 To be at loggerheads means to be in strong disagreement.

 Finger in the pie means involved.

 A penny for your thoughts means to ask someone what they are thinking about.
 Out of the blue means something unexpected.
 Miss the boat means miss the opportunity.
 Fine tooth comb means examine something in detail.
 Scratch someone’s back means do someone a favour.
 Read between the lines meaning find hidden meaning.
 Every cloud has a silver lining means being optimistic in bad situation.
 Dance with the death means doing something that is risky.
 Above the fold means upper half of the front page of a newspaper.
 Mother of all means extreme example of something.
 Sit on a fence means delay the decision by not making a choice.
 Cut to the chase means to the point.
 Cut to the chase means ignoring unnecessary stuff.
 Cut the mustard means achieving objectives as discussed before.
 Curiosity killed the cat means minding own business.
 Burst one’s bubble means running someone’s mood.
 Barking up the wrong tree means a wrong interpretation.
 To eat the humble pie means to have to apologize.
 To pick up the gauntlet means to accept a challenge.
 Odds and ends means mixture of stuff.
 To cool one’s heels means keep waiting.
 Back to drawing board means trying again after failure.
 A dime a dozen means an extremely common.
 Cut the Gordian knot means solve a tough problem in a forceful way.
 Primrose path means pursuit of pleasure at the cost of consequence.
 Whole nine yard means everything.
 Apple pie order means neat and tidy.
 One trick pony means a person having one special feature.
 Tie the knot means getting married.
 De jure means by law.
 To bury the hatchet means to make peace.
 To make amend for to compensate for damage.
 Fender bender means a small car accident.
 Feel blue means feel sad.
 Off and on means occasionally.
 At the sea means puzzled.
 Couch potato means lazy person.
 Turn heads means attract a lot of attention.
 To make clean breast of means to confess without of reserves.
 To catch a tartar means to catch a dangerous person.
 Give cold shoulder means to ignore.
 Hold one’s horse means have patience.
 Far cry from means very different from.
 Your guess is as good as mine means to have no an idea.
 At the drop of the hat means done easily.
 Keep at bay means keep at a distance.
 Raining cats and dogs means raining very heavily.
 When pigs fly means something that is impossible.
 Icing on the cake means an attractive but inessential addition.
 A litmus test means a decisively indicative test.
 Black and blue means full of bruises.
 Go Dutch means share the cost of something.
 Basket case means one made powerless or ineffective as by nerves or stress.
 Beating a dead horse means to uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of
resolution.
 Bird brain means a person that is not too smart.
 Bird brain means a person that acts stupid.
 Chew the fat means waste time talking.
 Drop a dime means to be an informant.
 Get your goat means to irritate someone.
 Spill the beans means reveal someone’s secret.
 Let the grass grow under the feet means loitered around.
 Blow the trumpet means praises oneself.
 Put a spoke in the wheel means thwarted in the execution of the plan.
 Like a sitting duck means Ignorant.
 A bitter pill means a situation that is unpleasant but must be accepted.
 A hot potato means a controversial issue that is awkward to deal with.
 Ace in the hole means a hidden or secret strength.
 Elephant in the room means an obvious, pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive
nature.
 An arm and a leg means very expensive or costly.
 An arm and a leg mean a large amount of money.
 To pick holes means to criticize someone.
 To leave someone in the lurch means to desert someone in his difficulties.
 A man of straw means a man of no substance.
 To smell a rat means to suspect foul dealings.
 To set one’s face against means to oppose with determination.
 Tipped off means given advance.
 The cold shoulder means to ignore.
 Passed off means pretended to be.
 Die in harness means die while working.
 Pull socks up means to improve.
 Cap it all means to finish.
 Never-Never land means an ideal place.
 Hornet’s nest means a violent situation.
 To make clean breast of means to confess without fear of reserve.
 To have an axe to grind means a private end to serve.
 To cry wolf means to give false alarm.
 To end in smoke means to ruin oneself.
 To put one’s hand to plough means to take a difficult task.
 To keep one’s temper means to be in good mood.
 To drive home means to emphasise.
 To be above board means to be honest in any business deal.
 To play second fiddle means to support the role and view of another person.
 To beg the question means to take for granted.
 To hit the nail right on the head means to do the right thing.
 To set one’s face against means to oppose with determination.
 Hanging fire means going on slowly.
 A big draw means a huge attraction.
 Lost heart means became discouraged.
 Backstairs influence means secret and unfair influence.
 Play to the gallery means attempt to appeal to popular taste.
 Stew in his own juice means suffer for his own act.
 Hold out means offer.
 Candle at both ends means overtaxing energies.
 Out and out means thoroughly.
 Through his hat means talking nonsense.
 Plough a lonely furrow means do without the help of others.
 To strike the gold means uncover a valuable line of argument or information.
 Very different about means lacking self confidence about.
 Gift horse in the mouth means find fault with a gift.
 Burning question means a widely debated issue.
 To bell the cat means to take lead in danger.
 On the wane means growing less.
 For a good means forever.
 Go off at a tangent means to change the subject immediately.
 For a song means very cheaply.
 A snake in the grass means a secret enemy.
 To take it lying down means to show no reaction.
 Took to the heels means to ran away from scene.
 Struck several bad patches means had many professional difficulties.
 Made her flesh creep means fill her with horror.
 Put up with means to tolerate.
 Once for all means finally.
 Put you out means to irritate.
 Power behind the throne means the person who had the real power.
 Let down means failed.
 A fish out of water means uncomfortable.
 Pay lip service means show only outward respect.
 Off and on means occasionally.
 Keep the pot boiling means keep a controversy alive.
 Held out means resisted.
 Likely to run into rough weather means encounter difficulties.
 Brought home means emphasised.
 Burn one’s finger means to suffer.
 Tooth and nail mean with all might.
 Cut off a corner means to take a short cut.
