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| id | category | idiom | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sport | Fall at the first hurdle | If something falls at the first hurdle, it goes wrong or fails at the first or an early stage. |
| 4335 | Sport | Fall at the first hurdle | If something falls at the first hurdle, it goes wrong or fails at the first or an early stage. |
| 1636 | Nature | Older than dirt | Something or someones thats older than the dirt is extremely old. |
| 3959 | Nature | Older than dirt | Something or someones thats older than the dirt is extremely old. |
| 1877 | Profession or work | Bad workers always blame their tools | "A bad worker always blames their tools" - If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case. |
| 4200 | Profession or work | Bad workers always blame their tools | "A bad worker always blames their tools" - If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case. |
| 1301 | Food | That is the way the cookie crumbles | "Thats the way the cookie crumbles" means that things dont always turn out the way we want. |
| 3624 | Food | That is the way the cookie crumbles | "Thats the way the cookie crumbles" means that things dont always turn out the way we want. |
| 1284 | Food | She'll be apples | (AU) A very popular old Australian saying meaning everything will be all right, often used when there is some doubt. |
| 3607 | Food | She'll be apples | (AU) A very popular old Australian saying meaning everything will be all right, often used when there is some doubt. |
| 3316 | Colours | Beyond the black stump | (AU) An Australian idiom idicating that even if you go as far as you can, the black stump |
| 993 | Colours | Beyond the black stump | (AU) An Australian idiom idicating that even if you go as far as you can, the black stump is still a little further. |
| 122 | Animals | Flat out like a lizard drinking | (AU) An Australian idiom meaning extremely busy, which is a word play which humorously mixes two meanings of the term flat out. |
| 2445 | Animals | Flat out like a lizard drinking | (AU) An Australian idiom meaning extremely busy, which is a word play which humorously mixes two meanings of the term flat out. |
| 383 | Body and bodily functions | Blood is worth bottling | (AU) If an Australian says to you "Your blood is worth bottling", he/she is complimenting or praising you for doing something or being someone very special. |
| 2706 | Body and bodily functions | Blood is worth bottling | (AU) If an Australian says to you "Your blood is worth bottling", he/she is complimenting or praising you for doing something or being someone very special. |
| 1782 | Plants & Flowers | Cut down the tall poppies | (AU) If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd. |
| 4105 | Plants & Flowers | Cut down the tall poppies | (AU) If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd. |
| 258 | Animals | See which way the cat jumps | (AU) If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing. |
| 2581 | Animals | See which way the cat jumps | (AU) If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing. |
| 1831 | Plants & Flowers | Up a gum tree | (AU) If youre up a gum tree, youre in trouble or a big mess. |
| 4154 | Plants & Flowers | Up a gum tree | (AU) If youre up a gum tree, youre in trouble or a big mess. |
| 228 | Animals | On the wallaby track | (AU) In Australian English, if youre on the wallaby track, you are unemployed. |
| 2551 | Animals | On the wallaby track | (AU) In Australian English, if youre on the wallaby track, you are unemployed. |
| 208 | Animals | Mad as a cut snake | (AU) One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of reason, is crazy, out of control. |
| 2531 | Animals | Mad as a cut snake | (AU) One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of reason, is crazy, out of control. |
| 1361 | Furniture and household fittings | Talk the legs off an iron pot | (AU) Somebody who is excessively talkative or is especially convincing is said to talk the legs off an iron pot. (Talk the legs off an iron chair is also used) |
| 3684 | Furniture and household fittings | Talk the legs off an iron pot | (AU) Somebody who is excessively talkative or is especially convincing is said to talk the legs off an iron pot. (Talk the legs off an iron chair is also used) |
| 1927 | Religion | Dry as a wooden god | (AU) Very dry area or very thirsty: That desert is as dry as a wooden god. |
| 4250 | Religion | Dry as a wooden god | (AU) Very dry area or very thirsty: That desert is as dry as a wooden god. |
| 1862 | Politics | Dog-whistle politics | (AU) When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics. |
| 4185 | Politics | Dog-whistle politics | (AU) When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics. |
| 1908 | Religion | Adam's ale | (dated, humorous) water |
| 4231 | Religion | Adam's ale | (dated, humorous) water |
| 112 | Animals | Even the dogs in the street know | (Irish) This idiom is used frequently in Ireland, and means something is so obvious that even the dogs in the street know it. |
| 2435 | Animals | Even the dogs in the street know | (Irish) This idiom is used frequently in Ireland, and means something is so obvious that even the dogs in the street know it. |
| 2118 | Time | 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 thats in it. On any other day the traffic would be unexplainable, but because its game day its obvious why there is traffic. |
| 4441 | Time | 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 thats in it. On any other day the traffic would be unexplainable, but because its game day its obvious why there is traffic. |
| 53 | Animals | Cat's lick | (Scot) A cats lick is a very quick wash. |
| 2376 | Animals | Cat's lick | (Scot) A cats lick is a very quick wash. |
| 505 | Body and bodily functions | Head is mince | (Scot) When someones thoughts are in a state of abject confusion, especially when facing a severe dilemma, their head is mince. |
| 2828 | Body and bodily functions | Head is mince | (Scot) When someones thoughts are in a state of abject confusion, especially when facing a severe dilemma, their head is mince. |
| 1150 | Food | Banana skin | (UK) A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems. |
| 3473 | Food | Banana skin | (UK) A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems. |
| 1386 | Law | Barrack-room lawyer | (UK) A barrack-room lawyer is a person who gives opinions on things they are not qualified to speak about. |
| 3709 | Law | Barrack-room lawyer | (UK) A barrack-room lawyer is a person who gives opinions on things they are not qualified to speak about. |
| 45 | Animals | Canary in a coal mine | (UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger. |
