www.learn-english-today.com

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


 ENGLISH  IDIOMS  &  IDIOMATIC  EXPRESSIONS


ALPHABETICAL  LIST  -  L
 

 


 

Idiom

Meaning

L  Labour of love   A task that you do for your own pleasure and satisfaction and not for
  reward or profit is called a labour of love.
  "Preparing Christmas dinner for the family is what my mother calls
  a "labour of love".
   Lame duck   A person or organization that is in difficulty and unable to manage
  without help is called a lame duck.
  "Some banks have become lame ducks recently."
   Lame excuse   A lame excuse is an explanation which is weak and unconvincing.
  "If you're scared to do it, just say so. Don't invent some lame excuse."
   Land of the living   This is a humorous way of saying that someone is still alive.
 "Hi there! It's good to see you're still in the land of the living!"
   Land on your feet   If you land on your feet, you make a quick recovery after a difficulty
  such as a business failure, an illness, a loss, etc.
  "Don't worry about Bob.  He always lands on his feet!"
   Lash out   If you lash out at somebody, you attack them, usually verbally.
  "
On the ninth hole, Pete suddenly lashed out at Scott and
  accused him of cheating."
   Last thing on one's mind   If you say that something is the last thing on your mind, you mean
  that it is not an important matter at all, especially when you have
  more serious problems to consider.
  "I'm so busy that food is the last thing on my mind."
   Last resort   If you say that you would do something as a last resort, it is the last
  thing you would do if you were desperate and all other courses of
  action had failed.
 
"I still haven't found a hotel for tonight; I can always sleep in the car
  as a last resort!"
   That's the last straw!   The expression means that  this is the latest unpleasant event,
  and that you cannot tolerate the situation any longer.
   Last word
 
  Something described as the last word is the most recent or most
  fashionable in its category.
  "Steve's new computer is the last word in technology."
   Laugh all the way to the bank   A person who makes a lot of money easily, especially through
  someone else's stupidity, is said to
laugh all the way to the bank.
 
"
If we don't succeed in renewing the contract, our competitors will be
  laughing all the way to the  bank"
   Laugh something off   When you laugh about something that has upset or hurt you, in order
  to make it seem less important, or to try to show that you do not care,
  you laugh it off.
 
"She overheard her colleague's critical remark, but she laughed it off."
   Laugh up your sleeve   If you laugh up your sleeve, you are secretly amused at another
  person's problems or difficulties.
  "Tom felt that his explanation was confusing and that his colleague
  was laughing up his sleeve."
   Laughing stock   This expression refers to a person or group that everyone laughs at
  because they do something stupid or ridiculous.
  "If you wear that to school you'll be the laughing stock of the class!" 
   Lay down the law   Someone who lays down the law tells people very forcefully and
  firmly what to do.
 
"The volunteers helped in a disorganized way.
  They needed someone to lay down the law."
   Lead somebody up the garden
 path
  If someone leads you up the garden path, they deceive you
  by making you believe something which is not true.
  "I still haven't got a promotion.  I think my boss is
   leading me up the garden path!"
   Lead to a dead end   If a plan or a project leads to a dead end, it develops no further
  because it has no future.
 
"In  spite of the scientists' efforts, the research lead to a dead end."
   Leaps and bounds
 
  If you do something in/by leaps and bounds, you make rapid or
  spectacular progress or growth.
  "The number of subscribers to the review has grown in leaps and
  bounds."
   Learn the hard way   If you learn the hard way, you learn through your own experience,
  good and bad, rather than from the advice or guidance of others.

  "His refusal to accept any help meant that he had to learn the hard
  way."
   Learning curve
 
  This expression refers to the length of time needed to learn
  something new.
  "The new system has a long learning curve so we'll have to give
  the staff time to get used to it."
   Leave the door open   If you leave the door open, you behave in such a way as to allow
  the possibility of further action.
  "Both parties left the door open for further negotiations."
   Leave no stone unturned   If you try everything possible in order to achieve something or to find
  something, you leave no stone unturned.
 
