Explorez le monde coloré des expressions idiomatiques anglaises 

• Objectif : enrichir votre vocabulaire d’expressions idiomatiques anglaises.
• Langue : anglais
• Public : tous
• Niveau : A2+/C2  

Nous vous proposons une exploration approfondie des expressions idiomatiques de chaque lettre de l’alphabet en partant de la dernière pour changer un peu vos habitudes. Chaque expression est détaillée avec des significations claires et des exemples pratiques en anglais pour enrichir votre vocabulaire et maîtriser quelques expressions idiomatiques très courantes.

Expressions idiomatiques expliquées en anglais sans stress 

Comment apprendre une liste

Choisissez une lettre dans la liste alphabétique des expressions à apprendre à votre rythme et selon vos besoins. 
Lisez l’expression avec sa définition puis l’exemple à voix haute quelques fois avant de l’incorporer dans une de vos phrases pour la mémoriser.
Imaginez la situation ou le contexte, cela facilite nettement l’utilisation de l’expression qui reviendra plus naturellement à votre mémoire le moment voulu.  

Selon votre niveau personnel en anglais, vous pouvez chercher une traduction si un mot ou une phrase est vraiment incompréhensible mais évitez de traduire des phrases entières dans la mesure du possible (c-à-d votre niveau de gestion de la frustration ou de maitrise).  

‘A’ Idioms

1. A Big Cheese
   • Sentence: « In our company, the CEO is considered the big cheese. »
2. A Bird’s Eye View
   • Sentence: « From the top of the tower, you get a bird’s eye view of the city. »
3. A Bone of Contention
   • Sentence: « The office dress code has become a bone of contention among the staff. »
4. A Cock and Bull Story
   • Sentence: « His excuse for being late was just a cock and bull story. »
5. At the Crack of Dawn
   • Sentence: « Farmers often start working at the crack of dawn. »
6. A Cuckoo in the Nest
   • Sentence: « The new policy felt like a cuckoo in the nest, unwelcome and out of place. »
7. A Litmus Test
   • Sentence: « The election results were a litmus test of the public’s satisfaction with the government. »
8. As the Crow Flies
   • Sentence: « It’s only five miles to the beach as the crow flies. »
9. A Dead Letter
   • Sentence: « The old laws are a dead letter; nobody follows them anymore. »
10. At the Drop of a Hat
    • Sentence: « She’s always ready to travel at the drop of a hat. »
11. An Early Bird
    • Sentence: « He’s an early bird and likes to complete most of his work before noon. »
12. An Educated Guess
    • Sentence: « Based on the clues, I’d make an educated guess that the treasure is buried here. »
13. At the Eleventh Hour
    • Sentence: « The agreement was reached at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline. »
14. A Queer Fish
    • Sentence: « He’s a bit of a queer fish, always keeping to himself. »
15. A Wakeup Call
    • Sentence: « The recent health scare was a wake-up call for him to start exercising. »
16. A Worm’s Eye View
    • Sentence: « As an intern, you often get a worm’s eye view of the company. »
17. A Witch Hunt
    • Sentence: « The investigation turned into a witch hunt against the manager. »
18. At the Heels Of
    • Sentence: « The detective was at the heels of the suspect. »
19. A Dish Fit for the Gods
    • Sentence: « Her homemade apple pie is a dish fit for the gods. »
20. A Game of Two Halves
    • Sentence: « Life, like football, is often a game of two halves. »
21. Afraid of One’s Own Shadow
    • Sentence: « Since the burglary, she’s been afraid of her own shadow. »
22. Against the Clock
    • Sentence: « The team is working against the clock to finish the project. »
23. Air One’s Dirty Laundry
    • Sentence: « It’s not wise to air your dirty laundry in public forums. »
24. All Systems Go
    • Sentence: « With the final approval, it’s all systems go for the event. »
25. An Arm and a Leg
    • Sentence: « Buying a new house can cost an arm and a leg. »
26. Appear Out of Nowhere
    • Sentence: « The deer seemed to appear out of nowhere. »
27. Apple of Someone’s Eye
    • Sentence: « The youngest child is the apple of their eye. »
28. Ask for the Moon
    • Sentence: « Asking for a 100% raise? You might as well be asking for the moon. »
29. Asleep at the Switch
    • Sentence: « The security guard was asleep at the switch when the thieves entered. »
30. At Sixes and Sevens
    • Sentence: « After the merger, the company was at sixes and sevens. »
31. At Someone’s Beck and Call
    • Sentence: « As a personal assistant, she’s always at her boss’s beck and call. »
32. At the Bottom of the Ladder
    • Sentence: « He started his career at the bottom of the ladder. »
33. A House of Cards
    • Sentence: « Their financial plan was a house of cards, ready to collapse at any moment. »
34. At an Arm’s Length
    • Sentence: « She tends to keep everyone at an arm’s length. »
35. A Boon in Disguise
    • « A blessing in disguise » is the correct idiom, which means a good thing that initially seemed bad.
36. A Bull in a China Shop
    • Sentence: « He’s like a bull in a china shop when he’s in the kitchen. »
37. A Red Letter Day
    • Sentence: « Graduation day was a red letter day for her. »
38. A Nine Days’ Wonder
    • Sentence: « The scandal was a nine-day’ wonder before the media moved on to other news. »
39. A Bit Under the Weather
    • Sentence: « I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I’ll stay home today. »

