LEARN IDIOMS
A BUSY BEE
Meaning: SOMEONE WHO IS ALWAYS DOING A LOT OF THINGS
Example: You really are a busy bee!
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A BAD EGG
Meaning: A VERY BAD PERSON
Example: Emma is a bad egg.
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A CAT NAP
Meaning: A SHORT SLEEP DURING THE DAY
Example: I'll take a cat nap in the car.
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A COUCH POTATO
Meaning: A LAZY PERSON
Example: Turn off the TV, you couch potato!
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A DIME A DOZEN
Meaning: VERY COMMON, LOW VALUE
Example: Coaching classes are a dime a dozen.
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A HOT POTATO
Meaning: A PROBLEM THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH
Example: The issue is a hot potato in this team.
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A PIECE OF CAKE
Meaning: EASY OR SIMPLE
Example: The test was a piece of cake.
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A SHORT FUSE
Meaning: TO GET ANGRY EASILY
Example: She has a short fuse.
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A TALL ORDER
Meaning: A DIFFICULT TASK
Example: That's a tall order.
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ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE
Meaning: TO WORSEN A CONFLICT
Example: Don't add fuel to the fire.
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ALL WET
Meaning: COMPLETELY MISTAKEN
Example: The student is all wet.
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AIRY FAIRY
Meaning: FANCIFUL, IMPRACTICAL, UNREALISTIC...
Example: My dad always had these airy-fairy ideas.
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AS BLIND AS A BAT
Meaning: UNABLE TO SEE WELL
Example: He's as blind as a bat.
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ASS COOL AS A CUCUMBER
Meaning: VERY CALM, RELAXED
Example: He looks as cool as a cucumber.
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BEHIND THE TIMES
Meaning: AN OLD-FASHIONED PERSON
Example: He's a little behind the times.
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BIG CHEESE
Meaning: AN IMPORTANT PERSON
Example: She's a big cheese in the office.
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BLOW UP
Meaning: TO BECOME SUDDENLY VERY ANGRY
Example: He may blow up then.
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BREAK A LEG
Meaning: WISH SOMEONE GOOD LUCK
Example: I told her to break a leg tonight.
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BREAK UP
Meaning: TO END A RELATIONSHIP
Example: Tim broke up with Megan.
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BRING HOME THE BACON
Meaning: EARN THE INCOME
Example: I have to bring home the bacon.
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BUN IN THE OVEN
Meaning: TO BE PREGNANT
Example: She has a bun in the oven.
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BUTTER SOMEONE UP
Meaning: TO FLATTER SOMEONE EXCESSIVELY
Example: He's trying to butter up the boss.
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CALL IT A DAY
Meaning: STOP WORKING ON SOMETHING
Example: Let's call it a day.
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CHASE RAINBOWS
Meaning: TO PURSUE UNREALISTIC GOALS
Example: You should stop chasing rainbows.
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CHICKEN HEARTED
Meaning: COWARDLY, EASILY FRIGHTENED
Example: You're so chicken hearted.
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CHILD'S PLAY
Meaning: SOMETHING VERY EASY, SIMPLE
Example: It was child's play.
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CHILL OUT
Meaning: TO RELAX
Example: You need to child out.
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CRACK SOMEONE UP
Meaning: TO MAKE SOMEONE LAUGH
Example: You crack me up!
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CREAM OF THE CROP
Meaning: THE BEST
Example: You're the cream of the crop.
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CRYING WOLF
Meaning: TO RAISE A FALSE ALARM
Example: He's definitely crying wolf.
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DONKEY'S YEARS
Meaning: VERY LONG TIME
Example: We've been friends for donkey's years.
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DRAW THE LINE
Meaning: TO PUT A LIMIT
Example: Now is when I draw the line.
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EASY AS PIE
Meaning: VERY EASY
Example: It´s as easy as pie.
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EASY MONEY
Meaning: MONEY THAT CAN BE EARNED WITHOUT EFFORT
Example: I'm making easy money.
