Idiom of the Day

A dime a dozen – something that is easy to get

Idiom of the Day

A piece of cake – something that is easy to do

Idiom of the Day

An arm and a leg – expensive

Idiom of the Day

Apple of my eye – someone who is dearly loved

Idiom of the Day

Bite your tongue – try not to talk

Idiom of the Day

Hit the books – to study

Idiom of the Day

Hit the sack – to go to bed

Idiom of the Day

Kick the bucket – to die

Idiom of the Day

Let the cat out of the bag – to tell a secret

Idiom of the Day

Run out of steam – to have no energy

Idiom of the Day

Sick as a dog – very sick

Idiom of the Day

Tie the knot – to get married

Idiom of the Day

Under the weather – sick

Idiom of the Day

Actions speak louder than words – doing something is better than only talking about it

Idiom of the Day

Backseat driver – a passenger who tells the driver how to drive

Idiom of the Day

Blood is thicker than water – family ties are stronger than other relationships

Idiom of the Day

Break a leg – good luck

Idiom of the Day

Cast iron stomach – what is said when someone can eat anything without having an upset stomach

Idiom of the Day

Cross your fingers – to hope for good luck

Idiom of the Day

Drive someone up the wall – to annoy someone

Idiom of the Day

Every cloud has a silver lining – there is something good in everything, even in bad situations

Idiom of the Day

Fixed in your ways – unwilling to change

Idiom of the Day

Have an axe to grind – to have a problem with someone

Idiom of the Day

Hit the nail on the head – to do or say something that is exactly correct

Idiom of the Day

Hold your horses – be patient

Idiom of the Day

It takes two to tango – when both people in an argument are to blame

Idiom of the Day

Jaywalk – to cross the street illegally, not in a crosswalk

Idiom of the Day

Keep your chin up – stay positive

Idiom of the Day

Keep an eye on him – to watch someone closely

Idiom of the Day

Kitty-corner – diagonally across

Idiom of the Day

Know the ropes – to know what you’re doing

Idiom of the Day

Lend me your ear – to ask someone to listen to you

Idiom of the Day

Mum’s the word – to be quiet about something

Idiom of the Day

No room to swing a cat – a very small space

Idiom of the Day

Get off on the wrong foot – to start a relationship badly

Idiom of the Day

On the fence – unsure/undecided

Idiom of the Day

On the same page – when people agree about something

Idiom of the Day

Pedal to the metal – to go very fast, especially in driving

Idiom of the Day

Pig out – to eat a lot

Idiom of the Day

Put a sock in it – be quiet

Idiom of the Day

Raining cats and dogs – a heavy rain

Idiom of the Day

Rise and shine – get out of bed and start the day

Idiom of the Day

Sitting shotgun – to sit in the front passenger seat of a car

Idiom of the Day

Smell a rat – to believe someone is doing something wrong

Idiom of the Day

Start from scratch – to start all over

Idiom of the Day

Third time’s a charm – to have success at something on the third try

Idiom of the Day

Without a doubt – for sure

Idiom of the Day

Your guess is as good as mine – I don’t know

Idiom of the Day

You can’t judge a book by its cover – you can’t always be sure of something just by looking at it

Idiom of the Day

Wear your heart on your sleeve – to show emotions

Contact Info

Applied Language Institute
5301 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: 816.235.1233
Fax: 816.235.5437
E-Mail: ali@umkc.edu
Hours: Monday – Friday,
8 am – 4 pm