up. |
| Go
down without a fight |
|
If
someone goes down without a fight, they surrender without
putting up any resistance. |
| Go
Dutch |
|
If you
go Dutch in a restaurant, you pay equal shares for the meal. |
| Go
fly a kite |
|
(USA)
This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone. |
| Go
for broke |
|
If
someone goes for broke, they risk everything they have for a
potentially greater gain. |
| Go
for the jugular |
|
If you
go for the jugular, you attack someone where they are most
vulnerable. |
| Go
fry an egg |
|
(USA)
This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone. |
| Go
hand in hand |
|
If
things go hand in hand, they are associated and go together. |
| Go
nuts |
|
If
someone goes nuts, they get excited over something. |
| Go
off on a tangent |
|
If
someone goes off on a tangent, they change the subject
completely in the middle of a conversation or talk. |
| Go
over like a lead balloon |
|
(USA)
If something goes over like a lead balloon, it will not work
well, or go over well. |
| Go
overboard |
|
If you
go overboard, you do something excessively. |
| Go
pear-shaped |
|
If
things have gone wrong, they have gone pear-shaped. |
| Go
play in traffic |
|
This
is used as a way of telling someone to go away. |
| Go
round in circles |
|
If
people are going round in circles, they keep discussing the same
thing without reaching any agreement or coming to a conclusion. |
| Go
south |
|
If
things go south, they get worse or go wrong. |
| Go
spare |
|
(UK)
If you go spare, you lose your temper completely. |
| Go
tell it to birds |
|
This
is used when someone says something that is not credible or is a
lie. |
| Go
the distance |
|
If you
go the distance, you continue until something ends, no matter
how difficult. |
| Go
the extra mile |
|
If
someone is prepared to go the extra mile, they will do
everything they can to help or to make something succeed, going
beyond their duty what could be expected of them . |
| Go
the whole hog |
|
If you
go the whole hog, you do something completely or to its limits. |
| Go
through the motions |
|
When
you go through the motions, you do something like an everyday
routine and without any feelings whatsoever. |
| Go
to seed |
|
If
someone has gone to seed, they have declined in quality or
appearance. |
| Go
to the wire |
|
If
someone goes to the wire, they risk their life, job, reputation,
etc, to help someone. |
| Go
to your head |
|
If
something goes to your head, it makes you feel vain.
If alcohol goes to your head, it makes you feel drunk
quickly. |
| Go
under the hammer |
|
If
something goes under the hammer, it is sold in an auction. |
| Go
west |
|
If
something goes west, it goes wrong. If someone goes west, they
die. |
| Go
with the flow |
|
If you
go with the flow, you accept things as they happen and do what
everyone else wants to do. |
| Go-to
guy |
|
A
go-to guy is a person whose knowledge of something is
considerable so everyone wants to go to him or her for
information or results. |
| Going
concern |
|
A
successful and active business is a going concern. |
| Going
Jesse |
|
(USA)
If something is a going Jesse, it's a viable, successful project
or enterprise. |
| Going
overboard |
|
If you
go overboard with something, then you take something too far, or
do too much. |
| Golden
handshake |
|
A
golden handshake is a payment made to someone to get them to
leave their job. |
| Golden
rule |
|
The
golden rule is the most essential or fundamental rule associated
with something. Originally, it was not a general reference to an
all purpose first rule applicable to many groups or protocols,
but referred to a verse in the Bible about treating people they
way you would want them to treat you, which was considered the
First Rule of behavior towards all by all. |
| Golden
touch |
|
Someone
with a golden touch can make money from or be successful at
anything they do. |
| Gone
fishing |
|
If
someone has gone fishing, they are not very aware of what is
happening around them. |
| Gone
for a burton |
|
(UK)
If something's gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined.
If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious
trouble or have died. |
| Gone
pear-shaped |
|
(UK)
If things have gone pear-shaped they have either gone wrong or
produced an unexpected and unwanted result. |
| Gone
to pot |
|
If
something has gone to pot, it has gone wrong and doesn't work
any more. |
| Gone
to the dogs |
|
If
something has gone to the dogs, it has gone badly wrong and lost
all the good things it had. |
| Good
antennae |
|
Someone
with good antennae is good at detecting things. |
| Good
as gold |
|
If
children are as good as gold, they behave very well. |
| Good
egg |
|
A
person who can be relied on is a good egg. Bad egg is the
opposite. |
| Good
fences make good neighbors |
|
This
means that it is better for people to mind their own business
and to respect the privacy of others.
