Update: 2008-08-07 10:01 AM -0400

TIL

TIL English Idiom Collection

indx-Eidiom.htm

Collected from various sources by U Kyaw Tun (UKT), M.S. (I.P.S.T., U.S.A.), and staff of TIL (Tun Institute of Learning, http://www.tuninst.net ) for staff and students of TIL Computing and Language Center, Yangon, Myanmar. Not for sale.

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indx-Eidiom

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Contents of this page

UKT: Remember some idioms can be quite vulgar in certain situations.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M
N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Introduction -- intro.htm
References
UKT Notes
 

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Entries A -- idiomA.htm

• above all • above board • above the law • absence makes the heart grow fonder • according to Hoyle • ace • ace in the hole • Achilles heel • acid test • across the board • act out • all right (3) • and then some • antsy • as a rule • as easy as pie • at the eleventh hour • act up • actions speak louder than words • ad lib • add fuel to the fire • add insult to injury • afraid so • after all • against all odds • against the grain • age before beauty • age of majority • ahead of the curve • ahead of the game • ain't • ain't half-bad • air rage • air was blue • airhead • airy-fairy • a.k.a. (aka) • all around Robin Hood's barn • all decked out • all ears • all eyes • all fired up • all get-out • all goes well • all hat and no cattle • all hell broke loose • all his marbles • all in • all in a day's work • all in all • all it's cracked up to be • all joking aside • all-out • all over but the shouting • all over hell's half acre • all set • all she wrote • all shook up • all show • all spruced up • all talk and no action • all teed up • all that jazz • all the bells and whistles • all the livelong day • all the marbles • all the tea in China • all the way to Egery and back • all the world's a stage • all things being equal • all things to all people • all thumbs • all walks of life • all washed up • all wet • all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy • all your eggs in one basket • all's fair in love and war • all's well that ends well • along for the ride • along those lines • American as apple pie
   • an ace up your sleeve • an airhead • an apple a day keeps the doctor away • an attitude • an axe to grind • an earful • an easy mark • an even keel • an eye for an eye (a tooth for a tooth) • an offer I couldn't refuse • an old hand at • an old warhorse • an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure • anal retentive • anchor you • and how • and stuff • and that's that • and then some • angels fear to tread • another nail in your coffin • ante up • any old thing • any way you slice it • any word • anything goes • apple a day • apple of this eye • apple-pie order • armed to the teeth • around Robin Hood's barn • around the bend • around the clock • as a matter to fact • as all get-out • as American as apple pie • as busy as a beaver • as clean as a whistle • as drunk as a skunk • as dumb as a sack of hammers • as far as I know • as full as a tick • as if • as luck would have it • as new • as plain as day • as plain as the nose on your face • as poor as a church mouse • as right as rain • as scarce as hen's teeth • as sick as a dog • as sick as a parrot • as slow as a dead snail • as slow as molasses in January • as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar • as sure as shit • as the crow flies • as useless as a fifth wheel • as useless as tits on a boar • ask for it • ask for the moon • asking price • asleep at the switch • ass • ass [B] • ass into gear • ass on the line • ass over teakettle • at a glance • at a good clip • at a loss for words • at a moment's notice • at all • at bay • at death's door • at ease • at face value • at fault • at first glance • at first light • at heart • at it again • at least • at liberty • at loggerheads • at loose ends • at my wit's end • at odds • at one fell swoop • at once • at one time • at peace • at rest • at sixes and sevens • at stake • at the crack of dawn • at the drop of a hat • at the end of my rope/ at the end of my tether • at the hands of • at the ripe old age • at the top of her game • at the top of his voice • at the wheel • at this point in time • at will • at your beck and call • at your fingertips • attaboy • attagirl • away out • away out of line • away to the races • awesome • axe to grind

