Language & Words · Editorial deck
Idioms & Sayings
Common expressions and the stories behind their meanings
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- 01Decisions, effort and opportunity5 cards · ~1 min
- 02Communication, secrets and relationships7 cards · ~1 min
- 03Luck, time and everyday experience22 cards · ~4 min
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01“Break the Ice” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To ease tension or begin conversation in an awkward situationBreak the Ice means to ease tension or begin conversation in an awkward situation.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: break the ice ↗02“Bite the Bullet” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To endure a painful or difficult situation with courageBite the Bullet means to endure a painful or difficult situation with courage.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: bite the bullet ↗03“Burn the Midnight Oil” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To work late into the nightBurn the Midnight Oil means to work late into the night.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: burn the midnight oil ↗04“Go the Extra Mile” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To make an extra effort beyond what is expectedGo the Extra Mile means to make an extra effort beyond what is expected.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: go the extra mile ↗05“On Thin Ice” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
In a risky or precarious situationOn Thin Ice means In a risky or precarious situation.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: on thin ice ↗06“Spill the Beans” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To reveal a secret accidentally or prematurelySpill the Beans means to reveal a secret accidentally or prematurely.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: spill the beans ↗07“Let the Cat Out of the Bag” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To reveal a secret, often unintentionallyLet the Cat Out of the Bag means to reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: let the cat out of the bag ↗08“Cost an Arm and a Leg” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To be extremely expensiveCost an Arm and a Leg means to be extremely expensive.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: cost an arm and a leg ↗09“Beat Around the Bush” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To avoid getting to the pointBeat Around the Bush means to avoid getting to the point.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: beat around the bush ↗10“Break a Leg” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
A traditional way of wishing a performer good luckBreak a Leg means a traditional way of wishing a performer good luck.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: break a leg ↗11“Pull Someone's Leg” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To tease or joke with someonePull Someone's Leg means to tease or joke with someone.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: pull someone's leg ↗12“The Elephant in the Room” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
An obvious problem that everyone avoids discussingThe Elephant in the Room means An obvious problem that everyone avoids discussing.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: the elephant in the room ↗13“Once in a Blue Moon” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Something that happens very rarelyOnce in a Blue Moon means Something that happens very rarely.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: once in a blue moon ↗14“The Ball Is in Your Court” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
It is someone else's turn to act or decideThe Ball Is in Your Court means It is someone else's turn to act or decide.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: the ball is in your court ↗15“Piece of Cake” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Something very easy to doPiece of Cake means Something very easy to do.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: piece of cake ↗16“Under the Weather” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Feeling mildly unwellUnder the Weather means Feeling mildly unwell.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: under the weather ↗17“Hit the Nail on the Head” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To describe something exactly and accuratelyHit the Nail on the Head means to describe something exactly and accurately.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: hit the nail on the head ↗18“Kick the Bucket” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
A euphemism meaning to dieKick the Bucket means a euphemism meaning to die.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: kick the bucket ↗19“Add Insult to Injury” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To make a bad situation even worseAdd Insult to Injury means to make a bad situation even worse.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: add insult to injury ↗20“Barking Up the Wrong Tree” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To pursue a mistaken course of actionBarking Up the Wrong Tree means to pursue a mistaken course of action.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: barking up the wrong tree ↗21“Cut Corners” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing qualityCut Corners means to do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: cut corners ↗22“Hit the Sack” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
23“In Hot Water” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To be in troubleIn Hot Water means to be in trouble.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: in hot water ↗24“Jump on the Bandwagon” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To join a growing popular trendJump on the Bandwagon means to join a growing popular trend.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: jump on the bandwagon ↗25“Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To avoid interfering with a settled situationLet Sleeping Dogs Lie means to avoid interfering with a settled situation.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: let sleeping dogs lie ↗26“Rain on Someone's Parade” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To spoil someone's plans or enjoymentRain on Someone's Parade means to spoil someone's plans or enjoyment.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: rain on someone's parade ↗27“Steal Someone's Thunder” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To take credit for someone else's idea or achievementSteal Someone's Thunder means to take credit for someone else's idea or achievement.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: steal someone's thunder ↗28“Take It with a Grain of Salt” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To view something with skepticismTake It with a Grain of Salt means to view something with skepticism.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: take it with a grain of salt ↗29“Throw in the Towel” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To give up or admit defeatThrow in the Towel means to give up or admit defeat.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: throw in the towel ↗30“Turn a Blind Eye” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
To deliberately ignore somethingTurn a Blind Eye means to deliberately ignore something.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: turn a blind eye ↗31“When Pigs Fly” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Something that will never happenWhen Pigs Fly means Something that will never happen.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: when pigs fly ↗32“You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Appearances can be deceivingYou Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover means Appearances can be deceiving.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: you can't judge a book by its cover ↗33“A Blessing in Disguise” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficialA Blessing in Disguise means Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: a blessing in disguise ↗34“Actions Speak Louder Than Words” · meaning of the expressionIDENTIFY
What people do matters more than what they sayActions Speak Louder Than Words means What people do matters more than what they say.
Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: actions speak louder than words ↗
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