Idiomatic Expressions A.doc

1. A bit muchIf something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.2. A chain is no stronger than its weakest linkProcesses, organizations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.3. A day late and a dollar short(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.4. A fool and his money are soon partedPeople who arent careful with their money spend it quickly. 5. A fresh pair of eyesA person who is brought in to examine something carefully is a fresh pair of eyes.6. A little bird told meIf someone doesnt want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.7. A little learning is a dangerous thingA small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.8. A month of SundaysA month of Sundays is a long period of time.9. A penny for your thoughtsThis idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.10. A penny saved is a penny earnedThis means that we shouldnt spend or waste money, but try to save it.11. A picture is worth a thousand wordsA picture can explain a message much better than the best verbal description.12. A watched pot never boilsBeing impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer.13. About faceIf someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. 14. Above boardIf things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.15. Absence makes the heart grow fonderThis idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.16. Accident waiting to happenA situation is dangerous and about to become a disaster. 17. Ace in the holeAn advantage other people are not aware that you have.18. Achilles heelA persons weak spot is their Achilles heel.19. Actions speak louder than wordsWhat people actually do is more important than what they say they will do.20. Ahead of the curveSimilar to ahead of the pack, ahead of the curve literally refers to your position on the statistical bell curve, where the top of the curve represents the median, average result. By being ahead of the curve you represent the top percentile of results that either has the advanced skills or understanding that sets you apart.21. Ahead of the packIf you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.22. Ahead of timeIf something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time.23. Air your dirty laundry in publicTo reveal aspects of your private life that should remain private; telling a secret.24. Albatross around your neckA problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful25. Alike as two peasIf people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical.26. Alive and kickingIf something is active and doing well, it is alive and kicking. 27. All alongIf you have suspected something all along, you have felt this from the beginning.28. All bark and no biteWhen someone talks tough but really isnt, they are all bark and no bite.29. All bets are offIf all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.30. All dressed up and nowhere to goYoure prepared for something that isnt going to happen.31. All earsPeople who are all ears are very interested in hearing about something.32. All hat, no cattleWhen someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.33. All hell broke looseWhen all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.34. All of the aboveEverything that has been said or written, especially all the choices or possibilities.35. All roads lead to RomeThis means that there can be many different ways of doing something.36. All that glitters is not goldAppearances can be deceptive; things that seem valuable can be worthless. 37. All the rageIf somethings all the rage, it is very popular or fashionable at the moment.38. All the tea in ChinaSomeone wont do something no matter how much money they are offered.39. All your eggs in one basketYou risk everything at once, instead of trying to spread the risk. This is often used as a negative imperative- Dont put all your eggs in one basket.40. Alls well that ends wellIf the end result is good, then everything is good.41. Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenadesUsed in response to someone saying almost in a win/lose situation. The full expression is Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. 42. Always a bridesmaid, never a brideIf someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.43. AmenSome use Amen or Amen to that as a way of agreeing with someone.44. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cureIt is better to avoid problems in the first place rather than fix them later.45. Any port in a stormThis means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.46. Any Tom, Dick or HarryIf something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone.47. Arm and a legIf something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.48. Armchair quarterbackAn armchair quarterback is someone who offers advice, especially about football, but never shows that they could actually do any better.49. Around the clockIf something is open around the clock, it is open 24 hours a day. 50. As a ruleIf you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.51. As cold as iceThis idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.52. As cool as a cucumberIf someone is as cool as a cucumber, they dont get worried by anything.53. Asleep at the wheelIf someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job very carefully.54. At the bottom of the totem poleSomeone at the bottom of the totem pole i