English idioms: Life, And & Decisions
15 idioms with meanings and example sentences, plus where many of them come from.
a blessing in disguisesomething good that seemed bad at firstLosing that job was a blessing in disguise.Origin: Used since the 1700s; found in a poem by James Hervey.
burn the candle at both endsto exhaust yourself by doing too muchWorking and studying at night, she's burning the candle at both ends.Origin: A candle burnt from both ends would be used up twice as fast.
cross that bridge when you come to itdeal with a problem only when it happensWe'll cross that bridge when we come to it.Origin: Based on the image of facing an obstacle only when you reach it.
face the musicto accept the consequences of your actionsHe broke the window and had to face the music.Origin: Possibly from theatre, where performers faced the orchestra.
get the ball rollingto start somethingLet's get the ball rolling with the first task.Origin: From games using a ball that must be set moving.
in hot waterin troubleHe's in hot water for lying to his boss.Origin: Used since the 1500s for being in difficulty.
let sleeping dogs lieavoid reopening an old problemI wanted to ask, but decided to let sleeping dogs lie.Origin: An old proverb; waking a dog might make it bark or bite.
a dime a dozenvery common and cheapCheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen here.Origin: From the American dime, a ten-cent coin, for a dozen items.
barking up the wrong treepursuing a mistaken courseIf you blame me, you're barking up the wrong tree.Origin: From hunting dogs that chase prey up the wrong tree.
beat around the bushto avoid the main pointStop beating around the bush and tell me.Origin: From hunters who beat bushes to flush out birds before getting to the point.
the last strawthe final problem that makes someone give upHis rudeness was the last straw.Origin: From the proverb about the straw that broke the camel's back.
on the same wavelengththinking in a similar wayWe're on the same wavelength about the plan.Origin: From radio, where signals must be tuned to the same wavelength.
a game of two halvesa situation with a very different second partIt was a game of two halves, and we lost.Origin: From football commentary.
add insult to injuryto make a bad situation worseHe was late and added insult to injury by complaining.Origin: From a fable by Phaedrus; the idea of hurt followed by mockery.
out of the blueunexpectedlyShe called me out of the blue.Origin: From a clear blue sky, in which no storm is expected.
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