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Entries B -- idiomB.htm

• babe • babe in arms • babe in the woods • baby blues • baby boomer • back at it • back at ya • back down • back off • back on your feet • back out • back teeth are floating • back to square one • back to the drawing board • back to the grind • back up • back you • back yourself into a corner • backpack (business) • backroom boys • backside • back up • bad apple • bad blood • bad breath • bad date • bad news • bad taste in my mouth • badmouth • bafflegab • bag and baggage • bag lady • bag of tricks • bag some rays • bagel • bah • bail me out • bail out • balance of power • balderdash • ball her [B] • ball-park figure • ball's in your court • ballistic • baloney • bam • bananas • bandwidth • bang [B] • bang for your buck • bang on • bank on • bankroll • baptism by fire • bar fly • bar hop • bar none • bar star • bare bones • bare-faced lie • bare your soul • barf • bark is worse than his bite • bark up the wrong tree • barnburner • bash • basket case • basta la musica • bat a thousand • bat an eye • bat five hundred • bat her eyes • bated breath • battleaxe • batty • bawl me out • be-all, end-all • be my guest • be my undoing • be off • be there • be there for me • be there or be square • be yourself • bean pole • bear down • bear the brunt • beat a dead horse • beat a hasty retreat • beat around the bush • beat it • beat the pants off • beat the rap • beat up • beat up on • beat your head against a stone wall • beat your time • beater • beauty is in the eye of the beholder • beauty is only skin deep • beck and call • become of • becomes you • bed down • beef it up • beehive of activity • beeline • been around • been had • before you can say Jack Robinson • beg off • beg to differ • beg your pardon • beggars can't be choosers • begs the question • behind bars • behind the curve • behind the eight ball • behind the scenes • behind your back • being there • believe my ears • believe my eyes • bells and whistles • belly up • belly up to the bar • bellyache • below the poverty line • belt you • bend over backwards • bend the rules • bend your ear • bend your elbow • benefit of the doubt • beside myself • beside the point • best interests at heart • best laid plans • best of both worlds • bet on • bet on a lame rooster • bet you dollars to donuts • better half • better late than never • better off • better than a kick in the ass [B] • better than sex • better the devil you know • better to have loved • between a rock and a hard place • between sixes and sevens • between the devil and the deep blue sea • betwixt and between • bevy of beauties • beyond help • beyond me • beyond repair • beyond the call of duty • beyond the pale • biff/biffy • Big Apple • big boys • big break • big bucks • big cheese • big deal • big hairy deal • big picture • big rig • big shot • big-sky thinking • big time • big wheel • big wigs • Bigfoot • bigger fish to fry • bigger than life • bigger they are • bigmouth • bilk • bimbo • binner • birdbrain • birder • birds of a feather flock together • birthday suit • bit by bit • bit off • bitch • bitch [B] • bite me • bite off more than you can chew • bite the bullet • bite the dust • bite the hand that feeds you • bite your tongue • biter (curling) • bits and pieces • bitten by the same bug • bitter end • bitter pill • blab • blabbermouth • black eye • Black Friday • black-listed • black mark • black out • black sheep • blackout • blank • blast • blast you • blasted • bleeding heart • blessing in disguise • blind date • blind leading the blind • blood from a stone • blood is thicker than water • blood is up • blood money • bloody well • blotto • blow a bundle • blow a kiss • blow chunks • blow it • blow it out of proportion • blow it out your ear • blow it up (photo) • blow job [B] • blow me [B] • blow me down • blow me over • blow my cover • blow sky high • blow snakes (music) • blow the lid off • blow the whistle • blow them away • blow this joint • blow this Popsicle stand • blow to kingdom come • blow up • blow you away • blow you out of the water • blow your lid/stack/top • blow your mind • blow your stones [B] • blow your wad • blue • blue-collar worker • blue in the face • blue moon • blue sky • blurt out • boarding • Bob's your uncle • bodacious • body language • boggle your mind • bogof • boiling mad • bolt from the blue • bomb around • bomb out • bone dry • bone of contention • bone to pick • bone up on • bonkers • bonzer • booboo • boobs [B] • boogie • book worm • booked/booked up • boom box • boom or bust • boot it • boot up • bootleg • booze • boozing buddies •