('Good fences make good neighbors' is the American
English spelling.) |
| Good
hand |
|
If you
are a good hand at something, you do it well. |
| Good
Samaritan |
|
A good
Samaritan is a person who helps others in need. |
| Good
shape |
|
If
something's in good shape, it's in good condition. If a person's
in good shape, they are fit and healthy. |
| Good
spell |
|
A
spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time;
you'll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports
commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a
good spell when they're performing consistently better than they
normally do. |
| Good
time |
|
If you
make good time on a journey, you manage to travel faster than
you expected. |
| Good
to go |
|
Someone
or something that meets one's approval. 'He is good to go.' 'The
idea you had is good to go.' |
| Good
walls make good neighbors |
|
Your
relationship with your neighbors depends, among other things,
on respecting one another's privacy. |
| Goody
two-shoes |
|
A
goody two-shoes is a self-righteous person who makes a great
deal of their virtue. |
| Grab
the bulls by its horns |
|
If you
grab (take) the bull by its horns, you deal head-on and directly
with a problem. |
| Grain
of salt |
|
If you
should take something with a grain of salt, you shouldn't
necessarily believe it all. ('pinch of salt' is an alternative) |
| Grasp
the nettle |
|
(UK)
If you grasp the nettle, you deal bravely with a problem. |
| Grass
may be greener on the other side but it's just as hard to mow |
|
'The
grass may be greener on the other side but it's just as hard to
mow' is an expression used to mean a person's desire to have
that which another person has in the belief it will make their
life easier is false as all situations come with their own set of
problems. |
| Grass
roots |
|
This
idioms is often used in politics, where it refers to the
ordinary people or voters. It can be used to mean people at the
bottom of a hierarchy. |
| Grass
widow |
|
A
grass widow is a woman whose husband is often away on work,
leaving her on her own. |
| Graveyard
shift |
|
If you
have to work very late at night, it is the graveyard shift. |
| Gravy
train |
|
If
someone is on the gravy train, they have found and easy way to
make lots of money. |
| Grease
monkey |
|
A
grease monkey is an idiomatic term for a mechanic. |
| Grease
someone's palm |
|
If you
grease someone's palm, you bribe them to do something. |
| Grease
the skids |
|
If you
grease the skids, you facilitate something. |
| Greased
lightning |
|
If
something or someone moves like greased lightning, they move
very fast indeed. |
| Great
guns |
|
If
something or someone is going great guns, they are doing very
well. |
| Great
Scott |
|
An
exclamation of surprise. |
| Great
unwashed |
|
This
is a term used for the working class masses. |
| Great
white hope |
|
Someone
who is expected to be a great success is a great white hope. |
| Greek
to me |
|
If you
don't understand something, it's all Greek to you. |
| Green
around the gills |
|
If
someone looks green around the gills, they look ill. |
| Green
fingers |
|
(UK)
Someone with green fingers has a talent for gardening. |
| Green
light |
|
If you
are given the green light, you are given approval to do
something. |
| Green
thumb |
|
(USA)
Someone with a talent for gardening has a green thumb. |
| Green
with envy |
|
If you
are green with envy, you are very jealous. |
| Green-eyed
monster |
|
The
green-eyed monster is an allegorical phrase for somebody's
strong jealousy |
| Greenhorn |
|
A
greenhorn or someone who is described simply as green lacks the
relevant experience and knowledge for their job or task |
| Grey
area |
|
A
grey/gray area is one where there is no clear right or wrong. |
| Grey
Cardinal |
|
Someone
who is a Grey Cardinal exerts power behind the scenes, without
drawing attention to himself or herself. |
| Grey
cells |
|
'Grey
cells' means 'brain' Eg: Use your grey cells to understand it |
| Grey
matter |
|
Grey/gray
matter is the human brain. |
| Grey
pound |
|
(UK)
In the UK, the grey pound is an idiom for the economic power of
elderly people. |
| Grey
suits |
|
The
men in grey suits are people who have a lot of power in business
or politics, but aren't well-known or charismatic. |
| Grin
and bear it |
|
If you
have to grin and bear it, you have to accept something that you
don't like. |
| Grin
like a Cheshire cat |
|
If
someone has a very wide smile, they have a grin like a Cheshire
cat. |
| Grinds
my gear |
|
Something
that is very annoying grinds your gear. |
| Grist
for the mill |
|
Something
that you can use to your advantage is grist for the mill.
('Grist to the mill' is also used.) |
| Guinea-pig |
|
If you
are a guinea-pig, you take part in an experiment of some sort
and are used in the testing. |
| Gunboat
diplomacy |
|
If a
nation conducts its diplomatic relations by threatening military
action to get what it wants, it is using gunboat diplomacy. |
| Gung
ho |
|
If
someone is gung ho about something, they support it blindly and
don't think about the consequences. |
|
| Hail-fellow-well-met |
|
Someone
whose behavior is hearty, friendly and congenial. |
| Hair
of the dog |
|
If
someone has a hair of the dog, they have an alcoholic drink as a
way of getting rid of a hangover, the unpleasant effects of
having drunk too much alcohol the night before. It is commonly
used as a way of excusing having a drink early on in the day. |
| Hairy
at the heel |
|
(UK)
Someone who is hairy at the heel is dangerous or untrustworthy. |
| Hale
and hearty |
|
Someone
who is hale and hearty is in very good health. |
| Half
a loaf is better than no bread |
|
It
means that getting part of what you want is better than getting
nothing at all. |
| Half
a mind |
|
If you
have half a mind to do something, you haven't decided to do it,
but are thinking seriously about doing it. |
| Half-baked |
|
A
half-baked idea or scheme hasn't not been thought through or
planned very well. |
| Hammer
and tongs |
|
If
people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing