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EAT CROW
Meaning: TO HAVE TO ADMIT A HUMILIATING ERROR
Example: I had to eat crow.
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EAT HUMBLE PIE
Meaning: TO ADMIT DEFEAT OR ERROR
Example: He had to eat humble pie.
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EAT OUT
Meaning: TO EAT IN A RESTAURANT
Example: Let's eat out tonight.
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ELEVENTH HOUR
Meaning: AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT
Example:
UK He cancelled at the eleventh hour.
US He canceled at the eleventh hour.
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FIT AS A FIDDLE
Meaning: VERY STRONG AND HEALTHY
Example: The kid is fit as a fiddle.
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GET THE PICTURE
Meaning: UNDERSTAND A SITUATION
Example: Ok, now I get the picture.
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GO-GETTER
Meaning: SOMEONE EAGER TO SUCCEED
Example: He's known as a go-getter.
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GO APE
Meaning: EXPRESS WILD EXCITEMENT OR ANGER
Example: She will go ape over it.
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GO NUTS
Meaning: TO LOSE REASON
Example: I go nuts when my team wins.
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GO THE EXTRA MILE
Meaning: MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT
Example: You need to go the extra mile.
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GREEN WITH ENVY
Meaning: VERY JEALOUS
Example: Her car makes my green with envy.
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HAT TRICK
Meaning: TO SCORE THREE GOALS IN THE SAME FOOTBALL MATCH
Example: He scored a hat trick.
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HAVE A BLAST
Meaning: TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN
Example: We had a blast at Disneyland.
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HAVE A NOSE FOR
Meaning: TO HAVE NATURAL ABILITY AT SOMETHING
Example: I have a nose for numbers.
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HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Meaning: LIVING IN A FANTASY
Example: He has the head in the clouds.
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HEART AND SOUL
Meaning: COMPLETELY, ABSOLUTELY
Example: I put my heart and soul into it.
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HEART IN YOUR MOUTH
Meaning: TO BE VERY NERVOUS
Example: I've my heart in my mouth today.
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HIT THE BOOKS
Meaning: TO STUDY VERY HARD
Example: I need to hit the books for the exam.
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HIT THE BULL'S EYE
Meaning: GET SOMETHING EXACTLY RIGHT
Example: Your idea hit the bull's eye.
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HIT THE HAY
Meaning: GO TO BED
Example: It's too late to watch tv, hit the hay.
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HIT THE ROAD
Meaning: TO LEAVE, TO BEGIN A JOURNEY
Example: Let's hit the road.
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HIT THE ROOF
Meaning: TO BECOME VERY ANGRY
Example: She hit the roof when she saw the mess.
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HOLD YOUR HORSES
Meaning: SLOW DOWN AND THINK
Example: Just hold your horses and listen!
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IN A HEARTBEAT
Meaning: IMMEDIATELY!
Example: I'll do it in a heartbeat.
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IN A NUTSHELL
Meaning: VERY BRIEF, STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
Example: The answer, in a nutshell, is no.
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IN HOT WATER
Meaning: TO BE IN TROUBLE
Example: I crushed mum's car, I'm in hot water!
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IN THE DARK
Meaning: NOT INFORMED
Example: This week I am in the dark.
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ITCHY FEET
Meaning: A STRONG IMPULSE TO TRAVEL
Example: I've got itchy feet.
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IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE
Meaning: IT'S NOT DIFFICULT
Example: Cooking is not rocket science.
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LEND AN EAR
Meaning: LISTEN
Example: Lend me an ear for a moment.
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LIVE IT UP
Meaning: THE ENJOY LIFE REGARDLESS OF COST
Example: Live it up! You're on vacation.
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MAKE WAVES
Meaning: TO CAUSE TROUBLE
Example: He likes to make waves.
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MISS THE BOAT
Meaning: TO LOSE THE CHANCE
Example: The buyer missed the boat.
