English Idioms

~ A ~

A can of worms

Meaning: A situation that can create serious or complicated problems
Example: You are opening a can of worms if you start offering discounts to some of the clients.

Add fuel to the fire

Meaning: Making an argument or conflict even worse
Example: In the argument with her boss, Patricia’s comments only add fuel to the fire.

All fingers and thumbs

Meaning: Clumsy and not skilled with hands
Example: Karen will not be able to finish knitting this sweater because she is all fingers and thumbs.

At the coalface

Meaning: Doing the work of a job or dealing with the real problems rather than simply sitting there talking about the issue
Example: Mary is a good boss as she works at the coalface together with her team-mates.

At the drop of a hat

Meaning: If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you would do it immediately, without hesitation.
Example: David always finishes the tasks assigned by his manager at the drop of a hat.

At the top of the ladder

Meaning: In the highest position in an organization
Example: Having worked for many years in the hotel industry, he is now at the top of the ladder.

~ B ~

Back to square one

Meaning: If you are back to square one, you have to start working on something from the beginning again because the way you worked on it previously failed.
Example: The new manager has left and the team is back to square one.

Bad blood

Meaning: People dislike each other because of arguments in the past
Example: Cheri criticized Bonnie in front of the CEO because there was bad blood between them.

Be under a cloud

Meaning: Being suspected of having done something bad
Example: It is found that the company's safe was stolen, and the admin manager is under a cloud since he was the last one to leave the office last night.

Big fish

Meaning: An important or powerful person in an organization
Example: Mr Anderson is a big fish in this company. He is the president.

Big hitter

Meaning: A powerful and important person in their field.
Example: The chairman of our company is able to invite big hitters in the industry to attend our PR event.

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: To stay up late in order to finish some work
Example: Gilbert has to submit the report to his manager tomorrow so he will be burning the midnight oil tonight.

Butterflies in your stomach

Meaning: Nervous or exciting feeling about something important or stressful
Example: Tommy says that meeting the director every week produces butterflies in his stomach.

~ C ~

Carrot and stick

Meaning: A carrot and stick approach is to offer others an incentive to do something and to punish them if they refuse to do it.
Example: Our company is using a carrot-and-stick approach to solve the late problem

Chalk and cheese

Meaning: It means two things or people that are completely different from each other.
Example: Miranda and May always have different opinions and handle things very differently. They are chalk and cheese.

Chasing rainbows

Meaning: trying to achieve something impossible or impractical
Example: Mark wants to be a singer but all his friends think he is just chasing rainbows.

Cloud on the horizon

Meaning: A problem that you expect to come
Example: Preparation for this project has been smooth. The only cloud on the horizon is that the contractor may not be able to meet our deadline.

Cold shoulder

Meaning: This is to behave towards somebody deliberately in a way unfriendly and uncooperative.
Example: After an argument in a project meeting, Kay gave William the cold shoulder in the following week.

Come up roses

Meaning: It means things happen successfully.
Example: Although it has taken much time to find a suitable speaker, the seminar comes up roses.

Cook someone's goose

Meaning: To spoil someone's plans so that they cannot succeed
Example: Shirley cooked her manager's goose by exposing the tender proposal to their competitor.

Crocodile tears

Meaning: If someone cries crocodile tears, their tears or sadness are not sincere or genuine.
Example: John cries crocodile tears in front of a business partner he dislikes.

Cut your teeth

Meaning: Get your first experience and learn the basic skills for a career
Example: Fiona cut her teeth on a small boutique before she got a job in the largest local fashion chain-store.

~ D ~

Dog's dinner

Meaning: Something that is untidy or a mess
Example: Joyce has finished mowing the lawn at her backyard but it is just a dog’s dinner.

Donkey work

Meaning: Less interesting or difficult parts of a job
Example: The boss is unfair and asks Mary to do all the donkey work.

Double Dutch

Meaning: Writing or speech that is incomprehensible
Example: Macy is learning Japanese at junior level and when she tries to talk to Japanese customers, her speech is double Dutch.

Drag your heels

Meaning: To delay doing something or doing it slowly because you do not want to do it
Example: The manager is dragging his feet on the promotion issue of staff.

Drop the ball

Meaning: To make mistakes because of not doing the job seriously or doing something carelessly.
Example: Because Loletta drops the ball, so the whole project has to be postponed.

Duck soup

Meaning: Something that is very easy to do
Example: The sales executive is so experienced that winning a sales contract is simply duck soup.

~ E ~

Eagle eye

Meaning: If someone has eagle eyes, it means they can notice even small details
Example: No single grammatical mistake can escape the eagle eye of our proofreader.

