Show:
Idioms I.
Idioms II.
Idioms III.
Idioms IV.
100

Have your head in the clouds

  • He has his head in the clouds if he seriously thinks he's going to get a promotion soon.

to be out of touch of reality. Your ideas may not be sensible or practical.

100

It´s raining cats and dogs

it's raining very hard.

  • Take you umbrella and a jacket because it's raining cats and dogs outside.
100

Break the ice

 to say or do something to make someone feel relaxed or at ease in a social setting.

  • He offered to get her a drink to help break the ice.
100

Storm in a teacup

  • Those two are always arguing about something, it's just a storm in a teacup

when someone makes a small problem larger than it really is.

200

It never rains but it pours

  • First he lost his keys to the house, then his wallet and then his car broke down. It never rains but it pours.

 when things don't just go wrong but very wrong and other bad things happen too.

200

Every cloud has a silver lining

  • I got laid off from work yesterday, but every cloud has a silver lining and now I can spend more time writing my book.

There is always something positive to come out of an unpleasant or difficult situation.


200

Be snowed under

  • I'm snowed under at work right now because two of my colleagues are on holiday.

 to have so much to do that you are having trouble doing it all.

  • I'm snowed under at work right now because two of my colleagues are on holiday.
200

Storm is brewing

  • You could tell by the looks on their faces that a storm was brewing.

 

indication that something is about to become bad or explode


300

On cloud nine

  • They were both on cloud nine during their honeymoon.

 to be extremely happy.


300

Come rain or shine

  • I'll be there to help you move house come rain or shine.

you can depend on someone to be there no matter what or whatever the weather.

300

Be a breeze

  • Our English exam was a breeze. I'm sure I'll get top marks.

to be very easy to do.

  • Our English exam was a breeze. I'm sure I'll get top marks.
300

Under the weather

Paul isn't coming with us because he feels a little under the weather.

you are not feeling well


400

Get wind of

  • He got wind of the closure of the company so started looking for a new job immediately.

to learn or hear of something that should be a secret.

400

Chase rainbows

when someone tries to do something that they will not achieve

400

As right as rain

to feel fine and healthy.

  • Don't worry about me, I'm as right as rain after my knee operation.
400

Save for a rainy day

  • Don't spend your entire wage in one night. You should save for a rainy day.

to save for the future when it might suddenly be needed (unexpectedly)

500

Fair-weather friend

  • She was a fair-weather friend because she wasn't interested in me once I had lost my job.

a person who is only your friend during good times or when things are going well for you but disappears when things become difficult or you have problems.

500

Calm before the storm

quiet, peaceful period before a moment of great activity or mayhem.

  • The in-laws were about to arrive with their kids so she sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee enjoying the calm before the storm.
500

Steal my thunder

  • Don't wear that dress to the wedding; the bride won't like it because you'll be stealing her thunder

when someone takes attention away from someone else.


500

Ray of hope

  • There is a ray of hope after all, it looks like we won't be losing our jobs.

 

there is a chance that something positive will happen.