Idioms A-Z

all right (1) expression of reluctant agreement (2) fair; not particularly good (3)

unharmed; in satisfactory condition

antsy restless; impatient and tired of waiting

as easy as pie very easy

at the eleventh hour at the last minute; almost too late

bad-mouth (verb) say unkind, unflattering, embarrassing (and probably untrue) things

about someone

be a pice of cake be very easy

be all ears be eager to hear what someone has to say

be broke be without money

be fed up with be out of patience, be very tired of someone or something

be in and out be at and away from a place during a particular time

be on the go be very busy (going from one thing or project to another)

be on the road to be traveling

be over be finished, end

be up and running (for a technological process) be operational; be ready to use

beat (adj) exhausted; very tired

beat around the bush evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer

beat one's brains out try very hard to understand or do something

beats me I have no idea

bent out of shape needlessly worried about something

bite off more than one can chew take resposibility for more than one can manage

blow one's top become extremely angry

the bottom line the most essential information

Break a leg! Good luck!

break someone's heart make someone feel very disappointed/discouraged

bug (verb) annoy; bother

bull-headed stubborn; inflexible

buck(s) dollar(s)

a bundle a lot of money

burn the midnight oil study/work all night or until very, very late at night

by one's self alone and without help

by the skin of one's teeth barely succeed in doing something

catch one's eye attract one's attention/interest

catch some Zs to sleep for awhile, take a nap

can't make heads or tails of something can't understand something at all; find

something confusing and illogical

change one's mind decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier

chicken cowardly

cool (adj) neat, special, wonderful

cost (someone) an arm and a leg cost a lot; be very expensive

couch potato someone who spends too much time watching TV

cram try to learn as much as possible in a very short time

crash course short course deigned to five a lot of knowledge/information in a very short time

Cut it out! stop doing something (that's annoying)

Cool it! calm down

dicey uncertain; taking too much of a chance

ditch class skip class; play hookey

Don't count your chickens before they hatch don't assume something will happen until it has

happened

do a bang up job do a very good job; do very well at something

down in the dumps depressed; "blue"

drag one's feet delay; take longer than necessary to do something

drop someone a line to write someone

an eager beaver a person who is always willing to volunteer or do extra work

Easy does it! Be very careful!/Don't do anything too fast or too hard!

an egghead a very intelligent person

elbow grease hard work; effort

far-fetched difficult to accept; hard to believe

feel blue feel sad and depressed

fire someone dismiss someone from a job because of poor preformance

get a kick out of something find something amusing

get on one's nerves irritate someone; make someone upset

get one's wires crossed be confused or mistaken about something

get out of hand become out of control; become badly managed

give someone a hand (1) help someone (2) applaud (to show respect or appreciation for someone or

something)

go with the flow take things as they come

grab a bite get something to eat

hard feelings anger; animosity; bitter feelings

have one's hands full be extremely busy

hit the books study

hit the hay go to bed; go to sleep

hit the sack go to bed

in over one's head in a situation this is too much/too difficult for one to manage

in time not late

jump all over someone severly criticize/find fault with someone

jump the gun do something before it's time to do it

jump to conclusions decide somehting too quickly and without thinking about it or considering all the

facts

junk mail unsolicited mail (usually advertisements for something you're not interested in)

keep an eye on check something regularly; watch

keep an eye out for watch for

keep one's chin up remain brave and confident in a difficult situation; don't despair or worry too much

keep one's fingers crossed hope for the best

keep one's nose to the grindstone stay dilligent; steadily work hard, without breaks or an uneven

pace

keep (stay) in touch remain informed (about someone)/in contact (with someone) by writing, calling,

sending e-mail, etc. on a regular basis

know something backwards and forwards know/understand something completely and

thoroughly

let-down a disappointment; something that is very disappointing

lend someone a hand help someone

leave well enough alone do nothing (because doing something would make things worse)

let sleeping dogs lie don't cause problems by doing something when it isn't necessary

live from hand to mouth survive on very little money; have only enough money to pay for basic

needs

a low blow a big disappointment

make a mountain out of a mole hill make somehting seem much more important than it really is

make up one's mind decide what to do

Not on your life! absolutely not! (a strong "no")

nuke heat in a microwave

nuts crazy

on the cutting edge using the most recent technology

on the dot exactly at a given time

over one's head too difficult or compicated for someone to understand

pay the piper face the consequences for something you've done

pop quiz unannounced short test

pull someone's leg teacse someone by trying to make him/her believe something that's exaggerated

or untrue

rain cats and dogs rain very hard

read someone's mind know what someone is thinking

rub someone the wrong way irritate someone; bother or annoy someone

run-down (1) not well; fatigued (2) in poor condition; needing repair

sleep on it take at least a day to think about something before making a decision

shoot the breeze make relaxed, casual conversation

a snap something that's very easy to do

someone's made their bed; now let them lie in it someone has caused his/her own problems;

he/she will have to solve them himself/herself

Step on it! Hurry up!

tell a white lie say something that isn't tru in order not to hurt or offend someone

tight-fisted very frugal; unwilling to spend money unnecessarily

tricky easily confused or misunderstood

two-faced deceitful; disloyal; someone who pretends to be a friend but isn't

under the weather ill; sick; unwell

until you're blue in the face forever

Was my face red! I was very embarrassed

wear out one's welcome make someone uncomfortable by visiting too long

wet behind the ears inexperienced and naive

What's up? What's new? What's happening?

wishy-washy uncommitted; without an opinion of one's own

with bells on very eagerly; with the feeling that one wil have a very good time

a yes-man someone who tries to get approval by agreeing with everyone

You don't say! Really?/Is that really true?

