Against the clock- to be in a hurry to do

List of Idioms from A something before a particular time

- Z Air one's dirty laundry- to make public
A Idioms something embarrassing that should be
A big cheese- an important or a powerful kept secret.
person in a group or family All systems go-聽 everything is ready.
A bird's eye view- a view from a very An arm and a leg- a large amount of
high place which allows you to see a large money
area Appear out of now here- to appear
A bone of contention- something that suddenly without warning.
people argue for a long time Apple of someone's eye- someone loved
A cock and a bull story- a story or an very much.
explanation which is obviously not true. Ask for the moon- to ask for too much.
At the crack of the dawn- very early in Asleep at the switch- not to be alert on
morning opportunity
A cuckoo in the nest- someone in a group At sixes and sevens- to be lost and
of people but not liked by them. bewildered
A litmus test- a method which clearly At someone's beck and call- to be always
proves something ready to serve
As the crow flies- measuring distance At the bottom of the ladder- at the
between two places in a straight line. lowest level
A dead letter- an argument or law not A house of cards- a poor plan
followed by anyone. At an arm's length- to keep at a distance
At the drop of the hat- u do something At sixes and sevens- in disorder
easily and without any preparation A boon in disguise- a benefit in loss
An early bird- someone who gets early in A bull in a China shop- an awkward
the morning person
An educated guess- a guess which was A red letter day- an important day
likely to get corrected A nine days wonder- pleasure for a short
At the eleventh hour- be too late. time
A queer fish- a strange person A bit under the weather- falling ill
A wakeup call- an event done to warn B idioms
someone Bad blood- feelings of hate between two
A worm's eye view- having very little families
knowledge about something Bend your ears- to talk to someone for a
A witch hunt- an attempt to find and very long time about something boring
punish those who have options that are Bite your tongue- to stop yourself from
believed to be dangerous saying something because it would be
At the heels of- to follow someone better not to
A dish fit for Gods- something of very Black and blue- full of bruises
high quality Blue blood- belonging to high social class
A game of two equal halves- a sudden Be above board- to be honest and legal
change in circumstances Be bouncing off the walls- excited and
Afraid of one's own shadow- to become full of nervous energy
easily frightened Bow and scrap- try too hard to please
someone in a position of authority
Brass monkey weather- extremely cold Bite off more than one can chew- to do
weather more than one's ability
Be tailor made- to be completely suitable Bite the bullet- to face a difficult situation
for someone. bravely
Break the ice- to make more comfort or Bitter pill to swallow- an unpleasant fact
relaxed with a person whom you have not that must be accepted
met earlier, to break the silence Black sheep of the family- worst member
Be as clear as mud- to be impossible to Blessing in disguise- something that turns
understand out to be good which earlier appeared to
Be on cloud nine- be very happy be wrong
Between the devil and deep blue sea- a Blind leading the blind- someone who
type of situation where u must choose does not understand something but tries to
between two equally unpleasant situations explain it to other
Be in the doldrums- not very successful Blow one's own horn- to praise one
or nothing new is taking place Blow someone's mind- excite someone
Beat the drum- to speak eagerly about Bone of contention- subject matter of the
something you support fight
Be on the edge- to be nervous or worried Bring home the bacon- to earn money to
about something live
Be in seventh heaven- extremely happy Blue in the face- exhausted and
Be at each other's throat- two persons speechless
arguing angrily Break the back of- reduce the power of
Batten down the hatches- to prepare for something
trouble Burn a hole in one's pocket- to spend
Back the wrong horse- to support money quickly
someone weak Burn the midnight oil- to study till late
Back to square one- to reach again to the of night
starting point Bushman's holiday- a holiday where you
Back to the salt mines- back to spend doing same thing as you did at
something that you don't want to do working days
Ball of fire- active and energetic Button's one lip- to keep quite
Beat one's head against the wall-聽 to Break a leg- to wish good luck
try to do something that is hopeless C idioms
Bark up the wrong tree- to make a Carrot and sticks- You use both awards
wrong assumption as well as punishments to make someone
Batten down the hatches- prepare for do something.
difficult times Cloak and dragger- when people behave
Beat one's brain out- to work hard in a very secret manner
Begin to see the light- to begin to Cards are stacked against- luck is
understand against you
Behind closed doors- done in secret Crack a book- to open book to study
Bet on the wrong horse- to misread the Cross a bridge before one comes to it-
future worry about the future in advance
Bent on doing- to be determined to do Carry coals to new castle- to take
something something to a place or a person that has a
lot of that thing already
Cast in the same mould- to be very public; making public things that are best
similar left private.
