English idioms describing places and things

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English idioms DESCRIPTIONS of PLACES - THINGS - EVENTS

Act of God	This term refers to a natural event or accident, for which no person is responsible (such as an earthquake, lightning and similar acts of nature). "The insurance company refused to pay for the damage because it was caused by an act of God."
Been in/through the wars	If a person or thing has been in (or through) the wars, they show signs of rough treatment, injury or damage. "He arrived in a car that looked as if it had been in the wars.'
Beyond redemption	If something is beyond redemption, it is in such a poor state that there is no hope of improvement or recovery. "With the latest scandal, his reputation is now beyond redemption."
Broad strokes	If something is described or defined with/in broad strokes, it is outlined in a very general way, without any details. "In a few broad strokes he summed up the situation."
Collecting dust	If something is collecting dust, it hasn't been touched or used for a long period of time. "My dad doesn't play golf any more. His clubs are just collecting dust now."
Come in handy	To say that something may come in handy means that it may be useful some time or other. "Don't throw away those old shelves; they may come in handy."
Copper-bottomed	To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement as 'copper-bottomed' means that it is completely safe or reliable. "He has signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributor."
Cover/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!"
Creature comforts	This expression refers to modern conveniences (such as hot water or central heating) that make life comfortable and pleasant. "I need my creature comforts. I don't know how I'd survive without air-conditioning in this climate!"
A cut above	Someone or something which is a cut above the others is better or of higher quality. "The articles in this magazine are a cut above the others."
Cut and dried	To refer to a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that it is considered clear and straightforward with no likely complications. "When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected."
Dead as a dodo	To say that something is (as) dead as a dodo means that it is without doubt dead or obsolete, or has gone out of fashion. (The dodo is a bird that is now extinct.) "The floppy disk is an invention that is now (as) dead as a dodo."
Dead as a doornail	This expression is used to stress that a something is unquestionably dead. "They've started fighting again, so the peace agreement is now dead as a doornail."
Dog and pony show	A dog and pony show is a marketing event or presentation which has plenty of style but not much content.
Fait accompli	This French term refers to something that has been done and cannot be changed. "He used his savings to buy a motorbike and then presented his parents with a fait accompli."
Fall between two stools	If something falls between two stools, it is neither totally one thing nor another, and is therefore unsatisfactory. "The book didn't sell because it fell between two stools; it appealed neither to historians nor to the general public.
Few and far between	Items, places or events which are few and far between are rarely found or do not happen very often. "Restaurants in this part of the country are few and far between."
Fit the bill	If someone or something fits the bill, they are exactly right for for a particular situation. "They wanted a quiet place for the week-end and the country inn just fitted the bill."
Flag of convenience	If a ship, boat or yacht sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a foreign country in order to avoid regulations and taxes and reduce operating costs.
For the birds	If you think something is for the birds, you consider it to be uninteresting, useless, or not to be taken seriously. "As far as I'm concerned, his theory is for the birds!"
A free-for-all	This term refers to an uncontrolled situation such as a discussion, argument or event where everyone present can do or say what they like. "It started as a serious debate but turned into a free-for-all."
A Freudian slip	This refers to a mistake made by a speaker which is considered to reveal their true thoughts or feelings. "So you got the job - I'm so sad - sorry, I mean glad!"
Gizmo	The term gizmo refers to a gadget or any small technological item which is unusual or novel, and for which the proper term is unknown or forgotten.
Gutter press	This term refers to newspapers that print a lot of sensational stories about people's private lives. "Of course the gutter press was quick to print a sensational version of the incident! "
(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."
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!"
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
Smack dab in the middle	If something is smack dab in the middle, it's right in the centre. "I couldn't hide the stain on my shirt. It was smack dabble in the middle.
Mixed blessing	Something pleasant which also has disadvantages is called a mixed blessing. "He inherited an 18th century mansion, but the maintenance costs make it a mixed blessing."
More than meets the eye	When something (or someone) is more complicated, difficult or interesting that it appears, it is said that there is more than meets the eye. "He said he simply sold his shares, but I think there's more to it than meets the eye."
Not a patch on someone	If someone or something is not a patch on an other, they are not nearly as good. "His second conference wasn't a patch on the first one.
Not in the same league	If something is not in the same league, it is of a much lower standard that something else. "He had a good voice but he wasn't in the same league as Pavarotti "
Not up to scratch	If something or somebody is not up to scratch, they are not as good as they should be. "The after sales service is really not up to scratch."
A notch above	Something that is a notch above something else is a little better in every way "His rendering of the song was a notch above the others."
Odds and ends	Odds and ends are small articles, or bits and pieces of all sorts, usually of little value. "I keep all my odds and ends in this drawer."
On the map	If a place becomes very well known, it is put on the map. "The president's visit really put the restaurant on the map."
Picture is worth a thousand words	This expression means that a picture can give just as much information as a large amount of descriptive text. "Look at the picture of the crash! A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it?"
The pits	If something is referred to as the pits, it is considered to be absolutely the worst. "That magazine really is the pits!"
A recipe for disaster	If you refer to a plan or an idea as a recipe for disaster, you think it is likely to produce bad results. "Our two families together for Christmas? Sounds like a recipe for disaster!"
Right up your alley	If something is right up your alley, it is the sort of thing you like or have knowledge about. "You like cooking, don't you? This book will be right up your alley!"
Rough and ready	Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined. "The accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!"
Run-of-the-mill	Something described as run-of-the-mill is considered ordinary or uneventful. "I've got nothing extraordinary to tell; it was a run-of-the-mill sales meeting."
Seen better days	If something has seen better days, it has aged visibly in comparison to when it was new. "My much-travelled suitcase has seen better days!"
Set in stone	When something is set in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed in any way. "The agenda isn't set in stone; we can add an item if need be."
Simplicity itself	Something that is simplicity itself is extremely easy to do. "Using the tool is simplicity itself; just turn it on and the instructions appear."
Snail mail	This term refers to the standard system of mail delivery, or postal service, considered very slow compared to electronic mail. "More and more people are using e-mail rather than traditional delivery services, snail mail.'
Stand the test of time	If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years. "The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today."
Stick out a mile	If something sticks out a mile, it is very obvious or very easy to see. "You can see she's had a facelift - it sticks out a mile!"
Stink to high heaven	If something has a very strong unpleasant smell, it stinks to high heaven. "Take off those socks - they stink to high heaven!"
Streets ahead	If a person or organization is streets ahead of another, they are much better or more advanced. "In measures to preserve the planet, the Scandinavians are streets ahead of us."
Sublime to ridiculous	If something goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, it deteriorates in quality from serious or admirable to absurd or unimportant. "An opera followed by a Mr Muscle contest is going from the sublime to the ridiculous!"
Top notch	To say that something is top notch means that it is of the highest possible quality or standard. "The hotel was wonderful and the service was top notch."

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