www.learn-english-today.com

 lessons-exercises •  vocabulary    business english    proverbs  • wordgames  •  phrasal verbs  •  resources  •   fun  •   news  •   home • 


 ENGLISH  IDIOMS  &  IDIOMATIC  EXPRESSIONS


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  -  H

 


 

Idiom

Meaning

H  Old habits die hard   This expression means that people are often reluctant to change the
  way they do something, especially if they have been doing it for a
  long time.
  "My grandfather refuses to use a mobile phone; old habits die hard!"
   Hair of the dog that bit you   This expression means that you use as a remedy a small amount
  of what made you ill, for example a drink of alcohol when recovering
  from drinking too much.
  "Here, have a drop of this.  It's a little hair of the dog that bit you!"
   Half the battle   This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed
  to achieve something.
  "We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle."
   Get in someone's hair     If you are getting in somebody's hair, you are annoying them so
  much that they can't get on with what they're doing.
  "I'd finish the report more quickly if my colleague wasn't getting in
  my hair all the time!"
   Let one's hair down    If you suggest that someone should let their hair down,
  you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves.
  "Come on!  We' re not in the office now.  You can let your hair down!"
   Not a hair out of place.
 
  To say that someone does not have a hair out of place means that
  their appearance is perfect.
  "Angela is always impeccably dressed - never a hair out of place!"
   By a hair's breadth   If you avoid or miss something by a hair's breadth, you only just
  manage to escape from a danger.
  "A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair's breadth."
   Split hairs     If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences
  that are very small or not important.
  "If we start splitting hairs, we'll never reach an agreement!"
 
   Hale and hearty   Someone, especially an old person,  who is hale and hearty is in
  excellent health
  "My grandmother is still hale and hearty at the age of ninety."
   Hammer (something) home   If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to
  make sure that it is fully understood.
  "The policeman hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving."
   Hammer and tongs   If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely,
  with a lot of energy and noise.
  "Our neighbours are  going at it hammer and tongs again. They're
  constantly arguing!"
   Hand in glove   Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association,
  are said to be hand in glove.

  "After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the
  referee."
   Hand it to someone   If you hand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they
  deserve credit or praise for their achievements.
 
"You've got to hand it to Julie.  She may be a snob, but her
  presentations are always excellent."
   One hand washes the other...
 (... and together they wash the face.)
 This expression means that when people cooperate and work well
 together, there is a better chance of achieving results.
   The upper hand   If a person or organization gets or gains the upper hand, they
  take control over something.
  
   All hands on deck   When there is a need for all hands on deck,  everyone must help,
  especially when there's a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time.
  
"As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to have
  everything ready in time."
   In safe (good) hands    If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after by
  a reliable person or organization, and is therefore at no risk.
  "I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping.  Don't worry - he'll be
  in safe hands."
   Have your hands full.   If you have your hands full, you are very busy or you have a lot to do.
   Have one's hands tied   If a person has their hands tied, something, such as an agreement
  or a rule, is preventing them from doing what they would like to do.
  "Mark deserves to earn more, but the manager's hands are tied
  by the recent salary agreement."
   A show of hands   A show of hands is a method of voting in which people give their
  opinion by raising a hand.
  "How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?"
   Wash your hands off something.   If you wash your hands off a problem or situation, you refuse
  to deal with it any longer.
   As much use as a handbrake on a canoe   This expression refers to something which is completely useless
  or serves no purpose.
  "With no electricity, a refrigerator would be as much use as a
  handbrake on a canoe
. "
   Handle someone with kid gloves   If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very
  carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or
  because they are easily upset.
  "He is so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling
  her with kid gloves."
   Get the hang of something   When you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do it
  correctly.
 
"The apprentice found the task difficult at first but he soon got the
  hang of it."
   Hang in there   This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere and not
  give up in spite of the difficult circumstances.
 "I know the atmosphere is very tense, but just hang in there and
  eventually things will calm down."
   Hang on for dear life   If you hang on for dear life, you grip something firmly so as not
  to fall.
  "Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she
  hung on for dear life!"
   Hang up one's boots   When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and
  retire.
  This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general.
 
"Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year."
   Happy as a flea in a doghouse   If someone is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse, they are very
  happy and contented.
 
"Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is (as) happy
  as a flea in a doghouse."
   (As) happy as Larry    If you are (as) happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed.
 "My dad's as happy as Larry at the week-end when we all arrive home.
   Happy-go-lucky   If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and carefree
  all the time.
  "He's a happy-go-lucky sort of guy - always in good humour."  
   Hard of hearing   If you are hard of hearing, you can't hear very well.
  "You'll have to speak louder to Mr. Jones.  He's a bit hard of hearing."
   Hard as nails   A person who is hard (or 'tough') as nails is unsentimental and
  shows no sympathy. 
  "Don't expect any sympathy from him.  He's as hard as hails."
   To be hard up   If you are hard up, you have very little money.
  "We were so hard up we had to sleep in the car."
   Hard and fast    Something which is hard and fast cannot be changed. 
  "Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules related to English
  spelling"
   Harp on (about) something   If you harp on (about) something, you tire others by talking
  continuously and tediously about it.
  "My parents are always harping on about my school results."
   Haul someone over the coals   If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand  them harshly
  because they have done something wrong or incorrectly.
  "He was hauled over the coals for the poor quality  of his presentation.
   Have a hangover   To have a hangover means to suffer from the unpleasant
  after-effects of drinking too much alcohol.
   Have your head in the clouds   If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed by your
  thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening
  around you.
  "He's doesn't listen to the teacher - he's got his head in the clouds
   all the time!"
   Have one's head screwed on   Someone who has their head screwed on is a sensible and
  realistic person.
  "Don't worry about him.. He's adventurous but he's got his head
  screwed on."
   Have one's heart in one's mouth   A person who has their heart in their mouth feels extremely
  anxious or nervous faced with a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
 
"Emma had her heart in her mouth when she saw her 2 year-old son
  standing in front of the open window."
   Have one's heart in the right place   A person who has their heart in the right place has kind feelings
  and good intentions, even if the results are not too good.
 "The old lady's cake wasn't wonderful but she's got her heart in the
   right place."
   Have one's heart set on something   Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much.
  "From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional
  golfer."
   Have kittens   To say you're going to have kittens is a dramatic way of expressing
  worry, anxiety or fear.
 
"His mother nearly had kittens when Alex announced that he wanted
  to be a trapeze artist."
   Have your back to the wall   If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty.
  "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
   Have you gone out of your mind?   If you ask someone if they've gone out of their mind,
  you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
  "You're going to ask for a 100% increase in salary?
  Have you gone out of your mind?"
   Have the makings of something   A person who has the makings of something has qualities and
  potential that could be developed.
 
"The teacher says Sarah has the makings of an excellent journalist."
   Have the nerve (to do something)   If you do something rude, impudent or inappropriate, without any
  embarrassment or shyness, it is said that you have the nerve to do it.
  "She had the nerve to attend the ceremony wearing jeans!"
   Have something on the brain   If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it
  constantly.
  "Stop talking about golf.  You've got golf on the brain!"
   Have a stab at something   If you have a stab at something, you try something that you never
  had a chance to do before.
 
"I had a stab at surfing once but I decided not to renew the experience!"
   Have a whale of a time   When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy themselves
  very much.
  "We had a whale of a time at the party last night."
   Run with the hare and hunt with the
 hounds
  This expression refers to someone who wants to stay on friendly
  terms with both sides in a quarrel.
  "Bob always wants to keep everyone happy, but I'm afraid he can't
  run with the hare and hunt with the hounds this time -
  the issue is too important."
   Keep something under one's hat    To keep something under one's hat means to keep a secret.
  "My boss has promised me a promotion, but it's not official yet,
  so keep it under your hat."
   Take one's hat off to somebody   You say this to express admiration for something someone has done.
  "I take my hat off to the chef.  The meal was wonderful."
   Bury the hatchet     The expression " bury the hatchet" is used when people who have
  had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends
  again.
  "I don't get on well with my mother-in-law, but to keep my wife happy,
  I decided to bury the hatchet."
   Make hay while the sun shines   This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage
  of a good situation which may not last.
  Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun
  shines
.
   Bang your head against a brick wall   If you bang your head against a brick wall, you continue vainly to
  try and achieve something  in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
  "I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the
   internet to my grandmother."
   Be head and shoulders above   To say that a person or thing is head and shoulders above the
  others means that they are much better that the rest of their kind.
  "The award-winner was head and shoulders above the others."
   Bury one's head in the sand   If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to face the
  unpleasant reality by pretending that it doesn't exist.
  "It's no good burying your head in the sand.  We've got a problem
  on our hands."
   Old head on young shoulders   This expression is used to refer to a child or young person who
  thinks and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced
  person.    