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‘B’ Idioms  

1. Bad Blood: Feelings of hatred or ill will between people or groups.
2. Be a Weight Off Your Shoulders: You feel relieved when a burden or worry is removed.
3. Bend Your Ears: To talk to someone for a long time, often about uninteresting topics.
4. Bite Your Tongue: To stop yourself from saying something that might be inappropriate or hurtful.
5. Black and Blue: Covered in bruises; injured.
6. Blue Blood: Belonging to a high social class, especially by birth.
7. Be Above Board: To be honest, open, and legal.
8. Be Bouncing Off the Walls: Be very excited or energetic, sometimes excessively.
9. Bow and Scrape: To try too hard to please someone, especially someone in authority.
10. Brass Monkey Weather: Freezing weather.
11. Be Tailor-Made: To be perfectly suitable for someone or something.
12. Break the Ice: To initiate a conversation in a social setting, making people feel more comfortable.
13. Be as Clear as Mud: To be very confusing or unclear.
14. Be on Cloud Nine: To be extremely happy or euphoric.
15. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: To be in a situation where you must choose between two equally unpleasant options.
16. Be in the Doldrums: To be in a state of inactivity, stagnation, or depression.
17. Beat the Drum: To speak enthusiastically about something to persuade others.
18. Be on the Edge: To be anxious or nervous.
19. Be in Seventh Heaven: To be extremely happy, similar to being on cloud nine.
20. Be at Each Other’s Throats: To argue or fight intensely with someone.
21. Batten Down the Hatches: To prepare for a challenging situation or impending trouble.
22. Back the Wrong Horse: To support a person or action that is later unsuccessful or wrong.
23. Back to Square One: To start over, return to the beginning.
24. Back to the Salt Mines: Returning to work, especially with reluctance.
25. Ball of Fire: Someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm.
26. Beat One’s Head Against the Wall: To persist in a futile endeavour.
27. Bark Up the Wrong Tree: To make a wrong assumption or follow a false lead.
28. Beat One’s Brains Out To work or think very hard about something.
29. Begin to See the Light: To start understanding something previously confusing.
30. Behind Closed Doors: Something was done in private or in secret.
31. Bet on the Wrong Horse: Similar to backing the wrong horse, making a wrong choice or prediction.
32. They are bent on Doing: To be determined or persistent in doing something.
33. Bite Off More Than One Can Chew: To take on a task that is too big or beyond one’s ability.
34. Bite the Bullet: To endure a painful or unpleasant situation bravely.
35. Bitter Pill to Swallow: An unpleasant fact or situation must be accepted.
36. Black Sheep of the Family: A family member is considered a disgrace or failure.
37. Blessing in Disguise: Something that seems wrong or unlucky initially but results in something good.
38. Blind Leading the Blind: A situation where a person who knows little is advising someone who knows even less.
39. Blow One’s Own Horn: To boast about oneself or one’s achievements.
40. Blow Someone’s Mind: To amaze or astonish someone.
41. Bone of Contention: A subject or issue over which there is continuing disagreement.
42. Bring Home the Bacon: To earn a living, especially for one’s family.
43. Blue in the Face: Trying something repeatedly with no success.
44. Break the Back Off To overcome a significant difficulty or obstacle.
45. Burn a Hole in One’s Pocket: To spend money quickly, often recklessly.
46. Burn the Midnight Oil: To work late into the night or until the early morning hours.
47. Bushman’s Holiday: Spending your free time doing the same things you do at work.
48. Button One’s Lip: To keep quiet or stop talking.
49. Break a Leg: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.

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‘C’ Idioms  

1. Carrot and Stick
   • Sentence: « The new policy uses a carrot and stick approach to increase productivity. »
2. Cloak and Dagger
   • Sentence: « The novel was full of cloak and dagger operations set during the war. »
3. Cards are Stacked Against
   • Sentence: « It felt like the cards were stacked against me in that job interview. »
4. Crack a Book
   • Sentence: « He hardly ever cracks a book but still does well in exams. »
5. Cross a Bridge Before One Comes to It
   • Sentence: « You’re crossing a bridge before you come to it by worrying about that issue now. »
6. Carry Coals to Newcastle
   • Sentence: « Giving her cooking advice is like carrying coals to Newcastle since she’s a chef. »
7. Cast in the Same Mould
   • Sentence: « The two brothers are cast in the same mould, sharing many traits. »
8. Change Horses in Midstream
   • Sentence: « Changing our strategy now would be like changing horses in midstream. »
9. Cap it All
   • Sentence: « To cap it all, the celebration ended with a spectacular fireworks display. »
10. Cried with Eyes Out
    • Sentence: « She cried her eyes out when she heard the sad news. »
11. Carry the Can
    • Sentence: « He had to carry the can for the team’s mistake. »
12. Cast a Long Shadow
    • Sentence: « His influential work has cast a long shadow over the field. »
13. Cat and Dog Life
    • Sentence: « Their constant arguing suggests they lead a cat and dog life. »

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‘D’ Idioms 

1. Drive a Wedge Between
   • Sentence: « Their disagreement drove a wedge between the two friends. »
2. Dances to the Tune
   • Sentence: « He dances to the tune of his boss’s every demand. »
3. Dressed Up to the Nines
   • Sentence: « For the gala, everyone was dressed up to the nines. »
4. Dragging Its Feet
   • Sentence: « The committee is dragging its feet on making a final decision. »
5. Davy Jones’ Locker
   • Sentence: « The ship sank, taking its treasures to Davy Jones’ locker. »
6. Dancing on Someone’s Grave
   • Sentence: « Celebrating his rival’s downfall was like dancing on his grave. »
7. Dog in the Manger
   • Sentence: « He’s a dog in the manger, hoarding supplies he doesn’t even need. »
8. Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk
   • Sentence: « You made a mistake, but don’t cry over spilt milk. Just learn from it. »
9. Don’t Wash Your Dirty Laundry in Public
   • Sentence: « It’s better not to wash your dirty laundry in public and keep family matters private. »
10. Donkey Work
    • Sentence: « Interns are often expected to do the donkey work in the office. »
11. Don’t Throw Bricks When You Live in a Glass House
    • Sentence: « He should not criticize others for being disorganized when he’s hardly organized himself—don’t throw bricks when you live in a glass house. »

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‘E’ Idioms

1. Entering the 80th Orbit
   • Sentence: « My grandfather is entering his 80th orbit next week, and we’re planning a big celebration. »
2. Eleventh Hour Decision
   • Sentence: « The agreement was reached through an eleventh-hour decision. »
3. End in Smoke
   • Sentence: « After all the planning, the project ended in smoke. »
4. Earth Shattering
   • Sentence: « The news of the discovery was earth-shattering in the scientific community. »
5. Eat Humble Pie
   • Sentence: « After his mistake, he had to eat humble pie in front of his colleagues. »
6. Elephant in the Room
   • Sentence: « The budget shortfall is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. »
7. Egg on Your Face
   • Sentence: « He had egg on his face after his predictions turned out to be wrong. »
8. Eye for an Eye
   • Sentence: « The legal system in ancient times was often based on the principle of an eye for an eye. »
9. Eyes are Bigger Than One’s Stomach
   • Sentence: « He realized his eyes were bigger than his stomach when he couldn’t finish the extra-large pizza he ordered. »

 

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‘F’ Idioms  

1. From Cradle to Grave
   • « This insurance policy provides coverage from cradle to grave. »
2. Face the Music
   • « After making a mistake, he had to face the music. »
3. Feel the Pinch
   • « After the economic downturn, many families started to feel the pinch. »
4. Fall on Your Own Sword
   • « The minister decided to fall on his own sword after the scandal. »
5. Feather in One’s Cap
   • « Winning the award was a real feather in her cap. »
6. Firing on All Cylinders
   • « The team was firing on all cylinders during the project. »
7. French Leave
   • « He took French leave from the party without telling anyone. »
8. Fall on Your Feet
   • « Despite the risks, they managed to fall on their feet. »
9. Fall on Your Sword
   • « The CEO fell on his sword after the company’s massive losses. »
10. Fingers and Thumbs
    • « I’m all fingers and thumbs when it comes to sewing. »
11. Finger in the Pie
    • « She likes to have a finger in every pie in the organization. »
12. Flash in the Pan
    • « Many thought the new technology was just a flash in the pan. »
13. Follow Your Nose
    • « To find the cafe, just follow your nose down the main street. »
14. Fool’s Paradise
    • « He’s living in a fool’s paradise, unaware of the financial risks. »
15. Foot in Mouth
    • « I really put my foot in my mouth during the interview. »
16. For a Song
    • « She bought the vintage dress for a song at the flea market. »
17. For Donkey’s Years
    • « He’s been working there for donkey’s years. »

