English Idioms & Phrases Dictionary E-Book

Daniel B. Smith

• Herausgeber: Daniel B. Smith
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Idioms are expressions that cannot be understood from their individual words alone, and the English language is full of them—and so is this dictionary: 4,800+ English idioms and phrases with example sentences included for you so as to understand them all.

This is the essential idioms dictionary if you want to talk like a native speaker—or just find out more about the colorful phrases you hear and say every day.

Please keep an eye on further releases.
Good luck!

Leseprobe

English idioms and phrases dictionary

-example sentences included-

Daniel B. Smith

Daniel B. Smith Copyright © 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, excepting the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ENGLISH IDIOMS AND PHRASESDICTIONARY-EXAMPLE SENTENCES INCLUDED-

Your quest towards C2

-4773 idioms and phrases-

Recommended for B1 and above English levels

Table of contents

Introduction

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “A”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “B”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “C”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “D”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “E”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “F”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “G”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “H”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “I”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “J”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “K”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “L”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “M”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “N”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “O”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “P”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “Q”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “R”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “S”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “T”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “U”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “V”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “W”

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “X, Y, Z”

Conclusion

Introduction

The main purpose of this book is to provide you an impressive and invaluable collection of most used English idioms and phrases, with example sentences also included, so as to learn how to properly use them.

Idioms are words, phrases or expressions which are commonly used in everyday conversation by native English speakers.

Learning the most well-known idioms will help you make your English sound more fluent.

Idioms are often metaphorical and make the language more colorful. People use them to express something more vividly and often more briefly. They serve as an image or mental picture.

It is important to remember that idiomatic expressions are used when speaking informally.

I hope you find this book very useful and recommend it to your peers!

Good luck!

English most used idioms and phrases beginning with “A”

e.g. After my holiday I returned to a backlog of work.

e.g. She lost her job, exactly when she needed money to move house.

e.g. I want a baker’s dozen candies.

e.g. Sarah found out that taking care of children was not a bed of roses.

e.g. I know it’s a big ask, but is there any chance you could borrow me $10.000?

e.g. Those clothes are so cheap. You clearly get a bigger bang for your buck.

e.g. You should be happy now that you have a car. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

e.g. Every person has a black day at least once in their lifetime.

e.g. Diana was given a blank cheque and told to negotiate the best deal possible.

e.g. Missing the train was a blessing in disguise – that’s how I met my girlfriend.

e.g. Her coming was just a blot on the landscape.

e.g. The interview was a breeze – scarcely 13 minutes and I got the job!

e.g. They were screaming at one another – a bull and cow, for sure.

e.g. She has a bun in the oven; the baby is due in 3 months.

e.g. All of a sudden he give him a bunch of fives.

e.g. After the accident, she is very careful in driving because a burnt child dreads the fire.

e.g. I don’t like him! He talks to his wife in a way that a cat may look at a king.

e.g. She won’t have a charmed life, that’s for sure.

e.g. The exam was a cinch.

e.g. After the street fight, the area was a complete shambles.

e.g. Don’t annoy me or you’ll end up in a concrete overcoat.

e.g. I need to declare a conflict of interest here.

e.g. For me, it’s a countenance more in sorrow than in anger…

e.g. This problem is a curate’s egg.

e.g. The watches in this store are a cut above the others.

e.g. The party was a damp squib.

e.g. You’re like a Daniel come to judgment.

e.g. They offered me a part-time job when I had already found a full-time job – a day late and a dollar short.

e.g. The peace agreement was a dead letter as soon as it was signed.

e.g. The police officer was in a dicey situation.

e.g. I may have good business ideas but implementing them in your county is a different kettle of fish.

e.g. Stamps like this are a dime a dozen.

e.g. How did the test go? No problem, it was a doddle.

e.g. I though it would be an interesting campaign, but it turned out to be a dog and pony show.

e.g. The new employee made a dog’s breakfast out of the registers.

e.g. I strongly believe that it’s a dog’s life working in the accounting department.

e.g. I am still considering all the available options, so it is not a done deal.

e.g. Steven tried his hand at that interview to get a job because a drowning man will clutch at a straw.

e.g. I think we should do a dry run of the ceremony. What do you think?

e.g. There has been a dust up in this place.

e.g. He is trying to make a fast buck by selling coffee in a busy street.

