The instructions are often like this… In each of question
dash to dash, select the option that best explain the
information conveyed in the sentence. It’s usually 10
questions in this section.
This section is very important because each question
carries 2marks. So, if you have all, it means that you
already pocketed 20 marks.
Here are the idioms and their meaning…
A big cheese – an important or a powerful person in a
group or family
A bird’s eye view– a view from a very high place which
allows you to see a large area
A bone of contention– something that people argue for
a long time
A cock and a bull story – a story or an explanation
which is obviously not true.
At the crack of the dawn– very early in morning
A cuckoo in the nest – someone in a group of people
but not liked by them.
A litmus test – a method which clearly proves
something
As the crow flies – measuring distance between two
places in a straight line.
A dead letter– an argument or law not followed by
anyone.
At the drop of the hat – u do something easily and
without any preparation
An early bird – someone who gets early in the morning
An educated guess– a guess which was likely to get
corrected
At the eleventh hour– be too late. A queer fish – a
strange person
A wakeup call – an event done to warn someone
A worm’s eye view– having very little knowledge about
something
A witch hunt– an attempt to find and punish those
who have options that are believed to be dangerous
At the heels of – to follow someone
A dish fit for Gods – something of very high quality
A game of two equal halves – a sudden change in
circumstances
Afraid of one’s own shadow – to become easily
frightened
Against the clock– to be in a hurry to do something
before a particular time
Air one’s dirty laundry – to make public something
embarrassing that should be kept secret.
All systems go- everything is ready.
An arm and a leg – a large amount of money
Appear out of now here – to appear suddenly without
warning.
Apple of someone’s eye – someone loved very much.
Ask for the moon – to ask for too much.
Asleep at the switch – not to be alert on opportunity
At sixes and sevens – to be lost and bewildered
At someone’s beck and call – to be always ready to
serve
At the bottom of the ladder – at the lowest level
A house of cards– a poor plan
At an arm’s length – to keep at a distance
At sixes and sevens – in disorder
A boon in disguise – a benefit in loss
A bull in a China shop – an awkward person
A red letter day– an important day
A nine days wonder– pleasure for a short time
A bit under the weather – falling ill
Bad blood– feelings of hate between two families
Bend your ears– to talk to someone for a very long
time about something boring
Bite your tongue – to stop yourself from saying
something because it would be better not to
Black and blue – full of bruises
Blue blood – belonging to high social class
Be above board– to be honest and legal
Be bouncing off the walls – excited and full of nervous
energy
ow and scrap– try too hard to please someone in a
position of authority
Brass monkey weather – extremely cold weather
Be tailor made– to be completely suitable for someone.
Break the ice – to make more comfort or relaxed with a
person whom you have not met earlier, to break the
silence
Be as clear as mud – to be impossible to understand
Be on cloud nine – be very happy
Between the devil and deep blue sea – a type of
situation where u must choose between two equally
unpleasant situations
Be in the doldrums– not very successful or nothing
new is taking place
Beat the drum– to speak eagerly about something you
support
Be on the edge – to be nervous or worried about
something
Be in seventh heaven – extremely happy
Be at each other’s throat– two persons arguing angrily
Batten down the hatches – to prepare for trouble
Back the wrong horse – to support someone weak
Back to square one– to reach again to the starting
point
Back to the salt mines – back to something that you
don’t want to do
Ball of fire – active and energetic
Beat one’s head against the wall- to try to do
something that is hopeless
Bark up the wrong tree – to make a wrong assumption
Batten down the hatches – prepare for difficult times
Beat one’s brain out – to work hard
Begin to see the light – to begin to understand
Behind closed doors – done in secret
Bet on the wrong horse – to misread the future
Bent on doing – to be determined to do something
Bite off more than one can chew– to do more than
one’s ability
Bite the bullet – to face a difficult situation bravely
Bitter pill to swallow– an unpleasant fact that must be
accepted
Black sheep of the family – worst member
Blessing in disguise – something that turns out to be
good which earlier appeared to be wrong
Blind leading the blind– someone who does not
understand something but tries to explain it to other
Blow one’s own horn– to praise one
Blow someone’s mind – excite someone
Bone of contention– subject matter of the fight
Bring home the bacon – to earn money to live
Blue in the face– exhausted and speechless
Break the back of – reduce the power of something
Burn a hole in one’s pocket – to spend money quickly
Burn the midnight oil – to study till late of night
Bushman’s holiday– a holiday where you spend doing
same thing as you did at working days
Button’s one lip – to keep quite
reak a leg – to wish good luck
Carrot and sticks– You use both awards as well as
punishments to make someone do something.
Cloak and dragger – when people behave in a very
secret manner
Cards are stacked against – luck is against you
Crack a book – to open book to study
Cross a bridge before one comes to it – worry about
the future in advance
Carry coals to new castle – to take something to a
place or a person that has a lot of that thing already
Cast in the same mould – to be very similar
Change horses in midstream – to change plans
Cap it all – to finish
Cried with eyes out – cried a lot
Carry the can– If you carry the can, you take the blame
for something, even though you didn’t do it or are only
partly at fault.
Cast a long shadow – Something or someone that
casts a long shadow has considerable influence on
other people or events.
Cat and dog life– If people lead a cat and dog life,
they are always arguing.
Drive a wedge between – to break relationship between
the two
Dances to the tune – to always do what someone tells
you to do
Dressed up to the nines – wearing fancy clothes
Dragging its feet – delaying in decision, not showing
enthusiasm
Davey Jones’ locker- Davey Jones’ locker is the bottom
of the sea or resting place of drowned sailors. (‘Davy
Jones’ locker’ is an alternative spelling.)
Dancing on someone’s grave- If you will dance on
someone’s grave, you will outlive or Outlast them and
will celebrate their demise
Dog in the manger- If someone acts like a dog in the
manger, they don’t want other people to have or enjoy
things that are useless to them
Don’t cry over spilt milk- When something bad happens
and nothing can be done to help it people say, ‘Don’t
cry over spilt milk’
Don’t wash your dirty laundry in public- People,
especially couples, who argue in front of others or
involve others in their personal problems and crises, are
said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making
public things that are best left private.
Donkey work- Donkey work is any hard, boring work or
task.
Don’t throw bricks when you live in a glass house-
Don’t call others out on actions that you, yourself do.
Don’t be a hypocrite.
Entering the 80th orbit – celebrating the 80th birthday
Eleventh hour decision – decision that is made at the
last possible minute
End in smoke – to bear no result
Earth shattering – not at all surprising
Eat humble pie – to apologize humbly
Elephant in the room- An elephant in the room is a
problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks
about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Egg on your face- If someone has egg on their face;
they are made to look foolish or embarrassed
Eye for an eye- This is an expression for retributive
justice, where the punishment equals the crime.
Eyes are bigger than one’s stomach- If someone’s eyes
are bigger than their stomach, they are greedy and take
on more than they can consume or manage.
From cradle to grave – during the whole span of your
life.
Face the music -to accept punishment for something
you have done.
Feel the pinch– to have problems with money.
Fall on your own sword– to be cheated by someone
you trust.
Feather in one’s cap– something that you achieve and
proud of.
Firing on all cylinders – work every possible way to
succeed.
French leave – absent without permission, to take
French leave is to leave a gathering without saying
goodbye or without permission.
Fall on our feet- If you fall on your feet, you succeed in
doing something where there was a risk of failure.
Fall on your sword- If someone falls on their sword,
they resign or accept the consequences of what they
have done wrong.
Fingers and thumbs- If you are all fingers and thumbs,
you are being clumsy and not very skilled with your
hands.
Finger in the pie- If you have a finger in the pie, you
have an interest in something.
Flash in the pan- If something is a flash in the pan; it
is very noticeable but doesn’t last long, like most
singers, who are very successful for a while, then
forgotten.
Follow your nose- When giving directions, telling
someone to follow their nose means that they should
go straight ahead.
Fool’s paradise- A fool’s paradise is a false sense of
happiness or success
Foot in mouth- This is used to describe someone who
has just said something
Embarrassing, inappropriate, wrong or stupid
For a song- If you buy or sell something for a song, it
is very cheap
For donkey’s years- If people have done something,
usually without much if any
Get off the hook– free from all obligations
Give-up the ghost – to die
Got the slap on the wrist– got light punishment
Give someone a bird – make fun
Got the wind up – to be scared
Get a raw deal – not treated equally
Gift of the gab – talent of speaking, if someone has the
gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and
interesting way
Gives cold shoulder – to ignore
Get your wires crossed- If people get their wires cross,
they misunderstand each other, especially when making
arrangements.(‘Get your lines crossed’ is also used.)
Give me five- If someone says this, they want to hit
your open hand against theirs as a
Way of congratulation or greeting
Give me a hand- If someone gives you a hand, they
help you
Give someone a piece of your mind- If you give
someone a piece of your mind, you criticize them
strongly and angrily.
Go bananas- If you go bananas, you are wild with
excitement, anxiety, or worry
Go tell it to birds- This is used when someone says
something that is not credible or is a lie
Go under the hammer- If something goes under the
hammer, it is sold in an auction
Graveyard shift- If you have to work very late at night,
it is the graveyard shift
Grease monkey- A grease monkey is an idiomatic term
for a mechanic
Have ants in your pants – not be able to keep still
because you are very excited or worried about
something.
Having a whole of a time – to enjoy very much
Hold one’s horse– be patient
Have a big mouth – one who gossips more or tells
secret
Himalayan blunder – a serious mistake
Have a one track mind – think only of one thing
Have clean hands – be guiltless
Have an egg on the face – be embarrassed
Have eyes bigger than stomach – desiring more food
than one can eat
Heart missed a beat – very excited
Heart in the right place – good natured
Hit the nail on the head – done the thing correctly
Hand to mouth- Someone who’s living from hand to
mouth, is very poor and needs the little money they
have coming in to cover their expenses
Have no truck with- If you have no truck with
something or someone, you refuse to get involved with
it or them
Hit the bull’s-eye- If someone hits the bull’s-eye, they
are exactly right about something or achieve the best
result possible.
Hold water- When you say that something does or
does not ‘hold water’, it means that the point of view
or argument put forward is or is not sound, strong or
logical. For e.g. ‘Saying we should increase our interest
rates because everyone else is doing so will not hold
water’
Hornets’ nest- A hornets’ nest is a violent situation or
one with a lot of dispute. (If you create the problem,
you ‘stir up a hornets’ nest’.)
In dribs and drabs – in small amounts at a time
In black and white– to give in writing
In the blues – low spirited
In cahoots with– in a partnership usually for a
dishonest reason
If the shoe fits, wear it- This is used to suggest that
something that has been said might apply to a person
In droves- When things happen in droves, a lot happen
at the same time or very quickly
In the doghouse- If someone is in the doghouse, they
are in disgrace and very
Unpopular at the moment.
Jack Frost – If everything has frozen in winter, then
Jack Frost has visited.
Jack the Lad – A confident and not very serious young
man who behaves as he wants to without thinking
about other people is a Jack the Lad.
Jack-of-all-trades – A jack-of-all-trades is someone that
can do many different jobs.
Jam on your face – If you say that someone has jam
on their face, they appear to be caught, embarrassed
or found guilty.
Jam tomorrow – This idiom is used when people
promise good things for the future that will never
come.
Jane Doe – Jane Doe is a name given to an
unidentified female who may be party to legal
proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or
dead. John Doe is the male equivalent.
Jekyll and Hyde – Someone who has a Jekyll and Hyde
personality has a pleasant and a very unpleasant side
to the character.
Jersey justice – J ersey justice is very severe justice.
Jet set – Very wealthy people who travel around the
world to attend parties or functions are the jet set.
Jet-black – To emphasise just how black something is,
such as someone’s hair, we can call it jet-black.
Job’s comforter – Someone who says they want to
comfort, but actually discomforts people is a Job’s
comforter.
Jobs for the boys – Where people give jobs, contracts,
etc, to their friends and associates, these are jobs for
the boys.
Jockey for position – If a number of people want the
same opportunity and are struggling to emerge as the
most likely candidate, they are jockeying for position.
Jog my memory- If you jog someone’s memory, you
say words that will help someone trying to remember a
thought, event, word, phrase, experience, etc.
John Doe- John Doe is a name given to an unidentified
male who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an
unidentified person in hospital, or dead. Jane Doe is
the female equivalent.
Joe Public – Joe Public is the typical, average person.
Johnny on the spot – A person who is always
available; ready, willing, and able to do what needs to
be done.(‘Johnny-on-the-spot’ is also used.)
Johnny-come-lately – A Johnny-come-lately is someone
who has recently joined something or arrived
somewhere, especially when they want to make
changes that are not welcome.
Join the club – Said when someone has expressed a
desire or opinion, meaning “That viewpoint is not
unique to you”. It can suggest that the speaker should
stop complaining since many others are in the same
position. Example: “If this train doesn’t come, I’ll be
late for work!” “Join the club!”
Joined at the hip – If people are joined at the hip, they
are very closely connected and think the same way.
Judge, jury and executioner – If someone is said to be
the judge, jury, and executioner, it means they are in
charge of every decision made, and they have the
power to be rid of whomever they choose.
Juggle frogs – If you are juggling frogs, you are trying
to do something very difficult.
Jump down someone’s throat – If you jump down
someone’s throat, you criticise or chastise them
severely.
Jump on the bandwagon – If people jump on the
bandwagon, they get involved in something that has
recently become very popular.
Jump ship – If you leave a company or institution for
another because it is doing badly, you are jumping
ship.
Jump the broom – To jump the broom is to marry.
(Jump over the broom, jump over the broomstick, jump
the broomstick are also used.)
Jump the gun – If you jump the gun, you start doing
something before the appropriate time.
Jump the track – Jumping the track is suddenly
changing from one plan, activity, idea, etc, to another.
Jump through hoops – If you are prepared to jump
through hoops for someone, you are prepared to make
great efforts and sacrifices for them.
Jump to a conclusion – If someone jumps to a
conclusion, they evaluate or judge something without a
sufficient examination of the facts.
Jumping Judas! – An expression of surprise or shock.
Jungle out there – If someone says that it is a jungle
out there, they mean that the situation is dangerous
and there are no rules.
Jury’s out – If the jury’s out on an issue, then there is
no general agreement or consensus on it.
Just around the corner- If something is just around the
corner, then it is expected to happen very soon.
Just coming up to – If the time is just coming up to
nine o’clock, it means that it will be nine o’clock in a
very few seconds. You’ll hear them say it on the radio
in the morning.
Just deserts – If a bad or evil person gets their just
deserts, they get the punishment or suffer the
misfortune that it is felt they deserve.
Just for the heck of it – When someone does
something just for the heck of it, they do it without a
good reason.
Just for the record – If something is said to be just for
the record, the person is saying it so that people know
but does not necessarily agree with or support it.
Just in the nick of time – If you do something in the
nick of time, you just manage to do it just in time, with
seconds to spare.
Just off the boat – If someone is just off the boat,
they are naive and inexperienced.
Just what the doctor ordered – If something’s just
what the doctor ordered, it is precisely what is needed.
Justice is blind – Justice is blind means that justice is
impartial and objective.
Kick up a row – to start a fight, to create disturbance
Keep ones eye on the ball– be ready for something
Kangaroo court- When people take the law into their
own hands and form courts that are not legal, these
are known as kangaroo court
Keep body and soul together- If you earn enough to
cover your basic expenses, but nothing more than that,
you earn enough to keep body and soul together.
Keep your eye on the ball- If you keep your eye on the
ball, you stay alert and pay Close attention to what is
happening
Know which way the wind blows- This means that you
should know how things are Developing and be
prepared for the future.
Loaves and fishes – done for material benefits
Like a shag on a rock – completely alone.
Let someone slide – neglect something
Let the cat out of the bag– reveal the secret
Let nature take its course – to allow someone to live or
die naturally.
Like a sitting duck – totally unaware
Lion’s share – a major share
Left to your own devices- If someone is left to their
own devices, they are not controlled and can do
whatever they want
Make castles in the air – plans or hopes that have very
little chances of happening.
Make a bee line for – to go directly towards something.
Make ones bed and lie on it– to be responsible for
what you have done and accept the results
Meet ones waterloo – meet ones final end
Monkey around– to waste time here and there
My hands are full – I am busy
Make a dry face – show disappointment
Make a monkey of someone- If you make a monkey of
someone, you make them look foolish
Man of his word- A man of his word is a person who
does what he says and keeps his Promises
Many moons ago- A very long time ago
Nobody’s fool – one who can take care of himself
not having a leg to stand for – not having proof
Never-never land – ideal best place.
No love lost between – dislike
Needle in a haystack- If trying to find something is like
looking for a needle in a haystack, it means that it is
very difficult, if not impossible to find among
everything around it
New brush sweeps clean- ‘A new brush sweeps clean’
means that someone with a new perspective can make
great changes. However, the full version is ‘a new
brush sweeps clean, but an old brush knows the
corners’, which warns that experience is also a
valuable thing
No smoke without fire- This idiom means that when
people suspect something, there is Normally a good
reason for the suspicion, even if there is no concrete
evidence. (‘Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire’ is also
used.)
Once in a blue moon – very rarely
On the bandwagon – doing something because others
are also doing it
Open Pandora’s box– to discover more problems
Over the moon – being too happy
On its last legs – in a bad condition and will not last
long
Old flames die hard- It’s very difficult to forget old
things
On pins and needles- If you are on pins and needles,
you are very worried about something
On the carpet- When you are called to the bosses office
(since supposedly, they are the only ones who have
carpet) and its definitely not for a good reason, i.e.,
you are in trouble, something has not gone
according to plan and either maybe you are
responsible and/or have some explaining to do
On the hook- If someone is on the hook, they are
responsible for something.
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches- This
means that it’s hard to know how much someone else
is suffering.
Pass muster– to be approved
Pick someone to pieces– to criticize sharply
Paper over the cracks – to try to hide something
Pull up the shocks – do things in the right manner and
correctly
Parrot fashion- If you learn something parrots fashion;
you learn it word for word
Pay on the nail- If you pay on the nail, you pay
promptly in cash
Pen is mightier than the sword- The idiom ‘the pen is
mightier than the sword’ means that words and
communication are morepowerful than wars and
fighting
Pick someone’s brains- If you pick someone’s brains,
you ask them for advice,
Suggestions and information about something they
know about
Pieces of the same cake- Pieces of the same cake are
things that have the same
Characteristics or qualities
Play fast and loose- If people play fast and loose, they
behave in an irresponsible way
And don’t respect rules, etc.
Poker face- Someone with a poker face doesn’t show
any emotion or reaction so that
People don’t know what they are feeling
Quarrel with bread and butter- Bread and butter, here,
indicate the means of one’s living. If a sub-ordinate in
an organization is quarrelsome or if he is not patient
enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry
and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man
dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that
gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarreled
with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and
lost his job
Quiet as a cat- If somebody is as quiet as a cat they
make as little noise as possible and try to be
unnoticeable
Quiet as a mouse- If someone’s as quiet as a mouse,
they make absolutely no noise
Queer fish- A strange person is a queer fish
Round the twist – go crazy
Read between the lines- read hidden meanings
Rack and ruin- If something or someone goes to rack
and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked
Rain on your parade- If someone rains on your parade,
they ruin your pleasure or
Rake someone over the coals- If you rake someone
over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely
Recipe for disaster- A recipe for disaster is a mixture of
people and events that could only possibly result in
trouble
Red carpet- If you give someone the red-carpet
treatment, you give them a special
Welcome to show that you think they are important
Red herring- If something is a distraction from the real
issues, it is a red herring
Red letter day- A red letter day is a one of good luck,
when something special happens to you
Reduce to ashes- If something is reduced to ashes, it
is destroyed or made useless. His infidelities reduced
their relationship to ashes
Round the houses- If you go round the houses, you do
something in an inefficient way when there is a quicker,
more convenient way
Rub shoulders- If you rub shoulders with people, you
meet and spend time with them,
Especially when they are powerful or famous
Run into the sand- If something runs into the sand, it
fails to achieve a result
Salt on the earth– fundamental good people
Sands of time – tiny amounts of time
Shake a leg – to go fast, hurry
Spill the beans – to expose a secret
Snake in the grass– a hidden army
Salt on the earth– fundamental good people
Sands of time – tiny amounts of time
Shake a leg – to go fast, hurry
Spill the beans – to expose a secret
Snake in the grass– a hidden army
Snake in the shoes– to be in a state of fear
Stood to his guns– maintained to his opinion
showing the door– asking someone to leave
Song and a dance- an excuse
Salad days- Your salad days are an especially happy
period of your life
Sail under false colors- Someone who sails under false
colors is hypocritical or
Pretends to be something they aren’t in order to
deceive people
Threaded his way out – walked carefully through
Take the cloth – to become a priest.
Talk turkey – to discuss a problem with a real intension
to solve it.
Tit for tat– an action done to revenge against a person
who has done some wrong to you
To crow over – to triumph over someone
to blow a fuse– to turn someone angry
though thick and thin – under all conditions
to bell the cat – to take great risks
To look through colored glasses– to look the things
not as they are
Taking to a brick wall – taking with a no
responseTurned a deaf ear – disregarded
Take a back seat– choose to decrease involvement
Tables are turned- When the tables are turned, the
situation has changed giving the advantage to the
party who had previously been at a disadvantage
Take someone under your wing- If you take someone
under your wing, you look after them while they are
learning something
Take your medicine- If you take your medicine, you
accept the consequences of something you have done
wrong
Talking to a brick wall- If you talk to someone and they
do not listen to you, it is like talking to a brick wall
Taste of your own medicine- If you give someone a
taste of their own medicine, you do something bad to
someone that they have done to you to teach them a
lesson
The apple does not fall far from the tree- Offspring
grow up to be like their parents
Through thick and thin- If someone supports you
through thick and thin, they support you during good
times and bad
Upset the apple cart – to create difficulty
Under a cloud– If someone is suspected of having
done something wrong, they are under a cloud
Under fire – If someone is being attacked and criticized
heavily, they are under fire
Under your nose- If something happens right in front of
you, especially if it is surprising or audacious, it
happens under your nose
Up for grabs – If something is up for grabs, it is
available and whoever is first or is successful will get
it
Up to the neck – If someone’s in something up to the
neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it’s
something wrong
Up a river without a paddle– If you up a river without a
paddle, you are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared
and with none of the resources to remedy the matter
Uncharted waters- If you’re in uncharted waters, you
are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you
have no experience of and don’t know what might
happen
Under lock and key- If something is under lock and key,
it is stored very securely
Vale of tears- This vale of tears is the world and the
suffering that life brings.
Velvet glove – This idiom is used to describe a person
who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible
underneath. (‘Iron fist in a velvet glove’ is the full
form.)
Vent your spleen – If someone vents their spleen, they
release all their anger about something.
Vicar of Bray – A person who changes their beliefs and
principles to stay popular with people above them is a
Vicar of Bray
Vicious circle – A vicious circle is a sequence of events
that make each other worse- someone drinks because
they are unhappy at work, then loses their job… ‘Vicious
cycle’ is also used.
Vinegar tits – A mean spirited women lacking in love or
compassion.
Virgin territory – If something is virgin territory, it
hasn’t been explored before.
Voice in the wilderness – Someone who expresses an
opinion that no one believes or listens to is a voice in
the wilderness,especially if proved right later.
Volte-face – If you do a volte-face on something, you
make a sudden and complete change in your stance or
position over an issue.
Vultures are circling – If the vultures are circling, then
something is in danger and its enemies are getting
ready for the kill.
Weight one’s word – be careful to what one says
Wait for a raindrop in the drought- When someone is
waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting
or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to
happe
Walking on broken glass- When a person is punished
for something
Wet behind the ears- Someone who is wet behind the
ears is either very young or inexperienced
Whale of a time- If you have a whale of a time, you
really enjoy yourself
Work your fingers to the bone- If you work your fingers
to the bone, you work extremely hard on something
Wrench in the works- If someone puts or throws a
wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a
plan
X factor – The dangers for people in the military that
civilians do not face, for which they receive payment,
are known as the X factor.
X marks the spot – This is used to say where
something is located or hidden.
X-rated – If something is x-rated, it is not suitable for
children.
Yah boo sucks- Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used
to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
Yank my chain – If someone says this to another
person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the
other person to leave the person who said it alone and
to stop bothering them.
Yell bloody murder – If someone yells bloody murder,
they protest angrily and loudly, or scream in fear.
Yellow press – The yellow press is a term for the
popular and sensationalist newspapers.
Yellow streak – If someone has a yellow streak, they
are cowardly about something.
Yellow-bellied – A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
Yen – If you have a yen to do something, you have a
desire to do it.
Yeoman’s service – To do yeoman’s service is to
serve in an exemplary manner.
Yes-man – Someone who always agrees with people in
authority is a yes-man.
Yesterday’s man or Yesterday’s woman – Someone,
especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over
or on the decline is yesterday’s man or woman.
You are what you eat – This is used to emphasise the
importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
– This means that it is easier to persuade people if
you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are
confrontational.
You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose
your family – Some things you can choose, but others
you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of
what you have where you have no choice.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it
drink – This idiom means you can offer something to
someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them
take it.
You can say that again – If you want to agree strongly
with what someone has said, you can say ‘You can say
that again’ as a way of doing so.
You can’t fight City Hall – This phrase is used when
one is so cynical that one doesn’t think one can change
their Representatives. The phrase must have started
with frustration towards a local body of government.
You can’t have cake and the topping, too – This idiom
means that you can’t have everything the way you
want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You can’t have your cake and eat it – This idiom
means that you can’t have things both ways. For
example, you can’t have very low taxes and a high
standard of state care.
You can’t hide elephants in mouse holes – means that
some issues/problems/challenges cannot be hidden/
concealed but have to be faced and dealt with.
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – If
something isn’t very good to start with, you can’t do
much to improve it.
You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs –
This idiom means that in order to achieve something
or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
You can’t take it with you – Enjoy life, enjoy what you
have and don’t worry about not having a lot, especially
money…because once you’re dead, ‘you can’t take it
with you.’ For some, it means to use up all you have
before you die because it’s no use to you afterwards.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks – It is difficult
to make someone change the way they do something
when they have been doing it the same way for a long
time
You can’t un-ring a bell – This means that once
something has been done, you have to live with the
consequences as it can’t be undone.
You could have knocked me down with a feather – This
idiom is used to mean that the person was very
shocked or surprised.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself – If there is
someone in a lower position who can or should do a
task, then you shouldn’t do it.
You get what you pay for – Something that is very low
in price is not usually of very good quality.
You reap what you sow – This means that if you do
bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or
good things if you do good things. It is normally used
when someone has done something bad.
You said it!- Used to say you agree completely with
something just said.
You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours – This
idiom means that if you do something for me, I’ll return
the favour.
You what? – This is a very colloquial way of
expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have
heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say
something again.
You’re toast – If someone tells you that you are toast,
you are in a lot of trouble.
You’ve got rocks in your head – Someone who has
acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
You’ve made your bed- you’ll have to lie in it – This
means that someone will have to live with the
consequences of their own actions.
Young blood – Young people with new ideas and fresh
approaches are young blood.
Young Turk – A Young Turk is a young person who is
rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team
or organisation.
Your belly button is bigger than your stomach – If your
belly button is bigger than your stomach, you take on
more responsibilities than you can handle.
Your call – If something is your call, it is up to you to
make a decision on the matter.
Your name is mud – If someone’s name is mud, then
they have a bad reputation.
Your sins will find you out – This idiom means that
things you do wrong will become known.
Zero hour- The time when something important is to
begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance – If the police have a zero tolerance
policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how
small or trivial.
Zigged before you zagged – If you did things in the
wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.
Zip it – This is used to tell someone to be quiet.
Zip your lip – If someone tells you to zip your lip, they
want to to shut up or keep quiet about something.
(‘Zip it’ is also used.)
dash to dash, select the option that best explain the
information conveyed in the sentence. It’s usually 10
questions in this section.
This section is very important because each question
carries 2marks. So, if you have all, it means that you
already pocketed 20 marks.
Here are the idioms and their meaning…
A big cheese – an important or a powerful person in a
group or family
A bird’s eye view– a view from a very high place which
allows you to see a large area
A bone of contention– something that people argue for
a long time
A cock and a bull story – a story or an explanation
which is obviously not true.
At the crack of the dawn– very early in morning
A cuckoo in the nest – someone in a group of people
but not liked by them.
A litmus test – a method which clearly proves
something
As the crow flies – measuring distance between two
places in a straight line.
A dead letter– an argument or law not followed by
anyone.
At the drop of the hat – u do something easily and
without any preparation
An early bird – someone who gets early in the morning
An educated guess– a guess which was likely to get
corrected
At the eleventh hour– be too late. A queer fish – a
strange person
A wakeup call – an event done to warn someone
A worm’s eye view– having very little knowledge about
something
A witch hunt– an attempt to find and punish those
who have options that are believed to be dangerous
At the heels of – to follow someone
A dish fit for Gods – something of very high quality
A game of two equal halves – a sudden change in
circumstances
Afraid of one’s own shadow – to become easily
frightened
Against the clock– to be in a hurry to do something
before a particular time
Air one’s dirty laundry – to make public something
embarrassing that should be kept secret.
All systems go- everything is ready.
An arm and a leg – a large amount of money
Appear out of now here – to appear suddenly without
warning.
Apple of someone’s eye – someone loved very much.
Ask for the moon – to ask for too much.
Asleep at the switch – not to be alert on opportunity
At sixes and sevens – to be lost and bewildered
At someone’s beck and call – to be always ready to
serve
At the bottom of the ladder – at the lowest level
A house of cards– a poor plan
At an arm’s length – to keep at a distance
At sixes and sevens – in disorder
A boon in disguise – a benefit in loss
A bull in a China shop – an awkward person
A red letter day– an important day
A nine days wonder– pleasure for a short time
A bit under the weather – falling ill
Bad blood– feelings of hate between two families
Bend your ears– to talk to someone for a very long
time about something boring
Bite your tongue – to stop yourself from saying
something because it would be better not to
Black and blue – full of bruises
Blue blood – belonging to high social class
Be above board– to be honest and legal
Be bouncing off the walls – excited and full of nervous
energy
ow and scrap– try too hard to please someone in a
position of authority
Brass monkey weather – extremely cold weather
Be tailor made– to be completely suitable for someone.
Break the ice – to make more comfort or relaxed with a
person whom you have not met earlier, to break the
silence
Be as clear as mud – to be impossible to understand
Be on cloud nine – be very happy
Between the devil and deep blue sea – a type of
situation where u must choose between two equally
unpleasant situations
Be in the doldrums– not very successful or nothing
new is taking place
Beat the drum– to speak eagerly about something you
support
Be on the edge – to be nervous or worried about
something
Be in seventh heaven – extremely happy
Be at each other’s throat– two persons arguing angrily
Batten down the hatches – to prepare for trouble
Back the wrong horse – to support someone weak
Back to square one– to reach again to the starting
point
Back to the salt mines – back to something that you
don’t want to do
Ball of fire – active and energetic
Beat one’s head against the wall- to try to do
something that is hopeless
Bark up the wrong tree – to make a wrong assumption
Batten down the hatches – prepare for difficult times
Beat one’s brain out – to work hard
Begin to see the light – to begin to understand
Behind closed doors – done in secret
Bet on the wrong horse – to misread the future
Bent on doing – to be determined to do something
Bite off more than one can chew– to do more than
one’s ability
Bite the bullet – to face a difficult situation bravely
Bitter pill to swallow– an unpleasant fact that must be
accepted
Black sheep of the family – worst member
Blessing in disguise – something that turns out to be
good which earlier appeared to be wrong
Blind leading the blind– someone who does not
understand something but tries to explain it to other
Blow one’s own horn– to praise one
Blow someone’s mind – excite someone
Bone of contention– subject matter of the fight
Bring home the bacon – to earn money to live
Blue in the face– exhausted and speechless
Break the back of – reduce the power of something
Burn a hole in one’s pocket – to spend money quickly
Burn the midnight oil – to study till late of night
Bushman’s holiday– a holiday where you spend doing
same thing as you did at working days
Button’s one lip – to keep quite
reak a leg – to wish good luck
Carrot and sticks– You use both awards as well as
punishments to make someone do something.
Cloak and dragger – when people behave in a very
secret manner
Cards are stacked against – luck is against you
Crack a book – to open book to study
Cross a bridge before one comes to it – worry about
the future in advance
Carry coals to new castle – to take something to a
place or a person that has a lot of that thing already
Cast in the same mould – to be very similar
Change horses in midstream – to change plans
Cap it all – to finish
Cried with eyes out – cried a lot
Carry the can– If you carry the can, you take the blame
for something, even though you didn’t do it or are only
partly at fault.
Cast a long shadow – Something or someone that
casts a long shadow has considerable influence on
other people or events.
Cat and dog life– If people lead a cat and dog life,
they are always arguing.
Drive a wedge between – to break relationship between
the two
Dances to the tune – to always do what someone tells
you to do
Dressed up to the nines – wearing fancy clothes
Dragging its feet – delaying in decision, not showing
enthusiasm
Davey Jones’ locker- Davey Jones’ locker is the bottom
of the sea or resting place of drowned sailors. (‘Davy
Jones’ locker’ is an alternative spelling.)
Dancing on someone’s grave- If you will dance on
someone’s grave, you will outlive or Outlast them and
will celebrate their demise
Dog in the manger- If someone acts like a dog in the
manger, they don’t want other people to have or enjoy
things that are useless to them
Don’t cry over spilt milk- When something bad happens
and nothing can be done to help it people say, ‘Don’t
cry over spilt milk’
Don’t wash your dirty laundry in public- People,
especially couples, who argue in front of others or
involve others in their personal problems and crises, are
said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making
public things that are best left private.
Donkey work- Donkey work is any hard, boring work or
task.
Don’t throw bricks when you live in a glass house-
Don’t call others out on actions that you, yourself do.
Don’t be a hypocrite.
Entering the 80th orbit – celebrating the 80th birthday
Eleventh hour decision – decision that is made at the
last possible minute
End in smoke – to bear no result
Earth shattering – not at all surprising
Eat humble pie – to apologize humbly
Elephant in the room- An elephant in the room is a
problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks
about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Egg on your face- If someone has egg on their face;
they are made to look foolish or embarrassed
Eye for an eye- This is an expression for retributive
justice, where the punishment equals the crime.
Eyes are bigger than one’s stomach- If someone’s eyes
are bigger than their stomach, they are greedy and take
on more than they can consume or manage.
From cradle to grave – during the whole span of your
life.
Face the music -to accept punishment for something
you have done.
Feel the pinch– to have problems with money.
Fall on your own sword– to be cheated by someone
you trust.
Feather in one’s cap– something that you achieve and
proud of.
Firing on all cylinders – work every possible way to
succeed.
French leave – absent without permission, to take
French leave is to leave a gathering without saying
goodbye or without permission.
Fall on our feet- If you fall on your feet, you succeed in
doing something where there was a risk of failure.
Fall on your sword- If someone falls on their sword,
they resign or accept the consequences of what they
have done wrong.
Fingers and thumbs- If you are all fingers and thumbs,
you are being clumsy and not very skilled with your
hands.
Finger in the pie- If you have a finger in the pie, you
have an interest in something.
Flash in the pan- If something is a flash in the pan; it
is very noticeable but doesn’t last long, like most
singers, who are very successful for a while, then
forgotten.
Follow your nose- When giving directions, telling
someone to follow their nose means that they should
go straight ahead.
Fool’s paradise- A fool’s paradise is a false sense of
happiness or success
Foot in mouth- This is used to describe someone who
has just said something
Embarrassing, inappropriate, wrong or stupid
For a song- If you buy or sell something for a song, it
is very cheap
For donkey’s years- If people have done something,
usually without much if any
Get off the hook– free from all obligations
Give-up the ghost – to die
Got the slap on the wrist– got light punishment
Give someone a bird – make fun
Got the wind up – to be scared
Get a raw deal – not treated equally
Gift of the gab – talent of speaking, if someone has the
gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and
interesting way
Gives cold shoulder – to ignore
Get your wires crossed- If people get their wires cross,
they misunderstand each other, especially when making
arrangements.(‘Get your lines crossed’ is also used.)
Give me five- If someone says this, they want to hit
your open hand against theirs as a
Way of congratulation or greeting
Give me a hand- If someone gives you a hand, they
help you
Give someone a piece of your mind- If you give
someone a piece of your mind, you criticize them
strongly and angrily.
Go bananas- If you go bananas, you are wild with
excitement, anxiety, or worry
Go tell it to birds- This is used when someone says
something that is not credible or is a lie
Go under the hammer- If something goes under the
hammer, it is sold in an auction
Graveyard shift- If you have to work very late at night,
it is the graveyard shift
Grease monkey- A grease monkey is an idiomatic term
for a mechanic
Have ants in your pants – not be able to keep still
because you are very excited or worried about
something.
Having a whole of a time – to enjoy very much
Hold one’s horse– be patient
Have a big mouth – one who gossips more or tells
secret
Himalayan blunder – a serious mistake
Have a one track mind – think only of one thing
Have clean hands – be guiltless
Have an egg on the face – be embarrassed
Have eyes bigger than stomach – desiring more food
than one can eat
Heart missed a beat – very excited
Heart in the right place – good natured
Hit the nail on the head – done the thing correctly
Hand to mouth- Someone who’s living from hand to
mouth, is very poor and needs the little money they
have coming in to cover their expenses
Have no truck with- If you have no truck with
something or someone, you refuse to get involved with
it or them
Hit the bull’s-eye- If someone hits the bull’s-eye, they
are exactly right about something or achieve the best
result possible.
Hold water- When you say that something does or
does not ‘hold water’, it means that the point of view
or argument put forward is or is not sound, strong or
logical. For e.g. ‘Saying we should increase our interest
rates because everyone else is doing so will not hold
water’
Hornets’ nest- A hornets’ nest is a violent situation or
one with a lot of dispute. (If you create the problem,
you ‘stir up a hornets’ nest’.)
In dribs and drabs – in small amounts at a time
In black and white– to give in writing
In the blues – low spirited
In cahoots with– in a partnership usually for a
dishonest reason
If the shoe fits, wear it- This is used to suggest that
something that has been said might apply to a person
In droves- When things happen in droves, a lot happen
at the same time or very quickly
In the doghouse- If someone is in the doghouse, they
are in disgrace and very
Unpopular at the moment.
Jack Frost – If everything has frozen in winter, then
Jack Frost has visited.
Jack the Lad – A confident and not very serious young
man who behaves as he wants to without thinking
about other people is a Jack the Lad.
Jack-of-all-trades – A jack-of-all-trades is someone that
can do many different jobs.
Jam on your face – If you say that someone has jam
on their face, they appear to be caught, embarrassed
or found guilty.
Jam tomorrow – This idiom is used when people
promise good things for the future that will never
come.
Jane Doe – Jane Doe is a name given to an
unidentified female who may be party to legal
proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or
dead. John Doe is the male equivalent.
Jekyll and Hyde – Someone who has a Jekyll and Hyde
personality has a pleasant and a very unpleasant side
to the character.
Jersey justice – J ersey justice is very severe justice.
Jet set – Very wealthy people who travel around the
world to attend parties or functions are the jet set.
Jet-black – To emphasise just how black something is,
such as someone’s hair, we can call it jet-black.
Job’s comforter – Someone who says they want to
comfort, but actually discomforts people is a Job’s
comforter.
Jobs for the boys – Where people give jobs, contracts,
etc, to their friends and associates, these are jobs for
the boys.
Jockey for position – If a number of people want the
same opportunity and are struggling to emerge as the
most likely candidate, they are jockeying for position.
Jog my memory- If you jog someone’s memory, you
say words that will help someone trying to remember a
thought, event, word, phrase, experience, etc.
John Doe- John Doe is a name given to an unidentified
male who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an
unidentified person in hospital, or dead. Jane Doe is
the female equivalent.
Joe Public – Joe Public is the typical, average person.
Johnny on the spot – A person who is always
available; ready, willing, and able to do what needs to
be done.(‘Johnny-on-the-spot’ is also used.)
Johnny-come-lately – A Johnny-come-lately is someone
who has recently joined something or arrived
somewhere, especially when they want to make
changes that are not welcome.
Join the club – Said when someone has expressed a
desire or opinion, meaning “That viewpoint is not
unique to you”. It can suggest that the speaker should
stop complaining since many others are in the same
position. Example: “If this train doesn’t come, I’ll be
late for work!” “Join the club!”
Joined at the hip – If people are joined at the hip, they
are very closely connected and think the same way.
Judge, jury and executioner – If someone is said to be
the judge, jury, and executioner, it means they are in
charge of every decision made, and they have the
power to be rid of whomever they choose.
Juggle frogs – If you are juggling frogs, you are trying
to do something very difficult.
Jump down someone’s throat – If you jump down
someone’s throat, you criticise or chastise them
severely.
Jump on the bandwagon – If people jump on the
bandwagon, they get involved in something that has
recently become very popular.
Jump ship – If you leave a company or institution for
another because it is doing badly, you are jumping
ship.
Jump the broom – To jump the broom is to marry.
(Jump over the broom, jump over the broomstick, jump
the broomstick are also used.)
Jump the gun – If you jump the gun, you start doing
something before the appropriate time.
Jump the track – Jumping the track is suddenly
changing from one plan, activity, idea, etc, to another.
Jump through hoops – If you are prepared to jump
through hoops for someone, you are prepared to make
great efforts and sacrifices for them.
Jump to a conclusion – If someone jumps to a
conclusion, they evaluate or judge something without a
sufficient examination of the facts.
Jumping Judas! – An expression of surprise or shock.
