Idiomatic+expressions

Idiomatic expressions What is an idiom? An idiom is "an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiom)

**Exercises ** Idioms quizzes Various idioms 1 Various idioms 2

** A List of the most commonly used English idioms ** A hot potato - Speak of an issue which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed A penny for your thoughts- A way of asking what someone is thinking Actions speak louder than words - People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say. Add insult to injury - To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation. An arm and a leg - Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money. At the drop of a hat - Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly. Back to the drawing board - When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over. Ball is in your court - It is up to you to make the next decision or step Barking up the wrong tree - Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person Be glad to see the back of - Be happy when a person leaves. Beat around the bush - Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue. Best of both worlds - Meaning: All the advantages. Best thing since sliced bread - A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan. Bite off more than you can chew - To take on a task that is way to big. Blessing in disguise - Something good that isn't recognized at first. Burn the midnight oil - To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting. Can't judge a book by its cover - cannot judge something primarily on appearance. Caught between two stools - When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives. Cross that bridge when you come to it - Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #cc0033; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Cry over spilt milk- When you complain about a loss from the past. Curiosity killed the cat - Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation. Cut corners - When something is done badly to save money. Cut the mustard - To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate Devil's Advocate - To present a counter argument Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched - This idiom is used to express "Don't make plans for something that might not happen". <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #b30047; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 12pt;">Don't give up the day job - You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff3333; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Don't put all your eggs in one basket - Do not put all your resources in one possibility. Drastic times call for drastic measures - When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions. Elvis has left the building - The show has come to an end. It's all over. Every cloud has a silver lining - Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. Far cry from - Very different from. Feel a bit under the weather - Meaning: Feeling slightly ill. Give the benefit of the doubt - Believe someone's statement, without proof. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff3333; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Hear it on the grapevine - This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #cc0033; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Hit the nail on the head - Do or say something exactly right <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #999900; font-family: 'Tahoma,Bold'; font-size: 10pt;">Hit the sack / sheets / hay - To go to bed. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff3333; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">In the heat of the moment - Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment. It takes two to tango - Actions or communications need more than one person Jump on the bandwagon - Join a popular trend or activity. Keep something at bay - Keep something away. Kill two birds with one stone - This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff3333; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Last straw - The final problem in a series of problems. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #cc0033; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Let sleeping dogs lie - Do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #cc0033; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Let the cat out of the bag - To share information that was previously concealed Make a long story short - Come to the point - leave out details Method to my madness - An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it. Miss the boat - This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance Not a spark of decency - Meaning: No manners <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff6666; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; font-size: 11pt;">Not playing with a full deck - Someone who lacks intelligence. Off one's rocker - Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile. On the ball - When someone understands the situation well. Once in a blue moon - Meaning: Happens very rarely. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #999900; font-family: 'Tahoma,Bold'; font-size: 10pt;">Picture paints a thousand words - A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words. Piece of cake - A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple. Put wool over other people's eyes - This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them. See eye to eye - This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something. Sit on the fence - This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision. Speak of the devil! - This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #ff6666; font-family: 'Georgia,Bold'; font-size: 11pt;">Steal someone's thunder - To take the credit for something someone else did. <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #cc0033; font-family: 'Times New Roman,Bold'; font-size: 12pt;">Take with a grain of salt - This means not to take what someone says too seriously. Taste of your own medicine - Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else <span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #009900; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; font-size: 12pt;">To hear something straight from the horse's mouth - To hear something from the authoritative source. Whole nine yards - Everything. All of it. Wouldn't be caught dead - Would never like to do something Your guess is as good as mine - To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question
 * <span style="color: #020000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 18px;">Idioms list - Swedish-English **