1、150 Common English IdiomsPLEASE NOTE: The idioms with the asterisks (*) may be on the final exam and will be discussed in class.No. Idiom Meaning of the idiom Sentence using the idiom 1* Ace an exam receive an almost perfect scoreI want to ace the exam on Friday. 2* A piece of cake very easy The exa
2、m was a piece of cake. 3* Apple of his eye cherished person His daughter was the apple of his eye. 4* As mad as a hornet very angry I was mad as a hornet when the thief stole my purse. 5 As nutty as a fruitcake very crazy He acts nutty as a fruitcake when he drinks liquor. 6* Axed fired from a job H
3、e didnt think it was fair that he got axed from his job. 7 Bad mouth someone to criticize someone I dont like it when my friend bad mouths someone. 8* Be my guest help yourself Thanks for coming to the party. Please be my guest. 9* Big cheese top executive of a company, CEODress nice for work tomorr
4、ow because the big cheese is coming to see us. 10 Birthday suit completely naked A baby is cute in its birthday suit, but you arent. 11* Broke have no money I am really broke since the holidays. 12 Bull in a china shop a clumsy or tactless person I felt like a bull in a china shop when I knocked ove
5、r my drink. 13 Butter up or butter up to become friends by flattery It was fun to butter up the secretary when I went for my job interview. 14 Catch cold to become ill It is easy to catch cold when the weather is cold. 15 Cat got your tongue person is not willing to talk because of shynessThe cat go
6、t her tongue when she was introduced to Chen. 16* Chicken feed a small amount of money I just have chicken feed left over after buying groceries. 17 Cold turkey stopping something abruptlyHe stopped smoking cold turkey. 18 Cough up so give money unwilling He coughed up the money for the Charity Ball
7、, even though he didnt want to. 19* Crack a book to study I would like to go to the movie, but I need to crack a book tonight. 20* Cry over spilled milk complain about something that has happenedIt doesnt do any good to cry over spilled milk. 21* Cry wolf cry wolf If you cry wolf one more time help
8、wont come when you really need it. 22* Cup of tea something you enjoy or do well or easilyPlaying the piano was her cup of tea. 23 Cut off you nose to spite you faceto make things worse for yourself because of anger.It was silly of here to cut off her nose to spite her face. 24 Dead ahead exactly in
9、 front We saw the stop sign dead ahead. 25 Double-cross to promise one thing and do anotherI felt bad when my friend double crossed me. 26 Double-talk wording something to be misunderstood.I couldnt understand what they were trying to say because of all their double-talk. 27* Down in the dumps sad o
10、r discouraged She was down in the dumps when her boyfriend didnt call her. 28* Drop a line to write and mail a note or I dropped a line to my Grandmother. letter.29Drop by (stop by)to make a short or unplanned i visit.I didnt know my grandparents were coming to town, but I was sure glad that theydro
11、pped by for a visit. 30 Drop dead stop bothering me or go awayDont keep asking me the same question, just drop dead. 31* Dutch treat everyone pays for his or her own wayLets go dutch treat for lunch.32 Eat your heart out grieve long and hopelesslyYou dont need to eat your heart out just because you
12、didntget an 100% on your exam.33* Eat your words to be forced to take back something you saidIm going to make him eat his words.34* Every Tom, Dick and Harry everyone in general Every Tom, Dick and Harry were at the party. 35* Fast buck money earned quickly and easilyHe thinks gambling is a good way
13、 to earn a fast buck. 36 Fat chance little or no possibility Fat chance that he will be able to lift that 500 pound weight. 37 Flea market place where used items and antiques are soldYou can get a good bargain at the Flea Market.38* Food for thought something that is worth thinking aboutHis presenta
14、tion on the environment is food for thought.39 Full of beans you dont know what you are talking aboutHe was full of beans when he was bragging about playing basketballas good as Michael Jordan.40 Get off my back leave me alone I told her to get off my back. 41* Get to the point talk about the import
15、ant ideaIt took the lecturer a long time to get to the point. 42* Give my right arm willing to give somethingvaluable to get somethingId give my right arm to know if she likes me.43 Go jump in the lake go away and stop bothering meI told him to go jump in the lake after he had called me 10 times. 44
