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A bad apple

Meaning:

a useless, bad or lazy person.

Example:

I’m not interested in meeting him – from what I’ve heard he’s a really bad apple.

Bend over backwards (backward)

Meaning:

Do as much as you can to help or please someone.

Example:

The teacher bent over backwards to help his/her students.

Be as blind as a bat.

Meaning:

to be not able to see soemthing at all.

Example:

I can't see you. Where are you?-I'm as blind as a bat without glasses.

Beat around the bush.

Meaning:

Avoid or delay talking about something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Example:

Don't beat around the bush! Tell me what exactly you want.

Beat it.

Meaning:

Go away immediately.

Example:

Don't get on my nerves. Beat it!

Bite off more than one can chew.

Meaning:

To try to do something that is too difficult; try to do more than you are able to.

Example:

Don't bite off more than you can chew. If you think three tasks are enough, do it. If not, do not do it!

Bookworm.

Meaning:

Someone who loves reading very much.

The Bottom Line.

Meaning:

The most important factor in a situation or a decision to consider.

Example:

I've heard enough of your excuses. What's the bottom line?

Be broke.

Meaning:

Without money.

Example:

Would you like to go with me to the cinema? Sorry, I can't go. I am broke.

Be a piece of cake

Meaning:

To be very easy.

Example:

This task was a piece of cake for me.

Catch someone's eye.

Meaning:

to draw or attract someone's attention.

Example:

Suddenly my neighbor stupid behaviour caught my eye.

Be chicken.

Meaning:

Coward.

Example:

Why do not you want to get on a horse? Are you chicken? ( Don't be chicken!).

Be cut from the same cloth.

Meaning:

to be very similar.

Example:

When you teach children, remember that they are not cut from the same cloth.

Get (have) cold feet.

Meaning:

To be afraid of something.

Example:

It's normal for young people to get cold feet before their first day at school.

Be (as) cool as a cucumber.

Meaning:

to be very calm and relaxed, especially in a difficult situation.

Example:

She was cool as a cucumber even right after her exam.

Be all ears.

Meaning:

Be very intersted in what someone is about to say.

Example:

Would you like to tell me all about your " A-level " exam.

Easy as pie.

Meaning:

Very easy.

Example:

This exercise is as easy as pie.

Eat out.

Meaning:

to eat a meal in a restaurant.

Example:

We have the twentieth weeding anniversary. Let's eat out!.

Be the apple of someone's eye.

Meaning:

Be loved very much by someone. Example:

Jessica is the apple of Adam's eye.

Backfire.

Meaning:

to produce an unexpected / undesired / opposite result.

Example:

The new stricter school policy may backfire and do more harm to the students than good.

Cook someone's goose.

Meaning:

Get someone in trouble.

Example:

Harlod lost all his paycheck at the poker game - when his wife finds out, his goose is cooked!

Don't let the grass grow under your feet.

Meaning:

You shouldn't just stay in one place too long.

Example:

Kate, now that you're out of college, you should do something with your life - don't let the grass grow under your feet!

Cool someone's heels.

Meaning:

to wait for something for a long time; to give someone the opportunity to chill out.

Example:

We just caught this guy at a bar fight - we're going to throw him in lock up so he can cool his heels for a bit.

Bring the house down.

Meaning:

to get everyone to clap for you.

Example:

His performance was so good, he brought down the house.

Dear John letter.

Meaning:

women send a letter to their men in the army to tell them that they (the women) have found someone else while they (the men) have been away.

Example:

After she cheated on Jim, she sent a dear John letter to him in Iraq.

Be as American as apple pie.

Meaning:

be typically American.

Example:

I have never been born in the US but my children will be typically American.

Couch potato.

Meaning:

a person who is really lazy who does not do nothing except for sitting and watching TV.

Example:

Janice is such a couch potato - I swear, she never leaves the couch!

Drive someone up the wall.

Meaning:

something gets on my nerves.

Example:

Matt's behavior drives me up the wall! Yeah, it totally gets on my nerves.

Butterflies in someone's stomach.

Meaning:

to feel nervous Example:

When I'm in love, I get butterflies in my stomach.

Cast pearls before swine.

Meaning:

Offer or show something valuable, good, or beautiful to someone who does not understand its value.

Example:

I don't know why you give Jim your school notes, Mary -stop casting your pearls before swine! - he never appreciates it.

Can't make head nor tail (out) of something / someone.

Meaning:

Not be able to understand.

Example:

Can you help me program the VCR - I can't make heads nor tails out of the directions.

Bark up the wrong tree.

Meaning:

Your reasoning led you to the wrong place.

Example:

You're barking up the wrong tree - I had nothing to do with the missing statue!

Quit cold turkey.

Meaning:

To stop doing something all at once.

Example:

I want to quit smoking so I'm throwing all my cigarettes away - I'm going to do this cold turkey.

Drive someone up the wall.

Meaning:

Annoy or irritate someone very much.

Example:

When Mark gets better grade than I, it draves me up the wall.

Eat one's words.

Meaning:

Admit that what you said was wrong.

