EVERYDAY AMERICAN IDIOMS FOR ESL LEARNERS

 Here are some common American idioms:

Add insult to injury: make it more harmful or even worse.

e.g. Your statement is negative enough; please don’t add insult to injury.

e.g. The project is already running out of time. Lack of funding only adds insult to injury.

Alive and kicking: alive and full of energy.

e.g. “How is he doing after the accident?” “Very much alive and kicking!”

All in all: all things considered; on the whole.

e.g. The project was all in all a success, despite some problems in the beginning.

All intents and purposes: practically; virtually.

e.g. To all intents and purposes, the manager’s speech was asking all the residents to look for another senior housing elsewhere, given that the property will soon be auctioned.

All moonshine: all nonsense.

e.g. His talk was all moonshine; I don’t believe a word of it.

All the rage: very fashionable suddenly.

e.g. Red is all the rage this summer for women’s fashion.

And all that: and the rest of it (usually suggesting something negative or unpleasant).

e.g. The manager does not like him because he is always late, he is not competent, and all that.

Ask for trouble: do what will bring difficulties and problems.

e.g. If you do what I tell you not to do, you are asking for trouble.

Save one’s bacon: keep oneself from physical harm.

e.g. To save your bacon, don’t go near the volcano, if I were you.

Benefit of the doubt: assumption that one is not guilty.

e.g. He said he didn’t take the money; well, I believe him, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

At best: if the best happens. 

e.g. He has worked so hard to advance his career; at best, he will become the CEO of the company.

Better half: wife.

e.g. Here comes my better half!

Big noise: an important and influential person.

e.g. He is a big noise in the Congress. Maybe one day he will be the president elect.

Too big for his boots: too self-important.

e.g. He has a swelled head—just too big for his boots!

Bitter pillow: unpleasant experience.

e.g. I understand that to be out of employment is a bitter pillow to swallow.

Black as thunder: an angry facial expression.

e.g. Your face is as black as thunder! What’s wrong?

Bold as brass: extremely rude and impudent.

e.g. The way he asked the question was as bold as brass.

I’ll be bound: I am very certain.

e.g. I’ll be bound he will win the election.

In the buff: naked.

e.g. We were all shocked when he came out of the room in the buff.

Burning question: matter of controversy.

e.g. To start the project is easy, but the burning question is where to get the fund.

Chop and change: change too often.

e.g. Don’t chop and change; stick to what you really believe in.

Butter up a person: flatter and praise a person insincerely.

e.g. o were just trying to butter up your boss with those remarks.

In the clouds: daydreaming.

e.g. He is always in the clouds, not a very practical person.

Buttonhole a person: go up to a person and engage his or her attention

e.g. Now is the time to buttonhole my boss and explain your proposal.

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