Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

1. Feel blue
Definition: Feel sad.
Example. John was feeling blue, because he couldn't pass the test.

2. To be at sea
Definition: Confused.
Example. He is completely at sea with his friends.

3. Make a monkey out of someone
Definition: To make someone look foolish.
Example. John's boss asked him a question in meeting but he couldn't answer it. He made a monkey out of him.

4. Spitting image
Definition: Look similar or same as other person.
Example. Jack is the spitting image of his brother.

5. Above all
Definition: Specially, beyond everything.
Example. I respect everyone, but above all, my parents.

6. Above board
Definition: Openly or in a straightforward manner.
Example. John's business with others is above board.

7. Add fuel to the fire
Definition: To make a problem worse.
Example. You called me useless, and then to add fuel to the fire, you abused me.

8. Answer to
Definition: A person or thing that is intended to be the equivalent of something else.
Example. He dresses answer to the French fashion.

9. All in all
Definition: On the whole.
Example. The only king, all in all is God.

10. Apple of discord
Definition: Cause of trouble
Example. Their father's property became apple of discord between the two brothers.

11. In a cold blood
Definition: In a planned way and without pity.
Example. A child was shot dead in a cold blood inside a house.

12. At a loss
Definition: Confused what to think, say or do.
Example. She is at a loss to decide where to take admission.

13. At a pinch
Definition: If absolutely necessary.
Example. At a pinch, we should spend everything on the promotion of education.

14. At a snail's pace
Definition: Extremely slow like a tortoise.
Example. Julia's car was moving at a snail's pace.

15. At daggers drawn
Definition: Extremely angry with each other.
Example. John and Julia are at daggers drawn.

16. At hand
Definition: Near in time or position.
Example. In villages, doctors are not at hand.

17. At home in
Definition: To know a lot about.
Example. He is at home in physics.

18. At length
Definition: At last
Example. At length, he passed away.

19. At one's wit's end
Definition: To be so worried or confused.
Example. He was his wit's end after coming from Dubai.

20. At pains
Definition: To try hard.
Example. Jonathan was at pains to be a successful business-man.

21. At the conclusion
Definition: At the end of.
Example. At the conclusion of  match, they went for a picnic.

22. At the eleventh hour
Definition: At the last moment.
Example. At the eleventh hour, I made it home.

23. At the top of
Definition: At the highest point or level.
Example. He is at the top of his skills.

24. Back out
Definition: To withdraw, especially from commitment or contest.
Example. We should never back out of our promise.

25.  Bag and baggage
Definition: With all one's belongings.
Example. He threw him out with bag and baggage.

26. Be taken in
Definition: Get tricked by someone.
Example. Don't be taken in by their promises.

27. Bed of roses
Definition: Restful place or thing.
Example. Practical life is not a bad of roses.

28. Better half
Definition: Spouse, someone's wife or husband.
Example. Jack slapped his better half.

29. Black sheep
Definition: Trouble maker or embarrassment person.
Example. Black sheep are not respected in the society.

30. Blessing in disguise
Definition: Something that seems to cause problems, but that you later realize is a good thing.
Example. Losing my job turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

31. Blind alley
Definition: Closed street.
Example. He turned back, when he reached the blind alley.

32. Blow up
Definition: (of a wind or storm) begin to develop.
Example. The wind can blow up any time.

33. Bone of contention
Definition: Something to quarrel about.
Example. Property became a bone of contention among the brothers.

34. Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
Definition: To bear in a rich family.
Example. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

35. Bosom friend
Definition: Close friend.
Example. Jack is my bosom friend.

36. Bread and butter
Definition: Livelihood or source of income.
Example. Politics is their bread and butter.

37. Birds of feather
Definition: People with similar tastes, interests and background.
Example. Birds of a feather supports each other.