Kampung Inggris Bandung E-PLC – Idioms adalah frasa kiasan untuk menggambarkan sesuatu dengan lebih ringkas tanpa menjabarkannya secara jelas menggunakan kata-kata cukup menggunakan satu frasa idioms saja. Dalam bahasa Inggris, banyak sekali idioms yang bisa digunakan dan perlu kita ketahui ketika sedang mempelajari bahasa Inggris. Mari kita lihat satu persatu idioms dari A-Z berikut ini.
Idioms (A)
A Bit Much: More than is reasonable; a bit too much
A Bite at The Cherry: A good opportunity that isn’t available to everyone
A Busy Bee: A busy, active person who moves quickly from task to task.
A Cat Has Nine Lives: Cats seem to get away with dangerous things
A Cat in Gloves Catches No Mice: You can’t get what you need if you’re too careful.
A Cat Nap: A short sleep during the day
A Cold Day In July: (Something that) will never happen
A Cold Fish: Someone who is not often moved by emotions, who is regarded as being hard and unfeeling.
A Cut Above: Slightly better than
A Cut Below: Inferior to; somewhat lower in quality than
A Day Late And A Dollar Short: Too delayed and insignificant to have much effect
A Dog in The Manger: A person who selfishly prevent others from using, enjoying or profiting from something even though he/ she cannot use or enjoy it himself.
A Few Sandwiches Short Of A Picnic: Abnormally stupid, not really sane
A Good Deal: To a large extent, a lot
A Great Deal: To a very large extent
A Guinea Pig: Someone who is part of an experiment or trial
A Hair’s Breadth: A very small distance or amount
A Home Bird: Somebody who prefers to spend his social and free time at home.
A Hundred And Ten Percent: More than what seems to be the maximum
A Lame Duck: A person or enterprise (often a business) that is not a success and that has to be helped.
A Leg Up: An advantage, a boost
A Lemon: A vehicle that does not work properly
A Life Of Its Own: An independent existence
A Little Bird Told Me: I don’t wish to divulge where I got the information
A Little Bird Told Me: I got this information from a source I cannot reveal.
A Little from Column A, a Little from Column B: A course of action drawing on several different ideas or possibilities
A Lone Wolf: Someone who is not very social with other people
A Lot on One’s Plate: A lot to do
A Million and One: Very many
A Notch Above: Superior to; higher in quality
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: A visual presentation can communicate something very effectively
Idioms (B)
Babe In The Woods: An innocent, naive person
Babe Magnet: A man to whom women are attracted
Baby Blues: Blue eyes.
Baby Boomer: A person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate
Babysitter Test: An evaluation of the ease of use of household appliances, especially remote control devices
Back And Forth: Dialogue, negotiations
Back At You: Same to you (used to return a greeting or insult)
Back Burner (On The): Not urgent; set aside until later
Back Forty: Remote, inaccessible land
Back in the Day: Formerly, when I was younger, in earlier times
Back Of Beyond: A remote location
Back Office: Support services for a business
Back to the Drawing Board: Forced to begin something again
Back to the Salt Mine(s): We have to go back to work.
Back to the Salt Mines: It’s time for me (us) to go back to work
Back the Wrong Horse: To support the losing side
Backing and Filling: Delaying a decision by making small changes or arguing about small details
Backseat Driver: A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver is called a backseat driver.
Backseat Driver: Someone who likes to give (often annoying) advice to the driver of a car, or the leader of some other enterprise
Bad Apple: A discontented, trouble making, or dishonest person
Bad Blood: Enmity or hatred that stems from something in the past
Bad Egg: Someone who is not to be trusted
Bad Taste In One’s Mouth: Unease, a feeling that something unspecified is wrong in a situation
Bag of Tricks: A set of methods or resources
Bail Out: To rescue someone from a bad situation, to shield someone from the consequences of his or her actions
Bar Fly (or Barfly): Someone who spends much of his or her time in bars
Bare One’s Heart (Soul): To confess one’s deepest secrets
Bark Up the Wrong Tree: Pursue a mistaken approach or belief; be wrong in a course of action
Big Apple: An informal name for New York City
Big Brother: Government, viewed as an intrusive force in the lives of citizens; government spying
Idioms (C)
Call a Spade a Spade: To speak frankly and directly about a problem
Call It a Day: Decide that one has worked enough on something for the day
Call It a Night: End an evening’s activities and go home
Call the Shots: Make the important decisions in an organization
Call the Tune: Making important decisions and controlling a situation.
Can’t See the Forest for the Trees: Is unable to maintain a wider perspective
Can’t Swing A Dead Cat In (Place): Without Hitting A (Thing) There are many examples of [thing] in this [place].
