Idioms

keep your nose to the grindstone

To work very hard and continuously, staying focused on tasks with little break or distraction.

keep your shirt on

Stay calm and be patient; don’t get angry, excited, or upset.

kick the bucket

To die (often used humorously or casually, but can sound insensitive).

kick the habit

To stop doing an addictive or persistent bad habit, especially smoking, drinking, or drugs.

kick up a fuss

To complain noisily or make an unnecessary big deal about something.

kill two birds with one stone

To achieve two goals with a single action or effort.

knee-jerk reaction

An automatic, quick reaction made without careful thought; often impulsive or habitual.

knock on wood

Said to avoid “jinxing” yourself after mentioning good luck or hoping something continues; a superstitious way to prevent bad luck.

knock your socks off

To impress or amaze someone greatly; to wow them.

know the drill

To be familiar with the routine or what needs to be done, so no further explanation is necessary.

know the ropes

To understand how a job, system, or situation works; to be familiar with the procedures and practical details.

know the score

To understand the real situation—especially the facts, rules, or what’s really going on (often behind the scenes).

know which way the wind blows

To understand what’s really happening and where things are likely headed; to sense the prevailing opinion or power dynamics.

known quantity

A person or thing whose qualities, behavior, and reliability are already understood; low uncertainty compared with an unfamiliar alternative.

lace into

To attack someone aggressively—usually by criticizing them strongly (and sometimes by physically hitting them).

land on your feet

To recover quickly from trouble or change, ending up in a good situation despite difficulties.

lap of luxury

A situation of great comfort, wealth, and indulgence; living very well with many conveniences.

last but not least

Used to introduce the final person/thing in a list while emphasizing it is just as important as the others.

last straw

The final small annoyance or problem that makes someone lose patience or decide they can’t tolerate a situation anymore.

late bloomer

A person who develops skills, success, or maturity later than most others.

laughing stock

A person or thing that others laugh at; an object of ridicule.

lay down the law

To state rules or orders firmly and authoritatively, leaving little or no room for argument.

lay it on the line

To speak very directly and honestly; to state the facts plainly without holding back.

leave no stone unturned

To search very thoroughly and try every possible option to find something or achieve a result.

leave someone in the lurch

To abandon someone at a critical moment, leaving them stuck in a difficult situation without help.

lend a hand

To help someone; to give assistance, often with a task.

let bygones be bygones

To forgive and forget past disagreements or offenses; stop bringing up old problems and move on.

let it slide

To ignore or forgive a mistake/problem and not take action or argue about it.

let off steam

To release built-up stress, anger, or energy by doing something active or expressive.

let sleeping dogs lie

Don’t bring up or interfere with a situation that is currently calm, because it may cause trouble or reopen conflict.

let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret or surprise unintentionally, or before it is supposed to be known.

let your hair down

To relax and behave freely and informally, without worrying about rules, appearances, or being judged.

level playing field

a fair situation where everyone has the same opportunities and no one has an unfair advantage

lick your wounds

To recover emotionally or physically after a defeat, setback, or embarrassment; to regroup and regain strength.

life of the party

The person who makes a social event fun and lively; the center of attention and entertainment.

lift a finger

To make even the smallest effort to help (usually used in negatives: “not lift a finger”).

light at the end of the tunnel

A sign that a difficult situation is nearing its end and improvement is coming.

like a bolt from the blue

Very sudden and completely unexpected—like surprising news or an event with no warning.

like a bull in a china shop

Extremely clumsy, rough, or tactless in a delicate situation, often causing damage or upsetting people.

like a kid in a candy store

Extremely excited and delighted, often because there are many appealing options or treats.

like clockwork

Happening regularly, predictably, and reliably, often at the expected time or in the expected way.

like father like son

A son tends to resemble his father in character, behavior, or interests.

like pulling teeth

Extremely difficult, slow, or unpleasant to get something done or to get someone to talk/cooperate.

like two peas in a pod

Very similar to each other, often in appearance, behavior, or interests; almost identical.

like water off a duck's back

Criticism or problems have no effect on someone; they don’t take it personally or get upset.

lion's share

The largest portion of something, often more than is fair or expected.

lip service

Insincere or superficial expression of support or agreement without real action or commitment.

little by little

Gradually; in small steps over time rather than all at once.

live and learn

You learn from experience—often after making a mistake or facing something unexpected.

live and let live

Accept that other people may live differently, and don’t interfere or judge; be tolerant and allow others freedom.