Idioms and Examples of Idioms

IDIOMS

MEANINGS

 To blow one’s trumpet

 To praise oneself

 To burn a hole in one’s pocket

 To spend all one has

 To go in with somebody

 To support somebody financially

 To make mountain out of a mole hill

 To exaggerate things

 To get off the beaten track

 To look for new methods

 To shed crocodile tears

 To cry insincerely

 To buy a pig in a pork

 To buy what one has not seen before

 To hold one’s peace

 To raise no objection

 To have a close shave

 To have a narrow escape from something bad

 To turn in one’s coat

 To change one’s principle

 To be in the red

 To be bankrupt (penniless or without any money)

 To take heart

 To have courage

 To nip in the bud

 To stop something from happening

 To go back a long way

 To have known each other for a long time

 To sit on the fence

 To be neutral

 To shift one’s ground

 To change one’s position

 To have words with somebody

 To quarrel with somebody

 To be in the wood

 To be in danger

 To bank on somebody

 To rely on somebody

 To let the cat out of the bag

 To reveal a secret

 To throw in the towel

 To surrender

 To tread on somebody’s toe

 To offend somebody

 To bury the hatchet

 To stop fighting

 To be a cog in the wheel

 To be a disturbance for progress

 To take the bull by the horns

 To face a difficult situation boldly

 To be in the driving seat

 To be in control of a situation

 To be above board

 To be honest and clever

 To strike a chord with someone

 To make someone feel sympathy with what one is saying

 To stick out one’s neck

 To do something that could bring problem

 To bite the dust

 To be defeated OR To fall down dead

 To add fuel to flames

 To do something that makes people react more fiercely

 To leave no stone unturned

 To do everything necessary to achieve something

 To leave someone in the lurch

 To abandon someone in a difficult situation

 To bide one’s time

 To wait for a good opportunity

 To draw the line at something

 To refuse to do something

 To take a dim view

 To hate

 To go the full distance

 To continue to partake in sports until it ends

 To the gallery

 To be praised and loved

 To put someone in a family way

 To make someone pregnant

 To line someone’s pocket

 To make money dishonestly

 To clip someone’s wing

 To reduce someone’s power

 To be a wet blanket

 To be a person who discourages

 To hold out an olive branch

 To clamor for peace

 To be born in blue blood in one’s vein

 To be born into a wealthy family

 To throw some light upon

 To explain

 To stand on one’s own leg

 To be independent

 To take the law into one’s hand

 To try to get revenge or satisfaction by force, without any recourse to the law courts

 To have a whale of a time

 To enjoy oneself very much

 To break the ice

 To lead the way when others are hesitant to come forward

 To turn a new leaf

 To change one’s mode of life

 To bring to light

 To reveal

 To be in someone’s debt

 To be grateful to someone for his/her help

 To cook the books

 To illegally or dishonestly alter facts or figures

 To be behind bars

 To be in prison