fiercely. The idiom can also be used hen people are doing
something energetically. |
| Hand
in glove |
|
If
people are hand in glove, they have an extremely close
relationship. |
| Hand
in hand |
|
Hand
in hand= work together closely When people in a group, say in an
office or in a project, work together with mutual understanding
to achieve the target, we say they work hand in hand. There is
no lack of co-operation and each synchronizes the activity with
that of the other. |
| Hand
that rocks the cradle |
|
Women
have a great power and influence because they have the greatest
influence over the development of children- the hand that rocks
the cradle. ('The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world' is
the full form.) |
| Hand
to mouth |
|
Someone
who's living from hand to mouth, is very poor and needs the
little money they have coming in to cover their expenses. |
| Hands
down |
|
If
someone is better hands down than everyone else, they are much
better. |
| Handwriting
like chicken scratch |
|
If
your handwriting is very hard to read, it is like chicken
scratch. |
| Hang
by a thread |
|
If
something hangs by a thread, there is a very small chance indeed
of it being successful or surviving. |
| Hang
in the balance |
|
If an
outcome is hanging in the balance, there are at least two
possibilities and it is impossible to predict which will win
out. |
| Hang
out to dry |
|
If you
hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in
trouble. |
| Hangdog
expression |
|
A
hangdog expression is one where the person's showing their
emotions very clearly, maybe a little too clearly for your
liking. It's that mixture of misery and self-pity that is
similar to a dog when it's trying to get something it wants but dare not
take without permission. |
| Hanged
for a sheep as a lamb |
|
This
is an expression meaning that if you are going to get into
trouble for doing something, then you ought to stop worrying and
should try to get everything you can before you get caught. |
| Happy
medium |
|
If you
reach a happy medium, you are making a compromise; reaching a
conclusion or decision. |
| Happy-go-lucky |
|
If
someone is happy-go-lucky, they don't worry or plan and accept
things as they happen. |
| Hard
as nails |
|
A
person who is as hard as nails is either physically tough or has
little or no respect for other people's feelings. |
| Hard
by |
|
"Hard
by" means mean "close to" or "near". |
| Hard
cheese |
|
(UK)
Hard cheese means hard luck. |
| Hard
of hearing |
|
Someone
who's hard of hearing is a bit deaf. |
| Hard
on someone's heels |
|
If you
are hard on someone's heels, you are close to them and trying to
catch or overtake them. ('Hot
on someone's heels' is also used.) |
| Hard
sell |
|
If
someone puts a lot of pressure on you to do or buy something,
they are hard selling it. |
| Hard
to come by |
|
If
something is hard to come by, it is difficult to find. |
| Hard
up |
|
If you
are hard up, you have very little money. |
| Haste
makes waste |
|
This
idiom means that if you try to do something quickly, without
planning it, you're likely to end up spending more time, money,
etc, doing it. |
| Hat
trick |
|
Three
successes one after the other is a hat trick. |
| Hatchet
job |
|
A
piece of criticism that destroys someone's reputation is a
hatchet job. |
| Have
a ball |
|
If you
have a ball, you have a great time, a lot of fun. |
| Have
a bash |
|
If you
have a bash at something, you try to do it, especially when
there isn't much chance of success. |
| Have
a blast |
|
It
means "to have a lot of fun". |
| Have
a crack |
|
If you
have a crack at something, you try to do it. If someone is
attempting to do something and they are unsuccessful, you might
say, "Let me have a crack at it" suggesting that you
might be successful at performing the task. ('Take a crack' is
also used.) |
| Have
a foot in both camps |
|
Someone
who plays a part or who is involved in two different groups of
people, opinions, ways of thinking or living, etc, has a foot in
both camps. |
| Have
a go |
|
If you
have a go, you try to do something, often when you don't think
you have much chance of succeeding. |
| Have
a heart |
|
If
someone has a heart, they are kind and sympathetic.
If you say, 'Have a heart' to someone, you are asking
them to be understanding and sympathetic. |
| Have
a ripper |
|
If you
have a ripper of a time, you enjoy yourself. |
| Have
a trick up your sleeve |
|
If you
have a trick up your sleeve, you have a secret strategy to use
when the time is right. |
| Have
no truck with |
|
If you
have no truck with something or someone, you refuse to get
involved with it or them. |
| Have
the floor |
|
If
someone has the floor, it is their turn to speak at a meeting. |
| Have
the guts |
|
Someone
who has enough courage to do something has the guts to do it. |
| Have
your cake and eat it too |
|
If
someone wants to have their cake and eat it too, they want
everything their way, especially when their wishes are
contradictory. |
| Have
your collar felt |
|
If
someone has their collar felt, they are arrested. |
| Have
your fill |
|
If you
have had your fill, you are fed up of somebody or something. |
| Have
your lunch handed to you |
|
If you
have you lunch handed to you, you are outperformed and shown up
by someone better. |
| Have
your moments |
|
Someone
who has his or her moments exhibits a positive behavior pattern
on an occasional basis but not generally. |
| Have
your tail up |
|
If
someone has their tail up, they are optimistic and expect to be
successful. |
| Have
your work cut out |
|
If you
have your work cut out, you are very busy indeed. |
| Having
a gas |
|
If
you're having a gas, you are having a laugh and enjoying
yourself in company. |
| Hay
is for horses |
|
This
idiom is used as a way of telling children not to say the word
'hey' as in hey you or hey there. |
| He
that travels far knows much |
|
People
who travel widely have a wide knowledge. |
| He
who hesitates is lost |
|
If one
waits too long, the opportunity vanishes. |
| Head
for the hills |
|
If
people head for the hills, they run away from trouble. |
| Head
is in the clouds |
