English Idioms Flashcards Table View

     

Days are numbered. Survival is unlikely.
Call the shots. The decision maker. He calls the shots.
Kiss-and-tell. Telling the details of a love affair.Then she started the kiss-and-tell story.
Split their sides. Laughed uncomfortably.The ladies suddenly split their sides.
Fall flat. Failing.My jokes were falling flat.
Break the ice. Create a relaxed atmosphere.
Get out of hand. Get out of control.
Thumbs down. Negative response.They were given the thumbs down.
Up in arms. Protesting strongly.The parliament was up in arms.
Turn a blind eye. Ignore it.
Pull strings. Use influencial friends.
Around the clock. For 24 hours a day.
Cut corners. Do incomplete work.
Mind your own business. This is private.
Sit on the fence.  Be neutral.
Below the belt.  Unfair and cruel.
Mind's eye. Imagination.It was formed in his mind's eye.
On board. Actively involved.She wants them on board.
Big fish. Important people.She's meeting some big fish from there.
Sink or swim. Survive without help.
In at the deep end. Directly into a difficult job.
Find your feet. Get used to a new situation.
On a shoestring. With a little money to spend.
In the red/black. In debt/credit.The company is in the red.
Make up your mind. Make a definite decision.
Think on your feet. Think as you go along.
Off the cuff. Without preparation.
Get off the ground. Start to be successful.
Make ends meet. Pay for necessities. For the first months, we couldn't make ends meet.
Make a killing. Make a big profit quickly.
On top of. In control of.I'm on top of the problem.
On the line. At risk. Your job is on the line.
Soft touch. Easy to get things from.I'm the boss, tough i'm a soft touch.
Miss the boat. Be too late.
Step on it. Go faster.
Do the trick. Solve the problem.
The gloves are off. The fight is very aggressive.
Touch base. Get in contact.Let's touch base next week.
Score an own goal. Harm yourself.The government has scored an own goal since the beginning.
In the thick of. In the most active part.
Turn the tables. Reverse the situation.
By the book. Following the rules.
Catch someone red handed. Catch someone doing something bad.
Take your time. Don't hurry.
Piece of cake. Very easy.
Take to heart. Consider seriously.
Carry weight. Have influence.
Cut no ice. Have no influence.
Have a go. Have a try.
From scratch. From the beginning.
(can't) make head nor tail of (can't) understand.I can't make head nor tail of it.
Just like that. Quickly and easily.
Get the hang of. Learn how to do/use something.
Golden rule. Important rule.
Slip your mind. Forget.
Take some doing. Not be easy.
Tie the knot. Get married.
Touch and go. Unsure.
Safe bet. Almost certain.
On the cards. Likely.
That'll be the day. It would be very surprisingly.
On earth. I can't imagine.
Get it straight. Be clear about it.
To say the least. Very much.
Pull the other one. I don't believe you.
Have someone on. Say something untrue (for fun).
Pull someone's leg. Teasing me.
Hit the nail on the head. Describe something accurately.
You can say that again. I agree strongly.
You're telling me. I know that.
Let the cat out of the bag. Give secret information too early.
Spill the beans.  Reveal a secret.
That would be telling. It's a secret.
Kick yourself. Feel angry with yourself.
Put your foot in. Unintentionally upset someone.
Two-timing. Deceiving, being unfaithful.But she was two-timing you with someone else.
Fish out of water. Feel uncomfortable in a strange situation.
Rat race. Competitive working life.
Life in the fast lane. Fast, high-pressure lifestyle.After years of life in the fast lane, she decided to give up her well-paid job.
Get your act together. Prepare yourself for action.
Mr. Right. The ideal man.
In the same boat. In the same situation.
Play it by ear. Not follow a plan.
Go Dutch. Share costs in a date.
Pick up the tab. Pay the total.In the old days, the man would pick up the tab.
Only have eyes for. Only interested in.
Sweep someone off *their* feet. Make *them* fall in love quickly.The woman was swept of her feet, because of her personality and looks.
Love at first sight. Falling in love inmediately.
Pop the question. Ask 'Will you marry me?'
Have a thing about. Like very much.
Drop-dead gorgeous. Very attractive.
Get a life (not polite) Do something interesting.
He/she's history.  Past, not important now.
Going insteady. In a regular relationship.
Play hard to get. Pretend to be uninterested.He's playing hard to get.
No way. Definitely not.
In your dreams. A very unrealistic situation.
Breath of fresh air. Pleasantly different.
At each other's throat. Arguing.
Have a soft spot for. Like, care about.
On me. I'll pay.
Fingers crossed. Let's hope for the best.
Take a rain check. Keep an invitation open.
Give and take. Compromise and cooperation.
See eye to eye. Agree.
Be there for. Be ready to help.
Hit it off. Like each other.
Small talk. Polite conversation about unimportant things.
Push the boat out. Spend more than usual.
Pick up the pieces. Rebuild something that was damaged.
Break someone's heart. Make someone very sad.
Head over heels.  Suddenly and deeply in love.
Lost it. Lost control.
What got into him. Why he became so extreme.
See red. Suddenly feel extreme anger.
On cloud nine. Very happy because of something.
Over the moon. Very pleased about something.
On the top of the world. Happy.
Burst out laughing. Suddenly lough loudly.
Keep a straight face. Not laughing or smiling.
In stitches. Laughing a lot.
(-ed) to death. Extremely (-ed).
On edge. Anxious.
Leaves me cold. Has no effect on me.
Pain in the neck. A nuisance.
On the go. Active.
Dirty word. Something unpleasant.
Couch potato. A lazy person.
In the flesh. As a real person.
Larger than life. More exciting than normal
The man in the street. An average person.
Lost for words. Not knowing what to say.
Full of yourself. Too pleased with yourself.
Turn heads. Attracts a lot of attention.
Party pooper. A person who spoils fun.
Dark horse. A secretive person.
No rocket scientist. Not very intelligent person.
Hot water. Trouble.
In your shoes. In your situation.
Off the hook. Out of trouble.
Keep your head above water. Survive.
On a roll. Enjoying continual success.
Put your feet up. Relax.