Idioms Dictionary + Marisol & Randall

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Universidad Nacional

A bad apple: A (morally) bad person who makes a whole group bad, a bad apple is someone who has a bad effect on a whole group or system.

Chorotega’s Head Office Campus Liberia

American Idioms

Example: The corruption in the government started with a bad apple, a high official two years ago. Now the whole system is corrupt.

Professor Msc. Karol Cubero

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All Thumbs: clumsy and awkward.

Students: Marisol Milanés Matamoros 270454 Randall Alvarado Navarro 260300-5

I Semester, 2008

A

Example: I guess I am all thumbs because I’m so nervous.

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A Basket Case: To get mad. Example: My mother has a big heart of gold.

• A Little Bird Told Me: said when someone has told

you a secret, but you don’t want to say who. Example: Fernando is a basket case.

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As Busy as a Bee: very busy.

Example: A little bird told me that Sue got married. Example: I’ve been as busy as a bee all • A Lone Wolf: someone who does not mix socially

morning.

with other people. •

A Heart of Gold: Someone who is very

important and special.

GOL D

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A Screw Loose: To get mad.

Example: Andrew doesn’t like the parties; he is a really lone wolf. Example: Johanna has got a screw loose with the English group. •

A Piece of Cake: Very easy.

B •

Back-seat Driver: Someone who tell you what are you doing wrong and like to tell you how you must drive.

Example: This homework is a piece of cake.

Example: The new stricter school policy may backfire and do more harm to the students than good. •

Be

Barking

up

the

Wrong

Tree:

To

Example: I hate having Lisa in my car. She always

misunderstand a situation and complain to a wrong

tells me what I’m doing wrong; oh my God! She is a

person or blame a wrong thing.

real back – seat driver.

Example: Don't blame me. I have nothing to do with it. You are barking up the wrong tree. •

Backfire: to produce an unexpected / undesired / opposite result. If your plan or action backfires, you get the opposite result to the one you wanted.

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Be broke: Without money. If you are broke, you don't have money.

Example: "Do you want to go to the movies tonight?" "I can't go. I'm broke. Tomorrow is payday."

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Example: I think the government is on the wrong

Be off Someone’s Rocker: To be mad.

track.

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Break Someone’s Heart: To make someone very sad (often someone who loves you)

Example: Bryan is always off his rocker.

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Be on the Right / Wrong Track: Thinking or acting rightly or wrongly.

Example: it breaks my heart to see the refuses on the news

C Example: -Don't bother explaining Shakespeare to •

Can of Worms: Something is very complicated and

Bob. It would be like casting pearls before swine.

unfair and it could raise huge problems. •

Cat Got Someone’s Tongue? Can’t talk.

Example: To discuss about the some professor’s attitudes is a real can of worms. •

Cast

pearls

before

swine:

Offer

or

Example: What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

show

something valuable, good, or beautiful to someone who does not understand its value.

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Chicken (Be): Coward.

Example: "Why won't you dive in? Are you chicken? Example: It's normal for young people to have cold feet before their wedding. • •

Child’s Play: Very easy.

Cold turkey (Quit): Quit a bad habit such as smoking or drinking alcohol suddenly, without any gradual adjustment.

Example: The grammar test was a child’s play. •

Cold feet (have / get): Suddenly become (be) very

Example: Tom was a heavy drinker for more than 15

nervous about doing something that you were going

years; then he quit drinking cold turkey. He's never

to do.

drunk again since then.

Example: "You'd better not," warns Steve, "Curiosity killed the cat, you know. It might be very dangerous. Let's just go home instead."

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Curiosity killed the cat: If you are too interested in

D

things you should not be interested in, you could be in danger. You may be causing yourself problems by trying to find out things you don't need to know. •

Don't cross your bridges before you come to them: You use this proverb to tell someone not to worry about something until it actually happens.

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Example: 

good idea to put all your efforts or all your money

A: Our proposal is ready, but what if

into one project.

the committee doesn't accept it? 

Don’t Put all your Eggs in one Basket: It is not a

B: Don't cross your bridges before you come to them. We will see what happens then.

Example: I know you really want to go to buy a new car, •

Don’t

Make

Someone’s

Laugh:

To

think

something is unlikely.

but don't put all your eggs into one basket. Apply to a few other colleges too. •

Down in the dumps (Be): Be very sad and depressed.

Example: Please don’t make laugh! You think I

Example: Mary has been down in the dumps since

believe you that you will be a model.

her mother's death.

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Drive Someone Up the Wall: 1. Annoy or irritate someone very much. 2. Put someone into an extreme position or situation. (force someone up the wall)

Example: The early bird catches the worm! Don't miss this year's best deal! The sale will start on Thursday, and the store opens at 5:00 a.m. Example: The heat in this apartment drives me up the wall!

E •

The early bird catches the worm: This proverb is used to tell you to act early or right now to be

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Easy as pie / as easy as pie: Very easy. If something is (as) easy as pie, it is very easy to do.

successful.

Example: -Baking great bread is as easy as pie with this brand-new breadmaker.

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Eat one's words: Admit that what you said was wrong. If you eat your words, you admit that the statements or predictions you made were wrong.

Example:-I don't want to cook tonight. Why don't we eat out? Example: I taught a grammar rule in my ESL class, and one of my students said I was wrong. After I checked it in dictionaries and asked other teachers, I found she was right. I had to eat my words in the next class •

.Eat out: Eat a meal in a restaurant. If you eat out, you go out and eat a meal in a restaurant instead of eating at home.

F

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Face the Music: To accept criticism or punishment

Example: You should really discuss this with her face

for what you have done.

to face.

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Fall of the perch: To die.

Example: So now we are all going to have to face the music.

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Face to Face: With another person in the presence

Example: My doggy fell of its perch last month.

rather than, say, by phone or letter.

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Feel on Top of the World: Very happy.

Example: Andrew is floating on air since Christina and he started going out together.

G •

Get Green fingers: Somebody is a good gardener.

Example: I feel on top of the world today. I’ve just passed all my exams.

Example: My mother’s got green fingers. Everything •

Floating on air (be): be very happy about

she plants in the garden grows well.

something good that has happened. •

Get off Someone’s Back: Bother someone.

Example: Rachel’s brother goes around in circles with his career." Example: Get off my back! I can’t go anywhere! •

Give someone a hand: Help someone when he/she is doing something difficult.

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Glue to: Cannot stop watching / looking at something.

Example: We were glued to the television watching Example: Let me give you a hand with your baggage.

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Go Around Circle: Someone who does not accomplish anything.

the news about the accident.

H •

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Have an Egg on Someone’s Face: To be left feeling stupid or embarrassed because of something

Hang in the Balance: No one know what will

you did.

happen to it in the future.

Example: You’ll have egg on your face if your plan doesn’t work!

Example: Andrea had been taken ill and her life was hanging in the balance.

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Have a Narrow Escape: Just manage to avoid danger or trouble.

Example: The crew had a narrow escape when the pilot made a crash landing.

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Have Butterflies in Someone’s Stomach: To feel very nervous.

Example: I can’t stay in one place for more than a year without getting itchy feet. •

Have Something in the Brain: Can’t stop thinking or talking about a particular thing.

Example: I always have butterflies in my stomach when Jenny is near to me.

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Have Itchy Feet: Want to travel or move on. Example: I have the Professor David’s project in my brain.

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Hold the Baby: Others have left someone to deal

Example: I told you to stop interrupting, hold your

with a problem alone.

tongue.

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Horse Around: Play around.

Example: I’ve been left holding the baby.

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Hold your Tongue: Do not say anything without

Example: After the couch left the gym he decided to

permission.

stay and horse around on the parallel bars.

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How Time Flies: You are surprised to see minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years have passed very quickly

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It’s a Small World: Meeting someone unexpectedly or discovering mutual friend.

Example: A: Haven't we met each other for such a long time?

Example: We bumped into John’s teacher in Venice.

B: Yes, it's been 10 years since we met last time.

It’s a small world!

How time flies!

