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Face like thunder
If someone has a face like thunder, they are clearly very angry or upset about something.
Face only a mother could love
When someone has a face only a mother could love, they are ugly.
Face the music
If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.
Face value
If you take something at face value, you accept the appearance rather than looking deeper into the matter.
Face your demons
If you face your demons, you confront your fears or something that you have been trying hard to avoid.
Facts of life
When someone is taught the facts of life, they learn about sex and reproduction.
Failure is the mother of success
Failure is often a stepping stone towards success.
Faint heart never won fair lady
This means that you will not get the partner of your dreams if you lack the confidence to let them know how you feel.
Fair and square
If someone wins something fair and square, they follow the rules and win conclusively.
Fair crack of the whip
(UK) If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fair shake of the whip
(USA) If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fair thee well
Meaning completely and fully: I am tied up today to a fair-thee-well.
Fairweather friend
A fairweather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.
Fall by the wayside
To fall by the wayside is to give up or fail before completion.
Fall from grace
If a person falls from grace, they lose favor with someone.
Fall off the back of a lorry
(UK) If someone tries to sell you something that has fallen of the back of a lorry, they are trying to sell you stolen goods.
Fall off the turnip truck
(USA) If someone has just fallen off the turnip truck, they are uninformed, naive and gullible. (Often used in the negative)
Fall off the wagon
If someone falls off the wagon, they start drinking after having given up completely for a time.
Fall on our feet
If you fall on your feet, you succeed in doing something where there was a risk of failure.
Fall on your sword
If someone falls on their sword, they resign or accept the consequences of some wrongdoing.
Familiarity breeds contempt
This means that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.
Famous last words
This expression is used as a way of showing disbelief or rejection. ‘They said we had no chance of winning- famous last words!’
Fast and furious
Things that happen fast and furious happen very quickly without stopping or pausing.
Fat cat
A fat cat is a person who makes a lot of money and enjoys a privileged position in society.
Fat chance!
This idiom is a way of telling someone they have no chance.
Fat head
A fat head is a dull, stupid person.
Fat hits the fire
When the fat hits the fire, trouble breaks out.
Fat of the land
Living off the fat of the land means having the best of everything in life.
Fate worse than death
Describing something as a fate worse than death is a fairly common way of implying that it is unpleasant.
Feast today, famine tomorrow
If you indulge yourself with all that you have today, you may have to go without tomorrow.
Feather in your cap
A success or achievement that may help you in the future is a feather in your cap.
Feather your own nest
If someone feathers their own nest, they use their position or job for personal gain.
Feathers fly
When people are fighting or arguing angrily, we can say that feathers are flying.
Fed up to the back teeth
When you are extremely irritated and fed up with something or someone, you are fed up to the back teeth.
Feel at home
If you feel relaxed and comfortable somewhere or with someone, you feel at home.
Feel free
If you ask for permission to do something and are told to feel free, the other person means that there is absolutely no problem
Feel like a million
If you feel like a million, you are feeling very well (healthy) and happy.
Feel the pinch
If someone is short of money or feeling restricted in some other way, they are feeling the pinch.
Feeling blue
If you feel blue, you are feeling unwell, mainly associated with depression or unhappiness.
Feet of clay
If someone has feet of clay, they have flaws that make them seem more human and like normal people.
Feet on the ground
A practical and realistic person has their feet on the ground.
Fence sitter
Someone that try to support both side of an argument without committing to either is a fence sitter.
Few and far between
If things are few and far between, they happen very occasionally.
Fiddle while Rome burns
If people are fiddling while Rome burns, they are wasting their time on futile things while problems threaten to destroy them.
Fifth columnist
(UK) A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organization who tries to help an enemy invade.
Fifth wheel
(USA) A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless.
Fight an uphill battle
When you fight an uphill battle, you have to struggle against very unfavorable circumstances.
Fight tooth and nail
If someone will fight tooth and nail for something, they will not stop at anything to get what they want. (‘Fight tooth and claw’ is an alternative.)
Fighting chance
If you have a fighting chance, you have a reasonable possibility of success.
Find your feet
When you are finding your feet, you are in the process of gaining confidence and experience in something.
Fine and dandy
(UK) If thing’s are fine and dandy, then everything is going well.
Fine tuning
Small adjustments to improve something or to get it working are called fine tuning.
Fine words butter no parsnips
This idiom means that it’s easy to talk, but talk is not action.
Finger in the pie
If you have a finger in the pie, you have an interest in something.
Fingers and thumbs
If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are being clumsy and not very skilled with your hands.
Fire away
If you want to ask someone a question and they tell you to fire away, they mean that you are free to ask what you want.
Fire in the hole!
This is used as a warning when a planned explosion is about to happen.
Fire on all cylinders
If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could.
First come, first served
This means there will be no preferential treatment and a service will be provided to those that arrive first.
First out of the gate
When someone is first out of the gate, they are the first to do something that others are trying to do.
First port of call
The first place you stop to do something is your first port of call.
Fish in troubled waters
Someone who fishes in troubled waters tries to takes advantage of a shaky or unstable situation. The extremists were fishing in troubled waters during the political uncertainty in the country.
Fish or cut bait
(USA) This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.
Fish out of water
If you are placed in a situation that is completely new to you and confuses you, you are like a fish out of water.
Fishy
If there is something fishy about someone or something, there is something suspicious; a feeling that there is something wrong, though it isn’t clear what it is.
Fit as a fiddle
If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.
