some Idioms

موضوع: some Idioms الجمعة أبريل 04, 2008 5:08 am

All these idioms use food items in some way

be the apple of someone's eye = be someone's favourite person: She's the apple of her father's eye

in apple-pie order = in perfect order: Her house was in apple-pie order, with nothing out of place

be as nice as pie = be extremely nice and charming, so that you can fool people: She can be as nice as pie, but don't trust her

eat humble pie = have to take back what you said, because you have been proved wrong: He'll have to eat humble pie now. Serve him right - he tried to make us all look bad

have your fingers in every pie = be involved in many different things: You can't do anything without him knowing - he has his fingers in every pie

a piece of cake = be extremely simple: This program is a piece of cake to use

sell like hot cakes = sell quickly in large quantities: His book is selling like hot cakes

full of beans = be full of energy: You're full of beans today - it's nice to see you so lively

beef about something = complain about something: He's always beefing about the pay

beef something up = give something extra appeal: If we beef up the window display, more people might come into the shop

be your bread and butter = be your main source of income: Although they run a taxi service, car sales are their bread and butter

be like chalk and cheese = be completely different: I don't know why they got married - they're like chalk and cheese

be like peas in a pod = be identical to someone: Those two are like peas in a pod

cheesy = predictable and unimaginative: I don't want to see that film again - it's really cheesy

sour grapes = say something bad because you didn't get what you wanted: Don't listen to him complain - it's only sour grapes because you got the job and he didn't

play gooseberry = go somewhere with a couple who would prefer to be on their own: I'd rather not come to the cinema with you two - I'd just feel I was playing gooseberry

a couch-potato = someone who never goes out or exercises: He watches TV all day - what a couch-potato

like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth = appear innocent: When I asked her about the missing money, she tried to look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

bring home the bacon = earn money for necessary things, like food: He brings home the bacon in that family

the way the cookie crumbles = the way things are: I'm sorry I didn't get the promotion, but that's the way the cookie crumbles

have someone eat out of your hand = have control over someone: He has her eating out of his hand - it's sad

eat someone out of house and home = eat a lot of food: "Her children eat her out of house and home

eat into your savings = spend some of your savings: "We can't afford a new car, unless we eat into our savings

eating for two = be pregnant and so eating more: "Good news, darling. The doctor says I'm eating for two now

eat your heart out! = telling someone they should be jealous of you: "I'm going on holiday to Jamaica - eat your heart out

not your cup of tea = something that you don't like much: "Football isn't my cup of tea

a square meal = a filling meal: You need a square meal after all that exercise

it smells fishy = something that is suspicious: He wants to do all the housework for you? That smells fishy to me

small fry / small beer = something or someone unimportant: Sales last year are small fry compared to now - we're doing really well

roll out the barrel = prepare to have a good time: Roll out the barrel - we're celebrating our exam results

rhubarb, rhubarb = saying something completely unimportant: There's that politician again on televison - rhubarb, rhubarb

cat's whiskers = to think you are the best: He thinks he's the cat's whiskers

like the cat that's got the cream= look very pleased with yourself: "He looks like the cat that's got the cream

cat got your tongue? = a question we ask when we think someone is guilty of something: "Why don't you say something? Cat got your tongue

let the cat out of the bag = tell a secret: "He shouldn't have told her about the party - he's let the cat out of the bag now

put the cat among the pigeons = cause trouble: "Don't tell her about your promotion - that will really put the cat among the pigeons

have kittens = panic: "The way he was driving, I was having kittens

the bee's knees = think you're the best: "He thinks he's the bee's knees

have a bee in your bonnet = be obsessed by something: "He's got a real bee in his bonnet about buying a new car

from the horse's mouth = get information from the original source: "I know they're getting married - I got it from the horse's mouth

a white elephant = something that is expensive, but has no use: "People say the stadium is a white elephant and a waste of money

a memory like an elephant = have an excellent memory: "She won't forget, you know. She has a memory like an elephant

play piggy in the middle = be caught between two sides of an argument: "Because they aren't talking, I've been playing piggy in the middle

make a pig's ear of something = make a complete mess of something: "You've made a right pig's ear of this. Let me do it

in hog heaven = be very happy: "We gave him flying lessons for his birthday - he was in hog heaven

pigs might fly! = something is as unlikely as pigs being able to fly: "Do you think the government will cut taxes?" "Pigs might fly

have butterflies in your stomach = be very nervous about something: "She's got butterflies in her stomach - it's her driving test today

til the cows come home = do something for ever: "I can tell him til the cows come home not to be late, but he never listens

take the bull by the horns = face a problem and take action: "I'm going to take the bull by the horns and tell him I've changed my mind

get someone's goat = annoy someone: "It really gets my goat when she criticises him - it's not as if she's perfect herself

