English- Idiom List for revision

Idioms List

  A hot potato -Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed
 A penny for your thoughts- A way of asking what someone is thinking
 Actions speak louder than words- People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
 Add insult to injury- To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation
 An arm and a leg Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money
 At the drop of a hat- without any hesitation; instantly.
 Back to the drawing board -When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
 Ball is in your court- It is up to you to make the next decision or step
 Barking up the wrong tree -Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person -
  Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves.
 Beat around the bush -Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
 Best of both worlds Meaning: All the advantages.
 Best thing since sliced bread -A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.
 Bite off more than you can chew- To take on a task that is way too big.
 Blessing in disguise -Something good that isn't recognized at first.
 Burn the midnight oil -To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting.
 Can't judge a book by its cover -Cannot judge something primarily on appearance
 Caught between two stools- When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives
 Costs an arm and a leg -This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
 Cross that bridge when you come to it-  Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
 Cry over spilt milk - When you complain about a loss from the past  
 Curiosity killed the cat -  Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
 Cut corners - When something is done badly to save money
 Cut the mustard-  [possibly derived from "cut the muster"] To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate
 Devil's Advocate-  To present a counter argument
 Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched-  This idiom is used to express "Don't make plans for something that might not happen".
 Don't give up the day job - You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
 Don't put all your eggs in one basket-  Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
  Drastic times call for drastic measures - When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.
 Elvis has left the building-  The show has come to an end. It's all over.
 Every cloud has a silver lining - Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
  Far cry from - Very different from
 Feel a bit under the weather -: Feeling slightly ill.
 Give the benefit of the doubt - Believe someone's statement, without proof.
 Hear it on the grapevine - This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone.
  Hit the nail on the head - Do or say something exactly right
 Hit the sack / sheets / hay-  To go to bed
 In the heat of the moment-  Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.
  It takes two to tango-  Actions or communications need more than one person
 Jump on the bandwagon-  Join a popular trend or activity.
  Keep something at bay-  Keep something away.
 Kill two birds with one stone- This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time.
  Last straw - The final problem in a series of problems
  Let sleeping dogs lie - do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.
 Let the cat out of the bag-  To share information that was previously concealed
 Make a long story short - Come to the point - leave out details
  Method to my madness-  An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.
 Miss the boat - This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance
 Not a spark of decency -: No manners
  Not playing with a full deck-  Someone who lacks intelligence
  Off one's rocker - Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile
 On the ball - When someone understands the situation well
 Once in a blue moon-  : Happens very rarely.
 Picture paints a thousand words - A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
  Piece of cake -  A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
 Put wool over other people's eyes - This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them.
  See eye to eye-  This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
 Sit on the fence - This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
 Speak of the devil!-  This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
 Steal someone's thunder - To take the credit for something someone else did.
 Take with a grain of salt-  This means not to take what someone says too seriously.
  Taste of your own medicine-  Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else
 To hear something straight from the horse's mouth-  To hear something from the authoritative source
 Whole nine yards - Everything. All of it
 Wouldn't be caught dead-  Would never like to do something
  Your guess is as good as mine - To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question