100 Idioms & Phrases with Meaning

1) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush - Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might losing everything.

2) A blessing in disguise - Something good that isn’t recognized by first

3) Bull in china shop - One who causes
damage

4) A chip on your shoulder - Being upset for something that happened in the past

5) A damp squib - Complete failure

6) A dime A dozen - Anything that is common and easy to get

7) A doubting Thomas- A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something

8) A drop in the bucket- A very small part of something big or whole

9) A fool and his money are easily parted - It’s easy for a foolish person to lose his/ her money

10) A gentleman at large- An unreliable person

11) A green horn- Inexperienced

12) A house divided against itself cannot stand- Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.

13) A leopard can’t change his spots - You cannot change who you are

14) A lost cause- A hopeless case, a person or situation having no hope of positive change.

15) A man of straw - A weak person

16) A mare’s nest- A false invention

(17)A penny saved is a penny earned- By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little)

18) A picture paints a thousand words- A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words

19) A piece of cake- A task that can be accomplished very easily

20) A slap on the wrist- A very mild punishment

21) A stalking horse- Pretence

22) A steal- Very inexpensive, a bargain

23) A taste of your own medicine- When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others

24) A toss-up- A result hat is still unclear and can go either way

25) A wolf in sheep’s clothing- A dangerous person pretending harmless

26) ABC: Very common knowledge about to - Ready to, just going to

27) Above all- Mainly, especially

28) Above board- Fair and honest

29) According to- In the order of; on the authority of

30) Actions speak louder than words- It’s better to actually do something than hust talk about it

31) Add fuel to the fire- Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is

32) Against the clock- Rushed and short on time

33) All (day, week, month, year) long - The entire day, week, month, year

34) All along- All the time, from the beginning (without change)

35) All and Sundry- Without making any distinction

36) All bark and no bite- When someone is threatening and/ or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight

37) All greek to me- Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or

38) All in all- Considering everything

39) All in the same boat- When everyone is facing the same challenges

40) All of a sudden- Suddenly, without warning (All at once)

41) All right- Acceptable, fine; yes, okay

42) Alpha and omega- First and last letter of Greek alphabet, means beginning and end

43) An arm and a leg- Very expensive, A large amount of money

44) An axe to grind- To have a dispute with someone

45) An eye wash- A pretence

46) An iron hand- By force

47) Apple to my eye- Someone who is cherished above all others

48) As a matter of fact- Really, actually (also: as to)

49) As for- Regarding, concerning (also: as to)

50) As high as a kite- Anything that is high up in the sky

51) As soon as- Just after, when

52) As usual- as is the general case, as is typical

53) At all- To any degree (also: in the least)

54) At heart- Basically, fundamentally

55) At last- Finally, after a long time

56) At least- A minimum of, no fewer (or less) than

57) At odds- In dispute

58) At sixes and seven- Persons who are having different opinions

59) At the drop of a hat- Willing to do something immediately

60) Back and call- At the service

61) Back and forth- In a backward and forward motion

62) Back seat driver- People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice

63) Back to square one- Having to start all over again

64) Back to the drawing board- When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over

65) Bag and baggage- with all goods

66) Baker’s dozen- Thirteen

67) Bank on- Depend on, count on

68) Barking up the wrong tree- A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve

69) Bated breath- In anxiety, expectancy

70) Beat a dead horse- To force an issue that has already ended

71) Beating around the bash- Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue

72) Bend over backwards- Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything

73) Between a Rock and a Hard place- Stuck between two very bad options

74) Between Scylla and Charybdis- Choice between two unpleasant alternatives

75) Between the cup and the lips- On the point of achievement

76) Bite off more than you can chew - To take on a task that is a way to big

77) Bite your tongue- To avoid talking

78) Black and white- In writing

79) Blood is thicker than water- The family bond is closer than anything else

80) Blow hot and cold- Having no stand, shows favour at one time and unfavour at another

81) Blue moon- A rare event or occurrence

82) Body and soul- Entirely

83) Break a leg- A superstitious way to say ‘Good Luck’ without saying ‘Good Luck’,

84) Buy a lemon- To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it

85) By & by- Gradually

86) By all means- Certainly, definitely, naturally (also: of course); using any possible way or method

87) By far- By a great margin, clearly

88) By fits and starts- Irregularly

89) By heart- By memorizing

90) By hook or by crook- By any means

91) By leaps and bound- speedily

92) By oneself - Alone, without assistance

93) By the way- Incidentally

94) Call a spade a spade- Straight talks

95) Can’t cut the mustard- Someone who isn’t adequate enough to compete or participate

96) Cast iron stomach- Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything

97) Cats and bull story- Untrue story

98) Cats and dogs- Heavy rain

99) Charley horse- stiffness in the leg/ A leg cramp

100) Chew someone out- Verbally scold someone