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."
	Idiot box	Some people consider television to lack educational value and refer to it as the idiot box. "He spends all his free time in front of the idiot box."
	If it ain't broke don't fix it!	This expression means that if a system or method works well, you shouldn't change it. "We're not changing our alarm system. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
	If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!	This expression means that if you feel that there is too much pressure, you can leave. Amid the growing tension the organizer declared: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"
	Ignorance is bliss	This expression means that if you don't know about a problem or unpleasant fact, you won't worry about it. "I didn't know our neighbour was an escaped prisoner until the police arrived - ignorance is bliss!"
	Ill-gotten gains	Money, profit or benefits that are made in a dishonest or illegal manner are called ill-gotten gains. "He won money by cheating and is now enjoying his ill-gotten gains."
	Industrial-strength	This is a humorous way of referring to something which is very strong, powerful or concentrated. "I've got an industrial-strength headache this morning!"
	Infomania	If you are constantly checking and responding to email and text messages, you may be the victim of a new addiction called infomania. "The abuse of technology has led to a state of infomania; employees are addicted to checking email and text messages during meetings."
	In cahoots with someone	If one person is in cahoots with another, they are working in close partnership, usually conspiring to do something dishonest. "There was a rumour that the Mayor was in cahoots with a chain of supermarkets."
	In a class of one's own	If someone is in a class of their own, they are unequalled and considered better than anyone else of their kind. "As a singer, Maria Callas was in a class of her own."
	In dire straits	If a person or organization is in dire straits, they are in a very difficult situation. "The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire straits."
	In the heat of the moment	If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it without pausing to think, at a time when you are experiencing unusually strong emotions such as anger, excitement, etc. "I was so angry that in the heat of the moment I said things that I regretted later."
	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 long run	This term refers to something that will have effect over or after a long period of time. "I've decided to study Chinese, which is going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it in the long run because it'll help me get a better job."
	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 the middle of nowhere	If a place is in the middle of nowhere, it is in a remote area, far from towns, villages or houses. "The campsite was in the middle of nowhere so I couldn't send you a postcard."
	In retrospect	This expression is used to refer to a past situation or event, particularly if your present opinion is different from the one you had at the time. "In retrospect, we were not aware of the effects on the environment."
	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."
	In vino veritas	This expression, which in Latin means "in wine there is truth", is a way of saying that wine makes people less inhibited and leads them to speak more freely and reveal their true feelings. "After a few drinks he told the whole story - in vino veritas!"
	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."
	In the interim	Something that happens in the interim takes place during a period of time between two events. "I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim I'm staying at a local hotel."
	Iron fist/hand in a velvet glove	This expression is used to describe someone who, behind an appearance of gentleness, is inflexible and determined. "To impose the necessary reforms, the leader used persuasion followed by force - an iron fist in a velvet glove."
	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!"
	Itchy feet	A person who has itchy feet is someone who wants to move somewhere new or do something different. "Charlie changes jobs very often - he's got itchy feet!"
	Itching (or itchy) palm	Someone who has an itching palm is greedy for money, for example tips or commission (as if putting money in the palm of their hand would ease the itch). "He's said to have an itching palm - he does nothing without payment!"
	Be an item	To say that two people are an item means that they are involved in a romantic relationship. "So Sally and Harry are an item, are they?"
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."
	Jog someone's memory	When you help somebody to remember something they have forgotten, you jog their memory. "You don't remember who was with us that day? Here's a photograph to jog your memory."
	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!"
	Don't judge by appearances (also: go by appearances)	This expression means that you should not form an opinion based on outward appearances only. You should also look at what is inside. "She looks self-confident but don't judge by appearances."
	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!"
	Juggle frogs	A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with many different tasks at the same time and finding the situation difficult. "I've got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I'm juggling frogs."
	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!"
	Jump to conclusions	A person who jumps to conclusions reaches a decision or makes a judgement too fast, before taking the time to check out all the facts. "We haven't got the full story yet so let's not jump to conclusions."
	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 around the corner	If something is just around the corner, it will happen very soon. "With spring just around the corner, the new collection should begin to sell."
	Get one's just deserts	When someone gets their just deserts, they are rewarded or punished according to what they deserve. "Liz got her just deserts when she was excluded from the committee; she is totally unreliable."
	Just off the boat	A person who is just off the boat is naive and lacks experience. "He's efficient although he look as if he's just off the boat."
	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!"