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‘F’ Idioms  

1. From Cradle to Grave
   • « This insurance policy provides coverage from cradle to grave. »
2. Face the Music
   • « After making a mistake, he had to face the music. »
3. Feel the Pinch
   • « After the economic downturn, many families started to feel the pinch. »
4. Fall on Your Own Sword
   • « The minister decided to fall on his own sword after the scandal. »
5. Feather in One’s Cap
   • « Winning the award was a real feather in her cap. »
6. Firing on All Cylinders
   • « The team was firing on all cylinders during the project. »
7. French Leave
   • « He took French leave from the party without telling anyone. »
8. Fall on Your Feet
   • « Despite the risks, they managed to fall on their feet. »
9. Fall on Your Sword
   • « The CEO fell on his sword after the company’s massive losses. »
10. Fingers and Thumbs
    • « I’m all fingers and thumbs when it comes to sewing. »
11. Finger in the Pie
    • « She likes to have a finger in every pie in the organization. »
12. Flash in the Pan
    • « Many thought the new technology was just a flash in the pan. »
13. Follow Your Nose
    • « To find the cafe, just follow your nose down the main street. »
14. Fool’s Paradise
    • « He’s living in a fool’s paradise, unaware of the financial risks. »
15. Foot in Mouth
    • « I really put my foot in my mouth during the interview. »
16. For a Song
    • « She bought the vintage dress for a song at the flea market. »
17. For Donkey’s Years
    • « He’s been working there for donkey’s years. »

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‘G’ Idioms 

1. Get off the Hook
   • « After the new evidence was presented, he was able to get off the hook. »
2. Give Up the Ghost
   • « The old car finally gave up the ghost on the highway. »
3. Got the Slap on the Wrist
   • « For his minor mistake, he just got a slap on the wrist. »
4. Give Someone a Bird
   • « The audience gave the performer a bird after a terrible performance. »
5. Got the Wind Up
   • « She really got the wind up when she heard those strange noises at night. »
6. Get a Raw Deal
   • « I felt like I got a raw deal when I was passed over for the promotion. »
7. Gift of the Gab
   • « He won the debate easily, thanks to his gift of the gab. »
8. Gives Cold Shoulder
   • « He’s been giving me the cold shoulder ever since our argument. »
9. Get Your Wires Crossed
   • « We got our wires crossed; I thought we were meeting tomorrow, not today. »
10. Give Me Five
    • « That was an awesome performance—give me five! »
11. Give Me a Hand
    • « Can you give me a hand with this heavy box? »
12. Give Someone a Piece of Your Mind
    • « She gave her neighbour a piece of her mind about the loud music. »
13. Go Bananas
    • « The kids went bananas when they saw the clown. »
14. Go Tell It to the Birds
    • « I don’t believe a word he says; he can go tell it to the birds. »
15. Go Under the Hammer
    • « The rare painting is going under the hammer at the auction next week. »
16. Graveyard Shift
    • « Working the graveyard shift can be tough on your sleep schedule. »
17. Grease Monkey
    • « He’s always fixing cars; he’s a real grease monkey. »

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‘H’ Idioms

1. Have Ants in Your Pants
   • « He had ants in his pants the day before his interview, unable to sit still from nervousness. »
2. Having a Whale of a Time
   • « At the amusement park, they were having a whale of a time. »
3. Hold One’s Horses
   • « Hold your horses! We need to think this through before acting. »
4. Have a Big Mouth
   • « He’s known to have a big mouth, often spilling secrets. »
5. Himalayan Blunder
   • « The company’s failed marketing strategy was a Himalayan blunder. »
6. Have a One-Track Mind
   • « She has a one-track mind when it comes to her career aspirations. »
7. Have Clean Hands
   • « Despite the scandal, the CEO claimed to have clean hands. »
8. Have an Egg on the Face
   • « After the error, he had egg on his face in front of his colleagues. »
9. Have Eyes Bigger Than Stomach
   • « At the buffet, he had eyes bigger than his stomach and couldn’t eat everything he took. »
10. Heart Missed a Beat
    • « My heart missed a beat when I saw the breathtaking view. »
11. Heart in the Right Place
    • « He may make mistakes, but his heart is in the right place. »
12. Hit the Nail on the Head
    • « You hit the nail on the head when you described the problem. »
13. Hand to Mouth
    • « They are living hand to mouth, struggling to meet their daily needs. »
14. Have No Truck With
    • « She has no truck with dishonest people. »
15. Hit the Bull’s-Eye
    • « His prediction about the election results hit the bull’s-eye. »
16. Hold Water
    • « His argument doesn’t hold water in a court of law. »
17. Hornets’ Nest
    • « His controversial statement stirred up a hornets’ nest in the community. »

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‘I’ Idioms  

1. In Dribs and Drabs
   • « The donations came in dribs and drabs, but eventually, we reached our goal. »
2. In Black and White
   • « I need the contract terms in black and white before I can agree to them. »
3. In the Blues
   • « After the game was cancelled, he was really in the blues. »
4. In Cahoots With
   • « They suspected the guard was in cahoots with the thieves. »
5. If the Shoe Fits, Wear It
   • « He felt offended by the criticism, but if the shoe fits, wear it. »
6. In Droves
   • « Fans arrived in droves to watch the final match. »
7. In the Doghouse
   • « After forgetting her birthday, he’s in the doghouse. »