  "When she heard Emily warning her little brother to stay out of trouble,
  her mum thought : "That's an old head on young shoulders".
   In over your head   If you are in over your head, you are involved in something
  that is too difficult for you to handle.
  "I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that
   I was in over my head."
   Keep one's head above water   To keep one's head above water means to try to survive
  by staying out of debt, for example a small business.
   Off the top of your head   To say something off the top of your head means that you are
  giving an immediate reaction and not a carefully considered opinion,
  and so it might not be correct.
   Head over heels in love   When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are said
  to be head over heels in love.
 
"Tony's only interest at the moment is Maria.  He's head over heels
  in love with her!"
   A swelled/swollen head   Someone who has a swelled/swollen head has become proud or
  conceited, usually because of recent success.
  "Larry's promotion has given him a swelled head!"
   Like a headless chicken   If a person rushes about like a headless chicken, they act in a
  disorderly way, without thinking or analyzing the situation carefully.
  
"As soon as the store opened, my mother started running around
  like a headless chicken, eager to find bargains."
   Look the picture of health   To look the picture of health means to look completely or extremely
  healthy.
   Hear a pin drop   To say that you could hear a pin drop means that it is so silent
  you could hear the slightest noise.
 
"People were listening so intently, you could hear a pin drop."
   Heard it through the grapevine   If you hear of something through the grapevine, you learn about it
  informally, for example  through friends, colleagues or acquaintances.
  "How did you hear that? Oh, through the grapevine as usual!"
   Heart of the matter   The most important part or aspect of a situation is called the heart
  of the matter.
 
"We need to get to the heart of the matter - what was the cause of
   the accident?"
   Change of heart   If someone has a change of heart, they change their attitude or
  feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.
  "He was against charity, but he had a change of heart
  when he saw the plight of the homeless."
   Heart in one's mouth   A person who has their heart in their mouth feels extremely
  anxious or nervous faced with a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
  "Emma had her heart in her mouth when she saw her 2 year-old
  son standing in front of the open window."
   Heart misses a beat   If your heart misses a beat, you have a sudden feeling of fear or
  excitement.
  "When the lights suddenly went out, her heart missed a beat."
   Heart on your sleeve   If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you allow others
  to see your emotions or feelings.
  "You could see she was hurt - she wears her heart on her sleeve."
   Heart set on something   Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very
  much.
  "From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a
  professional golfer."
   Heart sinks   If your heart sinks, you feel very unhappy and despondent
  "My heart sank when I saw the amount of work waiting for me."
   Heart of stone
 
  Someone who has a heart of stone is a cold person who shows
  others no understanding, sympathy or pity. 
  "
She's not the person to go to if you've got problems -
  she's got a heart of stone!"
   The heat is on   To say that the heat is on means that you are under a lot of pressure
  to get something done, usually within a time limit.
 "The project must be ready for next Friday, so the heat is on.
   Turn on/up (or pile on) the heat   If you turn on/up the heat on a person or organization,
  you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want.
  "If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on
  the heat."
   With a heavy hand   Dealing with or treating people with a heavy hand means acting with
 
discipline and severity, with little or no sensitivity.
  "He ran the juvenile delinquent centre with a heavy hand."
   Hedge your bets   If you hedge your bets, you choose two or more courses of action
  in order to reduce the risk of loss or error.
  "The company hedged its bets by developing a second line
   of products."
   All hell broke loose   To say that all hell broke loose means that there was a sudden
  angry, noisy reaction to something.
  "All hell broke loose when it was announced that the plant was going
  to close down."
   Come hell or high water   To say that you will do do something come hell or high water
 
