Idioms 1
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Moving from my old school to this one is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Going from a bad situation to one that is worse
In the same boat
Joe said that he hated his job, to which Bill retorted that they were all in the same boat.
To be in the same unfortunate circumstance as others
Head over heels
Tom and Mary are head over heels in love with each other and are getting married next month.
To be madly in love
Out of this world
Wow! That performance was out of this world!
Extremely enjoyable or impressive
Bull in a china shop
Do you really have to behave like a bull in a china shop while I speak with my clients?
An extremely clumsy person
Tto handle a delicate situation badly.
Have two left feet
I'm sorry I can't dance better. I have two left feet.
To be very clumsy or uncoordinated
A fifth wheel
I didn't realize the party was for couples only, so when I showed up alone, I felt like a fifth wheel.
Someone who is unnecessary to the group or who is tagging along with a group and is not necessarily welcome
Jump the gun
He jumped the gun and bought a ticket for me even before I said that I could go to the concert with him.
To start something before it is permissible, appropriate, or advisable
Fraidy cat
Greg called Jill a fraidy cat because she didn't want to go hiking in the woods after dark.
A person who is easily frightened or needlessly afraid
Apple of my eye
She has three children, but her youngest son is the apple of her eye.
A cherished or favored person
Caught red handed
He tried to deny that he stole the money but he was caught red handed by the security cameras.
To see, and perhaps apprehend, someone as they are doing something (often something nefarious/wicked or criminal)
Once in a blue moon
An earthquake hits once in a blue moon in this part of the country.
Very rarely
Go out on a limb
During the analysis of the news, he went out on a limb and expressed his opinion.
To do or say something that lacks evidence or support
Eat my words
I can't believe he didn't trust that we could win. He will have to eat his words.
To retract, regret, or feel foolish about what one has previously said
Back to the drawing board
My experiment was a failure, so I'm back to the drawing board.
Revising something (such as a plan) from the beginning, typically after it has failed
A blessing in disguise
Running late for work turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I would have been in the middle of that big multi-car pile up had I left on time.
An unfortunate event or situation that results in an unforeseen positive outcome
Pull the wool over your eyes
I'm not as dumb as you think. Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes.
To deceive, fool, or misdirect someone, especially to gain advantage
Make a mountain out of a molehill
Rita just asked you to talk quieter. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
To exaggerate or put too much focus on a minor issue and make it seem like a major one
The squeaky wheel gets the grease
My younger brother got far more stuff from my parents when we were kids because the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
The person complaining or protesting the loudest or most frequently gets the most attention from others
Get a leg in the door
An internship may not sound exciting, but it's a great way to get your leg in the door at this company.
To have the chance to do something that could lead to further opportunities
Rise above the blues
After obtaining a bad grade on my test, I decided to rise above the blues and work hard to bring my grade up.
To do what needs to be done in spite of difficult circumstances or feelings of frustration or sadness
Everything but the kitchen sink
When she packed for vacation, it appeared that she packed everything but the kitchen sink.
Nearly everything one can reasonably imagine; often to the point of excess or redundancy
Let bygones be bygones
They decided to let bygones be bygones and made peace with each other.
Stop focusing on something that happened in the past
The whole nine yards
She is the love of my life. For her, I'll go the whole nine yards.
The entirety of what's available or possible
When in Rome
I know you don't normally put relish on your hot dog, but that's the thing here. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
One should do what is customary or typical in a particular place or setting, especially when one is a tourist