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‘J’ Idioms  

1. Jack Frost
   • « The garden was covered in frost; Jack Frost had certainly visited last night. »
2. Jack the Lad
   • « He’s always been a Jack the Lad, thinking he can get away with anything. »
3. Jack-of-All-Trades
   • « She’s a jack-of-all-trades, capable of fixing almost anything. »
4. Jam on Your Face
   • « After the lie was exposed, he had jam on his face. »
5. Jam Tomorrow
   • « Her promises of getting a raise seemed like jam tomorrow. »
6. Jane Doe
   • « The unidentified patient was referred to as Jane Doe in the hospital reports. »
7. Jekyll and Hyde
   • « He has a Jekyll and Hyde personality; you never know what to expect from him. »
8. Jersey Justice
   • « The strict punishment for the crime was considered Jersey justice. »
9. Jet Set
   • « Living a jet-set lifestyle, she travels to different countries each week. »
10. Jet-Black
    • « She had jet-black hair that contrasted with her pale skin. »
11. Job’s Comforter
    • « Instead of cheering me up, he turned out to be a Job’s comforter. »
12. Jobs for the Boys
    • « The new project seemed like jobs for the boys, as all his friends were hired. »
13. Jockey for Position
    • « The candidates were jockeying for position to win the election. »
14. Jog My Memory
    • « Could you jog my memory about the meeting details? »
15. John Doe
    • « The police found an unidentified man, who they’re calling John Doe. »
16. Joe Public
    • « The new policy will affect Joe Public the most. »
17. Johnny on the Spot
    • « Whenever there’s a crisis, he’s always Johnny on the spot. »
18. Johnny-Come-Lately
    • « He’s a Johnny-come-lately in the team but has lots of fresh ideas. »
19. Join the Club
    • « You’re looking for a job too? Join the club! »
20. Joined at the Hip
    • « Those two are always together, joined at the hip. »
21. Judge, Jury, and Executioner
    • « He acts as judge, jury, and executioner in all office disputes. »
22. Juggle Frogs
    • « Trying to manage this project is like trying to juggle frogs. »
23. Jump Down Someone’s Throat
    • « She jumped down my throat for being five minutes late. »
24. Jump on the Bandwagon
    • « Once the product became popular, everyone jumped on the bandwagon. »
25. Jump Ship
    • « Many employees started to jump ship after the company’s stock plummeted. »
26. Jump the Broom
    • « They decided to jump the broom in a small, intimate ceremony. »
27. Jump the Gun
    • « He jumped the gun by announcing the project before it was approved. »
28. Jump the Track
    • « Our discussion jumped the track and moved to an unrelated topic. »
29. Jump Through Hoops
    • « She had to jump through hoops to get her visa approved. »
30. Jump to a Conclusion
    • « Don’t jump to a conclusion before you have all the facts. »
31. Jumping Judas!
    • « Jumping Judas! I wasn’t expecting to see you here! »
32. Jungle Out There
    • « The business world is a jungle out there; you have to be tough. »
33. Jury’s Out
    • « The jury’s out on whether the new policy will be effective. »
34. Just Around the Corner
    • « Spring is just around the corner, and I can’t wait. »
35. Just Coming Up To
    • « It’s just coming up to 6 PM, so we should leave now. »
36. Just Deserts
    • « He got his just deserts when he was finally caught for cheating. »
37. Just for the Heck of It
    • « Sometimes, I go to the beach just for the heck of it. »
38. Just for the Record
    • « Just for the record, I disagree with this decision. »
39. Just in the Nick of Time
    • « She arrived just in the nick of time for her flight. »
40. Just Off the Boat
    • « He looked like he was just off the boat, struggling to adapt to the city life. »
41. Just What the Doctor Ordered
    • « This vacation is just what the doctor ordered for some rest and relaxation. »
42. Justice Is Blind
    • « In an ideal world, justice is blind, and everyone is treated equally. »

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‘K’ Idioms 

1. Kick Up a Row
   • « The customers kicked up a row when they received poor service at the restaurant. »
2. Keep One’s Eye on the Ball
   • « In this fast-paced industry, it’s important to keep your eye on the ball. »
3. Keep Under One’s Hat
   • « They tried to keep the news under their hat, but it soon became obvious she is pregnant. »
4. Keep at Bay
   • « He always tries to keep his work troubles at bay when he’s on vacation. »
5. Kangaroo Court
   • « The employees felt that the internal inquiry was a kangaroo court. »
6. Keep Body and Soul Together
   • « His part-time job helps him keep body and soul together. »
7. Know Something Inside Out
   • « She knows her thesis topic inside out. »
8. Know Which Way the Wind Blows
   • « As a politician, it’s crucial to know which way the wind blows. »

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‘L’ Idioms  

1. Labour of Love
   • « Building the community garden was a labour of love for her. »
2. Lacklustre
   • « The team’s performance was lacklustre, lacking energy and enthusiasm. »
3. Laid Hands On
   • « He was reprimanded for having laid hands on his colleague during the argument. »
4. Lame Excuse
   • « He gave a lame excuse for missing the deadline, which nobody believed. »
5. Last but Not Least
   • « Last but not least, let’s thank our final speaker for his insightful comments. »
6. Laugh in One’s Sleeve
   • « They laughed in their sleeves at the absurdity of the situation. »
7. Laugh to Scorn
   • « The old technology was laughed to scorn by the new generation. »
8. Laughing Stock
   • « His constant mistakes at work made him the laughing stock of the office. »
9. Lay a Guilt Trip On
   • « She laid a guilt trip on me for not attending her party. »
10. Lay Someone Up
    • « His injury laid him up for several weeks. »
11. Lay Something Aside
    • « Let’s lay our differences aside and work together. »
12. Lay Something On
    • « The host laid on a lavish spread for the guests. »
13. Lay Something Up
    • « He’s laying up supplies for the winter. »
14. Lead by the Nose
    • « She was so persuasive that she could lead anyone by the nose. »
15. Lead Someone On
    • « He was accused of leading her on with false promises. »
16. Lead Up to Something
    • « The events of the morning led up to the big announcement. »
17. Learn Something by Heart
    • « She learned the poem by heart for the recital. »
18. Leave a Bad Taste in One’s Mouth
    • « The way the meeting ended left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. »
19. Leave in the Lurch
    • « He left his team in the lurch by quitting abruptly. »
20. Leave No Stone Unturned
    • « The detective left no stone unturned in the investigation. »
21. Leave Somebody Holding the Baby
    • « When he resigned suddenly, he left his assistant holding the baby. »
22. Left No Stone Unturned
    • « To find her lost dog, she left no stone unturned. »
23. Lend Me Your Ear
    • « Please lend me your ear while I explain the instructions. »
24. Lend Someone a Hand
    • « Can you lend me a hand with moving these boxes? »
25. Let Bygones Be Bygones
    • « After their argument, they decided to let bygones be bygones. »
26. Let On
    • « He didn’t let on that he knew about the surprise party. »
27. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
    • « I wouldn’t ask about his past; it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. »
28. Let Someone Down
    • « I really let my team down by not showing up on time. »
29. Let Someone Out
    • « The judge decided to let him out on bail. »
30. Let Something Off
    • « The kids let off fireworks in the backyard. »
31. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
    • « He accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the upcoming merger. »
32. Let Up
    • « The rain didn’t let up for hours. »
33. Lie In
    • « On Sundays, I usually lie in until late morning. »
34. Lie in the Bed You Have Made
    • « You must lie in the bed you have made and face the consequences of your actions. »
35. Lie Through One’s Teeth
    • « He was lying through his teeth when he said he hadn’t seen the document. »
36. Like Clockwork
    • « The event went like clockwork, with no hiccups. »
37. Like a Bear with a Sore Head
    • « He’s been like a bear with a sore head ever since he lost the game. »
38. Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel
    • « Winning the debate against an uninformed opponent was like shooting fish in a barrel. »
39. Like Taking Candy from a Baby
    • « Getting the toddler to give up the toy was like taking candy from a baby. »
40. Line Up
    • « We need to line up some interviews for next week. »
41. Lion’s Share
    • « He received the lion’s share of the inheritance. »
42. Live and Let Live
    • « I believe in live and let live; everyone should lead the life they choose. »
43. Live from Hand to Mouth
    • « After losing his job, he’s been living from hand to mouth. »
44. Live Something Down
    • « It took years for him to live down the embarrassment of that moment. »
45. Live Up To
    • « He always tries to live up to his parents’ expectations. »
46. Lives by His Wits
    • « Without a stable job, he lives by his wits in the city. »
47. Loaves and Fishes
    • « Many believe politicians are only in it for the loaves and fishes. »
48. Lock, Stock and Barrel
    • « He sold the business lock, stock, and barrel. »
49. Look After Someone/Something
    • « Can you look after my dog while I’m away? »
50. Look Blank
    • « When asked about the incident, he just looked blank. »
51. Look Down On Someone/Something
    • « She tends to look down on anyone who hasn’t had a college education. »
52. Look Forward To
    • « I’m really looking forward to the holidays. »
53. Look In
    • « I’ll look in on you later to see how you’re doing. »
54. Look Into Something
    • « The committee will look into the issue and report back. »
55. Look On
    • « Everyone could only look on as the building burned. »
56. Look On Someone
    • « She looks on him as her mentor. »
57. Look Out
    • « Look out! There’s a car coming. »
58. Look Out for Someone/Something
    • « Always look out for your younger siblings. »
59. Look Over Someone/Something
    • « Please look over the report for any errors. »
60. Look Small
    • « After the scandal, he looked small in front of his peers. »
61. Look Someone Up
    • « If you’re ever in town, be sure to look me up. »
62. Look Something Up
    • « I didn’t know the word, so I looked it up in the dictionary. »
63. Look To Someone
    • « Many people look to him for guidance. »
64. Look To Your Laurels
    • « You should look to your laurels in this fast-evolving industry. »
65. Look Up
    • « Things are starting to look up for the company. »
66. Look Up to Someone
    • « She has always looked up to her grandmother. »
67. Loose Cannon
    • « He’s a loose cannon; you never know what he might say or do next. »
68. Loose Ends
    • « Before we finish the project, we need to tie up all the loose ends. »
69. Lose One’s Head
    • « In an emergency, it’s important not to lose one’s head. »
70. Losing Ground
    • « The political party is losing ground in the polls. »
71. Lousy
    • « The weather has been lousy all week. »

