CLICK HERE FOR 1000 plus words for exams: Meaning and opposites.
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SIMPLE TO TOUGH
amateur – professional
amuse – bore
ancestor – descendant
angel – devil
animal – human
annoy – satisfy
answer – ask
answer – question
antonym – synonym
apart – together
approximately – exactly
argue – agree
arrest – free
arrival – departure
arrive – depart
artificial – natural
ascent – descent
ask – answer
asleep – awake
attack – defend
attack – defence
attic – cellar
autumn – spring
awake – asleep
awful – nice
back – in front of
background – foreground
backward – forward
bad – good
bad luck – fortune
beauty – ugliness
before – after
begin – end
beginning – end
behind – in front of
below – above
best – worst
better – worse
beautiful – ugly
big – small
birth – death
bitter – sweet
black – white
blunt – sharp
body – soul
bore – amuse
boring – exciting
borrow – lend
bottom – top
boy – girl
brave – cowardly
break – fix
broad – narrow
brother – sister
build – destroy
busy – lazy
buy – sell
calm – excited
careful – careless
careless – careful
catch – miss
ceiling – floor
cellar – attic
centre – outskirts
certainly – probably
changeable – constant
cheap – expensive
child – adult
children – parents
clean – dirty
clear – cloudy
clever – stupid
close – open
closed – open
cloudy – clear
cold – hot
cold – heat
come – go
comedy – drama
complicated – simple
compliment – insult
compulsory – voluntary
connect – separate
consonant – vowel
constant – changeable
construction – destruction
continue – interrupt
cool – warm
correct – wrong
courage – fear
courageous – cowardly
cowardly – brave
create – destroy
cruel – human
cry – whisper
cry – laugh
damage – repair
danger – security
dangerous – safe
dark – light
daughter – son
dawn – dusk
day – night
dead – alive
death – birth
deep – shallow
defeat – victory
defence – attack
defend – attack
delicious – awful
deny – admit
depart – arrive
departure – arrival
descendant – ancestor
descent – ascent
desperate – hopeful
destroy – build
destruction – construction
devil – angel
dictatorship – republic
die – live
different – alike
difficult – easy
dirty – clean
disease – health
distant – near
divide – unite
division – unity
divorce – marry
divorce – marriage
divorced – married
domestic – foreign
down – up
downstairs – upstairs
drama – comedy
dry – humid
dull – interesting
dusk – dawn
early – late
east – west
easy – difficult
elementary – advanced
emigrate – immigrate
emigration – immigration
empty – full
end – begin
end – beginning
ending – beginning
enemy – friend
enjoy – hate
enter – leave
entrance – exit
equal – different
even – odd
evening – morning
everybody – nobody
everything – nothing
exactly – approximately
excited – calm
exciting – boring
exclude – include
exit – entrance
expensive – cheap
export – import
exposure – shelter
extreme – moderate
fail – succeed
failure – success
false – true
far – near
fast – slow
fat – slim
fear – courage
female – male
few – many
final – first
find – lose
finish – begin
finish – start
first – final
fix – break
flat – hilly
floor – ceiling
follow – lead
forbid – allow
for – against
foreground – background
foreign – domestic
foreigner – native
forget – remember
form – destroy
fortune – bad luck
forward – backward
free – arrest
freeze – melt
frequently – occasionally
fresh – old/stale
friend – enemy
front – rear
in front of – back
full – empty
funny – serious
future – past
general – particular
generous – mean
gentle – violent
gentleman – lady
giant – tiny
girl – boy
give – take
go – come
good – bad
grown-up – child
guest – host
guilty – innocent
happiness – sadness
happy – sad
handsome – ugly
hard – easy
harvest – plant
hate – enjoy
health – disease
healthy – ill
heat – cold
heaven – hell
heavy – light
hell – heaven
here – there
high – deep
high – low
hilly – flat
hit – miss
hopeful – desperate
hopeless – hopeful
horizontal – vertical
host – guest
hot – cold
huge – tiny
human – animal
humane – cruel
humid – dry
hungry – thirsty
husband – wife
in front of – back
ignore – notice
ill – healty
immigrate – emigrate
immigration – emigration
import – export
in – out
include – exclude
increase – reduce
innocent – guilty
inside – outside
insult – compliment
intelligent – silly
intentional – accidental
be interested in – bore
interesting – boring
interrupt – continue
junior – senior
kind – cruel
lack – abundance
lady – gentleman
land – take off
land – water
large – small
last – first
late – early
laugh – cry
lazy – active
lead – follow
learn – teach
leave – arrive
left – right
lend – borrow
less – more
let – forbid
lie – stand
life – death
light – dark
light – heavy
like – hate
liquid – solid
little – big
little – much
live – die
long – short
lose – win
loser – winner
loud – quiet
love – hate
lovely – terrible
low – high
lower – raise
bad luck – good luck
good luck – bad luck
major – minor
male – female
man – woman
many – few
marriage – divorce
married – divorced
marry – divorce
master – servant
maximum – minimum
mean – generous
melt – freeze
men – women
mend – break
mess – order
midnight – noon
minimum – maximum
minor – major
miss – hit
miss – catch
moderate – extreme
modern – ancient
monarchy – republic
moon – sun
more – less
morning – evening
mountain – valley
much – little
narrow – broad
nasty – nice
native – foreigner
natural – artificial
near – distant
negative – affirmative
nephew – niece
never – always
new – ancient
nice – awful
niece – nephew
night – day
no – yes
nobody – everybody
noisy – quiet
noon – midnight
none of – al lof
normal – strange
north – south
not yet – already
nothing – everything
notice – ignore
now – then
occasionally – frequently
occupied – vacant
odd – even
off – on
often – seldom
old – modern
on – off
open – closed
open – closed
opponent – supporter
order – mess
ordinary – special