Fit for a king
If something is fit for a king, it is of the very highest quality or standard.
Fit like a glove
If something fits like a glove, it is suitable or the right size.
Fit of pique
If someone reacts badly because their pride is hurt, this is a fit of pique.
Fit the bill
If something fits the bill, it is what is required for the task.
Fit to be tied
If someone is fit to be tied, they are extremely angry.
Five o’clock shadow
A five o’clock shadow is the facial hair that a man gets if he doesn’t shave for a day or two.
Flash in the pan
If something is a flash in the pan, it is very noticeable but doesn’t last long, like most singers, who are very successful for a while, then forgotten.
Flat as a pancake
It is so flat that it is like a pancake- there is no head on that beer it is as flat as a pancake.
Flat out
If you work flat out, you work as hard and fast as you possibly can.
Fleet of foot
If someone is fleet of foot, they are very quick.
Flesh and blood
Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.
Flogging a dead horse
(UK) If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they’re flogging a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
Flowery speech
Flowery speech is full of lovely words, but may well lack substance.
Fly by the seat of one’s pants
If you fly by the seat of one’s pants, you do something difficult even though you don’t have the experience or training required.
Fly in the ointment
A fly in the ointment is something that spoils or prevents complete enjoyment of something.
Fly off the handle
If someone flies off the handle, they get very angry.
Fly on the wall
If you are able to see and hear events as they happen, you are a fly on the wall.
Fly the coop
When children leave home to live away from their parents, they fly the coop.
Fly the flag
If someone flies the flag, they represent or support their country. (‘Wave the flag’ and ’show the flag’ are alternative forms of this idiom)
Foam at the mouth
If you foam at the mouth, you are very, very angry.
Follow your nose
When giving directions, telling someone to follow their nose means that they should go straight ahead.
Food for thought
If something is food for thought, it is worth thinking about or considering seriously.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
This means that you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
This idiom is used where people who are inexperienced or lack knowledge do something that more informed people would avoid.
Foot in mouth
This is used to describe someone who has just said something embarrassing, inappropriate, wrong or stupid.
Foot in the door
If you have or get your foot in the door, you start working in a company or organization at a low level, hoping that you will be able to progress from there.
Foot the bill
The person who foots the bill pays the bill for everybody.
Football’s a game of two halves
(UK) If something’s a game of two halves, it means that it’s possible for someone’s fortunes or luck to change and the person who’s winning could end up a loser.
For a song
If you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap.
For donkey’s years
(UK) If people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey’s years.
For England
(UK) A person who talks for England, talks a lot- if you do something for England, you do it a lot or to the limit.
For kicks
If you do something for kicks, or just for kicks, you do it purely for fun or thrills.
For my money
This idiom means ‘in my opinion’.
For Pete’s sake
This is used as an exclamation to show exasperation or irritation.
For the birds
If something is worthless or ridiculous, it is for the birds.
For the love of Pete
Usually used in exasperation, as in ‘Oh, for the love of Pete!’
For the time being
For the time being indicates that an action or state will continue into the future, but is temporary. I’m sharing an office for the time being.
Forbidden fruit
Something enjoyable that is illegal or immoral is forbidden fruit.
Foregone conclusion
If the result of, say, a football match is a foregone conclusion, then the result is obvious before the game has even begun.
Forest for the trees
(USA) If someone can’t see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
Fortune knocks once at every man’s door
Everyone gets one good chance in a lifetime.
Foul play
If the police suspect foul play, they think a crime was committed.
Four corners of the earth
If something goes to, or comes from, the four corners of the earth, it goes or comes absolutely everywhere.
Four-eyes
A person who wears glasses
Four-square behind
If someone stands four-square behind someone, they give that person their full support.
Fourth estate
This is an idiomatic way of describing the media, especially the newspapers.
Free rein
If someone has a free rein, they have the authority to make the decisions they want without any restrictions. (‘Free reign’ is a common mistake.)
Free-for-all
A free-for-all is a fight or contest in which everyone gets involved and rules are not respected.
French leave
To take French leave is to leave a gathering without saying goodbye or without permission.
Fresh from the oven
If something is fresh from the oven, it is very new.
Freudian Slip
If someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking rather than what they think the other person wants to hear.
Friendly footing
When relationships are on a friendly footing, they are going well.
Frog in my throat
If you have a frog in your throat, you can’t speak or you are losing your voice because you have a problem with your throat.
From a different angle
If you look at something from a different angle, you look at it from a different point of view.
From Missouri
(USA) If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.
From pillar to post
If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from one disaster to another.
From rags to riches
Someone who starts life very poor and makes a fortune goes from rags to riches.
From scratch
This idiom means ‘from the beginning’.
From soup to nuts
If you do something from soup to nuts, you do it from the beginning right to the very end.
From the bottom of your heart
If someone does something from the bottom of their heart, then they do it with genuine emotion and feeling.
From the get-go
(USA) If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very beginning.
From the horse’s mouth
If you hear something from the horse’s mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned or responsible.
From the sublime to the ridiculous
If something declines considerably in quality or importance, it is said to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.
From the word go
From the word go means from the very beginning of something.
Full as a tick
If you are as full as a tick, you have eaten too much.
Full bore
If something is full bore, it involves the maximum effort or is complete and thorough.
Full circle
When something has come full circle, it has ended up where it started.
Full Monty
(UK) If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.
Full of beans
If someone’s full of beans, they are very energetic.
Full of hot air
Someone who is full of hot air talks a lot of rubbish.
