Phrases and Idioms 001-100 (acid - call)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
1. acid  – the acid test Way to determine the quality or workability of something.
2. across  - across the board Applicable to all.
3. ado  - without further ado Without wasting any more time.
4. alive  - alive and kicking Still existing and very active.
5. all  – all at once All done together at the same time.
6. all  – all in all Take into account every part; on the whole
7. all  – all or nothing Either done completely or in the exact way, or nothing; no compromise.
8. all  - all the same In spite of that.
9. all  – it’s all go Buzzing with activity.
10. argue  – argue the toss To argue against a decision already made.
11. arm  - arm in arm With arms linked.
12. arm  - up in arms Enraged and protesting vigorously.
13. arm  – with open arms Receiving with great affection or enthusiasm
14. bag  - bag and baggage One’s personal possessions.
15. bag  - bag of bones Used to refer to a very thin person or an animal.
16. balance  - balance of payments The difference in total value between payments for import of and earnings from export of goods and services.
17. balance  - balance of trade The difference in total value between a country’s import and export of goods, excluding services.
18. baptism  - baptism of fire One’s first experience in an activity which is often difficult and painful.
19. bare  - bare one’s soul To make known one’s previously unknown facts or feelings.
20. bare  - the bare bones The essential parts of something.
21. bat  - bat one’s eyelashes To make rapid opening and closing of one’s eyes.
22. bated  - with bated breath In anxiety and suspense.
23. belt  - below the belt Unfair; breaking the rules.
24. belt  – tighten one’s belt Cut down on spending.
25. belt  – under one’s belt To have achieved something or gained considerable experience.
26. bend  – bend over backwards To be helpful with someone’s wishes or demands.
27. bend  – bend someone’s ear To talk at length with someone.
28. bend  – bend the rules Do what normally is not allowed
29. bend  – on bended knee Requesting someone seriously to do something.
30. best  – all the best An expression of good wishes.
31. better  – go one better   Outdo someone else.
32. better  – one had better   One would find it more advisable or advantageous to do.
33. better  – one’s better half One’s spouse
34. beyond  - beyond the sea In a foreign country; abroad.
35. bit  - a bit part A minor and insignificant acting part in a film.
36. bit  - a bit previous Before the due time.
37. bit  – bit by bit Gradually.
38. bit  - do one’s bit To contribute one’s service or do one’s share of the work.
39. bite  - bite the bullet Forced to perform an unpleasant or difficult task.
40. bite  - bite the dust To die, fail or be defeated.
41. bite  - bite your tongue Refrain oneself from saying something.
42. black  – black and white (in) In writing so that it’s clearly stated, not doubtful.
43. black  - in the black To have money in one’s account.
44. blaze  – a trail Lay a path through unknown territory; to be the first to develop something new.
45. blessing  - a mixed blessing A situation that has both advantages and disadvantages
46. blessing –  blessing in disguise An initial misfortune that later produces good results.
47. blood  - in cold blood In a deliberate and merciless way.
48. blood  - in one’s blood Firmly established in one’s character.
49. blow  – blow a fuse Lose one’s temper.
50. blow  – blow one’s mind To excite or impress someone very strongly.
51. blow  – blow one’s nose To clean one’s nose by blowing through it into a cloth or piece of tissue paper.
52. blow  – blow one’s top Lose one’s temper.
53. blow  – blow the whistle (on) To inform an authority or expose publicly someone’s wrongful act or something that is wrong.
54. blow  - come to blows To start hitting each other or a fight.
55. blue  – blue eyed boy Someone who is treated with special favour.
56. blue  – blue with cold Extremely cold.
57. blue  – boys in blue The police.
58. boat  - rock the boat Disturb an existing situation.
59. boat  - the same boat (in) Be in the same difficult situation as someone else.
60. body  – body and soul Completely.
61. body  – body of water A large area of water such as a lake.
62. bone  – bone of contention Cause of argument or disagreement.
63. bone  - make no bones (about) To not hesitate about doing or saying something.
64. book  – by the book (go) To observe exactly the rules and instructions.
65. book  - someone’s good book (in) It means that someone is pleased with or approves of someone else.
66. born  - not born yesterday Not easily deceived or gullible.
67. bound  - know no bounds Have no limits.
68. bound  – out of bounds Outside of allowed area of play.
69. brain  - pick someone’s brains To get information from someone who knows a lot.
70. break  – break new ground Venture into new sphere of activity; uncover new information.
71. break  – break of day Dawn.
72. break  – break one’s word To not do what one has promised.
73. break  – break the ice To initiate a conversation between strangers.
74. break  - make the break To end a relationship.
75. breath  –  waste one’s breath To speak without getting the message through.
76. breath  – hold one’s breath To cease breathing to see what is going to happen.
77. breath  – out of breath To experience difficulty in breathing after some vigorous exercises.
78. breath  – under one’s breath To say in a low voice so that no one can hear.
79. breeze  –  be a breeze To be something that can be done or dealt with ease.
80. bridge  – bridge the gap To narrow the difference between two things.
81. bright  – bright and early Very early in the morning.
82. bright  - the bright lights The kind of life in big cities that attract people.
83. broke  – go for broke Risk all that one has in a determined attempt to achieve something.
84. brother  - brothers in arms Soldiers who have been in combat together in the same war.
85. buck  – a fast buck Money that is quickly and easily earned.
86. buck  – pass the buck Shift the blame or responsibility to someone else.
87. bumper  – bumper-to-bumper (Traffic) very close together and moving slowly.
88. burn  – burn one’s boats/bridges Do something that can’t be reversed.
89. bury  – bury the hatchet End a quarrel or conflict and be reconciled.
90. business  – business is business Used to mean making profit overrides everything else.
91. business  – like nobody’s business Exceptional.
92. butterfly  – butterflies in one’s stomach An unpleasant sensation in one’s stomach when one is nervous.
93. buyer  - a buyer’s market Situation in which supply of goods and shares is more than demand, and prices are low.
94. by  – by and by Before long; soon.
95. by  – by and large On the whole.
96. by  – by the by By the way; incidentally.
97. call  – call attention to To divert people’s attention to something.
98. call  – call into question To express doubt about something.
99. call  – call of nature A need to urinate or defecate.
100. call  – call one’s shots To predict one’s course of action.