random phrases, idioms, proverbs

in equal measure

used for saying that two things have an equal effect or importance

out of one's depth

not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation

chink in one's armor

a fault in someone's character or argument that may cause problems for them

a barrage of sth

a great number of complaints, criticisms, or questions suddenly directed at someone

a bone of contention

sth that people argue about

a case in point

a good example of sth

a contradiction in terms

a phrase that is confusing because it contains words that seem to have opposite meanings; unintended oxymoron

a level playing field

a situation in which everyone has the same chance of succeeding

a labour of love

work that you do because you like it, not because you are paid for it

a kick in the teeth

something that is very shocking and disappointing; being treated as a * - badly and unfairly, especially at a time when you need support

a flash in the pan

a sudden success that does not continue

a fast track to sth

a very quick way of achieving or dealing with something

be under a cloud

to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done something bad

cut sb down to size

to show someone that they are not as clever or important as they think

across the board

applying to all; affecting everyone / everything in an organisation / society

as the crow flies

describes a distance when measured in a straight line; by shortest route

be awash with sth

to have a lot of something, often too much

go awry

not in the indended way, not in the right position

under the auspices of sb / sth

(formal) with the protection or support of someone or something, especially an organization

at the end of your tether (US rope)

so tired, annoyed, or worried by something that you do not feel that you can deal with it

bawl one's eyes out

to cry loudly especially for a long time

be a chip off the old block

be very similar to one of one's parents

be (like) water off a duck's back

criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person:

be a glutton for punishment

to enjoy doing things that are unpleasant or difficult

be angling for sth

to try to get something without asking for it in a direct way

be at a loose end (US ends)

to have nothing to do

at a low ebb

in a bad or weak state

be at loggerheads (with sb)

If two people or groups are at loggerheads, they disagree strongly about something

be at sb's beck and call

to be always ready and willing to do what someone wants

be bogged down

to become so involved in something that you cannot do anything else

red flag to the bull

infuriating or aggravating provocation; something that incites great anger or annoyance

be down in the dumps

to be unhappy

be gagging for sth

to want something or want to do something very much

be glad/happy, etc to see the back of sb/sth"

to be pleased when someone leaves or something ends because you did not like them

in full swing

everything has started and there is a lot of activity

be in sb's good/bad books

when someone is either pleased/angry with you

in the pipeline

it is being developed and will happen in the future

be kicking about/around

it is in a particular place, but nobody is using it or paying attention to it

be like chalk and cheese

completely different from each other

be loaded down with sth

to have too much to carry, or too much work to do

be lumbered with sth/sb

to have to deal with something or someone that you do not want to

be on its last legs

it will stop working soon because it is so old

be on the ball

to be quick to understand and react to things

be on the cards (US in the cards)

to be likely to happen

be par for the course

(about type of behaviour, event, or situation) it is not good but it is normal or as you would expect

plain sailing (US smooth)

very easy and without problems

be poles apart

be complete opposites

rolling in it (rolling in money)

to be extremely rich

be struck dumb

to be unable to speak because you are so shocked or angry

be under sb's thumb

be under sb's total control

be up in arms

to be very upset and angry about something

be up to your neck (in sth)

to be very busy

be waiting in the wings

to be ready to do something or be used at any time

be pissing in the wind

to be trying to do something when there is no hope of succeeding

be teeming with sb/sth

to contain large numbers of people or animals

be thin on the ground

to exist only in small numbers or amounts

wide /way off the mark (US also off base)

wrong, incorrect

be/get in a flap

to be or become worried or excited

be/hang in the balance

nobody knows if it will continue to exist in the future or what will happen to it

be besieged by/with sb/sth

to have lots of people asking you questions or making demands; to receive many demands or criticisms

bide your time

to wait for an opportunity to do something

in the doghouse

when someone is annoyed with you and shows their disapproval

bring/take someone down a peg (or two)

show someone they are not as important as they thought

black and blue

covered with bruises

bite the bullet

to make yourself do something or accept something difficult or unpleasant, to force yourself to do it or to be brave in a difficult situation

butter wouldn't melt in sb's mouth

used to say that someone looks as if they would never do anything wrong

by the scruff of the/your neck

by the skin at the back of the neck

by/in leaps and bounds

(of progress) happening very quickly

let bygones be bygones

something that you say to tell someone to forget about the unpleasant things in the past

on the whole; at large

generally

by and large

when everything about a situation is considered together

all things considered

used when you are giving your opinion about something after thinking carefully about all the facts

all's fair in love and war

a situation in which people do not follow the usual rules of behavior and do things that are normally considered unfair

(all) hot and bothered

worried or angry, and sometimes physically hot

all things being equal

if everything happens as expected

helicopter view

a general description or opinion of a situation, rather than a detailed one

in all

with everything added together to make a total

paint (sb/sth) with a broad brush / use a broad brush

to describe or consider someone or something in a very general way, without paying attention to small details or differences

by common consent

most people agree

like a cat on a hot tin roof

stressed out, unable to relax, very worried about something

let sleeping dogs lie

not to disturb someone or not to remember problems that happened in the past

be barking up the wrong tree

to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something

every dog has its day

everyone will have good luck or success at some point in their lives

a leopard can’t / doesn't change its spots

a person's character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend that it will

grasping at straws

trying to find some way to succeed when nothing you choose is likely to work; trying to find a reason to feel hopeful in a bad situation

like getting blood out of/from a stone

you cannot extract what isn't there to begin with; trying to get something that cannot be obtained, regardless of how much force or persuasion is used

a rose is a rose is a rose

when all is said and done, a thing is what it is

a stitch in time saves nine

a small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.

