Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

An idiom, also known as idiomatic expression, is a phrase or
sentence, whose meaning is completely different from the
literal meaning of the words comprising the idiom or idiomatic
expression. However idioms and idiomatic expressions have
become widely used because they convey clear and
meaningful messages in very few words that would otherwise
be lengthy to explain in non-idiomatic manner. Idioms are
previously considered informal expressions but because of
their widespread use idiomatic expressions have found
acceptance in formal communications as well.


Here are examples of idioms and the meaning behind these
idiomatic expressions:


Above and beyond – more than what is normally required. The off-duty
policeman chased and caught the bag snatcher; his action was above
and beyond what was expected of him since he was not on duty at that
time.

Beyond the call of duty – in addition to what is required in the normal
course of performing one’s job. The fireman went back to the burning
house to rescue the cat; he acted beyond his call of duty.

Above suspicion – having a reputation for honesty that no one would
suspect you of wrongdoing. The teacher was elected club treasurer
because she is known to be completely above suspicion.

Ace in a hole – something or someone held in reserve to turn things
around later. The new recruit is the team’s ace in the hole to improve
their standing in the sports competition this year.

Acid test – a test whose result is considered to be conclusive or
beyond doubt. The DNA result will be the acid test that will determine if
the authorities caught the real culprit in the crime.

Across the board – Shared equally by everyone. The company
management decided to give salary increases to the employees
across the board.

Act as someone – to act or perform, temporarily or permanently, in the
capacity of someone else. I’ll act as your interim trainer until your
regular trainer comes back from his business trip in the province.

Act of God – an event for which no person is responsible for; a natural
event such as typhoon, earthquake, volcanic eruption, lightning, and
similar acts of nature. The insurance company did not pay for the
damage to their properties because it was caused by an act of God.

Act of war – an intentional act of hostility or violence so severe that war
is considered to be an appropriate response. The attack on the Twin
Towers in New York was considered by the Americans as an act of war
by the terrorists.

Add fuel to the fire – to do something that makes a bad situation
worse. The customer is already agitated so do not add fuel to the fire
by ignoring his plea for help.

Afraid of one’s own shadow – easily suspicious or frightened. Since
you told him of the hair-raising urban legend above the jail escapee he
has become afraid of his own shadow.
.
After all is said and done – when everything is discussed and acted
on. After all is said and done, everyone went home satisfied with the
result of the town meeting.

After hours – after the regular or normal time. Jim and Tom hang
around the cocktail lounge after hours.

After the fact – after an incident has occurred. Jake expressed
remorse for his crime after the fact.

Against someone’s will – to do something without a person’s
agreement or consent. You cannot force him to join your activities
against his will.

Against the clock – in a race with time; to get something done with
urgency. The doctors operated on the accident victim against the clock
Babe in the woods – an inexperienced or naïve person. Benjie might
be an expert mason but he is still a babe in the woods when it comes
to carpentry.

Back to square one – To start again at the beginning (as in a board
game.) The proposal was rejected by the customer so the vendor was
back to square one.

Back to the drawing board - To start and try another plan or course of
action when the first one did not work out as expected. The customer
was not happy with the building plan so the engineering consultant
was back to square one.

Bad blood – feeling of animosity between two persons or among a
group of people. There is bad blood between the two families.

Bad-mouth someone – to say unpleasant or bad things about
someone. Leo and Tess are bad-mouthing each other since their
relationship broke up.

Bait and switch - a deceptive practice of advertising a product to make
people to go to the store but once inside the store the customer is
enticed to buy a more expensive item. The saleslady told me that the
advertised cell phone is sold out but I think the item was just a bait and
switch.

Bark up the wrong tree – to ask or argue with the wrong person.
Nothing will come out of your complain because you’re barking up the
wrong tree.

Cast the first stone - to be the first one to criticize or accuse. The
crowd burst into sudden uproar when the thief was caught that it was
hard to tell who cast the first stone.

Catch someone red-handed – to catch someone in the act of doing
something wrong that one cannot deny doing it. The barangay tanod
caught the pick-pocket red-handed.

Catch someone’s eye – to have eye contact with someone or to attract
someone’s attention. The lady in red dress caught someone’s eye at
the party.

Come what may – no matter what may happen, or what the
consequence may be. I’m not joining your game, come what may.

Come with the territory – to be expected to happen under the
circumstances. The heckling by some people in the audience comes
with the territory when you are a politician.

Commit something to memory – to memorize something. I didn’t have
a pen and paper at that time so I have to commit to my memory her
phone number.

Cool it! – to calm down or to pacify. Tell the guys in the audience to cool
it and stop heckling the speaker.

Dog-eat-dog – a situation in which someone has to act ruthlessly to
survive or get ahead of other people. It’s a dog-eat-dog in the world of
politics when election time comes.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt – to make a favorable
judgment or impression to an individual when the evidence or proof is
unclear as to being in favor or against that individual. I know him as an
honest person so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.


Have the time of his/her life – to have a very good time or most exciting
moment in one’s life. The bride was having the time of her life during
the wedding reception.


Look to one's laurels - to be on guard against rivals. You need to look
at one's laurels to stay ahead of the competition.


Luck out – to get lucky; be fortunate. The new hire lucked out because
he was not among those employees who get laid off.


Over the long haul – over a long period of time. Your training will be
hard but it will improve your stamina over the long haul.


Over the short haul – over a short period of time. The business plan
looks unprofitable but only in the short haul.


Pad the bill – to include miscellaneous unnecessary items to increase
the amount of a bill or invoice. The employee got into trouble for
padding the bill when he submitted his travel expenses.


Pain in the neck – bothersome, annoying. His new roommate is a pain
in the neck.


Rest on one's laurels - to stop striving for further success or accolade.
Do not rest on your laurels if you want to be successful in life.


Roll the sleeves up – To start getting some work done. Let’s roll our
sleeves up before our manager walks in.


Rough someone up – to harm someone physically. The thugs rough
someone up so we had to call the police.


Rule of thumb – a rough guide; an approximation for making quick
estimate. As a rule of thumb one should do warm up exercises for 5
minutes before starting to jog
Safe and sound – unharmed and in good shape physically – The ship
ran into some rough waters but we arrived at the harbor safe and
sound.


Sail under false color – to pretend to be different to mislead
somebody. I don’t trust the candidate because I have a feeling he is
sailing under false color.


Save the day – to do something that results positively when the
opposite results has been expected all along. Many in the audience
taught that we will lose the game but our team captain saved the day
for us.


See the writing on the wall – to become aware that something is
about to happen; to be clear about something. You need to study
harder in your history subject or you’re going to fail in the exams. Can’t
you see the writing on the wall?


Small fry – insignificant things; unimportant persons. The policemen
raided the hideout of the suspected robbers but all they caught were
the small fry.

The term small fry refers to small fish. "You go after the big fish, and
ignore the small fry."


Small print – that part of a document that easily gets unnoticed
because it is printed in smaller print than the rest of document but it
contains important information that someone should be aware of. Be
sure you read and understand the small print in the contract before you
accept and sign it.


Smell a rat – to be suspicious that something is wrong or someone is
about to commit a wrongdoing. The onlooker smelled a rat so he
walked away from the crowd in the plaza.


Too good to be true – so good that it is hard to believe. The teachers
got a hefty pay raise; it was too good to be true.


To put it mildly – to understate something in an attempt to be polite or
courteous. To put it mildly, the guest speaker came in unprepared for
his speech.


To the letter – precisely; to do exactly according to written instructions.
The installation was perfect because the workers followed the
instructions to the letter