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English-language idioms
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An idiom is a common word or phrase with a figurative, non-literal meaning that is understood culturally and differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words (although some idioms do retain their literal meanings – see the example "kick the bucket" below). By another definition, an idiom is a speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements. For example, an English speaker would understand the phrase "kick the bucket" to mean "to die" – and also to actually kick a bucket. Furthermore, they would understand when each meaning is being used in context.

To evoke the desired effect in the listener, idioms require a precise replication of the phrase: not even articles can be used interchangeably (e.g. "kick a bucket" only retains the literal meaning of the phrase but not the idiomatic meaning).

Idioms should not be confused with other figures of speech such as metaphors, which evoke an image by use of implicit comparisons (e.g., "the man of steel"); similes, which evoke an image by use of explicit comparisons (e.g., "faster than a speeding bullet"); or hyperbole, which exaggerates an image beyond truthfulness (e.g., "more powerful than a locomotive"). Idioms are also not to be confused with proverbs, which are simple sayings that express a truth based on common sense or practical experience.A other example can be "green fingers".

Notable idioms in English

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

IdiomDefinition/TranslationNotesRef.
a bitter pill to swallowA situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted4
a dime a dozen(US) Anything that is common, inexpensive, and easy to get or available anywhere5
a hot potatoA controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with6
a sandwich short of a picnicLacking intelligence
ace in the holeA hidden or secret strength; an unrevealed advantage7
Achilles' heelA small but fatal weakness in spite of overall strength8
all earsListening intently; fully focused or awaiting an explanation9
all thumbsClumsy, awkward10
an arm and a legVery expensive or costly; a large amount of money11
apple of discordAnything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy12
around the clockWhen something is done all day and all night without stopping13
as queer as a [strange object] (UK)Something particularly strange or unusual1415
at the drop of a hatWithout any hesitation; instantly
back to the drawing boardRevising something (such as a plan) from the beginning, typically after it has failed1617
back to the grindstoneTo return to a hard and/or tedious task18
ball is in his/her/your courtIt is up to him/her/you to make the next decision or step.
balls to the wallFull throttle; at maximum speed
barking up the wrong treeLooking in the wrong place1920
basket caseOne made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic, or stress21
beating a dead horseTo uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of resolution
beat around the bushTo treat a topic but omit its main points, often intentionally or to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant
bed of rosesA situation or activity that is comfortable or easy22
the bee's kneesSomething or someone outstandingly good, excellent, or wonderful2324
best of both worldsA combination of two seemingly contradictory benefits
bird brainA person who is not too smart; a person who acts stupid25
bite off more than one can chewTo take on more responsibility than one can manage
bite the bulletTo endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable
bite the dustA euphemism for dying or death
bought the farmA euphemism for dying or death, especially in an aviation or military context
break a legA wish of good luck to theatre performers before going on stage, due to the belief amongst those in theatre that being wished "good luck" is a curse26
burn the midnight oilTo work late into the night2728
bust one's chopsTo exert oneself2930
by the seat of one's pantsTo achieve through instinct or to do something without advance preparation31
by the skin of one's teethNarrowly; barely. Usually used in regard to a narrow escape from a disaster.3233
call a spade a spadeTo speak the truth, even to the point of being blunt and rude
call it a dayTo declare the end of a task3435
champ at the bit or chomp at the bitTo show impatience or frustration when delayed36
cheap as chipsInexpensive; a good bargain
chew the cudTo meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate
chew the fatTo chat idly or generally waste time talking
chink in one's armorAn area of vulnerability3738
clam upTo become silent; to stop talking
clutch one's pearlsTo be disproportionately shocked or affronted by something one perceives to be vulgar, in bad taste, or morally wrong
cold feetNot going through with an action, particularly one which requires long term commitment, due to fear, uncertainty and doubt
cold shoulderTo display aloofness and disdain39
couch potatoA lazy person40
cool your jetsCalm down.41
crocodile tearsFake tears or drama tears; fake crying.
cut off your nose to spite your faceTo pursue revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one's anger
cut a rugTo dance
cut the cheese (US)To pass gas
cut the mustardTo perform well; to meet expectations42
dicking aroundMessing about, not making any progress
dig one's heels inRefuse to change one's plans or ideas, especially when counseled otherwise
dollars to donutsAssert certainty that something is either true or likely to occur, often expressed as a wager of something expensive (dollars) against something cheap (donuts)
don't count your chickens before they hatchDon't make plans for something that may not happen; alternatively, don't make an assumption about something that does not have a definitively predetermined outcome.
don't cry over spilled milkDon't become upset over something that has already happened and you cannot change
don't have a cowDon't overreact43
drop a dime (US)To make a telephone call; to be an informant; (basketball) an assist
