ADVANCED VOCABULARY: IDIOMS & PHRASES

How to Learn Idioms Effectively

Key Strategies

• 1. Learn in Context: Don't just memorize the idiom and its meaning. Always read the example sentence to understand how it is used. Context helps with retention.
• 2. Group Thematically: Learn idioms in categories, as arranged in this guide (e.g., all idioms related to 'Body Parts', all idioms related to 'Animals'). This creates mental associations and makes them easier to remember.
• 3. Visualize the Literal Meaning: Try to create a mental image of the literal words (e.g., a cat actually getting someone's tongue). This funny or strange image can help you remember the figurative meaning.
• 4. Use Them in Sentences: The best way to remember an idiom is to use it. Try to make your own sentences with the new idioms you learn.
• 5. Focus on High-Frequency Idioms: The lists in this guide are curated from common exam questions. Focus on mastering these first.

Category: A

• 86: to omit, reject, or discard.
  Example: Let's 86 him from the list.
• a babe in the woods: a naive or innocent person.
  Example: He's just a babe in the woods in politics; he needs someone to protect him.
• a barrel of laughs: a person who is very funny.
  Example: Let's invite him to the party; he is a barrel of laughs.
• a bawling out: a scolding or lecture.
  Example: When I forgot to do my chores, my dad gave me a bawling out.
• a bee in his bonnet: upset or angry about something.
  Example: Don't irritate him; he has a bee in his bonnet about the new policy.
• a bimbo: a foolish or silly person, usually a girl.
  Example: She pretends to be a bimbo, but she is actually very intelligent.
• a budding genius: a child who appears to be very intelligent.
  Example: He is a budding genius on the violin.
• a bun in the oven: pregnant.
  Example: She has a bun in the oven and is expecting in May.
• a cheap drunk: a person who gets drunk after only one or two drinks.
  Example: He admits that he is a cheap drunk.
• a chin-wag: a conversation or chat.
  Example: I met my old friend and we had a good chin-wag for an hour.
• a clean bill of health: a good report from the doctor.
  Example: You will not get a clean bill of health if you only eat junk food.
• a coon's age: a very long time; many years.
  Example: We haven't been out to the beach in a coon's age.
• a dead ringer: a person or thing that looks exactly like another.
  Example: He is a dead ringer for Mel Gibson.
• a dime a dozen: something very common and of little value.
  Example: In this city, good restaurants are a dime a dozen.
• a dish of time: a difficult task.
  Example: After the car slid into the ditch, we had a dish of time getting it back on the road.
• a driving down: a scolding or lecture.
  Example: Mother gave me a driving down when I said bad words.
• a devil's mixture: an odd combination of things.
  Example: When I opened the box, I found a devil's mixture of old toys and tools.
• a dust-up: a fight or argument.
  Example: The boys argued and had a dust-up in the playground.
• a fart in a windstorm: an unimportant event.
  Example: Your contribution is like a fart in a windstorm; it won't make a difference.
• a few bricks short of a full load: not mentally sound; illogical.
  Example: With his strange ideas, I think he is a few bricks short of a full load.
• a fifth wheel: a useless object or an unnecessary person.
  Example: I felt like a fifth wheel on their date.
• a game one: a person who is willing to try anything; tough and ready.
  Example: He is a game one; he plays hard and doesn't quit.
• a ghost of a chance: a very small chance; not likely to happen.
  Example: He has a ghost of a chance to win the election.
• a going concern: a busy person or successful business.
  Example: She is just five, but she is already a going concern, involved in everything.
• a hoot: a good time.
  Example: Yesterday's party was a hoot.
• a hot dog: a person who plays only for the crowd; a show-off.
  Example: He was a hot dog, always trying to excite the crowd.
• a hot ticket: a popular item or person.
  Example: Anything with his picture on it is a hot ticket.
• a humdinger: a beautiful or excellent object/person.
  Example: His new car is a humdinger.
• a lick and a promise: a hasty or superficial attempt.
  Example: We don't have enough time for a thorough check; we will just give it a lick and a promise.
• a loose cannon: an unpredictable person who may cause embarrassment.
  Example: The president's brother is a loose cannon.
• a lot of folderol: a lot of foolish talk.
  Example: What you are saying is a lot of folderol.
• a lot on the ball: intelligent or smart.
  Example: He may not look clean, but he has a lot on the ball.
• a month of Sundays: a very long time.
  Example: This work will take a month of Sundays to complete.
• a petty sum: a small amount of money.
  Example: The money which I lost was only a petty sum.
• a pat answer: a planned or memorized answer.
  Example: You won't get the job if you give a pat answer to every question.
• a poker face: a face with no expression or emotion.
  Example: He has a poker face, so you never know what he's thinking.
• a pop: a dollar per ticket.
  Example: The tickets are fifty dollars a pop.
• a red-letter day: a special or memorable day.
  Example: Today is going to be a red-letter day for the company.
• a riot: a good time or a very funny person.
  Example: Yesterday's party was a riot.
• a roll in the hay: having sex.
  Example: I asked her if she wants a roll in the hay.
• a new job: a false story.
  Example: Well! That was a new job.
• a spot of tea: a small cup of tea.
  Example: I asked her if she needed a spot of tea.
• a whale of a game: an exciting game.
  Example: It was a whale of a game.
• according to Hoyle: according to the rules.
  Example: According to Hoyle, it's your turn to shuffle the cards.
• Achilles' heel: a weakness or vulnerable point.
  Example: Procrastination is my Achilles' heel.
• age before beauty: the older person should go first.
  Example: "Age before beauty," she said as she opened the door for me.
• all around Robin Hood's barn: an indirect route.
  Example: Instead of being direct, we went all around Robin Hood's barn to find the solution.
• all hat and no cattle: pretending to be important; all talk, no action.
  Example: He talks like an expert, but he's all hat and no cattle.
• all hell broke loose: a situation became chaotic and violent.
  Example: When the fire alarm sounded, all hell broke loose.
• all his marbles: mentally sound; sensible.
  Example: After that strange comment, I hope he has got all his marbles.
• all over hell's half acre: all over the place; everywhere.
  Example: I left the gate open and the cows went all over hell's half acre.
• all the bells and whistles: a lot of extra features.
  Example: He bought the laptop with all the bells and whistles.
• all the way to Egypt and back: a long, indirect route.
  Example: To reach them, we had to go all the way to Egypt and back.
• apple-pie order: very neat; well-organized.
  Example: Please keep your room in apple-pie order.
• as American as apple pie: very American.
  Example: Jeans and T-shirts are as American as apple pie.
• as busy as a beaver: very busy.
  Example: When the teacher returned, the students were as busy as a beaver.
• as drunk as a skunk: very drunk.
  Example: He was as drunk as a skunk.
• as dull as a sack of hammers: very dull/ignorant.
  Example: When it comes to maths, I am as dull as a sack of hammers.
• as poor as a church mouse: very poor.
  Example: He was as poor as a church mouse.
• as sick as a dog: very sick.
  Example: When I saw him, he was as sick as a dog.
• as slow as molasses in January: very slow.
  Example: He was as slow as molasses in January.
• as sure as grits: certain to happen.
  Example: He will come, I am as sure as grits.
• at loggerheads: not in agreement.
  Example: They were at loggerheads over who owned the farm.
• at sixes and sevens: not in agreement.
  Example: Parents and teachers are at sixes and sevens on sex education.
• at the drop of a hat: without hesitation; quickly.
  Example: He will argue at the drop of a hat.
• at your beck and call: doing everything for you.
  Example: You don't have to be at his beck and call always.
• atta girl: good work; well done.
  Example: When she got good grades, her mother said, "Atta girl!"

