Subject-wise Idioms
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "First" [/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. [/B][B]First aid[/B]: medical care for minor injuries such as mild abrasions, cuts, bruises, and burns

[B]2.[/B][B] First among equals:[/B] the sentiment that a leader is merely the premier person among his or her colleagues

[B]3.[/B][B] First base:[/B] the first step or stage in a process or procedure, from baseball terminology

[B]4.[/B] [B]First blood:[/B] referring to the rite of passage of a hunter making a first kill

[B]5.[/B] [B](At) first blush[/B]: referring to reconsideration of one’s initial thought

[B]6.[/B] [B]First call:[/B] the right to priority in use of something

[B]7. [/B][B]First cause:[/B] the philosophical concept of the original self-created cause of which all other causes are by-products

[B]8. First chair:[/B] the lead musician among those playing a particular instrument in an orchestra (such as first violin)

[B]9. First class[/B]: the best category of travel accommodations, or the best in terms of performance or quality

[B]10. First come, first served[/B]: the principle that the customer who arrives first is given priority

[B]11. First cousin:[/B] a son or daughter of one’s aunt or uncle

[B]12. First crack[/B]: the earliest chance or opportunity

[B]13. First dance:[/B] the tradition of the guests of honor being the first couple on the dance floor to start a ball or other dance event

[B]14. First dibs:[/B] choice of (something) before anyone else gets to pick

[B]15. First down:[/B] the first in a series of plays in American football after one team takes possession of the ball from the other team

[B]16. First edition:[/B] the initial publication of a book

[B]17. First estate[/B]: the clergy as the highest of the three orders of society in the Middle Ages and for some time afterward (the others were the nobility and the common people)

[B]18. First floor:[/B] the ground floor (in American English usage) or the second floor (in British English usage)

[B]19. First flush (of success)[/B]: an initial period of achievement (the term is also used technically to refer to the initial runoff of rainwater after a storm)

[B]20. First glance:[/B] a superficial examination or review

[B]21. (At) first hand:[/B] with direct experience (as an adjective, firsthand)

[B]22. First impression[/B]: the initial evaluation of information or an experience, generally before having time to consider or ponder

[B]23. First lady:[/B] the wife of a government’s leader

[B]24. First leg:[/B] the first part of a journey

[B]25. First light:[/B] the earliest part of day

[B]26. First night:[/B] the evening of a premiere performance, or the premiere performance itself

[B]27. (In the) first place: [/B]in the beginning, or as an initial consideration

[B]28. (Right of) first refusal:[/B] the privilege of being able to accept or reject an offer or proposal before anyone else is given consideration

[B]29. (Love at) first sight:[/B] the sentiment of an instant romantic connection

[B]30. (The) first step (is always the hardest):[/B] the notion that starting a task is the most difficult part

[B]31. (Cast the) first stone:[/B] used to refer to hypocritical behavior akin to throwing a stone at someone as punishment for a crime when the thrower may be culpable for the same crime or another one

[B]32. First string:[/B] the group of athletes who participate from the beginning an athletic competition, as opposed to players who may substitute for first string teammates at some point; by extension, the best among any group

[B]33. (Don’t) know the first thing about:[/B] the model for an expression stating that someone is unacquainted with even the basics of a certain procedure or topic

[B]34. First things first:[/B] refers to the importance of considering the relative priority of steps

[B]35. First-timer:[/B] someone engaging or participating in some activity the person has not done before

[B]36. First water:[/B] the highest quality, especially in gems but also said figuratively of people of high character

[B]37. First world:[/B] the developed, industrialized nations

[B]38. (If at) first you don’t succeed (try again):[/B] the sentiment that one should persist after initial failure

[B]39. Ladies first:[/B] a sentiment that, according to proper etiquette, females should have priority in passing through a doorway or into another area

[B]40. Shoot first (and ask questions later):[/B] referring to the supposed wisdom, in a confrontation, of disabling a potential adversary first and then ascertaining whether the person is in fact a foe.

