All English idioms and phrases - page 2

Meanings of A-little:

phrase

Slightly

Usage examples:

I was a little bit worried by what she said., we'll wait a little longer and then i'll phone them.,…

Meanings of A-little-bird-told-me:

phrase

Used to indicate that the speaker knows something but chooses to keep the identity of their informant secret.

Usage examples:

A little bird told me it was your birthday

idiom

Used to say that you have heard a piece of information about someone from someone else

Usage examples:

"how did you know it was my birthday?" "α little bird told me.", a little bird told me that they us…

Meanings of A-little-bit:

phrase

Slightly

Usage examples:

I was a little bit worried by what she said., we'll wait a little longer and then i'll phone them.,…

Meanings of A-long-way:

idiom

If you say that someone will go a long way, you mean that they will be very successful.

Meanings of A-lot:

phrase

Lots (of) a large amount or number of people or things

Usage examples:

She eats lots of fruit., there were a lot of people there., he does a lot of travelling in his job.…

collocation

To expect or demand more than is usual, reasonable, or fair

Usage examples:

It's asking a lot when your boss wants you to work weekends as well as evenings., it is asking a lo…

Meanings of A-lot-of:

phrase

Lots (of) a large amount or number of people or things

Usage examples:

She eats lots of fruit., there were a lot of people there., he does a lot of travelling in his job.…

Meanings of A-matter-of-life-and-death:

idiom

A situation that is extremely serious

Usage examples:

Don’t worry about missing your bus – it’s not a matter of life and death.

Meanings of A-mere:

idiom

At a time before someone was born

Meanings of A-million-and-one:

idiom

Very many

Usage examples:

I can't talk right now - i have a hundred and one things to do this morning.

Meanings of A-multitude-of:

phrase

A large number of people or things

Usage examples:

The city has a multitude of problems, from homelessness to drugs and murder., this case has raised …

Meanings of A-nose:

idiom

If a person or animal wins a race or competition by a nose, he, she, or it wins it by very little

Usage examples:

It was a very exciting race. my horse won but only by a nose.

Meanings of A-nuisance:

phrase

To cause trouble or to annoy other people

Usage examples:

The officer reported that he was obviously very drunk and making a nuisance of himself., he was get…

Meanings of A-pass:

idiom

A bad situation

Usage examples:

Things have come to a pretty pass when a referee can no longer be trusted.

Meanings of A-pat:

idiom

Praise

Usage examples:

You’ve done a great job, and you deserve a pat on the back .

Meanings of A-pat-on-the-back:

idiom

Praise

Usage examples:

You’ve done a great job, and you deserve a pat on the back .

Meanings of A-penny-for-your-thoughts:

phrase

Used to ask someone what they are thinking about.

Usage examples:

I haven't heard anyone say that for years - a penny for your thoughts.

idiom

I would like to know what you are thinking

Usage examples:

You haven't said very much – a penny for your thoughts.

Meanings of A-penny-saved-is-a-penny-earned:

idiom

Something you say that means it is wise to save money

Usage examples:

I'd advise anyone to put aside a proportion of their earnings - a penny saved is a penny earned.

Meanings of A-piece-of:

idiom

Used to refer to a woman as a sexually attractive object

Meanings of A-pile:

idiom

To earn a large amount of money

Usage examples:

He made a pile selling computers and retired by the time he was 40.

Meanings of A-pinch-of-salt:

idiom

To not completely believe something that you are told, because you think it is unlikely to be true

Usage examples:

You have to take everything she says with a pinch of salt, because she tends to exaggerate.

Meanings of A-pretty-penny:

idiom

To be very expensive

Usage examples:

That coat must have cost you a pretty penny!

Meanings of A-raw-deal:

idiom

Unfair treatment or arrangements

Usage examples:

He felt he had gotten a raw deal but didn’t complain.

Meanings of A-rise:

idiom

To annoy someone

Usage examples:

Steve always manages to get a rise out of me with his racist jokes.

Meanings of A-roof:

idiom

A place to live

Usage examples:

It is hard to keep a roof over your head and food in the fridge when you get paid $6.50 an hour.

Meanings of A-rule:

idiom

Usually

Usage examples:

As a general rule, we don’t allow children in here.