Early bath

Meaning: Quit the job or an activity earlier than one intends to because things have gone wrong
Example: The marketing manager took an early bath after showing poor performance in a series of projects.

Eat humble pie

Meaning: To admit and apologize that you have done something wrong Example: That multinational company has made a serious mistake and its PR manager has to eat humble pie and apologize to the public.

Eat my hat

Meaning: You say this when you don’t believe something will happen. Example: Hugo is always late. If he can arrive on time today, I will eat my hat.

Egg on your face

Meaning: Made to look foolish or embarrassed Example: Bonnie attended the meeting without being invited, ending up with egg on her face.

~ F ~

Fair and square

Meaning: In an honest way without cheating
Example: Our competitor has won the contract fair and square. We have nothing to say.

Fall on your feet

Meaning: Being lucky or successful in doing something where there is a difficult situation
Example: Raymond always falls on his feet even if he has to handle the most difficult clients.

Fly in the ointment

Meaning: Something that spoils the success or enjoyment of something
Example: The fly in the ointment of Lawrence’s business trip is the sudden breakdown of his notebook computer.

Fly on the wall

Meaning: When an event happens, one would like to be there in secret in order to see and hear what is going on.
Example: Julia would like to be a fly on the wall when her manager discusses with the director about her performance during her probation.

Follow his nose

Meaning: Do something because you feel it should be done that way, instead of following rules
Example: In hiring an assistant, Vincent followed his nose and looked for candidates he likes in job interviews.

(Get) a foot in the door

Meaning: To start working at a low level in a company so that one can get a better position in the future
Example: Mavis does not like her current job; she simply uses it to get her foot in the door.

Fruitcake

Meaning: Crazy person
Example: The designer is kind of a fruitcake as he yells to colleagues working with him in all projects.

Full of beans

Meaning: Lively, energetic and enthusiastic
Example: After taking two weeks of annual leave, Serina is full of beans.

Full swing

Meaning: Doing well or operating fully
Example: Production is in full swing and the company should be able to deliver products to their customers on time.

~ G ~

Game plan

Meaning: An action or strategy to achieve something
Example: The chairman has his own game plan to expand into the China market.

Get the wrong end of the stick

Meaning: Do not understand something correctly
Example: The manager gave a letter to Janice and we all got the wrong end of the stick and thought that she was fired.

(Something) Gets on top of you

Meaning: Something makes you feel unhappy because it is difficult or it involves more work than you can manage
Example: June has some family problems and things have been getting on top of her recently.

Give someone enough rope to hang themselves

Meaning: To let someone do what they want freely because you know that they will most likely get into trouble
Example: I give my conceited colleague enough rope to hang himself, knowing that his suggestion would definitely make our director angry.

Go bust

Meaning: Goes bankrupt and has to close down
Example: Staff heard that the company has financial problems and will soon go bust.

Go the extra mile

Meaning: To make a special effort to do something
Example: The chairman of this company always goes the extra mile for his colleagues.

Golden handshake

Meaning: A sum of money that a company gives to an employee when he or she leaves the job
Example: May has worked at this company for more than 30 years and she got a golden handshake when she retired.

Golden rule

Meaning: It is the most fundamental rule you should remember as it will help you to be successful
Example: Vivian's golden rule in job interviews is to have enough sleep the night before.

Graveyard shift

Meaning: The period of work during the night
Example: Maurice works the graveyard shift for a local daily newspaper.

~ H ~

Half-baked

Meaning: A half-baked idea or plan is one that is not thoroughly thought and planned and therefore may be impractical.
Example: Michelle’s half-baked idea certainly does not help much in the project to be implemented tomorrow.

Hammer and tongs

Meaning: It refers to people doing something with great enthusiasm and energy.
Example: Dickson loves driving. He goes at it hammer and tongs after work every day.

High-handed

Meaning: If someone is high-handed, it means they exercise their power forcefully without thinking of the feelings of other people.
Example: Bonnie is the most high-handed manager in the company and most staff are afraid of her.

Hit the roof

Meaning: Get angry and lose temper
Example: The boss hit the roof when he heard that Jackie has spoilt the company's key project.

Hot air

Meaning: What someone says is hot air means that it is not sincere and is meaningless.
Example: The excuse used by the boss to ask his subordinates to work overtime is just hot air.

House of cards

Meaning: A plan or organization that is weak and can easily collapse
Example: That financial institution appeared to be strong and reliable in the past, but after the financial tsunami, it turned out to be a house of cards.

~ I ~

In donkey's years

Meaning: For a very long time
Example: Since Angela was promoted to a senior position, she has been so busy that she has not seen her friends in donkey's years.