Category: Animals

• alley cat: a stray cat.
  Example: I began to feed the alley cat, and now it comes to my house every day.
• as awkward as a cow on roller skates: very awkward.
  Example: He was looking as awkward as a cow on roller skates on the dance floor.
• as innocent as a lamb: naive; innocent.
  Example: The little girl was as innocent as a lamb.
• as nervous as a cat: very nervous.
  Example: He was as nervous as a cat when he talked to the woman.
• as stubborn as a mule: very stubborn.
  Example: He is as stubborn as a mule and will never change his mind.
• by shank's mare: on foot.
  Example: Since my car broke down, I came to the meeting by shank's mare.
• a dumb bunny: a stupid person.
  Example: He is really a dumb bunny; he fell for the same trick twice.
• a road hog: a driver who uses more than their share of the road.
  Example: The driver in front of us is a real road hog.

Category: Arm, Hand, Finger

• cost an arm and a leg: to be very expensive.
  Example: My new car cost an arm and a leg.
• glad hand someone: to give someone a friendly handshake.
  Example: The politician spent the day trying to glad hand the crowd.
• grease someone's palm: to bribe someone.
  Example: We will have to grease someone's palm to get good service.
• many hands make light work: a lot of help will make a job easy.
  Example: Let's all clean up together; many hands make light work.
• a back-handed compliment: a compliment that is actually an insult.
  Example: The man paid the host of the party a back-handed compliment.

Category: B

• behind the eight ball: in a difficult position.
  Example: I am behind the eight ball with the tax department.
• bolludash: rubbish; nonsense.
  Example: Switch off the talk show, it's just bolludash.
• Basta la musica: Stop the music!
  Example: The father shouted, "Basta la musica!"
• better than sex: good; excellent.
  Example: Skydiving was better than sex.
• bevy of beauties: a group of beautiful women.
  Example: I saw a bevy of beauties crossing the road.
• blood is thicker than water: family relationships are stronger than others.
  Example: When my wife supported her father in a fight with me, I realized that blood is thicker than water.
• Bob's your uncle: No problem.
  Example: When I asked for some groceries from the mall, she simply said, "Bob's your uncle".
• bootleg: produced illegally.
  Example: If someone gives you bootleg software, don't accept it.
• bosom buddy: close friends.
  Example: He is my bosom buddy.
• bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: lively and energetic.
  Example: She is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tonight.
• brouhaha: shouting and fighting.
  Example: After the party, there was a brouhaha in the school yard.
• bush telegraph: secret gossip.
  Example: She gets all the news from the bush telegraph.

