English Idioms A - Z - Idiomatic Expressions

The Cambridge dictionary defines an idiom as a group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word understood on its own: For example
To "have bitten off more than you can chew" is an idiom that means you have tried to do something which is too difficult for you.We have offered you a list of commonly used idioms from A to Z.

Idioms A - Idiomatic expressions beginning with A

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• About

Be about to do sth
be going to do sth immediately

I was about to phone him when he walked into the office.

That’s about all/it
Used to say that you have finished telling smb about sth and there is nothing to add

‘Anything else?’ ‘No, that’s about it for now’.

• Above

Be/get above yourself
behave as if you are better or more important than you really are

She’s getting a bit above herself. She’s only been working for me for two weeks and already she’s telling me what to do!

• Abreast

Keep abreast of sth
Make sure that you know all the most recent facts about a subject

It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the latest developments in computing.

• Accord

Of your own accord
without being asked or forced

I didn’t need to tell her to apologize; she did it of her own accord.

• Accounts

By/from all accounts
used when the speaker does not have the direct experience of the thing mentioned but is reporting the ideas, etc of others

I’ve never seen any of her films but she is a brilliant director, by all accounts.

• Acid

The acid test (of sth)
a situation which finally proves whether sth is good or bad, true or false

They’ve always been good friends, but the acid test will come when they have to share a flat.

• Acquired taste

An acquired taste
a thing which you find unpleasant or do not appreciate at first but which you gradually learn to like

Whiskey is an acquired taste.

• Act

An act of God (law)
an event caused by natural sources which people cannot control or prevent, for example  a hurricane, earthquake, etc.

The insurance policy covers your house against all types of damage, excluding those caused by acts of God.

• Add

Add fuel to the fire/flames

do or say sth which makes a difficult situation worse, or makes smb even more angry, etc.

She was already furious and his apologies and excuses only added fuel to the flames.

• Advantage

Take advantage of sth/smb
make good use of sth; to make use of an opportunity;

We made sure that we took full advantage of the hotel facilities.

Make use of smb/sth in a way that is unfair or dishonest

He took advantage of my generosity (for example, by taking more than I had intended to give).

• After

After all
used to show that sth is the opposite of what you first intend to do or expect to happen

I think I will have something to eat after all.

used when you are explaining sth, or giving a reason

Can’t I stay up late tonight? After all, there’s no school tomorrow!

• Again

Then / there again
used for introducing an extra piece of information which explains sth or gives another explanation for sth

I thought he liked me, but then again maybe he didn’t.

• Air

(Up) in  the air
(of plans, etc) uncertain; not yet decided

I’m hoping to take a holiday this month but my plans are still very much up in the air.

• Airs

Give yourself / put on airs
behave in a way which shows that you feel you are important

The nice thing about her is that, in spite of being so rich, she doesn’t put on any airs.

• All

All along
from the beginning

I said all along that this would happen.

All in all
when everything is considered

All in all the film was a great success, despite the bad publicity.

Be all over smb
show a lot of affection for or enthusiasm about smb

He was all over her at the party.

• Allowances

Make allowances for smb
Not judge smb too strictly because of certain problems or difficulties

The court was asked to make allowances for the age of the accused.

• Amends

To make amends(to smb) (for sth/doing sth)
do sth for smb in order to show that you are sorry for sth wrong or unfair that you have done

I’m sorry I upset you – how can I make amends?

• Apart

Be poles / worlds apart
be widely separated; have no interests that you share

Politically, the two leaders are two poles apart.

• Apple

The apple of smb’s eye
a person, usually a child, who smb loves very much; a favourite child

The second child, John, was the apple of his mother’s eye.

• Arm

Cost/pay an arm and a leg
cost/pay a lot of money

We want to redecorate the living room, but I’m afraid it’s going to cost us an arm and a leg.

keep smb at arm’s length
avoid becoming too friendly with smb

He’s the kind of man who’s best kept at arm’s length, in my opinion.

• Astray

Go astray

become lost, be stolen

Several letters went astray or were not delivered.

go in the wrong direction or have the wrong result

Fortunately, the gunman’s shots went astray.

• Authority

Have (got) sth on good authority
be able to believe sth because you trust the person who gave you the information

I have it on good authority that the chairman is going to resign.

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