other – same
out – in
outside – inside
outskirts – centre
over – under
parents – children
part – whole
partial – total
particular – general
pass – fail
past – future
peace – war
permit – forbid
plant – harvest
plenty – lack
pleasant – awful
polite – rude
poor – rich
poverty – wealth
powerful – weak
presence – absence
present – past
pretty – ugly
private – public
probably – certainly
professional – amateur
protect – attack
protection – attack
public – private
pull – push
pupil – teacher
push – pull
question – answer
quick – slow
quiet – loud
raise – lower
rainy – sunny
rear – front
receive – send
reduce – increase
refuse – agree
regret – satisfaction
remember – forget
repair – damage
reply – ask
reply – question
republic – dictatorship
rest – work
rich – poor
right – left
right – wrong
rise – sink
rough – gentle
rough – smooth
rude – polite
rural – urban
sad – happy
sadness – happiness
safe – dangerous
safety – danger
salt – sugar
same – different
satisfaction – regret
satisfy – annoy
save – spend
scream – whisper
security – danger
seldom – often
sell – buy
send – receive
senior – junior
separate – connect
serious – funny
servant – master
set free – arrest
shallow – deep
sharp – blunt
shelter – exposure
short – long
shout – whisper
shut – open
sick – healthy
silent – noisy
silly – intelligent
simple – complicated
sink – rise
single – married
sister – brother
sit – stand
slim – fat
slow – fast
small – big
smooth – rough
soft – hard
solid – liquid
some – many
sometimes – often
son – daughter
soul – body
sour – sweet
south – north
special – general
spring – autumn
stand – sit
start – stop
start – finish
stop – start
stand – lie
strange – normal
stranger – native
strict – gentle
strong – weak
student – teacher
stupid – clever
suburb – centre
succeed – fail
success – failure
subtract – add
sugar – salt
summer – winter
sun – moon
sunny – cloudy
supporter – opponent
suspect – trust
sweet – bitter
synonym – antonym
take – give
take off – land
tall – small
teach – learn
teacher – pupil
then – now
terrible – lovely
there – here
thick – thin
thin – thick
thirsty – hungry
throw – catch
tight – loose
tiny – giant
together – apart
tomorrow – yesterday
top – bottom
total – partial
town – village
tragedy – comedy
true – false
trust – suspect
ugliness – beauty
ugly – beautiful
under – over
unite – divide
unity – division
up – down
upstairs – downstairs
urban – rural
useful – useless
useless – useful
vacant – occupied
valley – mountain
vertical – horizontal
victory – defeat
village – town
violent – gentle
visitor – host
voluntary – compulsory
vowel – consonant
war – peace
warm – cool
waste – save
water – land
weak – powerful
wealth – poverty
wealthy – poor
wedding – divorce
well- ill
west – east
wet – dry
whisper – scream
white – black
whole – part
wide – narrow
wife – husband
win – lose
winner – loser
winter – summer
work – rest
woman – man
women – men
worse – better
worst – best
wrong – correct
yes – – no
yesterday – tomorrow
young – old
1000 Opposite Words By Tace Tutorials
- about – exactly
- above – below
- absence – presence
- abundance – lack
- accept – refuse
- accidental – intentional
- active – lazy
- add – subtract
- admit – deny
- adult – child
- advanced – elementary
- affirmative – negative
- afraid – brave
- after – before
- against – for
- alike – different
- alive – dead
- all – none
- allow – forbid
- already – not yet
- always – never
- ancient – modern
- ancestor – descendant
- agree – refuse
- amateur – professional
- amuse – bore
- ancestor – descendant
- angel – devil
- animal – human
- annoy – satisfy
- answer – ask
- answer – question
- antonym – synonym
- apart – together
- approximately – exactly
- argue – agree
- arrival – departure
- arrive – depart
- artificial – natural
- ascent – descent
- ask – answer
- asleep – awake
- attack – defend
- attack – defense
- attic – cellar
- autumn – spring
- awake – asleep
- awful – nice
- back – in front of
- background – foreground
- backward – forward
- bad – good
- bad luck – fortune
- beauty – ugliness
- before – after
- begin – end
- beginning – end
- behind – in front of
- below – above
- best – worst
- better – worse
- beautiful – ugly
- big – small
- birth – death
- bitter – sweet
- black – white
- blunt – sharp
- body – soul
- bore – amuse
- boring – exciting
- borrow – lend
- bottom – top
- boy – girl
- brave – cowardly
- break – fix
- broad – narrow
- brother – sister
- build – destroy
- busy – lazy
- buy – sell
- calm – excited
- careful – careless
- careless – careful
- catch – miss
- ceiling – floor
- cellar – attic
- centre – outskirts
- certainly – probably
- changeable – constant
- cheap – expensive
- child – adult
- children – parents
- clean – dirty
- clear – cloudy
- clever – stupid
- close – open
- closed – open
- cloudy – clear
- cold – hot
- cold – heat
- come – go
- comedy – drama
- complicated – simple
- compliment – insult
- compulsory – voluntary
- connect – separate
- consonant – vowel
- constant – changeable
- construction – destruction
- continue – interrupt
- cool – warm
- correct – wrong
- courage – fear
- courageous – cowardly
- cowardly – brave
- create – destroy
- cruel – human
- cry – whisper
- cry – laugh
- damage – repair
- danger – security
- dangerous – safe
- dark – light
- daughter – son
- dawn – dusk
- day – night
- dead – alive
- death – birth
- deep – shallow
- defeat – victory
- defence – attack
- defend – attack
- delicious – awful
- deny – admit
- depart – arrive
- departure – arrival
- descendant – ancestor
- descent – ascent
- desperate – hopeful
- destroy – build
- destruction – construction
- devil – angel
- dictatorship – republic
- die – live
- different – alike
- difficult – easy
- dirty – clean
- disease – health
- distant – near
- divide – unite
- division – unity
- divorce – marry
