20 Common Idiomatic Expressions & Their Meanings

1. She was tickled pink by the good news.

Made very happy

2. You were hands down the best player on the team.

There was no competition

3. I've been feeling pretty down in the dumps lately.

Sad or depressed

4. I'm feeling sick as a dog!

Very sick

5. I've been feeling under the weather.

Not well

6. Rise and shine!

Wake up and be happy!

7. Close, but no cigar.

You were very close, but you did not make it.

8. I could play outside till the cows come home.

For a very long time

9. Wow! It's raining cats and dogs out there!

Very hard rain

10. That sound is driving me up the wall!

Making me very annoyed

11. This assignment is a piece of cake.

Very easy

12. Although he broke the rules, he was only given a slap on the wrist.

A mild punishment

13. Yikes! This shirt costs an arm and a leg.

It is extremely expensive.

14. No, I was just pulling your leg.

Just joking

15. It's Greek to me!

I don't understand.

16. Keep your chin up.

Be happy.

17. Hold your horses.

Be patient.

18. We're all in the same boat.

All of us are in the same position.

19. He's a bit of a loose cannon.

Unpredictable

20. I will clean my room when pigs fly.

Never

At all costs

If you are determined to obtain or achieve something at all costs, you want it regardless of the expense, effort or sacrifice involved. "The journalist was determined at all costs to get a report from the war zone." When someone makes a public declaration of their objective or goal, this is their avowed intent. "The avowed intent of the new Government is to reduce unemployment." If you visit someone important in the place where they work, because you are determined to challenge him/her or obtain something, you beard the lion in his den. A person who has a bee in their bonnet has an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts. "She's got a bee in her bonnet about moving to New York." If something is beyond your wildest dreams, it is better than you imagined or hoped for. "The research team received a grant from the government

Avowed intent

Beard the lion in his den

Have a bee in one's bonnet

Beyond one's wildest dreams

that was beyond their wildest dreams."

Blood, sweat and tears

A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work. "His success wasn't due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way." If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly. "Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!" If you buckle down, you apply yourself with determination to hard work and give it your full attention. "If you want to pass your exams, you'll have buckle down and do some serious work." If you dig in your heels, you refuse to do something, especially if someone is trying to convince you to do so. "My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment." The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous. "The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last to leave - a real eager beaver!" If you explore all avenues, you try out every possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution. "We can't say it's impossible until we've explored all avenues." If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight with all your energy. "The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have to have the proposed road safety law accepted." If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed. "Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in New York." If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of you. "You can count on Tom; he's always willing to go the extra

Have something on the brain

Buckle down

Dig in your heels

An eager beaver

Explore all avenues

Fight tooth and nail

Fly by the seat of your pants

Go the extra mile

mile."

Go to great lengths

When trying to achieve something, if you go to great lengths, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed. "The two parties went to great lengths to reach an agreement."

Going places

To say that someone is going places means that they show talent and ability that will no doubt lead to a successful future. "Even at college it was obvious that Paul was going places." If someone or something goes into overdrive, they begin to work very hard or start to perform intensely. "At the start of every new collection, my imagination goes into overdrive." A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone who concentrates on working hard at his job. This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere and not give up in spite of the difficult circumstances. "I know the atmosphere is very tense, but just hang in there and eventually things will calm down." When you hang on by your fingernails, you succeed in continuing to do something in a very difficult situation. "The restaurant is losing more and more customers; the owner is just hanging on by his fingernails." Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much. "From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional golfer." If you are hell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly determined to do it, even if it's dangerous or stupid. "Although he is still weak, he's hell-bent on playing the match." Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal. "At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become rich and famous."

Go into overdrive

Keep your nose to the grindstone

Hang in there

Hang on by your fingernails

Have one's heart set on something

Hell-bent on something

Hitch one's wagon to a star

Kill two birds with one stone

If you kill two birds with one stone, you succeed in doing two things at the same time. "By studying on the train on the way home every week-end, Claire kills two birds with one stone." This expression refers to a difficult task, assignment or undertaking that will take a long time. "Getting through medical school is going to be a long row to hoe."

A long row to hoe

This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last. Make hay while the sun shines "Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines." If you make headway, you make progress in what you are trying to achieve. "Investigators have made little headway in their search for the causes of the catastrophe." If someone means business, they are serious about what they announce. "The boss says that in future any missing material will be reported to the police, and he looks as though he means business." This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere in their efforts and not give up or abandon their project. "Keep going. It's too soon to give up. Never say die!" If you say that you would not do something for (all) the world, you mean that you would never do it, not matter what you were offered. "I would not live in that building for the world." If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone. "He decided to paddle his own canoe and set up his own company." This expression refers to the power children exert over their parents by continually nagging or pestering them until they accept to buy advertised toys or fashionable products. "Pester power leads busy parents to buy more and more for their children."

Make headway

Mean business

Never say die

Not for (all) the world

Paddle your own canoe

Pester power

Pound the pavement

Someone who pounds the pavement, walks the streets or goes from company to company, usually in search of employment. You also pound the pavement in an effort to raise funds or gain support for a cause. "Charlie is out there pounding the pavement since he lost his job." If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you can to make something successful. "We'll have to pull out all the stops to get the store ready for the opening day." If you punch above your weight, you try to perform at a level that is considered to be beyond your ability. "She submitted her idea for the 'invention of the year' award, knowing that she was punching above her weight." If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it's difficult. "His parents were hardworking people who encouraged their children to reach for the moon." If you raise or lower your sights, you raise or lower your expectations, or you are more or less ambitious.. "He had to lower his sights and accept a less well-paid job than what he had hoped for." If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. "When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job." To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the possibility of success or progress for someone or something. "How successful do you think the project will be? Who knows... the sky's the limit!" If you stand on your own two feet, you are independent and need no help from anyone. "When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two feet." If you stand your ground, you maintain your position and refuse to yield or give way. "He claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the

Pull out all the stops

Punch above one's weight

Reach for the moon

Raise/lower your sights

Sink one's teeth into something

The sky's the limit

Stand on your own two feet

Stand one's ground

repeated accusations."