Carrot-and-Stick (Approach): A tactic in which rewards are offered, but there is also the threat of punishment
Carry a Torch (for): To continue to be in love with someone even after a relationship has ended
Carry Coals To Newcastle: Supply something that is unneeded; engage in useless labor
Carry the Can: To take the blame for something one did not do
Cash In One’s Chips: 1. To take advantage of a quick profit 2. To die
Cash-Strapped: In need of money
Cast the First Stone: To be the first to criticize or attack someone
Castle in the Air: An impractical plan
Cat Fight: A fight between two women
Cat Got Your Tongue?: Don’t you have anything to say?
Cat on a hot tin roof: Be extremely nervous
Cat-and-Mouse (adj.): In a toying way; playful in an unpleasant way
Catch One’s Death of Cold: To become very ill (with a cold/flu etc.)
Catch Some Rays: To sit or lie outside in the sun
Catch Someone’s Eye: Attract someone’s attention
Catch-22: A difficult situation from which there is no escape because options for avoiding it involve contradictions
Cat’s Paw: A person being used by someone else, a tool
Caught Red-Handed: Apprehended while committing a crime
Circle the Wagons: To prepare as a group to defend against attack, adopt a defensive posture
Claim to Fame: Unusual feature or offering
Clean Up Nicely: Look good when one is dressed up. Usually said of women
Clear the Air: Defuse tension, be honest about conflict so as to reduce it
Clip Someone’s Wings: Reduce someone’s privileges or freedom
Close, But No Cigar: You are very close but not quite correct.
Cock and Bull Story: A far-fetched story, probably untrue
Cock-A-Hoop: Elated, excited
Cold Day in Hell: A condition for something that would be extremely unlikely to occur
Come By Something Honestly: Acquire something honestly, or inherit it
Come Clean: To confess; to admit to wrongdoing
Come Hell or High Water: No matter what happens
Come Out in the Wash: To be resolved with no lasting negative effect
Come Out of the Closet: Reveal a secret about oneself, usually that one is gay (homosexual)
Idioms (D)
Da Man (Slang): An accomplished or skillful person. Generally used in the compliment “”You da man!””
Dance to Someone’s Tune: Consistently follow someone’s directions or influence
Dance with the Devil: Knowingly do something immoral
Dark Horse: A surprise candidate or competitor, especially one who comes from behind to make a strong showing
Darken Someone’s Door (Step): Make an unwanted visit to someone’s home
Dead Ahead: Directly ahead, either in a literal or a figurative sense
Dead as the Dodo: Completely extinct; totally gone
Dead Eye: A good shooter, a good marksman
Dead Heat: An exact tie in a race or competition
Dead of Winter: The coldest, darkest part of winter
Dead ringer: Very similar in appearance
Dead Run: Running as fast as possible
Dead Shot: A good shooter, a good marksman
Deep Pockets: The new owner has deep pockets, so fans are hoping the football team will improve next year with new players
Deliver the Goods: Provide what is expected
Devil’s Advocate: Someone who argues a point not out of conviction, but in order to air various points of view
Dirty Look: A facial manner that signifies disapproval
Do 12-Ounce Curls: Drink beer
Dodge a Bullet: To narrowly escape disaster
Doesn’t Amount to a Hill of Beans: Is unimportant, is negligible
Dog Days of the Summer: The hottest day of summer
Dog in the Manger: A person who prevents others from using something, even though the person himself or herself does not want it
Dog-and-Pony Show: A flashy presentation, often in a marketing context
Dog-Eat-Dog: Intensely competitive
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover: Don’t be deceived by looks; don’t rely on looks when judging someone or something
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk: Don’t worry about minor things.
Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth: Do not question the value of a gift. The expression comes from the practice of determining the age and health of a horse by looking at its teeth.
Idioms (E)
Eager beaver: The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
Eagle-Eyed: Having sharp vision
Early Bird [noun or adjective]: Someone who does something prior to the usual time, or someone who gets up early.
Eat Crow: To admit one was wrong, and accept humiliation
Eat Humble Pie: To admit defeat or error, to accept humiliation
Eat Someone’s Lunch: Defeat someone thoroughly
Eat Your Heart Out!: (excl.) Go ahead, be jealous.
Eighty-Six (v.): 1) Discard, eliminate. 2) Throw someone out of a bar or store.
Elephant in the Room: A major problem that no one is talking about
Elevator Music: Pleasant but boring recorded music that is played in public places.
Elevator Pitch: A brief presentation of an idea, one short enough to be delivered in an elevator
Eleventh Hour: The last minute
Even Steven: Owing nothing; tied (in a game)
Every Dog Has His (Its): Day Everyone has a moment of fame, power, or influence
Every Man and His Dog: Many people
Every Man for Himself: Pursue your own interests; don’t expect help from others.