1. Loaves and Fishes
   • « His interest in the charity work seems to be more about loaves and fishes than genuine concern. »
2. Like a Shag on a Rock
   • « After all his friends left the party, he was like a shag on a rock. »
3. Let Someone Slide
   • « The teacher decided to let someone slide this time despite the homework being late. »
4. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
   • « I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. »
5. Let Nature Take Its Course
   • « After the diagnosis, they decided to let nature take its course. »
6. Like a Sitting Duck
   • « Unprotected and unaware, the campers were like sitting ducks for the pranksters. »
7. Lion’s Share
   • « She did most of the work and, therefore, deserves the lion’s share of the credit. »
8. Left to Your Own Devices
   • « Left to his own devices, he probably wouldn’t have finished the project. »

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‘M’ Idioms

1. Make Castles in the Air
   • « She’s always making castles in the air, dreaming of a life full of luxury. »
2. Make a Bee Line For
   • « As soon as the concert ended, we made a beeline for the exit. »
3. Make One’s Bed and Lie in It
   • « He chose to invest all his money in that scheme, and now he must make his bed and lie in it. »
4. Meet One’s Waterloo
   • « The seasoned politician met his Waterloo in the latest election. »
5. Monkey Around
   • « Stop monkeying around and start taking this work seriously! »
6. My Hands Are Full
   • « I can’t take on another project right now; my hands are full. »
7. Make a Dry Face
   • « He made a dry face when he learned that the trip was cancelled. »
8. Make a Monkey of Someone
   • « The comedian made a monkey of the politician during the performance. »
9. Man of His Word
   • « You can trust him; he’s a man of his word. »
10. Many Moons Ago
    • « Many moons ago, this land was a dense forest. »

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‘N’ Idioms 

1. Nobody’s Fool
   • « Despite his easy-going nature, he’s nobody’s fool when it comes to business dealings. »
2. Not Having a Leg to Stand On
   • « His argument didn’t have a leg to stand on without any evidence. »
3. Never-Never Land
   • « Her idea of a perfect society seems like a never-never land. »
4. No Love Lost Between
   • « There is no love lost between the two competing athletes. »
5. Needle in a Haystack
   • « Finding the original document in this mess is like looking for a needle in a haystack. »
6. New Brush Sweeps Clean
   • « The new manager is implementing many changes; a new brush sweeps clean. »
7. No Smoke Without Fire
   • « There must be some truth to the rumours; there’s no smoke without fire. »

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‘Q’ Idioms

1. Quarrel with Bread and Butter
   • « He shouldn’t complain about his job; after all, one shouldn’t quarrel with their bread and butter. »
2. Quiet as a Cat
   • « She moved through the house as quiet as a cat, making sure not to wake anyone. »
3. Quiet as a Mouse
   • « When he realized he was in the wrong meeting, he sat as quiet as a mouse, hoping no one would notice. »
4. Queer Fish
   • « That artist is quite a queer fish; his work is as unusual as his personality. »

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‘R’ Idioms

1. Rain Cats and Dogs
   • « It was raining cats and dogs, so we had to cancel our picnic. »
2. Rain or Shine
   • « He promised to support her, rain or shine. »
3. Raincheck
   • « I can’t make it tonight, but can I take a raincheck? »
4. Rainy Day
   • « I’m saving some money for a rainy day. »
5. Rank and File
   • « The rank and file of the company were not happy with the decision. »
6. Read Someone’s Mind
   • « You read my mind! I was just thinking about pizza. »
7. Read Something Up
   • « She decided to read up on the company before her interview. »
8. Reckon On Something
   • « We reckon on your support for the upcoming campaign. »
9. Red Meat
   • « Doctors advise eating red meat in moderation. »
10. Red Tape
    • « Dealing with all the red tape can be frustrating when starting a business. »
11. Red-Handed
    • « The thief was caught red-handed stealing the jewels. »
12. Rest Up
    • « After the surgery, he needed to rest up for a few weeks. »
13. Rhyme and Reason
    • « There’s no rhyme or reason to his actions. »
14. Ring Off
    • « After talking for an hour, she decided to ring off. »
15. Rising to the Occasion
    • « He really rose to the occasion and delivered an excellent speech. »
16. Road Less Travelled
    • « She always took the road less travelled in her career choices. »
17. Roll In
    • « Guests began to roll in for the party around eight o’clock. »
18. Root and Branch
    • « The new manager changed the team root and branch. »
19. Round the Corner
    • « Spring is just round the corner. »
20. Rub Someone the Wrong Way
    • « His comments tend to rub people the wrong way. »
21. Rule Someone / Something Out
    • « The police ruled him out as a suspect. »
22. Run Across Someone / Something
    • « I ran across an old friend while shopping. »
23. Run Away with Something
    • « Don’t let your imagination run away with you. »
24. Run Out
    • « Our patience is starting to run out with these delays. »
25. Run Someone Down
    • « It’s not nice to run someone down behind their back. »
26. Run Someone In
    • « The police had to run him in for questioning. »
27. Run Someone Over
    • « Be careful not to run someone over while driving in crowded areas. »
28. Run Something Off
    • « Could you run off a few copies of this report? »
29. Run Through Someone
    • « In the play, the villain runs through the hero with a sword. »
30. Run to Something
    • « The project costs could run to thousands of dollars. »
31. Run Up Against Someone / Something
    • « We ran up against some legal issues in the new project. »

