English Idioms - Alphabetical list I-J

	Idiom	Meaning
I	Break the ice	A person who breaks the ice is someone who does or says something to make people relax in an uncomfortable situation.
	Icing on the cake	If something is referred to as icing on the cake, it is an extra benefit that makes a good situation even better. "Good news! I get the job ... and the icing on the cake is that I get a company car too."
	In inverted commas	When describing something, if you use a word which you say is "in inverted commas", you indicate that the word is not quite true or appropriate. "We were served a "meal", in inverted commas, but we were too hungry to complain."
	In the lurch	If you leave someone in the lurch, you leave them in a difficult or embarrassing situation. "When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch."
	In safe 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."
	In trouble with the law	If someone is in trouble with the law, they are being questioned by the police in connection with something illegal or criminal. "The suspect has often been in trouble with the law."
	Ins and Outs :	The ins and outs of a situation means all the details or facts. "I know he was involved in a car accident, but I don't know the ins and outs of his injuries".
	Add insult to injury	To add insult to injury means to make a bad situation worse by upsetting or harming someone you have already harmed in some other way. "Not only did he steal money from his best friend, he added insult to injury by asking to borrow his car."
	To all intents and purposes	If something is said to be true to all intents and purposes, it is true in every practical sense. "There are still a few tourists, but to all intents an purposes the season is over."
	Irons in the fire	If you have a few, or many, irons in the fire, you are involved in a number of projects at the same time. "The travel agency is not his only venture - he's got more than one iron in the fire."
	It takes two to tango	You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument cannot be the fault of one person alone "OK, we've heard Jack's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"
J	Jack of all trades	A "jack of all trades" is a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.
	One's jaw drops	If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement. "When the prize was announced, the winner's jaw dropped."
	Je ne sais quoi	This expression (from French "I don't know what") is used to refer to a good quality that is difficult to describe. "The place has a certain je ne sais quoi that really attracts me."
	Join the club!	By saying to somebody "Join the club", you express sympathy for an unpleasant experience that you have had too. "Oh no! My wallet has been stolen!" "Join the club!"
	You can't judge a book by its cover	This expression means that you should not form an opinion about something from its appearance only. "In spite of his fortune, he leads a very simple life - you can't judge a book by its cover!"
	Juggling act	If you do a juggling act, you try to do different things in a way that is satisfactory for all concerned "For many women, managing a career and looking after a family can be quite a juggling act."
	Jump out of one's skin.	If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked. "Jane nearly jumped out of her skin when the horse put its head through the window!"
	The jury is still out	To say that the jury is still out means that something is under consideration but no decision has been reached yet "The jury is still out on the location of the new station."
	Just what the doctor ordered	If something is just what the doctor ordered, it is extremely pleasant and will help you feel better. "A week-end in the sun - just what the doctor ordered!"