English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Detailed alphabetical lists of idioms with their meaning, page 1

Idiom example:

Idioms, as in the example below, are commonly used in everyday conversation by English and should be avoided in formal exchanges.

Example:- Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning:- If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret.

The lists below show the first and last idiom on each page:

Alphabetical idioms - lists A :
- list A1 : abbreviated piece of nothing → (hold all the) aces
- list A2 : achilles heel → alarm bells
- list A3 : all along → all the rage
- list A4 : all sizzle and no steak → apple of your eye
- list A5 : (upset the) applecart → at all costs
- list A6 : at this stage of the game → (have an) axe to grind

Alphabetical idioms - lists B :
- list B1 : (leave someone holding the) baby → in bad shape
- list B2 : badger someone → whole new ball game
- list B3 : ballpark figure → battle lines are drawn
- list B4 : battle of wills → beat a dead horse
- list B5 : beat a hasty retreat → before your very eyes
- list B6 : beggars can't be choosers → beside yourself
- list B7 : best bet → beyond any reasonable doubt
- list B8 : beyond one's wildest dreams → bite the bullet
- list B9 : bite the dust → blamestorming
- list B10 : blank cheque → blow away the cobwebs
- list B11 : blow a fuse → above board
- list B12 : in the same boat → bored to tears
- list B13 : born with silver spoon in your mouth → all brawn no brain
- list B14 : know which side your bread is buttered → a breeze
- list B15 : bricks and mortar/bricks and clicks → pass the buck
- list B16 : bucket list → burning question
- list B17 : bury your head in the sand → by degrees

Alphabetical idioms - lists C :
- list C1 : (in) cahoots with → burn the candle at both ends
- list C2 : (paddle one's own) canoe → carrot and stick
- list C3 : carry the can → fat cat
- list C4 : cat nap → catch as catch can
- list C5 : caught in the crossfire → change the face of
- list C6 : change of heart → chicken out
- list C7 : chickens come home to roost → chips are down
- list C8 : chocolate teapot → clip someone's wings
- list C9 : clock in/out → cold calls
- list C10 : cold turkey → come to grips
- list C11 : come to a head → common knowledge
- list C12 : cook the books → couch potato
- list C13 : cough up → cream of the crop
- list C14 : cream rises to the top → at cross purposes
- list C15 : cross the Rubicon → on cue
- list C16 : off the cuff → cut no ice
- list C17 : cut loose → cutting edge

Alphabetical idioms - lists D :
- list D1 : dab hand at something → dead in the water
- list D2 : dead loss → (like a) deer caught in the headlights
- list D3 : (by) degrees → dice are loaded
- list D4 : dice with death → disappear into thin air
- list D5 : disaster written all over → dog-eat-dog
- list D6 : dog and pony show → let sleeping dogs lie
- list D7 : dogs are barking → door swings both ways
- list D8 : the shadow of a doubt → drag one's feet
- list D9 : drastic times → drop a bombshell
- list D10 : drop like flies → dumb as an oyster
- list D11 : dumbing down → dying for something

Alphabetical idioms - lists E :
- list E1 : eager beaver → eat crow
- list E2 : eat dirt → (walk on) eggshells
- list E3 : ego trip → even keel
- list E4 : even the score → apple of your eye
- list E5 : eye of the storm → eyes on stalks

Alphabetical idioms - lists F :
- list F1 : face like a bulldog → facts speak for themselves
- list F2 : fair and square → fall on deaf ears
- list F3 : fall on sword → fat cat
- list F4 : fat chance → feet of clay
- list F5 : (back on your) feet → (play second) fiddle
- list F6 : fiddling while Rome burns → finger in every pie
- list F7 : put a finger on → in the first place
- list F8 : (of the) first water → fit for purpose
- list F9 : fit to be tied → fly-by-night
- list F10 : fly by seat of one's pants → (on a) fool's errand
- list F11 : fool's paradise → forewarned is forearmed
- list F12 : forty winks → Freudian slip
- list F13 : friends in high places → fur coat

Alphabetical idioms - lists G :
- list G1 : gift of the gab → get cracking
- list G2 : get down to brass tacks → get off the hook
- list G3 : get on your high horse → get the message
- list G4 : get the picture → give it a rest
- list G5 : give the once-over → glowing terms
- list G6 : glutton for punishment → go the extra mile
- list G7 : go to extremes → go off with a bang
- list G8 : go out of business → go up in smoke
- list G9 : going concern → good walls
- list G10: goose pimples → green with envy
- list G11: grey area → gutter press

Alphabetical idioms - lists H :
- list H1 : (old) habits die hard → half a mind
- list H2 : hammer home → hands tied
- list H3 : (wash your) hands of → happy as Larry
- list H4 : happy-go-lucky→ bury the hatchet
- list H5 : haul over coals → head over heels in love
- list H6 : headless chicken → turn on the heat
- list H7 : heavens open → here today, gone tomorrow
- list H8 : neither here nor there → hit the dust
- list H9 : hit the road → hold the field
- list H10 : hold the fort → honour among thieves
- list H11 : by hook or by crook → horses for courses
- list H12 : straight from the horse's mouth → hustle and bustle

Alphabetical idioms - lists I :
- list I1 : break the ice → in essence
- list I2 : in the first place → in retrospect
- list I3 : in safe hands → be an item

Alphabetical idioms - lists J :
- list J1 : jack of all trades → jump the gun
- list J2 : jump for joy → just the ticket

Idioms by theme back to homepage