Idioms with the word "One"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "One"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. All in one breath:[/B] said of something spoken excitedly without pause

[B]2. All in one piece:[/B] safely

[B]3. All rolled up in one[/B]: combined

[B]4. All-in-one:[/B] with all required features

[B]5. As one:[/B] as if a group were one entity

[B]6. At one with:[/B] in agreement or solidarity with another

[B]7: do (someone) one better:[/B] do something that is an improvement on what someone else has done

[B]8. For one thing:[/B] said to introduce one of two or more reasons (though the phrase might follow the statement)

[B]9. For one:[/B] a qualifier expressing that someone represents an example

[B]10. Hole in one:[/B] said of a significant achievement, in reference to achieving a goal in golf with a single hit of the ball

[B]11. If it’s not one thing:[/B] part of a saying (with the rest, “it’s another (thing)” often not said but implied) expressed when one is exasperated by the latest in a series of inconveniences

[B]12. In one ear and out the other:[/B] said of advice or information that is not heeded or retained

[B]13. In one fell swoop:[/B] all at once or within a short period

[B]14. It’s been one of those days:[/B] said when multiple things have gone wrong in succession

[B]15. It’s just one of those things:[/B] said of something unfortunate that must be accepted

[B]17. Take care of number one:[/B] said in reference to focusing on one’s own safety or concerns over that of others

[B]18. Not one iota:[/B] not even a bit

[B]19. Number one[/B]: oneself (see “look after number one”)

[B]20. On the one hand:[/B] from one point of view (sometimes paired with “on the other hand”)

[B]21. One and all: [/B]everyone

[B]22. One for the (record) books:[/B] said of a significant achievement

[B]23. One good turn deserves another:[/B] an expression about the importance of reciprocity

[B]24. One-hit wonder:[/B] an artist who achieves only one commercial success

[B]25. One heck/hell of a (something)[/B]: a reference to someone being markedly bad or good at something

[B]26. One in a million[/B]: rare or unique, often said about someone with a distinctive quality

[B]27. One jump/step ahead:[/B] said of someone who anticipates or innovates

[B]28. One man’s meat is another man’s poison:[/B] something one person likes may not be suitable for another person

[B]29. One-night stand:[/B] an activity or encounter that lasts only one night

[B]30. One-note:[/B] said of something lacking variety

[B]31. One of a kind:[/B] unique

[B]32. One of the boys:[/B] someone accepted into or part of a group

[B]33. One of these days: [/B]said of an expected event that will occur someday or soon; also, sometimes expressed as a threat, with the consequence implied but not stated

[B]34. One of those things:[/B] said of something unwelcome but inevitable

[B]35. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure:[/B] something of no value to one person may be valuable to another

[B]36. One that got away:[/B] a missed opportunity

[B]37. One-track mind[/B]: said of someone with a single-minded focus

[B]38. One-trick pony:[/B] someone or something with only one distinguishing feature, skill, or talent

[B]39. One up on:[/B] said of having an advantage over someone

[B]40. One way or another:[/B] somehow

[B]41. Square one:[/B] the starting point of developing something or solving a problem (often in the phrase “back to square one”)

[B]42. The one and only:[/B] said of something unique

[B]43. There is more than one way to skin a cat:[/B] more than one procedure will work or more than one solution is available

Idioms with the word "Single"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Single[/SIZE]"[/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. At a single blow:[/B] with one movement

[B]2. Of a single mind:[/B] in agreement

[B]3. Single:[/B] an unmarried person, or a one-base hit in baseball

[B]4. Single file[/B]: a reference to a line of people or things, with each one standing behind another

[B]5. Single out[/B]: focus on or identify one thing

[B]6. At a single stroke:[/B] with one movement

Idioms with the word "Once"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Once"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Once and for all:[/B] permanently

[B]2. Once bitten, twice shy:[/B] a proverb expressing that one’s inclination is to avoid people who, or things, that have hurt them

[B]3. Once in a blue moon:[/B] very rarely

[B]4. Once in a lifetime:[/B] said of something likely to occur only once during one’s life

[B]5. Once over lightly:[/B] quickly

[B]6. Once upon a time:[/B] once in the past (used often as the beginning of a fairy tale to express that the story occurred long ago)

[B]7. Opportunity knocks but once:[/B] a proverb expressing that one may have only one chance to take advantage of an opportunity

[B]8. Fool me once, shame on you;[/B] [B]fool me twice, shame on me:[/B] a proverb expressing that one should be wary of the intentions of someone who has tricked one before

[B]9. For once: [/B]on this particular occasion

[B]10. Give (one) the once-over:[/B] examine with interest

[B]11. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred/thousand times:[/B] a phrase expressing, with exaggeration, that one has repeatedly referred to something

Idioms with the word "Two"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Two"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. As easy as one-two-three:[/B] said of something as simple as counting

