Database

Idioms

1,235Total

Showing 50 of 1,235 (page 24).

the grass is always greener (on the other side)

Other people's situations always seem better than your own

“She thinks her friend's life is better, but THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER”

the icing on the cake

Something that makes a good thing even better; an added bonus

“Winning was great, but the bonus was THE ICING ON THE CAKE”

the last straw

The final annoyance in a series

“That was THE LAST STRAW for me”

the new black

The most popular or fashionable color or thing at the moment

“They say brown is THE NEW BLACK”

the pink pound

The money that is spent by people who are homosexual

“Businesses are targeting THE PINK POUND”

the plot thickens

The situation becomes more complicated

“THE PLOT THICKENS in this mystery”

the pot calling the kettle black

People should not criticize someone else for a fault that they have themselves

“You're criticizing him for being late? That's THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK.”

the sticks

A remote, rural area far from cities or towns

“They live way out in THE STICKS”

the whole nine yards

Everything; the whole thing; all of it

“She went THE WHOLE NINE YARDS with the party decorations”

the writing is on the wall

A clear sign that something will happen

“THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL for the company”

think outside the box

To think creatively

“We need to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX on this.”

thorn in your side

A source of ongoing annoyance

“He's A THORN IN MY SIDE at work”

throw cold water on

To discourage or reduce enthusiasm for something

“He THREW COLD WATER ON our plans”

throw in the sponge

To give up; to quit

“After years of trying, he THREW IN THE SPONGE”

throw in the towel

To quit or give up; to admit defeat

“After months of trying, he decided to THROW IN THE TOWEL”

throw someone under the bus

To betray someone for personal gain

“He THREW ME UNDER THE BUS”

tickled pink

Very pleased or delighted

“She was TICKLED PINK with the birthday surprise”

tie the knot

To get married

“They're TYING THE KNOT”

time flies

Time passes very quickly

“TIME FLIES when you're busy, apparently.”

time flies when you're having fun

Time passes quickly when enjoying yourself

“TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN, supposedly.”

time is money

Time is valuable, so don't waste it

“TIME IS MONEY”

tip of the iceberg

Only a small part of a larger problem

“These complaints are just THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG”

tongue in cheek

Being ironic or joking; not meant to be taken seriously

“I meant that TONGUE IN CHEEK”

toot your own horn

To boast about your achievements

“Don't TOOT YOUR OWN HORN too much”

touch and go

Uncertain or risky outcome

“It was TOUCH AND GO for a while”

trials and tribulations

Difficulties and hardships in life

“Despite many TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, she succeeded”

try your hand at

To attempt something for the first time

“I'm going to TRY MY HAND AT painting”

turn a blind eye

To ignore something intentionally

“The teacher TURNED A BLIND EYE to the late students”

turn over a new leaf

To change your behavior

“He decided to TURN OVER A NEW LEAF”

twist someone's arm

To pressure or force someone to do something

“I didn't want to go, but he TWISTED my ARM”

two peas in a pod

Very similar people

“They're like TWO PEAS IN A POD”

under someone's thumb

Completely controlled by someone else

“He keeps his wife UNDER his THUMB”

under the weather

Feeling slightly ill or sick

“I'm feeling a bit UNDER THE WEATHER today”

until you are blue in the face

You are wasting your efforts because you will get no results

“You can tell her UNTIL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE”

up in arms

Very angry and ready to protest or fight

“Residents are UP IN ARMS about the new road”

up in the air

Uncertain or undecided

“Our plans are still UP IN THE AIR”

up to my eyeballs in

Very busy with; having a lot of something (usually work or problems)

“I'm UP TO MY EYEBALLS IN work”

up to speed

Fully informed or up to date

“Let me get you UP TO SPEED on the project”

vanish into thin air

To disappear completely

“He VANISHED INTO THIN AIR”

vice versa

The other way around

“I work to live, not VICE VERSA.”

voice an opinion

To express your view

“Everyone should VOICE THEIR OPINION”

voice of reason

Someone who provides sensible advice

“She was THE VOICE OF REASON”

vote of confidence

An expression of support or faith

“The promotion was A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE in her abilities”

wait for the other shoe to drop

To wait for something bad to happen

“I'm WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP”

wake up call

Something that makes you realize something

“That was A WAKE UP CALL”

walk on air

To feel extremely happy and excited

“She's been WALKING ON AIR since the good news”

walk on eggshells

To be very careful not to offend someone

“I feel like I'm WALKING ON EGGSHELLS around him.”

wash your hands of

To refuse to be involved or responsible for something or someone anymore

“I'm WASHING my HANDS OF this project”

wash your hands of something

To refuse responsibility for something

“I'M WASHING MY HANDS OF this mess”

water under the bridge

Past and forgotten

“That's WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE”

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