- divorce – marriage
- divorced – married
- domestic – foreign
- down – up
- downstairs – upstairs
- drama – comedy
- dry – humid
- dull – interesting
- dusk – dawn
- early – late
- east – west
- easy – difficult
- elementary – advanced
- emigrate – immigrate
- emigration – immigration
- empty – full
- end – begin
- end – beginning
- ending – beginning
- enemy – friend
- enjoy – hate
- enter – leave
- entrance – exit
- equal – different
- even – odd
- evening – morning
- everybody – nobody
- everything – nothing
- exactly – approximately
- excited – calm
- exciting – boring
- exclude – include
- exit – entrance
- expensive – cheap
- export – import
- exposure – shelter
- extreme – moderate
- fail – succeed
- failure – success
- false – true
- far – near
- fast – slow
- fat – slim
- fear – courage
- female – male
- few – many
- final – first
- find – lose
- finish – begin
- finish – start
- first – final
- fix – break
- flat – hilly
- floor – ceiling
- follow – lead
- forbid – allow
- for – against
- foreground – background
- foreign – domestic
- foreigner – native
- forget – remember
- form – destroy
- fortune – bad luck
- forward – backward
- free – arrest
- freeze – melt
- frequently – occasionally
- fresh – old/stale
- friend – enemy
- front – rear
- in front of – back
- full – empty
- funny – serious
- future – past
- general – particular
- generous – mean
- gentle – violent
- gentleman – lady
- giant – tiny
- girl – boy
- give – take
- go – come
- good – bad
- grown-up – child
- guest – host
- guilty – innocent
- happiness – sadness
- happy – sad
- handsome – ugly
- hard – easy
- harvest – plant
- hate – enjoy
- health – disease
- healthy – ill
- heat – cold
- heaven – hell
- heavy – light
- hell – heaven
- here – there
- high – deep
- high – low
- hilly – flat
- hit – miss
- hopeful – desperate
- hopeless – hopeful
- horizontal – vertical
- host – guest
- hot – cold
- huge – tiny
- human – animal
- humane – cruel
- humid – dry
- hungry – thirsty
- husband – wife
- in front of – back
- ignore – notice
- ill – healty
- immigrate – emigrate
- immigration – emigration
- import – export
- in – out
- include – exclude
- increase – reduce
- innocent – guilty
- inside – outside
- insult – compliment
- intelligent – silly
- intentional – accidental
- be interested in – bore
- interesting – boring
- interrupt – continue
- junior – senior
- kind – cruel
- lack – abundance
- lady – gentleman
- land – take off
- land – water
- large – small
- last – first
- late – early
- laugh – cry
- lazy – active
- lead – follow
- learn – teach
- leave – arrive
- left – right
- lend – borrow
- less – more
- let – forbid
- lie – stand
- life – death
- light – dark
- light – heavy
- like – hate
- liquid – solid
- little – big
- little – much
- live – die
- long – short
- lose – win
- loser – winner
- loud – quiet
- love – hate
- lovely – terrible
- low – high
- lower – raise
- bad luck – good luck
- good luck – bad luck
- major – minor
- male – female
- man – woman
- many – few
- marriage – divorce
- married – divorced
- marry – divorce
- master – servant
- maximum – minimum
- mean – generous
- melt – freeze
- men – women
- mend – break
- mess – order
- midnight – noon
- minimum – maximum
- minor – major
- miss – hit
- miss – catch
- moderate – extreme
- modern – ancient
- monarchy – republic
- moon – sun
- more – less
- morning – evening
- mountain – valley
- much – little
- narrow – broad
- nasty – nice
- native – foreigner
- natural – artificial
- near – distant
- negative – affirmative
- nephew – niece
- never – always
- new – ancient
- nice – awful
- niece – nephew
- night – day
- no – yes
- nobody – everybody
- noisy – quiet
- noon – midnight
- none of – al lot of
- normal – strange
- north – south
- not yet – already
- nothing – everything
- notice – ignore
- now – then
- occasionally – frequently
- occupied – vacant
- odd – even
- off – on
- often – seldom
- old – modern
- on – off
- open – closed
- open – closed
- opponent – supporter
- order – mess
- ordinary – special
- other – same
- out – in
- outside – inside
- outskirts – centre
- over – under
- parents – children
- part – whole
- partial – total
- particular – general
- pass – fail
- past – future
- peace – war
- permit – forbid
- plant – harvest
- plenty – lack
- pleasant – awful
- polite – rude
- poor – rich
- poverty – wealth
- powerful – weak
- presence – absence
- present – past
- pretty – ugly
- private – public
- probably – certainly
- professional – amateur
- protect – attack
- protection – attack
- public – private
- pull – push
- pupil – teacher
- push – pull
- question – answer
- quick – slow
- quiet – loud
- raise – lower
- rainy – sunny
- rear – front
- receive – send
- reduce – increase
- refuse – agree
- regret – satisfaction
- remember – forget
- repair – damage
- reply – ask
- reply – question
- republic – dictatorship
- rest – work
- rich – poor
- right – left
- right – wrong
- rise – sink
- rough – gentle
- rough – smooth
- rude – polite
- rural – urban
- sad – happy
- sadness – happiness
- safe – dangerous
- safety – danger
- salt – sugar
- same – different
- satisfaction – regret
- satisfy – annoy
- save – spend
- scream – whisper
- security – danger
- seldom – often
- sell – buy
- send – receive
- senior – junior
- separate – connect
- serious – funny
- servant – master
- set free – arrest
- shallow – deep
- sharp – blunt
- shelter – exposure
- short – long
- shout – whisper
- shut – open
- sick – healthy
- silent – noisy
- silly – intelligent
- simple – complicated
- sink – rise
- single – married
- sister – brother
- sit – stand
- slim – fat
- slow – fast
- small – big
- smooth – rough
- soft – hard
- solid – liquid
- some – many
- sometimes – often
- son – daughter
- soul – body
- sour – sweet
- south – north
- special – general
- spring – autumn
- stand – sit
- start – stop
- start – finish
- stop – start
- stand – lie
- strange – normal
- stranger – native
- strict – gentle
- strong – weak
- student – teacher
- stupid – clever
- suburb – centre
- succeed – fail
- success – failure
- subtract – add
- sugar – salt
- summer – winter
- sun – moon
- sunny – cloudy
- true – false
- trust – suspect
- ugliness – beauty
- ugly – beautiful
- under – over
- unite – divide
- unity – division
- up – down
- upstairs – downstairs
- urban – rural
- useful – useless
- useless – useful
- vacant – occupied
- valley – mountain
- vertical – horizontal
- victory – defeat
- village – town
- violent – gentle
- visitor – host
- voluntary – compulsory
- vowel – consonant
- war – peace
- warm – cool
- waste – save
- water – land
- weak – powerful
- wealth – poverty
- wealthy – poor
- wedding – divorce
- well- ill
- west – east
- wet – dry
- whisper – scream
- white – black
- whole – part
- wide – narrow
377 common IDIOMS and their meanings
An IDIOM is an expression or manner of speaking that's used in common parlance. IDIOMs are culture specific and may be based on past history not necessarily evident in the modern world. Understanding where the IDIOM comes from will help to understand its meaning.
IDIOM |
| MEANING |
Acid test |
| Proves the effectiveness of something. |
Actions speak louder than words |
| People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say. |
Add insult to injury |
| To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavourable situation. |
After the watershed |
| A time when after which programmes for older audiences may be aired on TV. |
Against the clock |
| Being rushed and having little time to complete something. |
Ahead of time |
| Something that happens early or before it is supposed to. |
All ears |
| Awaiting an explanation. |
An arm and a leg |
| Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money. |
Around the clock |
| At any time of the day or night |
Around the corner |
| Will happen soon. |
As time goes by |
| The passing of one moment to the next. |
At the drop of a hat |
| Without any hesitation; instantly. |
Back to basics |
| An approach that uses traditional ideas that have previously worked. |
Back to the drawing board |
| When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over. |
Bad apple |
| Troublemaker or undesirable person in a group. |
Ball is in your court |
| It is up to you to make the next decision or take the next step. |
Barking up the wrong tree |
| Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person. |
Be glad to see the back of |
| Be happy when a person leaves. |
Beat around the bush |
| Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue. |
Beat the clock |
| Do something quickly before it's too late. |
Bee in one's bonnet |
| Carrying and idea that's constantly in your thoughts. |
Behind the times |
| Being old-fashioned. |
Bells and whistles |
| Lots of desirable features. |
Best of both worlds |
| Enjoying the advantage of two things simultaneously. |
Best thing since sliced bread |
| A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan. |
Better late than never |
| It is better to do something late than not at all. |
Bide one's time |
| Waiting for further developments before taking action or making decisions. |
Big cheese |
| Influential person |
Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush |
| Better to be satisfied with what you have than risk losing it by trying to get something better. |
Bite off more than you can chew |
| To take on a task that is way too big. |
Black and blue |
| Badly bruised. |
Black and white |
| Take everything into consideration and over simply. Judge everything good or bad. |
Black as night |
| Very dark and hard to see. |
Black eye |
| Bruise around the eye. |
Black market |
| Where goods are illegally bought and sold for profit. |
Black out |
| Darken by turning off or dimming the lights. Lose consciousness. |
Black sheep |
| Undesirable member of a group. |
Blackball |
| Exclude or ostracise someone socially. Reject someone. |
Blacklist |
| Exclude someone. |
Blackmail |
| Extort or take money from someone by threatening to use their secrets against them. |
Blessing in disguise |
| Something good that isn't recognised as such at first. |
Blind date |
| Pre-arranged social interaction between people who have never met. |
Blood red |
| Description of something with a deep red colour. |
Blood, sweat & tears |
| Something that requires a lot of effort and hard work. |
Blow a fuse |
| Suddenly get very angry, perhaps over something unexpected. |
Blow up in the face |
| A plan or project that suddenly fails. |
Blue blood |
| From noble, aristocratic or wealthy family. |
Blue collar |
| Working in a manual labour job. |
Blue in the face |
| Try hard to win an agreement but usually unsuccessful. |
Blue ribbon |
| Superior quality or distinction. The best of a group. |
Bolt from the blue |
| Unexpected bad news. |
Bookworm |
| Someone who reads a lot. |
Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth |
| Born into a rich and affluent family. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
Bottom falls out |
| A plan or project that fails. |
Brainstorm |
| Develop or think of new ideas. |
Bread-winner |
| Person that is the primary source of income for a family. |
Bring home the bacon |
| Earn a living. |
Broken watch is right twice a day |
| When something is lucky or successful but undeserving. |
Buckle down |
| Working hard with determination and full attention. |
Bun in the oven |
| Pregnant. |
Burn the midnight oil |
| To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting. |
Butter up |
| Flatter someone, usually because you want something from them. |
By degrees |
| Something happens of develops gradually or little by little. |
By the skin of your teeth |
| Only just succeed. |
Call it a day (or night) |
| Stop doing something for a while or until the next day (or night). |
Calling time |
| Deciding to end something. |
Carry the torch for |
| Having string feelings for someone who cannot be yours. |
Cash cow |
| Dependable source of income. |
Cat burglar |
| Thief who climbs into buildings. |
Catch someone at a bad time |
| When it is inconvenient. |
Catch someone red-handed |
| Catch someone in the act of committing a crime or doing something they shouldn't. |
Chance one's arm |
| Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are slim or unknown. |
Chase rainbows |
| Try to achieve something that is very difficult, impossible or very desirable. |
Chase your tail |
| Spend a lot of time and energy but achieve nothing. |
Cheesy |
| Tacky, silly, inauthentic or cheap. |
Clock-in/clock-out |
| Record the time of arrival and the time of departure. |
Close to home |
| A comment that is true and makes you uncomfortable. |
Cold shoulder |
| Pay no attention to. |
Coming of age |
| When something develops completely and reached maturity. When a child becomes an adult. |
Cook someone's goose |
| Spoil the person's chance of success. |
Copycat |
| Someone who copies the work of another. |
Costs an arm and a leg |
| When something is very expensive. |
Couch potato |
| Lazy person who watches too much TV. |
Cover a lot of ground |
| Complete a lot of work or a wide range of things. |
Crack of dawn |
| Very early in the morning. The first moments of sunrise. |
Cross that bridge when you come to it |
| Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before. |
Crunch time |
| When an important decision needs to be made by. |
Cry over spilt milk |
| Complain about a loss from the past. |
Curiosity killed the cat |
| Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant or dangerous situation. |
Cut corners |
| When something is done quickly, and typically badly, to save money. |
Cut one's own throat |
| Doing something that will cause your own failure or downfall. |
Cut the mustard |
| To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate. |
Cut to the chase |
| Getting to the point. |
Day to day |
| Part of a usual routine. |
Days are numbered |
| Expected to be in a role or to die soon. |
Dead duck |
| Plan or event that has failed or is certain to fail and therefore not worth discussing. |
Dead in the water |
| Plan or project that has ceased to function and is not expected to re-activate. |
Dead wood |
| People or things that are no longer useful or necessary. |
Deep down |
| Describing what a person really feels deep inside them |
Deliver the goods |
| Do what is expected or required. |
Devil's Advocate |
| To present a counter argument. |
Do time (serve time) |
| Spend time in prison. |
Donkey's years |
| A very long period of time. |
Don't count your chickens before they've hatched |
| Don't make plans for something that might not happen. |
Don't give up the day job |
| You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally. |
Don't put all your eggs in one basket |
| Don't make everything dependent on only one thing. |
Double date |
| Social interaction that involves two couples. |
Drastic times call for drastic measures |
| When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions. |
Drawing a blank |
| Get no response from someone when you ask them a question or to have no answer yourself. |
Dropout |
| Stop attending school before it is time. |
Dwell on the past |
| Thinking too much about something that happened in the past. |
Eager beaver |
| Enthusiastic and hard worker. |
Easy as ABC |
| Very simple or easy. |
Eat, sleep & breathe something |
| Being so enthusiastic and passionate about something that you think about it all the time. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
Egg head |
| Studious and academic person. |
Elbow room |
| Enough space to move or work in. |
Eleventh hour |
| At the very last minute or just in time. |
Elvis has left the building |
| The show has come to an end. It's all over. |
Every cloud has a silver lining |
| Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. Good can come from a bad situation. |
Explore all avenues |
| Investigating or examining every option. |
Eye-catching |
| Tending to attract attention. |
Fallen in love |
| Start feeling love towards someone. |
Far cry from |
| Very different from. |
Feeling blue |
| Feeling depressed or disconnected. |
Feeling under the weather |
| Feeling unwell. |
Fever pitch |
| When a feeling is very intense and exciting. |
Fill in the blanks |
| Supply missing words or information. |
First in, best dressed |
| The opportunity is afforded to the first to arrive or present themselves. |
First out of the gate |
| Being the first one to make a start at something |
Fish out of water |
| Feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings |
Foot in the door |
| Small but good start with the possibility of a bright future. |
For the time being |
| An action or state will continue into the future but is temporary. |
From now on |
| From this time forward. |
From time to time |
| Occasionally or not very often. |
Full of beans |
| Excited or very energetic and lively. |
Full of the joys of spring |
| Very happy and full of energy. |
Getting sacked (or axed, or fired) |
| To lose your job. |
Getting the show on the road |
| Putting a plan or idea into action. |
Give the benefit of the doubt |
| Believe someone's statement, without proof. |
Give the green light |
| Provide permission to proceed. |
Go belly up |
| Fail completely. |
Going places |
| Demonstrating talent and ability that will lead to success. |
Golden boy |
