New Idioms at UsingEnglish.com

Hopping mad

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:42:43 +0100

If you're hopping mad, you are extremely angry.

Cute as a button

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:34:25 +0100

If someone's as cute as a button, they are very attractive.

So what

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:06 +0100

Impolite reply showing that the speaker is not impressed by what has been said. ex: So what? Why should I care?

No peace for the wicked

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:34:10 +0100

Bad people will not be at ease or will be tormented.
('No rest for the wicked' is also used.)

No rest for the wicked

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:31:22 +0100

Bad people will not be at ease or will be tormented.
('No peace for the wicked' is also used.)

Hit home

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:20:55 +0100

If something hits home, it is understood completely and has a strong effect as people accept it even though it is negative.

Kill with kindness

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:10:56 +0100

If you kill someone with kindness, you are very kind, possibly excessively kind, to them.

Sweat bullets

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:48:07 +0100

If someone is sweating bullets, they're very worried or frightened.

Good-for-nothing

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:26:43 +0100

A lazy person who doesn't do anything useful is a good-for-nothing.

A light purse is a heavy curse

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:25:23 +0100

Life is difficult when you don't have much money.

There's no accounting for taste

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:42:43 +0100

You cannot explain people's preferences and likes or dislikes.

Make tracks

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:44:08 +0100

To leave a place to go somewhere. Referring to the tracks one would make in the snow or mud in the course of a journey.

Jump ship

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:41:25 +0100

If you leave a company or institution for another because it is doing badly, you are jumping ship.

Brevity is the soul of wit

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:28:34 +0100

The best way to communicate intelligently is to be concise and not to use unnecessary words.

Bread and circuses

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:24:25 +0100

Activites that entertain people and distract them from problems to keep them from complaining or protesting are bread and circuses.

Boys will be boys

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:21:33 +0100

Boys will be boys means that boys, or men, will behave in certain ways, often noisily or irresponsibily.

Not my brother's keeper

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:13:04 +0100

If you say that you are not your brother's keeper, it means that you are not responsible for someone or what happens to them as a consequence of their actions.

Buck stops here

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:11:19 +0100

The buck stops here is used to say that this is the point where responsibility lies or the person who is responsible.

On the double

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:38:34 +0100

If someone tells you to do something on the double, they want you to do it immediately and quickly.

Before you can say knife

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:40:26 +0100

If something happens before you can say knife, it happens very quickly.