L Idioma
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 bare-faced lie
a deliberate lie, a planned lie His statement to the police was false - a bare-faced lie.
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 bawling out
a scolding, a lecture, an earful, catch it When I forgot to do my chores Dad gave me a bawling out.
a big wheel
a person with power, a big shot Bing has been acting like a big wheel since he got promoted.
a bit off/a bit mental
not rational, unbalanced, one brick short Kate talks to the birds. Do you think she's a bit off?
a bitter pill
a negative event, a loss, a painful experience Divorce is a bitter pill for her. She believed in her marriage.
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 (TV)
refusal to broadcast an event during that event A blackout is intended to encourage fans to attend an event.
a blackout (war)
a policy that requires lights to be turned off Blackouts prevented bombers from seeing their targets at night.
a blank look
eyes show that a person does not understand, the lights are on but... When I called her name, she gave me a blank look, as though she didn't know me.
a blast
a great time, a lot of fun The students were having a blast until the teacher walked in.
a blessing in disguise
a problem that becomes a benefit or advantage The rainstorm was a blessing in disguise. It stopped the fire.
a blow job
giving oral sex to a man, fellatio If you want a blow job, you'll have to shower first.
a blowout
to win by a large score, no contest """Did the Flames win?"" ""Ya, 11-2. It was a blowout."""
a bull in a China shop
"a big, reckless person in a room full of fragile things; cramp your style" Imagine a 300-pound football player at a tea party, and you have a bull in a China shop.
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 bundle of nerves
"a very nervous person; uptight person" May has so many problems - she's just a bundle of nerves.
a chip off the old block
a boy who is like his dad, the apple doesn't... Eric is a chip off the old block. He's just like his dad.
a clean bill of health
a good report from the doctor, a good checkup You'll never get a clean bill of health if you eat fat meat!
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 close call
close to danger or an accident That was a close call. The train nearly hit the bus!
a close shave
very close to serious injury or death The old man described his fight with the bear as a close shave.
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 loss
a complete loss, a write-off (see write it off) The spoiled meat was a dead loss. We couldn't eat any of it.
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 dildo
a manufactured penis, a vibrator shaped like a penis """When Ed's away I use a dildo."""
a dog's life
a poor life, hard times Without a job, it's a dog's life.
a double-edged sword
a device that can help you and hurt you Truth is a double-edged sword. It can imprison me or set me free.
a falling out
a disagreement, a break in friendship Guy and Jean had a falling out. They argued about religion.
a false move
a wrong move, a threatening action "A man with a gun said, ""If you make a false move, you're dead."""
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 fat lip
a hit on the lip, an injured lip Stop bothering her or I'll give you a fat lip. I'll hit you.
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 fifth wheel
a useless object, an unnecessary device The team already had two guards, so I felt like a fifth wheel.
a fill-up
a full tank of gasoline, fill her up We got a fill-up before we left Winnipeg. The truck needed gas.
a fine line
a close relationship, not much difference Sometimes there is a fine line between love and lust.
a flash in the pan
a person who does superior work at first I'm looking for a steady worker, not a flash in the pan.
a fleeting glance
a very brief look, a quick glance A fleeting glance from Marilyn would make his heart beat wildly.
a fly on the wall
able to hear and see what a fly would see and hear I'd like to be a fly on the wall in the Judge's chambers.
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 foregone conclusion
a certain conclusion, a predictable result That he'll graduate is a foregone conclusion. He is a good student.
a free-for-all
a fight without rules, Donnybrook There was a free-for-all after the dance, and Brendan got hurt.
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 full plate
a busy schedule, a lot to do Nancy has a full plate these days. She has two jobs and three kids.
a gaggle of geese
a flock of geese, a bunch of geese A gaggle of geese met us as we drove into the farmyard.
a glow on
slightly drunk, tipsy, catch a buzz When Myrna gets a glow on, she likes to dance real close.
a golden opportunity
a good chance to succeed, a good investment The Royal Hotel is for sale. What a golden opportunity!
a grain of salt
(See take it with a grain of salt)
