English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
VIOLENCE and AGGRESSIVENESS
Idioms
from:
'bandit territory' to: 'in/through the wars'
- bandit territory
- A geographical area where law enforcement is practically impossible,
because people ignore all rules, is called 'bandit territory'.
"There are a certain number of bandit territories in the world where travellers are advised not to go."
- A geographical area where law enforcement is practically impossible,
because people ignore all rules, is called 'bandit territory'.
- beat someone black and blue
- If a person is
covered with bruise marks caused by being
hit, they have been beaten black and
blue.
"The passenger was beaten black and blue by a gang of thugs.
- If a person is
covered with bruise marks caused by being
hit, they have been beaten black and
blue.
- beat/knock the (living) daylights
out of someone
- If a person beats the (living) daylights
out of another, they hit them very hard and repeatedly.
"If I catch you stealing again I'll beat the daylights out of you!"
- If a person beats the (living) daylights
out of another, they hit them very hard and repeatedly.
- bite someone's head off
- If you bite someone's head off,
you suddenly criticize them angrily (and perhaps unfairly).
"I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my head off , accusing me of not doing my share of the work!"
- If you bite someone's head off,
you suddenly criticize them angrily (and perhaps unfairly).
- come to blows
- If two or more people come to blows, they start to fight.
"The debate was so intense that the participants almost came to blows."
- If two or more people come to blows, they start to fight.
- fight like cat and dog
- Two people who fight or argue like cat and dog
frequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other.
"They fight like cat and dog but they're still together after 30 years."
- Two people who fight or argue like cat and dog
frequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other.
- fight tooth and nail
- If you fight tooth and nail for
something, you fight with energy and determination.
"The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have the proposed road safety law accepted."
- If you fight tooth and nail for
something, you fight with energy and determination.
- (fight an) uphill battle
- A person faced with an uphill battle
has to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances.
"After the terrible accident, his recovery was an uphill battle all the way."
- A person faced with an uphill battle
has to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances.
- (a) free-for-all
- The term free-for-all refers to an uncontrolled
situation such as an argument or fight where everyone present can do what they like.
"It started as a serious debate but turned into a free-for-all."
- The term free-for-all refers to an uncontrolled
situation such as an argument or fight where everyone present can do what they like.
- (the) gloves are off!
- The expression the gloves are off is used when
there are signs that a fight is about to start.
"The two candidates are out of their seats. The gloves are off!"
- The expression the gloves are off is used when
there are signs that a fight is about to start.
- (want someone's) head on a platter
- If someone makes you so angry that you want
them to be punished, you want their head on a platter.
"He was so angry when he read the article about his family that he wanted the journalist's head on a platter."
- If someone makes you so angry that you want
them to be punished, you want their head on a platter.
- road rage
- Aggressive driving habits sometimes resulting in violence
against other drivers is called road rage.
"A number of accidents today are a direct result of road rage."
- Aggressive driving habits sometimes resulting in violence
against other drivers is called road rage.
- stab someone in the back
- If someone stabs you in the back , they betray you
by doing something harmful to you when you thought you could trust them.
"His best friend stabbed him in the back by voting against him."
- If someone stabs you in the back , they betray you
by doing something harmful to you when you thought you could trust them.
- let off steam
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy
or strong feelings either through intense physical activity or by talking in an
unrestrained manner.
"It was such a stressful day for Tom that he decided to go to the gym club to let off steam."
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy
or strong feelings either through intense physical activity or by talking in an
unrestrained manner.
- take cover
- When someone takes cover, they
hide from a danger in a place where they find protection.
"As soon as the explosion was heard, people ran to take cover."
- When someone takes cover, they
hide from a danger in a place where they find protection.
- take the law into your own hands
- If, instead of calling the police, you act personally against
someone who has done something wrong, you take the law into your own hands.
"Instead of calling the police, he took the law into his own hands and confronted the youth who had stolen his son's scooter."
- If, instead of calling the police, you act personally against
someone who has done something wrong, you take the law into your own hands.
- tit for tat
- The expression tit for tat
refers to an injury or insult given in return for one received.
"He kicked me, so I kicked him - it was tit for tat!" said the boy."
- The expression tit for tat
refers to an injury or insult given in return for one received.
- up in arms
- If you are up in arms about something,
you are very angry.
"The population was up in arms over the demolition of the old theatre."
- If you are up in arms about something,
you are very angry.
- in/through the wars
- If someone or something 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."
- If someone or something has been in (or through) the wars,
they show signs of rough treatment, injury
or damage.
Alphabetical lists: