ABOUT 100 IDIOMS AND THEIR MEANINGS
Look and listen for idioms at work and in your reading. When you find one
in print:
a. Highlight or underline it.
b. Ask someone what it means.
c. Cut out the short article or paragraph in which it appears.
d. Tape it to an index card, write its meaning on the back of the card, and include
Put it in your deck of new vocabula y words. Review your deck weekly.
______________________________________________________________________________
* acid test= a test that proves beyond a doubt that someone or something isn't valuable
* Achilles heel = weak point
* ax to grind = having another, usually selfish, motive
* back to square one =back to the beginning
* back to the drawing board=begin again
* The ball's in your court=lt's your turn to act.
* beat around the bush = avoid talking about the most important issue
* behind the eight ball=in trouble
* between a rock and a hard place = in a very difficult position
* bite the bullet= put up with something unpleasant
* black and white=official
* blow the whistle = to report a wrongdoing to someone who can stop it
* break the ice = get something started, overcome formality among strangers
* bull in a china shop = in a rough or thoughtless manner
* burn the candle at both ends = work hard all day and half the night too
* called on the carpet = reprimanded, scolded
* control the purse strings=be in charge of the money
* corporate ladder= series of ascending steps to important job titles in an organization
* devil's advocate=person who argues against an idea even though s/he's in favor of it
* die is cast= an unchangeable decision is made
* dog and pony show= a presentation designed to impress an audience. It usually lacks
substance or real value.
* drop in the bucket= a very small amount
* drop the ball=make a mistake, fail
* eat humble pie = admit you're wrong and apologize
* eat crow = admit you're wrong, usually in order to appear more humble
* fast track = accelerated movement to an important position in an organization
* feather in one's cap~hat=something to be proud of
* fly in the ointment= something small or unpleasant that spoils enjoyment; a drawback
* glass ceiling = invisible limit of movement to important positions in an organization
(said of women and minorities)
* Get off your high horse = Act ordinary. Don't act superior to other people.
* get your feet wet=begin something new
* give the cold shoulder=ignore someone
* go against the grain = go against the natural inclination, direction, or flow of things;
to irritate someone
* hammer it out= work hard at writing something
* handwriting on the wall=a present event that gives a clue about the outcome of a
future one
* have cold feet=hesitate because of fear, nervousness, or uncertainty
* high man on the totem pole = person at the top of a hierarchy also: head honcho, top
banana, top dog, top brass, big wig, big cheese, big wheel, captain of the ship
* in the black = out of debt
* in the red = in debt
* jump on the bandwagon = go along with the crowd; do or support the popular or
trendy thing
* jump through hoops = go out of your way to please or obey someone, usually a
superior
* Keep it under your hat=keep it secret; also: Don't let the cat out of the bag. Don't spill
the beans.
* Keep your nose to the grindstone=Keep busy; work hard.
* know the ropes=know how to do something
* Ieft holding the bag=left to take all the blame
* Let sleeping dogs lie=Don't look for trouble.
* Iet the grass grow under your feet = delay, waste time
* Iie down on the job = do a job poorly or not at all
* Iife in the fast lane = style of living that requires working, eating, shopping, and doing
most everything in a hurry
* Lock stock and barrel=everythmg, completely
* mommy track=career path in an organization that allows a woman to work without
neglecting childbearing/rearing responsibilities
* nip in the bud = stop something at an early stage
off base = wrong, unrealistic
* off the hook = out of trouble
* open a can of worms = create unnecessary problems
* out in the leftfield= out of the ordinary
* out of the frying pan into the fire =from a bad situation to a worse one
* out of the woods=out of trouble, past the critical part
* out on a limb = in a dangerous, risky position
* over a barrel = having no free choice
* paper tiger = something that outwardly appears powerful but, in fact, is ineffective
* pass the buck=give someone else a responsibility that's yours
* pay your dues = earn the right to something through hard work or hardship
* pull one's weight= do your fair share of the work
* put on airs = act superior
* put on the back burner= postpone
* put the cart before the horse = do things in the wrong order
* red tape = a lot of official rules, papers, details, that often prevent irnportant things
from getting done fast
* roll up your sleeves = get ready to work
* runs a tight ship = manages an organization in an orderly, disciplined manner .
* sleep on it= think it over before making a decision
* snow job = an answer to a question that is full of nonsense and often flattery
* spin one's wheels=be in motion but get nowhere
* split hairs = make unimportant distinctions
* straw that broke the camel's back=the last thing, that when added to an already bad
situation, causes failure
* take the bull by the horns = deal with a problem head-on
* talk turkey = talk honestly and plainly about business or other practical matters
* think on one's feet= able to think and talk at the same time
* threw me a curve = confuse by doing something unexpected
* tied up=busy
* tighten one's belt=spend less money
* tongue-in-cheek = saying the opposite of what you really mean
* too many irons in the fire = too many different things to do at one time
* tooth and nail = with great determination
* toot one's own horn=brag, praise oneself
* turn over a new leaf=begin again; change some undesirable behavior
* up a creek = in a bad situation
* up a tree = in a bad situation and unable to get out of it
* walk in someone else's shoes=look at, experience something from another person's
point of view
* wet behind the ears = young and inexperienced