I •

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It’s for the Birds: Something that is not interesting for you.

In the Doghouse: To be in trouble.

Example: We are taking a philosophy course but it’s for the birds. Example: Marlon is in the doghouse with his mom.

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It’s No Good Tearing over Spilt Milk: There’s no

Example: It’s not the end of the world if you fail a

point in getting upset over something bad that’s

course.

happened when you cannot change it.

J •

Jog someone’s Memory: To make you remember something.

Example: You've broken the vase now! There's no use crying over spilt milk. We will buy a new one. Example: The police are reconstructing the crime to •

try to jog the memory of possible witnesses.

It’s Not the End of the World: What has happened won’t cause any serious problems. •

Judge by Appearance: To have an opinion about something / someone just for the appearance.

Example: A: I think she likes to be showing off. But I don’t know her. B: Come on! You are judging by her appearance.

Example: You are playing against the best player. It •

Jump for Joy: To be very happy and excited about

just your luck.

something that has happened.

K Example: Marissa jumped for joy when Charlie kisses her.

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Keep Your Fingers Crossed: To wish someone good luck.

Just Someone Luck: It is said usually humorously to mean that someone is always unlucky. Example: I’m getting my exam results tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

• •

Kill Two Birds with One Stone:

Produce two

useful results by just doing one action.

Kick the Bucket: To die.

Example: Marlen kicked the bucket last night. Example: I killed two birds with one stone with this project. •

Kill time: Do something that is not very useful to

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keeps yourself busy while you are waiting for something to happen. •

Law of the Jungle (the): To obtain whatever someone’s wants without caring how much other people would suffer.

Example: Ryan sometimes goes to the bookstore to kill time between classes.

Example: Everyone is so selfish in this company; it is the law of the jungle here and it’s very depressing.

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Let the Cat out the Bag: Inform beforehand.

Example: As the only football enthusiast in the group, I felt like a fish out the water. Example: He wasn’t supposed to know it, but someone let the cat out the bag.

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Like a Fish out the Water: Uncomfortable because you are different from other people.

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Like taking candy from a baby: To be very easy to do. If something is like taking candy from a baby,

M

it is very easy to do.

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Make an Exhibition of (someone): Do things in public that makes someone looks stupid.

Example: A: It was a very impressive video presentation. I imagine it was very difficult to make

Example: Sara made a real exhibition of herself in

such a complex work.

class the other day. It was so embarrassing.

B: No, it was very easy with this software -- like taking candy from a baby. It took me only an hour to make it. •

Make Love, not War: Love everybody around you. Do not fight for stupid things.

Example: A: "Mom, can I buy a new dress?"

Example: Hey guys, why are you fighting? Come

B: "We can't afford one now. Money doesn't grow on

on, make love, not war!!

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trees.

N

Makes Someone’s a Day: Makes someone feels very happy or satisfied. •

Necessity is the mother of invention: The meaning of this proverb is that if someone really needs something or has a problem; he/she will find a way of doing or solving it.

Example: When I saw how happy Nancy was with the present we gave her, it made my day. • Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: It is not easy to earn money, so it is valuable, and you have only a limited amount of money.

Example: Throughout the history of science, a lot of

Example: Stephanie won’t have a leg to stand on

evidence has proven that necessity is the mother of

unless she can prove that she put in all those extra

invention.

hours. •

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Not hold water: Not seem reasonable or correct.

Not Have a Leg to Stand On: To have no good

Example: Their arguments against the government's

defense for one’s opinions or actions.

foreign policy simply don't hold water. •

Nutcase (A): Someone who is mentally disturbed and in the care of a doctor.

Example: I'm going to become a nutcase if I don't get a holiday soon

O •

Example: The business is on a financial knife-edge

On Cloud Nine: To feel very happy.

and my go bankrupt.

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Open Someone’s Heart: Share someone deepest feelings.

Example: I am on cloud nine with the results of my grades. •

On the Knife-Edge: In a very difficult situation and there are worries about the future. Example: Tony opened his heart to me.

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Over the Moon: To be extremely happy. •

Pop quiz: A short test that is given in class without any warning beforehand.