elephant in the roomAn obvious, pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature
eleventh hourAt the last minute; the latest possible time before it is too late44
fall off the turnip truckTo be naïve, inexperienced, or unsophisticated. Sometimes used in a rural sense.45
fish out of waterrefers to a person who is in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable surroundings
fit as a fiddleIn good physical health46
for a songAlmost free; very cheap
fly in the ointmentA minor drawback or imperfection, especially one that was not at first apparent, that detracts from something positive, spoils something valuable, or is a source of annoyance47
fly on the wallTo join an otherwise private interaction, unnoticed to watch and/or listen to something48
from A to ZCovering a complete range; comprehensively49
from scratch / make from scratchTo make from original ingredients; to start from the beginning with no prior preparation
get bent out of shapeTo take offense; to get worked up, aggravated, or annoyed
get a wiggle onTo move quickly or hurry50
get one's ducks in a rowto become well prepared for a desired outcome51
get one's knickers in a twist(UK) To become overwrought or unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter
get one's panties in a wadTo become overwrought or unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter
get your goatTo irritate someone
gone southhaving an unforeseen or chaotic result
grasp the nettleTo tackle a problem in a bold manner, despite the difficulty or complexity of doing so; to solve a problem despite short-term adverse consequences.525354
have a blastTo have a good time; to enjoy oneself.55
have all your Christmases come at onceTo have extreme good fortune.
have eyes bigger than one's stomachTo have asked for or taken more of something (especially food) than one is actually capable of handling (or eating)56
have eyes in the back of one's headTo be able to perceive things and events that are outside of one's field of vision
head over heelsBe smitten, infatuated
heard it through the grapevineTo have learned something through gossip, hearsay, or a rumor
hit the ceiling/roofTo become enraged, possibly in an overreaction
hit the nail on the head1. To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem; 2. To do or say exactly the right thing or to find the exact answer; 3. To do something in the most effective and efficient way; 4. To be accurate or correct about something.
hit the roadTo leave; start a journey57
hit the sack/sheets/hayTo go to bed; to go to sleep.58
hit the spotTo be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.
hold all the cardsTo control a situation; to be the one making the decisions.
hold your horsesWait. Slow down.
hook, line and sinkerTo be completely fooled by a deception59
in over one's headOverwhelmed or exasperated, usually by excessive responsibilities
it is what it isThis challenging circumstance is simply a fact, to be accepted or dealt with.606162
jump shipTo leave a job, organization, or activity suddenly63
jump the gunTo start something before it is prudent or permitted; to act too hastily.64
jumping the sharkA creative work, an idea or entity reaching a point in which it has exhausted its core intent and is introducing new ideas that are discordant with its original purpose65
kick the bucketA euphemism for dying or death66
kick the habitTo stop engaging in a habitual practice
kill two birds with one stoneTo accomplish two different tasks at the same time and/or with a single action
king's ransomA large sum of money67
let the cat out of the bagTo reveal a secret
like pulling teethHaving difficulty in getting a person or item to act in a desired fashion; reference to a difficult task.68
like turkeys voting for Christmasused as a metaphor for a parody in which a choice made is clearly against one's self-interest, facing adverse consequences of their those policies and still adhere to them.
lit up like a Christmas treeClothes that are too bright or colourful for the occasion.
look a gift horse in the mouthTo find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor
loose cannonA person who is uncontrollable and unpredictable but likely to cause damage to the group of which they are a member69
method to (one's) madnessDespite one's seemingly random approach, there is actually orderly structure or logic to it.
my two cents(Canada and US) One's opinion on the subject70
never put an apple in your rabbitDon't do something you know you shouldn't be doing71
nip (something) in the budTo stop something at an early stage, before it can develop into something of more significance (especially an obstacle or frustration)
no horse in this race or no dog in this fightNo vested interest in the outcome of a particular conflict, contest or debate
off one's trolley or off one's rockerCrazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile7273
off the hookTo escape a situation of responsibility or obligation, or, less frequently, danger74
the oldest trick in the bookAn effective way of tricking someone even though it is a very popular method75
once in a blue moonOccurring very rarely
own goalTo do something accidentally negative against yourself or your own team
part and parcelThe attribute of being an integral or essential component of another object
pop one's clogs(UK) A euphemism for dying or death
the pot calling the kettle blackUsed when someone making an accusation is equally as guilty as those being accused76
piece of cakeA job, task or other activity that is pleasant – or, by extension, easy or simple
not one’s cup of teaNot the type of thing the person likes.
preaching to the choirTo present a side of a discussion or argument to someone who already agrees with it; essentially, wasting your time.77
pull oneself togetherto recover control of one's emotions.
pull somebody's legTo tease or joke by telling a lie
push the envelopeTo approach, extend, or go beyond the limits of what is possible; to pioneer.7879
pushing up daisiesA euphemism for dying or death
put a spoke in one's wheelTo disrupt, foil, or cause problems to one's plan, activity, or project.

