English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - B, page 10
from: 'blank cheque'
to: 'blow away cobwebs'
- (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.
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