Example: Jonny was over the moon when he got an A in the math test.

P •

Play it by Ear: Improve as one goes along.

Example: Let’s go to the movies, agreed? Sure. And what’ll we do after that? Oh, I don’t know. Let’s play it by ear.

Example: Mrs. Jones, an ELC teacher, is famous for giving her students a lot of pop quizzes. •

Pop someone’s Clogs: To die.

Example: Karol almost popped her clogs when she was driving her car. •

Put Someone’s Foot in: Say something tactless and embarrassing.

Example: We had to play through the nose with our new computer. •

Example: Luis put his foot in when he was caught having sex in the restaurant restroom.

Pull someone’s Leg: Fool someone.

Example: Fernando was pulling my leg when he told about his new girlfriend.

Q •

Play through the Nose: Play too high a price.

• Quaking in someone’s boots: feel afraid, be scared.

Example: He has quite a few videos at home.

Example: He was so afraid of the dog that he was quaking in his boots. • Quit this place: Leave, go away from here.

• Quite frankly: Honestly; to be straightforward.

Example: Quite frankly, if it weren't for the extra Example: I'm bored. Let's quit this place. Let's get out of here. • Quite a few: Many.

benefits, I wouldn't want to work for this company.

R

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Race against the clock / time: Work or do

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something very fast to finish it before a deadline

Read between the lines: Guess what someone's real thoughts, feelings, or intentions from what you hear or read.

Example: Linda tried to be cheerful and said she was

Example: They started a race against the clock to

okay, but reading between the lines, I could see she

finish the interior of the new store that was scheduled

was really upset.

to open in a month. •

Raining Cats and Dogs: To rain very heavily.

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Ring A Bell: If you say something (a word or a phrase, especially a name) rings a bell (with you), you mean you have heard it before, or it reminds you of something.

Example: They didn't cancel the game even though it was raining cats and dogs.

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See the Light at the End of the Tunnel: Something makes you believe that a very difficult and unpleasant situation is coming to an end.

Example: The name "Nora" sounds familiar. It rings a bell. •

Rise with the lark: To get up/rise early in the morning.

Example: My grandma usually rises with the lark.

S

Example: Jorhanny saw the light at the end of the tunnel when his girlfriend was almost catching him with other girl.

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Example: Why should I stick my neck out for them?

Shake a Leg: Hurry.

They didn’t pay me for my services.

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Something Fishy: Something is strange and mysterious.

Example: Marry; you always take such a long time to put on your makeup. Come on, shake a leg!

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Stick out one’s Neck: Take a risk. Example: In the university there is something fishy with the scholarships.

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Speak of the Devil: You say "Speak of the devil" when someone you have been talking about comes

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in the room unexpectedly.

Stuffed shirt: A person who behaves in a very formal way and is often self-important. A very conservative person.

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Example: (They were talking about someone and he

Example: He's such a stuffed shirt. He always instructs

just came in the room.) Speak of the devil! We were

us how to use each knife and fork every time we go to

just talking about you! How did you know that?

dinner with him.

Stay up: Not go to bed at a time when most people are in bed or when you would be normally in bed. If you stay up, you go to bed later than usual.

Example: The students stayed up late last night to prepare for the final exam.

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Suffer From Sour Grapes: something you can’t have.

Being jealous about

well when doing it for the first time, especially because of the person's natural ability. Example: Pat is always suffering from sour grapes because I got the role in the school play.

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Sweet Tooth: Someone likes sweet things.

Example: Sam is really a natural programmer. He took to programming like a duck to water even before he graduated from elementary school.

Example: Madge has sweet tooth. She is always eating candies.

T •

Take to something like a duck to water: To learn how to do something very easily, quickly, and

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Tearjerker: A tearjerker is a movie, book, or story that makes you sad and cry.

Example: How do you like your new apartment here? Example: That movie was really a tearjerker.

It's nice and comfortable, but there's no place like home. I really miss Mom's homemade bread.