80

put on airsAn English language idiom and a colloquial phrase meant to describe a person who acts superior, or one who behaves as if they are more important than others.81
put the cat among the pigeonsTo create a disturbance and cause trouble82
raining cats and dogsRaining very hard or strongly83
right as rainNeeded, appropriate, essential, or hoped-for; also has come to mean perfect, well, or absolutely right.8485
rock the boatTo do or say something that will upset people or cause problems
shoot the breezeTo chat idly or casually, without any serious topic of conversation86
shooting fish in a barrelFrivolously performing a simple task
screw the poochTo screw up; to fail in dramatic and ignominious fashion.
sleep with the fishesTo be murdered and thrown into a body of water87
speak of the devil (and he shall appear)Used when an object of discussion unexpectedly becomes present during the conversation
spill the beansTo reveal someone's secret
spin one's wheelsTo expel much effort for little or no gain
stay in one's laneTo avoid interfering with, passing judgement on, or giving unsolicited advice about issues beyond one's purview or expertise; to mind one's own business.88
step up to the plateTo deliver beyond expectations
stick out like a sore thumbSomething that is clearly out of place

89

straw that broke the camel's backThe last in a line of unacceptable occurrences; the final tipping point in a sensitive situation.
take a shineTo develop a liking or fondness for someone or something90
take the biscuit(UK) To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious
take (or grab) the bull by the hornsTo deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation; to deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.91
take the cake(US) To be especially good or outstanding. Alternatively (US) To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
take the piss(UK) To tease, ridicule, or mock someone
take with a grain of saltTo not take what someone says too seriously; to treat someone's words with a degree of skepticism.
through thick and thinthrough all obstacles in a path; in good times and bad times
throw stones in glass housesOne who is vulnerable to criticism regarding a certain issue should not criticize others about the same issue.
throw the baby out with the bathwaterTo discard, especially inadvertently, something valuable while in the process of removing or rejecting something unwanted
throw under the busTo betray or sacrifice someone for selfish reasons
snake in the grassAn unrecognizable danger or hidden enemy
thumb one's noseTo express scorn or disregard
tie one onTo get drunk
to and fro or toing and froingTo move from one place to another; going back and forth; here and there.9293
to steal someone's thunderTo preempt someone and rob them of gravitas or attention. To take credit for something someone else did.
trip the light fantasticTo dance9495
two a pennyCheap or common
under my thumbUnder my control96
under the weatherFeeling sick or poorly97
the whole nine yardsEverything; all the way
watching paint dryTo describe something tedious or boring
water under the bridgeSomething that already happened in the past and should not be the primary focus of attention because it cannot be changed98
wild goose chaseA frustrating or lengthy undertaking that accomplishes little
willy-nillyAn activity, situation, decision or event that happens in a disorganized manner; or it is done haphazardly, chaotically and randomly, without any sort of planning or direction.99100101
wolf something downdevour (food) greedily.
you can say that againThat is very true; an expression of wholehearted agreement.

