Idioms and Sayings

Idiom/Saying	Explanation
A list as long as your arm. For example:- "When I do a new vocabulary unit my list of things to do is as long as your arm."	A very long list.
A shot in the arm. For example:- "His son's visits were a real shot in the arm for the old man."	Something which has a sudden and positive effect on something.
Give your right arm. For example:- "When I'm in Germany I'd give my right arm for some decent bacon."	To want something very much.
The long arm of the law. For example:- "I told him not to do it. You never escape the long arm of the law."	The police.
To chance your arm. For example:- "He chanced his arm on the horses ."	To take a chance in order to get something that you want.
To cost an arm and a leg. For example:- "Running this web site costs me an arm and a leg."	Extremely expensive.
Strong-arm For example:- The police used strong-arm tactics to break up the protest.	To use force and threats to make people do what you demand.
To twist someone's arm. For example:- "She didn't want to study English, but the teacher twisted her arm."	To persuade someone to do something they do not want to do.
Back to back For example:- "British cities are full of back to back housing."	To be close together and facing in opposite directions.
Back passage For example:- "The doctor examined his back passage."	A polite phrase for rectum.
Behind someone's back. For example:- "I bought the car behind his back and now he's really angry."	To do something without them knowing, in a way which is unfair.
The shirt off someone's back. For example:- "He's so generous he'd give you the shirt off his back, if you asked him."	The last thing that someone has left.
To break your back. For example:- "I don't know why English teachers break their backs for so little reward."	To work extremely hard.
To get off someone's back. For example:- "If you got off her back about studying she might do better."	To tell someone to stop criticizing.
To get someone's back up. For example:- "She does it deliberately, even though she knows I don't like it, just to get my back up."	To really annoy someone.
To scratch someone's back. For example:- "If I give you the planning permission you have to vote for me on the council. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."	To offer to help someone if they help you.
To stab someone in the back. For example:- "He thought they were his friends until they stabbed him in the back."	To say nasty things about someone when they are not there.
To turn your back on something/someone. For example:- "I had to turn my back on it before I became ill."	To stop being involved.
Water off a duck's back. For example:- "The crowd was booing but he carried on anyway, it was water off a duck's back to him.	Criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person.
As smooth as a baby's bottom, For example:- "Feel this cloth, it's as smooth as a baby's bottom."	Very smooth.
Bottom out. For example:- "The economy has bottomed out and must start to get better this year."	To reach the lowest point in a continuously changing situation and to be about to improve.
Brain drain. For example:- The country's brain drain began to reverse as professors returned from abroad.	The movement of people with education and skills from their own country to another country where they are paid more for their work.
To brain someone. For example:- During the robbery the security guard was brained.	To hit someone on the head.
To be all brawn and no brain. For example:- The trouble with many footballers is that they're all brawn and no brains.	To be physically strong but not very intelligent.
To beat your brains out. For example:- I've been beating my brains out trying to remember more brain idioms.	To spend a lot of time worrying about a problem and thinking about how to deal with it.
To pick someone's brain. For example:- People often pick my brain on the forum.	To ask for information or advice from someone who knows more about a subject than you do.
Tongue in cheek. For example:- They said that he was America's greatest President, although I suspect it was tongue in cheek.	When you say something as a joke, although you might appear to be serious.
To beat your breast/chest. For example:- "There's no point in beating your breast/chest about it - she won't come back."	To show grief or guilt in an obvious or public way.
Calf length. For example:- She wore a calf length dress to the party.	Clothing or boots that end at the middle point between the foot and the knee.
To get sth off your chest. For example:- "When I told him I was leaving I was glad to get it off my chest."	To tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time.
To put hairs on your chest. For example:- "Get that down you, it'll put hairs on your chest."	To drink something that is alcoholic or eat something nice.
Chin up. For example:- A. I've got my exams tomorrow. B. Chin up, it will all be over soon.	Something you say to someone to tell them to have confidence.
Keep your chin up. For example:- I told her to keep her chin up and everything would be ok in the end.	Something that you say to someone in a difficult situation in order to encourage them to be brave and to try not to be sad.
Take it on the chin. For example:- In spite of the setbacks he took it all on the chin and set up the business anyway.	To be brave and not complain when bad things happen to you or people criticise you.
To be all ears. For example:- When she heard their was an important message for her, Spitz was all ears. Thanks to Spitzgogo for a timely reminder.	To be waiting eagerly to hear about something.
To box someone's ears. For example:- The teacher threatened to box his ears if he didn't stop being cheeky.	To hit someone on the ear, usually as a punishment.
