101 English Idioms Explained Volume: A Comprehensive Guide to Master the Language of Figurative Expressions

English idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the individual words. They are often used to add color and vividness to language, and they can also be used to express complex ideas in a concise and memorable way.

101 English Idioms Explained - Volume 3

by George Sandford

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Language	:	English
File size	:	873 KB
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However, idioms can also be confusing for non-native speakers of English, as they can be difficult to understand without context. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive explanation of 101 common English idioms, so that you can use them confidently in your own speech and writing.

A

• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: It is better to have something certain than to risk it for something better that may not be achievable.
• A chip on your shoulder: To have a feeling of resentment or anger towards someone.
• A dime a dozen: Something that is very common or plentiful.
• A drop in the bucket: A small amount that makes little or no difference to the overall situation.
• A fish out of water: Someone who is out of their element or uncomfortable in a particular situation.

B

• Back to the drawing board: To start over on a project or plan after it has failed.
• Barking up the wrong tree: To be looking in the wrong place for something.
• Beat around the bush: To avoid talking about something directly.
• Bend over backwards: To go to great lengths to help someone or do something.
• Bite the bullet: To do something that is difficult or unpleasant but necessary.

C

• Call it a day: To stop working or ng something.
• Cat got your tongue?: Are you unable to speak or answer a question?
• Caught red-handed: To be caught in the act of ng something wrong.
• Cheapskate: Someone who is stingy or reluctant to spend money.
• Chip on your shoulder: To have a feeling of resentment or anger towards someone.

D

• Dead to the world: To be sound asleep.
• Devil's advocate: Someone who argues against a proposal or idea, even if they do not necessarily disagree with it.
• Down in the dumps: To be feeling sad or depressed.
• Down to the wire: To be very close to a deadline or the end of something.
• Dumb as a doornail: To be very stupid.

E

• Elephant in the room: A large or obvious problem that is being ignored or not discussed.
• Every cloud has a silver lining: Even in bad situations, there is usually some good to be found.
• Eye for an eye: To take revenge on someone who has wronged you.
• Eyes bigger than your stomach: To want more than you can actually handle.
• Face the music: To accept the consequences of your actions.

F

• Fall between the cracks: To be overlooked or forgotten.
• Feather in your cap: A small achievement or success.
• Few and far between: Scarce or infrequent.
• Fill someone's shoes: To take over someone's role or responsibilities.
• First come, first served: The first person to arrive gets the first opportunity.

G

• Get a taste of your own medicine: To be treated in the same way that you treat others.
• Get cold feet: To lose courage or enthusiasm about something.
• Get something off your chest: To share a secret or worry with someone.
• Get the ball rolling: To start something or get it moving.
• Give someone the benefit of the doubt: To assume that someone is innocent or has good intentions.

H

• Have a bone to pick with someone: To have a disagreement or argument with someone.
• Have a lot on your plate: To be very busy or have a lot to do.
• Have your cake and eat it too: To want everything and not be willing to compromise.
• Head over heels: To be deeply in love with someone.
• Hit the nail on the head: To say or do something that is exactly right.

I

• If the shoe fits, wear it: If something is true about you, then you should accept it.
• In a nutshell: In summary or briefly.
• In over your head: To be in a situation that is beyond your abilities or understanding.
• It's all Greek to me: I don't understand it.
• It's raining cats and dogs: It is raining very heavily.

J

• Jack of all trades, master of none: Someone who is good at many things but not an expert at any of them.
• Jump on the bandwagon: To follow a trend or fad.
• Just my luck: Something unfortunate that has happened to me.
• Keep your chin up: To stay positive and optimistic.
• Kick the bucket: To die.

L

• Lay an egg: To fail or be unsuccessful.
• Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret.
• Let sleeping dogs lie: To avoid stirring up trouble or bringing up a sensitive issue.
• Like two peas in a pod: To be very similar or compatible.
• Loose cannon: Someone who is unpredictable or dangerous.

M

• Make a long story short: To summarize or shorten a story.
• Make a mountain out of a molehill: To make a big deal out of something that is not important.
• Make ends meet: To have just enough money to pay for basic expenses.
• Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity.
• Money talks: Wealth and power can influence people's behavior.

N

• Needle in a haystack: Something that is very difficult to find.

101 English Idioms Explained - Volume 3

by George Sandford

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	873 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	126 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE