English Idioms - A
English and American idioms starting with the letter A are a great example of English learning resources
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A bit much
When things are excessive, you can say they are a bit much
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
Meaning that no matter how powerful something seems, it is no stronger than it’s weakest part and so has a vulnerability
A day late and a dollar short
This has the same meaning as ‘too little, too late.’ Hence that the actions someone took were late coming and not good enough
A fool and his money are soon parted
It suggests that people who don’t think clearly also don’t control their finances well, and can be easily taken advantage of
A fool at 40 is a fool forever
If you grew into an adult whilst acting immature, you would likely continue like that for the rest of your life
A hitch in your giddy-up
Directly used, this means you are ill
A lick and a promise
This is an action or event done hurriedly, with the possibility of finishing it later
A little bird told me
Referring to a bit of gossip, this idiom is used when you don’t want to reveal the source
A little learning is a dangerous thing
Sometimes when people know some basic information about a topic this can put them into more trouble than knowing nothing, such as learning kung fu and trying to use it
A lost ball in the high weeds
This refers to a person totally stuck in what they should do and where they are
A OK
Meaning perfectly okay
A penny for your thoughts
When enquiring about someone’s thoughts you can say this to be friendly
A penny saved is a penny earned
Saving even a small amount of money can be a benefit
A picture is worth a thousand words
The suggestion that pictures can reveal more than descriptions ever could
A poor man's something
When trying to imitate something or someone badly, you can say this
A pretty penny
When used with an object or service, it means that it is expensive
A problem shared is a problem halved
Helping another person with a problem, solves it faster and better
A rising tide lifts all boats
When a general situation improves, many others can also benefit from it
A rolling stone gathers no moss
When always moving and progressing, you never make strong connections with life around you
A slice off a cut loaf is never missed
This refers to the idea that having intercourse with someone who is not a virgin, is not as apparent as with someone who is
A steal
A great purchasing opportunity
A still tongue keeps a wise head
Those who are truly wise don’t talk much about it
A watched pot never boils
Waiting for an event too closely means that it will never happen. For example, sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring
A1
The absolute best
Abide by a decision
Agreeing with and following a decision, despite your honest opinion
Abject lesson
This acts as a warning to others, so that they don’t take the same action
About as useful as a chocolate teapot
Totally useless. A chocolate teapot would melt and is impractical
About face
A complete change in opinion from previously
Above board
At a high and legal standard
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Time spent apart makes you love your partner more
Accident waiting to happen
When things are dangerous, they are accidents waiting to happen
Ace in the hole
A secret thing which you can use at anytime in order to help you
Ace up your sleeve
A secret action which you have that nobody else knows about
Achilles' heel
The weakest point of an apparently strong thing
Acid test
A way of prooving of the quality of something
Across the board
When something applies to everybody
Across the ditch
It refers to the stretch of water between neighbouring countries
Across the pond
This is the same as above but specifically talks about the UK and other countries
Act of God
Something which happens and seems to be out of control, such as severe weather
Act of war
An action which provokes war or aggression
Actions speak louder than words
When actions are more effective and revealing than words
Adam's apple
A lump usually visible in the throat of men
Add fuel to the fire
Making a bad situation worse by supplying the thing which irritates it
Add insult to injury
Making bad situations even worse than before
After your own heart
Someone who thinks in the same way as you do, or had the same likes and dislikes
Against the clock
Running out of time, nearing a deadline
Against the grain
Doing the opposite to what everyone else seems to be doing
Age before beauty
Offering the opportunity to an older person to do something first, in a sarcastic way
Agony aunt
A person who listens and tries to solve another’s personal problems
Ahead of the pack
Being in the lead and ahead of the competition
Ahead of time
Having done something earlier than planned
Air your dirty laundry in public
Revealing your secrets publically
Albatross around your neck
A weight around the neck which stops you from progressing quickly
Alike as two peas in a pod
Two people who are very similar in mannerisms
Alive and kicking
In good health
All along
Knowing something from the beginning
All and sundry
Referring to every possible person
All bark and no bite
A person who looks and acts intimidating, but has nothing to back it up
All bets are off
Agreements which were in use before are cancelled, usually due to unusually circumstances
All dressed up and nowhere to go
When someone had a plan to do something, but it was cancelled at the last minute and they are already prepared
All ears
Listening to someone intently
All eyes on me
Everyone is watching you
All fingers and thumbs
Clumsy hands and actions
All hat, no cattle
Showing off and being intimidating, but not having anything to support themselves
All heart
Very kind and generous
All hell broke loose
When a situation goes out of control
All in a day's work
An event which may seems spectacular, but which are standard for certain people. For example, murder crimes for a policeman.
All in your head
When something is your belief and is often highly exaggerated
All mod cons
Lots of high-tech equipment
All mouth and trousers
Meaning someone who speaks highly of themselves but can’t support it with actions
All my eye and Peggy Martin
Something said which is completely unbelievable
All of the above
When listing things, this idiom includes all the previous points
All over bar the shouting
A finished event which is now set and certain
All over the map
Completely out of control and disorganised
All over the place
Scattered and disorganised events and actions
All over the shop
Without control and order
All over the show
A total mess
All roads lead to Rome
Meaning that although there are different approaches to a task, the end result is always the same
All set
Ready for something to happen
All sixes
It doesn’t matter how something is achieved
All skin and bone
A very thin and malnourished person
All square
When people have divided the shares of something out equally
All talk and no trousers
A person who shows off verbally but is weak in actions
All that glitters is not gold
A suggestion that things can sometimes seem great when they are not
All the rage
Currently popular trends
All the tea in China
A large amount of something. Used when someone won’t do something ‘for all the tea in China’
All your eggs in one basket
The action of putting all your hopes on a single task; a great risk
All's fair in love and war
Cruel and cunning actions are reasonable in severe disagreements
All's well that ends well
If the final result is positive, then it is a good ending
All-singing, all-dancing
An object which is high-tech and can do many different things
Alter ego
This is a part of your personality different to the one people know
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
Always a runner up, but never the winner
Ambulance chaser
A lawyer who encourages and benefits from the accidents of others
Amen
A way of agreeing with another’s opinion
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Healthy food keeps your body fit and healthy
An old flame
A former lover
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Prevention is always better than cures, so be prepared
And all that jazz
All things relevant and similar are also included in your list
Angry as a bear
Furiously angry
Angry as a bull
Widely and fiercely angry
Answers on a postcard
Said when you want a quick answer from someone. Getting the reply is more important than the actual answer
Ants in your pants
Feeling uncomfortable and unsettled
Any port in a storm
When in an emergency, any solution is acceptable
Any Tom, Dick or Harry
Every type of person, no matter their race, gender or creed
Apple of your eye
The person you hold most dear to your heart
Apron strings
The spiritual link of dependency between parent and child
Argue the toss
Refusing to accept the final outcome of a discussion
Arm and a leg
Something expensive costs ‘an arm and a leg’
Armchair critic
A person who has an opinion but doesn’t get involved enough to solve the problem
Armed to the teeth
Heavily prepared with weapons
Around the clock
Referring to work, this means that it happens over a long period of time
Arrow in the quiver
A plan which can be used to solve a problem
As a rule
When you always do the same thing in the same way, as a rule
As cold as ice
A person who is cold in personality and not friendly
As cold as stone
A person who lacks any emotion
As cool as a cucumber
Someone who acts without emotion, although not necessarily in a bad way
As good as new
After something has broken and been repaired to a high standard, it is ‘as good as new’
As mad as a hatter
A person who is very silly and immature in attitude
As much use as a chocolate fire-guard
Something impractical
As much use as a handbrake on a canoe
A pointless object of action, which is useless for the task
As neat as a new pin
Clean and tidy
As one man
When many people act in total unison
As the actress said to the bishop
Said after a sensible comment is made which could have another ruder meaning. It’s purpose is to make a joke
As the crow flies
The shortest distance between two places
As you sow, so shall you reap
Your actions can come back and get you, so be nice
Asleep at the switch
When an employee is not paying enough attention to their job
Asleep at the wheel
When a person is not paying enough attention to an action they are undertaking
At a drop of a dime
Immediate action without hesitation
At a loose end
Having extra time available but not being sure how to use it
At a snail's pace
A very slow speed
At arm's length
Keeping events a short distance away to stop them from affecting you personally
At cross purposes
When two people misunderstand each others actions and can argue
At daggers drawn
The point when two people are close to fighting
At death's door
Close to death, nearly dead
At each other's throats
Arguing with each other, very aggressively
At full tilt
An actions happening at it’s greatest possible speed
At large
A criminal who is still a fugitive
At loggerheads
Two people who simply can’t find an agreement
At odds
Not being able to agree with another’s opinion
At sea
Out of control and disorganised
At the bottom of the totem pole
A person or thing which is the least important
At the coalface
Dealing with problems face to face
At the drop of a hat
An immediate response to something
At the end of the day
In conclusion, or when all things are considered
At the end of your rope
The point at which you can handle nothing more, emotionally speaking
At the end of your tether
The feeling of being desperate
At the fore
In the front position
At the top of my lungs
Shouting as loud as possible
At the top of the list
The most important thing which needs to be done
At the top of your voice
Very loud shouting
At your wit's end
Feeling as if you have run out of hope
Average Joe
A typical example of an average person
Avowed intent
When you make a sincere plan for something and promise to make it come true
Away with the fairies
A person who spends time in a fantasy world, away from reality
Awe inspiring
An incredibly inspirational action
AWOL
Absent without leave; when someone has gone without explaining why or where they went
Axe to grind
A problem which annoys you and which you want to solve through confrontation with another
