IDIOMS

curry favor

"Currying favor" with someone means trying to ingratiate oneself by fawning over that person: "The ambassador curried favor with the dictator by praising his construction projects."

de rigueur

A French term meaning necessary according to convention: "Formal dress is de rigueur at weddings"

annus mirabilis

A Latin expression meaning "miraculous year." The term refers to a year in which an unusual number of remarkable things occurred: "The Waste Land and Ulysses both appeared in 1922, the annus mirabilis of modern literature." *The reverse is an annus horribilus, or "terrible year." Queen Elizabeth II used the term in 1992, referring to a major fire at Windsor Castle and the widely publicized marital problems of her family members.

ad hominem

A Latin expression meaning "to the man". An ad hominem argument is one that relies on personal attacks rather than reason or substance.

cause celebre (kohz say-LEB-ruh)

A cause or issue, generally political, that arouses public opinion: "The question of the draft was a cause celebre in the 1960s." From French, meaning "celebrated cause"

bee in one's bonnet

A chronic preoccupation, often fanciful or eccentric: "My cousin has a bee in his bonnet about the rudeness of local cab drivers; he's written four letters to the editor on the subject."

brain trust

A group of experts who serve as advisers to a government or an organization: "Before being appointed to the cabinet, Brown had been a leading figure in a financial brain trust."

ace in the hole

A hidden advantage or resource kept in reserve until needed: "The coach was certain that his new trick play would turn out to be his ace in the hole." This term comes from the game of stud poker, in which one or more cards are turned face down, or "in the hole", as bets are placed. The ace is the card with the highest value.

clean slate

A new start; especially to make a new start by clearing the record. This phrase comes from the use of chalk and slates in the classrooms in the past. By wiping the slate clean, a student could remove any evidence of a mistake.

black sheep

A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group, usually a family: "Uncle Jack, who was imprisoned for forgery, is the black sheep of the family."

ad hoc

A phrase describing something created especially for a particular occasion: "We need an ad hoc committee to handle this new problem immediately." From Latin, meaning "toward this (matter)."

catch-as-catch-can

A phrase that describes a situation in which people must improvise or do what they can with limited means: We don't have enough textbooks for all of the students, so it'll be catch-as-catch-can"

all systems go

A state of readiness for immediate action: "Your proposal has been approved, so it's all systems go." This phrase originated in the 1960s during the heyday of space flight and referred to the launching of missiles and other space vehicles.

cock and bull story

A story that is false: "When John came home at 3:30a.m., he gave his mother some cock and bull story about having a flat tire on the way home."

behind the eight ball

A term, referring to the game of pool, meaning in an unfavorable or uncomfortable position. "After his unkind remarks were repeated to the boss, Gary really ended up behind the eight ball."

busman's holiday

A vacation during which a person engages in activity that is the same as or similar to his or her usual employment: "Our Spanish professor had a busman's holiday this year; she spent her vacation doing research in Spain."

by the book

According to established rules: "The inspector will be visiting the factory today, so let's make sure we do everything by the book."

anon

An abbreviation for anonymous, used to indicate unknown or unacknowledged authorship. Without the period, anon means "at another time" or "again"

albatross around one's neck

An annoying burden: "That old car is an albatross around my neck." Literally, an albatross is a large sea bird. The phrase alludes to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," in which a sailor who shoots a friendly albatross is forced to wear its carcass around his neck as punishment.

act of God

An event beyond control - e.g. hurricane, earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc. - for which there is no legal redress. The phrase is frequently used by insurance companies and lawyers.

can't hold a candle to

An expression describing a person or thing that is distinctly inferior to someone or something else: "Senator Nelson is extremely knowledgeable, but as a speaker, he can't hold a candle to Senator Delano."

And thereby hangs a tale

An expression from Shakespeare's "As you Like It" that means, "There is a real story here." It is commonly used by someone who is about to give the background of an interesting object, incident, or idea: "The colonel remarked, 'See that umbrella over the mantelpiece? It saved my life during the war, and thereby hangs a tale.'"

cash in one's chips

An expression referring to gambling, meaning to quit: "Because his argument wasn't convincing the committee, Tony decided to cash in his chips and go home." Also, a euphemism for dying.

chip off the old block

An expression used of people who closely resemble their parents in some way: "Mark just won the same sailboat race his father won twenty years ago; he's a chip off the old block."