| 2368 | Animals | Canary in a coal mine | (UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger. |
| 1864 | Politics | Fifth columnist | (UK) A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade. |
| 4187 | Politics | Fifth columnist | (UK) A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade. |
| 1432 | Men & women | New man | (UK) A New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally. |
| 3755 | Men & women | New man | (UK) A New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally. |
| 610 | Body and bodily functions | Nod's as good as a wink | (UK) A nods as good as a wink is a way of saying you have understood something that someone has said, even though it was not said directly.? The full phrase (sometimes used in the UK ) is a nods as good as a wink to a blind horse. |
| 2933 | Body and bodily functions | Nod's as good as a wink | (UK) A nods as good as a wink is a way of saying you have understood something that someone has said, even though it was not said directly.? The full phrase (sometimes used in the UK ) is a nods as good as a wink to a blind horse. |
| 612 | Body and bodily functions | Nosy parker | (UK) A nosy parker is someone who is excessively interested in other peoples lives. (Nosey parker is an alternative spelling.) |
| 2935 | Body and bodily functions | Nosy parker | (UK) A nosy parker is someone who is excessively interested in other peoples lives. (Nosey parker is an alternative spelling.) |
| 1752 | Persons name | Vicar of Bray | (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray |
| 4075 | Persons name | Vicar of Bray | (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray |
| 1455 | Money | Bent as a nine bob note | (UK) A person who is as bent as a nine bob note is dishonest. The reference comes from pre-decimalisation in UK (1971), when a ten shilling (bob) note was valid currency but no such note as nine shillings existed. |
| 3778 | Money | Bent as a nine bob note | (UK) A person who is as bent as a nine bob note is dishonest. The reference comes from pre-decimalisation in UK (1971), when a ten shilling (bob) note was valid currency but no such note as nine shillings existed. |
| 1979 | Sex and sexuality | On the game | (UK) A person who is on the game works as a prostitute. |
| 4302 | Sex and sexuality | On the game | (UK) A person who is on the game works as a prostitute. |
| 1583 | Nationality or ethnicity | 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. |
| 3906 | Nationality or ethnicity | 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. |
| 249 | Animals | Queer fish | (UK) A strange person is a queer fish. |
| 2572 | Animals | Queer fish | (UK) A strange person is a queer fish. |
| 1832 | Plants & Flowers | Wallflower | (UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower. |
| 4155 | Plants & Flowers | Wallflower | (UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower. |
| 1759 | Place name | Dunkirk spirit | (UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time. |
| 4082 | Place name | Dunkirk spirit | (UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time. |
| 1211 | Food | Hard cheese | (UK) Hard cheese means hard luck. |
| 3534 | Food | Hard cheese | (UK) Hard cheese means hard luck. |
| 1723 | Persons name | Heath Robinson | (UK) If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks. |
| 4046 | Persons name | Heath Robinson | (UK) If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks. |
| 1983 | Sex and sexuality | Up the duff | (UK) If a woman is up the duff, shes pregnant. |
| 4306 | Sex and sexuality | Up the duff | (UK) If a woman is up the duff, shes pregnant. |
| 1984 | Sex and sexuality | Up the stick | (UK) If a woman is up the stick, shes pregnant. |
| 4307 | Sex and sexuality | Up the stick | (UK) If a woman is up the stick, shes pregnant. |
| 1976 | Sex and sexuality | In the club | (UK) If a womans in the club, shes pregnant. In the pudding club is an alternative form. |
| 4299 | Sex and sexuality | In the club | (UK) If a womans in the club, shes pregnant. In the pudding club is an alternative form. |
| 892 | Children and babies | With child | (UK) If a womans with child, shes pregnant. |
| 3215 | Children and babies | With child | (UK) If a womans with child, shes pregnant. |
| 1712 | Persons name | Buggles' turn | (UK) If it Buggles turn, someone gets promotion through length of service rather than ability, especially in the British civil service. |
| 4035 | Persons name | Buggles' turn | (UK) If it Buggles turn, someone gets promotion through length of service rather than ability, especially in the British civil service. |
| 2193 | Transport & Travel | Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic | (UK) If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble. |
| 4516 | Transport & Travel | Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic | (UK) If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble. |
| 127 | Animals | 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 donkeys years. |
| 2450 | Animals | 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 donkeys years. |
| 1841 | Police & Crime | Do a runner | (UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner. |
| 4164 | Police & Crime | Do a runner | (UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner. |
| 1525 | Money | Quids in | (UK) If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something. |
| 3848 | Money | Quids in | (UK) If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something. |
| 88 | Animals | Dog in the manger | (UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they dont want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them. |
| 2411 | Animals | Dog in the manger | (UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they dont want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them. |
| 1835 | Plants & Flowers | Wood for the trees | (UK) If someone cant see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture. |
| 4158 | Plants & Flowers | Wood for the trees | (UK) If someone cant see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture. |
| 1104 | Death | Sticky end | (UK) If someone comes to a sticky end, they die in an unpleasant way. (Meet a sticky end is also used.) |
| 3427 | Death | Sticky end | (UK) If someone comes to a sticky end, they die in an unpleasant way. (Meet a sticky end is also used.) |
| 1781 | Plants & Flowers | Come up smelling of roses | (UK) If someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged. |
| 4104 | Plants & Flowers | Come up smelling of roses | (UK) If someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged. |
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