Example:

Sorry Mark but I ate my words. I should have said: " Tim loves his wife " instead of " Tim love his wife ".

Be fishy.

Meaning:

Something doesn't seem right about it.

Example:

He's going to sell you diamonds for pennies a piece - seems a little fishy to me.

It's easier said than done.

Meaning:

It's easy to say, but hard to do.

Example:

If he needed advice or assistance I should help him, but it was easier said than done.

Fall in love with someone/something

Meaning:

The process, sudden or gradual, of developing a strong attraction to someone or something.

Example:

Did you fall in love with her right away?

I fell in love with music when I was young.

Feel like a fish out of water.

Meaning:

To feel out of place, that you don’t belong.

Example:

When I’m speaking in front of a crowd, I feel like a fish out of water.

Food for thought.

Something that makes you think or that prompts you to re-consider your previous position.

Example:

The pastor’s sermon on forgiveness gave him food for thought.

A frog in the throat.

Meaning:

To have a dry or sore throat that makes it difficult to speak clearly.

Example:

In cold weather I often feel like I have a frog in my throat when I try to speak.

Get over something.

Meaning:

To feel healthy after an illness or happy after a difficult event or situation has passed.

Example:

I’m going back to work when I get over this infection. How long is it going to take for him to get over his breakup with Susan?

Give someone a hand

Meaning:

To help someone accomplish a specific task or to applaud someone’s performance.

Example:

John, would you give me a hand with this box? It’s too heavy for me. (After someone sings a song on stage) That was wonderful! Let’s give him a hand.

Be glued to something.

Meaning:

To feel that you must continue looking at something.

Example:

Our eyes were glued to the TV after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Go nuts.

Meaning:

To become very excited about something good, or very angry about something bad.

Examples:

Boston fans went nuts when the Red Sox won the World Series.

The teacher will go nuts if one more student acts silly in class.

Grab a bite Meaning: Eat a meal quickly with little preparation Example: A fast food place like McDonald’s is great when you want to grab a bite and be on your way.

Great minds think alike.

Meaning:

A clever way of saying you agree with someone.

Example:

John: I think we should create our own web page. Jim: I was just about to suggest that. Great minds think alike.

Hand-me-down.

Meaning:

Clothing that your older sibling gives you when he or she can’t or doesn’t want to wear it any more.

Example:

When I was growing up, I seldom had any new clothes because my mom made me wear hand-me-downs from my brother.

Hat trick

Meaning:

To be successful at something 3 times in a row.

Example:

The last time Tom played in a ping pong tournament, he made a hat trick, 3 wins in a row, twice!

Heart sinks.

Meaning:

To be saddened by disappointing news or events.

Example:

My mothers heart sinks every time my sister gets in trouble at school.

Here you go/are.

Meaning:

A common thing to say when you give someone something.

Example:

When his boss came by to ask if he had finished the report, John handed it to him and said, “Here you go.”

Hit the books.

Meaning:

To study, sometimes indicating that significant effort is intended or needed, or that it’s time to put aside other activities.

Example:

It’s time to stop fooling around and hit the books so you’ll be ready for the exam tomorrow.

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning:

To give a perfect answer or recommendation.

Example:

When I heard the senator speak about welfare reform, I thought he hit the nail on the head. I agree completely.

Hit the ceiling/roof.

Meaning:

To become angry in such a way that others fear to be near.

Example:

He’s so sensitive right now, I’m afraid he’ll hit the ceiling if I tell him I wrecked his car.

Hit the sack/hay.

Meaning:

Go to sleep.

Example:

I need to hit the sack early tonight instead of staying up so late.

Hold your horses.

Meaning:

Don’t be in such a hurry or so impatient.

Example:

Hold your horses! Don’t start until I say, “Go.”

Holy cow!

Meaning:

To express amazement or surprise at an event or accomplishment.

Example:

Holy cow! I didn’t expect to see you today.

In hot water.

Meaning:

To make someone unhappy because of your behavior.

Example:

I’ll be in hot water with my boss if I don’t get this done today.

In a pickle.

Meaning:

In a challenging situation.

Example:

If I lose my job, I’ll really be in a pickle.

In the same boat.

Meaning:

To face the same circumstances (especially difficult ones) as someone else.

Example:

Since I lost my job, I am in the same boat as many other unemployed Americans.

It’s about time.

Meaning:

You say this when something happens later than expected.

Example:

It’s 11:00 p.m. and my son just went to bed. It’s about time.

Get up (Wake up) on the wrong side of the bed

Meaning:

To be in a bad mood, irritable, angry, etc.

Example:

Be careful when you talk to him, because I think he woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Don’t take it personally, I think he just got up on the wrong side of the bed today.

Be like the cat that got the cream.

Meaning:

(about a person) To be pleased with his/her ability or what he/she has done.

Example:

I got max points on my final exam yesterday. I looked like the cat that got the cream.

Keep an eye on someone/something.

Meaning:

Watch someone/something carefully to make sure everything is all right.

Example:

Mark looks like an dangerous person. Always keep an eye on him.