C'est la vie (say lah VEE)

An expression used to to play down some minor disappointment: "So we lost a softball game by twenty-two runs. What can you; c'est la vie." From French, meaning "That's life"

crocodile tears

An insincere show of sympathy or sadness; crocodiles were once thought to "weep" large tears before they ate their victims: "Don't shed any crocodile tears for Fisher; I know you were responsible for his firing."

bolt from (out of) the blue

An unexpected event that strikes like lightning from the sky: "He had been with the company for eighteen years; when he was fired, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue."

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

Born into a wealthy family: "She may have a lot of money, but she earned every penny herself; she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth."

by hook or by crook

By whatever means possible, fair or unfair: "Polly was determined to get an A on the exam by hook or by crook"

all thumbs

Clumsy or awkward: "Where plumbing is concerned, Walter is all thumbs"

de jure

Determined by law. In the American South, racial segregation was de jure, but in the North, it was de facto

at loggerheads

Engaged in a head-on dispute: "Labor and management are at loggerheads in this affair, and it may be some time before they can negotiate a settlement."

bona fide

Genuine: "The offer was a bona fide business opportunity: they really meant to carry it through." From Latin, meaning "in good faith".

bone to pick

Having a "bone to pick with someone" means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: "I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night."

at sixes and sevens

In a state of confusion or disorder: "Trying to cram for this math test has me all at sixes and sevens."

bite the dust

Literally, to fall face down in the dirt; to suffer a defeat: "Once again, the champion wins, and another contender bites the dust."

Davy Jones's Locker

Sailors' slang for the bottom of the ocean. Someone drowned at sea may be said to have "gone down to Davy Jones's Locker."

cheek by jowl

Situated side by side or in close contact: "The commuters were packed in the subway cheek by jowl."

blarney

Smooth, flattering talk, often nonsensical or deceptive. Based on an Irish legend that those who kiss the Blarney stone will become skilled in flattery.

de facto

Something generally accepted or agreed to without any formal decision in its favor: "They never elected him; he became their leader de facto." From Latin, meaning "in fact"

bete noire (BET NWAHR)

Something or someone a person views with particular dislike: "The new candidate for governor is the bete noire of all the liberals in the state." From French, meaning "black beast."

creature comforts

The basic physical things that make life pleasant- good food, warm clothing, etc.: "The poor frequently lack the creature comforts the rest of us take for granted."

alpha and omega

The beginning and the end. In the New Testament Book of Revelation, God says, "I am the Alpha and Omega," meaning that he is the beginning and the end of all things. In the Greek alphabet, alpha is the first letter and omega is the last.

bedside manner

The behavior of a healthcare provider toward or as perceived by a patient. To say that a person displays "bad bedside manner" is to assert that the person does not possess the ability to comfort or empathize with someone, even if what they are saying has negative connotations: "David was really rude to me when he told me that I had something stuck in my teeth. He truly has a horrible bedside manner."

creme de la creme

The best of the best: "Our school's marching band is acknowledged as the creme de la creme." From French, meaning "cream of the cream"

apple of one's eye

The favorite object of a person's love or affection: "Linda was fond of all the horses on the ranch, but the little palomino was the apple of her eye."

coup de grace

The final blow: "He had been getting deeper and deeper into debt; the fates delivered the coup de grace when he died." The phrase is French for "stroke of mercy". It originally referred to the merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after had faced a firing squad.

as the crow flies

The most direct route between two places: "From here to Gold Bar, it's only ten miles as the crow flies, but twenty miles by the winding mountain road."

alma mater

The school or university from which one graduated. The term also refers to a school's official song: "The reunion began with everyone singing the alma mater." From Latin, meaning "nurturing mother."

baker's dozen

Thirteen, bakers once provided an extra roll with every dozen sold.

clean bill of health

To "get a clean bill of health" is to be told by some authoritative source, generally a doctor, that one is perfectly healthy. The phrase is sometimes used figuratively to indicate that a person or organization has been found free of any sort of irregularity: "After looking into her financial background, the Senate gave the nominee a clean bill of health."