Full of oneself
Someone who acts in a arrogant or egotistical manner is full of himself/herself.
Full of piss and vinegar
Someone who’s full of piss and vinegar is full of youthful energy.
Full of the joys of spring
If you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy.
Full swing
If a something is in full swing, it is going or doing well.
Full throttle
If you do something full throttle, you do it with as much speed and energy as you can.
Fullness of time
If something happens in the fullness of time, it will happen when the time is right and appropriate.
Fur coat and no knickers
Someone with airs and graces, but no real class is fur coat and no knickers.
Fuzzy thinking
Thinking or ideas that do not agree with the facts or information available
G
Game on
When someone says ‘Game on!’, it means that they are accepting a challenge or ready to get something done.
Game plan
A game plan is a strategy.
Garbage fee
A garbage fee is a charge that has no value and doesn’t provide any real service.
Garbage in, garbage out
If a computer system or database is built badly, then the results will be bad.
Gardening leave
(UK) If someone is paid for a period when they are not working, either after they have given in their notice or when they are being investigated, they are on gardening leave.
Gather pace
If events gather pace, they move faster.
Gather steam
If something gathers speed, it moves or progresses at an increasing speed.
Get a grip
If you get a grip, you control your emotions so that they don’t overwhelm you.
Get a handle on
When you get a handle on something, you come to understand it.
Get a sheepskin
Getting a sheepskin (or your sheepskin) means getting a degree or diploma. (Sheepskin refers to the parchment that a degree is printed on- parchment comes from sheepskin.)
Get along famously
If people get along famously, they have an exceedingly good relationship.
Get away scot-free
If someone gets away scot-free, they are not punished when they have done something wrong. (‘Get off scot-free’ is an alternative.)
Get away with murder
If you get away with murder, you do something bad and don’t get caught or punished.(‘Get away with blue murder’ is also used.)
Get back on the horse that bucked you
When you start drinking again after being hangover from drinking the previous night.
Get in on the act
If people want to get in on the act, they want to participate in something that is currently profitable or popular.
Get in on the ground floor
If you get in on the ground floor, you enter a project or venture at the start before people know how successful it might be.
Get it in the neck
(UK) If you get it in the neck, you are punished or criticized for something.
Get it off your chest
If you get something off your chest, you confess to something that has been troubling you.
Get my drift
If you get someone’s drift, you understand what they are trying to say. (‘Catch their drift’ is an alternative form.)
Get off the ground
If a project or plan gets off the ground, it starts to be put into operation.
Get on like a house on fire
If people get on like a house on fire, they have a very close and good relationship.
Get on your nerves
If something gets on your nerves, it annoys or irritates you.
Get on your soapbox
If someone on their soapbox, they hold forth (talk a lot) about a subject they feel strongly about.
Get out of bed on the wrong side
If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you wake up and start the day in a bad mood for no real reason.
Get the axe
If you get the axe, you lose your job. (‘Get the ax’ is the American spelling.)
Get the ball rolling
If you get the ball rolling, you start something so that it can start making progress.
Get the green light
If you get the green light to do something, you are given the necessary permission, authorisation.
Get the monkey off your back
If you get the monkey off your back, you pass on a problem to someone else.
Get the nod
(UK) If you get the nod to something, you get approval or permission to do it.
Get the picture
If you get the picture, you understand a situation fully.
Get the show on the road
If you get the show on the road, you put a plan into operation or begin something.
Get to grips
If you get to grips with something, you take control and do it properly.
Get up and go
If someone has lots of get up and go, they have lots of enthusiasm and energy.
Get wind of
If you get wind of something, you hear or learn about it, especially if it was meant to be secret.
Get your ducks in a row
If you get your ducks in a row, you organize yourself and your life.
Get your feathers in a bunch
If you get your feathers in a bunch, you get upset or angry about something.
Get your feet wet
If you get your feet wet, you gain your first experience of something.
Get your goat
If something gets your goat, it annoys you.
Get your hands dirty
If you get your hands dirty, you become involved in something where the realities might compromise your principles. It can also mean that a person is not just stuck in an ivory tower dictating strategy, but is prepared to put in the effort and hard work to make the details actually happen.
Get your head around something
If you get your head around something, you come to understand it even though it is difficult to comprehend.
Get your teeth into
If you get your teeth into something, you become involved in or do something that is intellectually challenging or satisfying. (‘Dig you teeth into’ and ’sink your teeth into’ are also used.)
Get your wires crossed
If people get their wires cross, they misunderstand each other, especially when making arrangements. (‘Get your lines crossed’ is also used.)
Ghost of a chance
If something or someone hasn’t got a ghost of a chance, they have no hope whatsoever of succeeding.
Ghostly presence
You can feel or otherwise sense a ghostly presence, but you cannot do it clearly only vaguely.
Gift of the gab
If someone has the gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and interesting way.
Gild the lily
If you gild the lily, you decorate something that is already ornate.
Gilded cage
If someone is in a gilded cage, they are trapped and have restricted or no freedom, but have very comfortable surroundings- many famous people live in luxury but cannot walk out of their house alone.
Girl Friday
A girl Friday is a female employee who assists someone without any specific duties.
Give a big hand
Applaud by clapping hands. ‘Let’s give all the contestants a big hand.’
Give a dog a bad name
A person who is generally known to have been guilty of some offence will always be suspected to be the author of all similar types of offence. Once someone has gained a bad reputation, it is very difficult to lose it.
