Explanation: When you get something for peanuts, you buy it for a low price.

How to use it: [someone] gets [something] for peanuts

Example: I got this new computer for peanuts!

Explanation: When you get something, you understand it.

How to use it: [someone] gets something

Example: Don’t ask me about algebra. I don’t get it.

Explanation: When you get pulled over, the police stop your car.

How to use it: [someone] get pulled over by the police

Example: Yesterday, Joe got pulled over for speeding.

Explanation: When something gets out of hand, there is chaos

How to use it: [something] gets out of hand

Example: Everyone was arguing at the meeting so it got out of hand.

Explanation: When you get your feet wet, you have your first experience doing something.

How to use it: [someone] gets their feet wet

Example: I first got my feet wet as a teacher in 1989.

Explanation: When someone or something gets on another’s nerves, it bothers them

How to use it: [someone] gets on another person’s nerves

Example: The noise in this neighborhood gets on my nerves.

Explanation: When you get off on the wrong foot, your relationship with the other person doesn’t begin smoothly.

How to use it: [two people] get off on the wrong foot

Example: I think we got off on the wrong foot with this project.

Explanation: When you get hitched, you get married.

How to use it: [someone] gets hitched or [two people] get hitched

Example: Ed & Chris got hitched in Las Vegas.

Explanation: When you get down to the nuts and bolts, you discuss the most important aspects.

How to use it: [someone] gets down to the nuts and bolts

Example: During the meeting we got down to the nuts and bolts right away.

Explanation: When you get down to the nitty-gritty, you deal with the fundamental or essential aspects.

How to use it: [someone] gets down to the nitty-gritty

Example: Hopefully, during this meeting we can get down to the nitty gritty.

Explanation: When you get back to someone, you reply to them at a later time.

How to use it: [someone] gets back to another person

Example: Let me check and I’ll get back to you tomorrow.

Explanation: When you get along with someone, you have a good relationship with them.

How to use it: [someone] gets along with another person

Example: Kathy gets along with Ted’s parents.

Explanation: When you get a second wind, you get new energy and feel refreshed

How to use it: [someone] gets a second wind

Example: I got a second wind after taking a nap and a shower.

Explanation: Someone who is full of hot air speaks insincerely

How to use it: [someone] is full of hot air

Example: I think that salesman was full of hot air.

Explanation: When you to something from the get-go, you do it from the beginning?

How to use it: [someone] likes someone from the get-go

Example: Jean is really nice. I liked her from the get-go.

Explanation: When you do something from the bottom of your heart, you do it very sincerely.

How to use it: [someone] does something from the bottom of their heart

Example: I appreciated her help from the bottom of my heart.

Explanation: When you foot the bill, you pay the bill

How to use it: [someone] foots the bill

Example: Jack foot the bill when he took us to the restaurant.

Explanation: When you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without prior training

How to use it: [someone] flies by the seat of their pants

Example: When I tried to repair my computer, I was flying by the seat of my pants.

Explanation: A singer or actor who is a flash in the pan is very very popular for just a short time.

How to use it: [someone] is flash in the pan

Example: A lot of pop singers are just a flash in the pan.

Explanation: Someone who is fit to be tied is very angry

How to use it: [someone] is fit to be tied

Example: Jane was fit to be tied when her husband came home at 11pm.

Explanation: Something that is fit for a king has superior quality.

How to use it: [something] is fit for a king

Example: The suite at the hotel was fit for a king.

Explanation: Someone who is fit as a fiddle is in good health.

How to use it: [someone] is fit as a fiddle

Example: Grandpa got a medical check and he is as fit as a fiddle.

Explanation: Someone who is a fish out of water is in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable situation.

How to use it: [someone] feels like a fish out of water

Example: Since I don’t know the rules, I felt like a fish out of water at the stadium.

Explanation: When you fish or cut bait, you make a decision.

How to use it: [someone] has to fish or cut bait

Example: Jim took too much time thinking about his problem, so I told him it was time to fish or cut bait.

Explanation: When you fight an uphill battle you are struggling with something.

How to use it: [someone] fights an uphill battle

Example: I want to ask my boss for a few days off, but I think I’ll be fighting an uphill battle.

