a bit of fluff
(Also a bit of skirt.) A sexually attractive woman.
I saw him yesterday with a bit of fluff.
a breath of fresh air
said about a new, fresh, and imaginative approach, a change that feels good.
The president says that the country needs a breath of fresh air.
a clean bill of health
said when you examine someone or something and state that they are healthy, in good condition, or legal.
1. The president was given a clean bill of health by his doctors.
2. The company received a clean bill of health because it fulfilled all the safety requirements.
a dime's worth
an insignificant amount
At best, he'll make a dime's worth of difference with his interference in the affair.
a fool and his money are soon parted
this means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough.
John likes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.
a little bird told me
said when you don't want reveal the source of your information.
"How did you know the news?"
"Oh, a little bird told me."
a man of action
a man who is inclined to act first rather than think about things and discuss them.
Bill is really a man of action. Since he arrived at the top of the association, he has done so many things.
a man of few words
(also a woman of few words) a man who doesn't speak much. A man of action
He is a man of few words. But when he speaks, he makes a lot of sense.
a number cruncher
a number cruncher refers to someone whose job is to work with numbers and mathematics. It may also refer to a computer that is able to solve complicated problems of mathematics.
1. He's a number cruncher. He works for a big firm of accountants.
2. Number crunchers are used on election night to try and forecast the result.
a roof over your head
a place to live.
He was so poor that he didn't have a roof over his head.
a whole new ball game
a completely different situation.
He has written so many short stories but writing a novel is a whole new ball game.
a woman of few words
(also a man of few words) a woman who doesn't speak much. A woman of action
She is a woman of few words, but she always gets things done.
above the law
Not subject to the law, exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
Nobody is above the law.
achilles heel
said about a strong situation which contains an element of vulnerability.
Journalists considered that minister as the government's Achilles heel.
act of God
something that ooccured, such as an accident, for which no human is responsible. A natural disaster such as a storm, earthquake...
The Haiti earthquake was really an act of God.
act one’s age
To be mature and not childish.
Stop being childish and act your age.
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Take a glass of adam's ale if you are thirsty.
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Take a glass of adam's ale if you are thirsty.
add fuel to the fire
(also add fuel to the flames) to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse.
Don't add fuel to the fire by laughing at him. He is furious about what you have already done
affinity for
said about you have attraction , preference or sympathy for something or someone.
He has an affinty for classical music.
against the clock
To work or race against the clock means to do something as fast as possible and try to finish it before a deadline.
The students were racing against the clock to finish the paper before the deadline.
against time
(also against the clock) an attempt to finish something quickly within a time limit.
It's going to be a race against the time to finish the project before the deadline.
age before beuaty
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones. Now most often used humorously or lightheartedly, and usually said by a younger person to an older friend or relative out of mock pity for being so much older and unattractive.
Please, you first. Age before beauty, you know.
ahead of one's time
in advance of concurrent commonly accepted ideas; showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field.
With his new scientific discoveries, he was ahead of his time.
alive and kicking
(also be alive and well) to continue to be well, healthy or successful.
1. Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
2. Classical music is still alive and kicking among youngsters
all hat and no cattle
Describing someone who is full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
We expect our president to be effective in his job, not a person who is all hat and no cattle.
all in a day's work
What is normal, typical or expected.
Grading my students' papers is all on a day's work for me.
all one’s eggs in one basket
the state of having invested heavily in just one area or of having devoted all of one’s resources to one thing.
The stock market decline wouldn’t have hurt him so badly if he hadn’t had all his eggs in one basket
all that glitters is not gold
appearance is sometimes misleading. Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not be as good as they look.
The house looks beautiful from the outside but the inside part of the house looks terrible; all that glitters is not gold.
all that jazz
Everything else related to something; and other similar things.
They enjoyed the party: cocktails, dancing, and all that jazz.
all the more
even more.
Her family didn't want her to get married to her new boyfriend, but that just made her all the more determined.
all walks of life
Occupations, roles, social class, or lifestyle.
