English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms B, page 15
Idioms B, page 15: from: 'bricks and mortar' to: 'pass the buck'
- bricks and mortar / bricks and clicks
- An established trading company (office/shop) is referred to
as a 'brick-and-mortar' business.
'Click companies' refer to internet-based operations.
Companies which do both are called 'bricks and clicks'.
"Click businesses are usually more flexible than brick-and-mortar operations."
- An established trading company (office/shop) is referred to
as a 'brick-and-mortar' business.
- bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
- A person who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is
very enthusiastic and full of energy.
"Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and worked with us all day."
- A person who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is
very enthusiastic and full of energy.
- bring the house down
- If you bring the house down, you give a very
successful performance.
"If Charlie sings like that on Saturday, he'll bring the house down."
- If you bring the house down, you give a very
successful performance.
- bring something/nothing to the table
- If you participate in negotiations and bring nothing to the table,
you have nothing of interest to
offer the other side.
"We'll never reach an agreement if we don't all bring something to the table."
- If you participate in negotiations and bring nothing to the table,
you have nothing of interest to
offer the other side.
- bring someone to heel
- If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner,
you bring them to heel.
"The boy had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel."
- If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner,
you bring them to heel.
- bring up the rear
- Someone who brings up the rear is the last person
in a group of people who are walking or running.
"The pupils walked calmly down the corridor, with the teacher bringing up the rear."
- Someone who brings up the rear is the last person
in a group of people who are walking or running.
- in broad daylight
- If something happens in broad daylight, it takes
place in the clear light of day when everyone can see what's going on.
"His car was stolen in front of the bank, in broad daylight, and apparently there was not one witness!"
- If something happens in broad daylight, it takes
place in the clear light of day when everyone can see what's going on.
- (as) broad as it's long
- This expression means that there is no real difference which
alternative is chosen.
"Take the high-speed train, or fly and take a taxi? It's as broad as it's long."
- This expression means that there is no real difference which
alternative is chosen.
- 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."
- If something is described or defined with/in
broad strokes, it is outlined in a very general way, without any details.
- (as) brown as a berry
- To say that someone is as brown as a berry means that
they are very tanned.
"Judy came back from her holiday as brown as a berry."
- To say that someone is as brown as a berry means that
they are very tanned.
- browned off
- If you are browned off, you are bored, fed up or disheartened.
"Tom is browned off with his job."
- If you are browned off, you are bored, fed up or disheartened.
- have a brush with something
- When you have a brush with something, such as the law,
you encounter or experience it briefly.
"He had a brush with the law for speeding a few years ago, but he has had a clean record ever since."
- When you have a brush with something, such as the law,
you encounter or experience it briefly.
- the bubble has burst
- To say that means that the success
of an idea, a product or a situation has suddenly stopped.
"The video game was a phenomenal success but the bubble has burst."
- To say that means that the success
of an idea, a product or a situation has suddenly stopped.
- pass the buck
- If you say that someone is passing the buck, you
are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting
someone else to handle it.
"Sam takes the easy way out. Whenever a problem arises, he immediately passes the buck!"
- If you say that someone is passing the buck, you
are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting
someone else to handle it.
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