1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
| id | category | idiom | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1665 | Numbers | 101 | Meaning "First year introductory course" in US universities, the meaning has broadened in every day language to mean any kind of information for beginners. |
| 3988 | Numbers | 101 | Meaning "First year introductory course" in US universities, the meaning has broadened in every day language to mean any kind of information for beginners. |
| 775 | Buildings & construction | A bridge too far | A bridge too far is an act of overreaching- going too far and getting into trouble or failing. |
| 3098 | Buildings & construction | A bridge too far | A bridge too far is an act of overreaching- going too far and getting into trouble or failing. |
| 1447 | Money | A day late and a dollar short | (USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late. |
| 3770 | Money | A day late and a dollar short | (USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late. |
| 1448 | Money | A fool and his money are soon parted | This idiom means that people who arent careful with their money spend it quickly. A fool and his money are easily parted is an alternative form of the idiom. |
| 3771 | Money | A fool and his money are soon parted | This idiom means that people who arent careful with their money spend it quickly. A fool and his money are easily parted is an alternative form of the idiom. |
| 1666 | Numbers | A fool at 40 is a fool forever | If someone hasnt matured by the time they reach forty, they never will. |
| 3989 | Numbers | A fool at 40 is a fool forever | If someone hasnt matured by the time they reach forty, they never will. |
| 332 | Body and bodily functions | A fresh pair of eyes | A person who is brought in to examine something carefully is a fresh pair of eyes. |
| 2655 | Body and bodily functions | A fresh pair of eyes | A person who is brought in to examine something carefully is a fresh pair of eyes. |
| 1 | Animals | A little bird told me | If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them. |
| 2324 | Animals | A little bird told me | If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them. |
| 1987 | Sport | A lost ball in the high weeds | A lost ball in the high weeds is someone who does not know what they are doing, where they are or how to do something. |
| 4310 | Sport | A lost ball in the high weeds | A lost ball in the high weeds is someone who does not know what they are doing, where they are or how to do something. |
| 1323 | Furniture and household fittings | A lot on my plate | If you have got a lot on your plate, you are very busy and have commitments. |
| 3646 | Furniture and household fittings | A lot on my plate | If you have got a lot on your plate, you are very busy and have |
| 2091 | Time | A month of Sundays | A month of Sundays is a long period of time: I havent seen her in a month of Sundays. |
| 4414 | Time | A month of Sundays | A month of Sundays is a long period of time: I havent seen her in a month of Sundays. |
| 1449 | Money | A penny for your thoughts | This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about. |
| 3772 | Money | A penny for your thoughts | This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about. |
| 1450 | Money | A penny saved is a penny earned | Saving money is just as important as earning money- we shouldnt spend it foolishly. |
| 3773 | Money | A penny saved is a penny earned | Saving money is just as important as earning money- we shouldnt spend it foolishly. |
| 1451 | Money | A penny saved is a penny earned | This means that we shouldnt spend or waste money, but try to save it. |
| 3774 | Money | A penny saved is a penny earned | This means that we shouldnt spend or waste money, but try to save it. |
| 1405 | Men & women | A poor man's something | Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor mans version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isnt very funny would be a poor mans Oscar Wilde. |
| 3728 | Men & women | A poor man's something | Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor mans version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isnt very funny would be a poor mans Oscar Wilde. |
| 1452 | Money | A pretty penny | If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive. |
| 3775 | Money | A pretty penny | If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive. |
| 1602 | Nature | A rising tide lifts all boats | This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it. |
| 3925 | Nature | A rising tide lifts all boats | This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it. |
| 1773 | Plants & Flowers | A rolling stone gathers no moss | People say this to mean that an ambitious person is more successful than a person not trying to achieve anything. Originally it meant the opposite and was critical of people trying to get ahead. |
| 4096 | Plants & Flowers | A rolling stone gathers no moss | People say this to mean that an ambitious person is more successful than a person not trying to achieve anything. Originally it meant the opposite and was critical of people trying to get ahead. |
| 1603 | Nature | A shallow brook babbles the loudest | People who are loud and talk a lot usually have nothing of substance to say. This contrasts with "Still waters run deep." Other versions are "Shallow brooks babble loudest" and "Shallow brooks are noisy." |
| 3926 | Nature | A shallow brook babbles the loudest | People who are loud and talk a lot usually have nothing of substance to say. This contrasts with "Still waters run deep." Other versions are "Shallow brooks babble loudest" and "Shallow brooks are noisy." |
| 1133 | Food | A slice off a cut loaf is never missed | Used colloquially to describe having sexual intercourse with someone who is not a virgin, especially when they are in a relationship. The analogy refers to a loaf of bread; it is not readily apparent, once the end has been removed, exactly how many slices have been taken.(You never miss a slice from a cut loaf is also used.) |
| 3456 | Food | A slice off a cut loaf is never missed | Used colloquially to describe having sexual intercourse with someone who is not a virgin, especially when they are in a relationship. The analogy refers to a loaf of bread; it is not readily apparent, once the end has been removed, exactly how many slices have been taken.(You never miss a slice from a cut loaf is also used.) |
| 1836 | Police & Crime | A steal | If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth. |
| 4159 | Police & Crime | A steal | If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth. |
| 333 | Body and bodily functions | A still tongue keeps a wise head | Wise people dont talk much. |
| 2656 | Body and bodily functions | A still tongue keeps a wise head | Wise people dont talk much. |