 Far cry means a long way off.
 Tall order means too much.
 Plays fast and loose means behaves in an unreliable and insincere way.
 No love lost means intense dislike.
 A moot point means undecided.
 A bad business means an unfortunate event.
 Draw the long bow means exaggerate.
 Square up means settle.
 On last legs means about to perish.
 Look sharp means make haste.
 Throw dust in the eyes means to deceive.
 Lynch law means law of mob.
 In high spirits means very cheerful.
 Rolling in money means very rich.
 Checkered Career means having a variety of jobs and experience.
 Hard and fast rule means the rule that cannot be broken or modified.
 As was his wont means as usual.
 Tread on the toes means to give offence.
 Worth a Jew’s eye means a possession of high value.
 Bird’s eye view means general view.
 In the limelight means the centre of attraction.
 Scream blue murder means make a great deal of noise and object vehemently.
 Gentleman at large means having no serious occupation.
 Built upon sand means resting on immature ideas.
 Bad blood means ill feeling.
 Storm in a teacup means fuss about a trifle.
 Keeps himself to himself means unsociable.
 Small talk means light conversation.
 Broke down means stopped.
 Strained every nerve means worked very hard.
 Picking holes means finding fault with.
 The die is cast means decision is made.
 Born with a silver spoon in mouth means born in a wealthy family.
 Rift in the lute means brought about disharmony.
 Take after means resemble.
 By and by means gradually.
 Crocodile teras means pretended sorrow.
 Did me a good turn means did an act of kindness.
 Making hay while the sun shines mean making the best use of a favourable situation.
 Fair and square means Upright.
 High time means already late.
 Give a wide berth means keep away from.
 In vogue means in fashion.
 Cut to the quick means hurt intensely.
 Put in a word means to recommend.
 In cold blood means ruthlessly.
 Sharp practises mean dishonest dealings.
 Hand in glove means very good friends.
 Under the thumb means unduly under control.
 Ivory towers mean detachment and seclusion.
 A cool customer means be calm and not be excitable.
 Rank and file mean the ordinary members.
 Wipe the nose means to cheat.
 Have a bone to pick with means angry.
 Stuck the neck out means to take a risk.
 Put the foot down means not to yield.
 Keep a straight face means remain serious.
 Bring to light means to disclose.
 Went down well with means was appreciated by.
 To bite off more than chew means trying to do much.
 Left no stone unturned means used all available sources.
 Went back on means to withdrew.
 Ran amuck means ran about wildly.
 Conceive of means imagine.
 To turn over a new leaf means to change the old habits and adopt new ones.
 A close shave means a narrow escape.
 To talk through one’s hat means to talk nonsense.
 By the skin of one’s teeth means only just.
 Harp on means to keep on talking.
 A fair crack of the whip means a period of the importance.
 To take with a grain of salt means to take with some reservation.
 To snap one’s fingers means to become contemptuous of.
 To throw down the glove means to give a challenge.
 To catch somebody on the top means to catch somebody off guard.
 To turn up one’s nose at a thing means to treat it with contemptuous dislike or disgust.
 To talk one’s head off means to talk excessively.
 To keep one’s head means to keep calm.
 A pipe dream means an impracticable plan.
 To be in abeyance means in suspense.
 To spill the beans means to reveal secret information.
 To save one’s face means to evade disgrace.
 To hold something in leash means to restrain.
 To cross swords means to fight.
 To give up the ghost means to die.
 To bring one’s eggs to a bad market means to fail in one’s plan because one goes to the
wrong place for help.
 To spilt hours means to indulge in over-refined arguments.
 To play fast and loose means to be undependable.
 To have an easy time of it means to live in quiet and comfort.
 A chip off the old block means characteristics of one’s ancestors.
 To hit below the belt means to harm unfairly.
 To wrangle over an ass’s shadow means to quarrel over trifles.
 To stand to one’s guns means to preserve when hardship press.
 To get cold feet means to be afraid.
 A lady’s man means a lover of woman company.
 All Agog means restless.
 Hobson’s choice means accept or leave the offer.
 To take people by storm means to captive them unexpectedly.
 To take a leap in the dark means to do a hazardous thing without idea of the result.
 To frame a person means to make one appear guilty.
 To lose one’s head means to become confused and overexcited.
 To throw up the sponge means to surrender or give up a contest.
 To give the bird means to send away.
 To get into a scrape means to find oneself in an awkward predicament.
 A tall order means a task difficult to perform.
 To have brush with means to have a slight encounter.
 To set the people by ears means to excite people to a quarrel.
 To draw the long bow means to make an exaggerated statement.
 To make the grade means to come out successful.
 To fly off the handle means to lose one’s temper.
 To draw a bead upon means to take aim at.
 To tempt providence means to take reckless risks.
 To haul over the coals means to put to task.
 To lose face means to be humiliated.
 To give chapter and verse for a thing means to produce the proof of something.
 To hit the jackpot means to make money unexpectedly.
 To be up and doing means to be actively involved.
 To read between the lines means to grasp the hidden meaning.
 To turn the tables means to change the sorry scheme.
 To put the cart before the horse means to reverse the natural order of things.
 To turn the other cheek means to respond to violence with non-violence.
 To blaze trail means to initiate work in a movement.
 To keep the ball rolling means to keep the conversation going.
 To accept the Gauntlet means to accept a challenge.
 To pull one’s socks up means to try hard.
 To plough the sands means to busy oneself in a way which cannot lead to any profitable
result.
 To drink like a fish means to be a drunkard.
 To be lost in the cloud means to be perplexed.
 To give currency means to make publicly known.
 To bite one’s lips means to repress an emotion.
 Foar in the mouth means to be in the extreme hatred.
 To fight to the bitter end means to carry on a contest regardless of consequence.
 To flog a dead horse means to waste one’s efforts.
 To worship the rising sun means to honour a man who is coming into office.
