N A イディオム
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 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 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 pig in a poke
a risk, a gamble, taking a chance (see take a chance) If you don't test drive the car, you're buying a pig in a poke.
a tempest in a teapot
a lot of excitement about a small problem The argument was over quickly. It was a tempest in a teapot.
all in a day's work
not extra work, just part of my duties "She said, ""Thanks for the help."" ""All in a day's work,"" he replied."
all in all
in summary, after considering everything We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful.
American as apple pie
(See as American as apple pie)
an ace up your sleeve
an important card to play, an important fact to reveal To survive, one needs an ace up one's sleeve - a special talent.
an airhead
a person who talks without thinking, a fool Sally is such an airhead. She said that chicklets are baby chickens.
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
eat one apple each day for good health "Mom gave me an apple, saying, ""An apple a day... ."""
an arm and a leg
(cost) a large amount of money His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
an attitude
a negative attitude, a poor outlook If you don't do your work, they will think you have an attitude.
an axe to grind
a point to discuss or argue about Jason had an axe to grind at the meeting - job security.
as American as apple pie
very American, like an American custom Jeans and T-shirts are American, as American as apple pie!
as clean as a whistle
without any dirt or marks, smooth and clean The hen squeezed, and out popped an egg as clean as a whistle.
as useless as tits on a boar
not useful, not necessary, having no function Our toenails are useless - as useless as tits on a boar.
babe in arms
(See a babe in arms)
be in and out
be at and away from a place during a particular time.
been around
experienced, not naive, wasn't born yesterday "Margo's been around; she can work with the convicts."
bet on a lame rooster
bet on a loser, fall for that If you vote for that guy, you're betting on a lame rooster.
better than a kick in the ass
better than punishment, not as bad as it could be, don't knock it "When I told him we had won $10 in the Lotto, he said, ""It's better than a kick in the ass."""
between a rock and a hard place
in a difficult position, making a difficult choice, Sophie's choice If I told the truth, I would lose my friend. I was between a rock and a hard place.
big fish in a small pond
an important person in a small place He wasn
break out in a rash
have a rash appear on your skin When the temperature goes over 30
bull in a China shop
(See a bull in a China shop)
burn a hole in one
money that you want to spend quickly I just got paid today and this money is burning a hole in my pocket.
burn a hole in your pocket
feel that you have to spend your money If money burns a hole in your pocket, invest it.
buy a pig in a poke
buy something without seeing it or knowing if it will be satisfactory You shouldn
coin a phrase
(See to coin a phrase)
cost an arm and a leg
cost a lot of money, is very expensive That fur jacket must have cost her an arm and a leg.
cost (someone) an arm and a leg
" cost a lot; be very expensive."
darken a church door
attend church, go to a church service He never darkens a church door except to attend funerals.
day in and day out
regularly, all the time He goes to that restaurant day in and day out and never gets tired of it.
down a peg
(See take him down a peg)
down and dirty
not polite, rude, vulgar The next song is down and dirty. It's called Snake's Pad.
down and out
poor and unlucky, bumming and boozing When he was down and out, he went to the Salvation Army.
even a blind pig can find an acorn
if you keep looking and trying you may succeed
fart in a windstorm
(See a fart in a windstorm)
fun and games
a good time, a lot of fun """How was the office party?"" ""Oh, fun and games!"""
get your shirt in a knot/ get your shit in a knot
want to hurry or rush, hurry up "If we asked Pop to hurry, he'd say, ""Don't get your shirt in a knot!"""
give an arm and a leg
give a lot, pay a lot, give my eye teeth She'd give an arm and a leg to have her baby back.
go jump in a lake
go away and quit bothering someone She asked me to borrow some money but I told her to go jump in a lake because she never paid me back before.
go on about
talk steadily, ramble, run off at the mouth """What was he saying?"" ""Oh, he was going on about taxes and the price of wheat."""
go out on a limb
promise too much, risk, take a chance Don't go out on a limb. Don't say the company will pay for it.
go to hell in a handbasket
go to hell feeling peaceful or unconcerned, ignorance is bliss We don't get involved in issues. We're wasting our lives and going to hell in a handbasket!
golden age
best years, time of most prosperity He said the decade after World War II was Canada's golden age.
hand something to someone on a silver platter
give a person something that has not been earned He was handed a great job on a silver platter and never had to make any effort at all.
hand to someone on a silver platter
give a person something that has not been earned His education was handed to him on a silver platter and now he is very spoiled and selfish.
have an affair
see a lover who is not your spouse, fool around """Liz is having another affair."" ""Who is she seeing? Bart?"""
