101 American English Idioms

Section One: It's a Zoo Out There

1.Take the Bull by the Horns: take decisive action in a difficult situation

My father could not solve the difficult problem; so I took the bull by the horns and solved it for him.

2. Straight From the Horse's Mouth: from a reliable source

How did you find out that Jill was engaged?
I got the information from a very reliable source.
You mean Jill told you so herself?
That's right. I got it straight from the horse's mouth!

3. Hold One's Horses: to wait

Hold your horses; we're not ready to leave yet!

4. Put the Cart Before the horse: do s.t. before the right time for it

At the meeting, our manager started talking about the design of the company's product catalog before we decided what to include in it; so he put the cart before the horse.

5. Horse Around: play around

Did you hear about Dave's bake injury?
No. How did he get hurt?
Well, after the coach left the gym he decided to stay and horse around on the parallel bars. He somehow lost his grip and fell on his back.
That's too bad, but he shouldn't have been aimlessly playing around on the equipment without proper supervision.

6. Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Inform beforehand

He let the cat out of the bag when he accidentaly told his wife about her surprise birthday party.

7. For the Birds: Uninteresting and meaningless

They went to a poetry reading, but they got bored and restless. As far as they were concerned, it was for the birds! They lift during an intermission because they found the reading totally uninteresting and meaningless.

8. Kill two Birds with One Stone: to do two things with one effort

I had a business appointment in the city, then met my friend for lunch, so I killed two birds with one stone.

9. Horse of a Different Color: quite a different matter

We wanted to go on vacation in Hawaii, but when the tickets were twice  as expensive as we had thought, that was a horse of a different color!

10. Go to theDogs: become run-down

Have you see their house lately? It's really gone to the dogs.
It's true that it has become run-down and in serious need of repair, but I'm sure that it can be fixed up to look new.

11.Let Sleeping dogs lie: leave things as they are, so as not to start up
                                  trouble

12. Dog Days of Summer: very hot summer weather

August usually brings the dog days of summer.

13. Smell a Rat: feel that something is wrong

How come the front door is open? Didn't you close it before we went shpping?
I'm sure I did. I can't understand it.
Frankly, I smell a rat.
Me, too. I'm convinced that something is definitely wrong here.
We'd better call the police.

14. Fishy: strange and suspicious

When the security guard saw a light in the store after closing hours, it seemed to him that there was something fishy going on. He called the central office and explained to his superior that he thought something strange and suspicious was occurring.

15. Cat Got Your Tongue?: can't talk?

To be continued above the section

Section Two: The Body Has Many Uses

1. Get in someone's Hair: (bother someone)

    Children! Would you please stop making so much noise! And for heaven's
    sake, pick up your clothes and toy! It's hard enough trying to keep this
    house clean without your throwing your things all over the place!
   
    Clara, I know that the children get in your hair, but you should try not to
    let it upset you so much.

    Listen, Jim. I can't help it. The children bother me and make me very
    angry when they're so noisy and messy.


2. Let One's Hair Down: (relax)

    He finally let his hair down and actually cracked a joke.
         


3. Shoot Off One's Mouth: (talk too much)

    He likes to shoot off his mouth about what a great guy he is.


4. Jump Down Someone's Throat: (become angry with someone)

    Wait and let me finish before you jump down my throat.

    Don't jump down my throat anymore!


5. Cut One's Own Throat: (make oneself fail at s.t.)

    She cut her own throat by volunteering to do extra project when she
    already had too much work.


6. Pull Someone's Leg: (play a trick on s.o.. fool someone)

    She was pulling my leg when she said she had won $1 million in the lottery.


7. Shake a Leg: (hurry!)

    Mary, you always take such a long time to put on your makeup. Come on,
    shake a leg!

    I'll be finished in a minute. Be patient.

    You've got to hurry or else we won't arrive on time to see the last show.


8. Cost an Arm And a Leg: ( to cost much more than expected)

    This furniture cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it.


9. Play It By Ear: ( improvise as one goes along)

    Let's go to the movies, agreed?

    Sure. And what'll we do after that?

    Oh, I don't know. Let's play it by ear.


10. All thumbs: (clumsy)

     I am dropping things and seem to be all thumbs today.


11. Not Have a leg to Stand On: (to have no good defense for one's opinions
     or action)

     Tom maintains that the firm owes him some back wages for having worked
     overtime. However, he won't have a leg to stand on unless he can prove
     that he put in all those extra hours. He doesn't stand a chance of getting
     his money without a strong foundation of facts to support his position.


12. Stick Out One's Neck: (to take a chance without being sure of any return)

     I stuck my neck out for my cousin when I loaned him money.


13. Get Off Someone's Back: (stop bothering)

     You've been studying for a long time. Why don't you take a break? Come
     on! Let's go! Forget studying for a while!

     Look! Get off my back! I can't go anywhere!

     OK. I'll stop bothering you only if you promise to let me know the minute
     you're finished.


14. Pay Through The Nose: (pay too high a price)

     He paid through the nose for his new boat.


     To be continued...