Stick to one's guns

If you stick to your guns, you show determination when faced with opposition. "The government stuck to its guns in spite of the criticism." Someone who would stop at nothing would do anything, even something illegal or immoral, in order to obtain what they want. "He'd stop at nothing if there was a possibility of making money." If you take pains to do something, you try very hard or make a special effort to do something as well as possible. "Great pains were taken to ensure the athletes' security." If someone is waiting in the wings, they are waiting for an opportunity to take action, especially to replace someone else in their job or position. "There are many young actors waiting in the wings, ready to show their talent."

Stop at nothing

Take pains

Waiting in the wings

DIOMS
absent-minded: forgetful (distrado) all ears: eager to listen to someone (todo odos) all of a sudden: suddenly, without advance warning (repentinamente) beat around the bush: speak indirectly or evasively (dar vueltas para hacer algo) behind the times: old fashioned (anticuado) blow one's own horn: praise oneself (fanfarronear, hacer alarde) brand new: absolutely new (flamante) catch one's eye: attract one's attention (llamar la atencin) catch (someone) red-handed: find someone in the middle of doing something wrong (atrapar a alguien con las manos

EXAMPLES
My grandfather is very absentmindedand often forgets his key. Okay, I'm all ears, please tell me about the party. All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain. Stop beating around the bush and give us your final decision. My aunt is a little behind the times. He is always blowing his own horn and is very annoying at times. He was finally able to buy a brandnewcar. I tried to catch her eye but she didn`t notice me. The policeman caught the boy redhanded when he was stealing the candy.

en la masa) change horses in midstream: make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity (cambiar de caballo en la mitad del ro) change (one's) mind: change one`s decision (cambiar de opinin) come across: find something or meet someone by chance (encontrarse repentinamente con algo o alguien) come into fashion: become fashionable (ponerse de moda) crocodile tears: a show of sorrow that is not really felt (lgrimas de cocodrilo) cry over spilt milk: cry or complain about something that has already happened (llorar sobre leche derramada) die out: die or disappear slowly until all gone (desaparecer, extinguirse) doll up: dress in fancy clothes (emperifollarse, vestirse de moda) do without: manage without something (arreglrselas sin algo) dressed to the nines (teeth): dressed elegantly (elegantemente vestido, "hasta los dientes") dress up: put on one's best clothes (vestirse formalmente) drop (someone) a line: write or mail a note or letter to someone (escribirle a alguien unas lneas) easy-going: tolerant and relaxed (tolerante, de fcil convivencia) eat like a bird: eat very little (comer como un pajarito) eat like a horse: eat a lot (comer como un caballo) eat one's words: admit being wrong in something one has said, retract one's statement (tragarse las palabras) end up: finish, finally do something They decided to change horses in midstream and that is probably why they lost the election. He changed his mind and said that he would not go to the movie tonight. I came across an interesting story in the newspaper the other day. She says that although bell-bottom pants have come into fashion again she will never wear them. He said that he was very sorry but his tears were just crocodile tears. Don't cry over spilt milk. You can never change the past. Dinosaurs died out millions of years ago. She was all dolled up for the party at the downtown hotel If there is no sugar, we'll have to do without. The stars were all dressed to the nines (teeth) during the Academy Awards ceremony. He decided to dress up for dinner at the restaurant. She promised that she would drop me a line when she gets to Singapore. He has a very easy-going management style. He eats like a bird. That's why he can`t put on enough weight to join the football team. He eats like a horse but he never puts on any weight. He was forced to eat his words after his boss proved that he was wrong.

We ended up going to the restaurant

(terminar por) face the music: accept the consequences of something (enfrentar los problemas) fall behind: fail to keep up with work or studies or payments, etc. (atrasarse en el trabajo, estudios, pagos, etc.) fall in love with: begin to love someone (enamorarse de) fed up with: disgusted or bored with someone or something (harto de) figure out: try to understand or solve (entender, darse cuenta) fit as a fiddle: in good athletic condition or health (como un violn) fix someone up with someone: help someone get a date by arranging a meeting for the two (arreglar algo con alguien) for all the world: for anything, for any price (por nada del mundo) for better or worse: depending on how one looks at the matter, with good or bad effects (para bien o para mal) from hand to hand: from one person to another and another (de mano en mano) from the bottom of one's heart: with great feeling, sincerely (de todo corazn, sinceramente) from now on: from this moment forward (de aqu en ms) from scratch: from the very beginning (de cero, de la nada) from time to time: occasionally (cada tanto, de vez en cuando)

after the movie last night. He is going to have to face the musicsooner or later. He fell behind with his homework at the beginning of the term and had problems throughout the year. I fell in love with her the first time that I saw her at the restaurant. I think that he is getting fed up with the constant demands of his boss. He finally figured out how to use the new video recorder. Her grandfather is 92 years old but he is as fit as a fiddle. I tried to fix my sister up with a date with my friend but she refused me.

For all the world I do not know what he is trying to tell me with the notes that he writes For better or worse he has decided to quit his job and go to live in Brazil.

The plate of food went from hand to hand until finally it was all finished. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart for helping my daughter when she was sick. From now on I will study Italian every day. He decided to build the house from scratch. We go to that restaurant from time to time.