American Idioms

Idiom of the day :- Carte blanche

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Freedom to decide everything / anything A : The new art gallery is certain to look awful. I’ve heard that the architects, ‘Devastating Designs’, have been given carte blanche. B : Some modern architecture is very attractive — so it might not look as bad as you think. What was their last building like ? A : A rabbit hutch ! This French expression literally means blank sheet of paper. It originated from the military tradition of giving a blank piece of paper to the leader of a beaten army. The leader had to sign his name on the paper so that the victors could write above it all the conditions which they wanted. Obviously anything could be written so the defeated side were giving the victors carte blanche.

Idiom of the day :- pain in the butt / (A) pain in the butt

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

A problematic person/thing; a hronic complainer. ex. “I hate doing my taxes. It’s such a pain in the butt.”; “Stop being such a pain in the butt. All you do is complain!” 

Idiom of the day :- bone-idle

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Extremely lazy If you continue to be bone-idle, your boss might sack you.

Idiom of the day :- Dear John letter

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Originally, a dear John letter was a letter written by a wife or a sweetheart telling a man she was leaving him. Today it can be a note or a letter from a person of either sex telling someone that their romance is over, ‘Peggy left a Dear John letter on the table and went home to mother.’

Idiom of the day :- Buff

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

A person who is devoted to a particular subject and therefore knows a lot about it / a knowledgeable enthusiast A : My son Fred goes to the cinema every night. He hasn’t missed a day for three years. B : How interesting, I didn’t know your son was a film buff. A : He doesn’t know anything at all about films — he works in the box office selling tickets ! The word originated in the last century in New York City where amateur fire-fighters helped the official firemen to put out blazes. The amateur enthusiasts were called buffs because of their coats which were made out of  buff leather. This was a pale yellow leather made from buffalo hide. Today its meaning has widened so that one can use it to describe people who are interested in may different subjects; you  could meet a wine buff, a music buff, a football buff or a chess buff for example.

Idiom of the day :- Give Him The Slip

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

To get away from. To escape. 

Idiom of the day :- lady-killer / (A) lady-killer

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

A handsome man; a man who charms women. ex. “He thinks of himself as quite the ladykiller. Unfortunately for him, women don’t see him that way.” 

Idiom of the day :- Go begging

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

The other day I saw a newspaper item that said : ‘Luxury flats go begging.’ Naturally, I thought the flats were begging for charity. I was wrong, for when something goes begging it is available … but nobody wants it. ‘Those flats are so nice,’ Mr. de Silva said. ‘It’s a shame they should go begging.’

Idiom of the day :- Not likely

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Probably will not happen. ex. “P1: You think George will learn a lesson from this? P2: Not likely.” 

Idiom of the day :- piece of cake / (A) piece of cake

Usage, examples and definition of the Idiom :-

Very easy. ex. “P1: Hey how did you do on the test? P2: I aced it. It was a piece of cake for me.”