|
If a
person has their head in the clouds, they have unrealistic,
impractical ideas. |
| Head
is mince |
|
(Scot)
When someone's thoughts are in a state of abject confusion,
especially when facing a severe dilemma, their head is mince. |
| Head
nor tail |
|
If you
can't make head nor tail of something, you cannot understand it
at all or make any sense of it. |
| Head
on a spike |
|
If
someone wants a head on a spike, they want to be able to destroy
or really punish a person. |
| Head
on the block |
|
If
someone's head is on the block, they are going to be held
responsible and suffer the consequences for something that has
gone wrong. |
| Head
over heels in love |
|
When
someone falls passionately in love and is intoxicated by the
feeling has fallen head over heels in love. |
| Head
south |
|
If
something head south, it begins to fail or start going bad.'The
project proceeded well for the first two months, but then it
headed south.' |
| Heads
will roll |
|
If
heads will roll, people will be punished or sacked for something
that has gone wrong. |
| Headstrong |
|
A
headstrong person is obstinate and does not take other people's
advice readily. |
| Healthy
as a horse |
|
If
you're as healthy as a horse, you're very healthy. |
| Heap
coals on someone's head |
|
To do
something nice or kind to someone who has been nasty to you. If
someone felt bad because they forgot to get you a Christmas
gift, for you to buy them a specially nice gift is heaping coals
on their head. ('Heap coals of fire' is also used.) |
| Hear
a pin drop |
|
If
there is complete silence in a room, you can hear a pin drop. |
| Hear
on the grapevine |
|
To
receive information indirectly through a series of third
parties, similar to a rumor. |
| Heart
in the right place |
|
If
someone's heart is in the right place, they are good and kind,
though they might not always appear to be so. |
| Heart
in your boots |
|
If
you're heart is in your boots, you are very unhappy. |
| Heart
in your mouth |
|
If
your heart is in your mouth, then you feel nervous or scared. |
| Heart
isn't in it |
|
If
your heart is not in something, then you don't really believe in
it or support it. |
| Heart
misses a beat |
|
If
your heart misses a beat, you are suddenly shocked or surprised.
('Heart skips a beat' is an alternative) |
| Heart
of glass |
|
When
someone has a heart of glass, they are easily affected
emotionally. |
| Heart
of gold |
|
Someone
with a heart of gold is a genuinely kind and caring person. |
| Heart
of steel |
|
When
someone has a heart of steel, they do not show emotion or are
not affected emotionally. |
| Heart-to-heart |
|
A
heart-to-heart is a frank and honest conversation with someone,
where you talk honestly and plainly about issues, no matter how
painful. |
| Heaven
knows |
|
If you
ask someone a question and they say this, they have no idea. |
| Heavenly
bodies |
|
The
heavenly bodies are the stars. |
| Heavy-handed |
|
If
someone is heavy-handed, they are insensitive and use excessive
force or authority when dealing with a problem. |
| Hedge
your bets |
|
If you
hedge your bets, you don't risk everything on one opportunity,
but try more than one thing. |
| Hell
for leather |
|
If you
do something hell for leather, especially running, you do it as
fast as you can. |
| Hell
in a handcart |
|
If
something is going to hell in a handcart, it is getting worse
and worse, with no hope of stopping the decline. |
| Herding
cats |
|
If you
have to try to co-ordinate a very difficult situation, where
people want to do very different things, you are herding cats. |
| Here
today, gone tomorrow |
|
Money,
happiness and other desirable things are often here today, gone
tomorrow, which means that they don't last for very long. |
| Hide
nor hair |
|
When
there's no trace of something or a person, you haven't seen hide
nor hair of it or them.('Neither hide nor hair' is also used.) |
| Hiding
to nothing |
|
If
people are on a hiding to nothing, their schemes and plans have
no chance of succeeding. 'Hiding to nowhere' is an alternative. |
| High
and dry |
|
If you
are left high and dry, you are left alone and given no help at
all when you need it. |
| High
and low |
|
If you
search high and low, you look everywhere for something or
someone. |
| High
and mighty |
|
The
high and mighty are the people with authority and power. If a
person is high and mighty, they behave in a superior and
condescending way. |
| High
as a kite |
|
If
someone's as high as a kite, it means they have had too much to
drink or are under the influence of drugs. |
| High
on the hog |
|
To
live in great comfort with lots of money. |
| High-handed |
|
If
someone is high-handed, they behave arrogantly and pompously. |
| High-wire
act |
|
A
high-wire act is a dangerous or risky strategy, plan, task, etc. |
| Highway
robbery |
|
Something
that is ridiculously expensive, especially when you have no
choice but to pay, is a highway robbery. |
| Himalayan
blunder |
|
A
Himalayan blunder is a very serious mistake or error. |
| Hindsight
is twenty-twenty |
|
After
something has gone wrong, it is easy to look back and make
criticisms. |
| Hit
a nerve |
|
If
something hits a nerve, it upsets someone or causes them pain,
often when it is something they are trying to hide. |
| Hit
and miss |
|
Something
that is hit and miss is unpredictable and may produce results or
may fail. |
| Hit
me with your best shot |
|
If
someone tells you to hit them with your best shot, they are
telling you that no matter what you do it won't hurt them or
make a difference to them. |
| Hit
rock bottom |
|
When
someone hits rock bottom, they reach a point in life where
things could not get any worse. |
| Hit
rough weather |
|
If you
hit rough weather, you experience difficulties or problems. |
| Hit
the airwaves |
|
If
someone hits the airwaves, they go on radio and TV to promote
something or to tell their side of a story. |
| Hit
the books |
|
If you
hit the books, you study or read hard. |
| Hit
the bull's-eye |
|
If
someone hits the bull's-eye, they are exactly right about
something or achieve the best result possible.