means that you will do it in spite of difficulties involved.
  "Come hell or high water, I've got to be on time for the interview."
   (go to) Hell in a handcart   If someone or something is going to hell in a handcart, it is in
  a bad state and continues to deteriorate.
  "This used to be a nice place to live but now the area is going to hell
  in a handcart."
   Hell-bent on something   If  you are hell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly
  determined to do it, even if it's dangerous or stupid.
  "Although he is still weak, he's hell-bent on playing the match."
   Help a lame dog over stile   If you help a lame dog over stile, you help someone who is in
  difficulty or trouble.
  "You can trust him - he always helps a lame dog over a stile."
   Hem and haw   When someone hems and haws, they are very evasive and avoid
  giving a clear answer.
  "Bobby hemmed and hawed when his parents asked him where he
  had spent the night."
   Herd mentality   People with the herd mentality tend to do what everyone else does,
  no matter how ridiculous or stupid.
  "One example of herd mentality is when people rush to get on the
  first bus when there are several empty ones waiting."
   Herding cats   This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation
  which involves people who all want to act independently.
  "Organizing an outing for a group of people from different countries
  is like herding cats!
   Here today, gone tomorrow   This expression is used to refer to something which appears
  and disappears very quickly, or does not last very long.
  "The shops in this area change very often - here today, gone
  tomorrow!"
   Neither here nor there.   Something which is neither here nor there is considered
  has no effect on the situation.
   Hide one's light under a bushel   If you hide your light under a bushel, you are modest or do not
  reveal a talent, quality or skill you possess.
  "So you play the saxophone in a club on Saturday nights - you really
  hide your light under a bushel, don't you!"
   Hide a multitude of sins   If something covers or hides a multitude of sins, it prevents people
  from seeing the less pleasant reality.
 
"Loose-fitting clothes can cover a multitude of sins!"
   Hidden agenda   If a person or organization has a hidden agenda, they have hidden
  interests or ulterior motives.
  "I can guarantee that we have no hidden agenda.  Our intentions have
  always been clear."
   High and dry   If you are left high and dry, you find yourself in a difficult situation
  without help or resources
  "When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry
  with two kids to raise."
   High and mighty   Someone who is high and mighty behaves in a haughty manner,
  as if they were superior to others.
  "Don't you get all high and mighty!" said my grandmother to my cousin.
  "Everyone helps with the housework in this house."
   (Up) to the hilt   Something which is done to the hilt is done completely, fully or to the
  maximum degree.
 "He was involved in the conspiracy to the hilt."
   Hit the airwaves   When someone hits the airwaves, they go on radio and/or TV
  to be interviewed or to promote something.
  "The hospital was embarrassed when the patient hit the airways
  with his side of the story."
   Hit the ground running
 
  If someone hits the ground running, they are ready to start work
  immediately on a new activity.
  "He intends to hit the ground running when he starts his new job."
   Hit the hay   When you hit the hay, you go to bed.
 
"The boys were so exhausted that they hit the hay as soon as they
  reached the campsite."
   Hit the road   When you hit the road, you begin a journey.
  "It's getting late and we've got a long way to go.  Let's hit the road."
   Hit the sack   To hit the sack (also hit the hay) means to go to bed.
   Hitch one's wagon to a star   Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions
  and is very determined to reach their goal.
  "At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and
  become rich and famous."
   Hive of activity   hive of activity
  (also: a beehive)
 
A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone
  is very busy, is called a hive of activity.
  "When I went to offer my help, the kitchen was already a hive of
  activity."
   Go the whole hog   When you go the whole hog, you do something thoroughly or
  completely.

 
"They put up a few decorations for Christmas, then they decided
   to go the whole hog and buy a tree and all the trimmings."
   Hold your breath   If someone is holding their breath, they are waiting excitedly or
  anxiously for something to happen.
  "I went for second interview today - now I'm holding my breath!"
   Hold your horses   If you tell someone to hold their horses, you think they are doing
  something too fast and should slow down and not rush into further action.
  "Hold your horses! Don't rush into this without giving it careful thought."
   Hold one's own   If you can hold your own, you are well able to defend yourself
  when under attack.
 
"We should ask Jane to represent us; she can hold her own in
  any argument."
   Holier-than-thou   This expression is used to describe the attitude of people who
  consider themselves to be more virtuous or morally superior to others.
 "I can't stand the holier-then-thou attitude of some candidates."
   Hollow victory   A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems
   worthless or without significance for the winner, is called a hollow victory.
  "Won in the absence of the major ski champions, his gold medal was
   a hollow victory."
   On the home stretch   To say that you're on the home stretch means that you are
  approaching the end of something such as a task, a race or a journey.
 