Give and take
Where there is give and take, people make concessions in order to get things they want in negotiations.
Give as good as you get
If you give as good as you get, you are prepared to treat people as badly as they treat you and to fight for what you believe.
Give it some stick
(UK) If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.
Give me a hand
If someone gives you a hand, they help you.
Give me five
If someone says this, they want to hit your open hand against theirs as a way of congratulation or greeting.
Give someone a leg up
If you give someone a leg up, you help them to achieve something that they couldn’t have done alone.
Give someone a piece of your mind
If you give someone a piece of your mind, you criticize them strongly and angrily.
Give someone a run for their money
If you can give someone a run for the money, you are as good, or nearly as good, as they are at something.
Give someone enough rope
If you give someone enough rope, you give them the chance to get themselves into trouble or expose themselves. (The full form is ‘give someone enough rope and they’ll hang themselves)
Give someone stick
(UK) If someone gives you stick, they criticize you or punish you.
Give someone the runaround
If someone gives you the runaround, they make excuses and give you false explanations to avoid doing something.
Give the nod
(UK) If you give the nod to something, you approve it or give permission to do it.
Give up the ghost
People give up the ghost when they die. Machines stop working when they give up the ghost.
Give your eye teeth
If you really want something and would be prepared to sacrifice a lot to get it, you would give your eye teeth for it.
Given the day that’s in it
(Irish) This idiom is used when something is obvious because of the day that it occurs: traffic, for example would be busy around a football stadium on game day, given the day that’s in it. On any other day the traffic would be unexplainable, but because its game day its obvious why there is traffic.
Glass ceiling
The glass ceiling is the discrimination that prevents women and minorities from getting promoted to the highest levels of companies and organizations.
Glory hound
A glory hound is a person seeking popularity, fame and glory.
Gloves are off
When the gloves are off, people start to argue or fight in a more serious way. (‘The gloves come off’ and ‘take the gloves off’ are also used. It comes from boxing, where fighters normally wear gloves so that they don’t do too much damage to each other.)
Glutton for punishment
If a person is described as a glutton for punishment, the happily accept jobs and tasks that most people would try to get out of. A glutton is a person who eats a lot.
Gnaw your vitals
If something gnaws your vitals, it troubles you greatly and affects you at a very deep level. (‘Gnaw at your vitals’ is also used.)
Go against the grain
A person who does things in an unconventional manner, especially if their methods are not generally approved of, is said to go against the grain. Such an individual can be called a maverick.
Go awry
If things go awry, they go wrong.
Go bananas
If you go bananas, you are wild with excitement, anxiety, or worry.
Go blue
If you go blue, you are very cold indeed. (‘Turn blue’ is an alternative form.)
Go bust
If a company goes bust, it goes bankrupt.
Go by the board
When something has gone by the board, it no longer exists or an opportunity has been lost.
Go by the boards
If something goes by the boards, it fails to get approved or accepted.
Go down like a cup of cold sick
(UK) An idea or excuse that will not be well accepted will go down like a cup of cold sick.
Go down like a lead balloon
(UK) If something goes down like a lead balloon, it fails or is extremely badly received.
Go down swinging
If you want to go down swinging, you know you will probably fail, but you refuse to give up.
Go down without a fight
If someone goes down without a fight, they surrender without putting up any resistance.
Go Dutch
If you go Dutch in a restaurant, you pay equal shares for the meal.
Go fly a kite
(USA) This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go for broke
If someone goes for broke, they risk everything they have for a potentially greater gain.
Go for the jugular
If you go for the jugular, you attack someone where they are most vulnerable.
Go fry an egg
(USA) This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go hand in hand
If things go hand in hand, they are associated and go together.
Go nuts
If someone goes nuts, they get excited over something.
Go off on a tangent
If someone goes off on a tangent, they change the subject completely in the middle of a conversation or talk.
Go over like a lead balloon
(USA) If something goes over like a lead balloon, it will not work well, or go over well.
Go overboard
If you go overboard, you do something excessively.
Go pear-shaped
If things have gone wrong, they have gone pear-shaped.
Go play in traffic
This is used as a way of telling someone to go away.
Go round in circles
If people are going round in circles, they keep discussing the same thing without reaching any agreement or coming to a conclusion.
Go south
If things go south, they get worse or go wrong.
Go spare
(UK) If you go spare, you lose your temper completely.
Go tell it to birds
This is used when someone says something that is not credible or is a lie.
Go the distance
If you go the distance, you continue until something ends, no matter how difficult.
Go the extra mile
If someone is prepared to go the extra mile, they will do everything they can to help or to make something succeed, going beyond their duty what could be expected of them .
Go the whole hog
If you go the whole hog, you do something completely or to its limits.
Go through the motions
When you go through the motions, you do something like an everyday routine and without any feelings whatsoever.
Go to seed
If someone has gone to seed, they have declined in quality or appearance.
Go to the wire
If someone goes to the wire, they risk their life, job, reputation, etc, to help someone.
Go to your head
If something goes to your head, it makes you feel vain. If alcohol goes to your head, it makes you feel drunk quickly.
Go under the hammer
If something goes under the hammer, it is sold in an auction.
Go west
If something goes west, it goes wrong. If someone goes west, they die.
Go with the flow
If you go with the flow, you accept things as they happen and do what everyone else wants to do.
Go-to guy
A go-to guy is a person whose knowledge of something is considerable so everyone wants to go to him or her for information or results.
Going concern
A successful and active business is a going concern.