a load of cobblers / a load of codswallop

nonsense

a fly in the ointment

a small flaw that spoils the whole

a bunch of fives

a fist, as used in a fight

an arm and a leg

very expensive, a large amount of money

amber nectar

beer, lager

all thumbs

clumsy or physically inept

bottle and glass

cockney for arse

can't cut the mustard

unable to meet the demands put upon you

burn the midnight oil

to work late into the night

cherry ripe

cockney for pipe

chow down

begin to eat

cream crackered

cockney for knackered

currant bun

cockney for sun

cross that bridge when you come to it

deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before

don't count your chickens before they hatch

don't count on receiving some benefit until you actually have it

dog and bone

cockney for telephone

discussing Uganda

euphemism for sex (originated in the 70s, popularised in the satirical magazine Private Eye)

dicky dirt

cockney for shirt

elephant's trunk

cockney for drunk

everything but the kitchen's sink

everything imaginable, a lot of things

fell of the back of a lorry

a coy reference to an item that has been stolen

find your feet

to become conscious of and develop one's expertise

frog and toad

cockney for road

ginger beer

cockney for queer

go belly (or tits) up

become badly and permanently inoperative

go out on a limb

take a risk to support someone or something

graveyard shift

working hours that extend overnight

haste makes waste

doing things in a rush makes for a poor result

hit the nail on the head

make the precise correct point

miss the boat

miss the chance to take an opportunity

like a chicken with its head cut off

in a frenzied manner

no room to swing a cat

an awkward or confined space

not playing with a full deck

someone who lacks intelligence

(sitting) on the fence

unwilling to give one's view about which side you support

pigs might fly

said when referring to something that is highly unlikely

pull the wool over sb's eyes

deceive someone

sparrow fart

term for the early morning

the apple of my eye

sb who is cherished above all others

knee jerk reaction

a quick and automatic response

twist someone's arm

persuade someone to do something they don't really want to do

the tail wagging the dog

a small and usually insignificant factor (or person) dominates over one that is normally more powerful and influential.

tongue in cheek

humorously, not to be taken seriously

up shit creek without a paddle

in serious difficulty, with no hope of respite

you can lead a horse to water... (but you can't make it drink)

you can encourage someone to to do something but, in the end, what they do is their own choice; you can make sth easy for someone, but you cannot force them to do anything

make one's flesh (or skin) crawl (or creep)

to make someone feel disgusted, afraid, etc.

your guess is as good as mine

I have no idea

know the ropes

have experience of the appropriate procedures, understand how to do something

absence makes the heart grow fonder

missing a person or a thing makes it more desirable

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing

a small amount of knowledge can mislead people into thinking that they are more expert than they really are, which can lead to mistakes being made

all things come to those that wait

it's worthwile to be patient

all things must pass

everything's transitory

between two stools one falls to the ground

to fail, due to being unable to choose between two alternatives

beggars can't be choosers

if you request something to be given you should not question what you are given; similar to don't look a gift horse in the mouth

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

beauty is subjective; not everyone has to like the same thing

the darkest hour is just before the dawn

there is hope, even in the worst of circumstances

comparisons are odious

used to suggest that to compare two different things or persons is unhelpful or misleading

the course of true love never did run smooth

from Shakespear, true love always encounters difficulties

a rolling stone gathers no moss

someone who does not settle in one place rarely prospers

cut off your nose to spite your face (don't)

to disadvantage yourself in order to do harm to an adversary; don't do something to harm your enemies and end up harming yourself

pearls before swine

to give or offer something valuable to someone who does not understand its value

don't change horses in midstream

choose a sensible moment to change your mind

a change is as good as a rest

a change of work or occupation can be as restorative or refreshing as a period of relaxation

to put the cart before the horse

reverse the accepted or logical order of things

don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs

don't offer advice to someone who has more experience than oneself

familiarity breeds contempt

a close long-term relationship with a person or situation brings about feelings of boredom or lack of respect

forewarned is forearmed

advance warning provides an advantag

honey catches more flies than vinegar

the idea that it is more effective to be polite and ingratiating than to be hostile or demanding

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise

Early to rise and early to bed makes a male healthy and wealthy and dead

don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

don't discard something valuable along with something undesirable

marry in haste, repent at leisure

those who rush impetuously into marriage may spend a long time regretting doing so

once bitten, twice shy

when someone is hurt doing something, they are wary of doing it again for fear of being hurt a second time; often used to describe someone hurt by a failed romance

there's no fool like an old fool

People of mature years, who are expected to know better, often do outrageously foolish things, especially regarding romantic liaisons.

needs must

it is or was necessary or unavoidable

more haste, less speed

if you try and do something quickly you will make mistakes and take longer in the end

mighty oaks from little acorns grow

great things may come from small beginnings

look before you leap

check that you are clear what is ahead of you before making a decision that you cannot go back on

let not the sun go down on your wrath

do not hold on to your anger for more than one day, don't go to bed angry

the rich get richer and the poor get poorer

the richer you are the more relatively rich you become and, for the poor, vice-versa.

don't keep a dog and bark yourself

advice that you should not pay someone to do a task and then do it yourself

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

you can't accomplish something worthwhile without creating adverse effects

hold with the hare and run with the hounds

to deceitfully purport to remain on good terms with both sides in a conflict

a watched pot never boils

time seems to go slower when you are anxiously waiting for something to happen

long in the tooth

old (of age)

to grin and bear it

suffer pain or misfortune in a stoical manner