Idioms and Phrases - Important Points
Idioms are a collection of words or phrases which have a figurative meaning that is generally well established and known. So these words can’t be taken at their literal meanings since they would sound farcical.
Idioms are a useful tool in linguistics. It allows the authors to play with words and make it interesting to read. Idioms are often used in stories, poems and even in the spoken words.
A phrase is a small group of words that are like a unit. Phrases are unlike idioms, they are actually direct and to the point.
Here’s a list of some common idioms and phrases with their meanings:
|
Idiom/Phrase |
Meaning |
|
Beat around the bush |
To avoid talking about what’s important |
|
Get your act together |
Get organized and do things effectively |
|
Hit the sack |
Go to sleep |
|
Sweet tooth |
Love sweet things |
|
Your guess is as good as mine |
I do not know |
|
Good things come to those who wait |
To have patience |
|
Back against the wall |
Stuck in a difficult circumstance with no escape |
|
Talk a blue streak |
Talk a lot |
|
Up in arms |
Being grumpy or angry about something |
|
Scrape the barrel |
Making the most of the worst situations or things because you can’t do anything about it |
|
The eleventh-hour |
Last chance to do something |
|
Burn your boats/bridges |
Doing something that makes it impossible to go back to the original state. |
|
Break fresh/ new ground |
Doing something that has never been done before |
|
Sell like hot cakes |
Quick sellout |
|
The lion’s share |
The majority |
|
Run around in circles |
Putting efforts into something that is not a worthwhile result |
|
On cloud nine |
Being very happy |
|
Left out in the cold |
Being ignored |
|
Blow hot and cold |
Alternate inconsistently between moods and actions |
|
Cut corners |
Doing something in an easier and least expensive manner |
|
Boil the ocean |
Taking up an almost impossible or overly ambitious project |
|
Keep an ear to the ground |
Staying informed and updated about everything |
|
Eat like a horse |
Eating too excessively |
|
A snowball effect |
The aspect of momentum in every event and how they build upon each other |