Excused Boots: Allowed to avoid mandatory tasks
Idioms (F)
Face the Music: Dealing with consequences of one’s actions
Face the Music: To accept judgment or punishment
Fall for Something: Hook, Line, and Sinker To be completely deceived
Fall in Love with Somebody: Start feeling love towards somebody
Fall Off the Wagon: To begin using alcohol (or another problem substance) after quitting
Fall on One’s Sword: To accept blame; to sacrifice oneself
Fall Prey to: Be victimized by; be harmed by; be vulnerable to
Fancy Someone (British English): To find someone very attractive
Farther (On) Down the Road: Later, at some unspecified time
Farther (On) Down the Road: Later, at some unspecified time
Fashion-Forward: Tending to adopt new styles quickly
Fat Cat: A highly placed, well-paid executive
Father Figure: A mentor, a person who offers guidance
Feast Your Eyes On: To take great pleasure in looking at someone or something
Feather in One’s Cap: An achievement for which one is recognized; a noteworthy achievement
Feather One’s (Own) Nest: Use one’s influence or power improperly for financial gain
Feather One’s Nest: To take advantage of one’s position to benefit oneself
Fed Up With: Refusing to tolerate something any further; out of patience
Feel Like a Million Dollars: To feel great, to feel well and healthy.
Feel On Top of The World: To feel very healthy
Fell off a Truck: Probably stolen or illicitly obtained; said of something offered for sale to avoid discussing its origins
Fell off the Back of a Lorry: Probably stolen or illicitly obtained; said of something offered for sale to avoid discussing its origins
Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Temporary renown
Fifth Wheel: A superfluous person
Idioms (G)
Game of Chicken: A conflict situation in which neither side will back down for fear of seeming cowardly (chicken)
Get A Charley Horse: To develop a cramp in the arm or the leg
Get A Word In Edgewise: Be able to say something while someone else is talking a lot
Get Along (with Someone): To have a satisfactory relationship
Get Bent Out of Shape: Become angry, upset
Get Carried Away: Become overly enthusiastic
Get In on the Ground Floor: Invest in or join something while it is still small
Get in Shape: Undertake a program of physical conditioning; exercise regularly
Get Off Scot Free: Be accused of wrongdoing but pay no penalty at all
Get Off Scot Free: Be accused of wrongdoing but pay no penalty at all
Get One’s Ducks in a Row: Have everything organized; get oneself organized
Get One’s Hands Dirty: To do the unpleasant parts of a job
Get Someone’s Goat: To irritate someone deeply
Get To Grips With: To begin to understand and deal with something
Get the Ball Rolling: Do something to begin a process
Get the Picture: Understand what’s happening
Get the Runaround: Be given an unclear or evasive answer to a question
Get the Sack, Be Sacked: To be fired
Get the Third Degree: To be questioned in great detail about something
Get Wind of: Hear about
Get With the Program: Figure out what everyone else already knows. Often used sarcastically, as a command
Go Along (With): Agree to something, often provisionally
Go Ape: Express wild excitement or anger
Go Ballistic: Fly into a rage
Go Bananas: To become irrational or crazy
Idioms (H)
Hail Mary (n. or adj.): A desperate, last-ditch attempt
Hair of the Dog (That Bit You): A small amount of the alcoholic beverage that caused your hangover
Hands are Tied: You are prevented from doing something. It is not within your power
Hands Down: Undoubtedly
Hang It Up: To retire, to end an activity one has pursued for a long time
Hang Tough: Maintain one’s resolve
Hanging by a Thread: In great danger of elimination or failure
Happy-Go-Lucky: If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and carefree all the time.
Hard Nut to Crack: A difficult problem or a difficult person
Has the Cat Got Your Tongue?: Why are you not saying anything?
Hat Trick: Scoring three goals in hockey or soccer (football), or accomplishing three of anything.
Hatchet Job: A strong attack on someone’s reputation; intentionally destructive criticism; calumny
Haul Over the Coals: To scold someone severely
Have (one’s) head in the clouds: Not know what is happening around you or out of touch with reality
Have A Ball: To have a very enjoyable time
Have a Bone to Pick (with Someone): To want to discuss something someone has done that has angered or annoyed you.
Have a Bone to Pick (with Someone): To want to discuss something someone has done that has angered or annoyed you.
Have a Chip on One’s Shoulder: To harbor resentment; to have an angry attitude
Have a Dog in the Hunt (Fight, Race): To support a certain person in a competition
Have a Lead Foot: A tendency to drive very fast
Have a Lot on One’s Plate: Be busy, be in the middle of many ongoing tasks
Have a Lot Riding On (Something): Be depending on the successful outcome or development of something
Have a Nose for (Something): To have natural ability at something, a talent for finding something
Have a Screw Loose: Be slightly unbalanced or crazy
Have a Tough Row to Hoe: Be faced with a task that is difficult because of unfavorable conditions
Idioms (I)
I Wouldn’t Put It Past (Someone): I think it’s quite possible that [this person] would do this.