"Bulls-eye" and "bulls eye" are alternative
spellings. |
| Hit
the ceiling |
|
If
someone hits the ceiling, they lose their temper and become very
angry. |
| Hit
the Dirt |
|
To
duck out of the way or fall to the ground to avoid something
dangerous. |
| Hit
the fan |
|
When
it hits the fan, or, more rudely, the shit hits the fan, serious
trouble starts. |
| Hit
the ground running |
|
If
someone hits the ground running, they start a new job or
position in a very dynamic manner. |
| Hit
the hay |
|
When
you hit the hay, you go to bed. |
| Hit
the mark |
|
If
someone hits the mark, they are right about something. |
| Hit
the nail on the head |
|
If
someone hits the nail on the head, they are exactly right about
something. |
| Hit
the road |
|
When
people hit the road, they leave a place to go somewhere else. |
| Hit
the roof |
|
If you
lose your temper and get very angry, you hit the roof. |
| Hit
the sack |
|
When
you hit the sack, you go to bed. |
| Hive
of worker bees |
|
A hive
of worker bees is a group of people working actively and
cooperatively. Example: The classroom was a hive of worker bees. |
| Hobson's
choice |
|
A
Hobson's choice is something that appears to be a free choice,
but is really no choice as there is no genuine alternative. |
| Hoist
with your own petard |
|
If you
are hoist with your own petard, you get into trouble or caught
in a trap that you had set for someone else. |
| Hold
all the aces |
|
If you
hold all the aces, you have all the advantages and your
opponents or rivals are in a weak position. |
| Hold
the baby |
|
(UK)
If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the
baby. |
| Hold
the bag |
|
(USA)
If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the
bag. |
| Hold
the fort |
|
If you
hold the fort, you look after something or assume someone's
responsibilities while they are away. |
| Hold
the torch |
|
If you
hold the torch for someone, you have an unrequited or unspoken
love. |
| Hold
water |
|
When
you say that something does or does not 'hold water', it means
that the point of view or argument put forward is or is not
sound, strong or logical. For e.g., 'Saying we should increase
our interest rates because everyone else is doing so will not
hold water'. |
| Hold
your horses |
|
If
someone tells you to hold your horses, you are doing something
too fast and they would like you to slow down. |
| Hold
your own |
|
If you
can hold your own, you can compete or perform equally with other
people. |
| Hold
your tongue |
|
If you
hold your tongue, you keep silent even though you want to speak. |
| Holier-than-thou |
|
Someone
who is holier-than-thou believes that they are morally superior
to other people. |
| Hollow
leg |
|
Someone
who has a hollow leg eats what seems to be more than his stomach
can hold. |
| Hollow
victory |
|
A
hollow victory is where someone wins something in name, but are
seen not to have gained anything by winning. |
| Holy
smoke! |
|
This
is a way of expressing surprise: "Holy smoke! Look at all
of those geese!" |
| Home
and hearth |
|
'Home
and hearth' is an idiom evoking warmth and security. |
| Home
is where you lay your hat |
|
Wherever
you are comfortable and at ease with yourself is your home,
regardless where you were born or brought up.('Home is where you
lay your head' and
'Home is where you hang your hat' are also used.) |
| Home
stretch |
|
The
home stretch is the last part of something, like a journey, race
or project. |
| Home
sweet home |
|
This
is said when one is pleased to be back at one's own home. |
| Home,
James |
|
(UK)
This is a clichéd way of telling the driver of a vehicle to
start driving. It is supposed to be an order to a chauffeur (a
privately employed driver).
The full phrase is 'Home, James, and don't spare the
horses'. |
| Honest
truth |
|
If
someone claims that something is the honest truth, they wish to
sound extra-sincere about something. |
| Honor
among thieves |
|
If
someone says there is honor among thieves, this means that even
corrupt or bad people sometimes have a sense of honor or
integrity, or justice, even if it is skewed.