 French leave means absence without permission.
 Within an ace of means narrowly.
 To make umbrage means to be offended.
 To give a false colouring means to misrepresent.
 Hush money means bribe paid to secure silence.
 To disabuse one’s mind means to remove a misapprehension.
 Dog in the manger means a person who prevents others from enjoying something useless to
himself.
 Something up one’s sleeve means a secret plan.
 A red-letter day means an important day.
 To pay one back in the same coin means to retaliate.
 To blow hot and cold means to be inconsistent.
 Adam’s ale means water.
 Queer somebody’s pitch means upset one’s plan.
 To see eye to eye means to agree.
 To carry off the bell means to bag the first position.
 A baker’s dozen means thirteen.
 To pull string means to exert hidden influence.
 At one’s back and call means to be always at one’s service.
 By the rule of thumb means by practical experience which is rather rough.
 To live in clover means to live in great comfort and luxury.
 To carry the coal to Newcastle means to do unnecessary things.
 To have full hands means to be fully occupied.
 A green horn means an inexperienced person.
 Swan song means last work of poet or musician before death.
 A fool’s errand means a useless undertaking.
 To see red means to find fault with.
 Pin money means allowance made to a lady for her expenses.
 To turn the cover means to pass the crises.
 To turn amuck means to run about in frenzy.
 To be old as the hills means to be very ancient.
 To play the gallery means trying to get appreciation from least intelligent people.
 To keep the wolf away from the door means to keep away from extreme poverty.
 In double quick time means very quickly.
 To look sharp means to be quick.
 To break the ice means to start a conversation.
 To be in two minds means to be uncertain.
 Get down to brass tacks means begin to talk in plain.
 Pros and cons meaning for and against a thing.
 By fair means or foul means in any way.
 To show one’s teeth means to adopt a threatening attitude.
 To oil the knocker means to tip the office boy.
 Leave one to sink or swim means not to help one.
 To show the white feather means to show signs of cowardice.
 A sop to Cerberus means ransom to an enemy.
 To pour oil in troubled water means to calm a quarrel with soothing words.
 To cut the cackle means to stop talking and start.
 To rip up old sores means to revive a quarrel which was almost forgotten.
 To leave no avenue unexplored means to try every source.
 To give one a long rope means to allow a man to continue his mistakes or crimes.
 Hard pressed means in difficulties.
 To play on a fiddle means to be busy over trifles.
 To take somebody for a ride means to deceive or humiliate him/her.
 A square peg in a round hole means a person unsuited to the position he fills.
 Spick and span mean neat and clean.
 To hit the nail on the head means to guess right.
 To be at one’s finger’s ends means to be completely conversant with.
 To mind one’s P’s and Q’s means to be accurate and precise.
 To cools one’s heels means to be kept waiting for someone.
 To put somebody in his place means to make him humble.
 To hit the jackpot means to get an unexpected victory.
 To give one’s ears means to listen carefully.
 To talk shop means to talk about business or professional affairs.
 To let the cat out of the bag means to tell a secret without intending to do so.
 To bear the palm means to win.
 To hang up one’s hat means to make oneself comfortable in another person’s home.
 Be in the mire means be in difficulties.
 To keep one’s head above water means to be out of debt.
 To pay off old scores means to have one’s revenge.
 To change colour means to get frightened.
 To get the hang of a thing means to understand the meaning of it.
 To give a rap on the knuckles means to rebuke.
 To go to each other hammer and tongs means to argue noisily.
 A cock and bull story means a foolish and concocted story.
 To cut the gordian knot means to solve a difficult problem.
 To make a shot means to make a guess.
 To beat the air means to make efforts that are useless.
 A man of weight means a man of importance.
 Once in a blue moon means on rare occasions.
 To be a good Samaritan mean a genuinely charitable person.
 To have one’s heart in one’s boots means to be deeply depressed.
 Pell mell means in hurried disorder.
 To hold a brief for means to defend someone.
 To take a leaf out of somebody’s book means to take someone as a model.
 To strike one’s colours means to surrender.
 To put one on one’s mettle means to rouse one to do one’s best.
 To set the Thames on fire means to try to do the impossible.
 To ride hell for leather means to ride with furious speed/ Very quickly.
 Turn a deaf ear means did not pay any attention.
 Rest on laurels means to be complacent.
 Makes my mouth water means stimulate my appetite.
 To rock the boat means to upset the balance.
 Fair and square means upright.
 Sent one about one’s business means dismiss one peremptorily.
 Mealy mouthed means cunning.
 Clinch the issue means to decide.
 Green eyed means jealous.
 Goes to one’s heart means touches ones deeply.
 Hole and corner mean underhand.
 No love lost means intense dislike.
 Person after one’s own heart means exactly to one’s own liking.
 Moot point means a debatable point.
 Wash one’s hands of means disclaim responsibility.
 Bird’s eye view means general view.
 Tooth and nail mean with strength and fury.
 Made one’s mark means distinguished oneself.
 Give a wide berth means keep away from.
 Throw cold water over means to discourage.
 Goes to dogs means is ruined.
 Shop lifter means a thief in guise of customer.
 Pull a long face means look indifferent.
 Bring to light means to disclose.
 Call a spade a spade means be outspoken in language.
 Keep a level head means remain cool and composed.
 In the wee hours of the day means at dawn.
 Paint the town red means have a lively time.
 Beside the mark means irrelevant.
 Fits and starts means irregularly.
 Turn the corner means pass the crisis.
 Rule the roost means to domineer.
 Have the floor means raise an issue.
 High and low means everywhere.
 Point blank means pointedly.
 Fishing in troubled waters means taking advantage of troubled conditions for personal
profit.
 In the blues means depressed.
 Keep one’s fingers crossed means wait expectantly.
 To all intent and purposes means practically.
 Stick one’s neck out means invite trouble unnecessarily.
