| Idiom |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
| all ears |
fully listening |
Give me a minute to finish my work and then I'll be all ears to hear about your project. |
| break a leg |
good-luck |
Today's the big game, eh? Break a leg! |
| cold feet |
nervous just before a big event |
My sister didn't get cold feet until she put her wedding gown on. |
| cost an arm and a leg |
be very expensive |
These cakes are delicious, but they cost an arm and a leg. |
| cry your heart out |
cry very hard |
I cried my heart out when my best friend moved away. |
| face the music |
meet, stand up to unpleasant conseqences, for example criticism or punishment |
I stayed out all night. When I eventually got home I had to face the music from my wife. |
| (my) flesh and blood |
relative |
I have to hire Mia. She's my own flesh and blood. |
| get something off one's chest |
tell someone your problems |
Thanks for listening to me complain about my boss. I just needed to get this off my chest. |
| give a hand, lend a hand |
help (someone) do something |
I can give you a hand when you move if you like. |
| have one's head in the clouds |
be unaware or unrealistic about something |
Amy has her head in the clouds if she thinks she's going to pass her exams without studying. |
| head over heels |
deeply in love |
My brother is head over heels for his new girlfriend. |
| head start |
an earlier start |
The kids gave Anthony a head start in the bicycle race because he was the youngest. |
| in over one's head |
taking on a task that you can't handle |
I was in over my head when I agreed to babysit the triplets and the dogs. |
| keep an eye on |
take care of, watch in order to protect |
I'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on the phone. |
| keep one's chin up |
try to be cheerful |
Keep your chin up. I'm sure you'll make some friends soon. |
| learn by heart, know by heart |
memorize |
I learned my multiplication tables by heart in the fourth grade. |
| let one's hair down |
relax, have fun |
Go to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend. |
| (my) lips are sealed |
promise to keep a secret |
Don't worry, I won't tell your mother how much you spent. My lips are sealed. |
| makes my blood boil |
makes me very angry |
It makes my blood boil when people don't tie up their dogs. |
| neck of the woods |
nearby location or region |
I heard that they might be opening a post office in our neck of the woods soon. |
| (an) old hand |
an experienced person |
My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll know what the problem is. |
| over my dead body |
not unless I'm dead and can't stop you |
My daughter wants a tatoo. I told her she'd get one over my dead body. |
| pat on the back |
recognition or a thank-you |
The party organizers deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. |
| play something by ear |
do something without a plan |
We don't know if the weather will be good enough for camping. We'll have to play it by ear. |
| pull one's leg |
joke or tease someone |
I was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a police officer. |
| rule of thumb |
basic rule (not always followed) |
The rule of thumb is that the students wear black pants and white shirts. |
| see eye to eye |
agree |
The couple don't see eye to eye on how to train their pets. |
| (by the) skin of one's teeth |
just barely |
I passed my exam by the skin of my teeth. |
| stick your neck out |
help someone a lot, with possible bad consequences for oneself |
I stuck my neck out for Bessie when she was thrown out of her house. |
| sweet tooth |
a love of sugar or sweet things |
I need three spoonfuls of sugar in my tea. I have a sweet tooth. |
| thick in the head |
not very intelligent |
I'm a bit thick in the head when it comes to reading a map. |
| wash one's hands of something |
stop dealing with an issue or problem |
I'm washing my hands of Mary's addiction. She is going to have to get some professional help. |