If It Had Been a Snake, It Would Have Bitten Me: It was very obvious, but I missed it.
If the Shoe Fits, Wear It: If this description of you is accurate, accept it.
I’m All Ears: You have my attention, so you should talk
In a Fog: Confused, not mentally alert
In a Heartbeat: Immediately. This is especially used in hypothetical situations
In a Jam: In need of help, in a difficult spot
In a New York Minute: Very quickly
In a Nutshell: Expressed in a few words
In a Pickle: In need of help, in a difficult spot
In a Rut: Confined by routine, bored and seeking new experiences
In Broad Daylight: When something occurs in broad daylight, it means the event is clearly visible
In Clover: Benefiting from a positive financial situation
In For a Penny, In for a Pound: Committed to something even though the risks are increasing
In Full Swing: When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is at its busiest or liveliest time.
In His Cups: Drunk
In Hot Water: In need of help; in trouble
In One Fell Swoop: All at once, in a single action
In One’s Element: In a situation which is entirely suitable, familiar, or enjoyable.
Idioms (J)
Jack of All Trades: A person with a wide variety of skills
Jam Session: Playing improvised music in an informal setting
Jim Crow: The system of racial segregation in the American South prior to the American civil rights movement.
Join the Club (excl.): I feel sympathy for you because I have experienced something similar.
Jump in with Both Feet: Begin a new experience wholeheartedly
Jump on the Bandwagon: To follow a trend or craze
Jump on the Bandwagon: To follow a trend; follow the crowd
Jump the Gun: Start doing something too soon
Jump the Shark: To pass peak quality and begin to decline. Often used to describe television programs or movie series.
Jump the Track: To shift suddenly from one activity or line of thought to another
Jump Through Hoops: Complete a series of tasks in order to satisfy someone
Just Around the Corner: Occurring soon
Just for the Record: I would like to make it clear that …
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Exactly the thing that is or was needed to help improve something or make one feel better
Idioms (K)
Kangaroo Court: A court of law where proper procedures are not followed at all; a sham judicial proceeding
Keep (Something) at Bay: Maintain a distance from something or someone
Keep a Stiff Upper Lip: Control one’s emotions; not give in to fear or grief
Keep an Eye On: To keep an eye on something or someone is to watch it periodically, to keep it under surveillance.
Keep an Eye Peeled: Be observant; watch out for something
Keep It Under Your Hat: Don’t tell anyone; don’t reveal this secret
Keep Someone at Arm’s Length: Avoid close interaction or cooperation
Keep Your Nose Clean: Avoid trouble or situations that compromise one’e honesty
Keep Your Powder Dry: Do not attack until you are ready.
Keeping One’s Nose to the Grindstone: Working hard on something repetitive or tedious
Kick Ass, Kick Butt: 1) Defeat badly; 2) be excellent or highly effective (only kick ass would be used for 2)
Kick the Bucket: To die
Kick the Can Down the Road: Postpone an important decision
Kill a Fly With an Elephant Gun: Approach a problem with excessive measures
Kill Two Birds with One Stone: Act in such a way as to produce two desirable effects
Kill Two Birds with One Stone: Solve two problems with one move
Kill the Goose That Laid the Golden Egg: To destroy a source of ongoing profits or benefits
Kink in One’s Neck: A cramp in one’s neck that causes pain
King of the Hill: At the top of one’s field; the most influential person in a given field or area
Kiss and Make Up: Make peace after an argument
Kith and Kin: Family (collectively)
Knock on Wood; Touch Wood: Let’s hope I have good luck or continue to have good luck.
Knock Some Sense Into: To beat someone in order to teach him/her a lesson. May be used figuratively.
Knock Someone’s Socks Off: Amaze someone
Knock Up: To impregnate a woman. Often used in the form knocked up.
Knockout: An extremely beautiful woman
Know (Something) Like the Back of One’s Hand: To be very familiar with something, especially an area
Idioms (L)
Larger Than Life: Conveying a sense of greatness, imposing
Last But Not Least: What I have just said does not reflect a ranking in importance.