cold shoulder

To "give someone the cold shoulder" is to ignore someone deliberately: "At the party, Carl tried to talk to Suzanne, but she gave him the cold shoulder."

cold turkey

To "go cold turkey" is to withdraw suddenly and completely from an addictive substance or some other form of dependency: "Many people who attempt to quit smoking do so by going cold turkey rather than by gradually cutting down.:

cold feet

To "have cold feet" is to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action: "The backup quarterback was called into the game, but he got cold feet and refused to go in."

bite the bullet

To adjust to unpleasant circumstances: "The severe drought is forcing everybody to bite the bullet and use less water." Before anesthesia, people undergoing surgery would bite on a bullet to help them withstand the pain.

bury the hatchet

To agree to end a quarrel: "Jerry and Cindy had been avoiding each other since the divorce, but I saw them together this morning, so they must have buried the hatchet."

beg the question

To assume what has still to be proved: "To say that we should help the region's democratic movement begs the question of whether it really is democratic."

beat around the bush

To avoid getting to the point of an issue: "Your worries have noting to do with the new proposal. Stop beating around the bush, and cast your vote."

cruel to be kind

To be "cruel to be kind" is to cause someone pain for his or her own good. The phrase is used by Hamlet after he has berated his mother for her infidelity to the memory of her deceased husband.

birthday suit

To be "in one's birthday suit" is to be completely naked (as people are at birth).

carte blanche

To be given "carte blanche" is to receive the power and authority to do as one wishes: "The prime minister herself did not take any action on the refugee issue but gave her minister of the interior carte blanche to deal with the situation." Carte blanche is French for "blank card," meaning one that can be filled in as a person wishes.

carry a torch for

To be infatuated with: "Frank may be engaged to Helen, but I think he still carries a torch for Laura."

blow one's own horn

To brag about oneself: "Although usually modest, Marilyn had to blow her own horn a bit during the job interview." Sometimes phrased as "toot one's own horn."

carry the torch

To carry on a cause: "The columnist feels that he is carrying the torch of liberation in an age of conservatism."

blow hot and cold

To change one's mind constantly about the value of something: "The administration should stop issuing such contradictory statements on taxes; they are alienating the voters by blowing hot and cold on tax reform."

deep six

To dispose of, discard, or get rid of: "The board of directors deep-sixed the proposal without even reading it." This phrase is derived from the noun "deep six," meaning burial at sea and referring to the depth of water necessary for such a burial. The term was later used as slang for a grave (customarily six feet underground) and, by extension, as a verb meaning "to kill".

burn the candle at both ends

To do more than one ought to; to overextend oneself: "His doctor said that his illness was brought on by stress and recommended that he stop burning the candle at both ends."

carry coals to Newcastle

To do something that is obviously superfluous; Newcastle is a city in northeast England were coal is mined: "Karen wanted to give Dad a magazine subscription for his birthday, but I said that would be like carrying coals to Newcastle, since he already has fifteen or twenty subscriptions."

cry over spilt milk

To dwell pointlessly on past misfortunes: "I know you wish that you'd handled the project more efficiently, but there's no use crying over spilt milk."

burn your bridges behind you

To eliminate any possibility of a retreat to a former position: "In his ruthless pursuit of success, Sloane offended all his coworkers and effectively burned his bridges behind him."

ad nauseam

To go on endlessly, literally, to continue "to seasickness": "The candidate told us the details of how he overcame his childhood problems ad nauseam"

climb on the bandwagon

To join a particular cause or political party: "When the party leader saw how popular the opposition was becoming, he decided to climb on the bandwagon and offer his full support to his opponent."

cross the Rubicon

To make an irrevocable decision; it comes from the name of the river Julius Caesar crossed with his army, thereby starting a civil war in Rome.

butter someone up

To praise or flatter someone excessively: "Percy was always buttering up the boss, so he was surprised when he failed to get a promotion."

come out of the closet

To publicly announce a belief or preference that one has kept hidden, especially one's sexual preference: "At the last moment, the representative came out of the closet and announced her support for the controversial amendment."

break the ice

To remove the tension at a first meeting, at the opening of a party, etc.: "That joke really broke the ice at the conference; we all relaxed afterward."

burn the midnight oil

To stay awake late at night to work or study: "Jill has been burning the midnight oil lately; I guess she has a big exam coming up."