e.g. When you’re young an boisterous, an evening at home with your family seems like a fate worse than death.

e.g. This is not my sole business – I’ve got a few irons in the fire.

e.g. You clearly have a fighting chance of getting that job.

e.g. You should talk to Steve about the recreational activities in this little town. He has a finger in every pie.

e.g. The team’s victory is just a flash in the pan, believe me.

e.g. The cheater was sent away with a flea in his ear.

e.g. I deeply appreciate your effort, but this plan is a flight of fancy.

e.g. My cousin’s poor English was a fly in the ointment when he applied for becoming an air traffic controller.

e.g. I would love to be a fly on the wall when they discuss the matter.

e.g. Steve is off to the casino – a fool and his money are soon parted.

e.g. It was a fool’s errand to look for a dentist’s in that isolated area.

e.g. In our little county it’s hard to get a foot in the door in any profession.

e.g. He definitely deserves an A for effort.

e.g. Taking into consideration all the aspects, isn’t it a foregone conclusion?

e.g. This new software is a game changer.

e.g. I need to come up with a better game plan for this mission.

e.g. Four years ago, we opened a store that is a going concern today.

e.g. She isn’t good enough to be in this team but she brought a sponsorship deal. As they say, a golden key can open any door.

e.g. We finished the project! It was a good day’s work.

e.g. I’ve been dating her for two months and I still believe she’s a tough nut to crack.

e.g. I’ve got a head start over other candidates because I’ve got relevant work experience.

e.g. The villagers lost all their crop to heavy rain. It was a heavy cross to bear.

e.g. In my opinion this is a highly coloured report.

e.g. I order you to stop quarrelling! A house divided against itself cannot stand!

e.g. The police brought the illegal business down like a house of cards.

e.g. They were accused of giving kickbacks to local authorities.

e.g. Oh, thank you so much, Oliver! You are a knight in shining armour!

e.g. Her failure was a real knock-back for the couple.

e.g. If you keep doing that, you’ll get a knuckle sandwich.

e.g. I would like to eat in an a la carte restaurant.

e.g. She’s a la mode woman.

e.g. I like hanging out with her. She’s a laugh a minute!

e.g. It took a big leap of faith to quit my job.

e.g. This actor is a legend in his own lifetime.

e.g. She was a cheater in her twenties and she’s a cheater now – a leopard can’t change his spots!

e.g. I gave the bathroom a lick and a promise before I ran to work.

e.g. He decided to make medicine his life work.

e.g. She said she’d found the document in the abandoned house – that’s a likely story.

e.g. How do I know that? A little bird told me.

e.g. I wouldn’t trust her with this job. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

e.g. She says she has seen them together, which is a load of cobblers.

e.g. I told my boss that I wouldn’t quit. I am in for the long haul.

e.g. I was nervous about signing the contract because there was a lot at stake.

e.g. I can’t meet with you this week as I have a lot on my plate.

e.g. She has finally found a man after her own heart.

e.g. The organisation needs a man of action as a leader.

e.g. More regulations will have to be introduced. It’s only a matter of time.

e.g. After their goal, a Mexican wave could have been seen.

e.g. It’s hard to understand him. He talks at a mile a minute!

e.g. She has a mind of her own, but from time to time she needs a piece of advice.

e.g. I need someone to help me. A ministering angel shall my sister be.

e.g. She has almost broken the record. Sadly, a miss is as good as a mile.

e.g. I haven’t been to the cinema in a month of Sundays.

e.g. Can you give an example of a movable feast?

e.g. The man barely made it over the tracks before the train came. What a narrow escape!

e.g. Vaccination is a necessary evil if you want to travel to Brazil.

e.g. I consider the money from the sale of my motorcycle as a nest egg for difficult times.

e.g. No, I won’t go there. There’s a nest of vipers and I don’t want to meet them.

e.g. Between lovers, a nod is generally as good as a wink.

e.g. She said she would eat a norange.

e.g. Her poem was a notch above the others.

e.g. Most journalists at the press conference found her pat answers frustrating.

e.g. She takes in paying guests to make extra money.

e.g. Brian, a penny for your thoughts.

e.g. You should take the change. A penny saved is a penny earned.

e.g. This situation is clearly a perfect storm. We are at difficulty now.

