Meaning:
1-hitter 
n.
a game in which a pitcher allows the opposing team only one hit
ER Idiom, Proverb
a barnburner
an exciting game, a cliff-hanger When the Flames play the Oilers it's a barnburner - a great game.
a bee in her bonnet
upset, a bit angry, on edge Aunt Betsy was kind of cranky, like she had a bee in her bonnet.
a bitter pill
a negative event, a loss, a painful experience Divorce is a bitter pill for her. She believed in her marriage.
a bummer
an unfortunate event, bad luck, too bad """Somebody broke a window in his car and stole his stereo."" ""That's a bummer."""
a bundle of nerves
"a very nervous person; uptight person" May has so many problems - she's just a bundle of nerves.
a chicken in every pot
enough food for every family No one will be hungry if there's a chicken in every pot.
a cliff-hanger
a game that is close until the end, a barnburner Every election in this town is a real cliff-hanger - a close race.
a clutch hitter (baseball)
a batter who hits when runners are on base Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with runners on base.
a dead ringer
a very close likeness, like a twin Chad is a dead ringer for Mel Gibson. They look like twins.
a different kettle of fish
different, not the same A cult is not a religion. A cult is a different kettle of fish entirely.
a downer (drug)
a drug that relaxes you, a sedative Before bedtime he took a downer to help him relax and sleep.
a downer (sadness)
an event or statement that causes sadness News of the war was a downer. Most of the people dreadedwar.
a feather in your cap
an honor, a credit to you, chalk one up for you Because you are Karen's teacher, her award is a feather in your cap.
a go-getter
an aggressive employee, a hard worker, gung ho What a go-getter! He finished the course a month before the others.
a goner
something that is lost or beyond help I thought he was a goner, but the cat came back. He's home.
a grandfather clause
a written statement that protects a senior worker They can't demote him because he has a grandfather clause.
a horse of a different color
a different matter, a separate issue If he wants to buy the land, that's a horse of a different color.
a hot number
a couple (or topic) that everyone is talking about Paul and Rita are a hot number now. They're in love.
a humdinger
a beautiful car etc. a well-designed product Dad, you should see this coupe. It's a humdinger!
a keeper
something you want to keep for a long time """Do you like my leather jacket?"" ""Ya, man. It's a keeper!"""
a lady-killer
"handsome man; a man who charms the ladies; hunk" """Liam Neeson! He's gorgeous!"" she said. ""What a lady-killer!"""
a lot of falderal
a lot of foolish talk, a lot of bunk When you hear me speak Latin, you'll think it's a lot of falderal.
a nail-biter
"exciting game or movie; having much suspense" Have you seen the movie The Fugitive? It's a nail-biter.
a paper trail
a series of memos or letters that record events A business merger leaves a long paper trail - many documents.
a pat answer
a planned or memorized answer, a canned answer You won't get the job if you give a pat answer to every question.
a penny pincher
a person who spends carefully, a thrifty person He used to be a penny pincher, but now he spends freely.
a perfect stranger
a person you have never seen, a total stranger In New York, a perfect stranger asked her to sleep with him.
a poker face
"a face with no expression; showing no emotion" Judge Brady has a poker face. He doesn't show his emotions.
a real go-getter
a (very) ambitious, hard-working person.
a red-letter day
a special day, a memorable day This is going to be a red-letter day. I found my lost keys!
a sack of hammers
a dead weight, a heavy object Don't throw me in the lake! I'll sink like a sack of hammers!
a shadow of his former self
much lighter than he was before, very thin and weak After twenty years in prison, he was a shadow of his former self.
a silver spoon...
(See born with a silver spoon in his mouth)
a slippery slope
a path that leads to problems, a risky plan Nationalism is a slippery slope. It often leads to racism.
a stiff upper lip
(See keep a stiff upper lip)
a sucker for punishment
one who allows himself to be hurt or blamed If I accept blame for a team loss, I'm a sucker for punishment.
a three-bagger
a person who needs three bags over his head because he looks so scary """What did he look like?"" ""He was at least a three-bagger. He also needed a bath."""
a three-bagger (baseball)
a hit that allows the batter to run to third base Molitor hit a three-bagger in the sixth game of the World Series.
a total stranger
one you have never seen, a perfect stranger """Can I give you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a total stranger."""
a tower of strength
a person who helps you during a crisis, a brick When my parents were killed in an accident, Harry was a tower of strength to me.
a yawner
a boring event, a book etc. that is not interesting I went to the movie, but it was a yawner so I left.
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.
actions speak louder than words
people judge by actions more than words, practice what you preach Parents should remember that actions speak louder than words. Kids imitate their parents.
after all
after you consider all the facts, to be fair Will you help me with English? After all, I helped you with math.
after one
well-liked for agreeing with one
all over but the shouting
(See it's all over but the shouting)
all over hell's half acre
all over the place, everywhere I left the gate open, and the cows are all over hell's half acre.
American as apple pie
(See as American as apple pie)
an eager beaver
a person who is always willing to volunteer or do extra work.
an offer I couldn't refuse
an offer that contains a threat or force, a request that is a command The border guards invited me to stay for further questioning - it was an offer I couldn't refuse.
An ER idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with ER, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb ER