| Young man idolised for a great skill, typically in sport. |
Golden handshake |
| Large sum of money given to someone when they retire from a company. |
Golden opportunity |
| A very good opportunity that may never present itself again. |
Grass is always greener on the other side |
| The alternative solution may seem better even if that isn't always the case. |
Grease someone's palm |
| Give someone money in order to persuade them to do something dishonest. |
Green thumb |
| Ability to make plants grow or be good at gardening. |
Green with envy |
| Extremely jealous or full of envy. |
Grey area |
| Unclear or undefined. |
Hanging on by fingernails |
| Continuing to do something in a very difficult situation. |
Hard as nails |
| Without sentiment or sympathy for anyone. |
Hard time |
| Something that is difficult or to suffer hardship. |
Having one's heart set on something |
| Possessing a determination to achieve something. |
Head in the clouds |
| Having unrealistic or impractical ideas. |
Head over heels in love |
| Very much in love with someone. |
Hear it on the grapevine |
| Hear something through informal or unofficial means, like gossip. |
Heart is in the right place |
| Having good intentions, even if the results may not be impressive. |
Here today, gone tomorrow |
| When desirable things, such as money or happiness, are temporary. |
High time |
| When something should have been done already and is overdue. |
Hit the big time |
| To become successful. |
Hit the books |
| Begin studying hard. |
Hit the nail on the head |
| Do or say something exactly right. |
Hit the panic button |
| Act quickly and without thinking in reaction to an unexpected event. |
Hit the road |
| Begin travelling or leave. |
Hit the sack (or sheets, or hay) |
| Go to bed. |
Hold the fort |
| Have responsibility for something or care about someone while others are away or out. |
Honest as the day is long |
| Someone that is trustworthy and honest. |
Hot potato |
| Speak of a current issue which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed. |
Hour of need |
| When someone really needs something – their last chance. |
In due course |
| Everything will happen when it is supposed to or at the appropriate time. |
In one's own time |
| Taking as long as you want to complete something or completing something at your own pace. |
In someone's black book |
| Be in disgrace or disfavour with someone. |
In the bag |
| Something that is assured or a guaranteed success. |
In the black |
| In profit. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
In the blink of an eye (or an instant) |
| Something that happens very quickly. |
In the heat of the moment |
| Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment. |
In the interim |
| Between two events or something that is temporary. |
In the long run |
| Over a period of time. |
In the nick of time. |
| Just before it is too late. |
In the red |
| In debt with your bank. To have a negative bank balance or to owe money to the bank. |
In the right place at the right time |
| When something happens fortuitously or when given an unexpected opportunity. |
In the wrong place at the wrong time |
| When something unlucky happens that would not normally have happened. |
In tune with someone (on the same wavelength) |
| Have the same ideas and be in agreement with someone else. |
It takes two to tango |
| Actions or communications need more than one person. |
Itchy feet |
| Strong impulse to travel or go somewhere. |
Judge a book by its cover |
| Judge something primarily on appearance. |
Jump on the bandwagon |
| Join a popular trend or activity. |
Keep something at bay |
| Keep something away or prevent something from happening. |
Keeping up appearances |
| Maintaining an outward show of prosperity or well-being while hiding your difficulties. |
Keeping your finger on the pulse |
| Being constantly aware of current developments. |
Kept in the dark |
| Not knowing the secrets or truth. |
Kill time |
| Do something whilst waiting. |
Kill two birds with one stone |
| Accomplish two different things at the same time. |
Landslide victory |
| Overwhelming victory. |
Last straw |
| The final problem in a series of problems that leads to a bad thing happening. |
Laugh a minute |
| Someone or something that is very funny. |
Learn by rote |
| Learn something by memorising it without thought to what is being learnt. |
Learn something off by heart |
| Memorise so well, that it can be written or recited without thinking. |
Learn the ropes |
| Learn how to do a job or task properly. |
Lemon |
| New vehicle that has many faults. |
Let me see the colour of your money |
| Prove that you can afford something. |
Let sleeping dogs lie |
| Leave a situation undisturbed, since it would otherwise result in trouble or complications. |
Let slip through fingers |
| Failing to obtain or retain a good opportunity. |
Let the cat out of the bag |
| Share information that was previously concealed. |
Lick one's wounds |
| Trying to regain confidence after a defeat. |
Lightning fast |
| Very fast. |
Lights are on but nobody is home |
| Someone is stupid or lacking intelligence. |
Like clockwork |
| Happens at very regular times or intervals without fail. |
Like there's no tomorrow |
| Do something fast or energetic, as if it were the last opportunity to do so. |
Lining up all the ducks in a row |
| Being well organised in preparation for something. |
Living beyond your means |
| Spending more than you can afford. |
Living in an ivory tower |
| Living a lifestyle that saves or obscures you from real world issues. |
Living on the breadline |
| Having very little income. |
Long arm of the law |
| Far-reaching power of the authorities. |
Long time no see |
| Not seen since long ago. |