Explanation: When you have a fender bender, you have a minor auto accident.

How to use it: [someone] has fender bender (with their car)

Example: Jack had a fender bender with the company car.

Explanation: When you face the music you take responsibility for wrongdoing

How to use it: [someone] faces the music

Example: Jim broke his mom’s vase, so he’ll have to face the music when she gets home from work.

Explanation: Something that has everything but the kitchen sink has many options.

How to use it: [something] has everything but the kitchen sink

Example: My pizza has everything but the kitchen sink on it.

Explanation: Someone who has their ducks in a row is organized.

How to use it: [someone] has their ducks in a row

Example: The new salesman got all his ducks in a row in just a week.

Explanation: Someone or something that drives you up a wall annoys you greatly.

How to use it: [something] or [a person] drive someone up a wall

Example: His laziness in the office drives me up a wall.

Explanation: When you drink like a fish, you drink a large amount of alcoholic drinks.

How to use it: [someone] drinks like a fish

Example: Cathy’s a nice person, but she drinks like a fish (drinks a lot of liquor). Do you know anyone who drinks like a fish?

Explanation: When you are dressed to kill, you are wearing sexy clothes

How to use it: [someone] is dressed to kill

Example: Jenny was dressed to kill last night at the club.

Explanation: When you draw a blank, you can’t remember something.

How to use it: [someone] draws a blank

Example: I was trying to remember his name but I drew blank (couldn’t remember) Have you drawn a blank recently?

Explanation: When you drag your feet, you intentionally do something slowly.

How to use it: [someone] drags their feet

Example: I told Jack to stop dragging his feet and finish his work.

Explanation: When a situation is down to the wire, the deadline is very near or

How to use it: [something] is down to the wire

Example: It was down to the wire, but I finished my report.

Explanation: Someone who is down to earth is practical and not pretentious.

How to use it: [someone] is down to earth

Example: Lori’s new boyfriend is down to earth.

Explanation: When something is done to a turn, it is cooked perfectly.

How to use it: [some food] is done to a turn

Example: The chicken was done to a turn.

Explanation: When you are dog tired, you are very tired.

How to use it: [someone] is dog tired

Example: I worked until 10 last night and I’m dog tired.

Explanation: A dog eat dog world is a very competitive situation.

How to use it: [we say this about life] It is a dog eat dog world

Example: It’s a dog eat dog world on Wall Street.

Explanation: The dog days of summer are the hottest days in the summer.

How to use it: [we say this about hot summer weather] These are the dog days of summer

Example: I’m getting tired of the dog days of summer.

Explanation: When you do away with something, you abolish it.

How to use it: [someone] or an organization does away with

Example: The café did away with the free refill policy.

Explanation: When you dish the dirt, you gossip.

How to use it: [someone] dishs the dirt with another person

Example: Jill and Carol spent the afternoon dishing the dirt about their neighbors.

Explanation: When something is dirt cheap, it is very cheap.

How to use it: [something] is dirt cheap

Example: I bought some suits in Bangkok for dirt cheap.

Explanation: When you have a dead-end job it is a job with no possibility for promotion or advancement.

How to use it: [someone] has a dead-end job

Example: Tom said he quit because it was a dead-end job.

Explanation: When someone or something is dead quiet, it is very quiet

How to use it: [something] is dead quiet

Example: In the suburbs, it is usually dead quiet at night.

Explanation: When something is dead in the water, it can not progress or move ahead.

How to use it: [some plan or negotiation] is dead in the water

Example: Because of the red tape in the office, our proposal is dead in the water.

Explanation: When someone is dead from the neck up, they are not very intelligent.

How to use it: [someone] is dead from the neck up

Example: The new salesman is nice, but dead from the neck up.

Explanation: When you crack someone up, you make them laugh.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] cracks another person someone up

Example: Comedians like Steve Martin really crack me up.

Explanation: When you crack open a cold one, you open a cold beer.

How to use it: [someone] cracks open a cold one

Example: At the end of the day I like to crack open a cold beer.

Explanation: When something comes like clockwork, it comes precisely on time.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] comes like clockwork

Example: The trains in Tokyo come like clockwork.