Category: Body

• as dry as a bone: very dry.
  Example: The river was as dry as a bone.
• blue blood: the blood of a noble family.
  Example: Many blue bloods attended the opera.
• broad in the beam: having large buttocks.
  Example: She is a bit broad in the beam.
• eyes are bigger than one's stomach: taking more food than one can eat.
  Example: My eyes were bigger than my stomach when I went to the buffet table.
• to gird up one's loins: to get ready to do something difficult.
  Example: I began to gird up my loins and work on my final essay.
• tear someone limb from limb: to attack in a violent way.
  Example: The dogs attacked the cat and tore it limb from limb.
• too rich for our blood: too expensive for one's budget.
  Example: The holiday in the Alps was too rich for our blood, so we didn't go.

Category: Business

• bean-counter: a person who works with numbers; an accountant.
  Example: The friend of mine is a bean-counter in his own company.
• boys in the backroom: a group of men making decisions behind the scenes.
  Example: The boys in the backroom told us that the factory will close next year.
• hang out one's shingle: to open one's own business.
  Example: My friend decided to hang out his shingle as a dentist.
• in the red: to be unprofitable.
  Example: The company has been in the red for three years.
• jack up the price: to make a price higher.
  Example: The company jacked up the price of oil.
• Robert's Rules of Order: the official book of rules for conducting a meeting.
  Example: We always use Robert's Rules of Order when we have a meeting.

Category: C

• candy-ass: a person without courage or confidence.
  Example: He is a candy-ass.
• cat got your tongue?: Why are you not speaking?
  Example: Has the cat got your tongue? You've been silent all evening.
• catch phrase: an idiom or popular saying.
  Example: "Live and let live" is a famous catch phrase.
• catch some Z's: to get some sleep.
  Example: Do you mind if I catch some Z's on your couch?
• cheap like borscht: not expensive.
  Example: This jacket of mine is cheap like borscht.
• charley horse: a cramp in a calf muscle.
  Example: I have a charley horse from running.
• cheek by jowl: beside or alongside; side by side.
  Example: They fought cheek by jowl in the war.
• cheerio-bye: goodbye.
  Example: See you tomorrow. Cheerio-bye!
• clear as mud: confusing.
  Example: His explanation is as clear as mud.
• coming up roses: succeeding or doing very well.
  Example: Since I met her, life is wonderful. Everything is coming up roses.
• C'est la vie: That's life; that's fate.
  Example: You might have bad luck sometimes, but that's not the end. C'est la vie.
• cut the cheese: to fart.
  Example: Someone cut the cheese in the elevator.

Category: Cards

• as cocky as the king of spades: overly proud.
  Example: He is as cocky as the king of spades.

Category: Clothes

• as comfortable as an old shoe: very comfortable.
  Example: I felt as comfortable as an old shoe in their house.
• as common as an old shoe: low class or badly mannered.
  Example: The young man is as common as an old shoe.
• best bib and tucker: one's best clothing.
  Example: He wore his best bib and tucker to the party.
• birthday suit: nude.
  Example: The little boy was running through the park in his birthday suit.
• cap and gown: the academic cap and gown worn during graduation.
  Example: Everybody was wearing their cap and gown for the university graduation ceremony.

Category: Colour

• as black as a skillet: very black.
  Example: His hands were as black as a skillet from working on the car engine.
• white as a ghost: looking pale because of fear.
  Example: She became as white as a ghost when she saw the man at the window.

Category: Court & Judge

• as sober as a judge: not drunk; formal.
  Example: He is always as sober as a judge when he gets into his car to drive.
• hung jury: a jury that is divided and unable to agree on a verdict.
  Example: The trial ended in a hung jury.
• a miscarriage of justice: a wrong decision made in a court of law.
  Example: The trial was a miscarriage of justice.

Category: D

• dapper dan: a well-groomed and clean man.
  Example: You look like a dapper dan in this new suit.
• dead as a doornail: dead.
  Example: He looked dead as a doornail.
• different strokes for different folks: people have different preferences.
  Example: I prefer rock music and she prefers classical; different strokes for different folks.
• dilly-dally: to go very slowly or pause too much.
  Example: Don't dilly-dally, come straight home from school.
• do a 180: to turn around and go in the opposite direction.
  Example: When the boy saw the policeman, he did a 180 and sped off.
• don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs: don't tell me what I already know.
  Example: I've been a mechanic for 30 years; don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs.
• down to a T: perfectly; exactly.
  Example: She has his role down to a T in the play.
• dressed to the nines: dressed in high fashion.
  Example: She was dressed to the nines for the party.
• duck soup: easy.
  Example: The exam was a duck soup.

Category: E

• in dribs and drabs: a few at a time.
  Example: People were arriving in dribs and drabs.
• in seventh heaven: feeling very happy.
  Example: When I heard the news, I was in seventh heaven.
• in the buff: nude.
  Example: I saw him in the buff.
• in the slammer: in jail.
  Example: He is back in the slammer for robbery.
• in two shakes: very soon.
  Example: I'll be with you in two shakes.
• It was Greek to me: I couldn't understand the subject.
  Example: What he taught was Greek to me.
• Everything but the kitchen sink: almost everything.
  Example: We put everything but the kitchen sink in the truck.
• everything from soup to nuts: a wide variety of items.
  Example: The gift shop had everything from soup to nuts.

