VOCABULARY - IDIOMS

all the more

Meaning: even more.

along the lines

Meaning: in a general direction or manner.

bag of tricks

Meaning: A set of methods or resources

be a barrel of laughs

Meaning: To be fun, funny, and pleasant.

behind bars

Meaning: To be in prison.

behind closed doors

Meaning: in private; in one's private life.

big deal

Meaning: An important event or accomplishment

big wheel

Meaning: A person with a great deal of power or influence, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.

bite me

Meaning: An expression of discontent, aggravation or anger.

blessing in desguise

Meaning: a blessing in disguise is said when a misfortune has some unexpected benefits

blow a kiss

Meaning: To kiss one's hand, then blow on the hand in a direction towards the recipient.

bottomless pit

Meaning: Someone with a seemingly boundless appetite.; A situation that seems to have no limits.

call a spade a spade

Meaning: To speak frankly and directly about a problem

case in point

Meaning: an example that illustrates a point

chalk something up to inexperience

Meaning: To attribute a failure to inexperience and learn from that particular experience.

come clean

Meaning: To confess; to admit to wrongdoing

come to terms with

Meaning: to gradually accept a sad situation.

come to your attention

Meaning: (also come to your notice) said when you notice something.

come true

Meaning: said when something happens although it was unlikely that it would.

common as an old shoe

Meaning: low class; unrefined; ill-mannered; uncouth.

dance with death

Meaning: try to do something that involves a lot of risks.

dead loss

Meaning: something described as a dead loss is absolutely unsuccessful or useless

do the trick

Meaning: said about something that works.

drop the subject

Meaning: to stop discussing a subject.

easy come, easy go

Meaning: said about something which is easily won or obtained and then soon spent or lost.

every trick in the book

Meaning: said when you try every possible way to achieve something.

fall through the cracks

Meaning: to be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention

for all I care

Meaning: used to suggest that you don't care.

gas up

Meaning: to fill a vehicle with gasoline.

get off the track

Meaning: To start talking about a different topic, instead of talking about the real one.

have an axe to grind

Meaning: to have a strong opinion about something.

have one's wires crossed

Meaning: to be confused.

how come?

Meaning: used to ask how or why.

in the bag

Meaning: Certain or extremely likely to occur; assured about the success of somoething.

in the wake of

Meaning: following, as a result of.

in the zone

Meaning: focused

jam on the brakes

Meaning: to press the brakes suddenly and in a hard way.

keep somebody in stitches

Meaning: to keep somebody laughing hard or amused.

keep tabs on

Meaning: to monitor; to keep track of; to watch.

kick the bucket

Meaning: To die

know something inside and out

Meaning: to know something very thoroughly.

lie low

Meaning: To hide; not to draw attention to oneself.

magic touch

Meaning: a special skill to do something very well.

magic wand

Meaning: a quick and an easy way to solve a problem

mark my words

Meaning: Listen to me; used before a statement one wishes to emphasize.

middle of the road

Meaning: having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.

Mister Right

Meaning: A perfect, ideal or suitable mate or husband.

never mind

Meaning: it's not important; do not be concerned

next to nothing

Meaning: almost; hardly.

no comment

Meaning: an "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.

not half bad

Meaning: Pretty good; okay; decent.

not miss a trick

Meaning: said about someone who is extremely alert.

nothing to sneeze at

Meaning: not bad; decent; acceptable; worthwhile.

odds and ends

Meaning: various often worthless small items.

pack a wallop

Meaning: to provide energy, power, or excitement.

pass the buck

Meaning: Transfer a problem to someone else

pay dearly

Meaning: to suffer because of a particlar action.

pick of the bunch

Meaning: the best.

picture paints a thousand words

Meaning: a picture will be far more descriptive of something than words can ever be.

right down to

Meaning: considering even minor things or people.

right on the button

Meaning: to be exactly right.

say your piece

Meaning: Tell what you have to say

see someone's point

Meaning: To understand the meaning that someone is trying to convey.

send up a trial balloon

Meaning: to test public opinion and response to something.

set the wheels in motion

Meaning: to initiate a chain of events necessary to help one achieve a goal

shape up or ship out

Meaning: Behave properly or leave the organization

shift gears

Meaning: Change the subject, or change what one is doing

sink or swim

Meaning: Fail or succeed

take a dim view of

Meaning: to disapprove of something.

take it on the lam

Meaning: to run away.

take it or leave it

Meaning: said about an offer when you either accept it or reject it completely.

tall order

Meaning: The phrase a tall order refers to something that is very difficult to do.

the customer is always right.

Meaning: In order to make profit, it is necessary for a business to satisfy customers' wishes and make them happy.

the jury is out

Meaning: an outcome or decision is still unknown and awaited.

to pull the trigger

Meaning: To fire a gun.; To commit to a course of action.

trick of the trade

Meaning: a clever skill related to a profession.

under construction

Meaning: said about something which is being built or fixed.

under pressure

Meaning: to be facing something in a stressful environment due to a pressure or a deadline.

under the influence

Meaning: Intoxicated, inebriated, or otherwise stupefied by an ingested mind-altering substance, commonly speaking of alcohol : drunk.

wait and see

Meaning: to wait to see what will occur after.

walk of life

Meaning: an occupation, role, social class, or lifestyle.

waste breath

Meaning: To speak in a manner which is needless or futile; in discussion or argument to make points which are not appreciated or heeded.

watch this space

Meaning: an indication that a development will follow.

wax and wane

Meaning: to increase and decrease.

weep buckets

Meaning: to cry a lot.

X marks the spot.

Meaning: said to show the exact spot.

you got me there

Meaning: I can't answer your question.