1. ENG101 : IDIOMS AND PROVERBS LIST
Nature:
Land Sayings
The following nature sayings contain references to land features and mostly describe negative
situations.
1. to beat around the bush – to be indirect; to avoid coming to the point
2. between a rock and a hard place – a difficult situation
3. Can’t see the forest for the trees. – to look too closely at small details and not see the
whole picture
4. clear as mud – unclear, confusing
5. down to earth – practical and realistic
6. to make a mountain out of a molehill – to over exaggerate the severity of a situation
7. slippery slope – a course leading to disaster or destruction
Water Sayings
These English proverbs that include references to different forms of water describe both good
and bad situations.
1. to break the ice – to make a beginning in some undertaking or enterprise; to break
through cold reserve or stiffness; to begin an initial conversation with a new unknown
person
2. in deep water – in big trouble
3. a drop in the ocean – a quantity bearing an infinitesimally small proportion to the whole
4. to go with the flow – to act as others are acting, conforming to common behavior patterns
with an attitude of calm acceptance
5. to make waves – to cause trouble
6. on thin ice – in a dangerous, hazardous, or delicate situation; at risk; in an unsafe,
difficult, or vulnerable situation
7. tip of the iceberg – when there are bigger problems that it seems
8. up the river without a paddle – in an unfortunate situation
Sky Sayings
The following English sayings contain references to the sky including light, air, the sun, the
moon, the stars, wind, and the weather.
1. to beat the living daylights out of someone – to be someone severely
2. a bolt from the blue – something that happened unexpectedly
3. in broad daylight – during the day with many witnesses
4. dead air – complete and total silence
5. full of hot air – talking rubbish, talking a lot without really saying anything

2. 6. Make hay while the sun shines. – advice to do something at an opportune time
7. many moons ago – a long time ago
8. a ray of sunshine – someone or something that brings great joy
9. to reach for the stars – to set lofty goals
10. to scare the living daylights out of someone – to scare someone severely
11. scattered to the four winds – going in all directions
12. to shed light on something – to make something clearer
13. under the weather – not feeling well
14. up in the air – in an unfixed or uncertain state, in doubt
15. to weather the storm – to reach the end of a very difficult situation without too much
harm or damage
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TIME:
Idioms and Sayings - Time
Idiom/Saying Explanation
On the dot.
For example:-
On New Year's Eve we always open the
champagne on the dot of midnight.
At a precise time.
Overtime
For example:-
I told my boss I would do any overtime, I want
to save up for my holiday.
The time we work in addition to what is
normal. Overtime is either paid, or unpaid.
To not give someone the time of day.
For example:-
I don't know why you spend so much time
with him. I wouldn't even give him the time of
day.
To refuse to speak to someone because you
do not like them or because you think you
are better than them.
To pass the time of day.
For example:-
To have a short conversation with someone
about things which are not important

3. It's important to pass the time of day with your
colleagues.
The early bird catches the worm.
For example:-
"I'll go to work early tomorrow. After all, the
early bird catches the worm."
If you do something in a timely manner
you will succeed.
A stitch in time saves nine.
For example:-
You need to get the leak fixed before it gets
bigger. A stitch in time saves nine.
If you fix a small problem right away, it
will not become a bigger problem later.
Just in time (JIT)
For example:-
The factory has implemented a new JIT
strategy. All inventory must be reduced.
A production strategy that strives to
improve a business return on investment
(ROI) by reducing inventory and
associated carrying costs.
Full-time
For example:-
My niece went back to full-time work 3
months after having her first baby.
The whole of someone's available working
time, typically 40 hours in a week,
Part-time
For example:-
There are more part-time jobs nowadays.
Employment with fewer hours per week
than a full-time job.
To be on time.
For example:-
We managed to finish the project on time.
If you're on time you arrive or do
something before or by a stated time
To buy time.
For example:-
The policeman tried to reason with him in
To postpone an event hoping that the
situation will improve.

4. order to buy time until backup arrived,
To call time.
For example:-
We had to drink up when he called time.
What happens when a publican signals that
it is closing time at the pub.
To do time.
For example:-
It's hard for people who have done time to get
a job.
To be imprisoned.
To give someone a hard time.
For example:-
I always give my students a hard time if they
haven't done their homework.
To criticize someone and make them feel
guilty about something that they have (or
haven't) done.
To have the time of your life.
For example:-
I had the time of my life at the party.
To enjoy yourself - a lot.
To run out of time.
For example:-
I ran out of time before I could finish the
exam.
To have no time left.
The time is ripe.
For example:-
The people decided the time was ripe for a
revolution.
A good time to do something or for
something to happen.
Take your time.
For example:-
I decided not to rush, so I took my time and
made sure the job was done properly.
To not rush.