 In high spirits means cheerful.
 At odds means in dispute.
 Feather in one’s cap means feel one proud.
 Within a stone’s throw means at a short distance.
 Herculean Task means work requiring great effort.
 A left-handed compliment means an insincere.
 At stake means in danger.
 Hanky Panky means jugglery.
 Ran in the same groove means to advance in harmony.
 The rank and file mean the ordinary members.
 In raptures means vey enthusiastic.
 Once in a while means occasionally.
 A queer fish means a strange person.
 A wolf in sheep’s clothing means hypocrite.
 Lock, Stock and barrel means completely.
 Out of place means inappropriate.
 Stand ground means remain firm.
 Cheek by jowl means side by side.
 Chewing the cuds means to muse on.
 Burning question means a widely debated issue.
 Get on nerves means irritates.
 Keeps himself to himself means unsociable.
 Kick one’s heels means waste time.
 A broken reed means undependable.
 At ease means embarrassed.
 Mince matters means keep secret.
 Seamy side of life means immoral aspects of society.
 With open arms means warmly.
 Take it lying down means to show no reaction.
 To gather roses only means wanted to seek all the enjoyments of life.
 Cut corners means to simplify the procedure.
 Between the devil and the deep-sea means facing two equally bad alternatives.
 Add fuel to the fire means aggravate the trouble.
 High and dry means rejected.
 Gone down the drain means has been wasted.
 At sea means confused.
 Rub one the wrong way means annoy one.
 To paddle one’s own canoe means depend on oneself.
 Calls in question means to challenge.
 In the offing means about to start.
 Snake in the grass means a hidden enemy.
 At the drop of a hat means without delay.
 At cross purposes means misunderstanding.
 Like a duck in thunderstorm means distressed.
 Means business means earnest.
 He has designs on that girl. Designs on means wants to rape.
 To lay by the heels means chase and capture.
 Mare’s nest means a false invention.
 Burn one’s finger means get oneself into trouble.
 Turn one’s hand to means adopt oneself to.
 Comes to the church means a decisive moment.
 On the wane means declining.
 Heap coals of fire on one’s head means put one to shame.
 Back chat means impertinent remarks.
 Little elbowroom means freedom.
 Hair breadth escape means narrow.
 A bolt from the blue means sudden.
 Cool as cucumber means calm.
 Cocksure means perfectly confident.
 Bear in mind means remember.
 An axe to grind means having personal end to serve.
 Feel flat means having no effect.
 Keep a good table means entertain one’s guest sumptuously.
 Elbow grease means hard work.
 Catch 22 situation means absurd situation.
 To draw the longbow means exaggerate.
 Win hands down means to win easily.
 A cry in the wilderness means a cry in vain.
 To cut one’s teeth means to gain experiences.
 To bury the hatchet means to make peace.
 Burning the candle means overtaxing energies.
 On and off means at intervals.
 Took to heart means deeply affected by.
 Keeping up appearances means maintaining outward show.
 A bee in one’s bonnet means an obsession about something.
 White elephant means a useless one.
 To lead others up the garden path means to deceive others.
 With a high hand means oppressively.
 Pell Mell means in a disorderly manner.
 Heads will roll means dismissals will occur.
 Gift of the gab means fluency of speech.
 Put one’s cards on the table means concealed nothing.
 Make no bones means do without hesitation.
 Have a finger in every pie means meddle in every affair.
 At a discount means undervalued.
 To let the bygones be bygones means ignore the past.
 To keep the pot boiling means to keep the controversy alive.
 To get hold of the wrong end of the stick means to misjudge a situation.
 Having a great hand at means expert at.
 To cut both ends means to argue in support of both sides of the issue.
 Midas touch means ability to succeed in all projects.
 Bring matters to a hand means to create an atmosphere of confrontation.
 Wear the trousers means dominant.
 To carry the day means to win.
 In black and white means in written.
 To feather one’s nest means to act for one’s own future benefits.
 In a jiffy means in a hurry.
 Hole and corner mean secret.
 A stalking horse means a trick.
 Globetrotters means travellers around the world.
 Throw down the gauntlet means to throw the challenge.
 Herculean task means work requiring great effort.
 To paint in bright colours means to exaggerate.
 Double dealing means deception.
 Stole some of the thunder means detract the listener from.
 To hold one’s peace means keep silent.
 On tenterhooks means in anxious suspense.
 Heart out means suffer silently.
 Yeoman service means generous help.
 Ride rough shod over means to treat harshly.
 He can get the job if he has the mind. Has the mind means has the willingness.
 Moot point means undecided.
 Cut one dead means deliberately insult one by ignoring.
 Lay down the arms means surrender.
 As good as one’s word means ready to fulfil one’s promise.
 Cushy job means financially comfortable job.
 On the wrong side of fifty means over fifty years old.
 Let the grass grow under one’s feet means to stay out.
 To the backbone means completely.
 Tall talks mean boasting.
 Out of the question means unthinkable.
 Make both ends meet means earn enough.
 Now and then means occasionally.
 Green eyed monster means jealousy.
 Made light means treated lightly.
 To turn a new leaf means to begin a different mode of life.
 Done to death means murdered.
 Not worth one’s salt means quite worthless.
 Beaten neck and crop means completely.
 To sail close to the wind means to take risk.
 The thin end of the wedge means the beginning of further concessions.
 Send one packing means terminate one’s service immediately.
 Breathing down one’s neck means watching one’s all actions closely.
 In a brown study means absorbed in reading.
 In doldrums means dull.
 Make head or tail of it means understand it.
 Oily tongue means flattery.
 Gift of the gab means a talent for speaking.
 A big draw means a huge attraction.
 Bids fair means seems likely.
 Flesh and blood means children.
 On the cards means certain.
 To face the music means to face reprimand.
 Strain every nerve means work very hard.
 Pay lip service means to show only outward respect.
 At a premium means valued highly.