 "The management left no stone unturned in their efforts to find
  a solution to the crisis."
   Leave well alone   If you leave well alone, you decide not to interfere with or
  change something that is acceptable or adequate.
  "It would be hard to get a better deal.  Let's just leave well alone."
   The left hand doesn't know what
 the right hand is doing
 
  This expression means that communication within a group or
  organization is so bad that people don't know what the others
  are doing. 
   Left hanging in the air
 (or in mid-air)
  If a problem or issue is left hanging in the air, no decision has
  been taken so it remains without a solution.
  "No solution was proposed during the meeting so the question was
  left hanging in the air."
   Left to your own devices    If you leave someone to their own devices, you let them
  look after themselves, without any help. 
  "When left to their own devices, many children watch TV
  and eat junk food."
   Pull somebody's leg    If you pull somebody's leg, you tease them by telling them
  something that is not true.
  "Of course I'm not going to buy a sports car.  I was just
  pulling your leg!"
   Not have a leg to stand on   To say that someone doesn't have a leg to stand on means
  that they can't prove what they say. 
  "Three people testified against him.  He didn't have a leg to stand on."
   On your last legs   If you are on your last legs, you are in a very weak condition or
  about to die.
   Less is more   This expression, used particularly in architecture and design,
  conveys the idea that things that are simple in style and smaller in
  size are better.
  "Simplicity is fashionable today.  Less is more."
   Lesser of two evils   If you choose the lesser of two evils, you opt for the less
  unpleasant of two poor options.
  "I didn't want to go. Choosing the train instead of driving was the
  lesser of two evils; at least I could relax on the way."
   Let bygones be bygones   If you let bygones be bygones, you decide to forget about past
  disagreements.
 
"When Charlie's son was born, he decided to let bygones be
   bygones and contacted his parents."
   Let me bounce this off you.   You say this when you present an idea or plan to someone in order
   to test their reaction or obtain feedback.
  "I think I've found a way of making money. 
   Let me bounce this off you."
   Let the cat out of the bag   If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret,
  often not intentionally.
   To the letter   If you follow instructions or directions to the letter, you do exactly
  as is told or written.
  "Although she followed the instructions to the letter, she couldn't get
  the DVD player to work."
   Barefaced liar
 
  Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is called a
  barefaced liar.

 
"That barefaced liar stole my watch and said he'd found it!"
   Licence to print money   This expression refers to an officially authorized activity which enables
  people to make a lot of money without much effort.
  "The contract to supply computers to schools was a licence to print
  money
."
   A lick and a promise   If you give something a lick and a promise, you make a quick and
  careless attempt to clean something, with the intention of doing it
  more thoroughly later.
  "She gave the kitchen a lick and a promise before she ran to catch
  the bus"
   Lick one's wounds   When a person licks their wounds, they try to recover their
  confidence or spirits after a defeat, failure or disappointment.
 
"Poor Harry is licking his wounds after being dropped off the team."
   Keep the lid on something   If you  keep the lid on something, you hide it
  or control it to prevent people from finding out about it.
  "The company tried to keep a lid on the negotiations but word got out
  to the Press."
   Lie in   If you lie in, you stay in bed after the normal time for getting up.
  "Great! Tomorrow I'm not on duty so I can lie in."
   Lie through your teeth   If you lie through your teeth, you lie openly and brazenly,
  knowing that what you are saying is completely false.
  "
I saw him breaking the window. If he denies it, he's lying through
  his teeth."
   Tell a white lie   To tell a white lie means to say something which is not true
  in order to protect someone or to avoid hurting their feelings.
   (Risk) life and limb   If you risk life and limb, you are in danger of death or serious
  injury.
 "The roads are icy today; you'll risk life and limb if you go by car."
   Life and soul of the party   The life and soul of the party is the most lively and amusing
  person present at an event.

  "
I'm so glad we invited Caroline. She was the life and soul of the
  party!"
   Life is just a bowl of cherries!   This expression means that life is pleasant and uncomplicated.
  "Now that he's retired, my grandfather often says
  "life is just a bowl of cherries".
   Life of Riley   If you live the life of Riley, you have a comfortable and enjoyable
  life, without having to work too hard.
  "
He married a millionaire, and since then he's been living the life of
  Riley."
   Light at the end of the tunnel   If you see light at the end of the tunnel, you see signs of hope
  for the future after a long period of difficulty.
 
"Sales dropped heavily last year but we're beginning to see light
  at the end of the tunnel."
   Light years ahead   If someone or something is light years ahead, they are far ahead
  in terms of development or progress.
  "We've got to invest more in research - our competitors are light
  years ahead!"
   Lights are on, but no one is home   A humorous way of referring to a person who is lacking intellect
  and/or sanity, or to someone who is simply preoccupied and not
  paying attention.
  "Forget about Andy today - the lights are on but no one is home!"
   Light work   If a person makes light work of something, they do it very easily or
  with little effort.
 
