Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Idioms galore!

Post idioms and what they mean in this post! :)
Have fun learning from your friends!

Eg.
(idiom)
meaning:

(idiom)
meaning:



Shared by: _________

59 comments:

  1. Add fuel to the fire-Make a bad situation worse.
    Baker's dozen-Thirteen.
    Beat the bush-Avoiding to talk about the main topic.
    Feeling blue-Feeling sad.
    Red letter day-An important day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Give someone the slip
    Meaning: If you give someone the slip, you manage to escape from them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Green about the gills
    Meaning: If you are green about the gills, you look pale because you are ill or feel sick.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Never bite the hand that feeds you
    Meaning: Don't hurt anyone that help you.

    New York minute
    Menaing: A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially the fast paced environment.

    No dice
    Meaning: To not agree. To not accept a preposition.

    New kid ont he block
    Meaning: Someone new to the group or area.

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  5. Fly off the handle
    Meaning: To suddenly become very angry

    A chip off the old block
    Meaning: A person who is very similar to their mother or father in the way that they look or behave.

    Shoot the breeze
    Meaning: To have a conversation in an informal way

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  6. A blessing in disguise
    Meaning:Something good that isn't recognised at first.
    A picture paints a thousand words
    Meaning:A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
    High on the hog
    Meaning:Living in luxury.
    At the drop of a hat
    Meaning: Willing to do something immediately.
    Blood is thicker than water
    Meaning: The family bond is closer than anything else.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bite off more than you can chew
    Meaning:Take on a task that is too great or difficult for you to do

    Cannot make head nor tail of something
    Meaning: Cannot understand at all

    Crocodile tears
    Meaning: put on a false show of sorrow by crying when you do not feel really sad

    Donkey work
    Meaning: hard and boring work associated with a particular job or activity

    Fight a losing battle
    Meaning: You cannot succeed no matter how hard you try

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  8. 1. A blessing in disguise
    meaning: something good that is not recognized at first.

    2. zero tolerance
    meaning: no law or crime breaking big or small will be
    overlooked.

    3. A penny spent is a penny earned
    meaning: By not spending money, you are saving money.

    4. Hit the nail on the head
    meaning: do something exactly right or say something exactly right.

    5.hell in the handbasket
    meaning: deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Si Yi,A blessing in disguise has already been post by Zheng Yu!:)

      Delete
    2. I did not see it when I posted, I only saw Wendi's, Xinyi's, Sarah's and Jinxin's posts.

      Delete
    3. Great minds think alike!
      How coincidental that both Siyi and Zheng Yu wrote the same idiom at almost the same time! :)

      Delete
  9. Nest Egg
    Meaning:Savings set aside for future use.

    Use Your Loaf
    Meaning:Use your head. Think smart.

    Your Guess Is As Good As Mine
    Meaning:I have no idea.

    Southpaw
    Meaning:Someone who is left-handed.

    Run out of steam
    Meaning:To be completely out of energy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. ants in your pants
    meaning:
    People who have ants in their pants are restless and cannot keep stil,usually because ther are nervous or excited

    a bee in your bonnet
    meaning:
    When you say that someone has a bee in their bonnet about something, you mean that they are continually thinking or talking about it.

    a busy bee
    meaning:
    When you say that someone is a busy bee or that they are as busy as a bee,you mean that they are very busy or are working hard.

    The bee's knees
    maning:
    When you say that something or someoneis the bee's knees,you mean that they are really excellent.

    a rare bird
    meaning:
    A rare bird is a person or thing that is very unusual and that you hardly come across.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A bitter pill
    Meaning:A situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted.

    Ace in the hole
    Meaning:A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.

    Right as rain
    Meaning:Needed, appropriate, essential, or hoped-for and has come to mean perfect, well, absolutely right.

    Off your rocker
    Meaning:Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.

