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Common idioms - Name that idiom

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