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Structures Idioms

Structures Idioms a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate  If you give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate, you give a number which you think is fairly close to the actual one. a night on the town | out on the town If you have a night on the town, or go out on the town, you go out for dinner and then go to a show or a dance club or some other entertainment venue. a roller coaster | a roller-coaster ride You can say an experience is a roller coaster, or a roller-coaster ride, if it involves many emotional highs and lows, or really good times alternating with really difficult times. burn your bridges | burn your boats You have burned your bridges, or burned your boats, if you were in a situation and you then left it after doing something that made it impossible to go back there. cross that bridge when we come to it You can say "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it" if someone mentions a problem that might occur in the future, but yo...
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New year's Idioms

New year's Idioms No pain, no gain :  Waking up each morning to do my English homework is not easy, but no pain no gain! I really need English for my job. (To achieve a goal it is necessary to work hard.) Turn over a new leaf :  I promise I won’t keep leaving dirty dishes in the sink. I am going to turn over a new leaf. (To make a positive change) Start from scratch :  In 2014 I am going to open my own business. I am starting from scratch, but I am sure it will be a success. (To start or begin with nothing) A change of pace : The Moscow traffic is driving me crazy. I am going to move to Miami and take an English course. I need a change of pace. (To try something new) If it *ain’t broke, don’t fix it : I don’t have any New Year’s Resolutions. My life has been perfect since I moved to Miami. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I say. (To leave things the same)  *This idiom is used with the slang word ain’t. To make headway :  Stefan’s American...
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Building Idioms

Building Idioms An ivory tower You can say someone's in an ivory tower if they're in a place that separates them from everyday life, such as a university. Chickens come home to roost If chickens are coming home to roost, someone is suffering the unpleasant consequences of their bad actions in the past. Hit the roof You can say someone hits the roof if they lose their temper and show their anger. Hold the fort If you hold the fort, you look after a place or a business while the person who is normally in charge is away. Make yourself at home If you make yourself at home, you relax and feel comfortable in someone else's home. Nothing to write home about If you say something is nothing to write home about, you mean it isn't very important or it isn't very good. Put your own house in order | get your own house in order If you say to someone "put your own house in order", or "get your own house in order", you ...
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Music Idioms

Music Idioms A jam session If musicians play in a jam session, they play whatever they feel like playing in an informal setting. Blow your own horn | blow your own trumpet If you blow your own horn, or blow your own trumpet, you proudly boast about your own talents and successes. Change your tune If you change your tune, you change your opinion about something or your attitude towards someone. Face the music If someone has to face the music, they have to accept the consequences of doing something wrong. For a song If you buy or sell something for a song, you buy or sell it at a very cheap price. Make a song and dance about something (English's English) If you make a song and dance about something, you make a big deal out of, or a fuss over, something that isn't very important. Music to your ears If something is music to your ears, it's just what you want to hear. Play it by ear If you play it by ear, you don't plan ahead ...
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Clothing Idioms

Clothing Idioms idiom meaning example sentence at the drop of a hat without needing any advance notice My Grandma will babysit for anyone  at the drop of a hat . (have a) bee in one's bonnet something that is annoying someone Milan has had a  bee in his bonnet  all day, but he won't tell me what's wrong. below the belt beyond what is fair or socially acceptable His comment about Manfred's handicap was  below the belt . bursting at the seams not fitting anymore I ate too much. I'm  bursting at the seams  in these jeans. caught with one's pants down unprepared My students  caught me with my pants down  on Monday. I forgot about the field trip. (have a) card up one's sleeve have a secret or reserve plan I think Josh has a  card up his sleeve  cause he wants me to wear a dress to the fast-food restaurant. buckle down work extra hard It's almost exam time, so I need to  buckle down  this weekend. burn a hole in one's poc...
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Nature Idioms

Nature Idioms a drop in the ocean  If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed. a ray of sunshine Something is a ray of sunshine if it brings happiness to someone. a voice (crying) in the wilderness You're a voice in the wilderness, or a voice crying in the wilderness, if you're expressing an unpopular opinion or insight. answer the call of nature If you answer the call of nature, you go to the toilet. at sea | all at sea If you're at sea, or all at sea, you're confused about something and not sure what to do. beat around the bush | beat about the bush If you beat around the bush, or beat about the bush, you don't say something directly, usually because you don't want to upset the person you're talking to. can't see the forest for the trees  If you can't see the forest for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're lookin...
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Number Idioms

Number Idioms a ballpark figure | a ballpark estimate  (American English) If you give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate, you give a number which you think is fairly close to the actual one. a one-track mind If someone has a one-track mind, they spend most of their time thinking about one subject. against all odds | against all the odds If you do something against all odds, or against all the odds, you do it even though there were many problems and it didn't seem possible to do. back to square one If you have to go back to square one, you have to stop and start again, usually because something isn't working as well as expected. behind the eight ball  (American English)  If you're behind the eight ball, you're in a difficult or dangerous position. dressed (up) to the nines   If you are dressed to the nines, or dressed up to the nines, you are wearing very smart clothes for a special occasion. forty winks   If you have forty win...
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