English Idioms List of Idioms Beginning With A PDF

English Idioms | List of idioms beginning with a
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A list of English idioms with definitions and examples:
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a bit of fluff
(Also a bit of skirt.) A sexually attractive woman.
I saw him yesterday with a bit of fluff.
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Category | sexuality
a breath of fresh air
said about a new, fresh, and imaginative approach, a change that feels good.
The president says that the country needs a breath of fresh air.
Category | nature
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a clean bill of health

said when you examine someone or something and state that they are healthy, in good condition, or
legal.
1. The president was given a clean bill of health by his doctors.
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2. The company received a clean bill of health because it fulfilled all the safety requirements.
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Category | health
a dime's worth
an insignificant amount
At best, he'll make a dime's worth of difference with his interference in the affair.
Category | money
a fact of life
This idiom is used to refer to something which is unpleasant and which people accept because they
cannot change it.
Violence has become a fact of life among teenagers these days.
Category | life
a fool and his money are soon parted
this means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough.
John likes his extravagant lifestyle - but then a fool and his money are soon parted.
Category | money
a life-saver
This phrase is used to refer to something or someone that saves a person in a difficult situation or
critical moment.
Thank you so much for your help. You're a real lifesaver!
Category | life
a little bird told me
said when you don't want reveal the source of your information.
"How did you know the news?"
"Oh, a little bird told me."
Category | animals
a lost ball in the weeds
The phrase a lost ball in the weeds refers to a person who is completely lost or confused and does
not know what they are doing, how to do it or possibly even where they are.
I got confused as to what I should do. I was a lost ball in the weeds.
Category | sport
a man of action
a man who is inclined to act first rather than think about things and discuss them.
Bill is really a man of action. Since he arrived at the top of the association, he has done so many
things.
Category | men and women
a man of few words
(also a woman of few words) a man who doesn't speak much. A man of action
He is a man of few words. But when he speaks, he makes a lot of sense.
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a man's man
The phrase a man's man refers to a man known for traditionally masculine interests and activities.
Alex is what you would call a man's man.
a new lease of life
This idiom is used to refer to an occasion when something gives you the chance to become happy or
healthy and makes you more energetic than before.
His new job has given him a new lease of life.
Category | life
a number cruncher
a number cruncher refers to someone whose job is to work with numbers and mathematics. It may
also refer to a computer that is able to solve complicated problems of mathematics.
1. He's a number cruncher. He works for a big firm of accountants.
2. Number crunchers are used on election night to try and forecast the result.
Category | numbers
a roof over your head
a place to live.
He was so poor that he didn't have a roof over his head.
Category | home
a steal
A steal refers to a good deal; it's almost like you stole it.
"You look great in these shoes!"
"Theyre at 70% discount! I paid Just $30!"
"Wow thats really a steal! It's such a great deal."
Category | crime
a watched pot never boils
This expression is used to mean that things appear to go more slowly if one waits anxiously for it.
There's no point running downstairs for every mail delivery. A watched pot never boils.
Category | furniture
a whole new ball game
a completely different situation.
He has written so many short stories but writing a novel is a whole new ball game.
Category | sport
a woman of few words
(also a man of few words) a woman who doesn't speak much. A woman of action
She is a woman of few words, but she always gets things done.
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a woman's work is never done

The proverb a woman's work is never done means that a woman often works longer hours than a
man because the housework and raising children are jobs that never end.
The origin of the saying comes from an old rhymed couplet:
Man may work from sun to sun,

But woman's work is never done.
"A woman's work is never done!", said Leila. She added: "As soon as I finish washing the breakfast
dishes, it's time to start preparing lunch. Then I have to go shopping and when the kids are back
home I have to help them with their homework."
Category | work
about as useful as a chocolate teapot
Saying something is about as useful as a chocolate teapot means that it is totally useless.
A car in a heavy traffic jam is as useful as a chocolate teapot. Use a bike instead!
Category | food
above suspicion
This phrase is used to describe a person who is honest enough that no one would suspect.
The origin of the phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar, who divorced his wife Pompeia, on the
grounds of her possible involvement in a public scandal, saying that "my wife ought not even to be
under suspicion." This gave rise to a proverb, sometimes expressed: "Caesar's wife must be above
suspicion."
That guy is a peaceful man; he is above suspicion.
Category | law
above the law
Not subject to the law, exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
Nobody is above the law.
Category | law
above the salt
If someone is above the salt they are of high standing or honor.
The origin of the phrase dates back to the medieval times. Then salt which was a valuable seasoning
was placed in the middle of a dining table and the lord and his family were seated "above the salt"
and other guests or servants below.
(See also below the salt)
In medieval times lords used to sit above the salt.
Category | food
achilles heel
said about a strong situation which contains an element of vulnerability.
Journalists considered that minister as the government's Achilles heel.
Category | parts of the body
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acid test
The idiom acid test refers to a decisive test whose findings show the worth or quality of something.
Our team's next match will be the first real acid test in this competition.
Category | technology and science
act of God
something that ooccured, such as an accident, for which no human is responsible. A natural disaster
such as a storm, earthquake...
The Haiti earthquake was really an act of God.
Category | religion
act one's age
To be mature and not childish.
Stop being childish and act your age.
Category | age
adam's ale
(old-fashioned) water.
Take a glass of adam's ale if you are thirsty.
Category | religion
add fuel to the fire
(also add fuel to the flames) to make a problem worse; to say or do something that makes a bad
situation worse.
Don't add fuel to the fire by laughing at him. He is furious about what you have already done
Category | nature
affinity for
said about you have attraction , preference or sympathy for something or someone.
He has an affinty for classical music.
Category | relationship
against the clock
To work or race against the clock means to do something as fast as possible and try to finish it
before a deadline.
The students were racing against the clock to finish the paper before the deadline.
Category | time
against time
(also against the clock) an attempt to finish something quickly within a time limit.
It's going to be a race against the time to finish the project before the deadline.
Category | time
age before beauty
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones. Now most often used humorously or
lightheartedly, and usually said by a younger person to an older friend or relative out of mock pity
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for being so much older and unattractive.