In someone's pocket

Meaning: If a person is someone’s pocket, they do everything the other person wants them to do.
Example: The secretary is in her boss’ pocket because her boss has helped her solve financial problems.

In the hot seat

Meaning: In a position where one is responsible for making important or difficult decisions
Example: It is a challenge for Mary to be in the hot seat at this company after merging.

In the soup

Meaning: In trouble
Example: The sales executive knows that if he cannot get this contract, he will be in the soup.

Irons in the fire

Meaning: Having a few irons in the fire means having several different plans or possibilities of work.
Example: If the manager bans our proposal, we have some more irons in the fire.

~ J ~

Jack-of-all-trades

Meaning: Someone who can do lots of different jobs
Example: John engaged in various jobs in the past and has become a jack-of-all-trades.

Jobs for the boys

Meaning: Work that is given to someone's friends or relatives even if they are not qualified to handle
Example: These jobs for the boys are assigned to the manager's family members.

Jump the gun

Meaning: Do something before everyone else or before the appropriate time
Example: Victor jumped the gun and sent the New Year e-card to his clients before it was confirmed by the management.

~ K ~

Keep mum

Meaning: Keep quiet and do not tell anyone about something you know
Example: Joyce is keeping mum about the management’s decision to fire the designer.

Keep your chin up

Meaning: You say this to encourage people to be brave and not to be sad when they are in difficult situations.
Example: Keep your chin up! All in the team are here to help you.

Keep your head

Meaning: Remain calm in difficult situations
Example: Marianne is able to keep her head even if the company has fired her in the midst of the financial crisis .

Keep your shirt on

Meaning: It is to tell someone to stop being upset or to calm down.
Example: Keep your shirt on! Vincent is not rejecting your proposal. He is just giving suggestions.

(a fine or pretty) Kettle of fish

Meaning: A difficult situation
Example: This is a fine kettle of fish to me because I need to present the findings to the management soon but the computer is suddenly down.

Kick in the teeth

Meaning: Something upsetting or disappointing
Example: After a few days of hard work in preparing for our new product, it is a kick in the teeth that our competitor is faster in launching a similar item.

Knock your socks off

Meaning: Amaze or surprise you with something nice
Example: Tommy knocked our socks off by giving a fluent presentation of the salary survey findings.

Know your onions

Meaning: Being knowledgeable about a certain subject
Example: The real estate salesman knows his onions and has gained the trust from many customers.

~ L ~

Lame duck

Meaning: If a person or a company is a lame duck, they are in trouble and need help.
Example: Because of financial problems, our competitor has developed from a successful business to a lame duck.

Leave no stone unturned

Meaning: To do everything you can to achieve what you want or find something
Example: Tommy said he would leave no stone unturned in the search for a better job.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Meaning: Not to change a situation as it may cause trouble
Example: Jess is told to let sleeping dogs lie and not to suggest changes in the work schedule of the project.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Meaning: Something that makes you believe that a difficult situation will end
Example: Business is not good at this time of the year, but industry experts comment that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Like a fish out of water

Meaning: Feel uncomfortable or awkward in a situation you are in
Example: Mabel feels like a fish out of water because all her colleagues dress up and wear heavy make-up at work every day.

Like wildfire

Meaning: Something spreads like wildfire meaning it spreads quickly and intensely
Example: Gossip always spreads like wildfire in this company.

Lion's share

Meaning: The largest or best part of something
Example: The director banned our manager’s proposal to spend the lion’s share of the marketing budget on online promotion.

Long face

Meaning: Someone with a long face looks sad
Example: Leo got a long face after he has been scolded by his manager.

Long shot

Meaning: Something unlikely to be successful but is worth trying
Example: This sales deal is a long shot but Raymond can learn a lot in the process.

Low-key

Meaning: Not intending to attract attention
Example: Our chairman would prefer a low-key reception for the launch of a new website.

Lower your sights

Meaning: Accept to get something less than you hoped for
Example: Even if Kenneth wanted to be promoted to manager, he had to lower his sights after showing unsatisfactory performance in the project.

~ M ~

Make hay

Meaning: To take advantage of an opportunity or favourable condition
Example: Knowing that the project is postponed, colleagues make hay to finish all related tasks.

Make waves

Meaning: To change the current situation in a way that causes trouble.
Example: Staff decided to make waves and asked for a higher pay rise.

Man of straw

Meaning: A person or idea that is weak and can be beaten easily
Example: Comparing to our former project manager who is strong in personality, the new one, totally different, is a man of straw.

Mark time

Meaning: Do something not interesting while waiting to begin doing something more important
Example: Terence is marking time in this company until he is ready to start his own business.

