English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - B, page 3
from: 'ballpark figure'
to: 'battle lines'
- ballpark figure
- If someone gives aballpark figure, they give an approximate number or a rough estimate of the cost of something.
"I don't know exactly how much it will cost, but a ballpark figure would be around $10 000."
- If someone gives aballpark figure, they give an approximate number or a rough estimate of the cost of something.
- (load of) baloney
- This term refers to idle talk, or pretentious, untrue or insincere statements that nobody can believe.
"That's a load of baloney! I don't believe a word of it!"
- This term refers to idle talk, or pretentious, untrue or insincere statements that nobody can believe.
- 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'.
- jump on the bandwagon
- If a person or organisation jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
"When organic food became fashionable, certain stores were quick to jump on the bandwagon and promote it."
- If a person or organisation jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
- bane of your life
- To say that something is the bane of your life
means that it is the cause of your problems or your unhappiness.
"The heating system is always breaking down. It's the bane of my life!"
- To say that something is the bane of your life
means that it is the cause of your problems or your unhappiness.
- bang your head against a brick wall
- If you bang or knock your head against a brick wall,
you continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts
"I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother!"
- If you bang or knock your head against a brick wall,
you continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts
- baptism of fire
- If someone’s first experience of a new situation is a baptism of fire,
it is a difficult, unpleasant or frightening ordeal which they have to face with little preparation.
"I remember my baptism of fire as a teacher. I was given the most unruly class in the school!”
- If someone’s first experience of a new situation is a baptism of fire,
it is a difficult, unpleasant or frightening ordeal which they have to face with little preparation.
- bar fly
- A bar fly is someone who spends a lot of time drinking in bars and pubs.
"You'll find Johnny down at the pub - he's a real bar fly."
- A bar fly is someone who spends a lot of time drinking in bars and pubs.
- bare your soul
- If you bare you soul (or heart) to someone, you reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings to them.
"Mike couldn't keep things to himself any longer. He decided to bare his soul to his best friend."
- If you bare you soul (or heart) to someone, you reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings to them.
- barefaced liar
- Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is a barefaced liar.
"That barefaced liar stole my watch and said he'd found it!"
- Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is a barefaced liar.
- bargain hunting
- If you go bargain hunting, you spend time in the shops looking for items to buy at the lowest price.
"During the sales I go bargain hunting with my friends."
- If you go bargain hunting, you spend time in the shops looking for items to buy at the lowest price.
- barking up the wrong tree
- A person who is barking up the wrong tree is doing the
wrong thing, because their beliefs or ideas are incorrect or mistaken.
"The police are barking up the wrong tree if they think Joey stole the car - he can't drive!"
- A person who is barking up the wrong tree is doing the
wrong thing, because their beliefs or ideas are incorrect or mistaken.
- barrel of laughs
- Someone who is a barrel of laughs is very funny or entertaining.
"Let's invite Johnny. He's such a barrel of laughs!"
- Someone who is a barrel of laughs is very funny or entertaining.
- basket case
- A person whose agitated mental state leaves them helpless
or unable to cope with things is called a basket case.
"Jenny will turn into a basket case if this stressful situation continues."
- A person whose agitated mental state leaves them helpless
or unable to cope with things is called a basket case.
- bats in the belfry
- If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean that they are eccentric or crazy.
"He comes up with the craziest ideas - he's got bats in the belfry!"
- If you say that somebody has bats in the belfry, you mean that they are eccentric or crazy.
- bated breath
- If you wait for something with
bated breath, you are both anxious and excited about an imminent event.
"We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced."
- If you wait for something with
bated breath, you are both anxious and excited about an imminent event.
- batten down the hatches
- When you batten down the hatches, you prepare yourself
for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship preparing for a storm.
"Here comes that trouble-making guy. Batten down the hatches! "
- When you batten down the hatches, you prepare yourself
for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship preparing for a storm.
- battle lines are drawn
- This expression is used to say that opposing groups are ready
to defend the reason behind the conflict.
"The battle lines have been drawn between those who accept the changes and those who are against the proposed reforms."
- This expression is used to say that opposing groups are ready
to defend the reason behind the conflict.
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