American Idioms A-E

American Idioms

A

About time:
Nearly time, high time. ex. "It's about time you bought a new car!"
Absence makes the heart grow fonder:
Proverb that means that our feeling for those we love increases when we are apart from them.
(To) act high and mighty:
To act proudly and arrogantly. ex. "He has been acting all high and mighty ever since he chased away that burglar."
Actions speak louder than words:
Proverb meaning that's it's better to do something about a problem than to talk about it.
(To) act one's age:
To behave in a more mature way. Frequently said to a child or teen. ex. "Bill, stop throwing rocks! Act your age!"
(To) add fuel to the fire:
To make a bad problem even worse. ex. "He added fuel to the fire by bringing up old grudges while they were arguing."
(To) add insult to injury:
To make a bad situation even worse.
Against the clock:
To attempt to do something "against the clock" is to attempt to do something as fast as possible, usually in order to make a deadline. ex. "They were working against the clock to finish the project."

B 

To) be a fan of someone/ something:
To like, idolize, admire someone/ or something. ex. "I'm not a big fan of heavy metal music."

(To) be in one's element:
To be completely comfortable doing something; to do something that comes very naturally to someone. ex. "When it comes to speaking in public, the Senator is in his element."

(To) be up to no good:
To be planning something bad, mischievous, etc. ex. "I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was up to no good."

(To) beat around the bush:
To avoid getting to the point. ex. "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think."

(To) beg to differ:
A polite way of saying "to disagree", most often heard in the phrase "I beg to differ!"

Behind (someone)
In the past. ex. "I used to smoke, drink, and take drugs, but all that is behind me now."

Believe it or not:
Used at the beginning sentence to state that something is true whether one chooses to believe it or not. ex. "Believe it or not, I still care for her." 

Big fish in a little sea:
A person who's famous/ well-known but only in an unimportant place (city or area).

(To have a) big mouth:
To not be able to keep a secret. ex. "Don't tell her anything. She's got a really big mouth."

Big-shot (noun/adjective):
An important person. ex. "All the big-shots at headquarters never listen to what we have to say."; "A big-shot reporter." 

C

 

(To) call it a day:
To end work and go home. ex. "Let's call it a day. It's getting late."

(To) carry a tune:
To be able to sing on key (accurately). ex. "She has an awful voice! She can't carry a tune."

(To) cash in on something:
To profit from something. ex. "The actor wanted to cash in on his popularity by opening a restaurant."

(A) catch:
When talking about wives, husbands, girlfriends, etc., people sometimes say "He's quite a catch" or "She's quite a catch", which means that the person in question is a great partner, or that it's good to be in a relationship with him/her (usually because of his/her personality, money, or looks).

(To) catch someone's eye:
To get someone's attention through eye contact.

(A) cheap drunk:
Also knows as "a cheap date". A person who becomes drunk after only one or two drinks. ex. "Victor had one gin and tonic and was already slurring - what a cheap drunk!"
 

D

To) drive someone crazy:
To make someone very agitated, upset, or emotional (either in a good or bad way).ex. "That teacher is so awful! He drives me crazy with his attitude."

(To) drop it:
To stop talking about something. ex. "I told you to drop it! I don't want to talk about it."

(To) drown one's sorrows:
To get/ become drunk. ex. "Drowning your sorrows won't solve anything."

(To) drop the ball:
To make a mistake. (WARNING: This idiom is overused in the business world). ex. "So it was John's fault? Yes, John really dropped the ball on this one."

(A) dream come true:
A great thing; a dream or wish that has become reality. ex. "Living in California is like a dream come true."

Down in the dumps:
Sad. Depressed. 

E

As) easy as pie:
Very easy.

Easy come, easy go:
PROVERB. Said to explain the loss of something that was very easily obtained in the first place.

Easy-going:
Tolerant; laid-back; relaxed. ex. "Bill is one the most easy-going guys that I know. He never gets upset about anything."

(To) eat one's heart out:
To be envious or jealous (used mostly as a command). ex. "Eat your heart out Frank, I'm going to Paris!"

(To) eat out of someone's hands:
To do whatever someone else wants. ex. "James would do anything for Vicky. She had him eating out of her hands."

(To) eat one's words:
To admit that what one said was wrong. ex. "You think I won't be able to find work in one week? I'm going to make you eat your words."

Elbow room:
Enough space (room) to feel comfortable.
 
Source : http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/americanidioms/lefgidioms_e.html