Interactive Exercises in English (ESL)
The idioms on this page mainly come from our Interactive Exercises.
On this page we try to help you understand them.
Click here for interactive and printable crosswords. Exercises are added and revised regularly!
The idioms on this page mainly come from our Interactive Exercises.
On this page we try to help you understand them.
Click here for interactive and printable crosswords. Exercises are added and revised regularly!
This page is updated regularly with new idioms
examples
int
um
a lost cause
make up for lost time
get lost
lose out
no love lost
lose the plot
be lost without someone
long-lost
No one can help Gus - he’s a lost cause, I’m afraid!
Come on, work hard. Due to the holiday we now have to make up for lost time!
Get lost you silly child! Can’t you see I’m very busy!
John’s unhappy because he lost out on the contact. His rival got it!
There’s no love lost between Gordon and Tony! They dislike each other.
Mary’s doesn’t know what she’s doing any more. She’s lost the plot completely!
My secretary is on holiday and I’m totally lost without her!
I’m over the moon! I’ve just found my long-lost friend Peter!
a bolt from the blue
the calm before the storm
chasing rainbows
be on cloud nine
not a cloud on the horizon
see something or someone in the cold light of day
come rain or shine
be down in the doldrums
go through a dry spell
every cloud has a silver lining
have a face like thunder
a fair-weather friend
get wind of something
like greased lightning
have your head is in the clouds
it never rains but it pours
Jack Frost has visited
know which way the wind blows
put something away for a rainy day
as right as rain
sailing close to the wind
It was a bolt from the blue when John told me he was getting a divorce. Totally unexpected!
Admittedly, Peter and Henry, who dislike each other, have not been arguing recently, but I think this is just the calm before the storm! I’m sure they’ll be fighting before long!
Jerry will never get the manager’s job - he’s just chasing rainbows!
Penny has just accepted Joe’s proposal of marriage and she’s on cloud nine!
Penny has just accepted Joe’s proposal of marriage and she’s on cloud nine!
We can’t see any problems ahead. It seems that there isn’t a cloud on the horizon!
I was very enthusiastic about the plan, but now, having seen it in the cold light of day, I’m not so sure...!
Don’t worry! I’ll definitely meet you there come rain or shine! You can absolutely depend on me!
Poor Mary! She’s been down in the doldrums every since she lost her job.
My business isn’t going as well as it used to. I’m going through a dry spell, I’m afraid!
My business isn’t going as well as it used to. I’m going through a dry spell, I’m afraid!
Cheer up, Mary! You’ve lost your job, I agree. But now you can take that holiday you promised yourself! Every cloud has a silver lining!
Your father must be very angry with you! When I saw him a few minutes ago he had a face like thunder!
I always thought of Jake as a good friend, but when I needed help he disappeared! He was just a fair-weather friend, unfortunately.
We’re a bit worried! we’ve just got wind of new job cuts our factory. But we don’t know any more because our bosses won’t tell us anything.
When I told Jeff that the police were coming to question him, he disappeared like greased lightning!
I wish my brother would come down to earth and start being practical. At present he’s got his head in the clouds!
I didn’t get any emails from anyone for weeks - now suddenly I’ve just got lots! It never rains but it pours!
Oh, dear! Look at the ice on the windows! I’m afraid Jack Frost has visited us!
Looking at the future, we should be very careful! I know which way the wind blows! I can guess what’s going to happen!
While earning a good salary in your job, you should put something away for a rainy day. You never know what will happen in the future!
Everything’s going well! I’m out of hospital and feel great! Yes, I’m as right as rain at the moment!
If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.
Seven sheets to the wind
If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.
Shoot the breeze
When you shoot the breeze, you chat in a relaxed way.
Silly season
The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories.
Steal someone's thunder
If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.
Storm in a teacup
If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is, then they are making a storm in a teacup.
Take a raincheck
If you take a rain check, you decline an offer now, suggesting you will accept it later. ('Raincheck' is also used.)
Storm in a teacup
If people exaggerate the seriousness of a situation or problem, they are making a tempest in a teapot.
Throw caution to the wind
When people throw caution to the wind, they take a great risk.
Under a cloud
If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.
Under the weather
If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.
Weather a storm
If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.
It doesn't rain but it pours
This idiom means that when things go wrong, a lot of things go wrong at the same time.
White as snow
If something or someone is as white as snow, they are perfect or completely uncorrupted and honest.
If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.
Seven sheets to the wind
If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.
Shoot the breeze
When you shoot the breeze, you chat in a relaxed way.
Silly season
The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories.
Steal someone's thunder
If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.