e.g. Look at this picture of her. A picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it?

e.g. If you invest in this company, you will get a big piece of the pie.

e.g. She said the laptop was good and I listened to her. Eventually, it turned out that it was a pig in a poke.

e.g. He is a strict father and teaches his child to make a place for everything and have everything in its place.

e.g. I hope one day I will find a place in the sun with the triumph of my books.

e.g. A plague on both your houses! I hate you!

e.g. She speaks just like an aristocrat – with a plum in her mouth.

e.g. I’d like to find myself a plum job in Berlin.

e.g. The manager wants to introduce a new marketing plan, but there’s a pocket of resistance in the sales department.

e.g. Retirement age is a political football in the United States of America.

e.g. That was an example of a priori reasoning.

e.g. She is a quick learner. She has been here for two weeks and already knows the process.

e.g. The noise in the factory raised a red flag.

e.g. Telling him those words it was like a red rag to a bull.

e.g. This problem is like a riddle wrapped up in an enigma.

e.g. Twenty dollars for a coffee? That’s a rip-off!

e.g. Dentists are doing a roaring trade these days.

e.g. You should find a place that you like and buy a flat there because a rolling stone gathers no moss.

e.g. Here is your new BMW car. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

e.g. She thought I would want her back, but she got a rude awakening.

e.g. This is certainly a rum do.

e.g. There’s been a running battle between the local authorities and citizens over the parking lots.

e.g. The trial remains a sacred cow.

e.g. This problem is quite intricate, so we need a safe pair of hands.

e.g. I always have money in my savings account as a safety net.

e.g. There clearly was a sea change when Obama came in after Bush.

e.g. You can’t fool my father. He’s a sharp cookie.

e.g. Seeing them cheering me was a real shot in the arm.

e.g. Mentioning her name was just a shot in the dark.

e.g. The debate between the two politicians turned into a shouting match.

e.g. The broken stage lights were a show stopper until the staff fixed them.

e.g. The young lady was a shrinking violet who had difficulty expressing herself.

e.g. Steve! You are a sight for sore eyes!

e.g. The rising level of divorces is a sign of the times.

e.g. The man was a sitting duck for the enemy. He had to move briskly.

e.g. We all have a skeleton in the closet.

e.g. I got only a slap on the wrist.

e.g. She called the police because her next door neighbour was rude? That’s using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

e.g. I work alone but my business is financed by a sleeping partner.

e.g. Sorry. That was a slip of the tongue! I meant to say “slow down”.

e.g. Their business was just a smokescreen for their forbidden activities.

e.g. The fingerprints were the smoking gun that enabled the police to arrest them.

e.g. She turned out to be just a snake in the grass.

e.g. I made a snap decision to go cycling.

e.g. Artists were given a sneak preview of the next episode.

e.g. We have to stop this snowball effect as soon as possible.

e.g. She won’t succeed. This is like a snowball’s chance in hell.

e.g. Nicole is a social butterfly.

e.g. These houses were beautiful some time ago, but now they make a sorry sight.

e.g. The employee was a bad match for the job – a square peg in a round hole.

e.g. You should speak with her today. A stitch in time saves nine.

e.g. The local shop is a stone’s throw away.

e.g. I don’t trust her. I think she is a stool pigeon for the police.

e.g. As soon as I saw her face, I knew there was a storm brewing.

e.g. English language was always a stumbling block for my wife.

e.g. All tall poppies were invited to raise charity.

e.g. I have given her a taste of her own medicine and she didn’t like it.

e.g. There’s a thin line between these situations. Be careful.

e.g. I like this picture very much! A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

e.g. This week I will solve this problem out. It has been like a thorn in the flesh for me.

e.g. I wouldn’t give a tinker’s damn on it.

e.g. The whole text is a tissue of lies.

e.g. Who will win the Presidency? It’s a toss up.

e.g. After the party, the house was a complete shambles.

e.g. Getting a job in the USA for her is like a trip to the sun.

e.g. Don’t hesitate to share your problem with me. A trouble shared is a trouble halved!

e.g. Well, the decision was a turn up for the books.

e.g. The stories are interesting if you are into that kind of things. For her, it was like listening to a voice crying in the wilderness.

e.g. Stop waiting for her call. A watched pot never boils!

