Idiom Of The Day

JANUARY

31.Roll with the punches:
If you roll with the punches, you are flexible and able to adapt to difficult circumstances.

30.Quick off the mark:
If someone is quick off the mark, they are very quick to use, start or do something new.

29.Pandora's box:
If you open a Pandora's box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn't anticipated.

28.Off the cuff:
If you do something off the cuff, you do it without any preparation.

27.New lease of life:
If someone finds new enthusiasm and energy for something, they have a new lease of life.

26.Make your toes curl:
If something makes your toes curl, it makes you feel very uncomfortable, shocked or embarrassed.

25.Laugh up your sleeve:
If you laugh up your sleeve, you laugh at someone secretly.

24.Keep your nose to the grindstone:
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you work hard and seriously.

23.Juggle frogs:
If you are juggling frogs, you are trying to do something very difficult.

22.In donkey's years:
'I haven't seen her in donkey's years.' - This means for a very long time.

21.Hang by a thread:
If something hangs by a thread, there is a very small chance indeed of it being successful or surviving.

20.Get in on the ground floor:
If you get in on the ground floor, you enter a project or venture at the start before people know how successful it might be.

19.Fairweather friend:
A fairweather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.

18.Eat my hat:
People say this when they don't believe that something is going to happen e.g. 'If he passes that exam, I'll eat my hat'

17.Dig your heels in:
If you dig your heels in, you start to resist something.

16.Call the tune:
The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.

15.Back to the salt mine:
If someone says they have to go back to the salt mine, they have to return to work.

14.All roads lead to Rome:
This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.

13.Zigged before you zagged:
If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.

12.You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar:
This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.

11.X marks the spot:
This is used to say where something is located or hidden.

10.Waiting in the wings:
If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.

9.Vent your spleen
If someone vents their spleen, they release all their anger about something.

8.Uncharted waters:
If you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of and don't know what might happen. ('Unchartered waters' is an incorrect form that is a common mistake.)

7.Third times a charm:
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.

6.Pipe Down:
To shut-up or be quiet.

5.On The Same Page:
When multiple people all agree on the same thing.

4.Not Playing With a Full Deck:
Someone who lacks intelligence.

3.Method To My Madness:
Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.

2.Loose Cannon:
Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.

1.Know the Ropes:
To understand the details.