16、* Green thumb ability of garden successfullyHe had a green thumb and could make anything grow in his garden. 45 Hang-up a delay in some process There was a hang-up in getting our text books printed. 46 Hit the ceiling to become very angry I hit the ceiling when he told me he had wrecked my car. 47*
17、Hit the hay (sack) to go to bed Im tired. Its time to hit the sack 48 Holy cow expression of strong feelingsimilar to wow!Holy cow, hes so handsome.49* Hot water having trouble I got into hot water with my professor for not handing my report in on time. 50 Ill buy that! I agree with you After my dis
18、cussion with Tom, and he suggested I study harder. I said Ill buy that! 51* In a nutshell in a few words, briefly Tell me about your weekend, in a nutshell. 52* In the red in an unsuccessful or unprofitable wayMy bank account is in the red.53 Jump down my throat to suddenly become very angry with me
19、You dont need to jump down my throat, just because I didnt call you.54 Kangaroo court self-appointed disciplinary group unfair judgmentThe students held a kangaroo court when they thought their advisor hadbeen unfair.55* Kick the bucket to die You might kick the bucket too soon if you keep drinking
20、and smoking. 56 Make believe to act as if something is true, pretendIt was hard to believe that movie was all make believe.57 Make you mouth water to look or smell something very good to eatThat soup smells so good, it is making my mouth water.58* Money to burn have more money than is necessaryHe is
21、 so rich. He has money to burn.59* Nail down to make sure I want to nail down that interview for a new job. 60 Neck and neck a race or contest that is nearly equalThe race was neck and neck at the finish line.61 No sweat easily accomplished Its no sweat to catch a fish if you use the right bait. 62*
22、 Off the cuff without preparation I had to give a speech off the cuff. 63 On a shoestring with very little money Many students go to school on a shoestring. 64 Once in a blue moon very seldom or never He attends class once in a blue moon and still wants credit for it. 65* On the Q.T. secretly Dont t
23、ell me. Its suppose to be on the Q.T. 66 Out of the frying pan into the fireout of one trouble into worse troubleThe choice the teenager made put him out of the frying pan into the fire.67* Pass away to die The soldiers passed away while they were fighting for our freedom. 68 Piggy back to carry a c
24、hild or a load on your backHe carried his little son piggy back up the mountain.69 Pull your own weight to do your full share of the workThe boss wants you to pull your weight on the new job. 70 Put a bug in you ear to give important informationHe put a bug in my ear about the new project we were st
25、arting. 71 Raining cats and dogs a very hard rain storm Lets wait until it stops raining cats and dogs. 72 Right on thats correct You were right on about that book you recommended for me to read. 73 Run into to meet by chance It was so fun to run into you. 74 Run that by me again repeat what you jus
26、t said Please run that by me again. I couldnt hear you because the music was too loud. 75 Search me Idont know Search me about the whereabouts of the cafeteria. 76* Set the world on fire to do something unusual or outstandingWhen I graduate, Im going to set the world on fire.77* Shape up to begin to
27、 act or work rightShape up or I will have to fire you from your job. 78* Shoot the breeze to talk My friend and I like to sit around and shoot the breeze. 79* Snowed overwhelmed with work I cant go to lunch with you today because Im really snowed with work. 80 Snow job An effort to deceive, He gave
28、her a snow job before admitting he was dating another girl. persuade, or overwhelm with insincere talk81* Sob story a story to make someone pity youShe told the class a sob story. 82* Step on it hurry I asked him to step on it so I wouldnt miss my flight. 83 Stick up for to defend against attack But
29、 teacher, I had to stick up for my sister. 84 Stick to you ribs very filling food that keeps you from getting hungryIm glad I had rice for lunch. It sticks to my ribs so Im not hungry now.85 Sweetie pie darling or sweetheart My wife is my sweetie pie. I love her so much. 86 Take down to write or rec
30、ord Please take down the instructions I am going to give you. 87* Take it easy to be careful He said he wanted to take it easy after a hard day at work. 88 Takeoff to leave fast The pilot said it was time to takeoff. 89* Grain of salt to not believe everything Take what he says with a grain of salt.