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‘S’ Idioms

1. Saddled with Debt: Burdened by a lot of debt.
   • « After buying his new house, he was saddled with debt. »
2. Safe and Sound: Unharmed and in good condition.
   • « The kids arrived home safe and sound after the school trip. »
3. Salt Away: To save money as a precaution.
   • « He’s been salting away funds for his retirement. »
4. Saved By The Bell: Rescued from a difficult situation at the last moment.
   • « He was about to fail the test, but was saved by the bell when the fire alarm went off. »
5. Scapegoat: Someone who is unfairly blamed for something.
   • « She became the scapegoat for the team’s failure. »
6. Scaredy-cat: Someone easily scared.
   • « Don’t be such a scaredy-cat, it’s just a harmless spider. »
7. Scot-free: To escape punishment or consequences.
   • « Despite the accusations, he got off scot-free. »
8. Sealed Orders: Secret instructions given to a person in authority.
   • « The agent received sealed orders for his next mission. »
9. Seasoned Food: Food flavored with herbs or spices.
   • « The chef’s specialty is well-seasoned food that delights all. »
10. Seasoned Timber: Wood that has been dried thoroughly.
    • « Seasoned timber is essential for quality furniture making. »
11. Second Fiddle: To have a secondary and less important role.
    • « He didn’t like playing second fiddle in the partnership. »
12. Second Nature: A habit or skill that feels effortless.
    • « Playing the piano is second nature to her now. »
13. Second Sight: The supposed ability to see future events or beyond normal sensory contact.
    • « Some believe she has second sight and can predict the future. »
14. Second Thoughts: Doubts about a decision already made.
    • « He’s having second thoughts about selling his old house. »
15. See Into Something: To investigate or examine.
    • « The committee will see into the allegations made against the CEO. »
16. See Someone Off: To bid farewell to someone leaving.
    • « They went to the airport to see their son off on his trip abroad. »
17. See Someone Out: To accompany someone leaving a place.
    • « She politely saw her guests out at the end of the party. »
18. See Someone Through: To support someone during a difficult time.
    • « Her faith saw her through the hardships. »
19. See Something Through: To complete something despite difficulties.
    • « It’s a challenging project, but I’m determined to see it through. »
20. See The Light: To understand or realize something after a period of confusion.
    • « He finally saw the light and understood the problem. »
21. See Through Someone/Something: To recognize the truth about someone or something.
    • « She could see through his lies. »
22. See To Someone: To take care of or attend to someone.
    • « I’ll see to the guests while you prepare the meal. »
23. Sell Out: To have no more items available for sale.
    • « The concert tickets sold out within minutes. »
24. Sell Out Something: To sell all of a particular item.
    • « They sold out their entire stock by noon. »
25. Sell Up: To sell one’s property or business.
    • « After retiring, they decided to sell up and travel the world. »
26. Send Away For Something: To request something by mail.
    • « I sent away for a free sample of the product. »
27. Send For Someone: To request or summon someone.
    • « Send for the doctor immediately! »
28. Send For Something: To request something be delivered or sent.
    • « We need to send for some office supplies. »
29. Serving His Time: Undergoing an apprenticeship or training.
    • « He’s serving his time as a mechanic’s apprentice. »
30. Set About Someone: To start attacking or criticizing someone.
    • « The press set about the politician after the scandal broke. »
31. Set Face Against: To oppose something firmly.
    • « She set her face against the new policy changes. »
32. Set In: To begin and seem likely to continue.
    • « The rainy season has set in earlier this year. »
33. Set Off: To start a journey.
    • « They set off on their trip at dawn. »
34. Set Out: To start an activity with a particular goal.
    • « They set out to find a cure for the disease. »
35. Set Someone Back: To cost someone a particular amount of money.
    • « The new car set him back over $20,000. »
36. Set Someone Off: To cause someone to start doing something.
    • « Mentioning the wedding plans set her off again. »
37. Set Something Off: To cause something to explode or start.
    • « The fireworks were set off at midnight. »
38. Set Teeth on Edge: To irritate or annoy someone.
    • « The sound of the chalk on the board set my teeth on edge. »
39. Set To: To begin doing something in a determined or enthusiastic way.
    • « They set to work at once to repair the damage. »
40. Set Up: To establish or start a business or organization.
    • « He set up his own law practice in the city. »
41. Sets Everybody by the Ears: To cause a disturbance or conflict.
    • « His controversial statement sets everybody by the ears. »
42. Settle Down: To adopt a stable and routine lifestyle.
    • « They’re planning to settle down and start a family. »
43. Settle For Something: To accept something less than what was wanted.
    • « He had to settle for a lower salary than he expected. »
44. Settle In: To become familiar and comfortable in a new environment.
    • « It took a few months to settle in at the new job. »
45. Settle On Something: To make a final decision.
    • « After much discussion, they settled on a location for the wedding. »
46. Settle Up: To pay someone the money that you owe.
    • « Let’s settle up for the dinner. »
47. Settled Weather: A period of consistent weather conditions.
    • « We’ve had a week of settled weather, with no rain. »
48. Shake Someone Up: To upset or disturb someone.
    • « The accident really shook her up. »
49. Sharp Practice: Dishonest or barely legal dealings.
    • « He’s known for his sharp practice in business. »
50. Shook in Their Shoes: To be very frightened.
    • « The children shook in their shoes during the thunderstorm. »
51. Shoot the Breeze: To chat in a relaxed and informal way.
    • « We sat on the porch and shot the breeze. »
52. Show Off: To display one’s abilities or possessions in a showy way.
    • « He likes to show off his new car. »
53. Show Someone Up: To embarrass or outshine someone.
    • « She showed him up by solving the problem he couldn’t. »
54. Show Up: To arrive somewhere.
    • « He didn’t show up for the meeting. »
55. Showed a Clean Pair of Heels: To run away quickly.
    • « As soon as he saw the police, he showed a clean pair of heels. »
56. Showing His Teeth: Displaying aggression or hostility.
    • « The boss was showing his teeth during the negotiations. »
57. Shut Up: To stop talking or to make someone stop talking.
    • « I wish they would shut up; I’m trying to concentrate. »
58. Siamese Twins: Twins joined together at some part of their bodies.
    • « The Siamese twins were famous for their extraordinary lives. »
59. Sick As A Dog: Extremely sick.
    • « He was sick as a dog after eating the spoiled food. »
60. Sine Die: Indefinitely or without a specified date.
    • « The meeting was adjourned sine die. »
61. Sink In: To be fully understood or absorbed.
    • « It took a while for the news to really sink in. »
62. Sit Back: To relax and not involve oneself in an activity.
    • « I’m going to sit back and enjoy the weekend. »
63. Sit Down to Something: To begin a task or activity.
    • « We sat down to discuss the project details. »
64. Sit On Someone: To suppress or repress someone.
    • « The government tried to sit on the dissenters. »
65. Sit On Something: To delay dealing with something.
    • « The committee is sitting on the proposal. »
66. Sit Out: To not participate in an activity.
    • « I’ll sit out this dance. »
67. Sit Something: To attend an event or activity until it ends.
    • « She sat the concert out despite feeling unwell. »
68. Sit Up: To stay awake and out of bed later than usual.
    • « We sat up late talking. »
69. Sitting On the Fence: To be undecided or neutral.
    • « He’s still sitting on the fence about the job offer. »
70. Sitting Shotgun: Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.
    • « I’m sitting shotgun on our road trip. »

