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English Idioms

997 idioms total

11 downing street

💡 The address of the residence in London of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom.

110 proof

💡 Stronger than strong.

“Attention must be paid to Dr. Ron Paul, the 110-proof libertarian in the Republican race.”

11th commandment

💡 A well-known convention (often the most well-known of a certain field) which supposedly can not or should not be broken.

“A “hood,” he said, isn’t necessarily a neighborhood, adding that the same culture is seen on Wall Street, “where the 11th commandment is ‘Thou shalt not get caught.’ ””

12-ounce curls

💡 The activity of drinking beer.

“Don't burn out your biceps with 12-ounce curls.”

13th reason why

💡 .

15 minutes of fame

💡 A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.

“In the next chapter, we'll meet twenty-five hopefuls who have already begun to experience their fifteen minutes of fame as a result of exposure on YouTube.”

23 skidoo

💡 To leave, particularly quickly or at an advantageous time.

“... the 'varsity quarter, who at the close of each meeting discards the conventional "I move we adjourn, sir,'" for the more modern "23, skidoo."”

23 skidoo street

💡 A fictitious place or a generic place that could refer to any location.

“"Apply at once to XYZ, 23 Skidoo St., New York."”

51 percent

💡 A narrow or bare majority.

“But in a political system, everything tends to be a yes-or-no decision; if 51 percent vote yes, it's yes.”

800-pound gorilla

💡 An entity that dominates its environment.

“Q: Where does an 800-pound gorilla sleep? A: Wherever it wants!”

99 problems

💡 An innumerable amount of problems which nevertheless implies one notable matter is not considered a problem.

“It all meant that the way was clear for Bradley Wiggins to establish himself as the rightful successor to the Tour de France throne. The order was still a tall one: see off Cadel Evans, Vincenzo Nibali, Frank Schleck, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Robert Gesink, Ryder Hesjedal, Denis Menchov, Alejandro Valverde and any number of day-to-day issues. But not Andy Schleck or Alberto Contador. Brad has 99 problems but the Schleck ain't one of them.”

a boon and a bane

💡 Something that is both a benefit and an affliction.

a bridge too far

💡 A step or action that is too ambitious; an act of overreaching.

“Cloning was an interesting concept. Cloning body parts was again just man's search for immortality riding on the back of naive altruistic medicinal benevolence. But cloning a person was a bridge too far.”

a cigar is just a cigar

💡 The matter is simple and straightforward.

“There's plenty of time for dating later on—look at Janet Reno. Okay, don’t look at Janet Reno. However, assuming that you are seeking romance (and that a cigar is just a cigar), your best bet is to warn would-be companions of potential scheduling snafus ahead of time.”

a cold day in july

💡 The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.

“It'll be a cold day in July when that happens.”

a day late and a dollar short

💡 Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

“His apology was a day late and a dollar short.”

a dime a dozen

💡 So common as to be practically or almost worthless.

“People with your skills are a dime a dozen these days.”

a far remove

💡 A great distance from something or somewhere.

“The aristocratic House of Peers is at a far remove from the people”

a good deal

💡 Very much; to a great extent; a lot; lots.

“We had a good deal more money after winning the lottery.”

a great deal

💡 Very much; to a great extent; a lot; lots.

“We had a great deal more money after winning the lottery.”

a hundred and ten percent

💡 A level of effort beyond what one can usually sustain; great exertion.

“We busted our tails and won; we really gave 110% in that game.”

a little bird told me

💡 I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.

“Let’s just say I know because a little bird told me.”

a little bit of bread and no cheese

“The song of the yellow-hammer consists of little more than a monotone, repeated quickly several times, some emphasis being laid on the last note, which is also uttered at greater length. It is almost the only bird whose note is heard in the heat of a summer's day. The cow-boys in some parts of the country have given the following interpretation to the yellow-hammer's song:— "A lit—tle bit of bread, and no cheese."”

a little from column a, a little from column b

💡 A combination of two factors or reasons.

“Clinton would take a little from column A, a little from column B, depending on the day, his mood, and whom he had talked to last.”

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