American Idioms

Idiom of the day :- long shot / (A) long shot

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Something that has a slim (small) chance of happening. ex. “They might win, but it’s a long-shot.” 

Idiom of the day :- Pack one’s bags

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

‘This place is beginning to bother me,’ Albert mumbled. ‘I’d like to pack my bags and say goodbye.’ In anticipation of making an escape, he practiced putting his valuables into a bag. ‘To pack one’s bags is to leave a place in anger or annoyance or after a disagreement,’ the guard whispered. ‘And Albert isn’t going anywhere !’

Idiom of the day :- Stick Out One’s Neck

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

How come they’re asking me to act as their guide through the jungle? Evidently they think you’re the only one who can lead them to the lost temple. That jungle has danger lurking around every corner. Why should I stick my neck out for them? They didn’t pay me for my services. They know that you would be taking a great risk and could possibly get hurt, but you’re the only one with enough knowledge to take them to their destination. I’m sure you’ll be amply rewarded.

Idiom of the day :- rip-off or rip-off / (A) rip-off or (To) rip-off

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

A rip-off is something that costs more than it should. ex. “The popcorn prices at the movie theater are a rip-off.”; To rip someone off means to steal from someone, or to cheat someone. ex. “The mechanic ripped me off.” 

Idiom of the day :- A tongue twister

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

If you can say ‘Certain savory soaring insects sailing skyward at the seaside certainly cause Cecil confusion’ without making a mistake, you have just done something Cecil can’t do. That is, you have said a tongue twister. A tongue twister is a sentence, phrase or word that is difficult to say without making an error.

Idiom of the day :- In the red

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

If a person or company is in the red or if their bank account is in the red, they have spent more money than they have in their account and therefore they owe money to the bank.

Idiom of the day :- Your guess is as good as mine

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

I don’t know any better/ more than you know. ex. “P1: How old is Robert? P2: Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea.” I have no idea.

Idiom of the day :- lay a finger on someone / (To) lay a finger on someone

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To touch someone even very slightly. ex. “If you so much as lay a finger on him, you will be in trouble.” 

Idiom of the day :- go up in flames / (To) go up in flames

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To burn; to be consumed in flames. ex. “The house went up in flames, and the firefighters had a hard time putting out the fire.” 

Idiom of the day :- Fed up to the teeth

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To be fed up has nothing to do with food : it refers to a feeling of unhappiness when a person is bored or disturbed. One can also be fed up to the teeth or fed up to one’s back teeth depending on how bored or disturbed one feels. ‘I’m fed up with work, fed up to the teeth with this cold weather and fed up to my back teeth with worry,’ Winston said.