Please, you first. Age before beauty, you know.
Category | age
age out of something
The phrase age out of something means to reach an age at which one is no longer eligible for the
system of care designed to provide services, such as education or protection, for people below a
certain age level.
He has aged out of the special student scholarship program.
Category | age
ahead of one's time
in advance of concurrent commonly accepted ideas; showing characteristics of changes yet to be;
present in one's work before later advances in the field.
With his new scientific discoveries, he was ahead of his time.
Category | time
alive and kicking
(also be alive and well) to continue to be well, healthy or successful.
1. Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.
2. Classical music is still alive and kicking among youngsters
Category | health
all cats are grey in the dark
The phrase all cats are grey in the dark means that in the dark, physical appearance is unimportant.
The phrase is attributed to Benjamin Franklin.
I really don't care if she is ugly. All cats are gray in the dark.
Category | colors
all dressed up and nowhere to go
The phrase all dressed up and nowhere to go means getting ready for something and then it never
happened. The phrase may be used literally or figuratively.
She was waiting for him but he never showed up. As usual, she was all dressed up and nowhere to
go.
Category | clothes
all hat and no cattle
Describing someone who is full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
We expect our president to be effective in his job, not a person who is all hat and no cattle.
Category | clothes
all in a day's work
What is normal, typical or expected.
Grading my students' papers is all on a day's work for me.
Category | work
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all ones eggs in one basket

the state of having invested heavily in just one area or of having devoted all of ones resources to
one thing.
The stock market decline wouldnt have hurt him so badly if he hadnt had all his eggs in one basket
Category | food
all that glitters is not gold
appearance is sometimes misleading. Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not be as
good as they look.
The house looks beautiful from the outside but the inside part of the house looks terrible; all that
glitters is not gold.
Category | money
all that jazz
Everything else related to something; and other similar things.
They enjoyed the party: cocktails, dancing, and all that jazz.
Category | music
all the more
even more.
Her family didn't want her to get married to her new boyfriend, but that just made her all the more
determined.
Category | general
all walks of life
Occupations, roles, social class, or lifestyle.
Those who attended the wedding represented all walks of life.
Category | life
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy is a proverb which means that it is not good to work all
the time and that people may get bored if they don't get some time off from work.
This saying appeared first in James Howell's Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish
(1659), and was included in later collections of proverbs.
Some writers have added a second part to the proverb:
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.
See more about this saying on Wikipedia
I think you need to go out and have some fun. You know all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Category | work
all's fair in love and war.
In love or in war, you are allowed to be deceitful in order to get what you want.
To get her to go out with him, he lied and told her that is very rich. All's fair in love and war.
Category | war
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along the lines

in a general direction or manner.
I was thinking along the lines of a vegetable garden, but I could be persuaded to include some
perennials.
Category | general
always chasing rainbows
If you are always chasing rainbows, it means you are trying to do something that you will never
achieve.
Although he is 48 years old, he is still dreaming of becoming a famous singer. He's always chasing
rainbows.
Category | nature
an act of war
An act which is considered violent enough to cause war.
Bombing the United States naval base at pearl harbor was considered an act of war.
Category | war
an arm and a leg
a lot of money.
These glasses cost me an arm and a leg.
an eye for an eye
(also, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.) said to suggest that punishment should equal the
crime. At the root of this principle is that one of the purposes of the law is to provide equitable
retribution for an offended party.
In some countries, justice operates on the principle of an eye for an eye. That is, if you kill someone,
you desrve to die.
another nail in one's coffin
One in a series of events which lead to downfall or inevitable failure.
After the bankruptcy and the death of his only son, divorce is just another nail in his coffin.
Category | death
any minute soon now
(also any moment/second/time now) very soon
The news about the president's resignation will be broadcasted on TV any moment now.
Category | time
any port in a storm
An unfavorable option which might well be avoided in good times but which nevertheless looks
better than the alternatives at the current time.
That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm as we couldn't find any place to spend the
night.
Category | travel
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any port in a storm

