idioms dictionary + marisol & randall
DESCRIPTION
There is an Idioms Dictionary.TRANSCRIPT
Universidad Nacional
Chorotega’s Head Office
Campus Liberia
American Idioms
Professor
Msc. Karol Cubero
Students:
Marisol Milanés Matamoros 270454
Randall Alvarado Navarro 260300-5
I Semester, 2008
A
A bad apple: A (morally) bad person who makes a
whole group bad, a bad apple is someone who has a bad
effect on a whole group or system.
Example: The corruption in the government started with a
bad apple, a high official two years ago. Now the whole
system is corrupt.
All Thumbs: clumsy and awkward.
Example: I guess I am all thumbs because I’m so
nervous.
A Basket Case: To get mad.
Example: Fernando is a basket case.
As Busy as a Bee: very busy.
Example: I’ve been as busy as a bee all
morning.
A Heart of Gold: Someone who is very
important and special.
Example: My mother has a big heart of gold.
A Little Bird Told Me: said when someone has told
you a secret, but you don’t want to say who.
Example: A little bird told me that Sue got married.
A Lone Wolf: someone who does not mix socially
with other people.
Example: Andrew doesn’t like the parties; he is a
really lone wolf.
A Piece of Cake: Very easy.
GOLD
Example: This homework is a piece of cake.
A Screw Loose: To get mad.
Example: Johanna has got a screw loose with the
English group.
B
Back-seat Driver: Someone who tell you what are
you doing wrong and like to tell you how you must
drive.
Example: I hate having Lisa in my car. She always
tells me what I’m doing wrong; oh my God! She is a
real back – seat driver.
Backfire: to produce an unexpected / undesired /
opposite result. If your plan or action backfires, you
get the opposite result to the one you wanted.
Example: The new stricter school policy may backfire
and do more harm to the students than good.
Be Barking up the Wrong Tree: To
misunderstand a situation and complain to a wrong
person or blame a wrong thing.
Example: Don't blame me. I have nothing to do with it.
You are barking up the wrong tree.
Be broke: Without money. If you are broke, you
don't have money.
Example: "Do you want to go to the movies tonight?" "I
can't go. I'm broke. Tomorrow is payday."
Be off Someone’s Rocker: To be mad.
Example: Bryan is always off his rocker.
Be on the Right / Wrong Track: Thinking or
acting rightly or wrongly.
Example: I think the government is on the wrong
track.
Break Someone’s Heart: To make someone very
sad (often someone who loves you)
Example: it breaks my heart to see the refuses
on the news
C
Can of Worms: Something is very complicated and
unfair and it could raise huge problems.
Example: To discuss about the some professor’s
attitudes is a real can of worms.
Cast pearls before swine: Offer or show
something valuable, good, or beautiful to someone
who does not understand its value.
Example: -Don't bother explaining Shakespeare to
Bob. It would be like casting pearls before swine.
Cat Got Someone’s Tongue? Can’t talk.
Example: What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?
Chicken (Be): Coward.
Example: "Why won't you dive in? Are you chicken?
Child’s Play: Very easy.
Example: The grammar test was a child’s play.
Cold feet (have / get): Suddenly become (be)
very nervous about doing something that you were
going to do.
Example: It's normal for young people to have cold
feet before their wedding.
Cold turkey (Quit): Quit a bad habit such as
smoking or drinking alcohol suddenly, without any
gradual adjustment.
Example: Tom was a heavy drinker for more than 15
years; then he quit drinking cold turkey. He's never
drunk again since then.
Curiosity killed the cat: If you are too interested in
things you should not be interested in, you could be
in danger. You may be causing yourself problems by
trying to find out things you don't need to know.
Example: "You'd better not," warns Steve, "Curiosity
killed the cat, you know. It might be very dangerous.
Let's just go home instead."
D
Don't cross your bridges before you come to
them: You use this proverb to tell someone not to
worry about something until it actually happens.
Example:
A: Our proposal is ready, but what if
the committee doesn't accept it?
B: Don't cross your bridges before you
come to them. We will see what
happens then.
Don’t Make Someone’s Laugh: To think
something is unlikely.
