Database

Idioms

1,235Total

Showing 50 of 1,235 (page 2).

a quick study

Someone who learns something fast

“She's A QUICK STUDY”

a rare bird

Somebody or something of a kind that one seldom sees

“She's A RARE BIRD”

a red letter day

A special, memorable, or happy day

“Today is A RED LETTER DAY - we got engaged.”

a riot of colour

Extremely colourful and bright

“The garden's A RIOT OF COLOUR this time of year.”

a rip off

Something that costs too much money; something that is overpriced

“That restaurant was A RIP OFF”

a scaredy-cat

Someone who is excessively scared or afraid

“Don't be A SCAREDY-CAT”

a second bite at the cherry

A second chance to do something

“I get A SECOND BITE AT THE CHERRY”

a sight for sore eyes

Someone that you're pleased to see

“You're A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES”

a sitting duck

A person or object in a vulnerable position

“I was A SITTING DUCK”

a snowball's chance in hell

Little to no likelihood of occurrence or success

“It has A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL”

a steal

A fantastic bargain; something that costs much less than it's worth

“That car is A STEAL at that price”

a stitch in time saves nine

Fix something quickly, because if you don't, it will get more difficult

“A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE”

a stone's throw

A very short distance

“It's just A STONE'S THROW away”

a storm in a teacup

Unnecessary anger or worry about something unimportant

“It's just A STORM IN A TEACUP”

a tall order

A difficult task

“That's A TALL ORDER”

a taste of your own medicine

Something happens to you that you have done to someone else; experiencing the same treatment you've given others

“Now he's getting A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE”

a wild goose chase

A hopeless search or pursuit of something unattainable

“They sent me on A WILD GOOSE CHASE”

a wolf in sheep's clothing

A dangerous person pretending to be harmless

“He turned out to be A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING”

about time

Far past the desired time

“It's ABOUT TIME”

about to

On the point of, occurring imminently

“I was ABOUT TO leave”

above and beyond

More than is expected or required

“She went ABOVE AND BEYOND”

above board

Openly, without deceit, honestly

“It's all ABOVE BOARD”

above the law

Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else

“No one is ABOVE THE LAW”

above water

Not in extreme difficulty, especially said of finances

“Keep your head ABOVE WATER”

ace

To do extremely well on something; to get a perfect score

“She ACED the exam”

ace in the hole

A hidden advantage

“I have AN ACE IN THE HOLE”

ace up one's sleeve

A surprise advantage of which others are not aware

“I have AN ACE UP MY SLEEVE”

achilles' heel

The weak point of an otherwise powerful person

“That's his ACHILLES' HEEL”

acid test

A crucial event that determines the worth of something

“This is THE ACID TEST”

acquired taste

Something one learns to appreciate only after trying it repeatedly

“It's AN ACQUIRED TASTE”

across the board

In relation to all categories, for everyone

“Cuts are ACROSS THE BOARD”

across the pond

On or to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean

“They're coming ACROSS THE POND”

act high and mighty

Be arrogant, presume that one is better than others

“Don't ACT HIGH AND MIGHTY”

act of congress

Hard to get, said of authorization

“It'll take an ACT OF CONGRESS”

actions speak louder than words

People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say

“Don't just tell me you care - ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”

add fuel to the fire

Worsen already existing tension

“Don't ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE”

add insult to injury

Humiliate someone in addition to doing damage

“To ADD INSULT TO INJURY”

after one's own heart

Similar in a pleasing way

“She's a woman AFTER MY OWN HEART”

after the fact

Too late; after something is completed

“It was done AFTER THE FACT”

against the clock

Forced to hurry to meet a deadline

“We're working AGAINST THE CLOCK”

against the grain

Contrary to one's natural inclinations

“It goes AGAINST THE GRAIN”

agree to disagree

Accept or set aside a disagreement

“We'll have to AGREE TO DISAGREE on this one.”

aha moment

Sudden realization, the point at which one suddenly understands

“I had AN AHA MOMENT”

ahead of one's time

Offering ideas not yet in general circulation

“She was AHEAD OF HER TIME”

ahead of the curve

Offering ideas not yet in general circulation

“Stay AHEAD OF THE CURVE”

ahead of the game

Making faster progress than anticipated

“Stay AHEAD OF THE GAME”

all bark and no bite

Tending to make verbal threats but not deliver

“He's ALL BARK AND NO BITE”

all bets are off

What seemed certain is now unclear

“ALL BETS ARE OFF now”

all dressed up and nowhere to go

Prepared for an event that does not occur

“I'm ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO”

all ears

Listening willingly, waiting for an explanation

“I'm ALL EARS”

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