Jungle out there – If someone says that it is a jungle
out there, they mean that the situation is dangerous
and there are no rules.
Jury’s out – If the jury’s out on an issue, then there is
no general agreement or consensus on it.
Just around the corner- If something is just around the
corner, then it is expected to happen very soon.
Just coming up to – If the time is just coming up to
nine o’clock, it means that it will be nine o’clock in a
very few seconds. You’ll hear them say it on the radio
in the morning.
Just deserts – If a bad or evil person gets their just
deserts, they get the punishment or suffer the
misfortune that it is felt they deserve.
Just for the heck of it – When someone does
something just for the heck of it, they do it without a
good reason.
Just for the record – If something is said to be just for
the record, the person is saying it so that people know
but does not necessarily agree with or support it.
Just in the nick of time – If you do something in the
nick of time, you just manage to do it just in time, with
seconds to spare.
Just off the boat – If someone is just off the boat,
they are naive and inexperienced.
Just what the doctor ordered – If something’s just
what the doctor ordered, it is precisely what is needed.
Justice is blind – Justice is blind means that justice is
impartial and objective.
Kick up a row – to start a fight, to create disturbance
Keep ones eye on the ball– be ready for something
Kangaroo court- When people take the law into their
own hands and form courts that are not legal, these
are known as kangaroo court
Keep body and soul together- If you earn enough to
cover your basic expenses, but nothing more than that,
you earn enough to keep body and soul together.
Keep your eye on the ball- If you keep your eye on the
ball, you stay alert and pay Close attention to what is
happening
Know which way the wind blows- This means that you
should know how things are Developing and be
prepared for the future.
Loaves and fishes – done for material benefits
Like a shag on a rock – completely alone.
Let someone slide – neglect something
Let the cat out of the bag– reveal the secret
Let nature take its course – to allow someone to live or
die naturally.
Like a sitting duck – totally unaware
Lion’s share – a major share
Left to your own devices- If someone is left to their
own devices, they are not controlled and can do
whatever they want
Make castles in the air – plans or hopes that have very
little chances of happening.
Make a bee line for – to go directly towards something.
Make ones bed and lie on it– to be responsible for
what you have done and accept the results
Meet ones waterloo – meet ones final end
Monkey around– to waste time here and there
My hands are full – I am busy
Make a dry face – show disappointment
Make a monkey of someone- If you make a monkey of
someone, you make them look foolish
Man of his word- A man of his word is a person who
does what he says and keeps his Promises
Many moons ago- A very long time ago
Nobody’s fool – one who can take care of himself
not having a leg to stand for – not having proof
Never-never land – ideal best place.
No love lost between – dislike
Needle in a haystack- If trying to find something is like
looking for a needle in a haystack, it means that it is
very difficult, if not impossible to find among
everything around it
New brush sweeps clean- ‘A new brush sweeps clean’
means that someone with a new perspective can make
great changes. However, the full version is ‘a new
brush sweeps clean, but an old brush knows the
corners’, which warns that experience is also a
valuable thing
No smoke without fire- This idiom means that when
people suspect something, there is Normally a good
reason for the suspicion, even if there is no concrete
evidence. (‘Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire’ is also
used.)
Once in a blue moon – very rarely
On the bandwagon – doing something because others
are also doing it
Open Pandora’s box– to discover more problems
Over the moon – being too happy
On its last legs – in a bad condition and will not last
long
Old flames die hard- It’s very difficult to forget old
things
On pins and needles- If you are on pins and needles,
you are very worried about something
On the carpet- When you are called to the bosses office
(since supposedly, they are the only ones who have
carpet) and its definitely not for a good reason, i.e.,
you are in trouble, something has not gone
according to plan and either maybe you are
responsible and/or have some explaining to do
On the hook- If someone is on the hook, they are
responsible for something.
Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches- This
means that it’s hard to know how much someone else
is suffering.
Pass muster– to be approved
Pick someone to pieces– to criticize sharply
Paper over the cracks – to try to hide something
Pull up the shocks – do things in the right manner and
correctly
Parrot fashion- If you learn something parrots fashion;
you learn it word for word
Pay on the nail- If you pay on the nail, you pay
promptly in cash
Pen is mightier than the sword- The idiom ‘the pen is
mightier than the sword’ means that words and
communication are morepowerful than wars and
fighting
Pick someone’s brains- If you pick someone’s brains,
you ask them for advice,
Suggestions and information about something they
know about
Pieces of the same cake- Pieces of the same cake are
things that have the same
Characteristics or qualities
Play fast and loose- If people play fast and loose, they
behave in an irresponsible way
And don’t respect rules, etc.
Poker face- Someone with a poker face doesn’t show
any emotion or reaction so that
People don’t know what they are feeling
Quarrel with bread and butter- Bread and butter, here,
indicate the means of one’s living. If a sub-ordinate in
an organization is quarrelsome or if he is not patient
enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry
and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man
dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that
gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarreled
with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and
lost his job
Quiet as a cat- If somebody is as quiet as a cat they
make as little noise as possible and try to be
unnoticeable
Quiet as a mouse- If someone’s as quiet as a mouse,
they make absolutely no noise
Queer fish- A strange person is a queer fish
Round the twist – go crazy
Read between the lines- read hidden meanings
Rack and ruin- If something or someone goes to rack
and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked
Rain on your parade- If someone rains on your parade,
they ruin your pleasure or
Rake someone over the coals- If you rake someone
over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely
Recipe for disaster- A recipe for disaster is a mixture of
people and events that could only possibly result in
trouble
Red carpet- If you give someone the red-carpet
treatment, you give them a special
Welcome to show that you think they are important
Red herring- If something is a distraction from the real
issues, it is a red herring
Red letter day- A red letter day is a one of good luck,
when something special happens to you
Reduce to ashes- If something is reduced to ashes, it
is destroyed or made useless. His infidelities reduced
their relationship to ashes
Round the houses- If you go round the houses, you do
something in an inefficient way when there is a quicker,
more convenient way
Rub shoulders- If you rub shoulders with people, you
meet and spend time with them,
Especially when they are powerful or famous
Run into the sand- If something runs into the sand, it
fails to achieve a result
Salt on the earth– fundamental good people
Sands of time – tiny amounts of time
Shake a leg – to go fast, hurry
Spill the beans – to expose a secret
Snake in the grass– a hidden army
Salt on the earth– fundamental good people
Sands of time – tiny amounts of time
Shake a leg – to go fast, hurry
Spill the beans – to expose a secret
Snake in the grass– a hidden army
Snake in the shoes– to be in a state of fear
Stood to his guns– maintained to his opinion
showing the door– asking someone to leave
Song and a dance- an excuse
Salad days- Your salad days are an especially happy
period of your life
Sail under false colors- Someone who sails under false
colors is hypocritical or
Pretends to be something they aren’t in order to
deceive people
Threaded his way out – walked carefully through
Take the cloth – to become a priest.
Talk turkey – to discuss a problem with a real intension
to solve it.