Those who attended the wedding represented all walks of life.
all's fair in love and war.
In love or in war, you are allowed to be deceitful in order to get what you want.
To get her to go out with him, he lied and told her that is very rich. All's fair in love and war.
along the lines
in a general direction or manner.
I was thinking along the lines of a vegetable garden, but I could be persuaded to include some perennials.
an act of war
An act which is considered violent enough to cause war.
Bombing the United States naval base at pearl harbor was considered an act of war.
an arm and a leg
a lot of money.
These glasses cost me an arm and a leg.
an eye for an eye
(also, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.) said to suggest that punishment should equal the crime. At the root of this principle is that one of the purposes of the law is to provide equitable retribution for an offended party.
In some countries, justice operates on the principle of an eye for an eye. That is, if you kill someone, you desrve to die.
another nail in one's coffin
One in a series of events which lead to downfall or inevitable failure.
After the bankruptcy and the death of his only son, divorce is just another nail in his coffin.
any minute soon now
(also any moment/second/time now) very soon
The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.
any port in a storm
An unfavorable option which might well be avoided in good times but which nevertheless looks better than the alternatives at the current time.
That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm as we couldn't find any place to spend the night.
apple of somebody's eye
said about someone whom you love the most and you are very proud of.
His son is the apple of his eye.
are your ears burning?
said about someone who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
We were just talking about you. Are your ears burning?
as bald as a cue ball
(also as bald as a coot) completely bald.
His father was as bald as a cue ball!
as blind as a bat
Said about someone who can't see very well or can't see anything at all.
He is as blind as a bat. He must wear glasses.
as gentle as a lamb
Said about kind , innocent, mild-mannered people.
She is as gentle as a lamb. That's why everybody likes her.
at death's door
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health
There were rumors that the president was murdered, or at death's door.
at the wheel
Driving; in control of a vehicle.
You know he fell asleep at the wheel. They were so lucky they didn't have an accident.
at your mother's knee
said about something that you learned when you were a child.
She learned to sing at her mother's knee.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
(Also a bit of skirt.) A sexually attractive woman.
I saw him yesterday with a bit of fluff.
a breath of fresh air
said about a new, fresh, and imaginative approach, a change that feels good.
The president says that the country needs a breath of fresh air.
a clean bill of health
said when you examine someone or something and state that they are healthy, in good condition, or legal.
1. The president was given a clean bill of health by his doctors.
2. The company received a clean bill of health because it fulfilled all the safety requirements.
a dime's worth
an insignificant amount
At best, he'll make a dime's worth of difference with his interference in the affair.
a fool and his money are soon parted
this means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough.
John likes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.
a little bird told me
said when you don't want reveal the source of your information.
"How did you know the news?"
"Oh, a little bird told me."
a man of action
a man who is inclined to act first rather than think about things and discuss them.
Bill is really a man of action. Since he arrived at the top of the association, he has done so many things.
a man of few words
(also a woman of few words) a man who doesn't speak much. A man of action
He is a man of few words. But when he speaks, he makes a lot of sense.
a number cruncher
a number cruncher refers to someone whose job is to work with numbers and mathematics. It may also refer to a computer that is able to solve complicated problems of mathematics.
1. He's a number cruncher. He works for a big firm of accountants.
2. Number crunchers are used on election night to try and forecast the result.
a roof over your head
a place to live.
He was so poor that he didn't have a roof over his head.
a whole new ball game
a completely different situation.
He has written so many short stories but writing a novel is a whole new ball game.
a woman of few words
(also a man of few words) a woman who doesn't speak much. A woman of action
She is a woman of few words, but she always gets things done.
above the law
Not subject to the law, exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
Nobody is above the law.
achilles heel
said about a strong situation which contains an element of vulnerability.
Journalists considered that minister as the government's Achilles heel.
act of God
something that ooccured, such as an accident, for which no human is responsible. A natural disaster such as a storm, earthquake...
The Haiti earthquake was really an act of God.
act one’s age
To be mature and not childish.
