What Is an Idiom?
Idioms are an important and entrenched part of the English language and are a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words.
Good luck and good study.
A Hair’s Breadth
- Meaning: A very small distance or amount
- Example: He came within a hair’s breadth of setting a new world record, but he got very tired in the last kilometer of the race.
Bare-Bones
- Meaning: Simplest, stripped-down
- Example: One way to be able to afford a car is to buy bare-bones model options like heated seats that add a lot to the price.
Be a Bundle of Nerves
- Meaning: Be extremely nervous
- Example: I was a bundle of nerves before my exam, but I calmed down once we got the questions and started to work.
Bend over Backwards
- Meaning: To take great care to accommodate someone or do something right
- Example: I’ve bent over backwards to please you. But it never seems to be good enough.
Birthday Suit
- Meaning: Nakedness
- Example: There I was, in my birthday suit, when the doorbell rang.
Bite One’s Tongue
- Meaning: Remain silent even though one has a strong desire to say something
- Example: When Sheila started talking about the failure of the sales campaign, I had to bite my tongue—it failed because the materials she was responsible for weren’t ready!
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
- Meaning: Family relationships take precedence over others
- Example: My uncle will help us. He and I have had some disagreements, but blood is thicker than water.
Brain Drain
- Meaning: Departure of talented, well-educated individuals from a place
- Example: Venezuela is experiencing a brain drain right now, with many professionals leaving for other countries because of bad conditions at home.
Breathe Easier (Easy)Useful body idioms that start with R & S.
Rub Elbows (with)
- Meaning: Mingle with; meet in a group; socialize with
- Example: Come to the party with me. It’ll give you a chance to rub elbows with people who are already studying in the program.
Shanks’ Pony; Shanks’ Mare
- Meaning: The feet as a means of travel
- Example: We could go by Shanks’ pony, or we could take a cab. Which do you prefer?
Note: This is old and rather rare.
Skeleton in One’s Closet
- Meaning: A secret from one’s past; an embarrassing secret
- Example: The politician turned out to have skeletons in her closet that cost her the election.
Note: A USA equivalent is “skeleton in the closet.”
Skeleton in the Cupboard
- Meaning: A secret from one’s past; an embarrassing secret
- Example: We all have a few skeletons in the cupboard that we wouldn’t like to see revealed.
Slap on the Wrist
- Meaning: A minor punishment, especially one for a serious crime
- Example: The mayor’s son was arrested for dealing drugs, but he got just a slap on the wrist.
Smell Blood (in the Water)
- Meaning: Sense weakness or vulnerability; be ready to attack
- Example: The opposition party smelled blood after the president was hit with corruption charges.
Useful body idioms that start with T.
Tear one’s Hair out
- Meaning: Be extremely worried or frustrated.
- Example: I’ve been tearing my hair out, wondering how we’re going to be able to make this month’s rent payment, and all you do is sit there and watch television. Why don’t you try to get a job?
To Have Butterflies in One’s Stomach
- Meaning: Nervousness, anxiety, especially in advance of an important event
- Example: I have butterflies in my stomach because I have to give a big speech.
To Piss Into the Wind
- Meaning: Engage in an activity that’s so futile as to be a complete waste of time “
- Example: Don’t waste your time trying to talk to Wanda about her spending habits. You’re pissing into the wind.
Note: This is slightly crude.
To Work One’s Arse Off
- Meaning: Word very hard
- Example: We worked our arses off to finish the project and the boss didn’t even say thank you.
Note: In the USA, “work one’s ass off” is used.
Toe the Line (Mark)
- Meaning: To follow regulations or moral principles closely
- Example: During my freshman year I was pretty wild, but now I toe the line, and I haven’t been in trouble.
Note: Walk the line is an American variant.
Tongue-in-Cheek
- Meaning: Said ironically; not meant to be taken seriously
- Example: The satirist’s essay was tongue-in-cheek, but many people took it seriously.
Useful body idioms that start with U & V.
Up The Wazoo
- Meaning: Abundantly, to an excessive degree
- Example: I’ve got parts up the wazoo here, but I don’t have enough tools to assemble them.
Note: This is very informal and slightly obscene; the “wazoo” is the anus.
Vertically Challenged
- Meaning: A short person.
- Example: I may be vertically challenged, but watch out for me on the basketball court – I can jump!
Note: This has a humorous flavor.
Useful body idioms that start with W.
Week at the knees
- Meaning: To feel emotion so strongly that it makes you feel unstable on your feet.
- Example: The thought of kissing him made me go weak at the knees.
Work One’s Tail (Butt) Off
- Meaning: Work very hard
- Example: You’ll have to work your tail off the first semester, but Cornell is a very good school.
Note: These are used euphemistically-” they are more polite than “work your ass off.”
Useful body idioms that start with Z.
Zip It
- Meaning: Be quiet
- Example: OK, I’ll tell you the secret about Cynthia, but zip it!
Zonk Out
- Meaning: To fall asleep quickly and deeply
- Example: I’ve been here since 6 a.m. I have to go home and zonk out.
Note: This is rare. “Crash” would be a more common alternative.
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