Look on the bright side |
| View an unpleasant situation in a positive light. |
Love at first sight |
| Start feeling love towards someone the first time you see them. |
Lovey-dovey |
| Making an excessive display of affection. |
Lump in your throat |
| Tight feeling in the through because of an emotion like sadness, pride or gratitude. |
Make a long story short |
| Come to the point without superfluous or unnecessary details. |
Make my day |
| Something that makes me very happy or satisfies me. |
Make or break |
| Circumstances causing total success or total failure. |
Make the grade |
| Be satisfactory or at an accepted level. |
Make time |
| Find time to do something as a priority. |
Makes your flesh crawl |
| Something that makes you feel disgusted or nervous. |
Making a go of it |
| Attempting to succeed at something. |
Making good time |
| Completing something faster than expected. |
Making headway |
| Making progress in what you are trying to do. |
Match made in heaven |
| Relationship that is likely to be happy and successful. |
Method to my madness |
| Despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it. |
Mile a minute |
| Happens very quickly. |
Miss the boat |
| Miss a chance or opportunity. |
Monkey business |
| Mischievous or deceitful behaviour. |
Month of Sundays |
| A very long period of time. |
Murphy's law |
| Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
Never in a million years |
| Will never happen. |
No time like the present |
| The belief it is better to do something right away instead of waiting. |
No time to lose |
| Start something right away, otherwise it won't be finished on time. |
Not letting grass grow under your feet |
| Not delaying in getting something done. |
Not letting moss grow over |
| Doing something now or without delay. |
Not playing with a full deck |
| Lacking intelligence. |
Now and then (or again) |
| Occasionally. |
Now or never |
| Something that should be done now or it will never be done. |
Off colour |
| Unwell. |
Off one's rocker |
| Crazy; demented; out of one's mind; in a confused or befuddled state of mind; senile. |
Off to a flying start |
| Something that is immediately successful or has begun well. |
Old hand |
| Person with a lot of experience in something. |
Old school |
| Holding ideas that were popular and important in the past but which are no longer so. |
On the ball |
| When someone understands the situation well or is doing well. |
On the brain |
| Thinking or talking about something constantly. |
On the rocks |
| Relationship experiencing problems. |
On time |
| Not being late or something happening at the expected time. |
Once in a blue moon |
| Happens very rarely or once in a lifetime. |
Once upon a time |
| Something that happened a long time ago. |
Only time will tell |
| The truth, answer or result, will be revealed at some future point. |
Out of the blue |
| Appear suddenly from nowhere and without warning. |
Out of the red |
| No longer in debt. |
Out of time |
| No time left to do something or a set time has been reached. |
Paint the town red |
| Go out and have a really good time at a party. |
Pass with flying colours |
| Pass with a high score. |
Penny for your thoughts |
| A way of asking what someone is thinking. |
Picture paints a thousand words |
| Visual presentations are far more descriptive than words. |
Piece of cake |
| A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple. |
Pitch black |
| Very dark with zero or almost zero visibility. |
Place in the sun |
| A position that provides you all the success and happiness you want. |
Pop the question |
| Propose marriage to someone. |
Pot calling the kettle black |
| Hypocritically criticise or accuse someone else is as guilty as the person criticising. |
Pressed for time |
| Being rushed or not having enough time to complete something. |
Proud as a peacock |
| Very proud |
Pull the plug |
| Terminate or discontinue something. |
Pull wool over other people's eyes |
| Deceive someone into thinking well of them. |
Pulling out all the stops |
| Doing everything you can to make something happen. |
Punch above one's weight |
| Performing beyond your ability. |
Puppy love |
| Temporary infatuation between young people. |
Put it in black and white |
| Write down for confirmation or evidence. |
Put your thinking cap on |
| Engage your mind and think in a serious manner. |
Rags to riches |
| Becoming very rich whilst starting very poor. |
Raining cats and dogs |
| Raining very heavily. |
Raise the white flag |
| Accept defeat and surrender to the other party. |
Raring to go |
| Being very eager or enthusiastic about the idea. |
Rat race |
| Exhausting and repetitive routine. |
Red flag |
| Signal or indication that something is not working properly of correctly. |
Red herring |
| Unimportant matter that misleads and draws attention away. |
Red hot |
| New and exciting, creating much demand. |
Red in the face |
| Embarrassed. |
Red tape |
| Set of rules and/or regulations that slow or stop progress. |
Red-eye |
| Journey that leaves late in the night and arrives early in the morning. |
Road hog |
| Dangerous driver. |
Roll out the red carpet |
| Greet a person with great respect and give them a big, warm welcome. |
Sail through something |
| Being successful as something without difficulty. |
Save time |
| Do something quickly or in a way that allow time for other things. |
School of hard knocks |
| Learning through difficult experiences, as opposed to formal, classroom education. |
School of thought |
| Particular philosophy or way of thinking about something. |
Schoolboy error |
| Very basic or foolish mistake. |
Seeing eye to eye |
| Two or more people agree on something. |
Seeing red |
| React with uncontrollable rage. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