    From A-Z
    Meaning:Covering a complete range; comprehensively.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Idiom: all thumbs
    Meaning: someone who is clumsy or has difficulties fixing things with one's hands

    Idiom: grease my palm
    Meaning: action of bribing someone to do something

    Idiom: live from hand to mouth
    Meaning: to live with very little money

    Idiom: roll out the red carpet
    Meaning: to greet a person with great respect and give a big welcome

    Idiom: brownie points
    Meaning: to try to do something that will please me

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not Hurt a flee
    Meaning:to not hurt anything or anyone.
    Turned Turtle
    Meaning:to turn upside down.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A cold fish
    Not friendly and sympathetic to other people

    A frog in your throat
    Find it difficult to speak

    While the cat's away,the mice will play
    When the person who usually supervises them is absent, people will misbehave

    No spring chicken
    No longer young

    An early bird
    Awake and active early in the day

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pull up one's socks
    Meaning: To make an effort to improve

    Hit below the belt
    Meaning: To act in an unfair manner

    Gift of the gab
    Meaning: The ability to speak well

    Take to task
    Meaning: To reprimand someone

    At loggerheads
    Meaning: To differ strongly

    Make hay while the sun shines
    Meaning: Make the best of a good situation while it lasts

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello!
    There is an error in the last meaning I typed.
    It is suppose to be to please someone not to please me.
    Thanks.
    Regards
    Nivetha

    ReplyDelete
  17. on tenterhooks
    meaning:anxiously waiting for news about someone or something.

    bull in a china shop
    meanings:a clumsy person.

    a chip on your shoulder
    meaning:upset about something which has happened in the past.

    all bark and no bite
    meaning:someone is aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight

    dead ringer
    meaning:a duplicate

    ReplyDelete
  18. A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:
    When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.

    A Slap on the Wrist:
    A very mild punishment.

    Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket:
    Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
    Get up on the wrong side of the bed:
    Someone who is having a horrible day.

    Graveyard Shift:
    Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.



    ReplyDelete
  19. Idioms

    To cool one's heels
    Meaning: to make somebody wait

    The king of terror
    Meaning: death

    To throw the veil off
    Meaning: to appear in ones true form

    From the horse's mouth
    Meaning: from a reliable source

    To set somebody's teeth on edge
    Meaning: to annoy or displease somebody

    ReplyDelete
  20. All Greek to me:
    Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read or speak

    All in the same boat:
    When everyone is facing the same challenges

    Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
    The family bond is closer than anything else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ginyi, the idiom 'Blood is Thicker than water' is mentioned.

      Delete
  21. queer the pitch:
    destroy or ruin a plan

    raincheck:
    an offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later

    sitting shotgun:
    riding in the front passenger seat of a car

    zero tolerance:
    no crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked

    ReplyDelete
  22. -Burn the midnight oil
    *read or work late into the night

    -a wolf in sheep's clothing
    *a person or thing that appears friendly, but is really hostile

    -tickled pink
    *be extremely amused or pleased

    -green with envy
    *very envious of jealous

    -sure as eggs is eggs
    *without any doubt

    ReplyDelete
  23. Back to square one
    Meaning:Having to start over again

    Cut to the chase
    Meaning:Get to the point

    Finger lickin' good
    tasty food

    Get up on the wrong side of the bed
    Someone who is having a horrible day

    Over my dead body
    When you absolutely will not allow something to happen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear woon neng, the idiom get up on the wrong side of the bed was mentioned by Siew Leng

      Delete
  24. Achilles' Heels:
    Weakness
    Beat The Bush:
    Avoid going to the point
    Blow the lid off:
    Lose controland rage hysterically
    Die with one boot's on:
    Die fighting in a battle or some worthy cause
    Dead in water:
    Completely inactive

    ReplyDelete
  25. 1.To lead to the altar
    *to marry
    2.Into the bargain
    *over and above what is agreed
    3.Keep at bay
    *to ward off troubles and face up to difficulties
    4.Bed of roses
    *everything in life is pleasant and easy
    5.to be beside oneself
    *to be crazily excited

    ReplyDelete
  26. A dime a dozen
    meaning:something that is easy to get

    ReplyDelete
  27. in hot water
    meaning:in trouble
    let the cat out of the bag
    meaning:spread the secret
    shared by:Rhoshnne

    ReplyDelete
  28. Over My Dead Body:
    meaning:absolutely does not let something to happen

    caught between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
    meaning:having a dilemma

    The pot calling the kettle black
    Meaning:criticise a person for something that they themselves do

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. over my dead body is already mentioned

      Delete
  29. Pot calling the kettle black
    ---> a person is guilty of the very thing of which they accuse another
    Break a leg!
    ---> idiom in theatre which means "good luck."

