Idioms

another day, another dollar

A resigned way to say each day brings the same routine work and small pay; just getting through the day.

any port in a storm

In a difficult situation, any available option—even if not ideal—will do as a temporary solution.

apple of my eye

Someone you love and cherish deeply; a favorite person who is very special to you.

around the clock

Continuously, 24 hours a day, without stopping (often in shifts).

as alike as two peas

Extremely similar in appearance or character; almost identical.

as cool as a cucumber

Very calm and composed, especially under pressure or in a stressful situation.

as easy as pie

Very easy to do; requiring little effort or skill.

as fit as a fiddle

In very good health and physical condition.

as good as gold

Extremely well-behaved, obedient, or reliably good (often said of children).

as happy as a clam

Extremely happy and content; very pleased with the situation.

as light as a feather

Extremely light in weight; very easy to lift or carry.

as plain as day

Extremely obvious and easy to see or understand; unmistakably clear.

as quiet as a mouse

Very quiet; making almost no noise, often to avoid being noticed.

as red as a beet

Very red in the face or skin, usually from embarrassment, heat, anger, or exertion.

as right as rain

Completely fine and healthy again; back to normal after a problem or illness.

as sick as a dog

Extremely ill, often with nausea or vomiting; very unwell.

as strong as an ox

Extremely physically strong; having great strength.

as the crow flies

By the shortest, straight-line distance between two points (not following roads or routes).

as thick as thieves

Very close friends; strongly bonded and often sharing secrets or always together.

as tough as nails

Very tough, resilient, or hard to hurt/impress; can also mean physically strong or emotionally hard.

at a crossroads

At an important turning point where a decision must be made between different options or directions.

at a loss

Unable to understand, decide, or know what to do; puzzled or uncertain.

at a premium

In high demand and therefore scarce and/or expensive; difficult to obtain.

at arm’s length

At a distance—physically or emotionally; not becoming too close or involved.

at daggers drawn

In open hostility; actively quarreling or ready to fight with someone.

at death’s door

Extremely ill or close to dying; sometimes used more loosely for being near collapse or failure.

at sixes and sevens

In a state of confusion, disorder, or disarray; not organized or settled.

at the drop of a hat

Immediately; without hesitation or delay, often in response to a sudden request or opportunity.

at the eleventh hour

At the last possible moment, just before it’s too late.

at the end of the day

Ultimately; when everything is considered, the final or most important point is.

at the top of your lungs

As loudly as you can; with maximum volume (e.g., shouting or singing very loudly).

at your wit's end

So worried, frustrated, or exhausted that you can’t think of what to do next; out of ideas.

avoid like the plague

To stay away from someone or something as much as possible because it’s unpleasant, risky, or strongly disliked.

away with the fairies

Absent-minded or distracted; not paying attention to what’s happening, often as if daydreaming or living in a fantasy.

axe to grind

A personal agenda or selfish reason for saying/doing something, often indicating bias.

back against the wall

In a difficult situation with few or no options left; under strong pressure, forced to act.

back in the saddle

To resume an activity or role after a break, setback, or failure; to regain confidence and momentum.

back to square one

Back at the beginning after a failed attempt or setback, needing to start over from the start.

back to the drawing board

To start over with a new plan after a failure or setback, rethinking the approach from the beginning.

back to the grindstone

Return to regular work or routine after a break; get back to serious effort.

back to the wall

In a very difficult situation with little room to maneuver; forced to act or make a tough choice.

backseat driver

Someone who gives unwanted advice or directions, especially to the person actually in control (often while riding in a car).

bad apple

A person in a group who is dishonest or harmful and can cause trouble or spoil others’ reputation.

bad blood

Long-standing hostility or resentment between people or groups because of past conflict or wrongdoing.

bad hair day

A day when your hair looks especially messy or unattractive; often also means you’re having a rough, frustrating day overall.

bad to the bone

Very tough, rebellious, or mean—bad in an intimidating “to the core” way (often admiring or playful).

bail out

To rescue someone from trouble (often financial or legal), or to leave an aircraft by parachute; also to remove water from a boat.

ballpark figure

A rough numerical estimate or approximate cost/amount, not a precise or final number.

bang for your buck

Good value for the money spent; a strong result or benefit compared with the cost.

bark up the wrong tree

To make a wrong assumption about who is responsible or what the cause is, and pursue the wrong person or idea.