English idioms & sayings

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A

Add fuel to the fireTo make a conflict worse.In French In German In Spanish
As blind as a batunable to see wellIn French In German In Spanish
As cool as a cucumbervery calm, even under pressureIn French In German In Spanish
As easy as pieRequiring very little effortIn French In German In Spanish
An axe to grindA personal agenda or grievanceIn French In German In Spanish

B

Back to square oneReturning to the start after a failureIn French In German In Spanish
The ball is in your courtIt is your turn to act or decide.In French In German In Spanish
Barking up the wrong treeTo be completely mistaken.In French In German In Spanish
Beat a dead horseWaste effort on something that cannot changeIn French In German In Spanish
Beat around the bushTo avoid the main point.In French In German In Spanish
A bee in your bonnetAn obsession with one particular idea.In French In German In Spanish
Bend over backwardsTry very hard to help someoneIn French In German In Spanish
The best of both worldsEnjoying the benefits of two different things at once.In French In German In Spanish
Between a rock and a hard placeCaught between two bad choices.In French In German In Spanish
The birds and the beesthe basic facts about sex and reproductionIn French In German In Spanish
Bite off more than you can chewTake on more work than you can handleIn French In German In Spanish
Bite the bulletTo face something unpleasant with resolve.In French In German In Spanish
A blessing in disguiseA misfortune that turns out well.In French In German In Spanish
Blow a fuseto suddenly lose your temperIn French In German In Spanish
Blow someone's mindto amaze or impress someone very stronglyIn French In German In Spanish
Blow something out of proportionTo exaggerate how serious or important something isIn French In German In Spanish
Bore someone to tearsTo make someone feel extremely boredIn French In German In Spanish
A brain farta brief lapse in memory, attention or judgementIn French In German In Spanish
Break a legAn informal way to wish someone luck.In French In German In Spanish
Break the iceMake it easier to start talking.In French In German In Spanish
A breath of fresh airA welcome and refreshing change.In French In German In Spanish
Bring home the baconto earn the money needed to support a householdIn French In German In Spanish
Bring your A gameto perform at your bestIn French In German In Spanish
A bun in the ovenA humorous way to refer to a pregnancyIn French In German In Spanish
Burn the midnight oilWork or study late into the nightIn French In German In Spanish
Burn your bridgesTo cut off any way back.In French In German In Spanish
Burst your bubbleTo spoil a happy illusion or hopeIn French In German In Spanish
Butter someone upPraise someone to get a favour.In French In German In Spanish
By the skin of your teethJust barely managing to succeed or escape danger.In French In German In Spanish

C

Call it a dayTo stop for the day, or stop altogether.In French In German In Spanish
Can't hold a candle toto be nowhere near as good as someone or somethingIn French In German In Spanish
Catch someone red-handedCatch someone doing something wrong.In French In German In Spanish
Caught with your pants downBe caught embarrassingly unprepared.In French In German In Spanish
Chicken outto back out because you are afraidIn French In German In Spanish
Clear the airTalk openly to reduce tension.In French In German In Spanish
Close, but no cigaralmost successful or correct, but not quiteIn French In German In Spanish
Come cleanto admit the truth about something you have hiddenIn French In German In Spanish
Cost an arm and a legTo be very expensive.In French In German In Spanish
A couch potatosomeone who spends a lot of time sitting and watching televisionIn French In German In Spanish
Cover your basesTo prepare for all the important possibilitiesIn French In German In Spanish
Cry over spilt milkTo worry uselessly about past mistakes.In French In German In Spanish
Cut cornersTo skimp on quality to save time or money.In French In German In Spanish
Cut to the chaseGet directly to the main point.In French In German In Spanish

D

Don't hold your breathDo not expect it to happen soonIn French In German In Spanish
Down to earthPractical, humble, and sensibleIn French In German In Spanish
Drive someone up the wallMake someone extremely annoyed.In French In German In Spanish
Drop the ballto fail to do something you were responsible forIn French In German In Spanish

E

The early bird catches the wormActing early brings success.In French In German In Spanish
The elephant in the roomAn obvious issue nobody mentions.In French In German In Spanish
The eleventh hourThe last possible moment.In French In German In Spanish
Every cloud has a silver liningBad situations always have something good in them.In French In German In Spanish

F

Face the musicAccept unpleasant consequences for your actionsIn French In German In Spanish
Fall off the wagonto start drinking alcohol again after a period without itIn French In German In Spanish
Fit as a fiddlein very good health and physical conditionIn French In German In Spanish
Flip the scriptto change the usual approach or reverse expected rolesIn French In German In Spanish
Fly by the seat of your pantsto act on instinct without a detailed planIn French In German In Spanish
Fly off the handleSuddenly lose your temper.In French In German In Spanish
Fly the coopto leave or escape from a placeIn French In German In Spanish