Going Jesse
(USA) If something is a going Jesse, it’s a viable, successful project or enterprise.
Going overboard
If you go overboard with something, then you take something too far, or do too much.
Golden handshake
A golden handshake is a payment made to someone to get them to leave their job.
Golden rule
The golden rule is the most essential or fundamental rule associated with something. Originally, it was not a general reference to an all purpose first rule applicable to many groups or protocols, but referred to a verse in the Bible about treating people they way you would want them to treat you, which was considered the First Rule of behavior towards all by all.
Golden touch
Someone with a golden touch can make money from or be successful at anything they do.
Gone fishing
If someone has gone fishing, they are not very aware of what is happening around them.
Gone for a burton
(UK) If something’s gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined. If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious trouble or have died.
Gone pear-shaped
(UK) If things have gone pear-shaped they have either gone wrong or produced an unexpected and unwanted result.
Gone to pot
If something has gone to pot, it has gone wrong and doesn’t work anymore.
Gone to the dogs
If something has gone to the dogs, it has gone badly wrong and lost all the good things it had.
Good antennae
Someone with good antennae is good at detecting things.
Good as gold
If children are as good as gold, they behave very well.
Good egg
A person who can be relied on is a good egg. Bad egg is the opposite.
Good fences make good neighbors
This means that it is better for people to mind their own business and to respect the privacy of others. (‘Good fences make good neighbors’ is the American English spelling.)
Good hand
If you are a good hand at something, you do it well.
Good Samaritan
A good Samaritan is a person who helps others in need.
Good shape
If something’s in good shape, it’s in good condition. If a person’s in good shape, they are fit and healthy.
Good spell
A spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time; you’ll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a good spell when they’re performing consistently better than they normally do.
Good time
If you make good time on a journey, you manage to travel faster than you expected.
Good to go
Someone or something that meets one’s approval. ‘He is good to go.’ ‘The idea you had is good to go.’
Good walls make good neighbors
Your relationship with your neighbors depends, among other things, on respecting one another’s privacy.
Goody two-shoes
A goody two-shoes is a self-righteous person who makes a great deal of their virtue.
Grab the bulls by its horns
If you grab (take) the bull by its horns, you deal head-on and directly with a problem.
Grain of salt
If you should take something with a grain of salt, you shouldn’t necessarily believe it all. (‘pinch of salt’ is an alternative)
Grasp the nettle
(UK) If you grasp the nettle, you deal bravely with a problem.
Grass may be greener on the other side but it’s just as hard to mow
‘The grass may be greener on the other side but it’s just as hard to mow’ is an expression used to mean a person’s desire to have that which another person has in the belief it will make their life easieris false as all situations come with their own set of problems.
Grass roots
This idioms is often used in politics, where it refers to the ordinary people or voters. It can be used to mean people at the bottom of a hierarchy.
Grass widow
A grass widow is a woman whose husband is often away on work, leaving her on her own.
Graveyard shift
If you have to work very late at night, it is the graveyard shift.
Gravy train
If someone is on the gravy train, they have found and easy way to make lots of money.
Grease monkey
A grease monkey is an idiomatic term for a mechanic.
Grease someone’s palm
If you grease someone’s palm, you bribe them to do something.
Grease the skids
If you grease the skids, you facilitate something.
Greased lightning
If something or someone moves like greased lightning, they move very fast indeed.
Great guns
If something or someone is going great guns, they are doing very well.
Great Scott
An exclamation of surprise.
Great unwashed
This is a term used for the working class masses.
Great white hope
Someone who is expected to be a great success is a great white hope.
Greek to me
If you don’t understand something, it’s all Greek to you.
Green around the gills
If someone looks green around the gills, they look ill.
Green fingers
(UK) Someone with green fingers has a talent for gardening.
Green light
If you are given the green light, you are given approval to do something.
Green thumb
(USA) Someone with a talent for gardening has a green thumb.
Green with envy
If you are green with envy, you are very jealous.
Green-eyed monster
The green-eyed monster is an allegorical phrase for somebody’s strong jealousy
Greenhorn
A greenhorn or someone who is described simply as green lacks the relevant experience and knowledge for their job or task
Grey area
A grey/gray area is one where there is no clear right or wrong.
Grey Cardinal
Someone who is a Grey Cardinal exerts power behind the scenes, without drawing attention to himself or herself.
Grey cells
‘Grey cells’ means ‘brain’ E.g.: Use your grey cells to understand it
Grey matter
Grey/gray matter is the human brain.
Grey pound
(UK) In the UK, the grey pound is an idiom for the economic power of elderly people.
Grey suits
The men in grey suits are people who have a lot of power in business or politics, but aren’t well-known or charismatic.
Grin and bear it
If you have to grin and bear it, you have to accept something that you don’t like.
Grin like a Cheshire cat
If someone has a very wide smile, they have a grin like a Cheshire cat.
Grinds my gear
Something that is very annoying grinds your gear.
Grist for the mill
Something that you can use to your advantage is grist for the mill. (‘Grist to the mill’ is also used.)
Guinea-pig
If you are a guinea-pig, you take part in an experiment of some sort and are used in the testing.
Gunboat diplomacy
If a nation conducts its diplomatic relations by threatening military action to get what it wants, it is using gunboat diplomacy.
Gung ho
If someone is gung ho about something, they support it blindly and don’t think about the consequences.
H
Hail-fellow-well-met
Someone whose behavior is hearty, friendly and congenial.
