English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - B, page 2
from: 'badger someone'
to: 'whole new ball game'
- badger someone
- If you badger someone into doing something,
you persistently nag or pester them until you obtain what you want.
"Sophie badgered her parents into buying her a new computer."
- If you badger someone into doing something,
you persistently nag or pester them until you obtain what you want.
- bag of bones
- To say that someone is a bag of bones means that they are extremely thin.
"When he came home from the war he was a bag of bones."
- To say that someone is a bag of bones means that they are extremely thin.
- bag of tricks
- If you use your (whole) bag of tricks to do something, you try (all) the clever methods you know in order to succeed.
"Let's call on George and his bag of tricks; maybe he can help us solve the problem."
- If you use your (whole) bag of tricks to do something, you try (all) the clever methods you know in order to succeed.
- in the bag
- People use this expression 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 this expression when it becomes obvious that success or victory is going to be achieved.
- bait and switch
- This term refers to a deceptive commercial practice of advertising
a low-priced item to attract customers, then telling them that the product is out of stock and persuading them to buy a more expensive article.
"I try to avoid that store. It's famous for its bait and switch tactics!"
- This term refers to a deceptive commercial practice of advertising
- in the balance
- If something is in the balance, the situation is uncertain and it is not clear what is going to happen.
"The future of the company is in the balance while the takeover bid is being examined."
- If something is in the balance, the situation is uncertain and it is not clear what is going to happen.
- balancing act
- When you try to satisfy two or more people or groups who have different needs, and keep everyone happy, you perform a balancing act.
"Many people, especially women, have to perform a balancing act between work and family."
- When you try to satisfy two or more people or groups who have different needs, and keep everyone happy, you perform a balancing act.
- ball and chain
- This term refers to a burden or problem that ties you down and prevents you from doing what you want to do.
(It can also refer to one's spouse.)
"Our holiday home has become a ball and chain - it's too much work."
- This term refers to a burden or problem that ties you down and prevents you from doing what you want to do.
- (the) ball is in your court
- If the ball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act next.
"We gave the manager a list of complaints, so the ball is in his court now."
- If the ball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act next.
- have a ball
- If you have a ball you enjoy yourself immensely.
"The party was great. We had a ball."
- If you have a ball you enjoy yourself immensely.
- on the ball
- If you are on the ball, you are aware of what is
happening and are able to deal with things quickly and intelligently.
"We need someone who is really on the ball to head the fund-raising campaign."
- If you are on the ball, you are aware of what is
happening and are able to deal with things quickly and intelligently.
- start the ball rolling
- If you start the ball rolling, you begin an activity in which other people will join.
"Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker."
- If you start the ball rolling, you begin an activity in which other people will join.
- that's the way the ball bounces!
- This expression means that things don't always work out as planned, and there's nothing we
can do about it - that's life.
"He didn't get the prize he expected, but never mind - that's the way the ball bounces."
- This expression means that things don't always work out as planned, and there's nothing we
can do about it - that's life.
- whole new ball game
- To refer to something as a whole new ball game means that it
is a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances.
"Email and text messaging have made communication a whole new ball game."
- To refer to something as a whole new ball game means that it
is a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances.
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