Explanation: When something comes in handy, it is useful and make life more convenient.

How to use it: [something] comes in handy

Example: A second car in the family would come in handy.

Explanation: When you come down with a cold, you are ill.

How to use it: [someone] comes down with a cold

Example: Tom came down with a cold from the air conditioner at work.

Explanation: When you come clean, you admit wrongdoing.

How to use it: [someone] comes clean

Example: Ted came clean about taking the money from the company.

Explanation: When something has come a long way, it has improved greatly.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] comes a long way

Example: Aya’s English has come a long way since last year.

Explanation: When something collects dust, it is not being used.

How to use it: [something] collects dust

Example: My old stereo set is just collecting dust.

Explanation: When you quit or go cold turkey, you stop doing something.

How to use it: [someone] goes cold turkey

Example: Jim stopped smoking cold turkey.

Explanation: When you chew the fat, you have a leisurely chat.

How to use it: [someone] chews the fat with another person

Example: I was chewing the fat with Tommy last night at the bar.

Explanation: When you chase rainbows, you are trying to do something impossible.

How to use it: [someone] chases rainbows

Example: Tom has been trying to date Lisa for several months now, but she always refuses him. I think he is chasing rainbows.

Explanation: When you have a change of heart, you change your decision about something.

How to use it: [someone] has a change of heart

Example: The boss was going to give us a day off tomorrow, but it looks like he’s had a change of heart.

Explanation: When you are caught red handed, you are caught while doing something wrong.

How to use it: [someone] is caught red handed

Example: Bob was caught red-handed sleeping in the office.

Explanation: When you catch Z’s you sleep.

How to use it: [someone] catches Z’s

Example: I’m going to catch some Z’s before dinner.

Explanation: When you catch some rays, you are getting a suntan.

How to use it: [someone] catches some rays

Example: It was sunny so I caught some rays today.

Explanation: When the cat got your tongue, you are unable to speak.

How to use it: the cat got [someone’s] tongue

Example: Jim was pretty quite at the party, so I asked him if the cat had gotten his tongue.*

Explanation: When you calm someone down, you help them become relaxed. When something calms you down, it helps you to relax.

How to use it: [someone] calms another person down (or) [something] calms a person down

Example: Classical music really calms me down.

Explanation: Someone who calls the shots is the authority.

How to use it: [someone] calls the shots

Example: Tom is the boss, but the office manager calls the shots.

Explanation: When you button your lip you stop speaking.

How to use it: [someone] buttons their lip

Example: The teacher told little Joey to button his lip.

Explanation: When you bring home the bacon, you support your family.

How to use it: [someone] brings home the bacon

Example: Jack brings home the bacon.

Explanation: When you breeze through something, you have an easy time doing it.

How to use it: [someone] breezes through something

Example: Tom breezed through his TOEFL exam.

Explanation: When you break up with someone, you end a romantic relationship with them.

How to use it: [someone] breaks up with another person

Example: Ken broke up with Marie last night.

Explanation: When you break the news to someone, you tell them bad news.

How to use it: [someone] breaks the news to another person

Example: We had to break the news to Jake that his pet fish died.

Explanation: When you break the bank, you spend a lot of money.

How to use it: [someone] breaks the bank

Example: Pam broke the bank at the mall yesterday.

Explanation:When you break someone’s heart, you disappoint them romantically.

How to use it:[someone] breaks another person’s heart

Example:Ted broke Mary’s heart when he left her.

Explanation:When you blow your top, you become angry.

How to use it:[someone] blows their top

Example:Jane blew her top when she saw her boyfriend in a café with another girl.

Explanation:When you blow a fuse, you become very angry.

How to use it:[someone] blows a fuse

Example:Tom blew a fuse when the truck hit his new car.

Explanation: When you bite your tongue, you stop yourself from saying something that might make another person angry or upset.

How to use it:[someone] bites their tongue

Example:Even though Jim was angry, he bit his tongue.

Explanation: When you bite the bullet, you deal with (endure) an unpleasant situation.

How to use it:[someone] bites the bullet

Example:Jim has had a toothache for a month. He has to bite the bullet and go to the dentist.

