The lists below show the first and last idiom on each page:

Alphabetical idioms - lists A :

list A1 : abbreviated piece of nothing (hold all the) aces

list A2 : achilles heel alarm bells

list A3 : all along all the rage

list A4 : all sizzle and no steak apple of your eye

list A5 : (upset the) applecart at all costs

list A6 : at this stage of the game (have an) axe to grind

Alphabetical idioms - lists B :

list B1 : (leave someone holding the) baby in bad shape

list B2 : badger someone whole new ball game

list B3 : ballpark figure battle lines are drawn

list B4 : battle of wills beat a dead horse

list B5 : beat a hasty retreat before your very eyes

list B6 : beggar can't be choosers beside yourself

list B7 : best bet beyond any reasonable doubt

list B8 : beyond one's wildest dreams bite the bullet

list B9 : bite the dust blamestorming

list B10 : blank cheque blow away the cobwebs

list B11 : blow a fuse above board

list B12 : in the same boat bored to tears

 list B13 : born with silver spoon in your mouth all brawn no
brain

list B14 : know which side your bread is buttered a breeze

list B15 : bricks and mortar/bricks and clicks pass the buck

list B16 : kick the bucket burning question

list B17 : bury your head in the sand by degrees

Alphabetical idioms - lists C :

list C1 : (in) cahoots with burn the candle at both ends

list C2 : (paddle one's own) canoe carrot and stick

list C3 : carry the can fat cat

list C4 : cat nap catch as catch can

list C5 : caught in the crossfire change the face of

list C6 : change of heart chicken out

list C7 : chickens come home to roost chips are down

list C8 : (as useful as a) chocolate teapot clip someone's

wings

list C9 : clock in/out cold calls

list C10 : cold turkey come to grips

list C11 : come to a head common ground

list C12 : common knowledge couch potato

list C13 : cough up cream of the crop

list C14 : cream rises to the top at cross purposes

list C15 : cross the Rubicon a cut above

 list C16 : cut both ways cut it fine

list C17 : cut it out cutting edge

Alphabetical idioms - lists D :

list D1 : dab hand at something dead in the water

list D2 : dead loss (like a) deer caught in the headlights

list D3 : (by) degrees dice are loaded

list D4 : dice with death disappear into thin air

list D5 : disaster written all over dog-eat-dog

list D6 : dog and pony show (in the) doghouse

list D7 : (in the) doldrums down in the mouth

list D8 : down payment dressed to kill

list D9 : dressed up to the nines dry (or dummy) run

list D10 :sitting duck dying for

Alphabetical idioms - lists E :

list E1 : eager beaver eat crow

list E2 : eat dirt (walk on) eggshells

list E3 : ego trip even keel

list E4 : even the score eagle eyes

list E5 : eyes in the back of your head eyes on stalks

Alphabetical idioms - lists F :

list F1 : face like a bulldog facts speak for themselves

list F2 : fair and square fall on deaf ears

 list F3 : fall on sword fat cat

list F4 : fat chance feet of clay

list F5 : (back on your) feet (play second) fiddle

list F6 : fiddling while Rome burns finger in every pie

list F7 : put a finger on in the first place

list F8 : (of the) first water fit for purpose

list F9 : fit to be tied fly-by-night

list F10 : fly by seat of one's pants (on a) fool's errand

list F11 : fool's paradise forewarned is forearmed

list F12 : forty winks freudian slip)

list F13 : friends in high places fur coat

Alphabetical idioms - lists G :

list G1 : gab of the gab get cracking

list G2 : get down to brass tacks get off the hook

list G3 : get on your high horse get your skates on

list G4 : get to bottom give run-around

list G5 : give the shirt off one's back go against the tide

list G6 : go all out go hand in hand

list G7 : go haywire go postal

list G8 : go to hell in a handcart gone with the wind

list G9 : good as gold green fingers

list G10 : green light gutter press

 Alphabetical idioms - lists H :

list H1 : (old) habits die hard half a mind

list H2 : hammer home hands tied

list H3 : (wash your) hands of happy as Larry

list H4 : happy-go-lucky have you gone out of your mind?

list H5 : have kittens hear through grapevine

list H6 : heart's content heebie jeebies

list H7 : hell broke loose hidden agenda

list H8 : high and dry hit panic button

list H9 : hit the road (not) hold water

list H10 : holier-than-thou horns of a dilemma

list H11 : horse of a different colour (not give) house room

list H12 : (on the) house hustle and bustle

Alphabetical idioms - lists I :

list I1 : break the ice in essence

list I2 : in the first place in retrospect

list I3 : in safe hands be an item

Alphabetical idioms - lists J :

list J1 : jack of all trades jump the gun

list J2 : jump for joy just the ticket

Alphabetical idioms - lists K :

list K1 : kangaroo court keep your nose to the grindstone

 list K2 : keep your options open kick yourself

list K3 : a kickback kowtow to someone

Alphabetical idioms - lists L :