31、 90 Throw a curve to mislead or deceive someoneIts not our policy to throw a curve in our meetings. 91* Throw in the towel to give up or admit defeat Im ready to throw in the towel on this project. 92 Thumb a ride to hitchhike, to catch a ride Hurry! Lets thumb a ride to Beijing. 93* Tie the knot to
32、 get married Lets tie the knot during Chinese New Year. 94 Tighten you belt to live on less money than usualWe are going to have to tighten our belt this month. 95* Top banana top executive of a company CEOMr. Wang was the top banana of his company. 96 Try on to put on clothes or shoes to see if the
33、y fitMay I please try on this shirt? 97 Turn on to become interested in somethingBeing in China turns me on about learning about the history of this country.98 Up the creek in trouble or difficulty I felt like I was up the creek without a paddle. 99 Up to par to be in good health or physical conditi
34、onI feel up to par today. Lets go for a hike.100 Wait on tables to serve food as a waiter or waitressI got a job to wait on tables at a restaurant.101* Walking on air to be happy and excited I feel like I am walking on air since I got 100% on the exam. 102 Watch it! be careful Watch it when you cros
35、s the street. 103* Wet behind the ears not experienced He is wet behind the ears when it comes to working on the computer. 104 When hell freezes over never When hell freezes over, then I will go on a date with him. 105* Worth his salt a very valuable person, usually an employeeIm glad we hired him.
36、He is really worth his salt. 106 Wrap up to put on warm clothes Wrap up its cold outside today. 107* Yes man a person who always agrees with the bossThat new employee got this job because he is a yes man.108 Hop to it get started Hop to it on that new proposal. 109* Get on the ball do it I told her
37、to get on the ball. 110 Level with me tell me the truth Come on and level with me. 111* Hang in there stay with it Hang in there until you have finished your assignment. 112 Off to a flying start things are going well The basketball team got off to a flying start. 113* Time flies time goes quickly T
38、ime flies when you are having fun. 114 Lead me a hand help me Please lend me a hand how to use my new software. 115 Cutting it close made it in time We cutting it close by taking the bus to the airport instead of a taxi. 116 Knock me over with a feathersurprised me You could have knocked me over wit
39、h a feather when you brought me thosebeautiful flowers.117 Go fly a kite go away Go fly a kite and leave me alone. 118* Hit the road get going Lets hit the road if we are going to make it to Beijing on time. 119 Go haywire do wrong things My computer has gone haywire. 120* Like looking for a needle
40、in a haystackhard to find To find my ring is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 121 Tough as leather hard to cut The beefsteak I ordered was tough as leather. 122 Work yourself into a lather get upset Dont work yourself into a lather over your experiment. 123 Wiped out tired I was really wiped
41、 out after the three hour test. 124* Out of this world very good Her presentation was out of this world. 125 Eat crow take back what you said Its hard to eat crow when you say the wrong thing. 126 Eat humble pie admit your error The boss insisted that I eat humble pie. 127 Bark up the wrong tree goi
42、ng the wrong direction He was barking up the wrong tree when he told us to turn left. 128 Chew the fat talk I like to chew the fat with my friends. 129* Jump the gun start before you are ready It is easy to jump the gun when you are running a race. 130 Buzz off go away I told him to buzz off and lea
43、ve me alone. 131 Whats the scoop latest news Whats the scoop on the world oil prices? 132 He is flying high doing well He is flying high since the business he started is doing so well. 133 He blew it not doing well He blew it when he robbed the bank. 134* Greener pastures not happy with what he has
44、Jim is always looking for greener pastures instead of being happy with what he has. 135 Dyed-in-the-wool committed to something He is a dyed-in-the-wool soccer fan136 Caught in a bind difficult situation He got caught in a bind when he couldnt pay the loan off. 137* All tied up busy I cant play foot
45、ball today as I am all tired up. 138 Time after time constantly, repeatedly Ive told him time after time to get a haircut. 139* Call it a day finished for the day Its time to call it a day. 140* Kill time waste time I dont like to just kill time. I would rather do something productive. 141* Chip off
46、 the old block to be like or the same as someone (father)Hes a chip off the old block. They both like the same thing. 142 Jailbird someone who is or has been in prisonWe didnt know he had been a jailbird, until after we had hired him. 143 Open hearted sincere, generous Her daughter was open hearted.
47、 144* Beside the point not pertinent Saying sorry is beside the point. You took your friends backpack and wouldntgive it back.145 Burst into tears to start crying suddenly He burst into tears when their team lost the championship game.146 Cute as a bugs ear cute and loveable, refers to childrenThere
48、 new baby was cute as a bugs ear. 147* Cut corners to go by the shortest way, easiest way, not necessarily the bestShe tried to cut corners and found out she did it wrong.148 Keep a straight face to prevent oneself from laughing when something is funnyIt was hard to keep a straight face when he kept telling jokes.149 Be on target to achieve a desired goal; to be correctI wanted to be on target when I gave my presentation about energy.150 Uptight worried, irritated, excessively eager or anxiousHe was too uptight about his
