Smart Idioms
A hot potato
:- Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and
which is usually disputed
A penny for
your thoughts :- A way of asking what someone is thinking
Actions
speak louder than words :- People's intentions can be judged better by what
they do than what they say.
Add insult
to injury :- To further a loss with
mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.
An arm and a
leg :- Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.
At the drop
of a hat :- Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly.
Back to the
drawing board :- When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
Ball is in
your court :- It is up to you to make the next decision or step
Barking up
the wrong tree :- Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
Be glad to
see the back of :- Be happy when a person leaves.
Beat around
the bush :- Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Best of both
worlds :- Meaning: All the advantages.
Best thing
since sliced bread :- A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.
Bite off
more than you can chew :- To take on a task that is way to big.
Blessing in
disguise :- Something good that isn't recognized at first.
Burn the
midnight oil :- To work late into the night, alluding to the time before
electric lighting.
Can't judge
a book by its cover :- Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
Caught
between two stools :- When someone finds it difficult to choose between two
alternatives.
Costs an arm
and a leg :- This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
Cross that
bridge when you come to it :- Deal with a problem if and when it becomes
necessary, not before.
Cry over
spilt milk :- When you complain about a loss from the past.
Curiosity
killed the cat :- Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Cut corners
:- When something is done badly to save money.
Cut the
mustard [possibly derived from "cut the muster"] :- To succeed; to
come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate
Devil's
Advocate :- To present a counter argument
Don't count
your chickens before the eggs have hatched :- This idiom is used to express
"Don't make plans for something that might not happen".
Don't give
up the day job :- You are not very good at something. You could definitely not
do it professionally.
Don't put
all your eggs in one basket :- Do not put all your resources in one
possibility.
Drastic
times call for drastic measures :- When you are extremely desperate you need to
take drastic actions.
Elvis has
left the building :- The show has come to an end. It's all over.
Every cloud
has a silver lining :- Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better
days.
Far cry from
:- Very different from.
Feel a bit
under the weather :- Meaning: Feeling slightly ill.
Give the
benefit of the doubt :- Believe someone's statement, without proof.
Hear it on
the grapevine :- This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone.
Hit the nail
on the head :- Do or say something exactly right
Hit the sack
/ sheets / hay :- To go to bed.
In the heat
of the moment :- Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
It takes two
to tango :- Actions or communications need more than one person
Jump on the
bandwagon :- Join a popular trend or activity.
Keep
something at bay :- Keep something away.
Kill two birds
with one stone :- This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the
same time.
Last straw
:- The final problem in a series of problems.
Let sleeping
dogs lie :- Meaning - do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would
result in trouble or complications.
Let the cat
out of the bag :- To share information that was previously concealed
Make a long
story short :- Come to the point - leave out details
Method to my
madness :- An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually
is structure to it.
Miss the
boat :- This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance
Not a spark
of decency :- Meaning: No manners
Not playing
with a full deck :- Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off one's
rocker :- Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state
of mind, senile.
On the ball
:- When someone understands the situation well.
Once in a
blue moon :- Meaning: Happens very rarely.
Picture
paints a thousand words :- A visual presentation is far more descriptive than
words.
Piece of
cake :- A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
Put wool
over other people's eyes :- This means to deceive someone into thinking well of
them.
See eye to
eye :- This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
Sit on the
fence :- This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
Speak of the
devil! :- This expression is used when the person you have just been talking
about arrives.
Steal
someone's thunder :- To take the credit for something someone else did.
Take with a
grain of salt :- This means not to take what someone says too seriously.
Taste of
your own medicine :- Means that something happens to you, or is done to you,
that you have done to someone else
To hear
something straight from the horse's mouth :- To hear something from the
authoritative source.
Whole nine
yards :- Everything. All of it.
Wouldn't be
caught dead :- Would never like to do something
Your guess
is as good as mine :- To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question
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