Example: Please don’t make laugh! You think I
believe you that you will be a model.
Don’t Put all your Eggs in one Basket: It is not a
good idea to put all your efforts or all your money
into one project.
Example: I know you really want to go to buy a new car,
but don't put all your eggs into one basket. Apply to a
few other colleges too.
Down in the dumps (Be): Be very sad and
depressed.
Example: Mary has been down in the dumps since
her mother's death.
Drive Someone Up the Wall: 1. Annoy or irritate
someone very much. 2. Put someone into an
extreme position or situation. (force someone up the
wall)
Example: The heat in this apartment drives me up the
wall!
E
The early bird catches the worm: This proverb is
used to tell you to act early or right now to be
successful.
Example: The early bird catches the worm! Don't miss
this year's best deal! The sale will start on Thursday,
and the store opens at 5:00 a.m.
Easy as pie / as easy as pie: Very easy. If
something is (as) easy as pie, it is very easy to do.
Example: -Baking great bread is as easy as pie with
this brand-new breadmaker.
Eat one's words: Admit that what you said was
wrong. If you eat your words, you admit that the
statements or predictions you made were wrong.
Example: I taught a grammar rule in my ESL class,
and one of my students said I was wrong. After I
checked it in dictionaries and asked other teachers, I
found she was right. I had to eat my words in the next
class
.Eat out: Eat a meal in a restaurant. If you eat out,
you go out and eat a meal in a restaurant instead of
eating at home.
Example:-I don't want to cook tonight. Why don't we
eat out?
F
Face the Music: To accept criticism or punishment
for what you have done.
Example: So now we are all going to have to face
the music.
Face to Face: With another person in the presence
rather than, say, by phone or letter.
Example: You should really discuss this with her face
to face.
Fall of the perch: To die.
Example: My doggy fell of its perch last month.
Feel on Top of the World: Very happy.
Example: I feel on top of the world today. I’ve just
passed all my exams.
Floating on air (be): be very happy about
something good that has happened.
Example: Andrew is floating on air since Christina
and he started going out together.
G
Get Green fingers: Somebody is a good gardener.
Example: My mother’s got green fingers. Everything
she plants in the garden grows well.
Get off Someone’s Back: Bother someone.
Example: Get off my back! I can’t go anywhere!
Give someone a hand: Help someone when
he/she is doing something difficult.
Example: Let me give you a hand with your baggage.
Go Around Circle: Someone who does not accomplish anything.
Example: Rachel’s brother goes around in circles with his career."
Glue to: Cannot stop watching / looking at
something.
Example: We were glued to the television watching
the news about the accident.
H
Hang in the Balance: No one know what will
happen to it in the future.
Example: Andrea had been taken ill and her life was
hanging in the balance.
Have an Egg on Someone’s Face: To be left
feeling stupid or embarrassed because of something
you did.
Example: You’ll have egg on your face if your plan
doesn’t work!
Have a Narrow Escape: Just manage to avoid
danger or trouble.
Example: The crew had a narrow escape when the
pilot made a crash landing.
Have Butterflies in Someone’s Stomach: To
feel very nervous.
Example: I always have butterflies in my stomach
when Jenny is near to me.
Have Itchy Feet: Want to travel or move on.
Example: I can’t stay in one place for more than a
year without getting itchy feet.
Have Something in the Brain: Can’t stop thinking
or talking about a particular thing.
Example: I have the Professor David’s project in my
brain.
Hold the Baby: Others have left someone to deal
with a problem alone.
Example: I’ve been left holding the baby.
Hold your Tongue: Do not say anything without
permission.
Example: I told you to stop interrupting, hold your
tongue.
Horse Around: Play around.
Example: After the couch left the gym he decided to
stay and horse around on the parallel bars.
How Time Flies: You are surprised to see minutes,
hours, days, weeks, or years have passed very
quickly
Example: A: Haven't we met each other for such a
long time?
B: Yes, it's been 10 years since we met last time.
How time flies!
I
In the Doghouse: To be in trouble.
Example: Marlon is in the doghouse with his mom.
It’s a Small World: Meeting someone
unexpectedly or discovering mutual friend.