Monkey Business

Meaning: Silly behaviour or dishonest activities
Example: The boss has discovered some monkey business with the accounts.

~ N ~

Nail in the coffin

Meaning: A problem or event that brings about the end of someone or something
Example: Failure in managing the project has become the final nail in the market manager's coffin.

Neck and neck

Meaning: It means two competitors are close and have an equal chance of winning.
Example: In bidding for this project, the two subcontractors are neck and neck.

Needle in a haystack

Meaning: Looking for a needle in a haystack means that it is very difficult to find.
Example: The project manager tries to find a contract signed with a partner ten years ago. This is simply looking for a needle in a haystack.

New broom

Meaning: Someone who has just started a new job and intends to make lots of changes
Example: The new broom was supposed to enhance the efficiency of the admin department, but she has disappointed everyone by making things worse than before.

Nip it in the bud

Meaning: Deal with a problem or stop something before it grows to be serious.
Example: The management needs to nip the kind of harassment in the bud before more staff are leaving the company.

Nitty gritty

Meaning: If someone gets down to the nitty gritty, they focus on the most important and basic parts of a situation.
Example: The manager always gets down to the nitty gritty in project meetings and talks about the budget.

No use crying over spilt milk

Meaning: You say this when something bad has happened and nothing can be done to change the situation.
Example: I regret having bought those stocks. Their prices fell a lot yesterday. Anyway, there is no use crying over spilt milk.

Nose in the air

Meaning: Behaving in a way as if superior than other people
Example: The technical director always walks in the office with his nose in the air and does not greet colleagues.

Number cruncher

Meaning: Someone who is good at or whose job involves dealing with numbers or calculations
Example: Alex is a number cruncher and he should work in the accounting industry instead of as a designer.

~ O ~

Off-hand

Meaning: Without preparation or checking the facts of something
Example: When the manager asks Kenneth questions, he always replies that he does not know the answer off-hand.

Off the cuff

Meaning: Do something off the cuff means doing it without preparation
Example: Our chairman did not expect to give a speech in the annual dinner and just gave a few remarks off the cuff.

Off the hook

Meaning: Manage to get out of a difficult situation
Example: Mr Poon is off the hook because he has forced his subordinate to represent him in the meeting with a difficult client.

On ice

Meaning: If plans or projects are put on ice, they will be delayed.
Example: The IT project is put on ice because of the tight budget.

On the ball

Meaning: It means someone is well-informed and aware of what is happening around.
Example: Mark is on the ball and he is so well-prepared that he can answer all questions from the reporters.

~ P ~

Pain in the neck

Meaning: Someone who is very annoying
Example: The colleague sitting next to me always talks to me when I am working. He is a real pain in the neck.

A paper tiger

Meaning: A person, country or organization that seems powerful but is actually weak
Example: Our manager is just a paper tiger since I don’t see him having any say in this company.

Piggy in the middle

Meaning: Someone who is involved in the dispute between two people or groups but does not want to take sides
Example: Whenever we have cross-team meetings, the teams always argue and I usually become piggy in the middle.

Place in the sun

Meaning: A job or situation that makes one happy and provides everything one wants
Example: After working so hard to make a name for himself in the industry, Arthur has finally found his place in the sun.

Put the cat among the pigeons

Meaning: To do something that causes fierce argument and troubles
Example: The company is going to put the cat among the pigeons because it is going to extend staff’s working hours on Saturdays.

~ Q ~

~ R ~

Rat race

Meaning: A way of life in which people compete with each other for success in work
Example: Jess thinks health is more important and therefore has decided to get out of the rat race.

Red carpet

Meaning: A red-carpet treatment means a special welcome to someone you think important
Example: Raymond gave a red-carpet treatment to his client who has signed a HK$10 million advertising contract with the company.

Rock the boat

Meaning: Upset a calm situation by causing trouble
Example: Joseph proposed to re-structure the design team but was told not to rock the boat.

Rough diamond

Meaning: Someone who does not seem very polite but is good in character
Example: Winnie is a rough diamond, but she is loyal to her manager.

Rub salt in the wound

Meaning: To make someone feel even worse in a difficult situation
Example: Jess did not get a promotion, and knowing that her new colleague was promoted just rubbed salt in the wound.

Rub shoulders with

Meaning: Meet and spend time with
Example: Dorothy claims that she rubs shoulders with movie stars every week.

Run a mile

Meaning: Be frightened and unwilling to deal with a situation
Example: Pauline would run a mile if we asked her to work with stubborn Octavia on this difficult project.