Explanation: When a place is big enough to swing a cat, it is spacious.

How to use it:[somewhere] is big enough to swing a cat

Example:It’s a bright apartment, but not big enough to swing a cat.

Explanation: When someone is bent out of shape, they are angry and upset.

How to use it: [someone] is bent out of shape / [someone] gets bent out of shape

Example:Jack was bent out of shape because his flight was cancelled.

Explanation: When you bend over backwards you do more than what is expected of you.

How to use it: [someone] bends over backwards.

Example:Bob always bends over backwards to help someone.

Explanation: Something that is a bed of roses is very comfortable. *Note that we usually use this idiom in a negative sentence.

How to use it: [something] is /isn’t a bed of roses

Example: Traveling for business seems glamorous, but is it no bed of roses.

Explanation: Someone who has bed head has strange looking hair because of the position their head contacted the pillow when they were sleeping.

How to use it: [someone] has bed head

Example: I woke up with bed head this morning.

Explanation: Someone whose bark is worse than their bite is not actually as mean or angry as they appear to be.

How to use it: [someone]’s bark is worse than their bite

Example: The new boss seems strict, but his bark is worse than his bite.

Explanation: When you go back to square one, you start again from the beginning.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] is back to square one

Example: My boss rejected my work, now it’s back to square one.

Explanation: When you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately, without hesitation.

How to use it: [someone] does something at the drop of a hat.

Example: I’d marry her at the drop of a hat.

Explanation: [something] or [someone] is as quiet as a mouse

How to use it: Something or someone who is as quiet as a mouse is very quiet and/or not talking very much.

Example: Jen’s new boyfriend was as quiet as a mouse at the party. I guess he’s shy.

Explanation: Something that costs an arm and a leg is very expensive.

How to use it: [something] costs (or) [someone] pays an arm and a leg

Example: It costs an arm and a leg to buy beer at a baseball stadium.

Explanation: Someone who is all thumbs is very clumsy.

How to use it: [someone] is all thumbs

Example: Ted said he is all thumbs when it comes to repairing something.

Explanation: Something or someone that is all set is ready.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] is all set

Example: We’ve prepared well, so I think we are all set for the meeting.

Explanation: Something or someone that is all over the map is very disorganized.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] is all over the map.

Example: The CEO’s speech was all over the map.

Explanation: Someone who is all heart is a very kind person.

How to use it: [someone] is all heart.

Example: Ted is all heart, so everyone likes him.

Explanation: Someone who adds fuel to the fire makes a bad situation much worse.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] adds fuel to the fire.

Example: Bob added fuel to the fire by yelling at his boss.

Explanation: Someone who is absent-minded easily forgets things.

How to use it: [someone] is absent-minded.

Example: Jack forgot his wife’s birthday. He’s so absent- minded!

Explanation: A screw up is a person who often makes careless mistakes, generally because they are not paying attention to what they are doing or because they are incompetent.

How to use it: [someone] is a screw up.

Example: I hear Tom was fired because he is a screw up.

Explanation: A pipe dream is something unrealistic that you wish for or wish to do.

How to use it: [something] is a pipe dream.

Example: I know sailing a yacht in the South Pacific is a pipe dream, but someday I hope to do it!

Explanation: Something that is a piece of cake is easy to do.

How to use it: [something] is a piece of cake.

Example: Using computers is a piece of cake for me.

Explanation: Something that is a pain in the neck is troublesome and inconvenient.

How to use it: [something] or [someone] is a pain in the neck.

Example: Tom is a pain in the neck. He borrows my tools but never returns them on time.

Explanation: A dozen means twelve, and a dime is a ten-cent coin, so a dime a dozen literally means twelve costs ten cents. So if something costs a dime a dozen, it is inexpensive or easy to find.

How to use it: [something] is a dime a dozen.

Example: Hot dog carts are a dime a dozen on the streets of NYC.

Explanation: Joe is a slang word for coffee and so a cup of joe means a cup of coffee.

How to use it: You can buy, drink, make, etc. a cup of joe.

Example: I like to start my day with a cup of joe.