Change horses in midstream- to change Donkey work-聽 Donkey work is any
plans hard, boring work or task.
Cap it all- to finish Don't throw bricks when you live in a
Cried with eyes out- cried a lot glass house-聽 Don't call others out on
Carry the can- If you carry the can, you actions that you, yourself do. Don't be a
take the blame for something, even though hypocrite.
you didn't do it or are only partly at fault. E idioms
Cast a long shadow- Something or Entering the 80th orbit- celebrating the
someone that casts a long shadow has 80th birthday
considerable influence on other people or Eleventh hour decision- decision that is
events. made at the last possible minute
Cat and dog life- If people lead a cat and End in smoke- to bear no result
dog life, they are always arguing. Earth shattering- not at all surprising
D idioms Eat humble pie- to apologize humbly
Drive a wedge between- to break Elephant in the room-聽 An elephant in
relationship between the two the room is a problem that everyone
Dances to the tune- to always do what knows very well but no one talks about
someone tells you to do because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Dressed up to the nines- wearing fancy Egg on your face-聽 If someone has egg
clothes on their face; they are made to look
Dragging its feet- delaying in decision, foolish or embarrassed
not showing enthusiasm Eye for an eye-聽 This is an expression
Davey Jones' locker-聽 Davey Jones' for retributive justice, where the
locker is the bottom of the sea or resting punishment equals the crime.
place of drowned sailors. ('Davy Jones' Eyes are bigger than one's stomach-聽
locker' is an alternative spelling.) If someone's eyes are bigger than their
Dancing on someone's grave-聽 If you stomach, they are greedy and take on
will dance on someone's grave, you will more than they can consume or manage.
outlive or outlast them and will celebrate F idioms
their demise From cradle to grave- during the whole
Dog in the manger-聽 If someone acts span of your life.
like a dog in the manger, they don't want Face the music-to accept punishment for
other people to have or enjoy things that something you have done.
are useless to them Feel the pinch- to have problems with
Don't cry over spilt milk-聽 When money.
something bad happens and nothing can Fall on your own sword- to be cheated
be done to help it people say, 'Don't cry by someone you trust.
over spilt milk' Feather in one's cap- something that you
Don't wash your dirty laundry in achieve and proud of.
public-聽 People, especially couples, who Firing on all cylinders- work every
argue in front of others or involve others possible way to succeed.
in their personal problems and crises, are French leave- absent without permission,
said to be washing their dirty laundry in to take French leave is to leave a gathering
without saying goodbye or without Gift of the gab- talent of speaking, if
permission. someone has the gift of the gab, they
Fall on our feet-聽 If you fall on your speak in a persuasive and interesting way
feet, you succeed in doing something Gives cold shoulder- to ignore
where there was a risk of failure. Get your wires crossed-聽 If people get
Fall on your sword- If 聽 someone falls their wires cross, they misunderstand each
on their sword, they resign or accept the other, especially when making
consequences of what they have done arrangements.('Get your lines crossed' is
wrong. also used.)
Fingers and thumbs-聽 If you are all Give me five-聽 If someone says this,
fingers and thumbs, you are being clumsy they want to hit your open hand against
and not very skilled with your hands. theirs as a way of congratulation or
Finger in the pie-聽 If you have a finger greeting
in the pie, you have an interest in Give me a hand-聽 If someone gives you
something. a hand, they help you
Flash in the pan-聽 If something is a Give someone a piece of your mind-聽 If
flash in the pan; it is very noticeable but you give someone a piece of your mind,
doesn't last long, like most singers, who you criticize them strongly and angrily.
are very successful for a while, then Go bananas-聽 If you go bananas, you
forgotten. are wild with excitement, anxiety, or
Follow your nose-聽 When giving worry
directions, telling someone to follow their Go tell it to birds-聽 This is used when
nose means that they should go straight someone says something that is not
ahead. credible or is a lie
Fool's paradise-聽 A fool's paradise is a Go under the hammer-聽 If something
false sense of happiness or success goes under the hammer, it is sold in an
Foot in mouth- This 聽 is used to auction
describe someone who has just said Graveyard shift-聽 If you have to work
something embarrassing, inappropriate, very late at night, it is the graveyard shift
wrong or stupid Grease monkey-聽 A grease monkey is
For a song-聽 If you buy or sell an idiomatic term for a mechanic
something for a song, it is very cheap H idioms
For donkey's years-聽 If people have Have ants in your pants- not be able to
done something, usually without much if keep still because you are very excited or
any change, for an awfully long time, they worried about something.
