Leaning American English Idioms: Please Complete
| idiom | meaning |
|---|---|
| to throw yourself at someone’s feet: | |
| to have the law on your heels: | |
| to spring somebody: | |
| to chew the rag: | |
| to go to pieces: | |
| to burn someone up: | |
| to feed someone a line: | |
| to send someone up the river: | |
| a cattle boat: | |
| to be beside yourself: | |
| to punch cattle: | |
| to put on your tails: | |
| to put on the dog: | |
| the squawk club: | |
| to paint the town red: to go to town to party | |
| the squack club: | |
| a box at the opera: | |
| a cocktail: | |
| to let your hair down: | |
| the foothills: | |
| to chisel in: | |
| to be up against it: | |
| to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth: | to be born rich |
| to not be able to touch someone with a ten-foot pole: | to face someone who thinks they’re superior |
| at the crack of dawn: | early in the morning |
| to get up with the chickens: | rise early |
| to be shorthanded: | in need of practical help |
| to cut the mustard: | to be able to do something |
| a hole in the wall: | an apartment in a building |
| to be beside yourself with anger: | very angry |
| to make some dough: | to earn money |
| to fly somewhere: | to take an airplane to somewhere |
| to step into the picture: | to become part of something |
| our eyes met: | to make eye contact |
| to get goose pimples: | to be impressed |
| hands all thumbs: | to be clumsy |
| clothes that fit as a glove: | clothes that fit snugly |
| hair done up in a bun: | (Dutch: je haar in een dotje hebben) |
| to have money run out on you: | to lose money fast |
| to give someone a date: | to make an appointment for a private meeting |
| to eat like a horse: | to eat a lot |
| to have money run out on you: | to lose money fast |
| a bouncing cheque: | a cheque that is not covered by the bank |
| good looking pins: | a cheque that the bank does not cover |
| to draw a gun on somebody: | to pull out a gun |
| to give someone the slip: | to disappear |
| to have your foot in your mouth: | to say something wrong and regret it |
| a stretch in the jar: | a period in jail |
| an undercover person: | someone who is acting on behalf of an unknown party |
| red tape: | bureaucracy |
| to stretch your legs: | to take a walk |
| to drop in on someone: | to pay someone a visit |
| to turn your back on someone: | to reject someone |
| to get on your high horse: | to speak condescendingly to someone |
| to hang around: | to be about someplace |
| the cat has someone’s tongue: | someone is mute |
| the grapevine: | the rumor mill |
| to play by ear: | to act intuitively |
| a tug at your elbow: | someone yanks your elbow |
| the grapevine: | the rumor mill |
| an old flame: | a lover from the past |
| to spend money like water: | to spend a lot |
| to be connected with: | to have some business with |
| to get in someone’s hair: | to annoy someone |
| raining cats and dogs: | a heavy downpour |
| to feel blue: | to be sad |
| to carry on: | to continue with |
| a beachcomber: | someone who makes a living off of what he finds on the beach at low tide (Dutch: een strandjutter) |
| to send someone a cable: | to send a message to someone |
| to send someone a wire: | to send a message to someone |
| to half-foot somewhere: | to go somewhere in a hurry |
| to grow up overnight: | to grow up fast |
| Please use comments below to add or correct. Thanks! [Stefaan Meeuws] | |
Comments on 'Leaning American English Idioms: Please Complete' (0)
Comments Feed