| 1324 | Furniture and household fittings | A watched pot never boils | Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer. |
| 3647 | Furniture and household fittings | A watched pot never boils | Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer. |
| 1667 | Numbers | A1 | If something is A1, it is the very best or finest. |
| 3990 | Numbers | A1 | If something is A1, it is the very best or finest. |
| 1134 | Food | About as useful as a chocolate teapot | Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. |
| 3457 | Food | About as useful as a chocolate teapot | Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. |
| 334 | Body and bodily functions | About face | If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue. |
| 2657 | Body and bodily functions | About face | If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue. |
| 1135 | Food | Above the salt | This means that something or someone has a high position. |
| 3458 | Food | Above the salt | This |
| 335 | Body and bodily functions | Absence makes the heart grow fonder | This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger. |
| 2658 | Body and bodily functions | Absence makes the heart grow fonder | This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger. |
| 1368 | Gambling | Ace in the hole | An ace in the hole is something other people are not aware of that can be used to your advantage when the time is right. |
| 3691 | Gambling | Ace in the hole | An ace in the hole is something other people are not aware of that can be used to your advantage when the time is right. |
| 1369 | Gambling | Ace up your sleeve | If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people dont know about. |
| 3692 | Gambling | Ace up your sleeve | If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people dont know about. |
| 1706 | Persons name | Achilles' heel | A persons weak spot is their Achilles heel. |
| 4029 | Persons name | Achilles' heel | A persons weak spot is their Achilles heel. |
| 1604 | Nature | Across the pond | (UK) This idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speakers location. |
| 3927 | Nature | Across the pond | (UK) This idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speakers location. |
| 1907 | Religion | Act of God | An act of God is something like an earthquake or floods that human beings cannot prevent or control. |
| 4230 | Religion | Act of God | An act of God is something like an earthquake or floods that human beings cannot prevent or control. |
| 2213 | War and conflict | Act of war | An act of war is a action that is either intended to start a war or that is interpreted as being sufficient cause for a war. |
| 4536 | War and conflict | Act of war | An act of war is a action that is either intended to start a war or that is interpreted as being sufficient cause for a war. |
| 1908 | Religion | Adam's ale | (dated, humorous) water |
| 4231 | Religion | Adam's ale | (dated, humorous) water |
| 1707 | Persons name | Adam's apple | The Adams apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men. |
| 4030 | Persons name | Adam's apple | The Adams apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men. |
| 2092 | Time | After the watershed | The watershed is the time limit after which more controversial subjects, bad language, etc, can be shown on TV in some countries, so if its after the watershed, then discussions can be freer, franker and more controversial. |
| 4415 | Time | After the watershed | The watershed is the time limit after which more controversial |
| 336 | Body and bodily functions | After your own heart | A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you. |
| 2659 | Body and bodily functions | After your own heart | A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you. |
| 2093 | Time | Against the clock | If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it. |
| 4416 | Time | Against the clock | If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it. |
| 1875 | Profession or work | Agony aunt | An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones. |
| 4198 | Profession or work | Agony aunt | An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones. |
| 1988 | Sport | Ahead of the pack | If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals. |
| 4311 | Sport | Ahead of the pack | If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals. |
| 2094 | Time | Ahead of time | If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time. |
| 4417 | Time | Ahead of time | If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time. |
| 2 | Animals | Albatross around your neck | An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful. |
| 2325 | Animals | Albatross around your neck | An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful. |
| 1136 | Food | Alike as two peas | If people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical. |
| 3459 | Food | Alike as two peas | If people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical. |
| 1406 | Men & women | All ages and stripes | A shorthand for expressing a diversity of folks in a group |
| 3729 | Men & women | All ages and stripes | A shorthand for expressing a diversity of folks in a group |
| 3 | Animals | All bark and no bite | When someone talks tough but really isn't, they are all bark and no bite. |
| 2326 | Animals | All bark and no bite | When someone talks tough but really isn't, they are all bark and no bite. |
| 1370 | Gambling | All bets are off | (USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply. |
| 3693 | Gambling | All bets are off | (USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply. |
| 991 | Colours | All cats are grey in the dark | Things are indistinguishable in the dark so appearances dont matter.(All cats are grey at night is also used.) |
| 3314 | Colours | All cats are grey in the dark | Things are indistinguishable in the dark so appearances dont matter.(All cats are grey at night is also used.) |
| 893 | Clothes | All dressed up and nowhere to go | Youre prepared for something that isnt going to happen. |
| 3216 | Clothes | All dressed up and nowhere to go | Youre prepared for something that isnt going to happen. |
| 337 | Body and bodily functions | All ears | If someone says theyre all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something. |
| 2660 | Body and bodily functions | All ears | If someone says theyre all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something. |
| 338 | Body and bodily functions | All eyes on me | If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them. |
| 2661 | Body and bodily functions | All eyes on me | If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them. |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47