G

Get cold feetTo become nervous and back out.In French In German In Spanish
Get out of handTo become uncontrolled or wildIn French In German In Spanish
Get something off your chestTalk about something that is bothering you.In French In German In Spanish
Get the hang of somethingto learn how to do or use somethingIn French In German In Spanish
Get your ducks in a rowGet your preparations organised.In French In German In Spanish
Give someone a piece of your mindTell someone angrily what you think of them.In French In German In Spanish
Give someone the benefit of the doubtTrust someone even when you are not completely sure.In French In German In Spanish
Go back to the drawing boardStart planning again after a failure.In French In German In Spanish
Go cold turkeySuddenly and completely stop a bad habitIn French In German In Spanish
Go the extra mileTo make an extra effort.In French In German In Spanish
Go through the motionsTo do something without real interest or effortIn French In German In Spanish
Grin and bear itto put up with something unpleasant without complainingIn French In German In Spanish

H

Have a bone to pick with someoneto have a complaint you want to discuss with someoneIn French In German In Spanish
Have it both waysto get the benefits of two incompatible choicesIn French In German In Spanish
Have skin in the gameto have something personal at risk in the outcomeIn French In German In Spanish
Have your cake and eat it tooTo want two benefits that cannot go togetherIn French In German In Spanish
Hear something through the grapevineHear news through informal contacts.In French In German In Spanish
Hit homeTo finally understand or feel the full impactIn French In German In Spanish
Hit it offGet along well from the start.In French In German In Spanish
Hit the ground runningTo start a new activity with speed and energy.In French In German In Spanish
Hit the nail on the headTo be exactly right.In French In German In Spanish
Hit the roadTo leave or start a journeyIn French In German In Spanish
Hit the sackTo go to bed or go to sleepIn French In German In Spanish

I

In the doghousein trouble with someone because you have upset themIn French In German In Spanish
In the same boatFacing the same difficult situationIn French In German In Spanish
It takes two to tangoBoth people share responsibility in a situation.In French In German In Spanish
It's all Greek to meI do not understand this at all.In French In German In Spanish
It's not rocket scienceIt is not particularly complicated.In French In German In Spanish
It's raining cats and dogsraining very heavilyIn French In German In Spanish

J

Jump down someone's throatto react to someone with sudden, harsh criticismIn French In German In Spanish
Jump on the bandwagonTo follow a trend late and opportunistically.In French In German In Spanish
Jump the gunto act too soon, before the right time or signalIn French In German In Spanish

K

Keep a straight faceAvoid showing that you want to laugh.In French In German In Spanish
Keep an eye onWatch someone or something carefully.In French In German In Spanish
Kick the bucketDie, said jokingly or bluntly.In French In German In Spanish
Kill two birds with one stoneTo solve two problems at once.In French In German In Spanish
Knock it out of the parkTo do something exceptionally wellIn French In German In Spanish
Knock someone's socks offto impress or amaze someoneIn French In German In Spanish

L

The last strawThe final problem that makes someone give up.In French In German In Spanish
Leave no stone unturnedTry every possible way to achieve something.In French In German In Spanish
Leave someone high and dryLeave someone stranded without support.In French In German In Spanish
Let someone off the hookTo release someone from blame or an obligationIn French In German In Spanish
Let the cat out of the bagTo accidentally reveal a secret.In French In German In Spanish
Like a bat out of hellExtremely fast and in a great hurryIn French In German In Spanish
Like a deer in the headlightsFrozen by shock or fear.In French In German In Spanish
Like water off a duck's backHaving no effect on someone's feelingsIn French In German In Spanish
Long story shortTo state the final result without detailsIn French In German In Spanish
A loose cannonAn unpredictable person who may cause harm.In French In German In Spanish
Lose itSuddenly lose emotional control.In French In German In Spanish
Lose your marblesto stop thinking sensibly or clearlyIn French In German In Spanish

M

Make a killingto make a very large profitIn French In German In Spanish
Make a mountain out of a molehillExaggerate the importance of a small problem.In French In German In Spanish
Make ends meetHave just enough money to live onIn French In German In Spanish
Make out with someoneto spend time kissing someone romanticallyIn French In German In Spanish
Miss the boatTo be too late for an opportunity.In French In German In Spanish

N

No pain, no gainYou must suffer to make progress.In French In German In Spanish
Not have a leg to stand onto have no sound argument or evidence to support your positionIn French In German In Spanish
Not playing with a full decknot thinking sensibly or clearly, said as an insultIn French In German In Spanish