('Honor among thieves' is the British English version.) |
| Honors
are even |
|
If honors
are even, then a competition has ended with neither side
emerging as a winner. |
| Hook,
line, and sinker |
|
If
somebody accepts or believes something hook, line, and sinker,
they accept it completely. |
| Hop,
skip, and a jump |
|
If a
place is a hop, skip, and a jump from somewhere, it's only a
short distance away. |
| Hope
against hope |
|
If you
hope against hope, you hope for something even though there is
little or no chance of your wish being fulfilled. |
| Hope
in hell |
|
If
something hasn't got a hope in hell, it stands absolutely no
chance of succeeding. |
| Hornets'
nest |
|
A
hornets' nest is a violent situation or one with a lot of
dispute. (If you create the problem, you 'stir up a hornets'
nest'.) |
| Horns
of a dilemma |
|
If you
are on the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with two equally
unpleasant options and have to choose one. |
| Horse
of a different color |
|
(USA)
If something is a horse of a different color, it's a different
matter or separate issue altogether. |
| Horse
trading |
|
Horse
trading is an idiom used to describe negotiations, especially
where these are difficult and involve a lot of compromise. |
| Horses
for courses |
|
Horses
for courses means that what is suitable for one person or
situation might be unsuitable for another. |
| Hostile
takeover |
|
If a
company is bought out when it does not want to be, it is known
as a hostile takeover. |
| Hot
air |
|
Language
that is full of words but means little or nothing is hot air. |
| Hot
as blue blazes |
|
If
something's as hot as blue blazes, it's extremely hot. |
| Hot
as Hades |
|
If
something's as hot as Hades, it's extremely hot. |
| Hot
button |
|
(USA)
A hot button is a topic or issue that people feel very strongly
about. |
| Hot
foot |
|
If you
hot foot it out of a place, you leave very quickly, often
running. |
| Hot
potato |
|
A
problem or issue that is very controversial and no one wants to
deal with is a hot potato. |
| Hot
ticket |
|
(USA)
A hot ticket is something that is very much in demand at the
moment. |
| Hot
to trot |
|
If
someone is hot to trot, they are sexually aroused or eager to do
something. |
| Hot
under the collar |
|
If
you're hot under the collar, you're feeling angry or bothered. |
| Hot
water |
|
If you
get into hot water, you get into trouble. |
| Hot-blooded |
|
Someone
who is hot-blooded is easily excitable or passionate. |
| Hot-headed |
|
A
hot-headed person gets angry very easily. (The noun 'hothead'
can also be used.) |
| Hour
of need |
|
A time
when someone really needs something, almost a last chance, is
their hour of need. |
| House
of cards |
|
Something
that is poorly thought out and can easily collapse or fail is a
house of cards. |
| How
come |
|
If you
want to show disbelief or surprise about an action, you can ask
a question using 'how come'. How come he got the job? (You can't
believe that they gave the job to somebody like him) |
| How
do you like them apples |
|
(USA)
This idiomatic expression is used to express surprise or shock
at something that has happened. It can also be used to boast
about something you have done. |
| How
long is a piece of string |
|
If
someone has no idea of the answer to a question, they can ask
'How long is a piece of string?' as a way of indicating their
ignorance. |
| How's
tricks? |
|
This
is used as a way of asking people how they are and how things
have been going in their life. |
| Hue
and cry |
|
Hue
and cry is an expression that used to mean all the people who
joined in chasing a criminal or villain. Nowadays, if you do
something without hue and cry, you do it discreetly and without
drawing attention. |
| Hung
the moon |
|
If you
refer to someone as having hung the moon, you think they are
extremely wonderful, or amazing, or good. |
| Hungry
as a bear |
|
If you
are hungry as a bear, it means that you are really hungry. |
| Hunky
Dory |
|
If
something is hunky dory, it is perfectly satisfactory, fine. |
|
| I
hereby give notice of my intention |
|
Hereby
is used sometimes in formal, official declarations and
statements to give greater force to the speaker' or the writer's
affirmation. People will say it sometimes to emphasize their
sincerity and correctness. |
| I
may be daft, but I'm not stupid |
|
I
might do or say silly things occasionally, but in this instance
I know what I am doing (Usually used when someone questions your
application of common-sense). |
| I
should cocoa |
|
(UK)
This idiom comes from 'I should think so', but is normally used
sarcastically to mean the opposite. |
| I'll
cross that road when I come to it |
|
I'll
think about something just when it happens, not in advance. |
| I'll
eat my hat |
|
You
can say this when you are absolutely sure that you are right to
let the other person know that there is no chance of your being
wrong. |
| I've
got a bone to pick with you |
|
If
somebody says this, they mean that they have some complaint to
make against the person they are addressing. |
| I've
got your number |
|
You
have made a mistake and I am going to call you on it. You are in
trouble (a threat). I have a disagreement with you. I understand
your true nature. |
| Icing
on the cake |
|
This
expression is used to refer to something good that happens on
top of an already good thing or situation. |
| Idle
hands are the devil's handiwork |
|
When
someone is not busy, or being productive, trouble is bound to
follow. |
| If
at first you don't succeed try try again |
|
When
you fail, try until you get it right! |
| If
I had a nickel for every time |
|
(USA)
When someone uses this expression, they mean that the specific
thing happens a lot. It is an abbreviation of the statement 'If
I had a nickel for every time that happened, I would be rich' |
| If
it ain't broke, don't fix it |
|
Any
attempt to improve on a system that already works is pointless
and may even hurt it. |
| If
Mohammed won't come to the mountain, the mountain must come to
Mohammed |
|
If
something cannot or will not happen the easy way, then sometimes
it must be done the hard way. |
| If
the cap fits, wear it |
|
This
idiom means that if the description is correct, then it is
describing the truth, often when someone is being criticized.
('If the shoe fits, wear it' is an alternative) |
| If
wishes were horses, beggars would ride |
|
This
means that wishing for something or wanting it is not the same
as getting or having it. |
| If
you are given lemons make lemonade |
|
Always
try and make the best out of a bad situation. With some
ingenuity you can make a bad situation useful. |
| If
you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen |
|
Originally
a Harry S. Truman quote, this means that if you can't take the
pressure, then you should remove yourself from the situation. |
| If
you fly with the crows, you get shot with the crows |
|
If you
wish to be associated with a particular high risk and/or high
profile situation and benefit from the rewards of that
association, you have to accept the consequences if things go
wrong - you cannot dissociate yourself. |
| If
you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas |
|
This
means that if you become involved with bad company, there will
be negative consequences. |
| If
you lie down with the Devil, you will wake up in hell |
|
This
means that if you become involved with bad company, there will
be negative consequences. |
| If
you will |
|
'If
you will' is used as a way of making a concession in a sentence:
He wasn't a very honest person, a liar if you will. Here, it is
used a way of accepting that the reader or listener might think
of the person as a liar, but without commit the writer or
speaker to that position fully. |
| If
you'll pardon my French |
|
(UK)
This idiom is used as a way of apologizing for swearing. |
| Ill
at ease |
|
If
someone is ill at ease, they are worried or uncomfortable. |
| Ill-gotten
gains |
|
Ill-gotten
gains are profits or benefits that are made either illegally or
unfairly. |
| In
a cleft stick |
|
If you
are in a cleft stick, you are in a difficult situation, caught
between choices. |
| In
a fix |
|
If you
are in a fix, you are in trouble. |
| In
a flash |
|
If
something happens in a flash, it happens very quickly indeed. |
| In
a fog |
|
If
you're in a fog, you are confused, dazed or unaware. |
| In
a heartbeat |
|
If
something happens very quickly or immediately, it happens in a
heartbeat. |
| In
a jam |
|
If you
are in a jam, you are in some trouble.
