English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - B, page 9
from: 'bite the dust'
to: 'blamestorming'
- bite the dust / hit the dust
- The expression 'bite' or 'hit the dust' is a
humorous way of referring to death.
"It's a story about an old cowboy who hits the dust during a train robbery."
- The expression 'bite' or 'hit the dust' is a
humorous way of referring to death.
- bite off more than you can chew
- If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do
something that is too difficult for you, or more than you can manage.
"As soon as I started to translate the report, I realized that I had bitten off more than I could chew."
- If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do
something that is too difficult for you, or more than you can manage.
- get a second bite at the cherry
- This expression means that you get a second opportunity
to do or try something.
"Andy was eliminated in the semi-finals, but he'll get a second bite at the cherry next year."
- This expression means that you get a second opportunity
to do or try something.
- bite the hand that feeds you
- If you bite the hand that feeds you, you are unfriendly,
do harm or show ingratitude towards someone you depend on, or who is helpful to you.
"If you are scornful or say bad things about the person who gives you a job, you bite the hand that feeds you."
- If you bite the hand that feeds you, you are unfriendly,
do harm or show ingratitude towards someone you depend on, or who is helpful to you.
- bite someone's head off
- If you bite someone's head off,
you criticize them strongly (and perhaps unfairly).
"I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my head off for not doing my share of the work!"
- If you bite someone's head off,
you criticize them strongly (and perhaps unfairly).
- bite one's tongue
- If you bite your tongue, you try not to say what
you really think or feel.
"It was difficult for me not to react; I had to bite my tongue."
- If you bite your tongue, you try not to say what
you really think or feel.
- bitten by the bug
- If you develop a sudden interest or enthusiasm
for something, you are bitten by the bug.
"My dad decided to take up golf and was immediately bitten by the bug."
- If you develop a sudden interest or enthusiasm
for something, you are bitten by the bug.
- once bitten twice shy
- This is said by someone who has had an unpleasant
experience which has made them more cautious.
"I'm never going to get married again. Once bitten, twice shy!"
- This is said by someone who has had an unpleasant
experience which has made them more cautious.
- bitter pill to swallow
- Something very unpleasant or difficult to accept
is a bitter pill to swallow.
"Losing his job after arranging the merger was a bitter pill to swallow."
- Something very unpleasant or difficult to accept
is a bitter pill to swallow.
- black market
- The black
market refers to the illegal buying and
selling of goods or currencies.
"Be careful of what you buy on the black market - it's not always good quality."
- The black
market refers to the illegal buying and
selling of goods or currencies.
- black out
- If you black
out, you lose consciousness.
"When Tony saw the needle in the doctor's hand, he blacked out."
- If you black
out, you lose consciousness.
- black sheep
- The black sheep
is one who behaves very differently or
badly, and is considered disreputable by the
other members of the family.
"Joe was the black sheep of the family, always getting into trouble."
- The black sheep
is one who behaves very differently or
badly, and is considered disreputable by the
other members of the family.
- black tie event
- The expression 'black tie event' refers to a formal event
at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie.
"I need to know if it's going to be a casual get-together or a black tie event."
- The expression 'black tie event' refers to a formal event
at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie.
- in black and white
- To say that something is in black and white
means that there is written proof of it.
"It's an obligation. It's in black and white in your contract."
- To say that something is in black and white
means that there is written proof of it.
- blamestorming
- A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who
or what is to blame for a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called 'blamestorming'.
"A blamestorming session took place following the unfavourable reviews in the press."
- A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who
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