    ReplyDelete
  30. Beggers can't be choosers
    Meaning:It is when you have to take what is available, or what you can afford.
    Bend over backwards
    Meaning:It means that you try very hard to be helpful or do the right thing.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Spill The Beans/Let The Cat Out Of The Bag
    Meaning:reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake

    ReplyDelete
  32. Safety in numbers
    Meaning:being in a group of people makes you feel more confident or secure

    ReplyDelete
  33. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth
    Meaning:Born in a wealthy family

    ReplyDelete
  34. On the dot
    Meaning:on time

    ReplyDelete
  35. Move with the times
    meaning:keep up with the latest changes in fashion or technology

    ReplyDelete
  36. A Drop in the Bucket: 
    A very small part of something big or whole.

    Without A Doubt:
    For certain.

    Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve: 
    To openly and freely express your emotions.

    Water Under The Bridge: 
    Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore.

    Wild and Woolly: 
    Uncultured and without laws.

    ReplyDelete
  37. A raw deal
    unfair treatment

    A skeleton in the cupboard
    a secret

    a lion's share
    to get the biggest amount of something

    A stone's throw
    not far,near

    Bid fair
    moat likely

    ReplyDelete
  38. Beyond the pale
    something that it is unacceptable

    Bear the brunt of
    endure the worst

    Behind bars
    in prison

    bell the cat
    to do something dangerous

    all hell break loose
    a complete pandemonium

    ReplyDelete
  39. Flog a dead horse
    to try to revive interest in something already stale and beyond hope of resuscitation

    Happy-go-lucky
    easy-going

    Hit below the belt
    act unfairly towards an opponent

    Turn turtle
    over turn

    See red
    lose control of one's temper

    Sail too near the wind
    take a risk which brings disaster

    Receive with open arms
    welcome cordially

    See the light
    understand

    ReplyDelete
  40. a bull in a china stop
    one who is very clumsy or who is very angry and destructive

    a cat on hot bricks
    very nervous

    a bolt from the blue
    a completely unexpected and often an unpleasant surprise

    a breach of faith
    to act contrary to what one has promised

    a lady's man
    a man who is fond of female company

    a pocket hercules
    small in size but very strong

    a white elephant
    a useless object which is expensive to upkeep

    curry favour
    seek favuor by flattery

    cut your coat according to your cloth
    spend only what you can afford

    get on the bandwagon
    to recognise the popularityand success of a person or plan and support him in the hope of personal gain

    give someone the slip
    to escape from someone by cofusing or misleading him

    go against the grain
    to do what is contrary to one's nature or upbringing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,I thought we are not suppose to type more than 5 idoms?You type 20 idioms.

      Delete
    2. Mark, turn turtle and a bull in a china shop are already mentioned

      Delete
  41. You Are What You Eat:
    In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.

    You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover:
    Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.

    You Can't Take it With You:
    Enjoy what you have and not what you don't have, since when you die you cannot take things (such as money) with you.

    Your Guess Is As Good As Mine:
    I have no idea.


    Zero Tolerance:
    No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.






    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Balaji,Zero Tolerance is alrady mentioned.

      Delete
    2. Balaji, your guess is as good as mine is also mentioned by Yujie already.

      Delete
  42. to toe the line
    -to follow rules
    Operates on rubber time
    -not punctual
    Let your hair down
    -relax

    ReplyDelete
  43. In a nutshell
    -to make a story brief

    ReplyDelete
  44. The tail is wagging the dog
    -something small or unimportant is controlling the actions of so mething larger or more important

    ReplyDelete
  45. A fly in the ointment
    -a small or unpleasant thing that spoils a pleasant situation

    Famous last words
    -when someone makes a bold statement and is subsequently proved wrong

    Fly off the handle
    -to suddenly become very angry

    It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
    -someone who benefits from a bad situation


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zeyuan," Flying of the handle" was already mentioned by Wen Di.

      Delete
  46. have a memory like a sieve
    -one who is very forgetful

    have your heart in your mouth
    -when you are very anxious, excited or frightened

    like a bat out of hell
    -you go very fast

    like grim death
    -you grasp something very tightly, often because you are frightened or determined

    pay through the nose
    -pay an unreasonably high price for it

    the penny drops
    -when someone suddenly realises or understands something

    ReplyDelete