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There is a Frog in Someone’s Throat: If you have a frog in your throat, you have a sore throat, or your throat is dry, and has difficulty speaking

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Time Runs Out: It's almost too late.

because you want to cough.

Example: Time runs out to get the latest issue of The Example: In a speech contest last year, suddenly

English Teacher's Assistant covering the teaching

there was a frog in her throat and she had a hard time

theme "Families."

speaking. •

There's no place like home: Your home is a special place. Nothing can replace your own home.

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Time will tell: Something will be clear sometime in the future, not now, whether it is good, bad, successful, a mistake, etc.

Example: Only time will tell whether we elected the right person. Example: I didn’t mean to offend Sonia. I was simply •

making a tongue-in-cheek remark when I said that.

To hit the sack/hay: Go to bed. If you hit the sack, you go to bed in order to get some sleep.

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Tongue Tied (Get): Unable to speak. If you are tongue-tied, you cannot speak and express yourself easily

because

you

are

shy,

nervous,

or

embarrassed.

Example: It's getting very late. It's time to hit the sack. •

Tongue in Cheek: Not Serious.

Example: He met a very beautiful woman at the party and was tongue-tied.

U •

Under pressure (Be): Live or work in a way that causes you feel anxiety and worry.

Example: Some people perform well under pressure and some others don't. •

Under the Weather: Not very well.

Example: Mark had been feeling under the weather. •

Uphill Battle / Fight / Struggle: A very difficult task.

•

Example: it’s an uphill bottle trying to persuade Joe to

Example: The Company is going to build a new

get a job.

factory, but the location is still up in the air.

Up and running: be working well.

Example: Since we got the new leader, our program has finally been up and running. •

Up in the air (Be): Be not decided yet

V •

Variety is the spice of life: You use this proverb to say that if you do a lot of different things and meet different people, etc., your life becomes more interesting.

Example: Variety is the spice of life, and there's a lot of it at the English Language Center. You can meet people from many different countries, and there are a Example: I want to wave a magic want and make

lot of activities you can participate in.

things better.

W •

Wave a Magic Wand: Find an easy way to solve a problem. •

When it rains, it pours: When one thing goes wrong, many other things also go wrong.

Example: I can't believe what happened to me last week! My dog ate my homework, and my computer crashed. Even worse, I got sick that night! When it rains, it pours!

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When pigs fly: Never. If you say when pigs fly, you mean something will never happen. Example: Andrea’s parents are going to the beach all weekend, so, while the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Example: I’ll believe in politicians when pigs fly. •

While the Cat’s Away, the Mice will Play: When the person in authority is not there, other people will not do what they should do.

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White elephant: Something which is expensive but

Example: Jake worked against the clock to get the

useless / something which is costly to keep and has

report finished before the meeting.

no apparent benefit.

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Work like magic: Works like immediately and very well indeed.

Example: the car is a complete white elephant; it uses an enormous amount of petrol and breaks down all the time. It's costing my brother a fortune.

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Work Against the Clock: Work fast because the time is limited.

Example: Your plan to persuade Lela to join the committee worked like magic.

Example: Born Loose is an x-rated video. It contains nudity and sex.

Y

X • X marks the spot: Begin at X, look for X, it can be found at X.

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You can't judge a book by its cover: You use this proverb to say that you can't tell what something/someone is really like just by looking at it. It might be different from what it looks.

Example: The pirate said to his crew, "X marks the spot". • X-rated: For adults, for a mature audience.

Example:

A: I want to buy this car. It looks great. B: Have a test drive with someone who knows

Example: Marisol had to kiss a lot of toads before finding her handsome prince.

cars well before you decide. You can't judge a book by its cover.

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You Have to Kiss a Lot of Toads Before you Find a Handsome Prince: You have to try over and over again until you get the best.

Z • Zero in on: Give one's full attention to.

Example: We spent the morning zeroing in on the

Example: After playing soccer in the park, I needed

problem of what to do with the excess space in our

a rest. I was zonked.

office. •

Zipperhead: business person, administrator.

Example: What musicians hate is to have a zipperhead controlling the arts. •

Zonked: tired, exhausted, falling asleep.