Stop being childish and act your age.
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Take a glass of adam's ale if you are thirsty.
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Take a glass of adam's ale if you are thirsty.
add fuel to the fire
(also add fuel to the flames) to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad situation worse.
Don't add fuel to the fire by laughing at him. He is furious about what you have already done
affinity for
said about you have attraction , preference or sympathy for something or someone.
He has an affinty for classical music.
against the clock
To work or race against the clock means to do something as fast as possible and try to finish it before a deadline.
The students were racing against the clock to finish the paper before the deadline.
against time
(also against the clock) an attempt to finish something quickly within a time limit.
It's going to be a race against the time to finish the project before the deadline.
age before beuaty
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones. Now most often used humorously or lightheartedly, and usually said by a younger person to an older friend or relative out of mock pity for being so much older and unattractive.
Please, you first. Age before beauty, you know.
ahead of one's time
in advance of concurrent commonly accepted ideas; showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field.
With his new scientific discoveries, he was ahead of his time.
alive and kicking
(also be alive and well) to continue to be well, healthy or successful.
1. Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
2. Classical music is still alive and kicking among youngsters
all hat and no cattle
Describing someone who is full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
We expect our president to be effective in his job, not a person who is all hat and no cattle.
all in a day's work
What is normal, typical or expected.
Grading my students' papers is all on a day's work for me.
all one’s eggs in one basket
the state of having invested heavily in just one area or of having devoted all of one’s resources to one thing.
The stock market decline wouldn’t have hurt him so badly if he hadn’t had all his eggs in one basket
all that glitters is not gold
appearance is sometimes misleading. Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not be as good as they look.
The house looks beautiful from the outside but the inside part of the house looks terrible; all that glitters is not gold.
all that jazz
Everything else related to something; and other similar things.
They enjoyed the party: cocktails, dancing, and all that jazz.
all the more
even more.
Her family didn't want her to get married to her new boyfriend, but that just made her all the more determined.
all walks of life
Occupations, roles, social class, or lifestyle.
Those who attended the wedding represented all walks of life.
all's fair in love and war.
In love or in war, you are allowed to be deceitful in order to get what you want.
To get her to go out with him, he lied and told her that is very rich. All's fair in love and war.
along the lines
in a general direction or manner.
I was thinking along the lines of a vegetable garden, but I could be persuaded to include some perennials.
an act of war
An act which is considered violent enough to cause war.
Bombing the United States naval base at pearl harbor was considered an act of war.
an arm and a leg
a lot of money.
These glasses cost me an arm and a leg.
an eye for an eye
(also, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.) said to suggest that punishment should equal the crime. At the root of this principle is that one of the purposes of the law is to provide equitable retribution for an offended party.
In some countries, justice operates on the principle of an eye for an eye. That is, if you kill someone, you desrve to die.
another nail in one's coffin
One in a series of events which lead to downfall or inevitable failure.
After the bankruptcy and the death of his only son, divorce is just another nail in his coffin.
any minute soon now
(also any moment/second/time now) very soon
The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.
any port in a storm
An unfavorable option which might well be avoided in good times but which nevertheless looks better than the alternatives at the current time.
That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm as we couldn't find any place to spend the night.
apple of somebody's eye
said about someone whom you love the most and you are very proud of.
His son is the apple of his eye.
are your ears burning?
said about someone who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
We were just talking about you. Are your ears burning?
as bald as a cue ball
(also as bald as a coot) completely bald.
His father was as bald as a cue ball!
as blind as a bat
Said about someone who can't see very well or can't see anything at all.
He is as blind as a bat. He must wear glasses.
as gentle as a lamb
Said about kind , innocent, mild-mannered people.
She is as gentle as a lamb. That's why everybody likes her.
at death's door
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health
There were rumors that the president was murdered, or at death's door.
at the wheel
Driving; in control of a vehicle.
You know he fell asleep at the wheel. They were so lucky they didn't have an accident.
at your mother's knee
said about something that you learned when you were a child.
She learned to sing at her mother's knee.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
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