American Idioms

Idiom of the day :- Not Playing With a Full Deck

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Someone who lacks intelligence.

Idiom of the day :- hang on someone’s every word / (To) hang on someone’s every word

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To listen very carefully to someone. ex. “Grandpa was telling a story and the kids were hanging on his every word.” 

Idiom of the day :- call the shots / (To) call the shots

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To be in charge. ex. “He likes to think he calls the shots around here, but he doesn’t.” 

Idiom of the day :- Off the record

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Unofficially. ex. “Off the record, they were very displeased with the way the CEO was conducting himself.” Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to him/her.

Idiom of the day :- Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

The family bond is closer than anything else.

Idiom of the day :- The pecking order

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Chickens maintain order and establish rank by pecking each other. People too, group themselves and others into ranks of importance and we call that the pecking order. ‘Gregory has been with the firm for many years, so he’s high up in the pecking order here. I’m new so I’m very low in the pecking order.’

Idiom of the day :- If worst comes to worst

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

If things get really bad. ex. “If worst comes to worst, we can always fire him.” 

Idiom of the day :- Brush up on

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Professor Oxbridge has been invited to give a talk on the history of his school. He hasn’t read anything about it for so long that he’ll have to brush up on it. That is, he’ll have to refresh his knowledge of it. ‘There, I’ve brushed up on the subject.’ Professor exbridge smiled.

Idiom of the day :- Third times a charm

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.

Idiom of the day :- The old guard

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

The people who have been associated with a group for a long time and support its ideals and policies are referred to as the old guard. Usually they are old, powerful, and their ideas may be out of date. ‘There won’t be any changes in company policy as long as the old guard still works here.’ Frank complained.