Category: Ear, Eye, Nose

• apple of someone's eye: a favorite person.
  Example: She is the apple of my eye.
• assault the ears: to be very loud.
  Example: The music was so loud it assaulted my ears.
• in the twinkling of an eye: very quickly.
  Example: He went to the store and in the twinkling of an eye, lost his wallet.
• feast your eyes on: to enjoy looking at.
  Example: I was feasting my eyes on the box of diamonds.

Category: Education & School

• as easy as ABC: very easy.
  Example: The exam was as easy as ABC.
• live in an ivory tower: to not be aware of the realities of everyday life.
  Example: He lived in an ivory tower and had no idea what was going on around him.

Category: F

• fair to middling: moderately good; about average.
  Example: "How's the barley crop this year?" "Fair to middling."
• fair-haired boy: a favorite person.
  Example: He is the fair-haired boy in the office.
• fall on your sword: to quit or resign.
  Example: I know I messed up, but I won't fall on my sword over one mistake.
• fast friends: close friends.
  Example: We are fast friends.
• feeling blue: feeling sad.
  Example: Why are you feeling blue?
• fender-bender: a minor car accident.
  Example: I had a small fender-bender with a car.
• fiddle-sticks: Oh no!; an expression of annoyance.
  Example: Fiddle-sticks! I forgot to write the email.
• file 13: a garbage can.
  Example: This letter will go in file 13.
• filthy lucre: money.
  Example: Filthy lucre - that's what people want.
• fish and company stink after three days: guests should not stay for too long.
  Example: It's time for our relatives to leave; fish and company stink after three days.
• flat broke: having no money.
  Example: I can't go to the movies, I am flat broke.
• fly in the ointment: a small problem.
  Example: A fly in the ointment is that a boy saw you kissing your girlfriend.
• footloose and fancy-free: carefree; not committed.
  Example: When the kids moved out, we were footloose and fancy-free.
• for Pete's sake: for everybody's sake.
  Example: For Pete's sake, don't trouble me.
• for gosh sakes: for God's sake.
  Example: For gosh sakes, give me some money.
• full Monty: nude.
  Example: I saw him full Monty.
• full of piss and vinegar: full of energy; lively.
  Example: That little kid is full of piss and vinegar.

Category: Fish, Insect, Reptile

• as busy as a bee: very busy.
  Example: I was as busy as a bee all weekend.
• as gaudy as a butterfly: colorful.
  Example: The lady was as gaudy as a butterfly when she left for the concert.
• as mad as a hornet: very angry.
  Example: The boss was as mad as a hornet when he came to work.
• as merry as a cricket: cheerful.
  Example: She looked as merry as a cricket.
• Holy Mackerel!: a strong feeling of surprise.
  Example: Holy Mackerel! Look at the size of that bike!

Category: Food

• as easy as apple pie: very easy.
  Example: The exam was as easy as apple pie.
• as flat as a pancake: very flat.
  Example: The child's toy was as flat as a pancake after the car drove over it.
• big enchilada: the most important person.
  Example: The new manager is a big enchilada in our company.
• compare apples and oranges: to compare two things that aren't similar.
  Example: It was like comparing apples and oranges when we compared our new car to the old boss.
• done to a T: to be cooked just right.
  Example: The steaks were done to a T.
• in one's salad days: in one's youth.
  Example: My aunt was a beautiful woman in her salad days.
• milk of human kindness: kindness and sympathy shown to others.
  Example: The woman at the community center is full of the milk of human kindness.
• pie in the sky: an idea or plan that is unlikely to happen.
  Example: His plans are usually pie in the sky.

Category: G

• Gee willikers: Oh gosh; an expression of surprise.
  Example: Gee willikers! she said, "are you still in the bathroom?"
• get bageled: to lose without scoring.
  Example: We got bageled; they beat us 5-0.
• get blood from a stone: to do an impossible task.
  Example: You will get blood from a stone before you get money from him.
• get the lay of the land: to check the condition or situation.
  Example: Before I invest in town, I would like to get the lay of the land.
• get this monkey off my back: to stop a bad habit.
  Example: I have to get this monkey off my back; I have to stop gambling.
• get up on the wrong side of the bed: to be grumpy.
  Example: Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?
• ghetto blaster: a portable radio.
  Example: Loud rock music came from the ghetto blaster on the steps.
• gibberish: nonsense.
  Example: Don't talk gibberish.
• girl Friday: a female employee who does a variety of office tasks.
  Example: She is our girl Friday.
• give me a dingle: Call me; phone me.
  Example: Give me a dingle sometime.
• give a ribbing: to tease someone.
  Example: Please don't give me a ribbing about my new haircut.
• glad rags: best clothes.
  Example: She put on her glad rags for the party.
• go ballistic: to become upset or angry.
  Example: When I told mom about my pregnancy, she went ballistic.
• golly, gee!: oh!; an expression of surprise.
  Example: Golly, gee! No one did that to me before.
• grandfather clause: a written statement that protects the rights of an employee.
  Example: They can't demote him because he's got the grandfather clause.
• grease my palm: to pay someone a bribe.
  Example: If you want the job to be done, grease my palm.
• greenback: money; a dollar bill.
  Example: I need some greenback.
• groaty to the max: very nice.
  Example: That bike is groaty to the max.
• gray power: the power of senior citizens.
  Example: An increase in the life span causes an increase in the gray power.
• gung-ho: enthusiastic.
  Example: I am gung-ho about our trip to the UK.