Hair of the dog
If someone has a hair of the dog, they have an alcoholic drink as a way of getting rid of a hangover, the unpleasant effects of having drunk too much alcohol the night before. It is commonly used as a way of excusing having a drink early on in the day.
Hairy at the heel
(UK) Someone who is hairy at the heel is dangerous or untrustworthy.
Hale and hearty
Someone who is hale and hearty is in very good health.
Half a loaf is better than no bread
It means that getting part of what you want is better than getting nothing at all.
Half a mind
If you have half a mind to do something, you haven’t decided to do it, but are thinking seriously about doing it.
Half-baked
A half-baked idea or scheme hasn’t not been thought through or planned very well.
Hammer and tongs
If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely. The idiom can also be used hen people are doing something energetically.
Hand in glove
If people are hand in glove, they have an extremely close relationship.
Hand in hand
Hand in hand= work together closely When people in a group, say in an office or in a project, work together with mutual understanding to achieve the target, we say they work hand in hand. There is no lack of co-operation and each synchoranises the activity with that of the other.
Hand that rocks the cradle
Women have a great power and influence because they have the greatest influence over the development of children- the hand that rocks the cradle. (‘The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world’ is the full form.)
Hand to mouth
Someone who’s living from hand to mouth, is very poor and needs the little money they have coming in to cover their expenses.
Hands down
If someone is better hands down than everyone else, they are much better.
Handwriting like chicken scratch
If your handwriting is very hard to read, it is like chicken scratch.
Hang by a thread
If something hangs by a thread, there is a very small chance indeed of it being successful or surviving.
Hang in the balance
If an outcome is hanging in the balance, there are at least two possibilities and it is impossible to predict which will win out.
Hang out to dry
If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble.
Hangdog expression
A hangdog expression is one where the person’s showing their emotions very clearly, maybe a little too clearly for your liking. It’s that mixture of misery and self-pity that is similar to a dog when it’s trying to get something it wants but daren’t take without permission.
Hanged for a sheep as a lamb
This is an expression meaning that if you are going to get into trouble for doing something, then you ought to stop worrying and should try to get everything you can before you get caught.
Happy medium
If you reach a happy medium, you are making a compromise; reaching a conclusion or decision.
Happy-go-lucky
If someone is happy-go-lucky, they don’t worry or plan and accept things as they happen.
Hard as nails
A person who is as hard as nails is either physically tough or has little or no respect for other people’s feelings.
Hard by
“Hard by” means mean “close to” or “near”.
Hard cheese
(UK) Hard cheese means hard luck.
Hard of hearing
Someone who’s hard of hearing is a bit deaf.
Hard on someone’s heels
If you are hard on someone’s heels, you are close to them and trying to catch or overtake them. (‘Hot on someone’s heels’ is also used.)
Hard sell
If someone puts a lot of pressure on you to do or buy something, they are hard selling it.
Hard to come by
If something is hard to come by, it is difficult to find.
Hard up
If you are hard up, you have very little money.
Haste makes waste
This idiom means that if you try to do something quickly, without planning it, you’re likely to end up spending more time, money, etc, doing it.
Hat trick
Three successes one after the other is a hat trick.
Hatchet job
A piece of criticism that destroys someone’s reputation is a hatchet job.
Have a ball
If you have a ball, you have a great time, a lot of fun.
Have a bash
If you have a bash at something, you try to do it, especially when there isn’t much chance of success.
Have a blast
It means “to have a lot of fun”.
Have a crack
If you have a crack at something, you try to do it. If someone is attempting to do something and they are unsuccessful, you might say, “Let me have a crack at it” suggesting that you might be successful at performing the task. (‘Take a crack’ is also used.)
Have a go
If you have a go, you try to do something, often when you don’t think you have much chance of succeeding.
Have a heart
If someone has a heart, they are kind and sympathetic. If you say, ‘Have a heart’ to someone, you are asking them to be understanding and sympathetic.
Have a ripper
If you have a ripper of a time, you enjoy yourself.
Have a trick up your sleeve
If you have a trick up your sleeve, you have a secret strategy to use when the time is right.
Have no truck with
If you have no truck with something or someone, you refuse to get involved with it or them.
Have the floor
If someone has the floor, it is their turn to speak at a meeting.
Have the guts
Someone who has enough courage to do something has the guts to do it.
Have your cake and eat it too
If someone wants to have their cake and eat it too, they want everything their way, especially when their wishes are contradictory.
Have your collar felt
If someone has their collar felt, they are arrested.
Have your fill
If you have had your fill, you are fed up of somebody or something.
Have your lunch handed to you
If you have you lunch handed to you, you are outperformed and shown up by someone better.
Have your moments
Someone who has his or her moments exhibits a positive behavior pattern on an occasional basis but not generally.
Have your tail up
If someone has their tail up, they are optimistic and expect to be successful.
Have your work cut out
If you have your work cut out, you are very busy indeed.
Having a gas
If you’re having a gas, you are having a laugh and enjoying yourself in company.
Hay is for horses
This idiom is used as a way of telling children not to say the word ‘hey’ as in hey you or hey there.
He that travels far knows much
People who travel widely have a wide knowledge.
He who hesitates is lost
If one waits too long, the opportunity vanishes.
Head for the hills
If people head for the hills, they run away from trouble.
Head is in the clouds
If a person has their head in the clouds, they have unrealistic, impractical ideas.
Head is mince
(Scot) When someone’s thoughts are in a state of abject confusion, especially when facing a severe dilemma, their head is mince.