 At Stake means in danger.
 Of one’s own accord means voluntarily and willingly.
 Small talk means light conversation.
 Carried off one’s feet means wild with excitement.
 In a nutshell means in a simple and brief manner.
 Brown study means reverie.
 Through thick and thin means through days of struggle.
 To take the rough with the smooth means accept unpleasant as well as pleasant things.
 A rift in the lute means bring about disharmony.
 Hard of hearing means deaf.
 High time means already late.
 Pulling one’s leg means befooling one.
 Come up means rise in status.
 Casting Aspersions means passing slanderous remarks.
 On edge means nervous.
 To put across means to convey.
 Bring home means to emphasize.
 Across the board means to all without exceptions.
 Cut to the quick means hurt intensely.
 Over and above means in addition to.
 Stood up for one means support one energetically.
 Put one out means irritate one.
 You need rest, you look a bit run down. Run down means in poor health.
 I cannot put up with that nasty fellow. Put up with means endure.
 We should do away with the present examination system. Do away with means abolish.
 At my friend’s tea party, I fell in with a strange fellow. Fell in with means met accidently.
 In spite of the immense pressure exerted by the militants the government has decided not
to give in. Give in means yield.
 Star crossed means unlucky.
 To break a lance with means to engage in a competition.
 Between Sylla and Charybids means between two great difficulties.
 In the blue funk means in a state of terror.
 Play one’s cards right means to get the benefit of the opportunity.
 Champing at the bit means extremely impatient.
 As the crow flies means in a direct and straight way.
 Alter ego means intimate friend.
 To egg on means to urge.
 Mala fide means bad intention.
 Weal and woe mean joys and sorrows.
 Rides the high horse means superior.
 The salt of the earth means kind.
 Rule of thumb means a rough estimate.
 Beat about the bush means to avoid the main topic.
 Jazz up means make something more exciting.
 All hours mean at irregular times.
 A slap on the wrist means warning/ small punishment.
 To cut long story short means come to the point.
 De novo means new.
 Inter Alia means in between.
 She turned heads wherever she went. Turned heads means attracted a lot of attention.
 Let sleeping dogs lie means to avoid restarting a conflict.
 On the fence means undecided.
 To husband one’s resources means to manage one’s means with frugality.
 To fish in troubled waters means to make a personal profit out of a disturbance.
 Got down to business means began to work seriously.
 Other fish to fry means some important work to attend to.
 A close-fisted person means a miser.
 Pay on the nail means pay promptly.
 Salad Days means Adolescence.
 An about turn means complete change of opinion.
 A Penelope’s web means Endless.
 Hold Water means to influence.
 To gather roses only means to seek all enjoyments of life.
 Cool about working means ready to work.
 All ears mean Attentive.
 In Dutch means in Trouble.
 Around the clock means Day and Night.
 To grease the palm means to bribe.
 To go to the dogs means to be ruined.
 Give one a piece of one’s mind means to scold one.
 Wet behind the ears means young and inexperienced.
 Take the bull by horns means face a difficulty or danger boldly.
 To beat the air means to make efforts that are useless.
 Buckle down means to work seriously.
 Keep an open house means to welcome all.
 Go about means try to know more about.
 To rock the boat means to create difficulties.
 Wash one’s hands means to refuse to accept responsibility for.
 See through means to detect the true nature.
 A lame excuse means unsatisfactory explanation.
 At a loss means Unable.
 To give airs means Boast.
 Hand and Glove means very intimate.
 Have a thick skin means be unaffected.
 Under a cloud means under suspicion.
 All hours mean at irregular times.
 A slap on the wrist means warning or small punishment.
 Inter alia means in between.
 De novo means new.
 Hell hath no fury like a women scorned.
 Get your goat means to irritate someone.
 Drop a dime means to be an informant.
 Chew the fat means to chat idly or generally waste time talking.
 Like a sitting duck means ignorant.
 After the watershed means a time when after which programmes for older audiences may
be aired on TV.
 Against the clock means Being rushed and having little time to complete something.
 Ahead of time means Something that happens early or before it is supposed to.
 An arm and a leg mean Very expensive or costly.
 Around the clock means at any time of the day or night.
 Around the corner means Will happen soon.
 At the drop of a hat means Without any hesitation.
 Bad apple means Troublemaker.
 Ball is in your court means It is up to you to make the next decision.
 Barking up the wrong tree means Looking in the wrong place or Accusing the wrong person.
 Be glad to see the back of means Be happy when a person leave.
 Beat the clock means Do something quickly before it's too late.
 Behind the times means Being old-fashioned.
 Bells and whistles mean Lots of desirable features.
 Best thing since sliced bread means A good invention or innovation.
 Bide one's time means Waiting for further developments before taking action or making
decisions.
 Big cheese means Influential person.
 Bite off more than you can chew means to take on a task that is way too big.
 Black as night means Very dark and hard to see.
 Black market means Where goods are illegally bought and sold for profit.
 Black out means Darken by turning off or dimming the lights / Lose consciousness.
 Black sheep means Undesirable member of a group.
 Blackball means Exclude or ostracise someone socially / Reject someone.
 Blessing in disguise means Something good that isn't recognised as such at first.
 Blind date means Pre-arranged social interaction between people who have never met.
 Blood, sweat & tears means Something that requires a lot of effort and hard work.
 Blow a fuse means Suddenly get very angry.
 Blow up in the face means A plan or project that suddenly fails.
 Blue blood means from noble, aristocratic or wealthy family.
 Blue collar means Working in a manual labour job.
 Blue in the face means Try hard to win an agreement but usually unsuccessful.
 Bolt from the blue means Unexpected bad news.
 Bookworm means Someone who reads a lot.
 Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth means Born into a rich and affluent family.
 Bottom falls out means a plan or project that fails.
 Brainstorm means develop or think of new ideas.