Laughter is the Best Medicine: Laughing a lot is a very effective means of recovering from physical or mental injury
Learn the Ropes: Become more familiar with a job or field of endeavor; be trained
Leave Someone in the Lurch: Abandon someone in a difficult situation
Lend an Ear: Listen
Let Bygones Be Bygones: Agree to forget about a past conflict
Let Bygones Be Bygones: Agree to forget about a past conflict
Let Off Steam: To express anger and frustration in a way that does no damage
Let One’s Hair Down: To relax and enjoy themselves.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: To avoid stirring up a problem; to leave things alone
Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Reveal a secret, usually a secret you or others are trying to keep
Let the Genie Out of the Bottle: Reveal something hitherto suppressed
Letter of the Law: The explicit meaning of a law, as opposed to the spirit of the law, the law’s general intention
Lick One’s Wounds: Rest after a bad defeat
Life is A Bowl of Cherries: Life is wonderful or very pleasant
Light a Fire Under Someone: Inspire someone to work very hard
Light at the End of the Tunnel: A sign of hope after a long period of difficulties
Like a Kid in a Candy Store: To be so excited about one’s surroundings that one acts in a childlike or silly way
Like a Moth to a Flame: Drawn to something or someone despite the dangers
Like Father, Like Son: Sons inherit their fathers’ traits and preferences, often even without realizing it.
Idioms (M)
Mad As A Box Of (Soapy) Frogs: extremely mentally unstable; psychotic; detached from reality.
Mad as A Hatter: Mentally ill, psychotic
Main Squeeze: Committed romantic partner
Make a Break for It: Try to escape, run off
Make a Mountain out of a Molehill: To take something too seriously; to make too much of something
Make a Silk Purse out of a Sow’s Ear: Turn something ordinary or inferior into something refined and beautiful
Make Ends Meet: Have enough money to cover basic expenses
Make Hay (While the Sun Shines): To take advantage of an opportunity at the right time.
Make Love: To have sexual intercourse
Make Nice: Act cordial despite conflict
Make One’s Mark: Attain influence or recognition
Make Someone’s Day: Do something pleasing that puts someone in a good mood
Make Waves: Cause controversy, disturb a calm group dynamic
Man Cave: A part of the house, often the basement, that is left to the man of the household, perhaps with a workshop, a television for watching sports, etc.
March to the Beat of Your Own Drum: When someone does things the way they want to, without taking anybody else or anything else into consideration.
Match Made in Heaven: A relationship in which the two people are great together, because they complement each other so well
May-December (adj.): Significantly different in age. Said of couples where one member is much older. The most common usage is May-December romance.
May-December Marriage: A marriage between a younger and an older partner, typically a young woman and an old man.
Me Time: Activities undertaken for one’s own enjoyment, free from responsibilities to others.
Meeting of the Minds: Strong instinctive agreement on something
Mend Fences: Improve relations after a dispute
Idioms (N)
Nail-Biter: A suspenseful event
Nailing Jelly/Jello/Pudding To A Wall/Tree: An impossible task
Neck and Neck: Very close in a competition, with neither of two entities clearly in the lead
Neck of the Woods: A region, especially one’s home region
Nest Egg: Retirement savings; wealth saved for a future purpose
Never in A Million Years: Absolutely never
Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth: It’s rude to examine a gift closely; accept gifts politely.
New Wrinkle: A novel aspect to a situation, a new development
Nice Chunk of Change: A large amount of money
Nickel and Dime: To negotiate over very small sums; to try to get a better financial deal, in a negative way
Nine Times Out of Ten: Almost always
Nine-to-Five Job: A routine job in an office that involves standard office hours
Nip (Something) In The Bud: Deal with a problem before it becomes large
No Holds Barred (usually adj., often hyphenated): Unrestricted, without rules
No Love Lost Between: There is a mutual animosity between two people
No Names, No Pack Drill: By not accusing anyone specifically, I may avoid trouble.
No Names, No Pack Drill: If no one can be identified, no one will be punished.
No Rhyme or Reason (to): Without logic or pattern
No Room to Swing A Cat: Very small, not big enough
No Shit, Sherlock: That’s very obvious!
No Tree Grows to the Sky: Growth cannot continue indefinitely.
Not Cut Out for (Something): Not naturally skillful enough to do something well
Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat: A very small space
Not Give A Fig: To not care at all about something
Not Have A Cat In Hell’s Chance: Have no possibility of succeeding, coming to pass, or achieving something
Not Have a Prayer: Have no chance of success
Idioms (P)
Pack Heat: Carry a gun
Paddle One’s Own Canoe: To be able to act independently.
Page-Turner: A page-turner is an exciting book that’s easy to read, a book that’s difficult to put down.
Pain in the Ass; Pain in the Butt;
Pain in the Neck: Someone or something making your life difficult
Paint the Town Red: Go out drinking and partying
Par for the Course: What would normally be expected. This has a negative connotation.