If you get out of a jam, you avoid trouble. |
| In
a jiffy |
|
If
something happens in a jiffy, it happens very quickly. |
| In
a nutshell |
|
This
idiom is used to introduce a concise summary. |
| In
a pickle |
|
If you
are in a pickle, you are in some trouble or a mess. |
| In
a rut |
|
In a
settled or established pattern, habit or course of action,
especially a boring one. |
| In
a tick |
|
(UK)
If someone will do something in a tick, they'll do it very soon
or very quickly. |
| In
a tight spot |
|
If
you're in a tight spot, you're in a difficult situation. |
| In
all honesty |
|
If you
say something in all honesty, you are telling the complete
truth. It can be used as a way of introducing a negative opinion
whilst trying to be polite; in all honesty, I have to say that I
wasn't very impressed. |
| In
an instant |
|
If
something happens in an instant, it happens very rapidly. |
| In
another's shoes |
|
It is
difficult to know what another person's life is really like, so
we don't know what it is like to be in someone's shoes. |
| In
apple-pie order |
|
If
something is in apple-pie order, it is very neat and organized. |
| In
broad daylight |
|
If a
crime or problem happens in broad daylight, it happens during
the day and should have been seen and stopped. |
| In
cahoots |
|
If
people are in cahoots, they are conspiring together. |
| In
cold blood |
|
If
something is done in cold blood, it is done ruthlessly, without
any emotion. |
| In
dire straits |
|
If
you're in dire straits, you're in serious trouble or
difficulties. |
| In
donkey's years |
|
'I
haven't seen her in donkey's years.' - This means for a very
long time. |
| In
dribs and drabs |
|
If
people arrive in dribs and drabs, they come in small groups at
irregular intervals, instead of all arriving at the same time. |
| In
droves |
|
When
things happen in droves, a lot happen at the same time or very
quickly. |
| In
for a penny, in for a pound |
|
If
something is worth doing then it is a case of in for a penny, in
for a pound, which means that when gambling or taking a chance,
you might as well go the whole way and take all the risks, not
just some. |
| In
full swing |
|
If
things are in full swing, they have been going for a sufficient
period of time to be going well and very actively. |
| In
high gear |
|
(USA)
If something is in high gear, it is in a quick-paced mode. If
someone is in high gear, they are feverishly on the fast track. |
| In
high spirits |
|
If
someone is in high spirits, they are in a very good mood or
feeling confident about something. |
| In
his cups |
|
If
someone is in their cups, they are drunk. |
| In
hot water |
|
If you
are in hot water, you are in serious trouble. |
| In
light of |
|
'In
light of' is similar to 'due to'. |
| In
like Flynn |
|
Refers
to Errol Flynn's popularity with women in the 40's. His ability
to attract women was well known throughout the world.
('In like flint' is also used.) |
| In
my bad books |
|
If you
are in someone's bad books, they are angry with you. Likewise,
if you are in their good books, they are pleased with you. |
| In
my book |
|
This
idiom means 'in my opinion'. |
| In
my good books |
|
If
someone is in your good books, you are pleased with or think
highly of them at the moment. |
| In
one ear and out the other |
|
If
something goes in one ear and out the other, you forget it as
soon as you've heard it because it was too complicated, boring
etc. |
| In
over your head |
|
If
someone is in over their head, they are out of the depth in
something they are involved in, and may end up in a mess. |
| In
perfect form |
|
When
something is as it ought to be. Or, when used cynically, it may
refer to someone whose excesses are on display; a caricature. |
| In
rude health |
|
(UK)
If someone's in rude health, they are very healthy and look it. |
| In
so many words |
|
This
phrase may be used to mean 'approximately' or 'more or less'. I
think it may have a sarcastic connotation in that the individual
listening needed 'so many words' to get the point. It also may
suggest the effort on the part of the speaker to explain an
unpleasant truth or difficult concept. |
| In
someone's pocket |
|
If a
person is in someone's pocket, they are dependent, especially
financially, on them. |
| In
spades |
|
(UK)
If you have something in spades, you have a lot of it. |
| In
stitches |
|
If
someone is in stitches, they are laughing uncontrollably. |
| In
tandem |
|
If
people do things in tandem, they do them at the same time. |
| In
that vein |
|
If you
do something in that (or this) vein, you do it in the same
distinctive manner or style. |
| In
the bag |
|
If
something is in the bag, it is certain that you will get it or
achieve it |
| In
the ballpark |
|
This
means that something is close to the adequate or required value. |
| In
the black |
|
If
your bank account is in credit, it is in the black. |
| In
the cards |
|
If
something is in the cards, it is bound to occur, it is going to
happen, or it is inevitable. |
| In
the catbird seat |
|
(USA)
If someone is in the catbird seat, they are in an advantageous
or superior position. |
| In
the clear |
|
If
someone is in the clear, they are no longer suspected of or
charged with wrongdoing. |
| In
the clink |
|
(UK)
If someone is in the clink, they are in prison. |
| In
the club |
|
(UK)