"After the party, the boys made light work of the cleaning up. 
  The house was spotless when they left."
   Like the back of one's hand   If you know something like the back of your hand, you are very
  familiar with it and know it in detail.
  "Of course I won't get lost. I know London like the back of my hand!"
   Like a bat out of hell   If something moves like a bat out of hell, it moves very quickly.  
  "He grabbed the envelope and ran like a bat out of hell."
   Like a bear with a sore head   If someone is behaving like a bear with a sore head, they are very
  irritable and bad-tempered.
  "When his team lost the match, Brad was like a bear with a sore head."
   Like bringing a knife to a gunfight   To say that an action was like bringing a knife to a gunfight
  means that there was a total lack of preparation.
  "Asking an inexperienced lawyer to defend such a difficult case
  was like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
   Like a cat on hot bricks   A person who is like a cat on hot bricks is very nervous or
  restless.
  "The week before the results were published, she was like
   a cat on hot bricks."
   Like a scalded cat   If someone or something moves like a scalded cat, they move
  very fast, usually because they are frightened or shocked.
 
"As soon as he saw the policeman, he ran off like a scalded cat."
   Like the cat that ate the canary   If, after an achievement or success, a person appears very
  self-satisfied or pleased with themselves, you can say that they
  look like the cat that ate the canary.
  "When the boss complimented him on his work, Steve looked
  like the cat that ate the canary."
   Like death warmed up   If you look like death warmed up, you look very ill or tired.
  "My boss told me to go home. He said I looked like death
   warmed up."
   Like a dog with two tails    If somebody is like a dog with two tails, they are extremely
  happy.
 
"When Paul won the first prize, he was like a dog with two tails."
   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."
   Like it or lump it!   If you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean that they will
  have to accept something even if they don't like it, because the
  situation is not going to change.
  "We're spending a week this summer with your grandparents -
  like it or lump it!"
   Like a moth to a flame   To say that a person is attracted to someone or something
  like a moth to a flame means that the attraction is so strong
  they cannot resist.
  "He's drawn to the casino like a moth to a flame."
   Like a red flag to a bull   To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull means
  that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset.
  "Don't mention Tom's promotion to Mike.  It would be like a red flag
  to a bull!"
   Like something the cat
 dragged in
  If you compare a person or thing to something the cat dragged
  in
, you think they look dirty, untidy or generally unappealing.
  "My teenage son often looks like something the cat dragged in."
   Like taking candy from a baby   To say that something is like taking candy from a baby means
  that it is very easy to do.
  "Don't worry - you'll manage.  It'll be like taking candy from a baby!"
   Like taking sand to the beach   Doing something that is unnecessary or of no use at all is said to be
  like taking sand to the beach
.
 
"Bringing a cake to Judy's party is like taking sand to the beach; she
  always uses a caterer."
   Like there's no tomorrow.
 
(also: as if there were no tomorrow)
  If someone does something like there's no tomorrow, they do it
 
fast and eagerly, and regardless of the future, as if this could be
  their last opportunity to do it.
 
"I don't understand him; he's spending money like there's no
  tomorrow."
   Like a thief in the night   Someone who acts like a thief in the night does something
  secretly or in an unexpected manner.
 
"He left the company like a thief in the night, without telling his
  colleagues or saying goodbye."
   Like a ton of bricks   If somebody comes down on you like a ton of bricks,
  they criticize you severely because you have done something
  wrong.
   Like water off a duck's back   To say that something, such as criticism or advice, is like water
  off a duck's back
means that it has no effect at all.
  "He's warned of the dangers of smoking but it's like water off a
   duck's back."
   Likely story   This expression is used to say that you do not believe what has
  just been said.
  "He said he'd found the money on the street - that's a likely story!"
   Bottom line   If you use the term bottom line in an explanation or discussion,
  you refer to the most important or fundamental point.
   Cross the line.   To cross the line means to go beyond the authorized limits
  by doing something unacceptable.
   Line of least resistance   If you opt for the line of least resistance, you choose the easiest
  way of doing something.
 
"To make sure the children would stay inside, he chose the line of
  least resistance and rented a film."
   Read between the lines.   To read between the lines means to understand a situation
  without a clear explanation or full details.
   Lion's den   If you walk into the lion's den, you find yourself in a difficult situation
  in which you have to face unfriendly or aggressive people.
   Lion's share   The lion's share of something is the largest portion, or the best part.
 
"He left very little money to his children; the lion's share was donated
  to charity."
   Lip service   If you pay lip service to an idea or cause, you give verbal support
  or approval but fail to actually do anything.
  "In spite of promising equal pay for women, the management is
  suspected of  paying lip service to the promotion of women's rights."
   Keep a stiff upper lip   If a person keeps a stiff upper lip, they contain their emotion
  and do not let other people see their feelings.
  "When she heard the bad news, she kept a stiff upper lip."
   Lick/smack one's lips   To say that a person is licking or smacking their lips means that
  they are showing that they are excited about something and are
  eager for it to happen.
  "They were smacking their lips at the idea of the money they were
  going to make."
   Lips are sealed   If you say that your lips are sealed, you promise not to reveal a
  secret.
  "I promise I won't tell anyone.  My lips are sealed!"
   Lipstick on a pig   This expression means that trying to 'dress up' something unappealing
  or ugly, in a vain attempt to make it look better, is like putting lipstick
  on a pig
.
 "Flowers will not not improve that ugly old bridge; every one agrees that
  it's lipstick on a pig."
   Live beyond one's means   If someone lives beyond their means, they spend more money
  than they earn or can afford.
  "The cost of living was so much higher in New York that he was soon
  living beyond his means."
   Live from hand to mouth   If you live from hand to mouth, you don't have enough money
  to save. Whatever you earn is spent on food and other essentials.
 
"Most families in that poor area live from hand to mouth."
   Live high off the hog   Someone who lives high off the hog has a lot of money and a very
  comfortable lifestyle.
  "Now he's wealthy and living high off the hog."
   Live in an ivory tower.   A person who lives in an ivory tower has a lifestyle which
  preserves them from the problems and difficulties experienced by
  others.
 
"You're completely out of touch - it's time to come out of your ivory
  tower and see what's going on!"
   Live out of a suitcase   Someone who lives out of a suitcase travels a lot, moving from place
   to place, and is therefore restricted to the contents of their suitcase.
  "Sarah's new job involves so much travelling that she lives out of a
  suitcase most of the time."
   Live the life of Riley   If you live the life of Riley, you have a comfortable and enjoyable
  life, without having to work too hard.
  "
He married a millionaire, and since then he's been living the life of
  Riley."
   Live to tell the tale   Someone who lives to tell the tale survives a terrible experience.
 
"Only two members of the expedition lived to tell the tale."
   Live up to one's/its reputation   If someone or something lives up to its reputation, it's as good,
  or as bad, as people say.
  "The guesthouse lived up to its reputation; the owners were as friendly
  and hospitable as we had been told."
   Living on borrowed time   This expression refers to a period of time after an illness or accident
  which could have caused death.
  "After heart surgery, some patients say they're living on borrowed
  time."
   Lo and behold!   This term is used to express surprise, especially at a sudden or
  unexpected appearance.
  "I was watering the flowers, when lo and behold, there was the watch
  I'd lost!"
   A load/weight off somebody's
 mind
  If something takes a load or weight off somebody's mind, it
  brings great relief because a problem has been solved.
 
"When the company closed down, finding a new job took a
   load off Tom's mind."
   Loan shark   A loan shark is an unauthorised person who lends money at
  extremely high interest rates to people who are unable to obtain
  a loan from the bank.
  "The young immigrant was beaten because he was late paying
  back money to a loan shark."
   Lock horns   If you lock horns with somebody, you argue or fight with them about
  something.
  "If there is another incident like that in the building, the occupants
  will be locking horns!"
   Lock, stock and barrel    This expression means 'everything'.  
 
"Julie found the apartment empty.  David had taken everything
   - lock, stock and barrel!"
   At loggerheads   If you are at loggerheads with a person or organization, you
  disagree very strongly with them.
  "Management and trade unions are at loggerheads over the decision
  to close down the plant."
   A long row to hoe  This expression refers to a difficult task, assignment or undertaking
  that will take a long time.
  "Getting through medical school is going to be a long row to hoe."
   Look before you leap   This is something you say when advising someone to think
  carefully about the possible problems before doing something.