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‘U’ Idioms

Until one is blue in the face

• Meaning: As hard or as long as one possibly can.
• Example: « He argued his point until he was blue in the face, but they still disagreed. »

Until the cows come home

• Meaning: For a very long time.
• Example: « You can wait for an apology until the cows come home, but it’s unlikely to happen. »

Up and coming

• Meaning: Likely to be successful in the near future.
• Example: « She’s an up-and-coming artist with a lot of talent. »

Up in the air

• Meaning: Something that is uncertain or undecided.
• Example: « Our holiday plans are still up in the air due to the unpredictable weather. »

Ups and downs

• Meaning: Experiencing both good and bad events.
• Example: « Every relationship has its ups and downs, but it’s how you handle them that counts. »

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‘V’ Idioms

1. Vale of Tears – This idiom refers to the world and the suffering that life can bring.
   • Example: « Many believe life is a vale of tears, filled with challenges and hardships. »
2. Velvet Glove – Describes a person who appears gentle but is determined and inflexible underneath. The full expression is ‘Iron fist in a velvet glove’.
   • Example: « She manages her team with an iron fist in a velvet glove, kind but firm. »
3. Vent Your Spleen – When someone vents their spleen, they release all their anger about something.
   • Example: « After the meeting, he vented his spleen about the new policy changes. »
4. Vicar of Bray – A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular.
   • Example: « He’s a real Vicar of Bray, always changing his stance to please the majority. »
5. Vicious Circle – A sequence of events where each worsens the next. Also known as ‘Vicious cycle’.
   • Example: « He’s stuck in a vicious circle of working late and poor health. »
6. Vinegar Tits – A term for a mean-spirited woman lacking in love or compassion.
   • Example: « She’s known in the office as vinegar tits because of her harsh attitude. »
7. Virgin Territory – Refers to something unexplored or untouched.
   • Example: « This research is virgin territory in the field of quantum mechanics. »
8. Voice in the Wilderness – Someone whose opinions are ignored or unheeded, especially if they are later proved right.
   • Example: « Her warnings about climate change were a voice in the wilderness. »
9. Volte-Face – A sudden and complete change in stance or position.
   • Example: « The politician did a volte-face on his earlier promise about tax reforms. »
10. Vultures are Circling – Indicates that something is in danger, and its adversaries are ready to take advantage.
    • Example: « With the company’s declining sales, it seems the vultures are circling. »

 