can be said to have done it for donkey's Having a whole of a time- to enjoy very
years much
G idioms Hold one's horse- be patient
Get off the hook- free from all Have a big mouth- one who gossips more
obligations or tells secret
Give-up the ghost- to die Himalayan blunder- a serious mistake
Got the slap on the wrist- got light Have a one track mind- think only of
punishment one thing
Give someone a bird- make fun Have clean hands- be guiltless
Got the wind up- to be scared Have an egg on the face- be embarrassed
Get a raw deal- not treated equally
Have eyes bigger than stomach- desiring Jack Frost 聽- If everything has frozen in
more food than one can eat winter, then Jack Frost has visited.
Heart missed a beat- very excited Jack the Lad 聽- A confident and not
Heart in the right place- good natured very serious young man who behaves as
Hit the nail on the head- done the thing he wants to without thinking about other
correctly people is a Jack the Lad.
Hand to mouth-聽 Someone who's living Jack-of-all-trades- A jack-of-all-trades is
from hand to mouth, is very poor and someone that can do many different jobs.
needs the little money they have coming Jam on your face -聽 If you say that
in to cover their expenses someone has jam on their face, they
Have no truck with-聽 If you have no appear to be caught, embarrassed or found
truck with something or someone, you guilty.
refuse to get involved with it or them Jam tomorrow -聽 This idiom is used
Hit the bull's-eye-聽 If someone hits the when people promise good things for the
bull's-eye, they are exactly right about future that will never come.
something or achieve the best result Jane Doe 聽- Jane Doe is a name given to
possible. an unidentified female who may be party
Hold water-聽 When you say that to legal proceedings, or to an unidentified
something does or does not 'hold water', it person in hospital, or dead. John Doe is
means that the point of view or argument the male equivalent.
put forward is or is not sound, strong or Jekyll and Hyde -聽 Someone who has a
logical. For e.g. 'Saying we should Jekyll and Hyde personality has a pleasant
increase our interest rates because and a very unpleasant side to the
everyone else is doing so will not hold character.
water' Jersey justice - Jersey justice is very
Hornets' nest-聽 A hornets' nest is a severe justice.
violent situation or one with a lot of Jet set -聽 Very wealthy people who
dispute. (If you create the problem, you travel around the world to attend parties or
'stir up a hornets' nest'.) functions are the jet set.
I idioms Jet-black -聽 To emphasise just how
In dribs and drabs- in small amounts at a black something is, such as someone's
time hair, we can call it jet-black.
In black and white- to give in writing Job's comforter -聽 Someone who says
In the blues- low spirited they want to comfort, but actually
In cahoots with- in a partnership usually discomforts people is a Job's comforter.
for a dishonest reason Jobs for the boys -聽 Where people give
If the shoe fits, wear it-聽 This is used to jobs, contracts, etc, to their friends and
suggest that something that has been said associates, these are jobs for the boys.
might apply to a person Jockey for position 聽- If a number of
In droves-聽 When things happen in people want the same opportunity and are
droves, a lot happen at the same time or struggling to emerge as the most likely
very quickly candidate, they are jockeying for position.
In the doghouse- If 聽 someone is in the Jog my memory-聽 If you jog someone's
doghouse, they are in disgrace and very memory, you say words that will help
unpopular at the moment. someone trying to remember a thought,
J idioms event, word, phrase, experience, etc.
John Doe-聽 John Doe is a name given to Jump the broom -聽 To jump the broom
an unidentified male who may be party to is to marry. (Jump over the broom, jump
legal proceedings, or to an unidentified over the broomstick, jump the broomstick
person in hospital, or dead. Jane Doe is are also used.)
the female equivalent. Jump the gun -聽 If you jump the gun,
Joe Public -聽 Joe Public is the typical, you start doing something before the
average person. appropriate time.