  "Don't decide too quickly. Look before you leap!"
   Look daggers at someone   Someone who looks daggers at another looks at them very angrily.
  "David looked daggers at Paul when he invited his new girlfriend to
  dance."
   Look down your nose   If someone looks down their nose at a person or thing, they
  consider that person or thing as inferior.
  "Intellectuals often look down their noses at amusement parks
  and such."
   Look like something the cat
 dragged in
  If you compare a person or thing to something the cat dragged in,
  you think they look dirty, untidy or generally unappealing.
 "
My teenage son often looks like something the cat dragged in.
   Look like the cat that ate the canary   If, after an achievement or success, a person appears very self-satisfied
  or pleased with themselves, you can say that they look like that cat
  that ate the canary
.
  "
When the boss complimented him on his work, Steve looked like the
   cat that ate the canary."
    Look on the bright side   If you look on the bright side, you view a mostly unpleasant situation
  in a positive and optimistic way and see the favourable aspects.
  "OK. You know nobody,  But there's a bright side - you'll make lots of
  new friends!"
   Look a sight   If a person looks a sight, their appearance is awful, unsuitable
  or very untidy.
  "She looks a sight in that dress!"
   Long in the tooth     A person who is long in the tooth is a bit too old to do something.
  "She's a bit long in the tooth for a cabaret dancer isn't she?"
   Loose cannon   Someone who is referred to as a loose cannon is a member of a
  group who cannot be completely trusted because of unpredictable
  and irresponsible behaviour which can cause trouble or danger.   
  "Keep an eye on Jamie. He tends to turn into a loose cannon when
  he has a few drinks."
   Be at a loose end    A person who is at a loose end has some spare time, and feels quite
  bored by having nothing in particular to do.
  "When the meeting was cancelled at the last minute, Julie
  unexpectedly found herself at a loose end.
   Lose one's marbles   If someone loses their marbles, they become mentally confused,
  or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
  "The old man is acting very strangely.  He seems to have lost his
  marbles."
   Lose the plot   If a situation becomes so confusing that you are unable to
  understand what is happening or what you are supposed to do,
  you lose the plot
  "His instructions were so long and confusing that I just lost
  the plot!
   Lose your shirt   If you lose your shirt, you lose all your money or possessions,
  especially as a result of speculation or gambling.
 
"He lost his shirt when the bank went bankrupt."
   Lose one's touch   If you lose your touch, you no longer have the ability to do
  something.
  "I used to be good at organizing trips but I've lost my touch!"
   Lose the thread   If you lose the thread of something such as a conversation or
  a story, you are unable to follow it.
  "There were so many interruptions during the film that I completely
  lost the thread."
   Lose track of time   When you give all your attention to something, and become so
  engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose
  track of time.
 
"When I start surfing on the web, I lose all track of time."
   Lose your train of thought   If you forget what you were saying, for example after a disturbance
  or  interruption, you lose your train of thought.
 
"Where was I? I'm afraid I've lost my train of thought!"
   At a loss    If a person is at a loss, they don't know what to say or do in
  a particular situation.
  "Teachers are at a loss to know how to deal with the increase in
   violence in schools."
   A lost ball in high weeds   Someone who is totally confused, and doesn't know what they
  are doing or how to do it, is a lost ball in high weeds.
  "The new intern is a lost ball in high weeds - he has no idea how
   to begin the task he's been given."
   Love me, love my dog   This expression means that if someone loves you, they must love
  everything about you, including everyone and everything that you
  love.
   No love lost   To say that there is no love lost between two people  means that 
  they do not like each other at all.
  "There is no love lost between the Conservative Party and the
   Liberal Party."
   At a low ebb

 

  A person or organization at a low ebb is not as strong or
  successful as usual.
  "The recent political crisis has left  the country at a low ebb."
   Luck of the draw   To refer to something that happens as the luck of the draw means
  that it is the result of pure chance, with no possibility of choice.
  "The samples distributed varied in size and value; it was the luck of
   the draw!"
   The lull before the storm     This expression refers to a period of unnatural calm before a
  difficult time or violent activity.
 
"
The sales start on January 1st. The quiet period before that is
  just the lull before the storm."
   A lump in your throat   If you have a lump in your throat, you have a tight feeling in
  your throat because of a strong emotion such as sadness or
  gratitude.
  "The speech was so touching that I had a lump in my throat."
   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."

 
 
 

 Other
 Lists:

A

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

more idioms               home


copyright k.beke.  all rights reserved.