Category: H

• hale and hearty: healthy and enthusiastic.
  Example: My grandfather is 90, but he is still hale and hearty.
• hairbrained: crazy; not sensible.
  Example: I am sick of her hairbrained plan.
• ham-handed: clumsy; having large hands.
  Example: He's got ham-handed.
• hammer and tongs: angrily; furiously.
  Example: The two men were arguing hammer and tongs.
• hanky-panky: unfair dealing; cheating.
  Example: There is some hanky-panky in the contract.
• happy as a box of birds / lank pracach: very happy.
  Example: I was as happy as a box of birds.
• hatchet man: a man who does all the bad jobs.
  Example: Here comes the hatchet man.
• have an inkling: to know or be aware of.
  Example: I didn't have an inkling that you loved her.
• head over heels: crazy about; in love with.
  Example: He is head over heels for Donna.
• hemming and hawing: running short of words; hesitating.
  Example: When I examined him about the lost money, he was doing a lot of hemming and hawing.
• high and mighty: arrogant; better than other people.
  Example: After winning the lottery, she acted all high and mighty.
• higher than a kite: drunk.
  Example: Don't let him drive. He is higher than a kite.
• highfalutin: proud.
  Example: We need a musician, not some highfalutin rock star.
• hit rock bottom: to feel very unfortunate.
  Example: After his house was seized, he hit rock bottom.
• Hobson's choice: to accept what is offered as you have no other option.
  Example: I was presented with a Hobson's choice.
• honest to goodness: genuine; real.
  Example: It's an honest to goodness dead rat.
• hook, line, and sinker: fully; completely.
  Example: She believed my story hook, line, and sinker.
• hot and bothered: upset or angry.
  Example: I get hot and bothered when you stay out of home late.
• hot under the collar: upset.
  Example: Don't get hot under the collar.
• Howdy: hello.
  Example: Howdy, ma'am!

Category: Head & Mind

• as bold as a baby's backside: completely bald.
  Example: He was as bold as a baby's backside.
• bad hair day: a day when everything goes wrong.
  Example: Today was a bad hair day for me.
• cheek-by-jowl: close together.
  Example: The houses were placed in the room cheek-by-jowl.
• gray matter: intelligence.
  Example: The young man seems to be lacking in gray matter.
• head shrinker: a psychiatrist.
  Example: He is a head shrinker.
• mind-numbing: boring.
  Example: His speech was mind-numbing.
• neither hide nor hair: no indication of someone or something.
  Example: I have seen neither hide nor hair of that girl.
• tongue-in-cheek: jokingly.
  Example: The remark was made tongue-in-cheek.

Category: Heart

• heart and soul: with all of one's energy and effort.
  Example: She loved him with her heart and soul.

Category: I

• I will be a monkey's uncle: I cannot believe it.
  Example: If he won the race, I will be a monkey's uncle.
• in a family way: pregnant.
  Example: She is in a family way.
• in a jiffy: in a minute; soon.
  Example: I'll be there in a jiffy.
• in deep doo-doo: in a serious difficulty.
  Example: I found myself in deep doo-doo.
• in cahoots: like partners; helping each other.
  Example: I think the judge and the lawyer are in cahoots.

Category: Initials

• CIA: Central Intelligence Agency.
  Example: The CIA freed the kidnapped pilot.
• DIY: do-it-yourself.
  Example: This is a DIY project.
• ETA: estimated time of arrival.
  Example: What is your ETA?
• GMT: Greenwich Mean Time.
  Example: The time is 5 PM GMT.
• IOU: I owe you.
  Example: He gave me an IOU for the money I lent him.
• NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
• PTO: Please turn over.
• RSVP: Please reply (from French 'Répondez s'il vous plaît').

Category: J

• jack me around: to tell me lies; to deceive.
  Example: Don't jack me around, just tell the truth.
• jeepers: oh gosh; an expression of surprise.
  Example: Jeepers! I don't know what to say.
• joe-job: a routine task that nobody wants to do.
  Example: If you're the junior employee, you'll have to do the joe-jobs.
• John Hancock: a signature.
  Example: Put your John Hancock on the form.
• jungle mouth: unpleasant odor on the breath.
  Example: Most people have jungle mouth when they wake up in the morning.
• just a smidgen: just a little.
  Example: Would you like more cream? "Just a smidgen."