Pass the Buck: Transfer a problem to someone else
Pass With Flying Colors: To succeed brilliantly, as on an exam or other test
Passing Fancy: A temporary interest or attraction
Pay Through the Nose (For Something): Pay a large amount of money
Peaches and Cream: A situation, process, etc., that has no trouble or problems
Pecking Order: Hierarchy, rank of importance
Pencil Something In: Make tentative arrangements
Penny-Pinching: Frugal, avoiding expenses whenever possible
Pep Talk: An encouraging speech given to a person or group
Perfect Storm: A rare combination of disastrous occurrences
Pet Peeve: A small thing that you find particularly annoying
Pick a Fight: Intentionally provoke a conflict or fight with someone
Pick Up the Slack: Do something that someone else is not doing; assume someone else’s responsibilities
Pick Up the Tab: To pay a bill presented to a group, especially in a restaurant or bar
Pie in the Sky: Something that is unrealistic or that cannot be achieved
Piece of Cake: Very easily done
Pin Someone Down: Demand a decision or clear answer
Pinch Pennies: To be careful with money, to be thrifty
Pink Slip: A layoff notice; loss of a job, typically because of layoffs
Pipe Dream: An unrealistic hope, a fantasy
Piping Hot: Very hot (generally said of food)
Pipped to the Post: Defeated by a narrow margin
Pissing Contest: A meaningless argument or competition, typically between males
Play Ball: Cooperate, agree to participate
Play Cat And Mouse: Trying to trick someone into making a mistake so you can defeat them.
Play Hardball: Adopt a tough negotiating position; act aggressively
Play it by Ear: To play a piece of music without referencing sheet music or a recording
Play It by Ear: To respond to circumstances instead of having a fixed plan
Idioms (Q)
Quake In One’s Boots: To be very frightened
Quarter Past: Fifteen minutes after the hour
Quarter To/Of: Fifteen minutes before the hour
Queer the Pitch: Interfere with someone’s plans; make something more difficult
Quick as a Flash: Very fast
Quick-and-Dirty: Approximate, hastily done
Quote Unquote: Ironically speaking; suggesting that if a phrase were written out, it would be in quotation marks to convey sarcasm
Idioms (R)
Race Against Time: To rush to meet a deadline, to be forced to do something very quickly
Rain Cats And Dogs: Rain heavily
Rain Cats and Dogs: Rain very heavily
Rain on Someone’s Parade: Spoil someone’s plans
Raise (Someone’s) Hackles: Make someone angry and defensive
Raise One’s Voice: Talk loudly
Raise Red Flags: Warn of trouble ahead
Raise the Bar: Increase standards in a certain competition or area of endeavor
Raise the Roof: Make a great deal of noise (said of a crowd)
Rake (Someone) Over the Coals: To scold someone severely
Rake Over the Ashes: Restart a settled argument; examine a failure
Rake Someone Over the Coals: Scold severely
Rank and File: The ordinary members of an organization
Read Between the Lines: Perceive what is not explicitly stated
Read the Tea Leaves: Predict the future from small signs
Rear Its Ugly Head (said of a problem or something unpleasant): Appear, be revealed
Rearrange the Deck Chairs on the Titanic: Taking superficial actions while ignoring a much larger and perhaps fatal problem
Red Flag: A warning; a sign of trouble ahead
Red Herring: A misleading clue; something intended to mislead
Red Meat: Political appeals designed to excite one’s core supporters; demagoguery
Red Tape: Bureaucracy; difficult bureaucratic or governmental requirements
Red-Light District: A neighborhood with many houses of prostitution
Reinvent the Wheel: Devise a solution to a problem for which a solution already exists
Riding High: Enjoying success
Right as Rain: Absolutely correct
Right Under (One’s) Nose: In an obvious location, yet overlooked
Right-Hand Man: Chief assistant
Right-Hand Man: Chief assistant
Ring a Bell: Sound familiar
Ring a Bell: When something seems familiar
Rob Peter to Pay Paul: Pay off a debt with another loan; solve a problem in such a way that it leads to a new problem
Rob the Cradle: To be sexually or romantically involved with someone who is very young
Rob the Cradle: To be sexually or romantically involved with someone who is very young
Rock Bottom: An absolute low point
Rock the Boat: Cause a disruption in a group. Often used in the negative: don’t rock the boat.
Roll the Dice On: Take a risk
Roll With the Punches: Deal with problems by being flexible
Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day: Complex projects take time
Rookie Mistake: An error made by an inexperienced person
Rotten to the Core: Entirely evil
Rub (Something) in Someone’s Face: Humiliate someone by repeating and criticizing his or her mistake
Rub It In: Say something that makes someone feel even worse about a mistake
Rub Someone’s Nose in (Something): Humiliate someone by repeating and criticizing his or her mistake
Idioms (S)
Sacred Cow: An individual or organization that one cannot criticize
Saving Grace: Something that redeems a bad situation
Scare the Living Daylights Out of Someone: Frighten someone severely
Scorched Earth (Tactics, Policy, etc.): Ruthless, extremely destructive
Screw The Pooch: To make a serious error
School Of Hard Knocks: Difficult real-life experiences from which one has learned
Second Banana: A person in a subservient position
Second Stringer: A substitute player in a sport; a substitute for a job who is not the most talented person
Second Wind: Renewed energy
See Eye to Eye: To concur, agree
See Something Out of the Corner of Your Eye: Use peripheral vision
Seize (Take) the Bull By the Horns: Attack a problem directly
Seize the Day: Take an opportunity
Sell (Someone) a Bill of Goods: Trick someone; be deceptive
Sell Like Hotcakes: Be sold very quickly
Selling Point: An attractive feature of something for sale
Set in Stone: Fixed; unchangeable
Set something to Music: To write a piece of music to accompany a set of words
Set the Bar (Too) High: To set a high standard for something
Set the Thames on Fire: Do something amazing. Usually used in the negative.