Johnny on the spot -聽 A person who is Jump the track -聽 Jumping the track is
always available; ready, willing, and able suddenly changing from one plan, activity,
to do what needs to be done.('Johnny-on- idea, etc, to another.
the-spot' is also used.) Jump through hoops 聽- If you are
Johnny-come-lately -聽 A Johnny-come- prepared to jump through hoops for
lately is someone who has recently joined someone, you are prepared to make great
something or arrived somewhere, efforts and sacrifices for them.
especially when they want to make Jump to a conclusion 聽- If someone
changes that are not welcome. jumps to a conclusion, they evaluate or
Join the club -聽 Said when someone has judge something without a sufficient
expressed a desire or opinion, meaning examination of the facts.
"That viewpoint is not unique to you". It Jumping Judas! -聽 An expression of
can suggest that the speaker should stop surprise or shock.
complaining since many others are in the Jungle out there -聽 If someone says that
same position. Example: "If this train it is a jungle out there, they mean that the
doesn't come, I'll be late for work!" "Join situation is dangerous and there are no
the club!" rules.
Joined at the hip -聽 If people are joined Jury's out -聽 If the jury's out on an
at the hip, they are very closely connected issue, then there is no general agreement
and think the same way. or consensus on it.
Judge, jury and executioner -聽 If Just around the corner-聽 If something
someone is said to be the judge, jury, and is just around the corner, then it is
executioner, it means they are in charge of expected to happen very soon.
every decision made, and they have the Just coming up to -聽 If the time is just
power to be rid of whomever they choose. coming up to nine o'clock, it means that it
Juggle frogs -聽 If you are juggling frogs, will be nine o'clock in a very few seconds.
you are trying to do something very You'll hear them say it on the radio in the
difficult. morning.
Jump down someone's throat -聽 If you Just deserts -聽 If a bad or evil person
jump down someone's throat, you criticise gets their just deserts, they get the
or chastise them severely. punishment or suffer the misfortune that it
Jump on the bandwagon -聽 If people is felt they deserve.
jump on the bandwagon, they get involved Just for the heck of it -聽 When someone
in something that has recently become does something just for the heck of it, they
very popular. do it without a good reason.
Jump ship -聽 If you leave a company or Just for the record -聽 If something is
institution for another because it is doing said to be just for the record, the person is
badly, you are jumping ship. saying it so that people know but does not
necessarily agree with or support it.
Just in the nick of time -聽 If you do M idioms
something in the nick of time, you just Make castles in the air- plans or hopes
manage to do it just in time, with seconds that have very little chances of happening.
to spare. Make a bee line for- to go directly
Just off the boat -聽 If someone is just towards something.
off the boat, they are naive and Make ones bed and lie on it- to be
inexperienced. responsible for what you have done and
Just what the doctor ordered -聽 If accept the results
something's just what the doctor ordered, Meet ones waterloo- meet ones final end
it is precisely what is needed. Monkey around- to waste time here and
Justice is blind -聽 Justice is blind means there
that justice is impartial and objective. My hands are full- I am busy
K idioms Make a dry face- show disappointment
Kick up a row- to start a fight, to create Make a monkey of someone-聽 If you
disturbance make a monkey of someone, you make
Keep ones eye on the ball- be ready for them look foolish
something Man of his word-聽 A man of his word is
Kangaroo court-聽 When people take the a person who does what he says and keeps
law into their own hands and form courts his Promises
that are not legal, these are known as Many moons ago-聽 A very long time
kangaroo court ago
Keep body and soul together-聽 If you N idioms
earn enough to cover your basic expenses, Nobody's fool- one who can take care of
but nothing more than that, you earn himself
enough to keep body and soul together. not having a leg to stand for- not having
Keep your eye on the ball-聽 If you keep proof
your eye on the ball, you stay alert and Never-never land- ideal best place.
pay close attention to what is happening No love lost between- dislike
Know which way the wind blows-聽 Needle in a haystack-聽 If trying to find
This means that you should know how something is like looking for a needle in a
things are developing and be prepared for haystack, it means that it is very difficult,
the future. if not impossible to find among everything
L idioms around it
Loaves and fishes- done for material New brush sweeps clean-聽'A new brush
benefits sweeps clean' means that someone with a
Like a shag on a rock- completely alone. new perspective can make great changes.