See also

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Notes

References

  1. "English Idioms, Phrases & Idiomatic Expressions". UsingEnglish.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/

  2. "idiomconnection.com". Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20190222195711/http://www.idiomconnection.com/whatis.html#A2

  3. "id·i·om". The Free Dictionary. Farlex, Inc. 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/idiom

  4. "a bitter pill to swallow". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+bitter+pill+to+swallow

  5. "The Idioms". Retrieved 29 December 2012. http://www.theidioms.com/a-dime-a-dozen/

  6. "A hot potato". TheIdioms.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017. http://www.theidioms.com/hot-potato/

  7. "Ace in the hole". The free dictionary.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Ace+in+the+Hole

  8. "Achilles' heel". phrases.org.uk free. 11 December 2023. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/23400.html

  9. "All ears". The free dictionary.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/all+ears

  10. "Idioms = "All Thumbs" = Today's English Idioms & Phrases". Goenglish.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012. http://www.goenglish.com/AllThumbs.asp

  11. "'An arm and a leg' - the meaning and origin of this phrase". 11 December 2023. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/arm-and-a-leg.html

  12. "Idioms.in - Idioms and Phrases". Retrieved 24 November 2013. http://idioms.in/apple-of-discord/

  13. "Time Idioms & Phrases". Englishlikeanative.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2021. https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/time-idioms-and-phrases/

  14. Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (26 June 2015). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-37252-3. 978-1-317-37252-3

  15. Grose, Francis (1796). A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Hooper and Wigstead. https://books.google.com/books?id=TbJKAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT184

  16. This expression refers to the fact that plans or blueprints are often drawn on a drawing board. It probably originated during World War II, most likely in the caption of a cartoon by Peter Arno published in The New Yorker.[16] /wiki/The_New_Yorker

  17. "back to the drawing board". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/back+to+the+drawing+board

  18. "Common English Idioms For Hard Work". Englishlikeanative.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2021. https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/common-english-idioms-for-hard-work-and-business/

  19. Originally a hunting term.

  20. "Barking up the wrong tree". The Phrase Finder. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://phrases.org.uk/meanings/56150.html

  21. Originally a British slang term for a quadruple amputee during World War I. /wiki/Amputee

  22. Siefring, Judith, ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861055-6. 0-19-861055-6

  23. The origin is unclear; it may simply have emerged in imitation of the numerous other animal-related nonsense phrases popular in the 1920s such as "the cat's pyjamas" or "the monkey's eyebrows",[21] or it may be a deliberate inversion of the earlier attested singular "bee's knee" used to refer to something small or insignificant.[22][20] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_cat%27s_pyjamas

  24. Siefring, Judith, ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861055-6. 0-19-861055-6

  25. "Bird Brain - English Idioms". English The Easy Way. http://english-the-easy-way.com/Idioms/Bird_Brain.html

  26. Urdang, Laurence; Hunsinger, Walter W.; LaRoche, Nancy (1985). Picturesque Expressions: A Thematic Dictionary (2 ed.). Gale Research. p. 321. ISBN 0-8103-1606-4. 0-8103-1606-4

  27. Alludes to burning oil to produce light in the time before electric lighting; originated with the English writer Francis Quarles who wrote: "Wee spend our mid-day sweat, or mid-night oyle; :Wee tyre the night in thought; the day in toyle." /wiki/Francis_Quarles

  28. "Burning the midnight oil". The Phrase Finder. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/80200.html

  29. At the turn of the century, wearing very long sideburns – called "mutton chops" – was common. A bust in the chops was to get hit in the face. /wiki/Sideburns

  30. "Idioms & Axioms currently used in America". Pride UnLimited. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://www.pride-unlimited.com/probono/idioms1.html#b

  31. "Idiom: By the seat of your pants". www.usingenglish.com. Retrieved 5 December 2011. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/by+the+seat+of+your+pants.html

  32. The phrase first appears in English in the Geneva Bible (1560), in Job 19:20, which provides a literal translation of the original Hebrew, "I haue escaped with the skinne of my tethe." The original Hebrew בְּעוֹר שִׁנָּי (b'3or shinai) is a phono-semantic match of the Hebrew word בְּקוֹשִׁי (b'qoshi) which means "barely, hardly, with difficulty." It may never be known if this phrase became an idiom before the biblical book of Job was written, or if the word b'qoshi was mis-heard by a scribe. /wiki/Geneva_Bible

  33. "Skin of your teeth". Theidioms.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012. https://www.theidioms.com/by-the-skin-of-your-teeth/