Set the World on Fire: Do something amazing; have a brilliant stretch in one’s career
Shake the Dust off Your Shoes (Feet): Make a clean break with a relationship or situation
Shape Up or Ship Out: Behave properly or leave the organization
Sharp as A Tack: Mentally agile
Shell Game: A method of deception in which you conceal your actions by moving something frequently
Shift Gears: Change the subject, or change what one is doing
Shipshape And Bristol Fashion: Tidy, clean
Shit a Brick: Be extremely fearful.
Shoot from the Hip: Talk or act without consideration
Shoot Off One’s Mouth: Talk without considering one’s words
Shoot Oneself In The Foot: Do something that damages oneself or one’s own cause
Short Fuse: A quick temper; a tendency to anger quickly
Shot Across the Bow: A warning of more serious actions to come
Shoulder A Weight Off Your Shoulders: You no longer worry about something or deal with something difficult
Show Me an X And I’ll Show You a Y: There is a consequence to X that you may not have thought of.
Show One’s True Colors: Reveal one’s true nature
Show Your Cards: Reveal your resources or plans
Sick and Tired of: Extremely annoyed by something that occurs repeatedly
Sick as a Dog: Extremely ill.
Sick as a Parrot: Very disappointed
Sight for Sore Eyes: A sight that makes you happy
Silver Bullet: Something simple that resolves a difficult problem
Simmer Down: Become less angry; regain one’s composure
Sink or Swim: Fail or succeed
Sing a Different Tune: Change your opinion
Sit On (Something): Delay revealing or acting on something
Sit Tight: Wait and do not go anywhere
Sitting Duck: Something or someone easily attacked or criticized
Sitting Pretty: In a favorable situation
Six Feet Under: Dead and buried
Idioms (T)
Take (Someone) to the Cleaners: 1) Swindle; 2) defeat badly
Take a Deep Dive (Into): Explore something extensively
Take a Flyer: To take a rise; especially to make a speculative investment
Take a Gander: Go to take a look at something
Take a Hike: Go away
Take A Powder: To leave, especially in order to avoid a difficult situation
Take a Rain Check: Decline an invitation but suggest that you’ll accept it at a later time.
Take Five (Ten): Take a short break of five (ten) minutes
Take Five: To take one brief (about five minutes) rest period
Take It Easy: 1) Relax, rest; 2) (as a command) Calm down!
Take It Easy: Don’t hurry; relax; don’t get angry
Take It Easy: When you relax, or do things at a comfortable pace, you take it easy.
Take It on The Chin: Be attacked; suffer an attack
Take It or Leave It (command): You must decide now whether you will accept this proposal
Take Someone to Task: Reprimand someone strongly
Take Something with a Pinch (grain) of Salt: If you take what someone says with a pinch of salt, you do not completely believe it.
Take the Cake: Be the most extreme instance
Take the Edge Off (of Something): To slightly improve something negative
Take the Fifth: Refuse to answer because answering might incriminate or cause problems for you
Take the Gloves Off: Negotiate in a more aggressive way
Take the High Road: Refuse to descend to immoral activities or personal attacks
Take The Mickey (Piss) (Out Of Someone): Make fun of or ridicule someone
Take the Shine Off (Something): To do something that diminishes a positive event
Take the Starch out of (Someone): Make someone less confident or less arrogant
Take The Wind Out of Someone’s Sails: To reduce someone’s confidence, often by doing something unexpected
Take Your Life in Your Hands: Undergo extreme risk
Take Your Medicine: Accept something unpleasant, for example, punishment, without protesting or complaining
Take Your Time: Don’t hurry, work at a relaxed pace
Taste of Your Own Medicine: The same unpleasant experience or treatment that one has given to others
Teach an Old Dog New Tricks: To change someone’s long-established habits. Usually used in the negative: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Tear One’s Hair out: Be extremely worried or frustrated
Idioms (U)
U Turn: A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.