Head nor tail
If you can’t make head nor tail of something, you cannot understand it at all or make any sense of it.
Head on a spike
If someone wants a head on a spike, they want to be able to destroy or really punish a person.
Head on the block
If someone’s head is on the block, they are going to be held responsible and suffer the consequences for something that has gone wrong.
Head over heels in love
When someone falls passionately in love and is intoxicated by the feeling has fallen head over heels in love.
Head south
If something head south, it begins to fail or start going bad.’The project proceeded well for the first two months, but then it headed south.’
Heads will roll
If heads will roll, people will be punished or sacked for something that has gone wrong.
Headstrong
A headstrong person is obstinate and does not take other people’s advice readily.
Healthy as a horse
If you’re as healthy as a horse, you’re very healthy.
Heap coals on someone’s head
To do something nice or kind to someone who has been nasty to you. If someone felt bad because they forgot to get you a Christmas gift, for you to buy them a specially nice gift is heaping coals on their head. (‘Heap coals of fire’ is also used.)
Hear a pin drop
If there is complete silence in a room, you can hear a pin drop.
Hear on the grapevine
To receive information indirectly through a series of third parties, similar to a rumor.
Heart in the right place
If someone’s heart is in the right place, they are good and kind, though they might not always appear to be so.
Heart in your boots
If you’re heart is in your boots, you are very unhappy.
Heart in your mouth
If your heart is in your mouth, then you feel nervous or scared.
Heart isn’t in it
If your heart is not in something, then you don’t really believe in it or support it.
Heart misses a beat
If your heart misses a beat, you are suddenly shocked or surprised. (‘Heart skips a beat’ is an alternative)
Heart of glass
When someone has a heart of glass, they are easily affected emotionally.
Heart of gold
Someone with a heart of gold is a genuinely kind and caring person.
Heart of steel
When someone has a heart of steel, they do not show emotion or are not affected emotionally.
Heart-to-heart
A heart-to-heart is a frank and honest conversation with someone, where you talk honestly and plainly about issues, no matter how painful.
Heaven knows
If you ask someone a question and they say this, they have no idea.
Heavenly bodies
The heavenly bodies are the stars.
Heavy-handed
If someone is heavy-handed, they are insensitive and use excessive force or authority when dealing with a problem.
Hedge your bets
If you hedge your bets, you don’t risk everything on one opportunity, but try more than one thing.
Hell for leather
If you do something hell for leather, especially running, you do it as fast as you can.
Hell in a handcart
If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is getting worse and worse, with no hope of stopping the decline.
Herding cats
If you have to try to co-ordinate a very difficult situation, where people want to do very different things, you are herding cats.
Here today, gone tomorrow
Money, happiness and other desirable things are often here today, gone tomorrow, which means that they don’t last for very long.
Hide nor hair
When there’s no trace of something or a person, you haven’t seen hide nor hair of it or them.(‘Neither hide nor hair’ is also used.)
Hiding to nothing
If people are on a hiding to nothing, their schemes and plans have no chance of succeeding. ‘Hiding to nowhere’ is an alternative.
High and dry
If you are left high and dry, you are left alone and given no help at all when you need it.
High and low
If you search high and low, you look everywhere for something or someone.
High and mighty
The high and mighty are the people with authority and power. If a person is high and mighty, they behave in a superior and condescending way.
High as a kite
If someone’s as high as a kite, it means they have had too much to drink or are under the influence of drugs.
High on the hog
To live in great comfort with lots of money.
High-handed
If someone is high-handed, they behave arrogantly and pompously.
High-wire act
A high-wire act is a dangerous or risky strategy, plan, task, etc.
Highway robbery
Something that is ridiculously expensive, especially when you have no choice but to pay, is a highway robbery.
Himalayan blunder
A Himalayan blunder is a very serious mistake or error.
Hindsight is twenty-twenty
After something has gone wrong, it is easy to look back and make criticisms.
Hit a nerve
If something hits a nerve, it upsets someone or causes them pain, often when it is something they are trying to hide.
Hit and miss
Something that is hit and miss is unpredictable and may produce results or may fail.
Hit me with your best shot
If someone tells you to hit them with your best shot, they are telling you that no matter what you do it won’t hurt them or make a difference to them.
Hit rock bottom
When someone hits rock bottom, they reach a point in life where things could not get any worse.
Hit rough weather
If you hit rough weather, you experience difficulties or problems.
Hit the airwaves
If someone hits the airwaves, they go on radio and TV to promote something or to tell their side of a story.
Hit the books
If you hit the books, you study or read hard.
Hit the bull’s-eye
If someone hits the bull’s-eye, they are exactly right about something or achieve the best result possible. “Bulls-eye” and “bullseye” are alternative spellings.
Hit the ceiling
If someone hits the ceiling, they lose their temper and become very angry.
Hit the fan
When it hits the fan, or, more rudely, the shit hits the fan, serious trouble starts.
Hit the ground running
If someone hits the ground running, they start a new job or position in a very dynamic manner.
Hit the hay
When you hit the hay, you go to bed.
Hit the mark
If someone hits the mark, they are right about something.
Hit the nail on the head
If someone hits the nail on the head, they are exactly right about something.
Hit the road
When people hit the road, they leave a place to go somewhere else.
Hit the roof
If you lose your temper and get very angry, you hit the roof.
Hit the sack
When you hit the sack, you go to bed.
Hive of worker bees
A hive of worker bees is a group of people working actively and cooperatively. Example: The classroom was a hive of worker bees.