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‘W’ Idioms

1. Wag the Dog
   • Meaning: A diversion from something more important.
   • Example: « The company used a minor announcement to wag the dog, distracting from the financial scandal. »
2. Wait up
   • Meaning: Stay awake and wait for someone.
   • Example: « Her mother told her to wait up until her sister returned. »
3. Wake up
   • Meaning: Realize the truth of something.
   • Example: « He needs to wake up to the challenges of the real world. »
4. Walk off with something
   • Meaning: Win easily.
   • Example: « She walked off with the top prize in the competition. »
5. Walk out
   • Meaning: Strike.
   • Example: « Employees decided to walk out in protest against the pay cut. »
6. War to the knife
   • Meaning: A bitter and deadly struggle.
   • Example: « It was war to the knife between the two rival gangs. »
7. Warm up
   • Meaning: Become lively.
   • Example: « The crowd warmed up as the concert began. »
8. Wash something out
   • Meaning: Spoil.
   • Example: « The sudden rainstorm washed out the outdoor event. »
9. Washing one’s dirty linen in public
   • Meaning: Discussing unpleasant private matters before strangers.
   • Example: « They were warned against washing their dirty linen in public during the meeting. »
10. Water Under The Bridge
    • Meaning: Anything from the past that isn’t significant anymore.
    • Example: « Our old disagreement is now just water under the bridge. »
11. Ways and means
    • Meaning: Solutions.
    • Example: « We need to find ways and means to resolve this issue quickly. »
12. Weal and woe
    • Meaning: Good and bad days.
    • Example: « Life is full of weal and woe, ups and downs. »
13. Wear and tear
    • Meaning: Damage from ordinary use.
    • Example: « The old couch shows signs of wear and tear. »
14. Wear on
    • Meaning: To grind or rub at something.
    • Example: « The constant noise began to wear on her nerves. »
15. Wear someone out
    • Meaning: Make tired.
    • Example: « The long hike wore everyone out. »
16. Wear something out
    • Meaning: Make useless by long or hard wear.
    • Example: « He wore out his shoes on the long journey. »
17. Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve
    • Meaning: To openly and freely express your emotions.
    • Example: « She always wears her heart on her sleeve, showing her feelings. »
18. Well-balanced
    • Meaning: Reasonable, moderate.
    • Example: « He is known for his well-balanced approach to problems. »
19. Went home to them
    • Meaning: Deeply appealed to them.
    • Example: « The speaker’s message really went home to the audience. »
20. Went out of his way
    • Meaning: Took special trouble.
    • Example: « He went out of his way to help the lost tourists. »
21. Wet behind the ears
    • Meaning: Inexperienced and naive.
    • Example: « The new recruit is still wet behind the ears. »
22. When It Rains, It Pours
    • Meaning: Problems or difficulties tend to follow each other in rapid succession.
    • Example: « First the car broke down, then I lost my keys—when it rains, it pours. »
23. When Pigs Fly
    • Meaning: Something that will never ever happen.
    • Example: « He’ll clean his room when pigs fly. »
24. When the chips are down
    • Meaning: True character is revealed in difficult times.
    • Example: « You really see who your friends are when the chips are down. »
25. Where the shoe pinches
    • Meaning: The source of the problem or discomfort.
    • Example: « He finally understood where the shoe pinches in their relationship. »
26. Whip-hand of
    • Meaning: In a position to control.
    • Example: « The new manager held the whip-hand of the project. »
27. White coffee
    • Meaning: Coffee with milk.
    • Example: « She prefers her morning coffee white, with lots of milk. »
28. White elephant
    • Meaning: A burdensome or costly possession.
    • Example: « The old mansion turned out to be a white elephant for the family. »
29. White lie
    • Meaning: A harmless or small lie, often told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
    • Example: « He told a white lie about liking her cooking. »
30. White meat
    • Meaning: Light-colored meat, such as pork or chicken.
    • Example: « For dinner, we’re having white meat with vegetables. »
31. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?
    • Meaning: If you have someone to do a task, there’s no need to do it yourself.
    • Example: « Hire a professional to paint the house—why keep a dog and bark yourself? »
32. Wide of the mark
    • Meaning: Inaccurate or not to the point.
    • Example: « His accusations were wide of the mark. »
33. Wild goose chase
    • Meaning: A futile search or pursuit.
    • Example: « Looking for the lost key in the park was a wild goose chase. »
34. Wildcat strike
    • Meaning: A strike without the sanction of a labour union.
    • Example: « The workers’ sudden wildcat strike caught the management off guard. »
35. Will go hard with him
    • Meaning: He will face severe consequences.
    • Example: « If he’s caught, it will go hard with him. »
36. Will stick at nothing
    • Meaning: Will do anything to achieve a goal, regardless of the morality or consequences.
    • Example: « In his ambition, he will stick at nothing, not even betrayal. »
37. Willy-nilly
    • Meaning: Whether one likes it or not; haphazardly.
    • Example: « The decision was made willy-nilly, without careful thought. »
38. Win (something) hands down
    • Meaning: To win easily.
    • Example: « She won the debate hands down. »
39. Win laurels
    • Meaning: To achieve honour or distinction.
    • Example: « The scientist won laurels for her groundbreaking research. »
40. Win the palm
    • Meaning: To be the best or most successful.
    • Example: « In the end, he won the palm for his outstanding performance. »
41. Wind down
    • Meaning: To relax or reduce in intensity.
    • Example: « After a busy week, she likes to wind down with a good book. »
42. Wind fall
    • Meaning: An unexpected gain or piece of good fortune.
    • Example: « The lottery win was a complete windfall for them. »
43. Wind something up
    • Meaning: To bring something to a conclusion.
    • Example: « It’s time to wind up the meeting and make a decision. »
44. Windfall
    • Meaning: A sudden, unexpected piece of good fortune or personal gain.
    • Example: « Receiving the inheritance was an unexpected windfall. »
45. Wink at something
    • Meaning: To ignore or pretend not to see something.
    • Example: « The teacher decided to wink at the minor infraction. »
46. Wishful thinking
    • Meaning: The attribution of reality to what one wishes to be true or the tenuous justification of what one wants to believe.
    • Example: « Believing he’ll win the lottery is just wishful thinking. »
47. Wishy-washy
    • Meaning: Lacking in decisiveness; feeble.
    • Example: « Their wishy-washy response to the proposal was frustrating. »
48. With a grain of salt
    • Meaning: To view something with scepticism or not take it literally.
    • Example: « Take his advice with a grain of salt; he’s not always right. »
49. With a high hand
    • Meaning: In an overbearing or autocratic manner.
    • Example: « The new boss rules with a high hand, and the employees are not happy. »
50. With a vengeance
    • Meaning: With great force or effort; to an extreme degree.
    • Example: « After the brief break, the storm returned with a vengeance. »

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‘X’ Idioms

1. X-Factor
   • Meaning: Unique qualities or advantages that set someone or something apart.
   • Example: « She has the X factor that makes her performances unforgettable. »
2. X Marks the Spot
   • Meaning: Indicating an exact location, often used in treasure maps.
   • Example: « On the map, X marks the spot where the treasure is buried. »
3. X-rated
   • Meaning: Content that is not suitable for children due to its adult nature.
   • Example: « That movie is X-rated and not appropriate for young audiences. »

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 ‘Y’ Idioms

1. Yellow Press
   • Meaning: Newspapers that focus on sensational journalism.
   • Example: « He doesn’t trust the yellow press as they often exaggerate stories. »
2. Yeoman Service
   • Meaning: Providing excellent or valuable service.
   • Example: « The volunteers did yeoman service during the natural disaster relief efforts. »
3. You Are What You Eat
   • Meaning: Your health and appearance are affected by the food you consume.
   • Example: « She believes strongly in the saying, ‘You are what you eat,’ and always chooses healthy foods. »
4. You Can’t Fight City Hall
   • Meaning: It’s futile to struggle against a powerful institution or system.
   • Example: « Trying to get the old policy changed is like trying to fight city hall. »
5. You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover
   • Meaning: It’s not wise to judge solely based on appearance.
   • Example: « He seemed rough on the outside, but he’s really kinda true example that you can’t judge a book by its cover. »
6. You Can’t Take it With You.
   • Meaning: Enjoy your life and possessions now, as you can’t take them with you after death.
   • Example: « He spends his money on travel, following the philosophy that you can’t take it with you. »
7. Your Guess Is As Good As Mine
   • Meaning: Admitting that you don’t know the answer.
   • Example: « When asked about the future trends, she said, ‘Your guess is as good as mine.' »
8. Yucky
   • Meaning: Something that is unpleasant or disgusting.
   • Example: « He found the slimy texture of the food yucky. »
9. Yummy
   • Meaning: Extremely tasty or delicious.
   • Example: « The homemade cookies were so yummy, they disappeared in minutes. »

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‘Z’ Idioms

1. Zero Tolerance
   • Meaning: No leniency for any kind of law-breaking or rule violation.
   • Example: « The new school policy shows zero tolerance towards bullying. »
2. Zip your lip!
   • Meaning: A phrase used to tell someone to keep a secret or to stop talking.
   • Example: « When she started revealing the surprise party plans, I had to tell her to zip her lip! »
3. Zero hour
   • Meaning: The scheduled time for the start of a very important event.
   • Example: « As the clock struck midnight, it was zero hour for the launch of the spacecraft. »
4. Zigged before you zagged
   • Meaning: Doing things in the wrong order or sequence.
   • Example: « He zigged before he zagged by celebrating his promotion before actually getting the confirmation. »
5. Zip it
   • Meaning: Informally telling someone to be quiet or stop talking.
   • Example: « During the movie, she got so annoyed she turned and said ‘zip it!’ to the noisy people behind her. »

 

TRAVAIL TUTORÉ – SUIVI PÉDAGOGIQUE

Nous recevons avec plaisir les phrases des participants à nos cours, formations et ateliers d’anglais pour valider la construction ou donner une correction explicative.