RT Idiom
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
having one is better than seeing many When searching for a better job, remember A bird in the hand... .
a brick short
(See one brick short of a full load)
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant event A letter to the editor of a paper is like a fart in a windstorm.
a few bricks short of a full load
not sensible or logical, not all there When Moe began eating bugs, we knew he was a few bricks short.
a fool and his money are soon parted
"a fool will spend all his money quickly; easy come, easy go" After he had spent his fortune, he remembered this saying: A fool and his money are soon parted.
a fresh start
starting again, a new life In Canada, you will have a fresh start. You can begin a new life.
a golden opportunity
a good chance to succeed, a good investment The Royal Hotel is for sale. What a golden opportunity!
a good sport
a person who is fair and friendly What a good sport! You never complain, even when you lose.
a head start
a chance to start ahead of the other runners etc. Give the smallest runner a head start. He can't run very fast.
a necktie party
a hanging, a lynching If the men catch the outlaw, they want to have a necktie party.
a party to that
a person who helps to do something bad Jane said she didn't want to be a party to computer theft.
a picture is worth a thousand words
a picture is easier to understand than a report or essay Instead of more talk, I'll draw thousand words a diagram. A picture is worth a thousand words.
a short one
a small drink, a small amount of liquor """Can I pour you a drink?"" ""Yes. A short one, please."""
a window of opportunity
an opportunity, a chance, a golden opportunity Sometimes a problem is actually a window of opportunity.
absence makes the heart grow fonder
when friends are apart they like each other more When she's away I'm very lonely. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
prevent a problem so you don't have to solve it, a stitch in time... Forest fires deserve an ounce of prevention: public education in campfire safety.
at heart
with feeling for you, with you in mind Believe me, she has your needs at heart. She cares about you.
at liberty
free to speak or act, allowed to speak Are you at liberty to tell us who won? Can you tell us?
at your fingertips
easy to find, ready to use When I repair a car, I like to have all my tools at my fingertips.
ball is in someone's court
be someone else's move or turn The ball was in the union's court after the company made their final offer.
ball's in your court
(See the ball's in your court)
below the poverty line
not earning enough to survive, very poor, as poor as a church mouse If husband and wife are earning minimum wage, they're living below the poverty line.
best interests at heart
thinking of a person's needs, in mind When I give low grades, I still have your best interests at heart.
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
one shouldn
birthday suit
completely naked, no clothes on The little boy was running down the street in his birthday suit.
bleeding heart
one who begs for sympathy for victims, have a soft spot... "Hector is a bleeding heart for wolves. ""Save the wolves,"" he tells people in his speeches."
blow it out of proportion
exaggerate it, make it bigger than it should be When Gretzky was traded, the media blew it out of proportion.
blurt out
say without thinking, reply quickly """I did it!"" the boy blurted out, and he began to cry."
break someone's heart
make someone feel very disappointed/discouraged/sad.
break your heart
cause you to feel very sad and lonely Marilyn broke my heart. She left me for a younger man.
bring home the importance of something to someone
make someone fully realize something He was unable to bring home the importance of arriving early for the meeting.
bring you up short
cause you to stop and think, rebuke you When I began to criticize Jan, Mother brought me up short.
by fits and starts
irregularly, with many stops and starts By fits and starts the company was finally able to begin business.
by heart
memorized every word, down pat Eva knew the speech by heart. She didn't look at her notes.
cart before the horse
(See the cart before the horse)
caught short
not have enough money when you need it I was caught short and had to borrow some money from my father last week.
change of heart
a change in the way one feels about something I had a change of heart about not going to Europe for my holiday and finally decided to go.
cold comfort
small comfort, very little relief Having Jim's money is cold comfort for his wife if he dies.
come down to earth
be realistic, get your head out of the clouds If she'd come down to earth, if she'd stop dreaming about fame, she could pass her exams.
courtesy of
from, given by, donated by The doughnuts are courtesy of Harry's Bakery.
crash a party
go to a party uninvited, horn in Bo and his friends crashed our party. They came uninvited.
cross my heart and hope to die
promise sincerely I'll pay you back on Friday, cross my heart and hope to die.
cry her heart out
cry a lot, sob, cry your eyes out Poor girl! She's crying her heart out because he hasn't called her.
curtains
the end, the death, the last of If we clearcut Canada's forests, it's curtains for the lumber industry.
dead certain
very certain, very sure, positive He's dead certain that Ming is the man who talked to him.
dirt cheap
very cheap, not expensive Cherries are dirt cheap in B.C. during the summer.
dirt file
record of failures and bad actions Every time we have a fight, you haul out my dirt file.
dirties
(See dirty laundry)
dirty dog/dirty rat
immoral person, liar, scum, slimebucket You dirty rat! You stole my truck and used my credit card!
dirty laundry
personal problems, mistakes, scandals I don't want the public to see my dirty laundry - my worst moves.