This idiom is used to describe a situation in which you are forced to accept any solution whether you
like or not.
I accepted the job although it was below my expectations. Any port in a storm, you know!
Category | weather
apple of somebody's eye
said about someone whom you love the most and you are very proud of.
His son is the apple of his eye.
Category | food
are your ears burning?
said about someone who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
We were just talking about you. Are your ears burning?
armchair critic
An armchair critic is a person who knows or pretends to know a lot about something in theory rather
than practice.
He is such an armchair critic; he has no experience in the subject but he is ready to give plenty of
advice.
Category | furniture
arrow in the quiver
This idiom is used when talking about one of a number of resources or strategies that can be used to
achieve a goal.
If you are having a job interview, improving your communication skills can be another arrow in
your quiver.
Category | war
art is long and life is short
The phrase art is long and life is short is a proverb that suggests that works of art last much longer
than human lives.
The phrase comes from the first two lines of the Aphorismi by the Ancient Greek physician
Hippocrates. What he meant by these lines is:
"it takes a long time to acquire and perfect one's expertise (in, say, medicine) and one has but a short
time in which to do it."
Jane: I think John spends too much time working on his new book.
Lisa: Yes, but art is long and life is short, you know.
Category | art
as bald as a cue ball
(also as bald as a coot) completely bald.
His father was as bald as a cue ball!
Category | sport
as blind as a bat
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If someone is as blind as a bat, they are nearly or completely blind or they are unwilling to
recognize problems or bad things.
This is a simile which is based on the erroneous idea that bats cannot see properly. In fact, bats are
not blind; they use vision to navigate, especially for long distances. In addition to their ability to see,
they use a sophisticated built-in sonar system, called echolocation.
For more information on bats see this article on wikipedia
1. Without her glasses, she is as blind as a bat.
2. He is as blind as a bat when it comes to his wife's shameful behavior
Category | health
as gentle as a lamb
Said about kind , innocent, mild-mannered people.
She is as gentle as a lamb. That's why everybody likes her.
Category | animals
as one man
If a group of people do something as one man, they do it unanimously, in complete agreement.
They all rose as one man, supporting the poor family.
as patient as Job
If someone is as patient as Job, they are very patient.
The person who shows great endurance through all sorts of trials is said to have the patience of Job.
This idiom is a simile related to the religious figure Job mentioned as a prophet in all Abrahamic
religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Job is presented as a good and prosperous family man who is beset with hideous and dreadful events
that bereft him of his loved ones, his health and all his property. His struggle and his patience to
understand his situation leads him to get a reward from God by restoring his health, doubling his
original wealth and giving him a lot of children and grandchildren.
If you want to work with that temperamental woman you must be as patient as Job.
Category | religion
as poor as a church mouse
If someone is as poor as a church mouse they are extremely poor.
An other similar phrase is hungry as a church mouse.
The phrase is derived from the fact that church buildings don't store or provide food and therefore
mice in such buildings were utterly destitute.
He is as poor as a church mouse; don't ask him to donate anything.
Category | religion
as ugly as sin
If something is as ugly as sin, it is very ugly.
The term sin has a religious connotation. It refers to a violation of God's will, a misdeed.
Jesus Christ! The dress she is wearing is as ugly as sin.
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Category | religion
at death's door
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health
There were rumors that the president was murdered, or at death's door.
Category | death
at death's door
If you say you are at death's door you mean that you are very close to the end of your life.
She was so ill and was at death's door for more than a month.
Category | death
at sixes and sevens
This idiom is used to describe a state of confusion or disarray.
William Shakespeare uses a similar phrase in Richard II:
But time will not permit: all is uneven, And every thing is left at six and seven.
John is at sixes and sevens after the death of his wife.
Category | numbers
at the drop of a hat
When someone does something at the drop of a hat, they do it without delay or good reason.
So many years of sacrifice and then you can leave me at the drop of a hat.
Category | clothes
at the wheel
Driving; in control of a vehicle.
You know he fell asleep at the wheel. They were so lucky they didn't have an accident.
Category | travel
at your mother's knee
said about something that you learned when you were a child.
She learned to sing at her mother's knee.
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Idiomatic Expressions - List in Alphabetical Order

List of idioms in alphabetical order

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A list of English idioms with definitions and examples:

Visit the world

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a clean bill of health