 Bread-winner means a Person that is the primary source of income for a family.
 Bring home the bacon means earn a living.
 Broken watch is right twice a day means when something is lucky or successful but
undeserving.
 Buckle down means working hard with determination and full attention.
 Bun in the oven means pregnant.
 Butter up means flatter someone, usually because you want something from them.
 By degrees means something happens of develops gradually or little by little.
 By the skin of your teeth means only just succeed.
 Call it a day (or night) means stop doing something for a while or until the next day (or
night).
 Calling time means deciding to end something.
 Carry the torch for means having string feelings for someone who cannot be yours.
 Cash cow means dependable source of income.
 Cat burglar means thief who climbs into buildings.
 Catch someone at a bad time means when it is inconvenient.
 Catch someone red-handed means Catch someone in the act of committing a crime or doing
something they shouldn't.
 Chance one's arm means Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are
slim or unknown.
 Chase rainbows means Try to achieve something that is very difficult.
 Chase your tail means Spend a lot of time and energy but achieve nothing.
 Clock-in/clock-out means Record the time of arrival and the time of departure.
 Close to home means A comment that is true and makes you uncomfortable.
 Coming of age means when something develops completely and reached maturity.
 Cook someone's goose means spoil the person's chance of success.
 Copycat means Someone who copies the work of another.
 Couch potato means Lazy person who watches too much TV.
 Cover a lot of ground means Complete a lot of work or a wide range of things.
 Crack of dawn means Very early in the morning.
 Cross that bridge when you come to it means Deal with a problem if and when it becomes
necessary, not before.
 Crunch time means When an important decision needs to be made by.
 Cry over spilt milk means Complain about a loss from the past.
 Cut corners means When something is done quickly, and typically badly, to save money.
 Cut one's own throat means Doing something that will cause your own failure or downfall.
 Cut the mustard means to succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to
compete or participate.
 Cut to the chase means Getting to the point.
 Day to day means Part of a usual routine.
 Dead duck means a Plan or event that has failed or is certain to fail and therefore not worth
discussing.
 Dead in the water means a Plan or project that has ceased to function and is not expected
to re-activate.
 Dead wood means People or things that are no longer useful or necessary.
 Deep down means Describing what a person really feels deep inside them
 Deliver the goods means Do what is expected or required.
 Devil's Advocate means to present a counter argument.
 Do time (serve time) means Spend time in prison.
 Donkey's years means A very long period of time.
 Don't count your chickens before they've hatched means Don't make plans for something
that might not happen.
 Don't give up the day job means You are not very good at something. You could definitely
not do it professionally.
 Don't put all your eggs in one basket means Don't make everything dependent on only one
thing.
 Double date means Social interaction that involves two couples.
 Drastic times call for drastic measures means When you are extremely desperate you need
to take drastic actions.
 Drawing a blank means Get no response from someone when you ask them a question or to
have no answer yourself.
 Dropout means Stop attending school before it is time.
 Dwell on the past means Thinking too much about something that happened in the past.
 Eager beaver means Enthusiastic and hard worker.
 Easy as ABC means Very simple or easy.
 Eat, sleep & breathe something means Being so enthusiastic and passionate about
something that you think about it all the time.
 Egg head means Studious and academic person.
 Elbow room means Enough space to move or work in.
 Eleventh hour means at the very last minute or just in time.
 Elvis has left the building means the show has come to an end. It's all over.
 Every cloud has a silver lining means Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better
days. Good can come from a bad situation.
 Explore all avenues means Investigating or examining every option.
 Eye-catching means Tending to attract attention.
 Fallen in love means Start feeling love towards someone.
 Far cry from means Very different from.
 Feeling blue means Feeling depressed or disconnected.
 Feeling under the weather means Feeling unwell.
 Fever pitch means When a feeling is very intense and exciting.
 First in, best dressed means the opportunity is afforded to the first to arrive or present
themselves.
 First out of the gate means Being the first one to make a start at something.
 Fish out of water Feeling means uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.
 Foot in the door means Small but good start with the possibility of a bright future.
 For the time being means an action or state will continue into the future but is temporary.
 From now on mean from this time forward.
 From time to time means Occasionally or not very often.
 Full of beans means Excited or very energetic and lively.
 Full of the joys of spring means Very happy and full of energy.
 Getting sacked (or axed, or fired) means to lose your job.
 Getting the show on the road means Putting a plan or idea into action.
 Give the benefit of the doubt means Believe someone's statement, without proof.
 Give the green light means Provide permission to proceed.
 Go belly up means Fail completely.
 Going places means Demonstrating talent and ability that will lead to success.
 Golden boy means Young man idolised for a great skill, typically in sport.
 Golden handshake means Large sum of money given to someone when they retire from a
company.
 Golden opportunity means a very good opportunity that may never present itself again.
 Grass is always greener on the other side means the alternative solution may seem better
even if that isn't always the case.
 Grease someone's palm means Give someone money in order to persuade them to do
something dishonest.
 Green thumb means Ability to make plants grow or be good at gardening.
 Green with envy means Extremely jealous or full of envy.
 Grey area means Unclear or undefined.
 Hanging on by fingernails means Continuing to do something in a very difficult situation.
 Hard as nails means Without sentiment or sympathy for anyone.
 Having one's heart set on something means Possessing a determination to achieve
something.
 Head in the clouds means Having unrealistic or impractical ideas.
 Head over heels in love means Very much in love with someone.
 Hear it on the grapevine means Hear something through informal or unofficial means, like
gossip.
 Heart is in the right place means Having good intentions, even if the results may not be
impressive.
 Here today, gone tomorrow means When desirable things, such as money or happiness, are
temporary.
 High time means When something should have been done already and is overdue.
 Hit the big time means to become successful.
 Hit the books means Begin studying hard.
 Hit the nail on the head means Do or say something exactly right.
 Hit the panic button means Act quickly and without thinking in reaction to an unexpected
event.
 Hit the road means Begin travelling or leave.
 Hit the sack (or sheets, or hay) means Go to bed.
 Hold the fort means Have responsibility for something or care about someone while others
are away or out.
 Honest as the day is long means Someone that is trustworthy and honest.
 Hot potato means Speak of a current issue which many people are talking about and which
is usually disputed.
 Hour of need means When someone really needs something – their last chance.
 In due course means Everything will happen when it is supposed to or at the appropriate
time.
 In one's own time means Taking as long as you want to complete something or completing
something at your own pace.
 In someone's black book means Be in disgrace or disfavour with someone.
 In the bag means Something that is assured or a guaranteed success.
 In the black means in profit.
 In the blink of an eye (or an instant) means Something that happens very quickly.
 In the heat of the moment means overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
 In the interim means Between two events or something that is temporary.
 In the long run means over a period of time.
 In the nick of time means Just before it is too late.
 In the red means in debt with your bank. To have a negative bank balance or to owe money
to the bank.
 In the right place at the right time means when something happens fortuitously or when
given an unexpected opportunity.
 In the wrong place at the wrong time mean when something unlucky happens that would
not normally have happened.
 In tune with someone (on the same wavelength) means have the same ideas and be in
agreement with someone else.
 It takes two to tango means actions or communications need more than one person.
 Itchy feet mean strong impulse to travel or go somewhere.
 Judge a book by its cover means judge something primarily on appearance.
 Jump on the bandwagon means Join a popular trend or activity.
 Keep something at bay means Keep something away or prevent something from happening.
 Keeping up appearances means maintaining an outward show of prosperity or well-being
while hiding your difficulties.
 Keeping your finger on the pulse means being constantly aware of current developments.
 Kept in the dark means not knowing the secrets or truth.
 Kill time means do something whilst waiting.
 Kill two birds with one stone means accomplish two different things at the same time.
 Landslide victory means overwhelming victory.
 Last straw means the final problem in a series of problems that leads to a bad thing
happening.
 Laugh a minute means someone or something that is very funny.
 Learn by rote means learn something by memorising it without thought to what is being
learnt.
 Learn something off by heart means memorise so well, that it can be written or recited
without thinking.
 Learn the ropes means learn how to do a job or task properly.
 Lemon means new vehicle that has many faults.
 Let me see the colour of your money means prove that you can afford something.
 Let slip through fingers means failing to obtain or retain a good opportunity.
 Let the cat out of the bag means share information that was previously concealed.
 Lick one's wounds means trying to regain confidence after a defeat.
 Lightning fast means very fast.
 Lights are on but nobody is home means someone is stupid or lacking intelligence.
 Like clockwork means happens at very regular times or intervals without fail.
 Like there's no tomorrow means do something fast or energetic, as if it were the last
opportunity to do so.
 Lining up all the ducks in a row means being well organised in preparation for something.
 Living beyond your means Spending more than you can afford.
 Living in an ivory tower means living a lifestyle that saves or obscures you from real world
issues.
 Living on the breadline means having very little income.
 Long arm of the law means far-reaching power of the authorities.
 Long-time no see means not seen since long ago.
 Look on the bright side means view an unpleasant situation in a positive light.
 Lovey-dovey means making an excessive display of affection.
 Lump in your throat means tight feeling in the through because of an emotion like sadness,
pride or gratitude.
 Make my day means something that makes me very happy or satisfies me.
 Make or break means circumstances causing total success or total failure.
 Make the grade means be satisfactory or at an accepted level.
 Make time means find time to do something as a priority.
 Makes your flesh crawl means something that makes you feel disgusted or nervous.
 Making a go of it means attempting to succeed at something.
 Making good time means completing something faster than expected.
 Making headway means making progress in what you are trying to do.
 Match made in heaven means relationship that is likely to be happy and successful.
 Method to my madness means despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is
structure to it.
 Mile a minute means happens very quickly.
 Miss the boat means miss a chance or opportunity.
 Monkey business means mischievous or deceitful behaviour.
 Month of Sundays means a very long period of time.
 Murphy's law means anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
 Never in a million years means will never happen.
 No time like the present means the belief it is better to do something right away instead of
waiting.
 No time to lose means start something right away, otherwise it won't be finished on time.
 Not letting grass grow under your feet means not delaying in getting something done.
 Not letting moss grow over means doing something now or without delay.
 Not playing with a full deck means lacking intelligence.
 Now and then (or again) means occasionally.
 Now or never means something that should be done now or it will never be done.
 Off colour means Unwell.
 Off one's rocker means crazy; demented; out of one's mind; in a confused or befuddled
state of mind; senile.
 Off to a flying start means something that is immediately successful or has begun well.
 Old hand means Person with a lot of experience in something.
 Old school means holding ideas that were popular and important in the past but which are
no longer so.
 On the ball means when someone understands the situation well or is doing well.
 On the brain means thinking or talking about something constantly.
 On the rocks means relationship experiencing problems.
 On time means not being late or something happening at the expected time.
 Out of the blue means appear suddenly from nowhere and without warning.
 Out of the red means no longer in debt.
 Out of time means no time left to do something or a set time has been reached.
 Paint the town red means go out and have a really good time at a party.
 Pass with flying colours means pass with a high score.
 Penny for your thoughts means a way of asking what someone is thinking.
 Picture paints a thousand words means visual presentations are far more descriptive than
words.
 Piece of cake means a job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
 Pitch black means very dark with zero or almost zero visibility.
 Place in the sun means a position that provides you all the success and happiness you want.
 Pop the question means propose marriage to someone.
 Pot calling the kettle black means hypocritically criticise or accuse someone else is as guilty
as the person criticising.
 Pressed for time means being rushed or not having enough time to complete something.
 Proud as a peacock means very proud Pull the plug Terminate or discontinue something.