Example: We bumped into John’s teacher in Venice.
It’s a small world!
It’s for the Birds: Something that is not interesting
for you.
Example: We are taking a philosophy course but it’s
for the birds.
It’s No Good Tearing over Spilt Milk: There’s no
point in getting upset over something bad that’s
happened when you cannot change it.
Example: You've broken the vase now! There's no
use crying over spilt milk. We will buy a new one.
It’s Not the End of the World: What has
happened won’t cause any serious problems.
Example: It’s not the end of the world if you fail a
course.
J
Jog someone’s Memory: To make you remember
something.
Example: The police are reconstructing the crime to
try to jog the memory of possible witnesses.
Judge by Appearance: To have an opinion about
something / someone just for the appearance.
Example: A: I think she likes to be showing off. But I
don’t know her.
B: Come on! You are judging by her appearance.
Jump for Joy: To be very happy and excited about
something that has happened.
Example: Marissa jumped for joy when Charlie
kisses her.
Just Someone Luck: It is said usually humorously
to mean that someone is always unlucky.
Example: You are playing against the best player. It
just your luck.
K
Keep Your Fingers Crossed: To wish someone
good luck.
Example: I’m getting my exam results tomorrow. Keep
your fingers crossed for me.
Kick the Bucket: To die.
Example: Marlen kicked the bucket last night.
Kill time: Do something that is not very useful to
keeps yourself busy while you are waiting for
something to happen.
Example: Ryan sometimes goes to the bookstore to kill
time between classes.
Kill Two Birds with One Stone: Produce two
useful results by just doing one action.
Example: I killed two birds with one stone with this
project.
L
Law of the Jungle (the): To obtain whatever
someone’s wants without caring how much other
people would suffer.
Example: Everyone is so selfish in this company; it is
the law of the jungle here and it’s very depressing.
Let the Cat out the Bag: Inform beforehand.
Example: He wasn’t supposed to know it, but
someone let the cat out the bag.
Like a Fish out the Water: Uncomfortable
because you are different from other people.
Example: As the only football enthusiast in the
group, I felt like a fish out the water.
Like taking candy from a baby: To be very easy
to do. If something is like taking candy from a baby, it
is very easy to do.
Example: A: It was a very impressive video
presentation. I imagine it was very difficult to make
such a complex work.
B: No, it was very easy with this software -- like taking
candy from a baby. It took me only an hour to make it.
M
Make an Exhibition of (someone): Do things in
public that makes someone looks stupid.
Example: Sara made a real exhibition of herself in
class the other day. It was so embarrassing.
Make Love, not War: Love everybody around you.
Do not fight for stupid things.
Example: Hey guys, why are you fighting? Come on,
make love, not war!!
Makes Someone’s a Day: Makes someone feels
very happy or satisfied.
Example: When I saw how happy Nancy was with
the present we gave her, it made my day.
Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: It is not easy to
earn money, so it is valuable, and you have only a
limited amount of money.
Example: A: "Mom, can I buy a new dress?"
B: "We can't afford one now. Money doesn't grow on
trees.
N
Necessity is the mother of invention: The
meaning of this proverb is that if someone really
needs something or has a problem; he/she will find a
way of doing or solving it.
Example: Throughout the history of science, a lot of
evidence has proven that necessity is the mother of
invention.
Not Have a Leg to Stand On: To have no good
defense for one’s opinions or actions.
Example: Stephanie won’t have a leg to stand on
unless she can prove that she put in all those extra
hours.
Not hold water: Not seem reasonable or correct.
Example: Their arguments against the government's
foreign policy simply don't hold water.
Nutcase (A): Someone who is mentally disturbed
and in the care of a doctor.
Example: I'm going to become a nutcase if I don't get a
holiday soon
O
On Cloud Nine: To feel very happy.
Example: I am on cloud nine with the results of my
grades.
On the Knife-Edge: In a very difficult situation and
there are worries about the future.
Example: The business is on a financial knife-edge
and my go bankrupt.
Open Someone’s Heart: Share someone deepest
feelings.
Example: Tony opened his heart to me.
Over the Moon: To be extremely happy.