O

Off the top of my headFrom memory without checking factsIn French In German In Spanish
On cloud nineExtremely happy or delightedIn French In German In Spanish
On pins and needlesAnxious or excited while waitingIn French In German In Spanish
On the rocksin serious trouble and likely to failIn French In German In Spanish
On the same pageSharing the same understanding.In French In German In Spanish
On thin iceIn a risky situation close to trouble.In French In German In Spanish
Once in a blue moonAlmost never; very rarely.In French In German In Spanish
Open a can of wormsTo create a whole set of difficult problemsIn French In German In Spanish
Out of left fieldunexpected or surprisingly unusualIn French In German In Spanish
Out of the blueSuddenly and without warningIn French In German In Spanish
Out of the frying pan and into the fireFrom a bad situation into a worse oneIn French In German In Spanish
Over the moonExtremely happy about somethingIn French In German In Spanish

P

Paint the town redto go out and celebrate noisily or enthusiasticallyIn French In German In Spanish
Pass the buckShift responsibility onto someone else.In French In German In Spanish
Pay through the noseto pay much more than something should costIn French In German In Spanish
A piece of cakeExtremely easy.In French In German In Spanish
Play devil's advocateArgue the opposite view to test an idea.In French In German In Spanish
The pot calling the kettle blackcriticising someone for a fault you also haveIn French In German In Spanish
Pull someone's legTo tease someone playfully.In French In German In Spanish
Pull the wool over someone's eyesDeceive someone or conceal the truth.In French In German In Spanish
Pull yourself togetherTo calm down and regain control of your feelings.In French In German In Spanish
Pull yourself up by your bootstrapsSucceed through your own efforts.In French In German In Spanish
Push the envelopeTo go beyond the usual limitsIn French In German In Spanish
Put lipstick on a pigto hide serious faults with surface improvementsIn French In German In Spanish
Put on a brave faceTo hide worry or sadness behind a calm appearanceIn French In German In Spanish
Put your foot downSet a firm limit or insist on a decision.In French In German In Spanish
Put your foot in your mouthSay something embarrassing by mistake.In French In German In Spanish

R

Rack your brainTo think hard to remember or solve somethingIn French In German In Spanish
Read between the linesFind hidden meaning in what is saidIn French In German In Spanish
Right under your noseIn plain sight, yet unnoticed.In French In German In Spanish
Ring a bellSound familiar or awaken a memory.In French In German In Spanish
Rock the boatCause trouble or disrupt a stable situation.In French In German In Spanish

S

See eye to eyeTo agree completely with someone.In French In German In Spanish
A silver bulleta simple solution to a difficult problemIn French In German In Spanish
Sit on the fenceTo stay deliberately neutral.In French In German In Spanish
A sitting duckan easy target with little protectionIn French In German In Spanish
A slam dunksomething expected to succeed easilyIn French In German In Spanish
Smell a ratto suspect that something dishonest is happeningIn French In German In Spanish
A spanner in the worksa problem that disrupts a plan or stops progressIn French In German In Spanish
Speak of the devilSaid when someone appears just as they are mentioned.In French In German In Spanish
Spill the beansTo give away a secret.In French In German In Spanish
Spill the teaTo share gossip or private detailsIn French In German In Spanish
Stand out like a sore thumbLook noticeably out of place.In French In German In Spanish
Steal someone's thunderTake praise or attention meant for someone elseIn French In German In Spanish
Stick to your gunsto keep your position despite pressure to change itIn French In German In Spanish
A storm in a teacupGreat anger or worry about something unimportant.In French In German In Spanish
Straight from the horse's mouthdirectly from the person who knows the factsIn French In German In Spanish

T

Take it with a pinch of saltTo treat a claim with mild scepticism.In French In German In Spanish
Take the bull by the hornsFace a difficult situation directly and boldly.In French In German In Spanish
Talk someone's ear offTalk so much that the listener gets tired.In French In German In Spanish
A taste of your own medicineThe same bad treatment that you gave to othersIn French In German In Spanish
Think outside the boxto look for ideas beyond the usual approachIn French In German In Spanish
Through thick and thinLoyally, in good times and bad.In French In German In Spanish
Throw in the towelTo give up or admit defeat.In French In German In Spanish
Throw someone under the busBlame or betray someone to protect yourself.In French In German In Spanish
Tie the knotTo get married.In French In German In Spanish
Tighten your beltReduce your spending.In French In German In Spanish
The tip of the icebergA small visible part of a much bigger problem.In French In German In Spanish
Turn the tablesto reverse a situation so that you gain the advantageIn French In German In Spanish

U

Under the weatherMildly unwell.In French In German In Spanish
Up in the airNot yet decided or settled.In French In German In Spanish

W

A walk in the parksomething that is very easy to doIn French In German In Spanish
Walking on eggshellsActing very cautiously around someone.In French In German In Spanish
Water under the bridgeA past problem that no longer matters.In French In German In Spanish
Wear your heart on your sleeveto let other people see your feelings openlyIn French In German In Spanish
When pigs flySomething will never happenIn French In German In Spanish
The whole nine yardsEverything, with nothing left outIn French In German In Spanish
A wild goose chaseA pointless, fruitless search.In French In German In Spanish

Y

Your guess is as good as mineI do not know any more than you do.In French In German In Spanish