5. Time in lieu
For example:-
I worked two bank holidays, and I got two
days off in lieu, but I would have preferred the
cash.
Time off instead of, or in addition to,
receiving pay for overtime worked or
working on public or bank holidays.
Time off.
For example:-
I decided to take some time off to visit my
family.
To have a period of time free from
employment
Time out.
For example:-
You've been on that computer for hours. Time
out!
Sometimes used to break up a fight.
For example:-
The moderator called time out, when he saw
the argument was getting out of hand.
Time when you rest away from your usual
work or studies.
(Not to be confused with "out of time".)
Time's up.
For example:-
The game finished because my time was up
and I needed to pay to play on.
Used to show an activity is finished.
9-5
For example:-
She has a 9-5 job, but she never complains.
A conventional and possibly tedious job.
From the cradle to the grave.
For example:-
The National Health Service (NHS) has two
The whole of your life.

6. guiding principles. Firstly, that such a service
should be comprehensive, with all citizens
receiving all the advice, treatment and care
they needed, combined with the best medical
and other facilities available. Secondly, that
the service should be free to the public at the
point of use, from the cradle to the grave.
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BODY:
1.as broad as a barn door
- very broad or fat
The flight attendant at the airport was as broad as a barn door.
2.as dry as a bone
- very dry
The river bed was as dry as a bone at the end of the summer.
3.as soft as a baby's bottom
- very soft and smooth
My new silk pajamas are as soft as a baby's bottom.
4.at each other's throats
- fighting or arguing all the time
The two boys were at each other's throats when they entered the room.
5.at the top of one`s lungs
- with a very loud voice
I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the man's attention.
6.(one's) back is against the wall
- one is in a very difficult position

7. The man's back was against the wall and there was nothing that he could do to change the situation.
7.back-to-back
- next to each other and touching backs
The students were sitting back-to-back as they exercised in the gym class.
8.bad blood (between people)
- anger or a bad relationship due to past problems with someone
There is much bad blood between the two supervisors.
9.behind (someone`s) back
- without someone's knowledge, secretly, when someone is absent
I do not like people who talk behind my back.
10.blood is thicker than water
- family members are closer to one another than to others
Blood is thicker than water and people usually support and help their family in times of trouble.
11.blood runs cold
- terrified or horrified
My blood ran cold when I saw the poison spider on my bed.
12.blue blood
- the blood (family line) of a noble or aristocratic family
Many blue bloods attended the opening of the new opera.
13.breathe one's last
- to die, to breathe one's last breath before dying
The elderly man breathed his last late yesterday evening.

8. 14.a bundle of nerves
- someone who is very nervous and anxious
I was a bundle of nerves after I finished studying for my exams.
15.carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders
- to appear to be dealing with all the problems in the whole world
My friend has much stress and thinks that he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
16.chilled to the bone
- very cold
I was chilled to the bone after swimming in the cold lake.
17.cut a fine figure
- to dress and look good
I cut a fine figure as I walked through the doors to interview for the job.
18.difficult to stomach (someone or something)
- to be unable to accept someone, to be unable to accept something that you think is unpleasant
or wrong
It is difficult to stomach my friend when she begins to complain about things.
19.get butterflies in one`s stomach
- to get a feeling of fear or anxiety in one's stomach
I got butterflies in my stomach just before I took the test.
20.get on (someone's) nerves
- to irritate someone
The constant complaints of my coworkers get on my nerves.
21.goose bumps

9. - the bumpy skin (like a goose) that one gets because of excitement or fear
I got goose bumps when the woman began to talk about her sick child.
22.over my dead body
- not if I can stop you
I told my friend that I would lend him money only over my dead body.
23.touch a raw nerve
- to upset someone by talking about a subject that upsets or embarrasses him or her
The criticism from the supervisor touched a raw nerve in the secretary.
24.stab (someone) in the back
- to betray someone
My friend stabbed me in the back although I helped him get a job.
25.You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
- if you do me a favor then I will do you a favor
"You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," is a common expression in the construction industry.
26.a shoulder to cry on
- someone to whom you can tell your problems to and then ask for sympathy and advice
I gave my friend a shoulder to cry on when I met him at the coffee shop.
27.shoulder to shoulder
- side by side, with a shared purpose
The children were standing shoulder to shoulder during the exercise class.
28.get under (someone`s) skin
- to bother or irritate someone

10. My neighbor is beginning to get under my skin with her constant complaining.
29.eyes are bigger than one's stomach
- taking more food than one can eat
My eyes were bigger than my stomach when I went to the buffet table and took too much food.