Example: Jonny was over the moon when he got an
A in the math test.
P
Play it by Ear: Improve as one goes along.
Example: Let’s go to the movies, agreed? Sure. And
what’ll we do after that? Oh, I don’t know. Let’s play
it by ear.
Pop quiz: A short test that is given in class without
any warning beforehand.
Example: Mrs. Jones, an ELC teacher, is famous for
giving her students a lot of pop quizzes.
Pop someone’s Clogs: To die.
Example: Karol almost popped her clogs when she
was driving her car.
Put Someone’s Foot in: Say something tactless
and embarrassing.
Example: Luis put his foot in when he was caught
having sex in the restaurant restroom.
Play through the Nose: Play too high a price.
Example: We had to play through the nose with our
new computer.
Pull someone’s Leg: Fool someone.
Example: Fernando was pulling my leg when he told
about his new girlfriend.
Q
Quaking in someone’s boots: feel afraid, be
scared.
Example: He was so afraid of the dog that he was
quaking in his boots.
Quit this place: Leave, go away from here.
Example: I'm bored. Let's quit this place. Let's get out
of here.
Quite a few: Many.
Example: He has quite a few videos at home.
Quite frankly: Honestly; to be straightforward.
Example: Quite frankly, if it weren't for the extra
benefits, I wouldn't want to work for this company.
R
Race against the clock / time: Work or do
something very fast to finish it before a deadline
Example: They started a race against the clock to
finish the interior of the new store that was scheduled
to open in a month.
Raining Cats and Dogs: To rain very heavily.
Example: They didn't cancel the game even though it
was raining cats and dogs.
Read between the lines: Guess what someone's
real thoughts, feelings, or intentions from what you
hear or read.
Example: Linda tried to be cheerful and said she was
okay, but reading between the lines, I could see she
was really upset.
Ring A Bell: If you say something (a word or a
phrase, especially a name) rings a bell (with you),
you mean you have heard it before, or it reminds you
of something.
Example: The name "Nora" sounds familiar. It rings a
bell.
Rise with the lark: To get up/rise early in the
morning.
Example: My grandma usually rises with the lark.
S
See the Light at the End of the Tunnel:
Something makes you believe that a very difficult
and unpleasant situation is coming to an end.
Example: Jorhanny saw the light at the end of the
tunnel when his girlfriend was almost catching him
with other girl.
Shake a Leg: Hurry.
Example: Marry; you always take such a long time to
put on your makeup. Come on, shake a leg!
Stick out one’s Neck: Take a risk.
Example: Why should I stick my neck out for them?
They didn’t pay me for my services.
Something Fishy: Something is strange and
mysterious.
Example: In the university there is something fishy
with the scholarships.
Speak of the Devil: You say "Speak of the devil"
when someone you have been talking about comes
in the room unexpectedly.
Example: (They were talking about someone and he
just came in the room.) Speak of the devil! We were
just talking about you! How did you know that?
Stay up: Not go to bed at a time when most people
are in bed or when you would be normally in bed. If
you stay up, you go to bed later than usual.
Example: The students stayed up late last night to
prepare for the final exam.
Stuffed shirt: A person who behaves in a very
formal way and is often self-important. A very
conservative person.
Example: He's such a stuffed shirt. He always instructs
us how to use each knife and fork every time we go to
dinner with him.
Suffer From Sour Grapes: Being jealous about
something you can’t have.
Example: Pat is always suffering from sour grapes
because I got the role in the school play.
Sweet Tooth: Someone likes sweet things.
Example: Madge has sweet tooth. She is always
eating candies.
T
Take to something like a duck to water: To
learn how to do something very easily, quickly, and
well when doing it for the first time, especially
because of the person's natural ability.
Example: Sam is really a natural programmer. He
took to programming like a duck to water even before
he graduated from elementary school.
Tearjerker: A tearjerker is a movie, book, or story
that makes you sad and cry.
Example: That movie was really a tearjerker.
There is a Frog in Someone’s Throat: If you
have a frog in your throat, you have a sore throat, or
your throat is dry, and has difficulty speaking
because you want to cough.
Example: In a speech contest last year, suddenly
there was a frog in her throat and she had a hard time
speaking.
