Idioms

Updated: September 10, 2005

An idiom is a phrase having a meaning that cannot be guessed from the meanings of its individual words.






AT DEATH'S DOOR: dying; near death.

His grandma is at death's door. 




BANG FOR THE BUCK: more value for the money.

You get more bang for the buck if you shop when there are sales. 




BLACK OUT: to temporarily lose consciousness.

I blacked out, and the next thing I remember was lying on the sofa. 




CATCH UP ON: to do something you have neglected or postponed.

I would love to join you for lunch, but I should use my lunch break to catch up on my filing. 




CHEW THE FAT: to talk.

We have to get together some time and chew the fat. 




COST AN ARM AND A LEG: to be expensive.

That car must have cost George an arm and a leg. 




DO WONDERS: to yield positive results.

This new coat of paint has done wonders for the room. 




EAT LIKE A BIRD: to eat little.

Jane eats like a bird. 




HAND-ME-DOWN: a piece of clothing given away once it is no longer needed.

When I was little I rarely had any new clothes to wear. I wore hand-me-downs given to me by relatives and family friends. 




HEART OF GOLD: a kind, good-natured person.

My neighbor, Sandy, has a heart of gold. She helps us out whenever she can. 




JUST NOW: a little time ago.

It happened just now. 




KEEP ABREAST OF: to remain informed about; to keep up to date.

I try to keep abreast of local news despite my busy schedule. 




MEAN BUSINESS: to be serious.

Jane showed her employer and fellow employees that she meant business by exceeding the goals her boss had set for her. 




NEITHER HERE NOR THERE: something off topic.

I think John would make a great supervisor. He lives close to me. But that's neither here nor there. 




ON A SHOESTRING: on a low budget.

The site offers many tips about travelling on a shoestring. 




ON THE MEND: healing.

I hadn't been feeling good for a few weeks, but now I'm on the mend. 




PICK SOMEONE'S BRAIN: to obtain information from someone (especially from someone who is well versed in the subject).

I'd love to come over next weekend and pick your brain about my upcoming project. 




PUT ONE'S FOOT IN ONE'S MOUTH: to say something embarrassing or inappropriate.

Jane stopped to think before she spoke. She didn't want to put her foot in her mouth again. 




ROUGH UP: to hurt or abuse.

They roughed him up when he couldn't pay his debt. 




RUN OUT (of something): to use up.

Everyone was so thirsty that we ran out of bottled water. 




SPILL THE BEANS: to tell someone a secret.

Aw, come on! Spill the beans! 




TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT: to not fully believe something someone has said.

He is prone to exaggeration, so take everything he says with a grain of salt. 




TIGHT SPOT: uncomfortable or difficult situation.

They have really put us in a tight spot here. 




TO THE LETTER: exactly.

You must follow my instructions to the letter. 




TWO CENTS: an opinion, often not asked for.

I don't think he is the best person for the job, but that's just my two cents. 




WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: the tendency of bad things to occur at the same time.

I've had so many problems recently. When it rains, it pours. 




WRAPPED UP IN: to be busy with; to only interested be in.

She's so wrapped up in her looks.