Category: K

• kaput: broken or ruined.
  Example: We have a car but it is kaput.
• keep up with the Joneses: to try to buy what the neighbors buy.
  Example: I can't afford to keep up with the Joneses.
• keister: buttocks.
  Example: She fell down from the horse and landed on her keister.
• kick the bucket: to die.
  Example: At 98, he finally kicked the bucket.
• kiss the blarney stone: to say a lot of compliments.
  Example: Stop kissing the blarney stone and just tell me what you want.

Category: L

• last hurrah: a last big event for an old person.
  Example: His daughter's marriage is a last hurrah for him.
• lead pipe cinch: something that is certain.
  Example: They are a lead pipe cinch to win the game.
• life is just a bowl of cherries: life is just wonderful.
  Example: Since I got this job, life is just a bowl of cherries.
• light in the loafers: homosexual.
  Example: He is light in the loafers.
• like a bat out of hell: very fast.
  Example: She was driving like a bat out of hell.
• like a chicken on a June bug: very quickly.
  Example: He vanished like a chicken on a June bug.
• lock, stock, and barrel: everything.
  Example: They took everything with them - lock, stock, and barrel.
• look out for number one: to help yourself first.
  Example: You can look out for number one as well as help your friends.
• loony bin: a mental hospital.
  Example: It was open to the loony bin.
• lovelies: ladies, women, or girls.
  Example: In the party, I met three lovelies, with whom I danced.

Category: Leg & Foot

• foot the bill: to pay for something.
  Example: The company will foot the bill for the damages.

Category: Love & Relationship

• on the rocks: in a difficult position.
  Example: Their relationship appears to be on the rocks.
• pop the question: to ask someone to marry.
  Example: He decided to pop the question to his girlfriend.

Category: M

• mad as a hatter: strange or eccentric.
  Example: If you wear that pink wig, people will think you are mad as a hatter.
• make a boo-boo: to make a mistake.
  Example: Oh no! I made a boo-boo.
• make a federal con of it: to make a mountain out of a molehill.
  Example: OK, I used your hair dryer. So, don't make a federal con of it.
• make a mincemeat of: to defeat badly.
  Example: The heavyweight champ made a mincemeat of the young boxer.

Category: Medical & Health

• as fit as a fiddle: healthy; physically fit.
  Example: My grandfather is as fit as a fiddle.
• go under the knife: to have an operation.
  Example: I decided to go under the knife.
• splitting headache: a severe headache.
  Example: I have got a splitting headache.

Category: Money

• almighty dollar: money, when viewed as the most important thing.
  Example: He spent most of his life chasing the almighty dollar.
• as phony as a 3-dollar bill: not genuine.
  Example: He is as phony as a 3-dollar bill.
• Dutch treat: each person pays their share of the expenses.
  Example: The movie was a Dutch treat.
• have a Midas touch: ability to make money easily.
  Example: My uncle has a Midas touch.
• highway robbery: charging a high price.
  Example: The amount of money they are charging is a highway robbery.
• to pay a king's ransom: to pay a high price.
  Example: I had to pay a king's ransom for the cinema ticket.
• stone broke: to have no money.
  Example: I am stone broke.

Category: Mouth & Teeth

• guard one's tongue: to be careful of what one says.
  Example: I have to guard my tongue when I am speaking to my parents.
• keep a civil tongue: to speak politely.
  Example: I kept a civil tongue during my argument with him.

Category: Number

• Catch-22: a no-win situation.
  Example: It is a Catch-22 situation for me.
• catch forty winks: to get some sleep.
  Example: I need to catch forty winks.
• a nine-day wonder: someone or something that briefly attracts attention.
  Example: He was a nine-day wonder and was soon forgotten by people.

Category: O

• off-kilter: off-balance; not straight.
  Example: One of the legs of the table was off-kilter.
• off the cuff: quickly, without thinking.
  Example: Whatever I said, I said it off the cuff.
• Old Boys' Club: a group of wealthy old men with political power.
  Example: For city approval, talk to him. He's in the Old Boys' Club.
• Oh my Gosh!: Oh no!; an expression of shock.
  Example: Oh my Gosh! I've lost my key.
• old wives' tale: a myth or a story that contains little truth.
  Example: One old wives' tale says that a goose foot will cure a cold.
• old money: inheritance; money that has been in the family for decades.
  Example: She bought a property with the old money.
• on cloud nine: very happy.
  Example: I was on cloud nine when I heard the news.
• on all fours: on your hands and knees.
  Example: She was on all fours, looking for the contact lens.
• on tenterhooks: carefully; cautiously.
  Example: After the accident, he drives around on tenterhooks.
• on the double: quickly; now.
  Example: The coach said, "Get over here - on the double!"
• on the fritz: not operating; out of order.
  Example: The TV is on the fritz again.
• on the QT: as a secret.
  Example: I am telling you this on the QT.
• on the up and up: legal; within the law.
  Example: If our company gives away cars to all its employees, can it be on the up and up?
• one for the money, two for the show: a children's countdown.
  Example: Before bedtime, dad would say, "One for the money, two for the show".
• over the rainbow: weird; eccentric.
  Example: She is over the rainbow.