There's no place like home: Your home is a
special place. Nothing can replace your own home.
Example: How do you like your new apartment here?
It's nice and comfortable, but there's no place like
home. I really miss Mom's homemade bread.
Time Runs Out: It's almost too late.
Example: Time runs out to get the latest issue of The
English Teacher's Assistant covering the teaching
theme "Families."
Time will tell: Something will be clear sometime in
the future, not now, whether it is good, bad,
successful, a mistake, etc.
Example: Only time will tell whether we elected the right
person.
To hit the sack/hay: Go to bed. If you hit the sack,
you go to bed in order to get some sleep.
Example: It's getting very late. It's time to hit the sack.
Tongue in Cheek: Not Serious.
Example: I didn’t mean to offend Sonia. I was simply
making a tongue-in-cheek remark when I said that.
Tongue Tied (Get): Unable to speak. If you are
tongue-tied, you cannot speak and express yourself
easily because you are shy, nervous, or
embarrassed.
Example: He met a very beautiful woman at the party
and was tongue-tied.
U
Under pressure (Be): Live or work in a way that
causes you feel anxiety and worry.
Example: Some people perform well under pressure
and some others don't.
Under the Weather: Not very well.
Example: Mark had been feeling under the weather.
Uphill Battle / Fight / Struggle: A very difficult
task.
Example: it’s an uphill bottle trying to persuade Joe to
get a job.
Up and running: be working well.
Example: Since we got the new leader, our program
has finally been up and running.
Up in the air (Be): Be not decided yet
Example: The Company is going to build a new
factory, but the location is still up in the air.
V
Variety is the spice of life: You use this proverb
to say that if you do a lot of different things and meet
different people, etc., your life becomes more
interesting.
Example: Variety is the spice of life, and there's a lot
of it at the English Language Center. You can meet
people from many different countries, and there are a
lot of activities you can participate in.
W
Wave a Magic Wand: Find an easy way to
solve a problem.
Example: I want to wave a magic want and make
things better.
When it rains, it pours: When one thing goes
wrong, many other things also go wrong.
Example: I can't believe what happened to me last
week! My dog ate my homework, and my computer
crashed. Even worse, I got sick that night! When it
rains, it pours!
When pigs fly: Never. If you say when pigs fly, you
mean something will never happen.
Example: I’ll believe in politicians when pigs fly.
While the Cat’s Away, the Mice will Play: When
the person in authority is not there, other people will
not do what they should do.
Example: Andrea’s parents are going to the beach all
weekend, so, while the cat’s away, the mice will play.
White elephant: Something which is expensive but
useless / something which is costly to keep and has
no apparent benefit.
Example: the car is a complete white elephant; it
uses an enormous amount of petrol and breaks
down all the time. It's costing my brother a fortune.
Work Against the Clock: Work fast because the
time is limited.
Example: Jake worked against the clock to get the
report finished before the meeting.
Work like magic: Works like immediately and very
well indeed.
Example: Your plan to persuade Lela to join the
committee worked like magic.
X
X marks the spot: Begin at X, look for X, it can be
found at X.
Example: The pirate said to his crew, "X marks the
spot".
X-rated: For adults, for a mature audience.
Example: Born Loose is an x-rated video. It contains
nudity and sex.
Y
You can't judge a book by its cover: You use
this proverb to say that you can't tell what
something/someone is really like just by looking at it.
It might be different from what it looks.
Example:
A: I want to buy this car. It looks great.
B: Have a test drive with someone who knows
cars well before you decide. You can't judge a
book by its cover.
You Have to Kiss a Lot of Toads Before you
Find a Handsome Prince: You have to try over
and over again until you get the best.
Example: Marisol had to kiss a lot of toads before
finding her handsome prince.
Z
Zero in on: Give one's full attention to.
Example: We spent the morning zeroing in on the
problem of what to do with the excess space in our
office.
Zipperhead: business person, administrator.
Example: What musicians hate is to have a
zipperhead controlling the arts.
Zonked: tired, exhausted, falling asleep.
Example: After playing soccer in the park, I needed
a rest. I was zonked.