VOCABULARY - IDIOMS

A little learning is a dangerous thing

Meaning: People who don't understand something fully are dangerous

A snowball effect

Meaning: Events have momentum and build upon each other

A snowball's chance in hell

Meaning: No chance at all

A stitch in time saves nine

Meaning: Fix the problem now because it will get worse later

A storm in a teacup

Meaning: A big fuss about a small problem

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Meaning: Apples are good for you

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Meaning: You can prevent a problem with little effort. Fixing it later is harder.

As right as rain

Meaning: Perfect

Bolt from the blue

Meaning: Something that happened without warning

Burn bridges

Meaning: Destroy relationships

Calm before the storm

Meaning: Something bad is coming, but right now it's calm

Come rain or shine

Meaning: No matter what; Regardless of the weather or circumstances.

Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning: Stop asking questions

Cut the mustard

Meaning: Do a good job

Don't beat a dead horse

Meaning: Move on, this subject is over

Every dog has his day

Meaning: Everyone gets a chance at least once

Familiarity breeds contempt

Meaning: The better you know someone the less you like him

Fit as a fiddle

Meaning: In good health; to be very healthy and strong.

Fortune favors the bold

Meaning: Take risks

Get a second wind

Meaning: Have more energy after having been tired

Get wind of something

Meaning: Hear news of something secret

Go down in flames

Meaning: Fail spectacularly

Haste makes waste

Meaning: You'll make mistakes if you rush through something

Have your head in the clouds

Meaning: Not be concentrating

He who laughs last laughs loudest

Meaning: I'll get you back for what you did

Hear something straight from the horse's mouth

Meaning: Hear something from the person involved

He's not playing with a full deck

Meaning: He's dumb

He's off his rocker

Meaning: He's crazy

He's sitting on the fence

Meaning: He can't make up his mind

It is a poor workman who blames his tools

Meaning: If you can't do the job, don't blame it on others

It is always darkest before the dawn

Meaning: Things are going to get better

It takes two to tango

Meaning: One person alone isn't responsible. Both people are involved.

Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning: Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing

Know which way the wind is blowing

Meaning: Understand the situation (usually negative)

Leave no stone unturned

Meaning: Look everywhere

Let sleeping dogs lie

Meaning: Stop discussing an issue

Like riding a bicycle

Meaning: Something you never forget how to do

Like two peas in a pod

Meaning: They're always together

Make hay while the sun shines

Meaning: Take advantage of a good situation

On cloud nine

Meaning: Very happy

Once bitten, twice shy

Meaning: You're more cautious when you've been hurt before

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

Meaning: Things are going from bad to worse

Run like the wind

Meaning: Run fast

Shape up or ship out

Meaning: Work better or leave

Snowed under

Meaning: Be extremely busy with work or things to do

That ship has sailed

Meaning: It's too late

The pot calling the kettle black

Meaning: Someone criticizing someone else he is just as bad

There are clouds on the horizon

Meaning: Trouble is coming

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

Meaning: People who are morally questionable shouldn't criticize others

Through thick and thin

Meaning: In good times and in bad times

Time is money

Meaning: Work quickly

Waste not, want not

Meaning: Don't waste things and you'll always have enough

We see eye to eye

Meaning: We agree

Weather the storm

Meaning: Go through something difficult

Well begun is half done

Meaning: Getting a good start is important

When it rains it pours

Meaning: Everything is going wrong at once

You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar

Meaning: You'll get what you want by being nice

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

Meaning: You can't force someone to make the right decision

You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs

Meaning: There's always a cost to doing something