[B]2. Give two hoots about:[/B] said of someone, preceded by one or more names or a pronoun and doesn’t ordon’t, to express a lack of concern

[B]3. It takes two to tango:[/B] said of a situation in which two parties are both responsible

[B]4. Kill two birds with one stone:[/B] achieve two goals with one action

[B]5. Know a trick or two:[/B] said when one has an unorthodox solution to a problem

[B]6. Lesser of two evils: [/B]something that is bad but not as bad as something else

[B]7. No two ways about it:[/B] said to express certainty or inflexibility

[B]8. Of two minds:[/B] undecided

[B]9. Put two and two together:[/B] said of correctly figuring out or solving a problem, as compared with computation

[B]10. Stand on (one’s) own two feet:[/B] be self-sufficient

[B]11. Tell (someone) a thing or two:[/B] scold

[B]12. That makes two of us:[/B] we agree, or something is true of the speaker or writer and another person

[B]13. Two can play that game:[/B] refers to the possibility that one who has treated another badly may be treated that way in return

[B]14. Two cents’ worth:[/B] advice

[B]15. Two heads are better than one:[/B] collaboration will produce a better outcome than individual effort

[B]16. Two left feet: [/B]said of an awkward dancer

[B]17.Two of a kind/two peas in a pod:[/B] said of two people who are very similar (or, in the case of the second expression, often in each other’s company)

[B]18. Two shakes of a lamb’s tail:[/B] a very brief period

[B]19. Two strikes:[/B] said of someone or something that has two disadvantages or obstacles, with the implication that a third strike, as in baseball, will put someone or something out of action

[B]20. Two wrongs don’t make a right:[/B] doing something wrong in response to another wrong is not justified

[B]21. Two-timer:[/B] someone who cheats on a partner

[B]22. Two’s company:[/B] part of a proverb (followed by the counterpoint “three’s a crowd”) to express that often, a third person is unwelcome

Idioms with the word "Second"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Second"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Second chance:[/B] another opportunity

[B]2. Second best:[/B] something not as good as the thing desired

[B]3. Second fiddle:[/B] one who plays, or is perceived to play, a subordinate role (from an informal reference to violinists in a music ensemble who are not the principal violinist)

[B]4. Second class:[/B] inferior, as in references to travel accommodations or disadvantaged citizens

[B]5. Second banana[/B]: someone who plays a secondary role (from show business slang for a supporting comedian)

[B]6. Second-guess:[/B] predict another’s action or decision

[B]7. Secondhand:[/B] as an adjective, not original, or previously owned; as an adverb, indirectly, or obtained from another

[B]8. Second childhood:[/B] a period later in life marked by renewed interest in things of interest to a child or by reduced mental capacity

[B]9. Second thought:[/B] a reference to changing one’s mind, as in the phrase “on second thought” or to be inclined to do so, as in the phrase “having second thoughts”

[B]10. Second to none[/B]: better than anyone or anything else

[B]11. Second nature:[/B] said of a behavior or habit that one seems to have been born with

[B]12. Second sight:[/B] clairvoyance, or the supposed ability to see something happening elsewhere or in the future

[B]13. Second wind:[/B] restoration of easy breathing after physical exertion, or a renewal or energy or strength

Idioms with the word "Double"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Double"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Double:[/B] two servings of an alcoholic beverage, a two-base hit in baseball, or an identical person or thing

[B]2. Double booked:[/B] committed for two events, or scheduled for two people or parties at the same time

[B]3. Double bill/feature:[/B] a performance involving two works or two performers or groups of performers; a separate meaning of “double bill” refers to being charged the cost of something twice

[B]4. Double-bagger:[/B] a person considered so ugly that two nested grocery bags should be placed over the person’s face to conceal it

[B]5. Double as:[/B] serve in two capacities

[B]6. At/on the double:[/B] quickly

[B]7. Body double:[/B] someone who stands in for another, especially in a performance

[B]8. Double back:[/B] return to a starting point

[B]9. Double bind:[/B] a dilemma

[B]10. Double in brass:[/B] To perform multiple roles or duties; to serve in two capacities at a given time. (from a reference to a musician who performs on more than one instrument during a performance)

[B]11. Double cross[/B]: an act of cheating or swindling

[B]12. Double-decker[/B]: a vehicle with two levels, or a two-layer sandwich

[B]13. Double digits:[/B] the numbers 10 through 99

[B]14. Double-dipper: [/B]one who earns two salaries or collects both social security payments and a federal pension; also, one scoops half-eaten finger food in a dip or sauce at the risk of introducing germs

