| Image |
Idiom |
Explanation |
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"... apple of ..... eye."
For example:
"She was the apple of his eye." |
Someone that one likes a lot. |
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"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
For example:
"The doctor told her to eat more fresh fruit, after all an apple a day
keeps the doctor away." |
Eating fruit is good/healthy for you. |
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"Bring home the bacon."
For example:
"He felt it was his responsibility to bring home the bacon." |
To earn a living for the family. |
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"Bread and butter."
For example:
"He was talking about bread and butter issues." |
Basic needs of life (food,shelter,clothing). |
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"Butter up."
For example:
"He was always buttering up the boss hoping for promotion." |
To flatter someone to try to get their favor or friendship. |
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Butter wouldn't melt in his / her mouth.
For example:-
"No one ever thought she was naughty, she always looked as if butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth." |
If butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth, they look as if they
would never do anything wrong although you think they would. |
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"A piece of cake."
For example:
"She knew she had passed the English exam, it was a piece of cake." |
To find something easy to do. |
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"To sell like hot cakes."
For example:
"The new Spice Girls' album sold like hot cakes." |
To sell quickly or rapidly. |
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"A big cheese"
For example:
"Anita Roddick was the big cheese at the Body Shop." |
An important person, a leader (usually about business). |
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"Chalk and cheese"
For example:
"I'm not surprised they're getting divorced, they were always chalk and
cheese." |
To be the complete opposite of someone. |
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"Another bite at the cherry." For example:
"Frank got another bite at the cherry when he resat his exams." |
To be given a another chance of doing or getting something.
|
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"As cool as a cucumber." For example:
"Although he was driving at 110 mph James Bond was as cool as a
cucumber." |
To remain calm under pressure. |
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"A bad egg."
For example:
"He was a bad egg." |
A bad person, to be avoided. |
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"Egg .... on."
For example:
"He was always in trouble at school, his class mates always egged him
on." |
To urge someone to do something (usually negative). |
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"Have egg on one's face."
For example:
"He ended up with egg on his face, when she found out he had been
lying." |
To be caught out or embarrassed. |
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"You can't make an omelette without breaking
eggs."
For example:
"He worked so hard to make the company a success it made him ill, but
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs." |
To do something to the detriment of something else. |
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"To walk on eggshells." For example:-
Everyone in the family had to walk on eggshells when he was in a bad
mood. |
To try hard not to upset someone or something. |
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"A pretty or fine kettle of fish"
For example:-
"They're divorced, and someone's sat them next to each other - that's
a fine kettle of fish."
|
A difficult or awkward situation.Thanks to Otrebs
|
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"A different kettle of fish"
For example:-
"Oh! They want to place
an order? That's a different kettle of fish. Of course I'll talk to
them."
|
A different matter or issue.Thanks to Otrebs
|
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"Cry over spilt milk."
For example:
"It's no good crying over spilt milk, what's done is done." |
To cry or complain about something that has already happened. |
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"As keen as mustard"
For example:
"He was as keen as mustard because he really wanted to win the
competition." |
To be very eager. |
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"To know your onions."
For example:-
"When it comes to computers he really knows his onions." |
To know a lot about a particular subject. |
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"As easy as pie." For example:
"Anyone can do that, it's as easy as pie." |
When something is very easy to do. |
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"Have a finger in every pie."
For example:
"He was a very influential man, he seemed to have a finger in every
pie." |
To be involved in lots of different things. |
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"A couch potato."
For example:
"She should get out more, she's turning into a real couch potato. " |
Someone who just sits on the couch watching TV. |
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"A hot potato."
For example:
"The issue of immigration was a hot potato." |
A question or argument that is controversial and difficult to settle |
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"In the soup."
For example:
"He landed her in the soup, when he told the policeman she had been
drinking." |
To be in serious trouble. |
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"Souped up."
For example:
"He made his car go faster by souping up the engine." |
To change something to make it faster or more powerful by changing
or adding something. |
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"Cup of tea."
For example:
"I really enjoyed the film, it was just my cup of tea." |
Something one enjoys or does well. |