Category: P

• plumb loco: completely crazy.
  Example: He is plumb loco.
• pocket Hercules: a small person with great strength.
  Example: He is a pocket Hercules.
• popcorn brain: one who has not learned to think; stupid.
  Example: When I forget my phone number, they called me popcorn brain.
• pretty as a picture: very pretty.
  Example: You look pretty as a picture in your new dress.
• puddle-jumper: a small car.
  Example: Why did you buy this puddle-jumper?
• put the kibosh on: to prevent or stop.
  Example: He put the kibosh on our plan.

Category: Q

• quick and dirty: fast and easy.
  Example: I know a quick and dirty way of calculating interest.
• quicker than you can say Jack Robinson: very quickly.
  Example: The work will be done quicker than you can say Jack Robinson.

Category: R

• rant and rave: to yell or complain.
  Example: The old man was ranting and raving about his lost goats.
• rattle my chain: to annoy or argue with me.
  Example: Don't rattle my chain with those silly questions.
• razzle-dazzle: a spectacular show.
  Example: It was a razzle-dazzle performance.
• rigmarole: a long and complicated process.
  Example: To get a refund of $50, they asked me 100 questions. What a rigmarole!
• Rob Peter to pay Paul: moving money from one part of the budget to another.
  Example: If we use grocery money to buy a car, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
• rubber match: a final match.
  Example: The two teams are playing the rubber match today.

Category: Religion

• as wise as Solomon: very wise.
  Example: He is as wise as Solomon.
• doubting Thomas: a person who insists on proof before believing.
  Example: Don't be a doubting Thomas; just trust me.
• Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes: one's best clothes.
  Example: We were wearing our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.
• until hell freezes over: never.
  Example: He would never leave the apartment until hell freezes over.

Category: S

• scared spitless: very frightened.
  Example: Believe me, I was scared spitless when the noise started to howl.
• scout's honor: I say is the truth.
  Example: We didn't take your ball - scout's honor.
• scumbag: an unpleasant person.
  Example: He is a scumbag.
• see hide nor hair: to not see a person.
  Example: You won't see hide nor hair of him after he borrows money.
• shit fire and apple butter: getting upset.
  Example: You are still having showers. Shit fire and apple butter! We have to leave in 10 minutes.
• silkhead: a bald person.
  Example: He's a silkhead.
• silver-tongued: a nice talker; well-spoken.
  Example: He is a silver-tongued salesman.
• skivvies: men's underwear.
  Example: He only had his skivvies on.
• slime bucket: an immoral person.
  Example: He is a slime bucket.
• small potatoes: an unimportant thing.
  Example: Don't worry about the broken dish. That's small potatoes.
• sometimes life is a bucket of shit and the handle is inside: life can be very difficult.
  Example: It's a tough world out there; sometimes life is a bucket of shit and the handle is inside.
• Sophie's choice: choosing between the death of your children.
  Example: He was presented with a Sophie's choice.
• Sunday best: one's best clothes.
  Example: He was in his Sunday best.
• swear like a sailor: to use vulgar language.
  Example: I won't take you to the party because you swear like a sailor.

Category: T

• take a powder: to leave quickly.
  Example: He took a powder when he heard the siren.
• take 5: to rest for 5 minutes.
  Example: We've been working for hours, let's take 5.
• take umbrage: to feel hurt or offended.
  Example: If you don't invite him to the party, he will take umbrage.
• talk turkey: to discuss frankly.
  Example: If the man really wants to sell this flat, he will talk turkey.
• ten-four: yes; ok; I hear you.
  Example: "See you in a minute." "Ten-four."
• that will be the Frosty Friday: that day will never come.
  Example: Pakistan becoming a part of India? That will be the Frosty Friday.
• thanks a bunch / a million: thanks very much.
  Example: Thanks a bunch, mate!
• that's the way the ball bounces: that is fate.
  Example: Even though his interview wasn't great, he got the job. That's the way the ball bounces.
• the apple doesn't fall far from the tree: kids are like their parents.
  Example: Her daughter is a great singer just like her; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
• the bee's knees: the best; superb.
  Example: She thinks she is the bee's knees.
• the family jewels: a man's genitals.
  Example: Please wear the abdominal guard to protect the family jewels.
• the life of Riley: a good life.
  Example: He's living the life of Riley in Australia.
• the proof of the pudding is in the eating: do not jump to conclusions.
  Example: Wait to see the results before you praise the new strategy; the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
• the real McCoy: the genuine article; a real thing.
  Example: This painting is the real McCoy.
• tickety-boo: operating well; okay.
  Example: After they gave him an injection, everything was tickety-boo.
• tickled pink: happy.
  Example: When she heard the news, she was tickled pink.
• tied to your mother's apron strings: still dependent on your mother.
  Example: He is 30, but still tied to his mother's apron strings.
• tin Lizzie: a car, an old car.
  Example: You can park your tin Lizzie in the garden.
• to the nth degree: to the very last detail.
  Example: He analyzes the problem to the nth degree.
• true blue: loyal and faithful.
  Example: He is a true blue friend.
• twinkle toes: a dancer.
  Example: He is a real twinkle toes.