[B]15. Double dribble:[/B] use both hands to bounce a basketball, or bounce a basketball again after stopping, or the act of committing either penalty

[B]16. Double date:[/B] socialize as two couples, or the act of doing so

[B]17. Double duty:[/B] said in reference to something that serves two functions at once

[B]18. Double or nothing:[/B] a type of bet in which a person receives double the prize or nothing

[B]19. H-e-double-hockey-sticks/toothpicks:[/B] a euphemism for the oath hell, from the resemblance of the uppercase letter l to hockey sticks or the lowercase letter l to toothpicks

[B]20. Double down:[/B] originally, double one’s bet in blackjack; by extension, exert twice the effort

[B]21. Double dutch[/B]: a difficult language; also, a game of jump rope involving two ropes swung in different directions

[B]22. Double entendre:[/B] a word or phrase with more than one meaning, one of which is obscene or sexual

[B]23. Double life:[/B] a life in which one assumes two identities

[B]24. Double standard:[/B] principles or values hypocritically applied differently to different people or situations

[B]25. Doublespeak:[/B] deceitful or misleading language

[B]26. Double up: [/B]pair up or share; also, see “double over”

[B]27. Double take:[/B] a reaction in which one looks twice at something or someone because one is confused or surprised

[B]28. Double trouble:[/B] a difficult person or thing, or two difficult people or things

[B]29. Double tap:[/B] a repeated touch, or repeated firing of a weapon

[B]30. Double-tongued:[/B] deceitful or hypocritical.

[B]31. Double time[/B]: move twice as fast, or cheat; as a noun, a rate of pay that is twice the normal rate, or a type of tempo in music

[B]32. Double talk:[/B] comments made to avoid telling the truth

[B]33. Double nickels:[/B] the number 55, often in reference to a speed limit (from the value of a nickel)

[B]34. Double over:[/B] bend over, as if in laughter or in pain

[B]35. Double whammy:[/B] an occurrence of two bad things at a time

[B]36. Double-edged sword: [/B]something that might be advantageous but also dangerous

Idioms with the word "Three"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Three"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Three-ring circus[/B]: said of a confused or noisy activity

[B]2. As easy as one-two-three:[/B] said of something as simple as counting

[B]3. Three-alarm fire: [/B]said of something as exciting as a major structural fire (the number referenced may vary)

[B]4. Three cheers:[/B] praise (also used sarcastically)

[B]5. Three sheets to the wind[/B]: drunk (from nautical slang referring to sheets, or ropes that hold sails taut, coming loose, causing a sailing ship to move erratically)

[B]6. Phony as a three-dollar bill[/B]: said in reference to something patently fake

[B]7. Three squares a day:[/B] a reference to three complete meals

[B]8. Queer as a three-dollar bill:[/B] said in reference to something very peculiar

[B]9. Three hots and a cot:[/B] a slang reference to jail or prison as a place where three hot meals and a bed are provided

[B]10. Three r’s:[/B] reading, writing, and arithmetic (alluding to the first consonant sound of each word)

[B]11. Three strikes:[/B] said in reference to having three chances before suffering a consequence

Idioms with the word "Triple"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Triple"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. Triple:[/B] a set of three, or a three-base hit in baseball

[B]2. Triple-bagger:[/B] see double-bagger

[B]3. Triple threat[/B]: someone talented in three areas

[B]4. Triple whammy:[/B] see “double whammy”

Idioms with the word "Four"
 

[B][CENTER][SIZE="3"]Idioms with the word "Four"[/SIZE][/CENTER][/B]

[B]1. On all fours:[/B] on hands and knees

[B]2. Four-bagger:[/B] a home run in baseball (from the batter touching all four bags, or bases)

[B]3. Four-eyes:[/B] a mocking term for someone who wears eyeglasses

[B]4. Twenty-four seven:[/B] all the time, from the count of twenty-four hours and seven days (usually written24/7 and sometimes extended to 24/7/365 to refer to the number of days in a year)

[B]5. Four corners of the earth[/B]: all the parts of the world

[B]6. Four-leaf clover[/B]: an allusion to good luck because of the notion that finding a clover with four leaves, which is rare, will bring good fortune

[B]7. Ten-four:[/B] yes (from a radio code)

[B]8. Four-letter word:[/B] an obscene or vulgar word, from the fact that several such words have four letters

[B]9. Scattered to the four winds:[/B] widely dispersed