"Don't give up - we're on the the home stretch now."
   Home truths   If you tell somebody some home truths, you tell them some
  unpleasant facts about themselves which are often difficult to accept.
  "David needs to be told a few home truths, whether he likes it or not!"
   The honeymoon is over   To say that the honeymoon is over means that the initial period of
  friendship and cooperation between people, groups or organizations
  has ended.
  "He was elected only six months ago but the honeymoon is already over."
   Honour among thieves   This expression means that even criminals have a sense of loyalty
  and they respect a certain code of behaviour.
  "The bank robber refused to reveal the names of his accomplices which
   shows that there is honour among thieves."
   By hook or by crook   If you say that you will do something by hook or by crook, you 
  mean that you will succeed in doing it in whatever way is necessary,
  whether it is honest or not.
  "I'll get my revenge, by hook or by crook!"
   Get off the hook   If you do something wrong and manage to get off the hook, you avoid
  punishment or blame.
  "Barry was questioned by the police but his lawyer managed to get him
  off the hook."
   Hook, line and sinker   If you fall for a story or an explanation hook, line and sinker, you
  completely believe it.
  "I didn't think he'd believe my story, but he fell for it hook, line and sinker."
   Couldn't give a hoot!   To say that you don't or couldn't give a hoot, means that
  you don't care at all about something.
  "She wears eccentric clothes but she's couldn't give a hoot
  about what others think."
   A hop, skip and a jump   To say that a thing or place is only a hop, skip and a jump away
  from another means that they are very close to each other.
  "The school's just a hop, skip and a jump from our new house."
   Hope against hope   If you hope against hope, you continue to hope even when the
  situation looks bad
  "The whole building was destroyed by fire.  John's parents are hoping
  against hope that he escaped in time."
   Horns of a dilemma   If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with a choice
  between two equally unpleasant options.
  "I'm on the horns of a dilemma; I have to choose between a boring
  job with a good salary or a more interesting job with a lower salary."
   Horse of a different colour   To describe a person or a problem as a horse of a different colour
 
means either that the person does things differently from others or
  that the nature of the problem is a entirely different.
  "I expected to negotiate with the sales manager but the chairman
  turned up - now he's a horse of a different colour!"
   A dark horse   If you refer to a person as a dark horse, you mean that they
  are secretive, or that little is known about them.
   I could eat a horse.   To say that you could eat a horse means that you are very hungry.   
  "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving. I could eat a horse!"
   Beat (or flog) a dead horse   To say that someone is beating a dead horse, you mean that
  they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something
  that is not possible.. 
  "Mark is beating a dead horse trying to get his money reimbursed.
  The company has gone bankrupt!"
   Straight from the horse's mouth   If you learn something straight from the horse's mouth, you hear
  about it directly from a person closely connected with the source of
  the information.
  "How do you know Jack has resigned?"
  "I got it straight from the horse's mouth - he told me himself!"
   Hot off the press    If a news article, for example, is hot off the press, it has just been
  published and contains the most recent information on the subject.
 
"I just got it hot off the press; another bank has gone bankrupt!"
   Hot on the trail   If you are hot on the trail of someone or something, you are
  very close to finding them.
  "The police are hot on the trail of the bank robber."
   Hot under the collar   If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed, indignant or
  embarrassed.
  "If anyone criticizes his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot
  under the collar."
   Hot potato   To refer to a subject as a hot potato means that it is
  a very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to
  deal with.
  "The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any
  hot potatoes yet."
   Get on like a house on fire   Two people who get on like a house on fire have similar interests
  and quickly become good friends.
   On the house   Something which is "on the house" is offered free of charge,
  usually in a bar or restaurant.
 
"The new owner offered us a drink on the house."
   Household name/word   When the name of someone or something becomes very familiar
  because it is so often used, it is called a household name or word.
  "The product was so successful that its name became a household
  word in no time."
   Hue and cry   If there is a hue and cry about something, there is loud opposition
  to it.
 
"There will no doubt be a great hue and cry when the reorganization is
  announced."
   Hunky dory   Using the expression 'hunky dory' is an informal way of saying that
  everything is satisfactory and there are no problems.  
  "Need any help?"   "Everything's hunky dory, thanks."
   Hustle and bustle   This expression is used to refer to busy energetic activity in an
  atmosphere of general excitement.
  "I prefer to live in the country. I hate the hustle and bustle of city life."

 
 
 

 Other
 Lists:

A

B C D E F G I-J K L M N O P Q-R S T U-V W-Z

more idioms               home


copyright k.beke.  all rights reserved.