 Pull wool over other people's eyes means deceive someone into thinking well of them.
 Pulling out all the stops means doing everything you can to make something happen.
 Punch above one's weight means performing beyond your ability.
 Puppy love means temporary infatuation between young people.
 Put it in black and white means write down for confirmation or evidence.
 Put your thinking cap on means engage your mind and think in a serious manner.
 Rags to riches means becoming very rich whilst starting very poor.
 Raining cats and dogs means raining very heavily.
 Raise the white flag means accept defeat and surrender to the other party.
 Raring to go means being very eager or enthusiastic about the idea.
 Rat race means exhausting and repetitive routine.
 Red flag signal or indication means that something is not working properly of correctly.
 Red herring means unimportant matter that misleads and draws attention away.
 Red hot means new and exciting, creating much demand.
 Red in the face means embarrassed.
 Red tape means set of rules and/or regulations that slow or stop progress.
 Red-eye means Journey that leaves late in the night and arrives early in the morning.
 Road hog means dangerous driver.
 Roll out the red carpet means greet a person with great respect and give them a big, warm
welcome.
 Sail through something means being successful as something without difficulty.
 School of hard knocks means learning through difficult experiences, as opposed to formal,
classroom education.
 School of thought means particular philosophy or way of thinking about something.
 Schoolboy error means very basic or foolish mistake.
 Seeing eye to eye means two or more people agree on something.
 Seeing red means react with uncontrollable rage.
 Sell ice to Eskimos means persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept
something unnecessary.
 Shelf life means the expected duration of lifespan of something (typically food, drink or
medicine).
 Show of hands means raising hands to vote about something.
 Shown the red card means dismissed or told to leave.
 Silver screen means film industry Single file Line of people with one person standing behind
another.
 Sink or swim means fail or succeed.
 Sinking teeth into something means doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
 Sit on the fence means unable or unwilling choose or make a decision.
 Sleeping (or silent) partner means person who has put money into a business or venture but
who is not involved in running it.
 Slice of the pie means share of something, such as money, profits, etc.
 Smash hit means a big success.
 Snowed under means having too much to do.
 Sooner or later means something is certain to happen but it isn't known when exactly.
 Sour grapes mean pretending to dislike something you cannot have.
 Spanner in the works means suddenly disrupt something by introducing something
unexpected or unwanted.
 Speak of the devil means when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
 Speaks volumes means express a reaction without words.
 Spill the beans means reveal a secret.
 Standing ground means maintaining your position.
 Standing the test of time means something that lasts or continues to work well for a long
time.
 Steal someone's thunder means take the credit for something someone else did.
 Stiff upper lip means not showing emotions.
 Storm in a teacup means exaggerate a problem.
 Straight from the horse's mouth means from the authoritative source.
 Stuck in a time warp means not changed for a very long time, when everything else around
has.
 Swallow one's pride means accepting something humiliating or embarrassing.
 Sweet tooth means liking for sweet-tasting foods.
 Take each day as it comes means deal with things as and when they happen.
 Take with a grain (or pinch) of salt means not to take what someone says too seriously, Be
sceptical about something.
 Taste of your own medicine means something happens to you, or is done to you, that you
have done to someone else.
 Teacher's pet means teacher's favourite student.
 The big time means the top level of a profession.
 The moment of truth means when an important decision is made or the truth about
something is revealed.
 The ship has sailed means a particular opportunity has passed and is no longer available.
 The time is ripe means the right or most opportune moment to do something.
 Thinking on your feet means adjusting quickly to change and making fast decisions.
 This day and age mean these or modern times.
 Tickled pink means very pleased, thrilled or delighted about something.
 Tie the knot means get married.
 Time after time (time and time again) means do something repeatedly.
 Time flies means time passes quickly.
 Time for a change means stop what you are doing and start doing something else.
 Time heals all wounds (or time is a great healer) means feelings of hurt (usually emotional)
will go away after some time has passed.
 Time is money means time is a valuable commodity. Payment is needed before doing
something.
 Time is of the essence means when meeting a deadline is very important or critical.
 Time of one's life means a time when someone is enjoying themselves.
 Time on one's hands (or side) means when you can afford to wait before doing or achieving
something.
 Tongue-tied means difficulty in expressing yourself because of nervousness or
embarrassment.
 Too many chiefs and not enough Indians means too many people telling others what to do.
 Too much (free) time on one's hand means when someone doesn't have enough to do.
 Top banana means most important person in a group.
 Top dog means most important person.
 Tough cookie means very determined person.
 Tricks of the trade means clever or expert way of doing something.
 True colours mean someone's actual character.
 Turn back the hands of time means reverse something or go back to a time in the past.
 University of life means daily life and work where you learn more than you would through
formal education.
 Until hell freezes over means something will never happen, no matter how hard or long you
try for it to.
 Up in smoke means something that ends before getting a result.
 Waiting in the wings means waiting for an opportunity to take action.
 Walk out on someone means leave a partner and end the relationship.
 Wasting time means doing something with no purpose.
 Well-oiled machine means unit of people or a group of things working well together.
 Whale of a time means enjoying something thoroughly.
 White as a sheet (or ghost) means in a state of great fear or anxiety.
 White collar means officer worker.
 White elephant means expensive item that's costly to maintain and not particularly useful.
 White lie means little or harmless lie told to be polite and avoid hurting someone's feelings.
 Whitewash means cover up or gloss over faults.
 Whole nine yards means everything. All of it.
 With bells on means when you are delighted and eager to go somewhere.
 Wooden spoon means Imaginary prize for the last person in a race.
 Works like a charm means works very well or as expected.
 Wouldn't be caught dead means would never like to do something.
 Year in, year out means happens every year for many years in a row.
 Yellow-bellied means coward.
 You can't teach an old dog new tricks means people used to doing things a certain way is
often unable to change their ways.
 Your guess is as good as mine means not knowing the answer