English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms B, page 7
Idioms B, page 7: from: 'best bet' to: 'beyond any reasonable doubt'
- best bet
- The action most likely to succeed is
called one's best bet.
"Your best bet would be to try calling him at home."
- The action most likely to succeed is
called one's best bet.
- (to the) best of your ability
- When someone does
something to the best of their ability,
they do it as well as they possibly can.
"I felt nervous all through the interview, but I replied to the questions to the best of my ability."
- When someone does
something to the best of their ability,
they do it as well as they possibly can.
- (the) best of both worlds
- If a person has the
best of both worlds, they have the
benefits and advantages of two different
things.
"We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the beach. We have the best of both worlds."
- If a person has the
best of both worlds, they have the
benefits and advantages of two different
things.
- (put your) best foot forward
- If you put your best foot forward,
you do something as fast as you can.
"It's a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward I should catch the next train."
- If you put your best foot forward,
you do something as fast as you can.
- bet your bottom dollar
- If you bet your
bottom dollar on something, you are
absolutely certain of it.
"Jack is very punctual. You can bet your bottom dollar he'll be here at 9 o'clock on the dot."
- If you bet your
bottom dollar on something, you are
absolutely certain of it.
- bet on the wrong horse / back the wrong horse
- If you back
or bet on the wrong horse, for
example the loser in a contest, match or
election, you support the wrong person.
"When I voted for him, I was convinced he would win, but I backed the wrong horse."
- If you back
or bet on the wrong horse, for
example the loser in a contest, match or
election, you support the wrong person.
- bete noire
- The French expression ‘bete noire’ (meaning black beast) is used to refer to a person
or thing that you dislike or dread, or something that you find very annoying.
"My father’s bete noire is cigarette butts crushed on the lawn. That irritates him no end!”
- The French expression ‘bete noire’ (meaning black beast) is used to refer to a person
or thing that you dislike or dread, or something that you find very annoying.
- better late than never
- When someone does something late, this remark means
that it is better to do it late than not do it at all.
"Do you know what time it is? You promised you'd come early to help me - but better late than never I suppose!"
- When someone does something late, this remark means
that it is better to do it late than not do it at all.
- better safe than sorry
- The expression 'better safe than sorry' means that it's better
to be too cautious than to be careless and have regrets later.
"Let's book tickets in advance - better safe than sorry!"
- The expression 'better safe than sorry' means that it's better
to be too cautious than to be careless and have regrets later.
- better still / worse still
- 'Better still' or 'worse still' are used to emphasize that
although something is good or bad, something else makes it even better
or worse.
"Not only did he get a great offer, but, better still, a house and car come with the job."
- 'Better still' or 'worse still' are used to emphasize that
although something is good or bad, something else makes it even better
or worse.
- think better of
- If you think better of something, you decide not to
do what you intended doing.
"I was going to go shopping, but when I saw the crowded car park, I thought better of it."
- If you think better of something, you decide not to
do what you intended doing.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unpleasant alternatives.
"When the new product didn't take off, the management was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: develop a new marketing campaign or drop the product."
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unpleasant alternatives.
- it's beyond me
- To say 'it's beyond me' means that it is
impossible for you to understand.
"It's beyond me why Mary wants to marry John."
- To say 'it's beyond me' means that it is
impossible for you to understand.
- beyond any reasonable doubt
- This is a legal expression which means that something is certain.
"The court established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the man was innocent"
- This is a legal expression which means that something is certain.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.