English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - B, page 10
from: 'blank cheque'
to: 'blow your cover'
- (a) blank cheque
- If you give someone a blank cheque, you authorise
them to do what they think is best in a difficult situation.
"Tom was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best deal possible."
- If you give someone a blank cheque, you authorise
them to do what they think is best in a difficult situation.
- (a) wet blanket
- To refer to someone as a wet blanket means that they
spoil other people's fun, or make an event less enjoyable than it could have been.
"Come on Mike! Don't be such a wet blanket. You're spoiling the party!"
- To refer to someone as a wet blanket means that they
spoil other people's fun, or make an event less enjoyable than it could have been.
- (a) blessing in disguise
- A blessing in disguise refers to something that is
unpleasant at first but later turns out to have advantages.
"Missing the plane was a blessing in disguise - that's how he met his wife. She was a member of the crew on the next flight!"
- A blessing in disguise refers to something that is
unpleasant at first but later turns out to have advantages.
- (a) blind alley
- If you go 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 a blind alley, you follow an ineffective
course of action which leads nowhere, or produces no results.
- (as) blind as a bat
- Someone whose vision is very poor, or who is unable to see
anything, is (as) blind as a bat.
"Without his glasses, the old man is as blind as a bat."
- Someone whose vision is very poor, or who is unable to see
anything, is (as) blind as a bat.
- (the) blind leading the blind
- The expression 'the blind leading the blind'
describes a person with very little ability trying to help or guide a person with no ability.
"Don't ask Sofia to translate it. She hardly speaks a word of English herself. It would be a case of the blind leading the blind."
- The expression 'the blind leading the blind'
describes a person with very little ability trying to help or guide a person with no ability.
- blind someone with science
- If someone tries to blind you with science, they
confuse you with their knowledge by using difficult or technical words.
"When you ask Tim for a simple explanation, he blinds you with science."
- If someone tries to blind you with science, they
confuse you with their knowledge by using difficult or technical words.
- (in the) blink of an eye
- If something happens in the blink of an eye, it
happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
"The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye."
- If something happens in the blink of an eye, it
happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
- on the blink
- If a machine is on the blink, a light flickering on and off shows
that it is not working properly and needs servicing or repair.
"What a nuisance! The photocopier is on the blink again."
- If a machine is on the blink, a light flickering on and off shows
that it is not working properly and needs servicing or repair.
- 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.
- makes your blood boil
- If something makes your blood boil,
it makes you really angry.
"His condescending attitude made my blood boil!"
- If something makes your blood boil,
it makes you really angry.
- makes your blood run cold
- If something makes your blood run cold, it shocks or scares you a lot.
"The look in the prisoner's eyes made my blood run cold."
- If something makes your blood run cold, it shocks or scares you a lot.
- (get) blood out of a stone
- The expression 'get blood from a stone' refers to something that is very difficult to obtain.
"Negotiating a reduction from that company is like getting blood from a stone!"
- The expression 'get blood from a stone' refers to something that is very difficult to obtain.
- blood, sweat and tears
- A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
"His success wasn't due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way."
- A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
- a late bloomer
- To refer to someone as
a late bloomer means that they take longer than usual or expected
to develop in a particular field, show their talents or demonstrate their capabilities.
"He was quite slow at school but he turned out to be a late bloomer who is now a renowned academic ! "
- To refer to someone as
a late bloomer means that they take longer than usual or expected
to develop in a particular field, show their talents or demonstrate their capabilities.
- blot one's copy-book
- Someone who blots their copy-book does something to spoil their good record or reputation.
"He blotted his copy-book when he was arrested for speeding."
- Someone who blots their copy-book does something to spoil their good record or reputation.
- blow away the cobwebs
- If something blows away the cobwebs, it makes you feel more lively and refreshes your ideas.
"Let's get out of the house. A walk on the beach will blow away the cobwebs!"
- If something blows away the cobwebs, it makes you feel more lively and refreshes your ideas.
- blow your cover
- If someone blows your cover, they inadvertently reveal your true identity or your intentions.
"Harry dressed up as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but the dog recognized him and blew his cover!"
"An agent infiltrated the gang but a news report on TV blew his cover."
- If someone blows your cover, they inadvertently reveal your true identity or your intentions.
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