List of idioms in the English language
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This is a list of Notable idioms in the English language.
An idiom is a word or phrase, common in everyday conversation and understood within the culture, having a meaning completely different than the meaning of its words. In the example "Kick the Bucket" the listener understands the meaning is "to die" which is completely different than actually kicking a bucket. An idiom is not be confused with other Figures of speech such as a Metaphor - like "the man of steel" which invokes an image, or a Simile - like "Faster than a speeding bullet" which compares two things, or Hyperbole - like "missed by a mile" which creates a strong impression but is not meant to be taken literally. They are also not to be confused with Proverbs which are simple sayings which express a truth based on common sense or practical experience.
| Idiom | Source | Definition/Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kick the bucket " | Euphemism for dying or death. | ||
| "Bite the dust " | Euphemism for dying or death. | ||
| "Pushing up daisies " | Euphemism for dying or death. | ||
| "Pop one's clogs " | Euphemism for dying or death. (UK) | ||
| "Right as rain " | [1] | Needed, appropriate, essential, or hoped-for and has come to mean perfect, well, absolutely right. | [note 1] |
| "A bitter pill " | [2] | A situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted. | |
| "Fit as a fiddle " | [3] | In good physical health. | |
| "By the seat of your pants " | [4] | To achieve through instinct or do something without advance preparation. | |
| "Off your trolley " or "Off your rocker" |
[5] | Crazy, demented, out of one’s mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile. | [note 2] |
| "Basket case " | One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic or stress. | [note 3] | |
| "Piece of cake " | A job, task or other activity that is pleasant – or, by extension, easy or simple. | ||
| "Beat around the bush " | To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally or To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant. | ||
| "Take the biscuit (UK) " | To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious. | ||
| "Take the cake (US) " | To be especially good or outstanding. | ||
| "Bent out of shape" | [6] | Getting worked up, aggravated, or overly annoyed at something that usually can't be helped. | |
| "Bite the bullet" | To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable. | ||
| "Break a leg" | [7] | A saying from the theatre which means "good luck." | |
| "Burning the midnight oil" | [8] | To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting. | [note 4] |
| "Bite off more than you can chew" | [9] | To take on more responsibility than you can manage. | |
| "Bust your chops" | [10] | To say things intended to harass. | [note 5] |
| "By the skin of your teeth" | [11] | Narrowly; barely. Usually used in regard to a narrow escape from a disaster. | [note 6] |
| "Call it a day" | [12] | To declare the end of a task. | [note 7] |
| "Under the weather" | [13] | Feel sick or poorly | |
| "Cold shoulder" | [14] | To pay no attention to or to disrespect. |
- Caught his/her eye – To become aware of.
- Down in the doldrums – To be depressed, sad or lacking energy.
- Easy as pie – An action that is considered very easy to accomplish.
- Every dog has his day -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.
- Off one's perch – to be humbled or shamed.
- Fall off the wagon – a slip in sobriety and return to addiction.
- Fell off the back of a truck -- Indicates stolen goods.
- Give someone the runaround – To be unhelpful by creating excuses, shifting blame or sending them on a fruitless task.
- Give up the ghost -- To die, or finally reveal something (as a secret).
- Itchy feet -- Want to move location or employment or change relationship.
- Cold feet – To have fear or anxiety.
- Hold your horses -- Stop or slow down.
- Hit it out of the park – A big accomplishment or success.
- Jump all over someone -- Verbally harass someone.
- Jump the gun – To start too soon.
- Kettle of fish -- Type of thing. Situation.
- Lay one's cards on the table – To reveal previously unknown intentions, or to reveal a secret.
- Lead in the Shoes -- very slow.
- On the road to recovery -- On the way to being healthy again. Healing has commenced.
- On the fence -- Undecided.
- On the ball -- Organised and progressing matters well.
- Over the hill -- Older than middle aged.
- On pins and needles -- In a state of extreme anticipation.
- Over the moon -- Exceedingly happy.
- Pulling your leg – Making a joke at your expense.
- Spill the beans – To reveal secret or private information.
- Stem the tide – Stop or slow an large number of things. Trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse
- Sugar the pill – Make a negative thing less so.
- Sweep you off your feet – Impress someone often to romantically impress someone.
- Vent your spleen – Explain your anger or strong emotion (usually negative emotion).
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/whys/rightrain.htm retrieved 12/4/11
- ^ http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+bitter+pill
- ^ http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/fit+as+a+fiddle.html
- ^ "Idiom: By the seat of your pants". www.usingenglish.com. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/by+the+seat+of+your+pants.html. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18057#p39459
- ^ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-bent-out-of-shape-mean.htm
- ^ Urdang, Laurence; Hunsinger, Walter W.; LaRoche, Nancy (1985). Picturesque Expressions: A thematic dictionary (2 ed.). Gale Research. p. 321. ISBN 0810316064.
- ^ http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/80200.html
- ^ http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/80200.html
- ^ http://www.pride-unlimited.com/probono/idioms1.html#b
- ^ http://www.idiomsite.com/skinofyour.htm
- ^ http://www.quotations.me.uk/famous-idioms/37-call-it-a-day-idiom.htm
- ^ "Freedictionary dot com". http://www.thefreedictionary.com/under+the+weather.
- ^ "The Phrase Finder". http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cold-shoulder.html.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Years ago, most agriculture depended on rain . The life of everyone in a village depended on the success of the local crops which in turn depended on rain. Rain was essential to survival.
- ^ Since both ‘off one’s trolley’ and ‘off one’s rocker’ became popular in the late 1890 about the same time streetcars were installed in major American cities, and since ROCKER, like TROLLEY, means the wheel or runner that makes contact with an overhead electric cable, it is likely that the ROCKER of the expression carries the same meaning as Trolley. Off your trolley' may refer to the fact that when the wires are “off the trolley,” the vehicle no longer receives an electric current and is, therefore, rendered inoperative.
- ^ Originally a British slang term for a quadruple amputee during World War I.
- ^ Originating with the english author Francis Quarles who wrote:
- "Wee spend our mid-day sweat, or mid-night oyle;
- Wee tyre the night in thought; the day in toyle."
- ^ At the turn of the century, wearing very long sideburns—called mutton chops was common. A bust in the chops was to get hit in the face.
- ^ The phrase first appears in English in the Geneva Bible, 1560, in Job 19:20, which provides a literal translation of the original Hebrew
- "I haue escaped with the skinne of my tethe."
- ^ It's 19th-century predecessor is seen in the line “It would have been best for Merlin . . . to quit and CALL IT HALF A DAY.” from Mark Twain's, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, page 271
