Thread: Idioms (A-Z)
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Old Thursday, September 07, 2006
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Smile idioms

ace: make an "A" on a test, homework assignment, project, etc.

"Somebody said you aced the test, Dave. That's great!"



all right (1): expression of reluctant agreement.

A: "Come to the party with me. Please!"
B: "Oh, all right. I don't want to, but I will."



all right (2): fair; not particularly good.

A: "How's your chemistry class?"
B: "It's all right, I guess, but it's not the best class I've ever had."



all right (3): unharmed; in satisfactory condition.

A: "You don't look normal. Are you all right?"
B: "Yes, but I have a headache."



and then some: and much more besides.

A: "I'd guess your new computer cost about $2,000. "
B: "It cost that much and then some because I also bought extra RAM and VRAM."



antsy: restless; impatient and tired of waiting.

"I hope Katy calls soon. Just sitting around and waiting is making me antsy."



as easy as pie: very easy.

"I thought you said this was a difficult problem. It isn't. In fact, it's as easy as pie."



at the eleventh hour: at the last minute; almost too late.

"Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.



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bad-mouth: say unkind, unflattering, embarrassing (and probably untrue) things about someone.

A: "I don't believe what Bob said. Why is he bad-mouthing me?"
B: "He's probably jealous of your success."



be a piece of cake: be very easy.

A: "Bob said the test was difficult, but I thought it was a piece of cake.""




be all ears: be eager to hear what someone has to say.

A: "I just got an e-mail message from our old friend Sally."
B: "Tell me what she said. I'm all ears!"



be broke: be without money.

"No, I can't lend you ten dollars. I'm completely broke until payday."



be fed up with (with someone or something): be out of patience (with someone or something);
be very tired of someone or something.

"Bill, you're too careless with your work. I'm fed up with
apologizing for your mistakes!"



be in and out: be at and away from a place during a particular time.

"Could we postpone our meeting until tomorrow? I expect to
be in and out of the office most of the day today."



be on the go: be very busy (going from one thing or project to another).

"I'm really tired. I've been on the go all week long."



be on the road: be traveling.

"You won't be able to contact me tomorrow because I'll be on the road."



be over: be finished; end.

"I can't see you until around 4 o'clock. My meetings won't be over until then."



be up and running: (for a technological process) be operational; be ready to use .

"Dave's ESL Cafe on the Web has been up and running since December 1995."



be used to (+Ving/noun): be accustomed to; not uncomfortable with.

"It won't be hard to get up at 50 AM. I'm used to getting up early."



beat: exhausted; very tired (adj.).

"This has been a long day. I'm beat!"



beat around the bush: evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer.

"Quit beating around the bush! If you don't want to go with me, just tell me!"



beat one's brains out: try very hard to understand or do something.

"Can you help me with this problem? I've been beating my brains out with it,
but I just can't solve it."



Beats me: I have no idea.

A: "What time's the party?"
B: "Beats me!"



before long: soon.

A: "I'm really tired of working."
B: "Just be patient. The weekend will be here before long."



bent out of shape: needlessly worried about something.

"I know you're worried about your job interview, but don't get bent out of shape.
You'll do just fine."



bite off more than one can chew: take responsibility for more than one can manage.

"I'm really behind with my project. Can you help me? I'm afraid I
bit off more than I could chew!"



blabbermouth: a very talkative person--especially one who says things that should be kept secret.

"Don't say anything to Bob unless you want the whole office to know.
Bob's quite a blabbermouth."



blow one's top: become extremely angry.

A: "Was your father upset when you came home at 3 AM?"
B: "He was more than upset. He blew his top!"



boom box: portable cassette/CD player.

"Don't forget to bring your boom box to the picnic!"



the bottom line: the most essential information.

"The discussion lasted many hours. The bottom line was that
the XYZ Company isn't for sale."



Break a leg!: Good luck!

"I understand you have a job interview tomorrow. Break a leg!"



break someone's heart: make someone feel very disappointed/discouraged/sad.

"Joe broke his mother's heart when he dropped out of school."



broke: without money.

A: "Can you lend me 10 dollars?"
B: "I'm afraid not. I'm broke."



buck(s): dollar(s).

"The cheapest tickets for the concert cost 25 bucks. Do you still want to go?"



bug: annoy; bother.

"I'm trying to concentrate! Don't bug me!"



bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.

"Don't be so bull-headed. Why can't you admit that others' opinions are just as good as yours?"



a bundle: a lot of money.

A: "Your new car is really nice."
B: "It should be. It cost me a bundle!"



burn the midnight oil: study/work all night or until very, very late at night.

"I'm not ready for the test tomorrow. I guess I'll have to
burn the the midnight oil."



bushed: very tired; exhausted.

"I'm going to lie down for a while. I'm really bushed."



by oneself: alone and without help.

"I can't do this by myself. Can you help me?"



by the skin of one's teeth: barely succeed in doing something.

"I'll have to start earlier the next time. This time I only finished by the skin of my teeth."
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