If a woman's in the club, she's pregnant. 'In the pudding club'
is an alternative form. |
| In
the dock |
|
If
someone is in the dock, they are on trial in court. |
| In
the doghouse |
|
If
someone is in the doghouse, they are in disgrace and very
unpopular at the moment. |
| In
the driver's seat |
|
If you
are in the driver's seat, you are in charge of something or in
control of a situation. |
| In
the face of |
|
If
people act in the face of something, they do it despite it or
when threatened by it. |
| In
the family way |
|
If a
woman is in the family way, she is pregnant. |
| In
the flesh |
|
If you
meet or see someone in the flesh you actually meet or see them,
rather than seeing them on TV or in other media. |
| In
the gravy |
|
If
you're in the gravy, you're rich and make money easily. |
| In
the hole |
|
If
someone is in the hole, they have a lot of problems, especially
financial ones. |
| In
the hot seat |
|
If
someone's in the hot seat, they are the target for a lot of
unwelcome criticism and examination. |
| In
the know |
|
If you
are in the know, you have access to all the information about
something, which other people don't have. |
| In
the lap of luxury |
|
People
in the lap of luxury are very wealthy and have everything
that money can buy. |
| In
the long run |
|
This
means 'over a long period of time', 'in the end' or 'in the
final result'. |
| In
the loop |
|
If
you're in the loop, you are fully informed about what is
happening in a certain area or activity. |
| In
the lurch |
|
If you
are left in the lurch, you are suddenly left in an embarrassing
or tricky situation. |
| In
the making |
|
When
something is in the making, it means it is in the process of
being made. |
| In
the offing |
|
If
something is in the offing, it is very likely to happen soon. |
| In
the pink |
|
If you
are in very good health, you are in the pink. |
| In
the pipeline |
|
If
something's in the pipeline, it hasn't arrived yet but its
arrival is expected. |
| In
the red |
|
If
your bank account is overdrawn, it is in the red. |
| In
the saddle |
|
If
you're in the saddle, you are in control of a situation. |
| In
the same boat |
|
If
people are in the same boat, they are in the same predicament or
trouble. |
| In
the short run |
|
This
refers to the immediate future. |
| In
the soup |
|
If
you're in the soup, you're in trouble. |
| In
the swim |
|
If you
are in the swim, you are up-to-date with and fully informed
about something. |
| In
the swing |
|
If
things are in the swing, they are progressing well. |
| In
the tall cotton |
|
A
phrase that expresses good times or times of plenty and wealth
as tall cotton means a good crop. |
| In
the twinkling of an eye |
|
If
something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very
quickly. |
| In
the zone |
|
If you
are in the zone, you are very focused on what you have to do. |
| In
turn |
|
This
means one after the other. Example: She spoke to each of the
guests in turn. |
| In
two minds |
|
If you
are in two minds about something, you can't decide what to do. |
| In
your blood |
|
A
trait or liking that is deeply ingrained in someone's
personality and unlikely to change is in their blood.
A similar idiom is 'in his DNA.' |
| In
your element |
|
If you
are in your element, you feel happy and relaxed because you are
doing something that you like doing and are good at. "You
should have seen her when they asked her to sing; she was in her
element." |
| In
your face |
|
If
someone is in your face, they are direct and confrontational.
(It is sometime written 'in you' face'colloquially) |
| In
your sights |
|
If you
have someone or something in your sights, they are your target
to beat. |
| Indian
file |
|
If
people walk in Indian file, they walk in a line one behind the
other. |
| Indian
giver |
|
An
Indian giver gives something, then tries to take it back. |
| Indian
summer |
|
If
there is a period of warmer weather in late autumn, it is an
Indian summer. |
| Ins
and outs |
|
If you
know the ins and outs of something, you know all the details. |
| Into
each life some rain must fall |
|
This
means that bad or unfortunate things will happen to everyone at
some time. |
| Into
thin air |
|
If
something vanishes or disappears without trace, it vanishes into
thin air; no-one knows where it has gone. |
| Iron
fist |
|
Someone
who rules or controls something with an iron fist is in absolute
control and tolerates no dissent. An iron fist in a velvet glove
is used to describe someone who appears soft on the outside, but
underneath is very hard. 'Mailed fist' is an alternative form. |
| Irons
in the fire |
|
A
person who has a few irons in the fire has a number of things
working to their advantage at the same time. |
| Is
Saul also among the prophets? |
|
It's a
biblical idiom used when somebody known for something bad
appears all of a sudden to be doing something very good. |
| It
ain't over till the fat lady sings |
|
This
idiom means that until something has officially finished, the
result is uncertain. |
| It
cost an arm and a leg |
|
If
something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive indeed. |
| It
cost the earth |
|
If
something costs the earth, it is very expensive indeed. |
| It
never rains but it pours |
|
'It
never rains but it pours' means that when things go wrong, they
go very wrong. |