e.g. Last month our company was like a well-oiled machine. Thank you all for that!

e.g. Come on man! Don’t be such a wet blanket!

e.g. A whole raft of students protested against those measures.

e.g. Hey, John! A word in your shell-like.

e.g. Yes, the Mona Lisa is a work of art.

e.g. We thought that the story was genuine, but in fact it was just a work of fiction.

e.g. One day, your English will be A1 at Lloyd’s.

e.g. “Abandon hope all ye who enter here”, was written on the door.

e.g. She doesn’t think much of her new colleague. She calls him an abbreviated piece of nothing.

e.g. Before the mission, she was heard saying “abide with me”!

e.g. Hurry! It’s about time for the game to start. It’s about time I got a new pair of shoes.

e.g. The manager’s recent declarations indicate an about turn in company policy.

e.g. The police officer received a medal for his action which went above and beyond the call of duty.

e.g. There aren’t secret negotiations within this company. Our dealing have always been above board.

e.g. Abracadabra! …and a rabbit appeared.

e.g. I enjoyed visiting the city but I soon missed my girlfriend. As they say – absence makes the heart grow fonder.

e.g. Steve is absent without leave today.

e.g. Would I want to go to the party? Abso-bloody-lutely!

e.g. According to those who lived in this hood, the explosion in the warehouse where the has cylinders were stocked was an accident waiting to happen.

e.g. I accidentally-on-purpose erased her email address so I couldn’t contact her again.

e.g. Don’t be sad. Nobody was hurt. Accidents will happen.

e.g. According to Hoyle, you were right.

e.g. The horrible weather accounted for the damages.

e.g. Cristina’s parents said she could go to the party if she aced her English test.

e.g. She clearly has an ace in the hole that will ensure victory … you’ll see!

e.g. She’s extremely intelligent, but her inability to speak in public is her Achilles heel.

e.g. The training course was interesting but the acid test will come when we start the new job.

e.g. Maria has always loved potatoes, but for me it was an acquired taste.

e.g. Did you know that “quango” is formed from “quasi non-governmental organization”?

e.g. Big bonuses were given across the board.

e.g. The insurance company refused to pay for the damage because it was caused by an act of God.

e.g. Adrian, stop acting the giddy goat!

e.g. I wish she would act her age.

e.g. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Don’t forget that actions speak louder than words.

e.g. When I finished the marathon all I needed was Adam’s ale.

e.g. She forgot their wedding anniversary and her apologies only added fuel to the flames.

e.g. He stole money from me and he added insult to injury by hitting my wife!

e.g. I’ve never seen anyone so easily scared. Sarah is afraid of her own shadow.

e.g. As he has lied to them, they are after his blood now.

e.g. They realized that they had put people in danger, but that was of no help after the fact.

e.g. The children should be in bed now. It’s after the watershed.

e.g. Some countries sent help in the aftermath of the earthquake.

e.g. This is a good book. It’s an aga saga.

e.g. Mark persuaded her to go by car, against her better judgment, and she regretted it as soon as she saw the heavy traffic.

e.g. I’m working against the clock to have the presentation ready for Tuesday.

e.g. Age before beauty, Ann. Thank you!

e.g. She was waiting agog to see the actress.

e.g. Let’s agree to disagree and go on to the next topic.

e.g. Our services will have to be more innovative if we want to stay ahead of the pack.

e.g. If you finish the project ahead of time, we’ll be able to go out.

e.g. They were accused of aiding and abetting the terrorists.

e.g. This is the best way to aide-memoire.

e.g. You don’t need to show me how to do it. This ain’t my first rodeo.

e.g. They gave each other an air kiss.

e.g. I don’t understand why they go and air their dirty laundry in public.

e.g. Haven’t you noticed? There was an air quote!

e.g. This time I’ll be eating al desko.

e.g. We had our lunch al fresco on the terrace.

e.g. Alarm bells started to ring when the old man next door didn’t open his shutters all day and didn’t answer his phone.

e.g. Don’t worry! I’ve spoken to him and he’s alive and kicking.

e.g. She had been looking for the car keys for some time before she realized they had been in her pocket all along.

e.g. I don’t want all and sundry to know about us.

e.g. She panicked just before the interview. One could say she was all at sea.

e.g. There’s always a guy who disappears when trouble starts – all bark and no bite.

