English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - E, page 4
from: 'even the score'
to: 'apple of eye'
- even the score
- When a person decides to even the score,
they try to get their revenge on someone who has cheated or done harm to them,
by treating them in a similar manner.
"When Jack discovered that Bob had cheated, he was determined to even the score."
- When a person decides to even the score,
they try to get their revenge on someone who has cheated or done harm to them,
by treating them in a similar manner.
- even steven
- Two or more people who are even stevens are equal to
each other. None of them has more than the others; none is owed anything or has anything due.
"The two boys shared equally the money they made delivering pizzas so now they're even stevens."
- Two or more people who are even stevens are equal to
each other. None of them has more than the others; none is owed anything or has anything due.
- even a worm will turn
- Even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation.
"If he continues to treat his wife badly, she'll leave him - even a worm will turn."
- Even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation.
- every dog has its day
- This expression means that everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
"I didn't win this time, but I'll be lucky one day. Every dog has its day!"
- This expression means that everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life.
- every nook and cranny
- Every nook and cranny means every possible part of a place.
"She searched every nook and cranny of the old town looking for antiques."
- Every nook and cranny means every possible part of a place.
- every Tom, Dick and Harry
- This expression means everyone or everybody.
"Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a credit card nowadays!"
- This expression means everyone or everybody.
- a necessary evil
- If you say that something is a necessary evil, you
don't like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted.
"Vaccinations are a necessary evil if you want to travel."
- If you say that something is a necessary evil, you
don't like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted.
- exception proves the rule
- If something is different from, or seems to contradict a belief or theory, it confirms
the general truth of the theory.
"Most teenagers love fast food, but Ben is the exception that proves the rule - he's the only one of our children who insists on healthy food!"
- If something is different from, or seems to contradict a belief or theory, it confirms
the general truth of the theory.
- excuse my French
- This expression is used as an apology for using crude or offensive language.
"He's a bloody nuisance, if you'll excuse my French."
- This expression is used as an apology for using crude or offensive language.
- explore all avenues
- If you explore all avenues, you try out every
possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution.
"We can't say it's impossible until we've explored all avenues."
- If you explore all avenues, you try out every
possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution.
- the apple of your eye
- A person, usually a child, who is the apple of your eye is one for whom you have great affection.
"My grandson is the apple of my eye."
- A person, usually a child, who is the apple of your eye is one for whom you have great affection.
- (have) eyes like a hawk
- A person who has eyes like a hawk, or who is hawk-eyed, is very observant and
notices everything that happens.
"Nobody gets away with stealing in this shop - the store detective has eyes like a hawk!"
- A person who has eyes like a hawk, or who is hawk-eyed, is very observant and
notices everything that happens.
- eye of the storm
- A person or organisation who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult
situation which affects a lot of people.
"The Prime Minister was often in the eye of the storm during the debate on the tax reform."
- A person or organisation who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult
situation which affects a lot of people.
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