cotton to

To take a liking to someone or something: "I was afraid Janet wouldn't like my brother, but she cottoned to him immediately."

cool one's heels

To wait for a long time: "The doctor kept her cooling her heels for almost an hour."

beyond the pale

Totally unacceptable: "His business practices have always been questionable, but this last takeover was beyond the pale." The Pale in Ireland was a territorial limit beyond which English rule did not extend.

come full circle

When something "comes full circle." it completes a cycle, returns to its beginnings: "The novelist's vision of human life has come full circle - from optimism to pessimism and back to optimism again."

according to Hoyle

With strict adherence to a set of rules; fairly and honorably: "We don't want to lose this case over any legal technicalities; everything must be done strictly according to Hoyle." Hoyle was the author of a book on the game of whist in the 18th century; his name has since been used in the titles of many books of rules for card games.

chutzpah

Yiddish term for courage bordering on arrogance roughly equivalent to "nerve": "It took a lot of chutzpah to make such a controversial statement."

chip on one's shoulder

a belligerent attitude or grievance: "Joe really has a chip on his shoulder; every time I say something to him, he takes it the wrong way." In the past, a young boy would place a wood chip on his shoulder and dare anyone to knock it off as a way of showing how touch he was.

Achilles' heel

a point of vulnerability

back to the drawing board

a saying indicating that one's effort has failed, and one must start all over again: "The new package we designed hasn't increased our sales as we'd hoped, so it's back to the drawing board."

ad absurdum

an argument whereby one seeks to prove one's position by pointing out the absurdity or foolishness of opponent's position. Also, an argument carried to such lengths that is becomes silly or ridiculous. From Latin, meaning "to absurdity".

blind leading the blind

an expression applied to leaders who know as little as their followers, and are therefore likely to lead them astray.: "When it comes to science and technology, many politicians know as little as the average citizen; they're the blind leading the blind."

Can't see the forest for the trees

an expression used of someone who is too involved in the details of a problem to look at the situation as a whole: "The congressman became so involved in the wording of his bill that he couldn't see the forest for the trees; he did not realize that the bill could never pass."

buy a pig in a poke

buy something sight unseen (a "poke" is a bag): "The mail-order offer sounded like a bargain, but I didn't want to buy a pig in a poke."

castles in the air

extravagant hopes and plans that will never be carried out: "I told him he should stop building castles in the air and train for a sensible profession."

between a rock and a hard place

faced with two equally dangerous or difficult choices or circumstances: "Trying to please two supervisors is like being between a rock and a hard place." This phrase dates from the early 20th century.

Bill of goods

something intentionally misrepresented : something passed off in a deception or fraud. "He sold me a bill of goods with that used car."

call the tune

to be in control. From the proverb "The one who pays the piper calls the tune."

damn with faint praise

to criticize someone or something indirectly by giving a slight compliment: "When the critic remarked that Miller's book was 'not as bad as some I've read,' she was obviously damning it with faint praise."

bit between one's teeth

to face up resolutely to a hard task: "Ralph is having a difficult time in medical school now, but once he takes the bit between his teeth, there's no stopping him." The bit is the part of a bridle that fits into a gap between the teeth in the back of a horse's mouth. By pulling on the reins, which in turn pull the bit back against the horse's mouth, the rider is able to stop or turn the horse. If the horse takes the bit between its teeth, it can't be stopped.

chill out

to not get so excited; to take it easy: "Hey, chill out, we'll get there sooner or later." This phrase can also mean to relax; to have a good time: "On my vacation I just want to chill out on the beach with a good book." It is often shortened to the imperative "chill": "Chill! We can do without your bad behavior."

cut the Gordian knot

to solve a notoriously difficult problem in a quick and decisive manner: "The president hoped that his bold new anti-inflation plan would cut the Gordian knot."

call a spade a spade

to speak directly and bluntly; avoid euphemism: "The prosecutor said, 'Let's call a spade a spade. You didn't borrow the money, to stole it.'"

cultivate one's own garden

to take care of one's own needs before trying to take care of others: "The mayor ought to cultivate his own garden before he starts telling the governor what to do." This is the moral of Candide, by Voltaire: take care of your own, and the world will take care of itself