Tit for tat– an action done to revenge against a person
who has done some wrong to you
To crow over – to triumph over someone
to blow a fuse– to turn someone angry
though thick and thin – under all conditions
to bell the cat – to take great risks
To look through colored glasses– to look the things
not as they are
Taking to a brick wall – taking with a no
responseTurned a deaf ear – disregarded
Take a back seat– choose to decrease involvement
Tables are turned- When the tables are turned, the
situation has changed giving the advantage to the
party who had previously been at a disadvantage
Take someone under your wing- If you take someone
under your wing, you look after them while they are
learning something
Take your medicine- If you take your medicine, you
accept the consequences of something you have done
wrong
Talking to a brick wall- If you talk to someone and they
do not listen to you, it is like talking to a brick wall
Taste of your own medicine- If you give someone a
taste of their own medicine, you do something bad to
someone that they have done to you to teach them a
lesson
The apple does not fall far from the tree- Offspring
grow up to be like their parents
Through thick and thin- If someone supports you
through thick and thin, they support you during good
times and bad
Upset the apple cart – to create difficulty
Under a cloud– If someone is suspected of having
done something wrong, they are under a cloud
Under fire – If someone is being attacked and criticized
heavily, they are under fire
Under your nose- If something happens right in front of
you, especially if it is surprising or audacious, it
happens under your nose
Up for grabs – If something is up for grabs, it is
available and whoever is first or is successful will get
it
Up to the neck – If someone’s in something up to the
neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it’s
something wrong
Up a river without a paddle– If you up a river without a
paddle, you are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared
and with none of the resources to remedy the matter
Uncharted waters- If you’re in uncharted waters, you
are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you
have no experience of and don’t know what might
happen
Under lock and key- If something is under lock and key,
it is stored very securely
Vale of tears- This vale of tears is the world and the
suffering that life brings.
Velvet glove – This idiom is used to describe a person
who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible
underneath. (‘Iron fist in a velvet glove’ is the full
form.)
Vent your spleen – If someone vents their spleen, they
release all their anger about something.
Vicar of Bray – A person who changes their beliefs and
principles to stay popular with people above them is a
Vicar of Bray
Vicious circle – A vicious circle is a sequence of events
that make each other worse- someone drinks because
they are unhappy at work, then loses their job… ‘Vicious
cycle’ is also used.
Vinegar tits – A mean spirited women lacking in love or
compassion.
Virgin territory – If something is virgin territory, it
hasn’t been explored before.
Voice in the wilderness – Someone who expresses an
opinion that no one believes or listens to is a voice in
the wilderness,especially if proved right later.
Volte-face – If you do a volte-face on something, you
make a sudden and complete change in your stance or
position over an issue.
Vultures are circling – If the vultures are circling, then
something is in danger and its enemies are getting
ready for the kill.
Weight one’s word – be careful to what one says
Wait for a raindrop in the drought- When someone is
waiting for a raindrop in the drought, they are waiting
or hoping for something that is extremely unlikely to
happe
Walking on broken glass- When a person is punished
for something
Wet behind the ears- Someone who is wet behind the
ears is either very young or inexperienced
Whale of a time- If you have a whale of a time, you
really enjoy yourself
Work your fingers to the bone- If you work your fingers
to the bone, you work extremely hard on something
Wrench in the works- If someone puts or throws a
wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a
plan
X factor – The dangers for people in the military that
civilians do not face, for which they receive payment,
are known as the X factor.
X marks the spot – This is used to say where
something is located or hidden.
X-rated – If something is x-rated, it is not suitable for
children.
Yah boo sucks- Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used
to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
Yank my chain – If someone says this to another
person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the
other person to leave the person who said it alone and
to stop bothering them.
Yell bloody murder – If someone yells bloody murder,
they protest angrily and loudly, or scream in fear.
Yellow press – The yellow press is a term for the
popular and sensationalist newspapers.
Yellow streak – If someone has a yellow streak, they
are cowardly about something.
Yellow-bellied – A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
Yen – If you have a yen to do something, you have a
desire to do it.
Yeoman’s service – To do yeoman’s service is to
serve in an exemplary manner.
Yes-man – Someone who always agrees with people in
authority is a yes-man.
Yesterday’s man or Yesterday’s woman – Someone,
especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over
or on the decline is yesterday’s man or woman.
You are what you eat – This is used to emphasise the
importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
– This means that it is easier to persuade people if
you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are
confrontational.
You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose
your family – Some things you can choose, but others
you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of
what you have where you have no choice.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it
drink – This idiom means you can offer something to
someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them
take it.
You can say that again – If you want to agree strongly
with what someone has said, you can say ‘You can say
that again’ as a way of doing so.
You can’t fight City Hall – This phrase is used when
one is so cynical that one doesn’t think one can change
their Representatives. The phrase must have started
with frustration towards a local body of government.
You can’t have cake and the topping, too – This idiom
means that you can’t have everything the way you
want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You can’t have your cake and eat it – This idiom
means that you can’t have things both ways. For
example, you can’t have very low taxes and a high
standard of state care.
You can’t hide elephants in mouse holes – means that
some issues/problems/challenges cannot be hidden/
concealed but have to be faced and dealt with.
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – If
something isn’t very good to start with, you can’t do
much to improve it.
You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs –
This idiom means that in order to achieve something
or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
You can’t take it with you – Enjoy life, enjoy what you
have and don’t worry about not having a lot, especially
money…because once you’re dead, ‘you can’t take it
with you.’ For some, it means to use up all you have
before you die because it’s no use to you afterwards.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks – It is difficult
to make someone change the way they do something
when they have been doing it the same way for a long
time
You can’t un-ring a bell – This means that once
something has been done, you have to live with the
consequences as it can’t be undone.
You could have knocked me down with a feather – This
idiom is used to mean that the person was very
shocked or surprised.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself – If there is
someone in a lower position who can or should do a
task, then you shouldn’t do it.
You get what you pay for – Something that is very low
in price is not usually of very good quality.
You reap what you sow – This means that if you do
bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or
good things if you do good things. It is normally used
when someone has done something bad.
You said it!- Used to say you agree completely with
something just said.
You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours – This
idiom means that if you do something for me, I’ll return
the favour.
You what? – This is a very colloquial way of
expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have
heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say
something again.
You’re toast – If someone tells you that you are toast,
you are in a lot of trouble.
You’ve got rocks in your head – Someone who has
acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
You’ve made your bed- you’ll have to lie in it – This
means that someone will have to live with the
consequences of their own actions.
Young blood – Young people with new ideas and fresh
approaches are young blood.
Young Turk – A Young Turk is a young person who is
rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team
or organisation.
Your belly button is bigger than your stomach – If your
belly button is bigger than your stomach, you take on
more responsibilities than you can handle.
Your call – If something is your call, it is up to you to
make a decision on the matter.
Your name is mud – If someone’s name is mud, then
they have a bad reputation.
Your sins will find you out – This idiom means that
things you do wrong will become known.
Zero hour- The time when something important is to
begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance – If the police have a zero tolerance
policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how
small or trivial.
Zigged before you zagged – If you did things in the
wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.
Zip it – This is used to tell someone to be quiet.
Zip your lip – If someone tells you to zip your lip, they
want to to shut up or keep quiet about something.
(‘Zip it’ is also used.)