Hobson’s choice
A Hobson’s choice is something that appears to be a free choice, but is really no choice as there is no genuine alternative.
Hoist with your own petard
If you are hoist with your own petard, you get into trouble or caught in a trap that you had set for someone else.
Hold all the aces
If you hold all the aces, you have all the advantages and your opponents or rivals are in a weak position.
Hold the baby
(UK) If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the baby.
Hold the bag
(USA) If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the bag.
Hold the fort
If you hold the fort, you look after something or assume someone’s responsibilities while they are away.
Hold the torch
If you hold the torch for someone, you have an unrequited or unspoken love.
Hold water
When you say that something does or does not ‘hold water’, it means that the point of view or argument put forward is or is not sound, strong or logical. For e.g., ‘Saying we should increase our interest rates because everyone else is doing so will not hold water’.
Hold your horses
If someone tells you to hold your horses, you are doing something too fast and they would like you to slow down.
Hold your own
If you can hold your own, you can compete or perform equally with other people.
Hold your tongue
If you hold your tongue, you keep silent even though you want to speak.
Holier-than-thou
Someone who is holier-than-thou believes that they are morally superior to other people.
Hollow leg
Someone who has a hollow leg eats what seems to be more than his stomach can hold.
Hollow victory
A hollow victory is where someone wins something in name, but are seen not to have gained anything by winning.
Holy smoke!
This is a way of expressing surprise: “Holy smoke! Look at all of those geese!”
Home and hearth
‘Home and hearth’ is an idiom evoking warmth and security.
Home is where you lay your hat
Wherever you are comfortable and at ease with yourself is your home, regardless where you were born or brought up.(‘Home is where you lay your head’ and ‘Home is where you hang your hat’ are also used.)
Home stretch
The home stretch is the last part of something, like a journey, race or project.
Home sweet home
This is said when one is pleased to be back at one’s own home.
Home, James
(UK) This is a cliched way of telling the driver of a vehicle to start driving. It is supposed to be an order to a chauffeur (a privately employed driver). The full phrase is ‘Home, James, and don’t spare the horses’.
Honest truth
If someone claims that something is the honest truth, they wish to sound extra-sincere about something.
Honor among thieves
If someone says there is honor among thieves, this means that even corrupt or bad people sometimes have a sense of honor or integrity, or justice, even if it is skewed. (‘Honor among thieves’ is the British English version.)
Honors are even
If honors are even, then a competition has ended with neither side emerging as a winner.
Hook, line, and sinker
If somebody accepts or believes something hook, line, and sinker, they accept it completely.
Hop, skip, and a jump
If a place is a hop, skip, and a jump from somewhere, it’s only a short distance away.
Hope against hope
If you hope against hope, you hope for something even though there is little or no chance of your wish being fulfilled.
Hope in hell
If something hasn’t got a hope in hell, it stands absolutely no chance of succeeding.
Hornets’ nest
A hornets’ nest is a violent situation or one with a lot of dispute. (If you create the problem, you ’stir up a hornets’ nest’.)
Horns of a dilemma
If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with two equally unpleasant options and have to choose one.
Horse of a different color
(USA) If something is a horse of a different color, it’s a different matter or separate issue altogether.
Horse trading
Horse trading is an idiom used to describe negotiations, especially where these are difficult and involve a lot of compromise.
Horses for courses
Horses for courses means that what is suitable for one person or situation might be unsuitable for another.
Hostile takeover
If a company is bought out when it does not want to be, it is known as a hostile takeover.
Hot air
Language that is full of words but means little or nothing is hot air.
Hot as blue blazes
If something’s as hot as blue blazes, it’s extremely hot.
Hot as Hades
If something’s as hot as Hades, it’s extremely hot.
Hot button
(USA) A hot button is a topic or issue that people feel very strongly about.
Hot foot
If you hot foot it out of a place, you leave very quickly, often running.
Hot ticket
(USA) A hot ticket is something that is very much in demand at the moment.
Hot to trot
If someone is hot to trot, they are sexually aroused or eager to do something.
Hot under the collar
If you’re hot under the collar, you’re feeling angry or bothered.
Hot water
If you get into hot water, you get into trouble.
Hot-blooded
Someone who is hot-blooded is easily excitable or passionate.
Hot-headed
A hot-headed person gets angry very easily. (The noun ‘hothead’ can also be used.)
Hour of need
A time when someone really needs something, almost a last chance, is their hour of need.
House of cards
Something that is poorly thought out and can easily collapse or fail is a house of cards.
How come
If you want to show disbelief or surprise about an action, you can ask a question using ‘how come’. How come he got the job? (You can’t believe that they gave the job to somebody like him)
How do you like them apples
(USA) This idiomatic expression is used to express surprise or shock at something that has happened. It can also be used to boast about something you have done.
How long is a piece of string
If someone has no idea of the answer to a question, they can ask ‘How long is a piece of string?’ as a way of indicating their ignorance.
How’s tricks?
This is used as a way of asking people how they are and how things have been going in their life.
Hue and cry
Hue and cry is an expression that used to mean all the people who joined in chasing a criminal or villain. Nowadays, if you do something without hue and cry, you do it discreetly and without drawing attention.
Hung the moon
If you refer to someone as having hung the moon, you think they are extremely wonderful, or amazing, or good.
Hungry as a bear
If you are hungry as a bear, it means that you are really hungry.
Hunky Dory
If something is hunky dory, it is perfectly satisfactory, fine.
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