AR Idiom
a babe in arms
a baby, a child who is still wet behind the ears Dar was just a babe in arms when we emigrated to Canada.
a ball-park figure
"a number that is near the total; approximate figure" Fifty is a ball-park figure. It's close to our class size.
a bar fly
a person who often goes to bars or lounges Every evening Penny goes to Lucifer's. She's quite a bar fly.
a bar star
a girl who goes to bars to drink and find friends Lola was known as a bar star at Pinky's Lounge.
a bare-faced lie
a deliberate lie, a planned lie His statement to the police was false - a bare-faced lie.
a barnburner
an exciting game, a cliff-hanger When the Flames play the Oilers it's a barnburner - a great game.
a barrel of laughs
a lot of fun, a person who makes you laugh Let's invite Chang to our party. He's a barrel of laughs.
a black mark
a mark beside your name means you are bad If you cause an accident, you get a black mark beside your name.
a blackout (war)
a policy that requires lights to be turned off Blackouts prevented bombers from seeing their targets at night.
a bunch of malarkey
an untrue story, a lot of bunk, bull """Do you believe what the psychic said about your future?"" ""No. It's a bunch of malarkey."""
a card
(See such a card)
a far cry
not similar, very different This is good sherry, but it's a far cry from the amontillado.
a faraway look
the eyes show thoughts of a distant place or friend When I mention horses, you get a faraway look in your eyes.
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 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 full house (cards)
a pair plus three of a kind, e.g., 2 kings and 3 aces In our last game of poker, you dealt me a full house.
a good arm
the ability to throw a baseball or football Doug is short, but he has a good arm. He's an excellent passer.
a hard day
a day full of hard work, put in a hard day You look tired, Dear. Did you have a hard day at the office?
a hard-on
an erect penis, a hard penis When our dog gets a hard-on, he tries to crawl up my leg.
a hard row to hoe
a difficult task, many problems A single parent has a hard row to hoe, working day and night.
a hard time
teasing or bugging, a bad time Ken will give you a hard time about missing that free throw.
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 howling blizzard
a very bad snowstorm, a winter storm A howling blizzard delayed us. It was snowing and blowing.
a marked man
a person known for political beliefs or criminal acts When they discovered I had been a Nazi, I was a marked man.
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 regular guy
an average man, a good guy David? Well, he's honest and easy to live with - a regular guy.
a sharp tongue
a tendency to reply sharply or sarcastically Karly is a beautiful girl, but her sharp tongue may be a problem.
a sharp wit
an ability to say funny things at the right time Mr. Mills is 85, but he still has a sharp wit. His mind is quick.
a shot in the arm
energy, encouragement, a lift Billy Graham's sermon was inspiring - a shot in the arm.
a shot in the dark
a wild guess, a try, hazard a guess His answer was incorrect. It was a shot in the dark.
above board
legal, not hidden, not under the table, not underhanded Every action, every payment is above board. Customers respect that kind of honesty.
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.
across the board
affecting all people, applies to everything We want a salary increase across the board - for all positions.
all ears
listening carefully, trying to hear everything When Dad mentioned hunting, I was all ears. I loved to hunt.
all his marbles
normal, sensible Dan talks to the door. I wonder if he's got all his marbles.
all's fair in love and war
there are no rules to guide you in love or war, that's life When your girlfriend leaves you for your best friend, remember, All's fair in love and war.
all the marbles
all the money, the top prize How does it feel to be playing in the final - for all the marbles?
an arm and a leg
(cost) a large amount of money His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
an earful
a lecture, a scolding, a bawling out If Mom catches you smoking, you'll get an earful.
an easy mark
one who can easily be persuaded, a soft touch Ask Charlie for a loan. He's an easy mark.
an old warhorse
a veteran, an old soldier, a classic story or tune The band played marches and overtures - the old warhorses.
angels fear to tread
(See where angels fear to tread)
arm and a leg
pay a very high price for something that isn't worth it My father paid an arm and a leg for his car but he really enjoys driving it.
armed to the teeth
fully armed, having many weapons The robbers were armed to the teeth when they robbed the bank.
around the bend
crazy or insane, off your rocker If I had to listen to that noise all the time, I'd go around the bend.
around the clock
twenty-four hours, 'round the clock Julie worked around the clock to finish her sewing project.
as far as
to the extent or degree that As far as I know he will be here in a few minutes.
as far as I know
based on my knowledge, to the best of my... As far as I know, the company will pay your travel expenses.