  34. Its 19th-century predecessor is seen in the line "It would have been best for Merlin... to quit and call it half a day", from the novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) by American writer Mark Twain. /wiki/A_Connecticut_Yankee_in_King_Arthur%27s_Court

  35. "American-English idiom Call it a day". Quotations.me.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://www.quotations.me.uk/famous-idioms/37-call-it-a-day-idiom.htm

  36. "Chomp at the bit". onlineslangdictionary.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161206164554/http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/chomp-at-the-bit

  37. The word "chink" here is generally used in the sense of a crack or gap.

  38. "Chink in one's armor | Define Chink in one's armor at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chink%20in%20one's%20armor

  39. Martin, Gary (11 December 2023). "'Cold shoulder' - the meaning and origin of this phrase". phrases.org.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cold-shoulder.html

  40. "What does couch potato mean?". www.myenglishpages.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.myenglishpages.com/english/random-idiom.php?c=469

  41. "cool your jets!". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/cool+your+jets!

  42. Ammer, Christine (7 May 2013). The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-547-67753-8. 978-0-547-67753-8

  43. "Idiom: Don't have a cow". idiomsphrases.com. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2014. http://www.idiomsphrases.com/dont-have-a-cowe/

  44. "eleventh hour, noun". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eleventh%20hour

  45. "'TO FALL OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK': MEANING AND ORIGIN". 15 September 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2022. https://wordhistories.net/2020/09/15/fall-off-turnip-truck/

  46. "Idiom: Fit as a fiddle". UsingEnglish.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/fit+as+a+fiddle.html

  47. "fly in the ointment". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/fly+in+the+ointment

  48. "30 Animal Idioms". www.englishlikeanative.co.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2020. https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/30-animal-idioms/

  49. As of the English alphabet, which ranges from the first letter, A, to the last letter, Z. /wiki/English_alphabet

  50. "Get a wiggle on!". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 2 November 2022. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Get+a+wiggle+on!

  51. "Get/Have your ducks in a row". https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/get-have-your-ducks-in-a-row

  52. "GRASP THE NETTLE definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary". Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/grasp-the-nettle

  53. "Macmillan Dictionary'grasp the nettle' definition and synonyms". http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/british/grasp-the-nettle

  54. Martin, Gary (11 December 2023). "'Grasp the nettle' - the meaning and origin of this phrase". phrases.org.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/grasp-the-nettle.html

  55. "Have a blast". iStudyEnglishOnline.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130619002236/http://istudyenglishonline.com/expressions-idioms/have/have-a-blast/

  56. Siefring, Judith, ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861055-6. 0-19-861055-6

  57. "hit the road". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 6 April 2023. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hit+the+road

  58. "Hit the sack". funkyenglish.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140514094027/http://www.funkyenglish.com/forum/topics/hit-the-sack

  59. "Hook, Line and Sinker". Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 6 December 2018. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hook,%20line%20and%20sinker

  60. Earliest usage unknown. In 1945, Bertrand Russell wrote of a logician's irritation that "the world is what it is";[51] by 1949 the full phrase appeared in the Nebraska State Journal.[52] /wiki/Bertrand_Russell

  61. "It is what it is". 29 July 2019. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/it-is-what-it-is/

  62. "It Is What It Is". The New York Times. 5 March 2006. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/magazine/it-is-what-it-is.html

  63. "jump ship". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/jump+ship

  64. "jump the gun", Wiktionary, 25 January 2022, retrieved 7 April 2022 https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=jump_the_gun&oldid=65435581

  65. Glenn, Alan (19 February 2016). "He's a maniac". Michigan Today. Retrieved 3 May 2022. https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2016/02/19/hes-a-maniac/

  66. "Kick the bucket". idiomreference.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140122163746/http://www.idiomreference.com/define/kick-the-bucket

  67. "King's ransom". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/king%27s%20ransom

  68. "LIKE PULLING TEETH definition | Cambridge English Dictionary". Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/like-pulling-teeth

  69. "loose cannon". Retrieved 13 June 2022. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/When+a+Loose+Cannon+Flogs+a+Dead+Horse+There%27s+the+Devil+to+Pay.-a018404245

