Showing 50 of 1,235 (page 4).
at sixes and sevens
In a state of confusion or not very well organized
“Everything is AT SIXES AND SEVENS”
at the drop of a hat
Without any hesitation; instantly
“He'd leave AT THE DROP OF A HAT if you asked him”
at the eleventh hour
It happens when it is almost too late
“We finished AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR”
at the end of my rope
Unable to cope with a situation any longer; exhausted or desperate
“I'm AT THE END OF MY ROPE with this problem”
at the end of one's rope
Running out of endurance or patience
“I'm AT THE END OF MY ROPE”
at the end of the day
In the final analysis; when all is said and done
“AT THE END OF THE DAY, it's not my decision.”
at the same time
Simultaneously; however; also
“I know the risks; AT THE SAME TIME, we can't wait forever.”
at wit's end
Frustrated because all measures have failed
“I'm AT WIT'S END”
at your wit's end
Very worried and not knowing what to do
“I was AT MY WIT'S END trying to fix their error.”
axe to grind
To have a selfish motive or complaint
“He has AN AXE TO GRIND with the company”
babe in arms
A baby being carried
“There's A BABE IN ARMS”
babe in the woods
An innocent, naive person
“He's A BABE IN THE WOODS”
babe magnet
A man to whom women are attracted
“He's A BABE MAGNET”
baby blues
Blue eyes
“She has THE BABY BLUES”
baby boomer
A person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate
“He's A BABY BOOMER”
back and forth
Dialogue, negotiations
“We went BACK AND FORTH”
back at you
Same to you (used to return a greeting or insult)
“RIGHT BACK AT YOU”
back on one's feet
Physically healthy again
“He's BACK ON HIS FEET”
back to square one
Back to the start
“We're BACK TO SQUARE ONE”
back to the drawing board
To start over because a previous attempt failed
“The plan didn't work, so it's BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD”
backseat driver
A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver
“Don't be A BACKSEAT DRIVER”
bad apple
A discontented, trouble making, or dishonest person
“He's A BAD APPLE”
bad blood
Enmity or hatred that stems from something in the past
“There's BAD BLOOD between them”
bad egg
Someone who is not to be trusted
“He's A BAD EGG”
bag of tricks
A set of methods or resources
“He has A BAG OF TRICKS”
bail out
To rescue someone from a bad situation, to shield someone from the consequences of his or her actions
“They expect us to BAIL them OUT again.”
ball and chain
One's spouse (derogatory but often affectionate); an ongoing burden
“She's his BALL AND CHAIN”
ball of chalk
A road or walk (British slang)
“Walk up THE BALL OF CHALK”
ballpark figure
A rough estimate
“Can you give me A BALLPARK FIGURE?”
bang for your buck
Value for money
“Get more BANG FOR YOUR BUCK”
baptism by fire
A difficult task given right after one has assumed new responsibilities
“It was A BAPTISM BY FIRE”
bar fly
Someone who spends much of his or her time in bars
“He's A BAR FLY”
bark up the wrong tree
Pursue a mistaken approach or belief; be wrong in a course of action
“If you think I'm covering for them, you're BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.”
barking up the wrong tree
To be wrong about the reason for something; to be looking in the wrong place; accusing the wrong person
“If you expect me to fix it, you're BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.”
basket case
So upset or stunned that one is unable to function; in a hopeless condition
“He's A BASKET CASE”
bats in the belfry
Crazy or eccentric
“She has BATS IN THE BELFRY”
be a barrel of laughs
To be fun, funny, and pleasant
“He's A BARREL OF LAUGHS”
be all things to all people
To please everyone
“You can't BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE”
be browned off
To be irritated or depressed; annoyed
“I'm really BROWNED OFF with this weather”
be glad to see the back of
To be happy when a person leaves
“I'll BE GLAD TO SEE THE BACK OF him”
be green
Inexperienced or naïve
“He's still GREEN at this job”
be in deep water
To be in serious trouble or difficulty
“The company IS IN DEEP WATER financially”
be in two minds
To be undecided or uncertain about something
“I'm IN TWO MINDS about whether to go”
be yellow
To be easily frightened and not brave
“Don't be YELLOW”
bear in mind
To remember something for future reference
“Please BEAR IN MIND that we're on a budget”
beat
Very tired; exhausted
“I'm completely BEAT”
beat a dead horse
To waste effort on a lost cause
“Don't BEAT A DEAD HORSE”
beat around the bush
To avoid talking about what is important; to delay getting to the main point
“Stop BEATING AROUND THE BUSH - tell me directly”
beat your brains out
To think very hard about something
“I BEAT MY BRAINS OUT trying to understand their system.”
beats me
I don't know (used to admit ignorance)
“BEATS ME where she went”