Let someone slide- neglect something However, the full version is 'a new brush
Let the cat out of the bag- reveal the sweeps clean, but an old brush knows the
secret corners', which warns that experience is
Let nature take its course- to allow also a valuable thing
someone to live or die naturally. No smoke without fire-聽 This idiom
Like a sitting duck- totally unaware means that when people suspect
Lion's share- a major share something, there is normally a good
Left to your own devices- If 聽 someone reason for the suspicion, even if there is
is left to their own devices, they are not no concrete evidence. ('Where's there's
controlled and can do whatever they want smoke, there's fire' is also used.)
O idioms Pick someone's brains- If 聽 you pick
Once in a blue moon- very rarely someone's brains, you ask them for
On the bandwagon- doing something advice, suggestions and information about
because others are also doing it something they know about
Open Pandora's box- to discover more Pieces of the same cake-聽 Pieces of the
problems same cake are things that have the same
Over the moon- being too happy characteristics or qualities
On its last legs- in a bad condition and Play fast and loose-聽 If people play fast
will not last long and loose, they behave in an irresponsible
Old flames die hard-聽 It's very difficult way and don't respect rules, etc.
to forget old things Poker face-聽 Someone with a poker face
On pins and needles-聽 If you are on doesn't show any emotion or reaction so
pins and needles, you are very worried that people don't know what they are
about something feeling
On the carpet-聽 When you are called to Q idioms
the bosses office (since supposedly, they Quarrel with bread and butter-聽 Bread
are the only ones who have carpet) and its and butter, here, indicate the means of
definitely not for a good reason, i.e., you one's living. If a sub-ordinate in an
are in trouble, something has not gone organization is quarrelsome or if he is not
according to plan and either maybe you patient enough to bear the reprimand he
are responsible and/or have some deserves, gets angry and retorts or
explaining to do provokes the higher-up, the top man
On the hook-聽 If someone is on the dismisses him from the job. So, he loses
hook, they are responsible for something. the job that gave him bread and butter.
Only the wearer knows where the shoe Hence we say, he quarreled with bread
pinches-聽 This means that it's hard to and butter (manager or the top man) and
know how much someone else is lost his job
suffering. Quiet as a cat-聽 If somebody is as quiet
P idioms as a cat they make as little noise as
Pass muster- to be approved possible and try to be unnoticeable
Pick someone to pieces- to criticize Quiet as a mouse-聽 If someone's as
sharply quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no
Paper over the cracks- to try to hide noise
something Queer fish-聽 A strange person is a queer
Put the cart before the horse- doing fish
things in a wrong manner R idioms
Pull up the shocks- do things in the right Round the twist- go crazy
manner and correctly Read between the lines-聽 read hidden
Parrot fashion-聽 If you learn something meanings
parrots fashion; you learn it word for word Rack and ruin- If 聽 something or
Pay on the nail-聽 If you pay on the nail, someone goes to rack and ruin, they are
you pay promptly in cash utterly destroyed or wrecked
Pen is mightier than the sword-聽 The Rain on your parade-聽 If someone rains
idiom 'the pen is mightier than the sword' on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or
means that words and communication are your plans
morepowerful than wars and fighting
Rake someone over the coals-聽 If you showing the door- asking someone to
rake someone over the coals, you criticize leave
or scold them severely Song and a dance-聽 an excuse
Recipe for disaster-聽 A recipe for Salad days-聽 Your salad days are an
disaster is a mixture of people and events especially happy period of your life
that could only possibly result in trouble Sail under false colors- Someone 聽 who
Red carpet-聽 If you give someone the sails under false colors is hypocritical or
red-carpet treatment, you give them a pretends to be something they aren't in
special welcome to show that you think order to deceive people
they are important T idioms
Red herring-聽 If something is a Threaded his way out- walked carefully
distraction from the real issues, it is a red through.
herring Take the cloth- to become a priest.
Red letter day-聽 A red letter day is a one Talk turkey- to discuss a problem with a
of good luck, when something special real intension to solve it.
happens to you Tit for tat- an action done to revenge
Reduce to ashes-聽 If something is against a person who has done some
reduced to ashes, it is destroyed or made wrong to you
useless. His infidelities reduced their To crow over- to triumph over someone
relationship to ashes to blow a fuse- to turn someone angry
Round the houses-聽 If you go round the though thick and thin- under all
houses, you do something in an inefficient conditions
way when there is a quicker, more to bell the cat- to take great risks
convenient way To look through colored glasses- to look
Rub shoulders-聽 If you rub shoulders the things not as they are
with people, you meet and spend time Taking to a brick wall- taking with a no
with them, especially when they are response
powerful or famous Turned a deaf ear- disregarded
Run into the sand-聽 If something runs Take a back seat- choose to decrease
into the sand, it fails to achieve a result involvement
S idioms Tables are turned-聽 When the tables are
Salt on the earth- fundamental good turned, the situation has changed giving
people the advantage to the party who had
Sands of time- tiny amounts of time previously been at a disadvantage
Shake a leg- to go fast, hurry Take someone under your wing-聽 If
Spill the beans- to expose a secret you take someone under your wing, you
Snake in the grass- a hidden army look after them while they are learning
Salt on the earth- fundamental good something
people Take your medicine- If 聽 you take your
Sands of time- tiny amounts of time medicine, you accept the consequences of
Shake a leg- to go fast, hurry something you have done wrong
Spill the beans- to expose a secret Talking to a brick wall-聽 If you talk to
Snake in the grass- a hidden army someone and they do not listen to you, it
Snake in the shoes- to be in a state of fear is like talking to a brick wall
Stood to his guns- maintained to his Taste of your own medicine-聽 If you
opinion give someone a taste of their own
medicine, you do something bad to ('Iron fist in a velvet glove' is the full
someone that they have done to you to form.)
teach them a lesson Vent your spleen 聽- If someone vents
The apple does not fall far from the their spleen, they release all their anger
tree-聽 Offspring grow up to be like their about something.
parents Vicar of Bray 聽- A person who changes
Through thick and thin-聽 If someone their beliefs and principles to stay popular
supports you through thick and thin, they with people above them is a Vicar of Bray
support you during good times and bad Vicious circle -聽 A vicious circle is a
U idioms sequence of events that make each other
Upset the apple cart- to create difficulty worse- someone drinks because they are
Under a cloud- If someone is suspected unhappy at work, then loses their job...
of having done something wrong, they are 'Vicious cycle' is also used.
under a cloud Vinegar tits 聽- A mean spirited women
Under fire- If someone is being attacked lacking in love or compassion.
and criticized heavily, they are under fire Virgin territory -聽 If something is virgin
Under your nose- If something happens territory, it hasn't been explored before.
right in front of you, especially if it is Voice in the wilderness -聽 Someone
surprising or audacious, it happens under who expresses an opinion that no one
your nose believes or listens to is a voice in the
Up for grabs- If something is up for wilderness,especially if proved right later.
grabs, it is available and whoever is first Volte-face -聽 If you do a volte-face on
or is successful will get it something, you make a sudden and
Up to the neck- If someone's in complete change in your stance or
something up to the neck, they are very position over an issue.
involved in it, especially when it's Vultures are circling -聽 If the vultures
something wrong are circling, then something is in danger
Up a river without a paddle- If you up a and its enemies are getting ready for the
river without a paddle, you are in an kill.
unfortunate situation, unprepared and with W idioms
none of the resources to remedy the matter Weight one's word- be careful to what
Uncharted waters-聽 If you're in one says
uncharted waters, you are in a situation Wait for a raindrop in the drought-聽
that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no When someone is waiting for a raindrop
experience of and don't know what might in the drought, they are waiting or hoping
happen for something that is extremely unlikely to
Under lock and key-聽 If something is happen
under lock and key, it is stored very Walking on broken glass- When 聽 a
securely person is punished for something
V idioms Wet behind the ears-聽 Someone who is
Vale of tears-聽 This vale of tears is the wet behind the ears is either very young or
world and the suffering that life brings. inexperienced
Velvet glove -聽 This idiom is used to Whale of a time-聽 If you have a whale
describe a person who appears gentle, but of a time, you really enjoy yourself
is determined and inflexible underneath.
Work your fingers to the bone- If 聽 you celebrity, whose career is over or on the
work your fingers to the bone, you work decline is yesterday's man or woman.
extremely hard on something You are what you eat 聽- This is used to
Wrench in the works-聽 If someone puts emphasise the importance of a good diet
or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in as a key to good health.
the works, they ruin a plan You can catch more flies with honey
X idioms than with vinegar 聽- This means that it
X factor 聽- The dangers for people in the is easier to persuade people if you use
military that civilians do not face, for polite arguments and flattery than if you
which they receive payment, are known as are confrontational.
the X factor. You can choose your friends, but you
X marks the spot 聽- This is used to say can't choose your family 聽- Some
where something is located or hidden. things you can choose, but others you
X-rated -聽 If something is x-rated, it is cannot, so you have to try to make the best
not suitable for children. of what you have where you have no
Y idioms choice.