list L1 : labour of love laugh all the way

list L2 : laugh off leave high and dry

list L3 : leave no stone unturned let bygones be bygones

list L4 : let me bounce this off you keep a lid on

list L5 : lie in see in new light

list L6 : (shed) light lipstick on a pig

list L7 : live beyond your means (a) load off your mind

list L8 : loan shark look the picture of health)

list L9 : look a sight at a loss

Alphabetical idioms - lists M :

list M1 : mad as a hatter make an exhibition of

list M2 : make flesh crawl make nothing of

list M3 : (can't) make an omelette (find your) match

list M4 : matter of time middle of nowhere

list M5 : (smack dab in the) middle mind your Ps and Qs

list M6 : (in one's) mind's eye money for old rope

list M7 : money doesn't grow (once in blue) moon

list M8 : reach for the moon move heaven and earth

list M9 : move in the same circles my way or the highway

 Alphabetical idioms - lists N :

list N1 : nailing jelly to the wall nest egg

list N2 : never a dull moment night owl

list N3 : nine-day wonder no hard feelings

list N4 : no holds barred not give the time of day

list N5 : not in the same league nuts and bolts

Alphabetical idioms - lists O :

list O1 : odds and ends can't make an omelette

list O2 : on the cards one good turn

list O3 : one hand washes the other open secret

list O4 : open-and-shut case out on a limb

list O5 : out to lunch over and done with

list O6 : over the hill world is your oyster

Alphabetical idioms - lists P :

list P1 : put through paces paper tiger

list P2 : paper trail not a patch on

list P3 : pay dearly for penny drops

list P4 : in for a penny no picnic)

list P5 : picture of health pillar to post

list P6 : (at a) pinch play with fire

list P7 : play footsie pleased as punch

list P8 : pluck out of the air politically correct

 list P9 : pop one's clogs pour one's heart out

list P10 : power behind the throne (a) proper do

list P11 : proud as a peacock push one's luck

list P12 : if push comes to shove put one's house in order

list P13 : put in one's place Pyrrhic victory

Alphabetical idioms - lists Q :

list Q : quaking in one's boots quiet as a mouse

Alphabetical idioms - lists R :

list R1 : race against time rake in the money

list R2 : ram down someone's throat rear its ugly head

list R3 : recharge one's batteries refresh someone's memory

list R4 : regain one's composure (a) rip-off

list R5 : ripple effect (when in) Rome do as the Romans

list R6 : (go through the) roof (bend the) rules

list R7 : run down (in a) rut

Alphabetical idioms - lists S :

list S1 : (get the) sack (in the) same boat

list S2 : (by the) same token scales fall from your eyes

list S3 : scarce as hen's teeth sea legs

list S4 : seal of approval seen better days

list S5 : sell down the river settle a score

list S6 : shake like a leaf ship has sailed

 list S7 : ships that pass in the night short end of the stick

list S8 : short fuse shrug something off

list S9 : shut the stable door when horse ... simplicity itself

list S10 : since time immemorial skeleton staff

list S11 : skin a cat slice of the cake

list S12 : sling mud (a) smash hit

list S13 : smoke like a chimney sneak preview

list S14 : (not to be) sneezed at spanner in the works

list S15 : (go) spare spin a yarn

list S16 : spinach cinema (no) spring chicken

list S17 : (on the) spur of the moment starter marriage

list S18 : state of the art step on someone's toes

list S19 : step out of line sticky fingers

list S20 : (on a) sticky wicket (a) storm is brewing

list S21 : (a) storm in a teacup stretch the truth

list S22 : (in) strict confidence stubborn as a mule

list S23 : stuck in time warp sweet nothings

list S24 : sweet tooth (all) systems go

Alphabetical idioms - lists T :

list T1 : tail wagging the dog take with a grain of salt

list T2 : take the law into your own hands take the rough with
the smooth

list T3 : take shape take stock

 list T4 : take to the cleaners (run a) taut ship

list T5 : (not for all the) tea in China text-walking

list T6 : thank one's lucky stars - thick as thieves

list T7 : through thick and thin thrilled to bits

list T8 : (at each other's) throats (rule of) thumb

list T9 : (all) thumbs time after time

list T10 : (for the) time being toing and froing

list T11 : token gesture toot your own horn

list T12 : (fight) tooth and nail toy with an idea

list T13 : trade secret tunnel vision

list T14 : turkeys voting for Christmas (in the) twinkling of an

eye

list T15 : twist someone's arm put two and two together

Alphabetical idioms - lists U :

list U1 : ugly as sin up in arms

list U2 : up in the air useful as chocolate teapot

Alphabetical idioms - lists V :

list V1 : vanish into thin air vote with one's feet

Alphabetical idioms - lists W :

list W1 : on the wagon walk a tightrope

list W2 : walking on air wax lyrical

list W3 : ways and means wet blanket

list W4 : whale of a time white lie

 list W5 : whiz kid get wind of)

list W6 : (know) which way wind blows wise after the event

list W7 : wise up to can't see the wood for the trees

list W8 : touch wood work like a charm

list W9 : work to rule best of both worlds

list W10 :worlds apart written all over your face

Alphabetical idioms - lists X-Y-Z :

list X-Y-Z : xerox subsidy zero tolerance

Literary Techniques and Figures of Speech

On the SAT, reading passages (both long and short) include questions about
the authors use of literary techniques and figures of speechtools authors
use to convey meaning or to lend depth and richness to their writing.