Storm in a teacup
If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is, then they are making a storm in a teacup.
Take a raincheck
If you take a rain check, you decline an offer now, suggesting you will accept it later. ('Raincheck' is also used.)
Storm in a teacup
If people exaggerate the seriousness of a situation or problem, they are making a tempest in a teapot.
Throw caution to the wind
When people throw caution to the wind, they take a great risk.
Under a cloud
If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.
Under the weather
If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.
Weather a storm
If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.
It doesn't rain but it pours
This idiom means that when things go wrong, a lot of things go wrong at the same time.
White as snow
If something or someone is as white as snow, they are perfect or completely uncorrupted and honest.
Idioms using the word long
adv
um
He was long in the tooth - he was getting old , or too old for some activity
He was long-suffering - he had to endure a life of suffering
He was not long for this world - he did not have long to live
He had a long face - he was sad and unhappy about something
He was long-winded - he spoke for too long and became boring, or took too long to say things
He longed for a breather - he was working hard and needed a break
He was the long arm of the law - he was a policeman. The Bill is the police (see below)
He was as honest as the day is long - he was completely honest
He was putting up with a lot of flack - flack, colloquial for criticism
He was squeaky clean - no one could find any fault with him
He was the Bill. - the Bill is slang for the metropolitan police
He was getting on - getting on means getting old
He was going to kick the bucket - he was going to die
He went on and on . . - he was a long, boring speaker
He yearned for a break - yearn for = long for = dream of = desperately desire
He was down in the mouth - he was unhappy about something which had occurred
Idioms using the word short
adv
um
She wasn't short of a bob or two - she was wealthy
She drew the short straw - she was chosen for the worst job available
She was on a short fuse - she very often and very easily became angry
She was caught short - she had to go to the toilet urgently
She was short changed - someone cheated her
She was on a short leash - her freedom was limited because she was being supervised
She was one card short of a full deck - she was not very intelligent, or was a bit crazy
She fell short of perfection - she was not perfect
She was chosen to do the nastiest chore - chores = those day-to-day jobs that no one wants to do
She should have gone to the loo before - the loo = the toilet, and is the most popular word for toilet now
She was well heeled - well-heeled means she had plenty of money
She was thick - to be thick = to be stupid
She was being carefully supervised - self explanatory!
She easily got her knickers in a twist - get your knickers in a twist is a vulgar way of saying get angry
She was done out of something - someone cheated her of what she should receive
She was flawed - flaw = an imperfection
She drew the short straw - she was chosen for the worst job available
She was on a short fuse - she very often and very easily became angry
She was caught short - she had to go to the toilet urgently
She was short changed - someone cheated her
She was on a short leash - her freedom was limited because she was being supervised
She was one card short of a full deck - she was not very intelligent, or was a bit crazy
She fell short of perfection - she was not perfect
She was chosen to do the nastiest chore - chores = those day-to-day jobs that no one wants to do
She should have gone to the loo before - the loo = the toilet, and is the most popular word for toilet now
She was well heeled - well-heeled means she had plenty of money
She was thick - to be thick = to be stupid
She was being carefully supervised - self explanatory!
She easily got her knickers in a twist - get your knickers in a twist is a vulgar way of saying get angry
She was done out of something - someone cheated her of what she should receive
She was flawed - flaw = an imperfection
Idioms using the word high
adv
um
He'll be for the high jump if = in serious trouble, and probably the sack form work
After searching high and low = searching everywhere
As high as a kite = totally drunk or high on drugs
A high roller, = someone who gambles heavily, especially in Las Vegas
A high flyer = a very clever and successful business person
Come hell or high water = whatever happens
It's high time = it’s very late, and should have been done before
he won lots of cash in Las Vegas
he is earning thousands of dollars a week
he'll get a gold medal in the Olympics
he drank strong coffee to sober up = stop being drunk (sober is the opposite of drunk)
he pulled his finger out and found work = to pull your finger out means start working properly
he finally found the bill under some papers
he's caught with his hands in the till = caught trying to steal money, or caught red-handed
After searching high and low = searching everywhere
As high as a kite = totally drunk or high on drugs
A high roller, = someone who gambles heavily, especially in Las Vegas
A high flyer = a very clever and successful business person
Come hell or high water = whatever happens
It's high time = it’s very late, and should have been done before
he won lots of cash in Las Vegas
he is earning thousands of dollars a week
he'll get a gold medal in the Olympics
he drank strong coffee to sober up = stop being drunk (sober is the opposite of drunk)
he pulled his finger out and found work = to pull your finger out means start working properly
he finally found the bill under some papers
he's caught with his hands in the till = caught trying to steal money, or caught red-handed
Idioms using the word blue
adv
um
It wasa bolt from the blue = entirely unexpected
he was screaming blue murder = very angry and shouting
he was black and blue = badly bruised
it came out of the blue = it came suddenly
repeat until you are blue in the face = keep repeating something but no one listens
her blue-eyed boy = the favourite, for a person in authority, who can do no wrong
once in a blue moon = rarely
blue-blooded = from an upper-class or aristocratic family
he was screaming blue murder = very angry and shouting
he was black and blue = badly bruised
it came out of the blue = it came suddenly
repeat until you are blue in the face = keep repeating something but no one listens
her blue-eyed boy = the favourite, for a person in authority, who can do no wrong
once in a blue moon = rarely
blue-blooded = from an upper-class or aristocratic family
Idioms using the word big
int
um
Big Brother - if you talk about Big Brother it usually means surveillance, or government prying into people’s secrets
Big deal! - when said to another person, it’s sarcastic and means the opposite - that the deal is unimportant!