To be out on your ear. For example:- One day, he was the CEO of a major company. The next, he was out on his ear. Thanks to Poetria for the reminder.	To be forced to leave somewhere because you have done something wrong, or because your work is not good enough.
Elbow grease. For example:- If you use some elbow grease on your furniture it will make the wood look lovely.	To do some hard work, especially when you are cleaning something.
Elbow room. For example:- I daren't invite friends to stay because there's no elbow room in my flat, it's so small.	Enough space to move around in. or The freedom to do what you want to do.
To give someone the elbow. For example:- He's very depressed, his girlfriend gave him the elbow last week.	To end a romantic relationship with someone.
The naked eye For example:- Amoebas are too small to be seen with the naked eye.	If something can be seen with the naked eye, it can be seen without the help of a microscope.
eye-catching For example:- She wore an eye-catching blouse.	When someone or something is particularly attractive or noticeable

In the blink of an eye. For example:- In the blink of an eye, she was gone.	Extremely quickly.
Keep an eye on something / someone. For example:- He kept an eye on the dogs whilst I went to the gym.	To watch or look after something or someone.
Keep an eye out for something / someone. For example:- Whilst his partner robbed the bank, he kept an eye out for the police.	To watch carefully for someone or something to appear.
Run your eye over. For example:- You should run your eye over that message before you send it.	To look quickly at the whole of something.
Turn a blind eye. For example:- Governments often turn a blind eye to corruption.	To ignore something that you know is wrong.
Keep your feet on the ground. For example:- It is hard to keep your feet on the ground when you suddenly become famous.	To have a realistic understanding of your own ideas, actions, and decisions.
To drag your feet. For example:- I suspect the government is dragging its feet over lowering taxes.	To be deliberately slow (usually because you don't want to do something).
To get cold feet. For example:- They're getting married next week - that's if he doesn't get cold feet!	To suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do.
To put your feet up. For example:- After a long day shopping she looked forward to putting her feet up with a nice cup of tea.	To relax.
To be a butterfingers. For example:- He had the ball, but he dropped it! What a butterfingers!	Somebody who often drops things
Cross fingers. For example:- It's no good crossing your fingers, I want to know the truth!	People, usually children, sometimes cross their fingers behind their back when they're telling a lie thinking it gives them immunity. (Not to be confused with keeping your fingers crossed for luck.)
Keep your fingers crossed. For example:- I've got an exam tomorrow at 9am, so keep your fingers crossed for me.	To literally cross your middle finger over your first finger to try and hope for a bit of luck, or a positive outcome.
To point the finger. For example:- He knew that his next door neighbour had pointed the finger at him.	To accuse someone of being responsible for something bad that has happened.
Pull your finger out. For example:- To pass her exams she had to pull her finger out.	To start working harder.
To put your finger on something. For example:- She was worried about the project, but couldn't put her finger on what was wrong.	To discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is wrong.
To be all fingers and thumbs. For example:- While I was baking the cake I dropped two eggs. I'm all fingers and thumbs today.	To be clumsy and unable to hold things steadily without fear of dropping or damaging them.
Best foot forward . For example:- If you put your best foot forward you'll be sure to pass the exam.	To do your very best.
To put your foot in it. For example:- I really put my foot in it with Alison. I had no idea she was married.	To say something by accident which embarrasses or upsets someone.
At first-hand. For example:- "The applicant should have first-hand knowledge of accounting procedures."	If you experience something first-hand, you experience it yourself.
To be a dab hand. For example:- "She was a dab hand at drawing."	To be very good at something.
To have a free hand. For example:- "When it comes to what appears on this web site, I have a free hand."	To have the power to do what you want.
To have the upper hand. For example:- "In the UK the upper classes still have the upper hand."	To have power and control over someone or a situation.
"To be caught red handed." For example: "They caught him red-handed as he tried to rob the bank ."	To be discovered doing something illegal or wrong.
"To be hand in glove." For example: "They make a great team. They work hand in glove."	To have an extremely close relationship, especially at work.
Many hands make light work. For example: "We finished in no time at all with everyone's help. Many hands make light work."	When everyone helps to do something, it gets done quickly.
Eat your heart out. For example:- "I'm going to pickle a gummy bear in a jar of formaldehyde. Eat your heart out Damien Hirst!"	If someone says eat your heart out followed by the name of a famous person, they are joking that they are even better than that person.
Have a heart. For example:- Student: Have you marked my homework yet? Teacher: Have a heart! You only handed it in yesterday!	Ask someone to be kinder to you.
Heartwarming For example:- The story of the dog who saved the life of its owner was such a heartwarming story.	Something that causes a feeling gladness and pleasure.
