Phrases and Idioms 401-500 (hammer - kick)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
401. hammer  - hammer something home To convey one’s message across effectively by speaking intelligibly.
402. hammer  - under the hammer Be for sale at an auction.
403. hand  - hand and hand Be involved with
404. hand  - hand in glove In close cooperation with someone in an illegal activity.
405. hand  - hand to mouth With just enough money and food to survive on.
406. hand  - hand-and-glove Inseparable or on intimate terms.
407. hand  – lend a hand To help someone in doing something.
408. hand  – out of hand Out of control. Immediately; without thinking.
409. hang  – hang your head To look ashamed and guilty.
410. hard  – be hard hit Adversely affected by something.
411. hard  - be hard on To be too strict or harsh on someone.
412. hard  – be hard put To have difficulty doing something.
413. hard  - hard done by To be treated in an unfair or harsh manner.
414. hard  - hard luck story A story told to gain sympathy.
415. hard  - hard of hearing Having difficulty in hearing.
416. hard  – hard to take Difficult to accept or believe.
417. hard  - no hard feelings No feelings of resentment.
418. hard  – take something hard Feel very unhappy or disappointed about something.
419. hard  - the hard stuff Strong alcoholic drink
420. hard  – times are hard Time when one has problems and difficulties.
421. head  - a clear head Being able to think clearly in a difficult situation.
422. head  - a head for An ability to tolerate something.
423. head  - come to a head Reach a crisis.
424. head  – head over heels Madly in love with something.
425. head  – head will roll Some people will be punished or dismissed.
426. head  – keep one’s head Remain calm.
427. head  – lose one’s head Lose self-control.
428. heart  – break someone’s heart To make someone feel very sad.
429. heart  – change of heart Change in one’s thinking.
430. heart  – cross one’s heart Used to make a promise.
431. heart  – from the heart With the sincerest feeling.
432. heart  – have the heart Show pity; be merciful.
433. heart  – heart and soul With all one’s affections.
434. heart  – heart of gold A kind or generous nature.
435. heart  – heart-to-heart Frank, sincere (talk)
436. heart  – learn by heart Learn by memorizing.
437. heart  – one’s heart’s desire Someone’s greatest wish for something.
438. heart  – open one’s heart To make known one’s feelings or thoughts.
439. heart  – take to heart Take something seriously.
440. hearth  – hearth and home One’s home and family.
441. hedge  – hedge your bets Avoid total loss by placing similar bets on the other side.
442. heel  - take to (one’s) heels Run away quickly.
443. hell  – hell for leather At great speed.
444. hell  – hell on earth A place that is extremely unpleasant.
445. high  – have high hopes Confident of successful outcome.
446. high  - high and dry Left with nothing.
447. high  – high and mighty Feeling self-important; arrogant.
448. history  – history repeats itself There’s a tendency for events to happen again in a similar way.
449. hit  –  hit rock bottom To descend to the lowest level.
450. hit  – hit it off To become friends in a natural way.
451. hit  – hit the bottle To start to drink to excess.
452. hit  – hit the jackpot To win a huge amount of money.
453. hit  – hit the road Set forth on a journey
454. hold  – hold a conversation To get engaged in a conversation with someone.
455. hold  – hold one’s horses To stop for some reason.
456. hold  – hold one’s own To do something or succeed without help from anyone.
457. hold  – hold the fort To take over someone’s responsibility while they are away.
458. hold  – hold the line To not yield; to wait until the other person is ready to answer one’s telephone call.
459. hold  – hold your fire Used to order soldiers to cease firing.
460. hold  – no holds barred Without any restrictions or rules.
461. holier  – holier than-thou Self-righteous.
462. home  – home and dry Having succeeded in getting something done.
463. honour  - do the honours To do things such as serve food or drink at a social occasion.
464. honour  – in honour of Used to show respect and admiration of someone.
465. honour  – man of honour A man of high moral standards.
466. honour  – on one’s honour Under a moral duty to do something.
467. honour  – on/upon my honour Used to express one’s sincerity.
468. hook  - off the hook No longer in a difficult situation.
469. hop  – on the hop Unprepared; busy.
470. hope  – hope against hope Hope for something that probably will not happen.
471. house  – house of God A church, a temple.
472. house  – on the house A drink or meal paid for by the bar, restaurant, etc. management.
473. human  - the human touch A close relationship of communication or understanding.
474. ice  –  on thin ice In a risky situation.
475. idea  - get the idea To start to understand something
476. idea  - have no idea Have no knowledge of
477. idea  - that’s the idea That’s exactly right
478. ill  – ill at ease Feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed.
479. ill  – speak ill of Say something bad about someone.
480. immemorial  – since/from time immemorial Starting from a time in the distant past which people cannot now recall.
481. influence  - under the influence Affected by an effect or an imperceptible power exerted by someone or something that causes changes in conduct or the character.
482. ins  – ins and outs The details of a system, workings, etc.
483. inside  – on the inside Being able to provide internal information.
484. issue  – die without issue To die without having any children.
485. issue  – take issue with To dispute the truth or validity of.
486. itchy  – have itchy feet Have the desire to travel or go somewhere.
487. Jekyll  – Jekyll and Hyde A person having dual personalities, one good and one evil.
488. job  – just the job The very job that is wanted.
489. job  – on the job While doing work; being part of the work.
490. join  – join forces Combine efforts for a common purpose.
491. jump  – jump a light To drive past a red traffic light.
492. jump  – jump for joy To be very excited and happy.
493. jump  – jump the gun To begin something without proper planning.
494. jump  – jump the queue Move ahead of other people in a queue.
495. jump  – jump to conclusions To form a quick opinion without considering the facts.
496. key  – in/out of key In/not in agreement or harmony with.
497. kick  – kick a habit Stop doing something which one does habitually.
498. kick  – kick one’s heels To be kept waiting for a long time.
499. kick  – kick someone upstairs Promote someone to an ostensibly higher and more influential position in a business.
500. kick  – kick the bucket Die.