hit the big time - become important or famous
a big cheese - an important person
a big deal - unlike Big deal! (above), a big deal is an important deal like: “I’m negotiating a big deal.”
a big fish - an important person
a big fish in a small pond - someone important, but only in their own sphere or community or location.
a big noise - an important person often talked about
a big mouth - talks to much and spreads gossip
a big shot - an important person, perhaps in gambling or entertainment.
get the big picture - be able to see the whole, rather than just a part of it
“It’s big of you.” - if someone says this he’s saying a sincere thank you because he’s made a sacrifice to help you
big on - The police are getting big on checking people’s identities.
make it big - become successful: “John’s made it big in films!”
too big for your boots - proud and over-confident
What's the big idea? - “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
have big ears - “You’ve got big ears!” - you’re criticising someone for listening in to your private conversation
“Don’t make a big thing out of it.” - keep it in perspective, or “don’t make a mountain out of a molehill”
a big-head - is someone who thinks they know everything!
“You’re the last of the big spenders!” - sarcastic remark meaning what the person is spending is no big deal!
Mr Big - the top person, or the boss
Big deal! - when said to another person, it’s sarcastic and means the opposite - that the deal is unimportant!
hit the big time - become important or famous
a big cheese - an important person
a big deal - unlike Big deal! (above), a big deal is an important deal like: “I’m negotiating a big deal.”
a big fish - an important person
a big fish in a small pond - someone important, but only in their own sphere or community or location.
a big noise - an important person often talked about
a big mouth - talks to much and spreads gossip
a big shot - an important person, perhaps in gambling or entertainment.
get the big picture - be able to see the whole, rather than just a part of it
“It’s big of you.” - if someone says this he’s saying a sincere thank you because he’s made a sacrifice to help you
big on - The police are getting big on checking people’s identities.
make it big - become successful: “John’s made it big in films!”
too big for your boots - proud and over-confident
What's the big idea? - “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
have big ears - “You’ve got big ears!” - you’re criticising someone for listening in to your private conversation
“Don’t make a big thing out of it.” - keep it in perspective, or “don’t make a mountain out of a molehill”
a big-head - is someone who thinks they know everything!
“You’re the last of the big spenders!” - sarcastic remark meaning what the person is spending is no big deal!
Mr Big - the top person, or the boss
The Fat's in the fire!
Idioms with the word fat
int
um
chew the fat - have a friendly chat with an old friend, usually about old tiimes
Fat chance! - No possibility at all: "Don't worry, your hubby will come home early." "Fat chance!"
a fat cat - a rich person doesn’t deserve his riches. “Lord Oldcastle is a fat cat - he lives off the fat of the land!”
a fat lot of good - means it’s no good at all
the fat is in the fire - things are going to get hot! Something like: “The shit’s about to hit the fan!”
It's not over until the fat lady sings - You say this to encourage someone who ls losing a competition, etc.
“He lives off the fat of the land.” - he does nothing constructive, but just has plenty of money to live in luxury
puppy fat - fat a young person has which will disappear as they get older.
Fat chance! - No possibility at all: "Don't worry, your hubby will come home early." "Fat chance!"
a fat cat - a rich person doesn’t deserve his riches. “Lord Oldcastle is a fat cat - he lives off the fat of the land!”
a fat lot of good - means it’s no good at all
the fat is in the fire - things are going to get hot! Something like: “The shit’s about to hit the fan!”
It's not over until the fat lady sings - You say this to encourage someone who ls losing a competition, etc.
“He lives off the fat of the land.” - he does nothing constructive, but just has plenty of money to live in luxury
puppy fat - fat a young person has which will disappear as they get older.