  70. "My Two Cents". https://www.talkenglish.com/lessondetails.aspx?ALID=1039

  71. Kellett, Arnold (2008). The Little Book of Yorkshire Dialect. Dalesman Publishing Co Ltd. p. 107. ISBN 978-1855682573. 978-1855682573

  72. Since both "off one's trolley" and "off one's rocker" became popular in the late 1890s about the same time streetcars were installed in major American cities, and since "rocker", like "trolley", means the wheel or runner that makes contact with an overhead electric cable, it is likely that the "rocker" of the expression carries the same meaning as "trolley". "Off your trolley" may refer to the fact that when the wires are "off the trolley", the vehicle no longer receives an electric current and is, therefore, rendered inoperative. /wiki/Streetcar

  73. Greenwald, Ken (24 June 2005). "off your rocker". wordwizard.com. Retrieved 30 September 2012. http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18057#p39459

  74. "Off the hook". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 5 April 2013. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20hook

  75. "the oldest trick in the book Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary". Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 14 February 2025. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/oldest-trick-in-the-book

  76. "THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK definition | Cambridge English Dictionary". Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/pot-calling-the-kettle-black

  77. "Preaching to the Choir". 13 April 2011. http://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/english-idiomatic-expressions-preaching-to-the-choir/

  78. This expression originated as aviation slang and referred to graphs of aerodynamic performance on which "the envelope" is the boundary line representing the limit of an aircraft's capabilities (especially its altitude and speed). It was popularized by Tom Wolfe's 1979 book The Right Stuff.[20] /wiki/Tom_Wolfe

  79. Siefring, Judith, ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861055-6. 0-19-861055-6

  80. "put a spoke in wheel". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/put+a+spoke+in+wheel

  81. Ammer, Christine (2013) [2008]. The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms (Paperback) (2nd ed.). Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Paw Prints. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-547-67658-6. 1439527245. Retrieved 4 October 2021. 978-0-547-67658-6

  82. "Random Idiom Definition - put the cat among the pigeons". myenglishpages.com. Retrieved 3 May 2013. http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/random-idiom.php?c=495

  83. "Raining cats and dogs". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Raining+cats+and+dogs

  84. The life of an agrarian community depends on the success of the local crops, which in turn depends on rain. In pre-industrial times, rain was widely appreciated as essential for survival.

  85. "Right as rain". Islandnet.com. Retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/whys/rightrain.htm

  86. "shoot the breeze". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/shoot+the+breeze

  87. The original text in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather reads: "'The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,' he said. 'It's an old Sicilian message.'" /wiki/Mario_Puzo

  88. "stay in (one's) lane". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/stay+in+(one%27s)+lane

  89. "What are the Origins of the Phrase "Sticks out Like a Sore Thumb"?". Language Humanities. Retrieved 21 May 2022. http://www.languagehumanities.org/what-are-the-origins-of-the-phrase-sticks-out-like-a-sore-thumb.htm

  90. "10 Weather Idioms". www.englishlikeanative.co.uk. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020. https://englishlikeanative.co.uk/10-weather-idioms-in-british-english/

  91. Siefring, Judith, ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861055-6. 0-19-861055-6

  92. "to and fro". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/to+and+fro

  93. "to and fro - WordReference.com Dictionary of English". www.wordreference.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/to%20and%20fro

  94. The expression is generally attributed to John Milton's 1645 poem L'Allegro, which includes the lines: "Com, and trip it as ye go,On the light fantastick toe."[80] /wiki/John_Milton

  95. "trip the light fantastic". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/trip+the+light+fantastic

  96. Evans, Andrew (19 January 2017). "How Irish falconry changed language". BBC Travel. Retrieved 28 January 2017. https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170111-how-irish-falconry-changed-language

  97. "under the weather". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/under+the+weather

  98. Paul Heacock, Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (2003), p. 457. https://books.google.com/books?id=ytJNRDL0zDgC&pg=PA457&dq=idiom+%22water+under+the+bridge%22

  99. The idiom has another meaning; "with or against one's will", which was popularized from the expression "will he, nill he", found in Shakespeare's Hamlet.[85] /wiki/Shakespeare

  100. "willy-nilly". Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 9 September 2023. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/willy-nilly

  101. Candace Osmond (28 August 2014). "Willy-Nilly – Origin & Meaning". Grammarist. Retrieved 9 September 2023. https://grammarist.com/words/willy-nilly/