a loan-shark = someone who lends money at high interest rates: "Don't borrow money from him - he's a complete loan-shark

have a whale of a time = really enjoy yourself: "They went out and had a whale of a time

like a fish out of water = feel very uncomfortable in a particular situation: "He feels like a fish out of water in a suit - he much prefers wearing jeans

with your tail between your legs = feel guilty or ashamed: "He told us all that he was leaving, then he came back ten minutes later with his tail between his legs

in the dog-house = when you know that someone is angry with you: "I'm in the dog-house - I forgot to do the shopping

the lion's share = most of something: "She did the lion's share of the housework

in the lion's den = in a dangerous place: "The interview was like going into the lion's den - they asked some very difficult questions

a snake in the grass = someone who can't be trusted: "Don't tell him any secrets - he's a snake in the grass

bug someone = irritate someone: "He's really bugging me about the holiday! I wish he'd just go away and leave me alone

worm your way in = be nice to people so that gradually you get yourself into a good position with them: "He wormed his way into the finance department to get a job

monkey about = play and not work: "Stop monkeying about, will you? We've got loads of work to do

make a mountain out of a molehill = make a big issue out of something small: "Don't worry about it - it's not important at all. You're making a mountain out of a molehill

موضوع: رد: some Idioms الأحد أبريل 06, 2008 11:51 am

Falling in love

catch someone's eye = to be attractive to someone: "The shy man at the back of the class caught my eye

to fancy someone (British English) = to find someone attractive: "My friend fancies you

to have a crush on someone = to only be able to think about one person: "When I was at school, I had a crush on a film star

to have a soft spot for someone = to have a weakness for someone: "She has a soft spot for Richard - he can do anything

to have the hots for someone = to find someone very attractive: "She's got the hots for the new office manager

to go out with someone (British English) = to date someone: "They've been going out together for years

to go steady = to go out with someone: "They've been going steady since their first year at university

to fall for someone = to fall in love: "He always falls for the wrong types

to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love: "He fell head over heels for her

to be lovey-dovey = for a couple to show everyone how much they are in love: "They're so lovey-dovey, always whispering to each other and looking into each other's eyes

to have eyes only for = to be attracted to one person only: "He's dropped all his old friends, now that he has eyes only for Susie

to be the apple of someone's eye = to be loved by someone, normally an older relative: "She's the apple of her father's eye

to be smitten by someone = to be in love with someone: "I first met him at a party and from that evening on, I was smitten

a love-nest = the place where two lovers live: "They made a love-nest in the old basement flat

to be loved-up (British English) = to exist in a warm feeling of love: "They are one loved-up couple

to be the love of someone's life = to be loved by a person: "He has always been the love of her life

موضوع: رد: some Idioms الجمعة أبريل 11, 2008 12:26 am

Types of love

puppy love = love between teenagers: "It's just puppy love - you'll grow out of it
cupboard love = love for someone because they give you food: "I think my cat loves me, but it's only cupboard love

Getting married

to get hitched: "They're getting hitched next Saturday
to tie the knot: "So when are you two tying the knot

If it goes wrong

to go through a bit of a rough patch = when things are not going well: "Since the argument, they've been going through a bit of a rough patch
to have blazing rows = to have big arguments: "We had a blazing row last night
can't stand the sight of someone = to not like someone: "She can't stand the sight of him any more
to call it a day = to agree that the relationship has ended: "We decided to call it a day
to be on the rocks = a relationship that is in difficulty: "Once she moved out, it was clear their marriage was on the rocks
to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments: "I'm glad we don't have a stormy relationship
a love-rat = a man who betrays his girlfriend / wife: "He's had affairs with three different women - he's a complete love-rat

موضوع: رد: some Idioms الخميس أبريل 17, 2008 12:40 pm

Hands

hand over = pass on something: "Before I leave, I have to hand over all my work
get out of hand = become impossible to manage: "You'll have to deal with this problem before it gets out of hand
know something like the back of your hand = know something extremely well: "He knows London like the back of his hand
have your hands full = be very busy: "I can't do anything about it now - my hands are full
in hand = under control: "The company report is in hand - you'll have it next week
live hand to mouth = only earn enough money for food: "After he lost his job, he had to live hand to mouth for a couple of months
give someone a hand = help someone: "He always gives me a hand with the housework
have someone in the palm of your hand = have influence over someone: "He's got her in the palm of his hand
be caught red-handed = be caught doing something bad: "The children were caught red-handed picking the flowers

Fingers

butter fingers = be clumsy and drop things: "You've dropped my vase! Butter fingers
keep your fingers crossed = wish something for someone: "Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow - it's my job interview
under your thumb = control someone: "She's got him under her thumb - he won't do anything without asking her first