Yah boo sucks-聽 Yah boo & yah boo You can lead a horse to water, but you
sucks can be used to show that you have can't make it drink 聽- This idiom
no sympathy with someone. means you can offer something to
Yank my chain -聽 If some one says this someone, like good advice, but you cannot
to another person (i.e. stop yanking my make them take it.
chain) it means for the other person to You can say that again -聽 If you want to
leave the person who said it alone and to agree strongly with what someone has
stop bothering them. said, you can say 'You can say that again'
Yell bloody murder -聽 If someone yells as a way of doing so.
bloody murder, they protest angrily and You can't fight City Hall 聽- This phrase
loudly, or scream in fear. is used when one is so cynical that one
Yellow press 聽- The yellow press is a doesn't think one can change their
term for the popular and sensationalist Representatives. The phrase must have
newspapers. started with frustration towards a local
Yellow streak- If someone has a yellow body of government.
streak, they are cowardly about You can't have cake and the topping,
something. too -聽 This idiom means that you can't
Yellow-bellied 聽- A yellow-bellied have everything the way you want it,
person is a coward. especially if your desires are
contradictory.
Yen 聽- If you have a yen to do
something, you have a desire to do it. You can't have your cake and eat it -聽
This idiom means that you can't have
Yeoman's service 聽- To do yeoman's
things both ways. For example, you can't
service is to serve in an exemplary
have very low taxes and a high standard of
manner.
state care.
Yes-man 聽- Someone who always agrees
You can't hide elephants in mouse holes
with people in authority is a yes-man.
-聽 means that some
Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman
issues/problems/challenges cannot be
聽- Someone, especially a politician or
hidden/concealed but have to be faced and
dealt with.
You can't make a silk purse out of a You what? -聽 This is a very colloquial
sow's ear -聽 If something isn't very good way of expressing surprise or disbelief at
to start with, you can't do much to something you have heard. It can also be
improve it. used to ask someone to say something
You can't make an omelette without again.
breaking eggs 聽- This idiom means that You're toast -聽 If someone tells you that
in order to achieve something or make you are toast, you are in a lot of trouble.
progress, there are often losers in the You've got rocks in your head -聽
process. Someone who has acted with a lack of
You can't take it with you 聽- Enjoy life, intelligence has rocks in their head.
enjoy what you have and don't worry You've made your bed-聽 you'll have to
about not having a lot, especially lie in it - This means that someone will
money...because once you're dead, 'you have to live with the consequences of their
can't take it with you.' For some, it means own actions.
to use up all you have before you die Young blood -聽 Young people with new
because it's no use to you afterwards. ideas and fresh approaches are young
You can't teach an old dog new tricks - blood.
聽 It is difficult to make someone change Young Turk -聽 A Young Turk is a young
the way they do something when they person who is rebellious and difficult to
have been doing it the same way for a control in a company, team or
long time organisation.
You can't un-ring a bell -聽 This means Your belly button is bigger than your
that once something has been done, you stomach -聽 If your belly button is bigger
have to live with the consequences as it than your stomach, you take on more
can't be undone. responsibilities than you can handle.
You could have knocked me down with Your call 聽- If something is your call, it
a feather - This idiom is used to mean that is up to you to make a decision on the
the person was very shocked or surprised. matter.
You do not get a dog and bark yourself Your name is mud -聽 If someone's name
-聽 If there is someone in a lower position is mud, then they have a bad reputation.
who can or should do a task, then you Your sins will find you out -聽 This
shouldn't do it. idiom means that things you do wrong
You get what you pay for -聽 Something will become known.
that is very low in price is not usually of Z idioms
very good quality. Zero hour-聽 The time when something
You reap what you sow -聽 This means important is to begin is zero hour.
that if you do bad things to people, bad Zero tolerance -聽 If the police have a
things will happen to you, or good things zero tolerance policy, they will not
if you do good things. It is normally used overlook any crime, no matter how small
when someone has done something bad. or trivial.
You said it!-聽 Used to say you agree Zigged before you zagged 聽- If you did
completely with something just said. things in the wrong order, you zigged
You scratch my back and I'll scratch before you zagged.
yours 聽- This idiom means that if you do Zip it -聽 This is used to tell someone to
something for me, I'll return the favour. be quiet.
Zip your lip -