Ugly Duckling: An awkward child or young person who grows into a beautiful person
Under (Below) the Radar: Not generally perceived, below popular consciousness
Under Someone’s Spell: Fascinated, entranced by someone
Under the Impression: Believing something, perhaps mistakenly
Under the Table: Without being officially recorded
Under the Weather: Feeling ill
Under the Weather: Not feeling well
Under Wraps: Temporarily hidden, secret
University of Life: Difficult real-life experience, as opposed to formal education
Until the Cows Come Home: For a long time
Until You’re Blue in the Face: For a long time with no results
Up a Creek: In a very bad situation
Up for Grabs: Available
Up for Grabs: Available for anyone
Up in Arms: Angry, protesting (usually said of a group)
Up in the Air: Not yet decided
Up to One’s Neck: Nearly overwhelmed
Up to Scratch: Meeting a basic standard of competence or quality
Up to Snuff: Meeting a basic standard
Up the Ante: Raise the stakes; increase the importance of something under discussion
Up the Duff: Pregnant
Upset the Apple Cart: To disorganize or spoil something, especially an established arrangement or plan
Use One’s Head: To think, to have common sense
Idioms (V)
Vale of Tears: The world in general, envisioned as a sad place; the tribulations of life
Vicious Circle: A situation in which an attempt to solve a problem makes the original problem worse.
Victory Lap: Visible public appearances after a victory or accomplishment
Virgin Territory: Something that has never been explored, physically or intellectually
Vote with One’s Feet: To physically depart from something as a way of showing disapproval
Idioms (W)
Waiting in the Wings: Ready to assume responsibilities but not yet active, ready to become a successor
Waka-Jumping: Change political parties (said of politicians themselves)
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee: Stop deluding yourself
Wake Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed: Be grumpy or ill-humored. Generally used in past tense
Walk on Eggshells: To have to act very sensitively in order to avoid offending someone
Walk the Plank: Be forced to resign a position
Wandering Eye: A tendency to look at and desire women or men other than one’s committed romantic partner
Wandering Eye: A tendency to look at and desire women or men other than one’s committed romantic partner
Wash Your Hands of (Something): Decline to take further responsibility; refuse to be involved with something anymore
Water Under the Bridge: Something in the past that’s no longer worth worrying about
Watering Hole: A place where alcoholic beverages are served, a bar
Weekend Warrior: Someone who has an office job but enjoys contact sports on weekends; a member of a military reserve force (whose exercises are typically on weekends)
We’ll Cross That Bridge: When We Come to It We’ll deal with that problem if and when it comes up
Welsh (Welch) on a Deal: Not observe the terms of an agreement
Wet Behind the Ears: inexperienced, immature, new to something
Wet Behind the Ears: Inexperienced, immature, new to something
Wet Blanket: Someone who dampens a festive occasion
Wet Your Whistle: Drink something
What Do You Make of (Him)?: What is your evaluation of this person?
What Goes Around Comes Around: The kind of treatment you give to others will eventually return to you; things go in cycles
What’s Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander: What’s OK for a man is OK for a woman, too
Whistling Dixie: Being unrealistically optimistic
White Elephant: An unwanted item that is difficult to sell or dispose of
Who’s She, the Cat’s Mother?: Why does she have such a high opinion of herself?
Wild Goose Chase: An impossible or futile search or task
Window Dressing: A misleading disguise intended to present a favorable impression
Window Shop: To look at merchandise in a store without intending to buy it
Witch Hunt: An organized attempt to persecute an unpopular group of people and blame them for a problem.
With Bells On: Eagerly, willingly, and on time.
Work One’s Fingers to the Bone: Work very hard over an extended period
Worn to a Frazzle: Exhausted, completely worn out
Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead: Would absolutely not allow myself to do this
Writing (Handwriting) on the Wall: Hints of coming disaster
Idioms (Y)
Year In, Year Out: Annually without change
You Can Lead a Horse to Water, but You Can’t Make It Drink: It’s very hard to force someone to do something against his or her will.
You Can Say That Again!: I agree totally!
You Can Take It to the Bank: I absolutely guarantee this
You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover: You can’t know people (or things) well by their external appearances.
You Can’t Make an Omelet (Omelette): Without Breaking
You Can’t Make Fish of One and Fowl of the Other: People must be treated equally.
You Know the Drill: You are already familiar with the procedure.
You Snooze, You Lose: If you delay or are not alert, you will miss opportunities
Young at Heart: Having a youthful outlook, regardless of age
Your Guess Is as Good as Mine: I don’t know; I have no idea
Your Mileage May Vary: You may get different results. This does not necessarily refer to a car, although it may.
Your Number Is Up: You are going to die (or suffer some bad misfortune or setback)
You’re Driving Me Nuts: To make someone giddy or crazy
Yours Truly: Me
Idioms (Z)
Zero In On: Focus closely on something; take aim at something
Zig When One Should Be Zagging: To make an error; to choose an incorrect course
Zip One’s Lip: Be quiet
Baca juga: Hal-hal Penting dari Idiom dan Bagaimana Cara Menggunakan-nya