e.g. He’s an incredible player, but he’s all brawn and no brain.

e.g. Dad says he’s going to play football again as soon as he gets the all clear from his medical doctor.

e.g. The hardest part of the mission has passed. Now it is downhill all the way.

e.g. It’s obvious that I want to know – I’m all ears!

e.g. Would you mind wrapping this gift for me? I’m all fingers and thumbs!

e.g. We’ve broken up. All good things must come to an end.

e.g. Steve says the machine isn’t so puzzling, but it’s all Greek to me.

e.g. Next week we will have a lot of work to do, so it will be all hands on deck.

e.g.: All hell broke loose when the manager announced that the business was going to close down.

e.g. When they saw each other all hell broke loose.

e.g. All these aspects in a day’s work. Do you think you can manage?

e.g. We had some quarrels, but all in all we are happy.

e.g. This company will merge with another and some of us will be fired. We are all in the same boat.

e.g. Don’t be silly! Nobody is trying to steal anything from you. It’s all in your head!

e.g. All kidding aside, things are getting worse and worse within this company.

e.g. Mary keeps saying that she’s going to resign but she’s all mouth and no trousers.

e.g. All of a sudden she left.

e.g. All present and correct, so we can start the meeting.

e.g. Take any route because all roads lead to Rome.

e.g. We are all set to go on holiday.

e.g. They went home from the party all singing, all dancing.

e.g. Owing to the electoral promises she made, which so far she has failed to keep, many people call the new president “all sizzle and no steak”.

e.g. After trekking in the Himalayas, Brian was all skin and bone.

e.g. Don’t let her impress you. All her geese are swans.

e.g. She’s got an office, a mobile phone and the internet, so on the next Monday it’s all systems go.

e.g. Let’s get out the tinsel, the lights and all that jazz to decorate the Christmas tree.

e.g. We’d like to wish you all the best in the year to come.

e.g. I’m sure you’ll be all the better for a good night’s rest.

e.g. Sending Facebook messages is all the rage these days, both among individuals and companies.

e.g. My parents are away for the weekend so we can go all the way.

e.g. All things being equal, a reduction in the cost of marketing should enable us to lower the prices.

e.g. Make the most out of this! All things must pass.

e.g. Monica is exhausted trying to be a good wife, a good mother and a good professor. She can’t be all things to all people.

e.g. He can’t tie that bow tie – he’s all thumbs.

e.g. My pizza recipe has gone all to cock.

e.g. Louder! All together now, let’s sing the latest song.

e.g. The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 1459.

e.g. Now it’s all up with finding a new customer.

e.g. I know an all you can eat restaurant. Let’s go there.

e.g. I advise you to invest in multiple directions. It’s not good to have all your eggs in one basket.

e.g. He spends all his money on alley cats.

e.g. She was offered the position of professor of Economics at her alma mater.

e.g. I had to learn the alpha and omega of the subject before writing about it.

e.g. Have you met Sophia? She’s an Alpha Mom.

e.g. Institutions of the European Union are confusing – a real alphabet soup.

e.g. She entered the contest hoping that she wouldn’t end up as an also-ran.

e.g. He is, above all, his wife’s alter ego.

e.g. At the end of the day I was tired, so I enjoyed some amber nectar.

e.g. Latham & Watkins are well-known ambulance chasers – that’s how they make their money.

e.g. The big day has come and she’s amped up.

e.g. At first, they refused to accept our victory as an accomplished fact.

e.g. She has an albatross around her neck this period.

e.g. Her project is quite unsatisfactory. It’s an elephant in the room that we need to discuss.

e.g. The hosts presented us with an embarrassment of riches at the reception.

e.g. This flood is an ill wind. Most families have lost everything.

e.g. To impose the necessary company reforms, the manager used persuasion followed by wage reductions – an iron fist in a velvet glove.

e.g. Do you have an Oxford scholar?

e.g. Seeing the old photos, she has realized that she turned into an ugly duckling.

e.g. Rehabilitation of the affected areas will be an uphill task for the local authorities.

e.g. Anchors aweigh! Let’s sail!

e.g. He’s just another angry young man.

e.g. She’s pregnant again. There’s soon going to be four ankle biters around the house.

e.g. This has certainly been an annus horribilis.