Category: W

• wacko: crazy.
  Example: Are you wacko?
• wake up and smell the coffee: be more aware.
  Example: You don't know about the fraud? Wake up and smell the coffee!
• walk on eggshells: to be very careful.
  Example: Your son is so much afraid of making a mistake, he is walking on eggshells.
• wallflower: a girl who is not invited to dance.
  Example: I won't go to the party because I feel like a wallflower when the boys don't ask me to dance.
• wasn't born yesterday: not inexperienced.
  Example: He can survive in the workplace; he wasn't born yesterday.
• watch your P's and Q's: to mind your manners.
  Example: In the party, watch your P's and Q's.
• wax eloquent: to speak beautifully.
  Example: His speech waxed eloquent.
• weasel words: ambiguous or vague words.
  Example: Try to find the weasel words in the contract.
• wear out your welcome: to stay or visit too long.
  Example: If we stay for more than three days, we will wear out our welcome.
• what the Sam Hill: what the hell.
  Example: What the Sam Hill did you do to my bike?
• what's your poison?: what's your liquor; what do you want to drink?
  Example: "What's your poison?" the bartender asked.
• what-cha-ma-call-it: what do you call it.
  Example: To finish the job, I need a... what-cha-ma-call-it. A trowel.
• white elephant: a useless object.
  Example: That phone is a white elephant.
• whore's bath: a hasty, superficial wash.
  Example: I only have time for a whore's bath before we go.
• willy-nilly: whether you want it or not.
  Example: I keep on receiving the junk mail willy-nilly.
• windbag: a talkative person.
  Example: He is a windbag.
• wino: a drunk.
  Example: See that wino is coming towards us.
• without a stitch of clothes on: nude.
  Example: I saw her without a stitch of clothes on.

Category: Y

• yak: to talk a lot.
  Example: He is just a yak.
• yellow: lacking courage.
  Example: He is yellow. That's why he doesn't fight.
• yeppers: yes.
  Example: Do I have to come home by 9? Yeppers, that's what I agreed.
• you snooze, you lose: if you don't act fast, you lose an opportunity.
  Example: Sometimes they charge less for a product. You snooze, you lose.
• yo-yo: a fool.
  Example: He is a yo-yo.

Category: Z

• zilch: zero; nothing.
  Example: How much did you spend? Zilch.
• zinger: a sarcastic word.
  Example: Stop using zingers.
• zipperhead: a serviceman or administrator.
  Example: He is a zipperhead.
• zonked: tired.
  Example: Now, I am zonked.

Category: ESL Slangs

• airhead: a stupid person.
  Example: I can't believe he made the same mistake again; he's such an airhead.
• amigo: a friend.
  Example: I met many amigos in the college.
• ammunition: toilet paper.
  Example: We're completely out of ammunition.
• anti-freeze: alcohol.
  Example: I had a lot of anti-freeze yesterday.
• barf: to vomit.
  Example: The dog barfed all over the carpet.
• bazillion: an infinite number.
  Example: I have taught a bazillion students.
• beemer: a BMW car.
  Example: I want to buy a beemer this month.
• boob tube: a television.
  Example: He is always in front of the boob tube.
• bread: money.
  Example: Can I borrow some bread?
• brew: beer.
  Example: I would like to have a brew.
• cooler: jail.
  Example: You'll have to spend some time in the cooler if you drink and drive.
• dino: money.
  Example: I wish I had more dino.
• dirt: an extremely bad person.
  Example: He is a dirt.
• el cheapo: cheap.
  Example: He always purchases the el cheapo brand.
• gross: marijuana.
  Example: Have you ever smoked gross?
• head: a toilet.
  Example: I really need to use the head.
• hickey: a love bite on the skin.
  Example: Is that a hickey on your neck?
• icky: unpleasant.
  Example: The food was really icky.
• jillion: an immense number.
  Example: I have taught a jillion students.
• john: a toilet.
  Example: Where is the john?
• love handles: excess fat around the waist.
  Example: Is it possible for you to lose your love handles?
• mickey: unimportant or time-wasting.
  Example: I am sick of this mickey-mouse job.
• pad: home.
  Example: Can I sleep at your pad tonight?
• pot: a toilet.
  Example: Who's on the pot?
• razz: to annoy.
  Example: Will you please stop razzing me?
• smurfbrain: stupid.
  Example: Stop acting like a smurfbrain.
• technicolor yawn: to vomit.
  Example: My dog did a technicolor yawn on the carpet.
• tints: sunglasses.
  Example: Please wear your tints.
• unlax: to relax.
  Example: Please unlax.
• zit: a pimple.
  Example: He has a lot of zits.

Category: Siddhuisms (Figurative Expressions)

• A girl born beautiful is half-married.
• In London, they drive on the left; in India, we drive on what is left.
• He is like an Indian transistor which does not work until you give it two slaps.
• There is light at the end of the tunnel for him, but it's that of an incoming train which will run him over.
• He has thrown a drowning man both ends of the rope.
• He is like an Indian three-wheeler which will pull a lot of load but cannot go beyond 30.
• One who does not throw the dice will never get a six.
• He cannot find his own buttocks with his two hands.
• He is like a one-legged man in a fanny-kicking competition.
• The only thing you can get without hard work is dandruff.