English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
SUCCESS - FAILURE, page 1
Idioms
from:
'ace a test' to: 'had one's chips'
- ace a test
- If you obtain a very high score or an excellent
result, you ace a test or exam.
"Maria's parents said she could go to the party if she aced her English test."
- If you obtain a very high score or an excellent
result, you ace a test or exam.
- (an) ace in the hole
- A poker term wihch means an advantage or resource kept hidden
until needed.
"Our candidate has an ace in the hole that will ensure victory ... you'll see!"
- A poker term wihch means an advantage or resource kept hidden
until needed.
- (have an) ace up your sleeve
- If you have an ace up your sleeve,
you have something in reserve with which you
can gain an advantage and obtain success.
"I'm well prepared for the negotiations. I've got an ace up my sleeve"
- If you have an ace up your sleeve,
you have something in reserve with which you
can gain an advantage and obtain success.
- hold all the aces
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong
position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
"Given the high unemployment rates today, employers hold all the aces."
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong
position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
- also ran
- The term also ran refers to
an unsuccessful competitor whose performance
is so much poorer than the winner's that it
appears insignificant.
"He entered the contest hoping that he wouldn't end up as an 'also-ran'."
- The term also ran refers to
an unsuccessful competitor whose performance
is so much poorer than the winner's that it
appears insignificant.
- back to square one
- To say that someone is back to
square one means that they have not
succeeded in what they were trying to do, so
they have to start again.
"When the plans were refused, it was 'back to square one' for the architect."
- To say that someone is back to
square one means that they have not
succeeded in what they were trying to do, so
they have to start again.
- in the bag
- People use the expression
'in the bag' when it becomes obvious that success
or victory is going to be achieved.
"An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in the bag for the Conservative candidate."
- People use the expression
'in the bag' when it becomes obvious that success
or victory is going to be achieved.
- bear fruit
- If something bears fruit, it
produces positive or successful results.
"After years of hard work, his research finally began to bear fruit."
- If something bears fruit, it
produces positive or successful results.
- blind alley
- If you go up, or a lead
up, a blind alley, you follow
an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results.
"The suspect's 'revelations' lead the police up a blind alley."
- If you go up, or a lead
up, a blind alley, you follow
an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results.
- (a) blockbuster
- Something that is outstanding, impressive or
particularly successful, such as a film or a book, is called a
blockbuster.
"The TV series was a blockbuster."
- Something that is outstanding, impressive or
particularly successful, such as a film or a book, is called a
blockbuster.
- blow up in your face
- When working on a plan or project, if it
suddenly goes wrong or fails, it blows up in your face.
"The trip was difficult to organise, but it blew up in his face when the airline company went on strike."
- When working on a plan or project, if it
suddenly goes wrong or fails, it blows up in your face.
- (the) bottom falls out / drops out
- When something causes a plan, project or
venture to collapse or fail, the bottom falls out of it.
"When heavy rain was announced, the bottom fell out of their plans for a beach party."
- When something causes a plan, project or
venture to collapse or fail, the bottom falls out of it.
- bring the house down
- If you bring the house down,
you give a very successful performance.
"If he sings like that on Saturday, he'll bring the house down."
- If you bring the house down,
you give a very successful performance.
- (the) cake not worth the candle
- To say that the cake is not worth the candle means
that the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.
"He recorded an album but sold very few copies; the cake wasn't worth the candle."
- To say that the cake is not worth the candle means
that the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.
- chance one's arm
- If you chance your arm, you
decide to do something even though there is little hope of success.
"Tony knew there was little hope of getting into Harvard but he decided to chance his arm anyway."
- If you chance your arm, you
decide to do something even though there is little hope of success.
- had one's chips
- To say that someone has had their
chips
means that they have completely failed in
what they set out to achieve.
"After the second round, it looked as though Watson had had his chips."
- To say that someone has had their
chips
means that they have completely failed in
what they set out to achieve.
More Idioms:
Success and failure ...
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.