Zip your lip! keep something secret; promise not to tell what has just been said

Favorite Quotes

Be vulnerable. Allow yourself to feel, to be open and authentic. Tear down any emotional brick walls you have built around you and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and bad. This is real life. This is how you welcome new opportunities

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great

When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy

You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection

Skills for Success

There are a lot of skills you don’t need. You can be happy and successful without knowing how to rebuild a car’s engine, program a web application, or replace drywall. Sure, these are useful skills to have, but they aren’t absolutely necessary.

There are other skills, however, that can’t be avoided – skills that tie into various aspects of everyday life, that are not only useful, but totally indispensable. For instance, you can’t get far in today’s world without being able to read or write. And today the ability use a computer proficiently is simply assumed.

In this article we’re going to skip the super basic skills like reading, driving, and using a computer, and discuss twelve slightly more advanced skills that are woefully under-taught, and universally applicable. Let’s take a look…
1. Prioritizing and time management. – If success depends on effective action, effective action depends on the ability to focus your attention where it is needed most, when it is needed most. This is the ability to separate the important from the unimportant, which is a much needed skill in all walks of life, especially where there are ever increasing opportunities and distractions.
2. Keeping a clean, organized space. – Successful people have systems in place to help them find what they need when they need it – they can quickly locate the information required to support their activities. When you’re disorganized, that extra time spent looking for a phone number, email address or a certain file forces you to drop your focus. Once it’s gone, it takes a while to get it back – and that’s where the real time is wasted. Keeping both your living and working spaces organized is crucial.
3. Critical thinking and information analysis. – We are living in the information age where, on a daily basis, we are constantly exposed to an ever growing and rapidly changing pool of information. Being able to evaluate this information, sort the valuable from the trivial, analyze its relevance and meaning, and relate it to other information is a priceless skill with universal applicability.
4. Logical, informed decision making. – Decision making is simply knowing what to do based on the information available. Being able to respond quickly and effectively with the information you have in your head is essential to accomplishing anything.
5. Using Google proficiently for online research. – You don’t have to know everything, but you should be able to quickly and painlessly find out what you need to know. Google is a gateway to nearly infinite knowledge; it has indexed websites containing information on just about everything and everyone. If you’re having trouble finding something using Google, it’s time to learn a few new tricks.
6. Basic accounting and money management. – It’s a simple fact that our modern society is governed by the constant exchange of money. Money allows you to maintain a roof over your head and put food on the table each night. Knowing how to properly manage your money – tracking and recording your expenses and income, saving and investing – is not only an important skill for thriving, it’s an important skill that helps you survive.
7. Effective communication and negotiating. – Give the people in your life the information they need rather than expecting them to know the unknowable. Don’t try to read other people’s minds, and don’t make other people try to read yours. Most problems, big and small, within a family, friendship, or business relationship, start with bad communication. Speak honestly, and then give others a voice and show them that their words matter. And remember that compromise and effective negotiating are vital parts of effective communication.
8. Relaxation. – Stress leads to poor health, poor decision-making, poor thinking, and poor socialization. So be attentive to your stress level and take short breaks when you need to. Slow down. Breathe. Give yourself permission to pause, regroup and move forward with clarity and purpose. When you’re at your busiest, a brief recess can rejuvenate your mind and increase your productivity. These short breaks will help you regain your sanity, and allow you to reflect on your recent actions so you can be sure they’re in line with your goals.
9. Proficient writing and note-taking. – The written word isn’t going away; it is used in every walk of life. Learning to write proficiently so that others can understand you is critical. Also, using your writing skills to take useful notes is one of the most productive things you can do, regardless of the task at hand. Writing things down – taking notes – helps us remember what we hear, see, or read when we’re learning something new, or trying to remember something specific.
10. Relationship networking. – In a world dominated by constant innovation and information exchange, relationship networking creates the channel through which ideas and information flow, and in which new ideas are shared, discussed and perfected. A large relationship network, carefully cultivated, can be leveraged to meet the right people, find jobs, build businesses, learn about new trends, spread ideas, etc.
11. Positivity. – Research shows that although we think that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. A great attitude always leads to great experiences. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times. Be positive, smile, and make it count. Pretend today is going to be great. Do so, and it will be.
12. Self-discipline. – Self-discipline is a skill. It is the ability to focus and overcome distractions. It involves acting according to what you think instead of how you feel in the moment. It often requires sacrificing the pleasure and thrill for what matters most in life. Therefore it is self-discipline that drives you to succeed in the long-term.

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