~ A ~

A bit much

If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

A day late and a dollar short

(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.

A fool and his money are soon parted

This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.

A little bird told me

If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.

A little learning is a dangerous thing

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

A OK

If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.

A penny for your thoughts

This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.

A penny saved is a penny earned

This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it.

A picture is worth a thousand words

A picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal description.

A poor man's something

Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.

A pretty penny

If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive.

A rising tide lifts all boats

This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

People say this to mean that that a go-getter type person is more successful than a person not doing any thing.

A steal

If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth.

A1

If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.

Abide by a decision

If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.

Abject lesson

(India) An abject lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English 'object lesson' is used.)

About as useful as a chocolate teapot

Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

About face

If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.

Above board

If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.

Accident waiting to happen

If something is an accident waiting to happen, there's definitely going to be an accident or it's bound to go wrong. ('Disaster waiting to happen' is also used.)

Ace up your sleeve

If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people don't know about.

Achilles' heel

A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.

Acid test

An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.

Across the board

If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.

Across the ditch

(NZ) This idiom means on the other side of the Tasman Sea, used to refer to Australia or New Zealand depending on the speaker's location.

Across the pond

(UK) This idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker's location.

Actions speak louder than words

This idiom means that what people actually do is more important than what they say- people can promise things but then fail to deliver.

Adam's apple

The Adam's apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men.

Add fuel to the fire

If people add fuel to the fire, they make a bad situation worse.

Add insult to injury

When people add insult to injury, they make a bad situation even worse.

After your own heart

A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you.

Against the clock

If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it.

Against the grain

If doing something goes against the grain, you're unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.

Age before beauty

When this idiom is used, it is a way of allowing an older person to do something first, though often in a slightly sarcastic way.

Agony aunt

An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones.

Ahead of the pack

If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.

Ahead of time

If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time.

Albatross around your neck

An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.

Alike as two peas

If people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical.

All along

If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.

All and sundry

This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.

All bark and no bite

Someone who talks a lot, but does nothing to back up their words-- like a dog that barks at strangers, but won't actually bite.

All bets are off

(USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.

All ears

If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.

All eyes on me

If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them.

All fingers and thumbs

If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity. 'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the idiom.

All hat, no cattle

(USA) When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.

All heart

Someone who is all heart is very kind and generous.

All hell broke loose

When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.

All in your head

If something is all in your head, you have imagined it and it is not real.

All mod cons

If something has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.

All mouth and trousers

(UK) Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver. 'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.

All of the above

This idiom can be used to mean everything that has been said or written, especially all the choices or possibilities.

All over the map

(USA) If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.

All over the place

If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.

All over the shop

If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.

All roads lead to Rome

This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.

All set

If you're all set, you are ready for something.

All skin and bone

If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.

All square

If something is all square, nobody has an advantage or is ahead of the others.

All talk and no trousers

(UK) Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.

All that glitters is not gold

This means that appearances can be deceptive and things that look or sound valuable can be worthless. ('All that glistens is not gold' is an alternative.)

All the rage

If something's all the rage, it is very popular or fashionable at the moment.

All the tea in China

If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.

All your eggs in one basket

If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything at once, instead of trying to spread the risk. (This is often used as a negative imperative- 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket'. 'Have your eggs in one basket' is also used.)

All's fair in love and war

This idiom is used to say that where there is conflict, people can be expected to behave in a more vicious way.

All-singing, all-dancing

If something's all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.

Alter ego

An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means 'other self'.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.

Ambulance chaser

A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.

Amen

Some use 'Amen' or 'Amen to that' as a way of agreeing with something that has just been said.

An old flame

An old flame is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked on fondly and with affection.

And all that jazz

This idiom means that everything related or similar is included.

Answers on a postcard

This idiom can be used to suggest that the answer to something is very obvious or that the person would really like to hear what people think.

Ants in your pants

If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.

Any port in a storm

This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.

Any Tom, Dick or Harry

If something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone.

Apple of your eye

Something or, more often, someone that is very special to you is the 'apple of your' eye.

Apron strings

A man who is tied to a woman's apron strings is excessively dependent on her, especially when it is his mother's apron strings.

Argue the toss

(UK) If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.

Arm and a leg

If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.

Armchair critic

An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.

Armed to the teeth

If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.

Around the clock

If something is open around the clock, it is open 24 hours a day. For example, an airport is open around the clock.

Arrow in the quiver

An arrow in the quiver is a strategy or option that could be used to achieve your objective.

As a rule

If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.

As cold as ice

This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.

As cold as stone

If something is as cold as stone, it is very cold. If a person is as cold as stone, they are unemotional.

As cool as a cucumber

If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.

As mad as a hatter

This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.

As much use as a chocolate teapot

Something that is as much use as a chocolate teapot is not useful at all.

As much use as a handbrake on a canoe

This idiom is used to describe someone or something as worthless or pointless.

As neat as a new pin

This idiom means tidy and clean.

As one man

If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.

As the actress said to the bishop

(UK) This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.

As the crow flies

This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.

As you sow, so shall you reap

This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.

Asleep at the switch

If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. 'Asleep at the wheel' is an alternative.

Asleep at the wheel

If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. 'Asleep at the switch' is an alternative.

At a loose end

(UK) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.

At arm's length

(India) If something is at arm's length, it is very close to you.

At cross purposes

When people are at cross purposes, they misunderstand each other or have different or opposing objectives.

At death's door

If someone looks as if they are at death's door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.

At each other's throats

If people are at each other's throats, they are fighting, arguing or competing ruthlessly.

At full tilt

If something is at full tilt, it is going or happening as fast or as hard as possible.

At large

If a criminal is at large, they have not been found or caught.

At loggerheads

If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can't agree on anything.

At loose ends

(USA) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.

At odds

If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.

At sea

If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.

At the bottom of the totem pole

(USA) If someone is at the bottom of the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top of the totem pole.

At the coalface

If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.

At the drop of a hat

If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you'd do it immediately.

At the end of the day

This is used to mean 'in conclusion' or 'when all is said and done'.

At the end of your rope

(USA) If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.

At the end of your tether

(UK) If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.

At the top of my lungs

If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.

At your wit's end

If you're at your wit's end, you really don't know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.

At your wits' end

If you are at your wits' end, you have no idea what to do next and are very frustrated.

Average Joe

An average Joe is an ordinary person without anything exceptional about them.

Avowed intent

If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.

Awe inspiring

Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.

AWOL

AWOL stands for "Absent Without Leave", or "Absent Without Official Leave". Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.

Axe to grind

If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out. In American English, it is 'ax'.