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NIGHT OWL
Meaning: LOVES TO STAY UP LATE
Example: My brother is a night owl.
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NOT HAVE A CLUE
Meaning: TO HAVE NOT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOMETHING
Example: I haven't got a clue.
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ON CLOUD NINE
Meaning: EXTREMELY HAPPY
Example: She loves me! I'm on cloud nine.
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ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
Meaning: NOT VERY OFTEN, RARELY
Example: I eat fish once in a blue moon.
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ON THE DOWN LOW
Meaning: KEEP SOMETHING SECRET
Example: Keep it on the down low.
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ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Meaning: GREAT - FANTASTIC SITUATION OR FEELING
Example: I'm feeling on top of the world.
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PEACH
Meaning: A BEAUTIFUL PERSON OR THING
Example: She's a peach.
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PIE IN THE SKY
Meaning: AN IDEA THAT IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN
Example: That's just a pie in the sky.
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PIG OUT
Meaning: TO EAT TOO MUCH FOOD
Example: I pigged out this week.
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PLAY WITH FIRE
Meaning: TO DO SOMETHING RISKY OR DANGEROUS
Example: You're playing with fire.
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POP THE QUESTION
Meaning: TO PROPOSE MARRIAGE
Example: Did he pop the question then?
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PUT THE BRAKES ON
Meaning: TO LOW OR STOP ONE'S ACTIVITY
Example: Put the brakes on and think.
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RINGS A BELL
Meaning: SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR
Example: Her name rings a bell.
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SELL LIKE HOTCAKES
Meaning: TO SELL QUICKLY IN LARGE AMOUNTS
Example: These books sell like hotcakes!
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SMALL BEER
Meaning: UNIMPORTANT, INSIGNIFICANT
Example: This problem is a small beer.
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SMART COOKIE
Meaning: SOMEONE WHO IS CLEVER
Example: Haley is a smart cookie.
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SPILL THE BEANS
Meaning: TO TELL A SECRET
Example: Now don't spill the beans!
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STEAL SOMEONE'S THUNDER
Meaning: UPSTAGE SOMEONE
Example: Sandy stole my thunder.
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SUGAR AND SPICE
Meaning: VERY NICE OR KIND
Example: My daughter is sugar and spice.
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TIE THE KNOT
Meaning: TO GET MARRIED
Example: They finally tied the knot.
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TIME IS MONEY
Meaning: TIME IS IMPORTANT, VALUABLE
Example: Hurry up! Time is money.
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TO CLEAR THE AIR
Meaning: DEFUSE THE TENSION
Example: We need to clear the air.
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TO FEEL OUT OF SPORTS
Meaning: TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT ILL
Example: I'm feeling a bit out of sports today.
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TO THE LETTER
Meaning: EXACTLY
Example: Follow the orders to the letter.
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TOP BANANA
Meaning: THE CHIEF, LEADER, BOSS
Example: Talk to the top banana.
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TURN TAIL
Meaning: RUN AWAY FROM TROUBLE
Example: He turned tail and ran away.
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UNDER THE WEATHER
Meaning: NOT FEELING WELL
Example: I've been under the weather.
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UNDER WRAPS
Meaning: SECRET OR HIDDEN
Example: Keep it under wraps.
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UP FOR GRABS
Meaning: AVAILABLE TO ANYONE
Example: The job is up for grabs.
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UPHILL CLIMB
Meaning: A DIFFICULT PROCESS
Example: It feels like an uphill climb.
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USE YOUR NOODLE
Meaning: USE YOUR BRAIN
Example: Use your noodle and solve this.
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WALK ON AIR
Meaning: TO FEEL EXTREMELY HAPPY
Example: I was walking on air for days.
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WHEN PIGS FLY
Meaning: UNLIKELY TO EVER HAPPEN
Example: I'll go when pigs fly.
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ZIP YOUR LIP
Meaning: TO STOP TALKING OR REMAIN SOMETHING SECRET
Example: Tell him to zip his lip!
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