Some interesting Idioms and Phrases

arsa · #1 Tuesday, July 14, 2009

1. Flog a dead horse (informal): waste one’s time/efforts

2.Blow hot and cold (informal): be undecided about something

3. A hot potato (informal): a dangerous, highly controversial issue which is embarrassing to deal with.

4. Hot under the collar: to be annoyed or irritated by something

5. A skeleton in the cupboard : a past event which is kept a secret as it is
embarrassing

6. The tip of the iceberg : the beginning of a problem which is actually much bigger

7. A damp squib: something which is expected to cause excitement but doesn’t do so

8. A fair weather friend: one who doesn’t remain a friend in troubles or difficulties of a person

9. Hobson’s choice: a situation without any choice at all where in a person is forced to take what is offered to him or nothing at all.

10. A quixotic plan : a foolish or totally unrealistic plan

Idioms with prepositions:

1. after a fashion : in an unsatisfactory manner without devoting much time or care

2. at the helm : in charge (as leader)

3. at a low ebb: which is lacking in interest or enthusiasm

4. all at sea : confused or uncertain about something

5. at one’s wits’ end: to be greatly troubled, without knowing what to do next

6. in limbo: put aside temporarily as not needed or forgotten at the present time

7. in a stew (informal): in a state of nervous confusion

8. in tow : following behind

9. off the cuff: without previous preparation or thought

10. on a shoe string: with little money, not at a high cost

1. dwell on something: spend too much time , discussing or thinking about a topic

2. egg someone on (informal): encouraging someone to do something which

shouldn’t be done

3. hammer something out: to discuss something at length until one reaches a

solution

4. iron something out: to resolve something

5. keel over: to lose balance and fall

6. latch on to someone (informal): to impose one’s company on others

7. mull something over: to Think about something for a long time

8. snap out of something: to quickly bring oneself out of a bad mood or depression

9. trip someone up: to deliberately make someone show his ignorance or lack of information

10. to wade through something: to read something which is boring and very long

Verbal idioms :

1, cut no ice with someone: fail to make any impression or to have an influence

2. curry favor with someone: try to win favor of someone by flattery

3. go haywire (informal): stop functioning smoothly or to become out of control

4. jog someone’s memory: to remind someone of something or to make him recall something

5. laugh up one’s sleeve (informal): to be amused about something secretly

6. weather the storm: to survive a crisis

7. wipe the floor with someone (informal): to defeat someone easily

8. upset the applecart: to spoil a well organized plan

9. take a leaf out of someone’s book: to follow someone’s good example

10. take someone by storm: to make a great impact on someone

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