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Entries C -- idiomC.htm

• c'est la vie • Cabbagetown • cabin fever • cackleberries • call a spade a spade • call attention to • call for • call his bluff • call into account • call it a day • call it quits • call it square • call off • call off the dogs • call on • call tabs • call the shots • call up • calm before the storm • calm down •

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Entries D -- idiomD.htm

• dad-blamed • damaged goods • damn it [B] • damn the luck [B] • damn you [B] • damned if you do and damned if you don't • dampen your spirits • dance with the one who brought you • dapper Dan • daredevil • dark horse • dark side • darken a church door • dam • dam it • dam my luck • dam right • dam tooting • dasein • dash off a note/letter •

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Entries E -- idiomE.htm

• each to his own • eager beaver • eagle eyes • ear candy • ear to the ground • earful • early bird • ears are burning • ears lowered • ears pinned back • ease up • easy as pie • easy come, easy go • easy pickings • easy street • easy time out • eat crow • eat high off the hog • eat humble pie •

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Entries F -- idiomF.htm

• F-word • face facts • face the music • face up • fag/faggot • faint of heart • fair game • fair-haired boy • fair shake • fair to middling • fair-weather friend • fake it • folderol • fall apart (at the seams) • fall asleep • fall behind • fall between the cracks • fall between two stools • fall flat on my face • fall for •

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Entries G -- idiomG.htm

• gab • gadzooks • game for anything • game one • game over • Gang of Four • gang up on • garage kept • gas • gash • gathering dust • gear up • gee • gee willickers • gee whiz • geek • geez • geezer • geezer gap • Generation X •

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Entries H -- idiomH.htm

• hack/hacker • had a bellyful • had a couple • had a few • had better • had enough • had his bell rung • had it • had it up to here • had the bird • hail a cab • hail-fellow-well-met • hair off the dog that bit you • hair stand on end • hairbrain • hairdo • hale and hearty • half-assed [B] •

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Entries I -- idiomI.htm

• I smell where you're stepping • I'll be a monkey's uncle • I'm afraid so • icing on the cake • idiot lights • if a mussel doesn't open don't eat it • if looks could kill • if my memory serves me correctly • if only • if that doesn't beat all • if the shoe fits, wear it  • if you can't cut it, you can't stay • if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen • if you're born to hand, you won't drown • if you're not with us you're against us • ignorance is bliss • in a bad way • in a big way • in a bit •

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Entries J -- idiomJ.htm

• jack me around • jack of all trades • jam • jam session • jam tart • jam/jam out • jazz up • je ne sais quoi • jeepers • jerk • jerk me around • jerk off [B] • jewels • jig is up • jim dandy • jimminy crickets • jive ass [B] • jock • joe-job • Joe Who • jog your memory • john

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Entries K -- idiomK.htm

• kaput • keep a lid on it • keep a low profile • keep a promise • keep a secret • keep a stiff upper lip • keep a straight face • keep an even keel • keep an eye on • keep an eye open • keep an eye out • keep an open mind • keep fit • keep in good shape • keep in line • keep in the loop • keep in touch • keep it down • keep it quiet • keep it to yourself •

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Entries L -- idiomL.htm

• lady-killer • laid back • laid bare • laid off • laid up • lame duck • lamebrain • land on your feet • land up • landlubber • lap of luxury • lap up • lard butt/lard ass [B] • larger than life • lark • last but not least • last call • last-ditch • last hurrah • last legs •

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Entries M -- idiomM.htm

• mad about • mad about • mad as a hatter • mad hatter • made for each other • mainstream • major (credit) • make a beeline • make a big deal of it • make a big to-do • make a booboo • make a bundle • make a clean breast of it • make a clean sweep • make a comeback • make a difference • make a face • make a false move • make a federal case of it •

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Entries N -- idiomN.htm

• nada • nag • nail-biter • nail down • nail him • nail in your coffin • nail it down • naked as a jay bird • naked eye • name-dropper • name is cleared • name is mud • nary a word • natural high • nature calls • navel-gazing • nay • neat • necessity is the mother of invention •