~ S ~

Safe bet

Meaning: It refers to something you are certain is true or will happen.
Example: It is a safe bet that the team supervisor will be promoted to manager.

Save your skin

Meaning: Avoid getting into difficulties or serious trouble, without considering other people
Example: The PR manager saved her own skin by putting the blame for the mistake on her subordinate.

Show someone the ropes

Meaning: Explain to somebody how to do a job
Example: The new designer started his job yesterday and the manager spent the whole day showing him the ropes.

A shrinking violet

Meaning: A very shy person
Example: Karen is no shrinking violet when she is off from work, especially during happy hours with colleagues.

Sick as a parrot

Meaning: Very disappointed
Example: Angel is sick as a parrot when she knows that her manager has cancelled his annual leave.

Step on someone's toes

Meaning: To upset someone by doing something that they should be in charge of
Example: In the meeting, Ken has initiated to reorganize the team structure and this has stepped on his manager’s toes.

Swim against the tide

Meaning: To not follow what others are doing
Example: Lawrence swam against the tide and challenged the ideas proposed by the manager in the weekly meeting.

~ T ~

Talk Turkey

Meaning: To talk frankly and bluntly
Example: The two teams are prepared to talk turkey in order to solve their problems.

Tempest in a teapot

Meaning: Unnecessary anger over trivial matters
Example: The HR manager is making a tempest in a teapot over the overuse of tissue paper by staff.

The ball is in someone's court

Meaning: If the ball is in someone's court, it means that it is him or her to make the next decision or take the next action.
Example: The ball is in the supervisor's court. He should decide what to do in the resignation of all members in his team.

Tighten your belt

Meaning: Spend less money because you have less money to spend than before
Example: Ester has to tighten her belt since she has lost her job.

Toast of

Meaning: Someone is the toast of a place means they are popular there
Example: Sammi’s singing talent has made her the toast of the town.

Toe the line

Meaning: Follow rules and act according to the order of the authority
Example: Mr Poon toes the line because he does not dare to challenge the management.

Tough cookie

Meaning: A determined person who tries to do everything to do what they want and to achieve even in difficult situations
Example: Joseph is a tough cookie. He finished the whole project on his own before deadline even if his team-mates left the company one by one.

~ U ~

Under your belt

Meaning: Having learnt or achieved something which will be a benefit in the future
Example: Joan is confident in her career path because she has rich working experience and also several master's degrees under her belt.

Up to your eyes

Meaning: You are busy and have a lot of work to do.
Example: Cheryl is up to her eyes at the office because she has to take up extra work from her manager.

~ V ~

Vent your spleen

Meaning: Release anger about something
Example: Cherry vented her spleen on the designer whose poor designs have made the whole project a total failure.

Virgin territory

Meaning: A new area or situation to you
Example: The IT company is moving into virgin territory by diversifying into food business.

~ W ~

Walk a tightrope

Meaning: Act or speak very carefully to avoid either of two opposite bad situations
Example: Companies have to walk a tightrope between cutting costs and retaining talent.

Walk on air

Meaning: Feel very happy
Example: Colleagues in the marketing team are walking on air as they find that their marketing campaign has won an international award.

Walk the plank

Meaning: Being forced to leave one's job or to face one's downfall
Example: The sales manager has to walk the plank as a result of politics in the company.

White elephant

Meaning: Something that wastes much money because it is useless
Example: Recent redecoration of the office has become a white elephant because the company is expanding and will move to a new office next month.

Wild-goose chase

Meaning: Spending time looking for something that does not exist
Example: Donald was asked by his manager to look for a document in the office, but this was simply a wild-goose chase as he later found out that his manager has already sent the document to the business partner.

Work against the clock

Meaning: To work very quickly because you have only a little time to finish
Example: The reporters are working against the clock to meet the deadline for publishing the newspaper.

Work like a charm

Meaning: It means a plan or method that works perfectly
Example: Steve tries a new brand of cleaning agent, and it works like a charm on the stain.

Work like a dog

Meaning: To work very hard
Example: Phoebe works like a dog all day because she is going to open her new store tomorrow.

Work one's fingers to the bone

Meaning: Work extremely hard
Example: Being a single parent, Henry's mother worked her fingers to the bone to provide a home and education for him.

Work your guts out

Meaning: To work very hard or use lots of effort to do something.
Example: Daniel worked his guts out to finish the project.

~ X ~

~ Y ~

Yes-man

Meaning: Someone who always agrees with people in authority in order to please them
Example: Patrick is a yes-man as he never disagrees with his boss.

Young blood

Meaning: Young people with new ideas or new ways of doing things
Example: The management has brought in some young blood and so a lot of new projects have been kicked off recently.

~ Z ~