Sell ice to Eskimos |
| Persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary. |
Shelf life |
| The expected duration of lifespan of something (typically food, drink or medicine). |
Show of hands |
| Raising hands to vote about something. |
Shown the red card |
| Dismissed or told to leave. |
Silver screen |
| Film industry |
Single file |
| Line of people with one person standing behind another. |
Sink or swim |
| Fail or succeed. |
Sinking teeth into something |
| Doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. |
Sit on the fence |
| Unable or unwilling choose or make a decision. |
Skip class |
| Not go to school when you should. |
Sleeping (or silent) partner |
| Person who has put money into a business or venture but who is not involved in running it. |
Slice of the pie |
| Share of something, such as money, profits, etc. |
Smash hit |
| A big success. |
Snowed under |
| Having too much to do. |
Sooner or later |
| Something is certain to happen but it isn't known when exactly. |
Sour grapes |
| Pretending to dislike something you cannot have. |
Spanner in the works |
| Suddenly disrupt something by introducing something unexpected or unwanted. |
Speak of the devil |
| When the person you have just been talking about arrives. |
Speaks volumes |
| Express a reaction without words. |
Spill the beans |
| Reveal a secret. |
Standing ground |
| Maintaining your position |
Standing the test of time |
| Something that lasts or continues to work well for a long time. |
Steal someone's thunder |
| Take the credit for something someone else did. |
Stiff upper lip |
| Not showing emotions. |
Storm in a teacup |
| Exaggerate a problem. |
Straight from the horse's mouth |
| From the authoritative source. |
Stuck in a time warp |
| Not changed for a very long time, when everything else around has. |
Swallow one's pride |
| Accepting something humiliating or embarrassing. |
Sweet tooth |
| Liking for sweet-tasting foods. |
Take each day as it comes |
| Deal with things as and when they happen. |
Take with a grain (or pinch) of salt |
| Not to take what someone says too seriously. Be sceptical about something. |
Taste of your own medicine |
| Something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else. |
Teacher's pet |
| Teacher's favourite student. |
The big time |
| The top level of a profession |
The moment of truth |
| When an important decision is made or the truth about something is revealed. |
The ship has sailed |
| A particular opportunity has passed and is no longer available. |
The time is ripe |
| The right or most opportune moment to do something. |
Thinking on your feet |
| Adjusting quickly to change and making fast decisions. |
This day and age |
| These or modern times. |
Tickled pink |
| Very pleased, thrilled or delighted about something. |
Tie the knot |
| Get married. |
Time after time (time and time again) |
| Do something repeatedly |
Time flies |
| When time passes quickly. |
Time for a change |
| Stop what you are doing and start doing something else. |
Time heals all wounds (or time is a great healer) |
| Feelings of hurt (usually emotional) will go away after some time has passed. |
Time is money |
| Time is a valuable commodity. Payment is needed before doing something. |
Time is of the essence |
| When meeting a deadline is very important or critical. |
Time of one's life |
| A time when someone is enjoying themselves. |
Time on one's hands (or side) |
| When you can afford to wait before doing or achieving something. |
Tongue-tied |
| Difficulty in expressing yourself because of nervousness or embarrassment. |
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians |
| Too many people telling others what to do. |
Too much (free) time on one's hand |
| When someone doesn't have enough to do. |
Top banana |
| Most important person in a group. |
Top dog |
| Most important person. |
Tough cookie |
| Very determined person. |
Tricks of the trade |
| Clever or expert way of doing something. |
True colours |
| Someone's actual character. |
Turn back the hands of time |
| Reverse something or go back to a time in the past. |
University of life |
| Daily life and work where you learn more than you would through formal education. |
Until hell freezes over |
| Something will never happen, no matter how hard or long you try for it to. |
Up in smoke |
| Something that ends before getting a result. |
|
| http://portallas.com |
|
| Christopher D. Morgan |
| MEANING | |
Waiting in the wings |
| Waiting for an opportunity to take action. |
Walk out on someone |
| Leave a partner and end the relationship. |
Wasting time |
| Doing something with no purpose. |
Well-oiled machine |
| Unit of people or a group of things working well together. |
Whale of a time |
| Enjoying something thoroughly. |
White as a sheet (or ghost) |
| In a state of great fear or anxiety. |
White collar |
| Officer worker. |
White elephant |
| Expensive item that's costly to maintain and not particularly useful. |
White lie |
| Little or harmless lie told to be polite and avoid hurting someone's feelings. |
Whitewash |
| Cover up or gloss over faults. |
Whole nine yards |
| Everything. All of it. |
With bells on |
| When you are delighted and eager to go somewhere. |
Wooden spoon |
| Imaginary prize for the last person in a race. |
Works like a charm |
| Works very well or as expected. |
Wouldn't be caught dead |
| Would never like to do something. |
Year in, year out |
| Happens every year for many years in a row. |
Yellow-bellied |
| Coward |
You can't teach an old dog new tricks |
| People used to doing things a certain way are often unable to change their ways. |
Your guess is as good as mine |
| Not knowing the answer. |
http://portallas.com
Christopher D. Morgan