The following list contains 25 common literary techniques and figures of

speech likely to be covered on the SAT Critical Reading:

Alliteration: The repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants, at the

beginning of words. For example, Robert Frosts poem Out, out contains
the alliterative phrase sweet-scented stuff.

Allusion: A reference within a literary work to a historical, literary, or biblical

character, place, or event. For example, the title of William Faulkners novel
The Sound and the Fury alludes to a line from Shakespeares Macbeth.

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds in a sequence of nearby words.

For example, the line The monster spoke in a low mellow tone (from Alfred,
Lord Tennysons poem The Lotos-Eaters) contains assonance in its
repetition of the o sound.

Caricature: A description or characterization that exaggerates or distorts a

characters prominent features, usually for purposes of mockery. For
example, a cartoon of a gaunt Abraham Lincoln with a giant top hat, a very
scraggly beard, and sunken eyes could be considered a caricature.

Clich: An expression, such as turn over a new leaf, that has been used
and reused so many times that it has lost its expressive power.

Epiphany: A sudden, powerful, and often spiritual or life changing realization

that a character experiences in an otherwise ordinary moment. For example,
the main character in James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
has an epiphany during a walk by the sea.

Foreshadowing: An authors deliberate use of hints or suggestions to give a

preview of events or themes that do not develop until later in the narrative.
Images such as a storm brewing or a crow landing on a fence post often
foreshadow ominous developments in a story.

Hyperbole: An excessive overstatement or conscious exaggeration of fact.

Ive told you that a million times already is a hyperbolic statement.

Idiom: A common expression that has acquired a meaning that differs from
its literal meaning, such as Its raining cats and dogs or That cost me an
arm and a leg.

Imagery: Language that brings to mind sensory impressions. For example, in

the Odyssey, Homer creates a powerful image with his description of rosy-
fingered dawn.

Irony: Broadly speaking, irony is a device that emphasizes the contrast

between the way things are expected to be and the way they actually are. A
historical example of irony might be the fact that people in medieval Europe
believed bathing would harm them when in fact not bathing led to the
unsanitary conditions that caused the bubonic plague.

Metaphor: The comparison of one thing to another that does not use the
terms like or as. A metaphor from Shakespeares Macbeth: Life is but a
walking shadow.

Motif: A recurring structure, contrast, or other device that develops a literary

works major themes (see below). For example, shadows and darkness are a
motif in Charles Dickenss A Tale of Two Cities, a novel that contains many
gloomy scenes and settings.

Onomatopoeia: The use of words like pop, hiss, or boing, in which the spoken
sound resembles the actual sound.
Oxymoron: The association of two terms that seem to contradict each other,
such as same difference or wise fool.

Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory on the surface but often

expresses a deeper truth. One example is the line All men destroy the things
they love from Oscar Wildes The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

Personification: The use of human characteristics to describe animals, things,

or ideas. Carl Sandburgs poem Chicago describes the city as Stormy,
husky, brawling / City of the Big Shoulders.

Pun: A play on words that uses the similarity in sound between two words
with distinctly different meanings. For example, the title of Oscar Wildes play
The Importance of Being Earnest is a pun on the word earnest, which means
serious or sober, and the name Ernest.

Rhetorical question: A question asked not to elicit an actual response but to

make an impact or call attention to something. Will the world ever see the
end of war? is an example of a rhetorical question.

Sarcasm: A form of verbal irony (see above) in which it is obvious from

context and tone that the speaker means the opposite of what he or she
says. Saying That was graceful when someone trips and falls is an example
of sarcasm.

Simile: A comparison of two things through the use of the words like or as.
The title of Robert Burnss poem My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose is a
simile.

Symbol: An object, character, figure, place, or color used to represent an

abstract idea or concept. For example, the two roads in Robert Frosts poem
The Road Not Taken symbolize the choice between two paths in life.

Theme: A fundamental, universal idea explored in a literary work. The

struggle to achieve the American Dream, for example, is a common theme in
20th-century American literature.

Thesis: The central argument that an author makes in a work. For example,
the thesis of Upton Sinclairs The Jungle is that Chicago meat packing plants
subject poor immigrants to horrible and unjust working conditions, and that
the government must do something to address the problem.
Tone: The general atmosphere created in a story, or the authors or
narrators attitude toward the story or the subject. For example, the tone of
the Declaration of Independence is determined and confident.