Warmhearted For example:- She'll help anyone who needs it, she's such a warmhearted person.	Someone who is very kind and generous.
To warm the cockles of your heart For example:- A baby's smile will warm the cockles of even the meanest person's heart.	Something you see or hear that makes you feel happy because it shows that people can be kind and good.
A heel. For example:- "He took all her money, and then left her. What a heel!"	A person who treats other people badly and unfairly.
Achilles heel. For example:- "Alcohol was always his Achilles heel."	A small fault or weakness in a person or system that can result in its failure.
Down at heel. For example:- "The restaurant looked very down at heel."	To look shabby due to a lack of money
To be under the heel. For example:- "The people rose up as one to get out from under the heel of oppression."	To be completely controlled by something or someone.
To have a knees up. For example:- "We had a good old knees up at the pub."	To have a party.
Break a leg. For example:- "It's your debut tonight, isn't it? Well break a leg."	Used to wish someone good luck, especially used in the theatre.
To cost an arm and a leg. For example:- "Running this web site costs me an arm and a leg."	Extremely expensive.
To give someone a leg up. For example:- She needed a leg up to get on the horse.	To help someone onto or over something or to help them improve their situation, especially at work.
To pull someone's leg. For example:- She was very shocked until she realised he was only pulling her leg.	To try to persuade someone to believe something which is not true as a joke.
To talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey. For example:- He is so boring. He could talk the hind legs of a donkey.	To talk for a long time without stopping.
To cross someone's mind. For example:- Do I ever cross your mind? Thanks to Hekner for the reminder.	To think about something or someone.
Word of mouth For example:- Most people find the web site by word of mouth.	In speech but not in writing.
To have a brass neck. For example:- He's got a brass neck to take time off when we're so busy.	Someone who is extremely confident about themselves and are unable to understand that their behaviour is unacceptable to others.
To breathe down sb's neck. For example:- It's awful having a boss who breathes down your neck all the time.	To stay so close to someone, watching everything that they do, that it's annoying.
To get it in the neck. For example:- She'll get it in the neck for not doing her homework.	To be punished or severely criticized for something that you have
To stick your neck out. For example:- She really stuck her neck out expanding the business.	To take a risk.
To be up to your neck in sth, For example:- She's up to her neck in work.	To be very involved in a situation, or to have too much of the thing stated.
To win by a nose. For example:- She won by a nose. It was a very close race.	To win by a very small margin.
Cut off your nose to spite your face. For example:- She should have gone with them, she would have enjoyed it. She's just cutting off her nose to spite her face.	To do something because you are angry, even if it is not in your best interest.
Keep your nose to the grindstone. For example:- If you want to pass your exams you'll have to keep your nose to the grindstone.	To work hard.
It's no skin off my nose. For example:- It's no skin off my nose if I win or lose.	You can use this expression to show that you don't care if something happens or not.
To powder your nose. For example:- Excuse me a moment, I'm just going to powder my nose.	When a woman says she is going to "powder her nose", she means she is going to the toilet.
To get up sb's nose. For example:- People who don't clean up after their dogs really get up my nose.	To annoy someone.
Turn your nose up at something. For example:- She turned her nose up at my homemade cakes, she only likes shop bought ones.	To not like something because you think it is not good enough for you.
By the skin of your teeth. For example:- He escaped by the skin of his teeth.	To only just manage to do something.
To have thick skin. For example:- If you work as a salesperson, you soon develop a thick skin.	If you are thick-skinned, you do not notice or get upset when people criticize you.
To jump down someone's throat. For example:- I know I annoyed her, but she didn't have to jump down my throat.	To react angrily to something that someone says or does.
To ram something down someone's throat. For example:- She's a vegetarian, but she doesn't ram her views down your throat.	To try and force someone to accept something against their will.
To have a frog in your throat. For example:- Excuse me (cough cough), I've got a bit of a frog in my throat.	To have a tight feeling in your throat and be unable to speak clearly until you give a slight cough.
To have a green thumb. For example:- Her garden won many prizes. People said she had green thumbs.	If you have a green thumb or even green thumbs it means you are good at gardening, or growing plants. For Competent
To twiddle your thumbs. For example:- They kept me waiting for two hours with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs.	To do nothing or to have nothing useful to do while you are waiting for something to happen.
A slip of the tongue. For example:- Be careful what you say, one slip of the tongue and we're all in trouble.	When you say something something which you did not mean to say.
Tongue in cheek. For example:- They said that he was America's greatest President, although I suspect it was tongue in cheek.	When you say something as a joke, although you might appear to be serious.
To be long in the tooth. For example:- He's a bit long in the tooth for her.	To be too old for something.