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Entries O -- idiomO.htm

• odd one • odds and ends • odds-on favorite • of course you can • of the lot • of two minds • off • off-beat • off color • off key • off kilter • off my back • off the bat • off the beaten track • off the cuff • off the deep end • off the hook • off the kitchen etc. • off the mark • off the record •

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Entries P -- idiomP.htm

• P's and Q's • pack a punch • pack a rod • pack it in • pack uzis • pad • pad an expense account • paddle your own canoe • pain in the ass • pain in the butt • paint a picture • paint the town red • paint with the same brush • pair off/pair up • pale by comparison • paltry sum • pan out • parachute • pardon me • part and parcel •

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Entries Q -- idiomQ.htm

• quake in his boots • question of • quick and dirty • quick like a bunny • quick on the draw • quick study • quicker than you can say Jack Robinson • quickie • quit this place • quit while you're ahead

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Entries R -- idiomR.htm

• rabbit • rabbit died • rabbit food • rabble-rouser • rack my brain • rack up • rad • rags • rags to riches • ragtop • railroad • rain check • rain on their parade • raining cats and dogs • raise a stink • raise an eyebrow • raise Cain • raise hell [B] • raise money • raise the bar •

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Entries S -- idiomS.htm

• sabre rattling • sack of hammers • sack out • sacred cow • sacred moose • sad sack • saddle up • saddled with • salt away • salt of the earth • salty • same here • same to you • Saskatchewan pheasant • Sasquatch • sassy • save a bundle • save face • save for a rainy day • save your bacon •

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Entries T -- idiomT.htm

• tail between his legs • tail lights • tail wagging the dog • tailgate • take a back seat • take a boo • take a bow • take a break • take a bullet • take a chance • take a dive • take a drive/trip • take a dump [B] • take a flight • take a gander • take a guess • take a hike • take a joke • take a leak [B] •

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Entries U -- idiomU.htm

• U-turn • uh-huh • uh-uh • under a spell • under arrest • under control • under fire • under his own steam • under my belt • under my breath • under my care • under my nose • under my skin • under my wing • under oath • under pressure • under the influence of alcohol • under the table • under the weather • under the wire •

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Entries V -- idiomV.htm

• vale of tears (valley of tears) • vamoose • variety is the spice of life • vegetate (veg out) • VIP • virgin territory • virtual reality • visit a spell • vote of thanks •

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Entries W -- idiomW.htm

• wack • wacko • wacky • wait a minute • wait a sec • wait around • wait for the other shoe to drop • wait on customers • wait on tables • wait on you hand and foot • wait up • wait up for • wait with bated breath • wake up • wake up and smell the coffee • wake-up call • wake up on the wrong side of bed • wake with a start • walk •

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Entries X -- idiomX.htm

• X Generation • x marks the spot • x-rated • XL

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Entries Y -- idiomY.htm

• ya • yada • yak • yawner • yellow • yellow belly • yeow • yep • yeppers • yikes • yin yang • yo • yokel • yonder over there • you and the horse you rode in on • you bet your boots • you betcha • you can bet your bottom dollar • you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink • you can run but you can't hide •

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Entries Z -- idiomZ.htm

• zap • zig when you should zag • zilch • zinger • zip • zip/zippo • zipperhead • zit • zonked • zoo • zoom • zoom in •

 

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References

Comenius. THE COMENIUS GROUP www.comenius.com

ESL Cafe. by Dennis Oliver in Dave Sperling's Dave's ESL Cafe, Copyright © 1995-2002 Dave's ESL Cafewww.eslcafe.com

Magnuson. English Idioms, Sayings and Slangs by Wayne Magnuson   Copyright ©1995-2002 Wayne Magnuson,
¤ http://home.t-online.de/home/toni-goeller/idiom_wm/ (2002)
¤ http://www.englishidioms.uni.cc/ (080727)

 

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UKT notes

 

 

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End of TIL file