Other common phrases

These 58 idioms are common and well worth knowing — they just are not especially funny. Each one is still explained in full: meaning, origin, why it caught on, and how to use it.

• a baker's dozen Thirteen, rather than the usual twelve.
• a bull in a china shop A clumsy person who causes damage or chaos in a situation that calls for care and delicacy.
• a chip on your shoulder A lasting feeling of resentment or grievance, often making someone quick to take offence.
• a cock and bull story A far-fetched, unbelievable story or excuse.
• a fish out of water A person who feels uncomfortable or out of place in an unfamiliar situation.
• a leopard can't change its spots People cannot change their basic nature or character.
• a red herring A piece of information or a detail that is misleading and draws attention away from the real issue.
• a sight for sore eyes A person or thing that you are very glad to see; a welcome sight.
• a wild goose chase A long, hopeless search or pursuit that leads nowhere.
• a wolf in sheep's clothing A dangerous or dishonest person who hides behind a harmless, friendly appearance.
• as the crow flies In a straight line; the most direct distance between two places, ignoring roads and bends.
• bite the bullet To force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding.
• burn the midnight oil To work or study late into the night.
• butterflies in your stomach A fluttering, nervous feeling, usually before something exciting or frightening.
• by the skin of your teeth Only just; by the narrowest possible margin.
• carrying coals to Newcastle Doing something completely pointless, because you are supplying something to a place that already has plenty of it.
• cat got your tongue A teasing question asked when someone is unexpectedly silent or has no answer ready.
• champing at the bit Extremely eager and impatient to get started.
• chew the fat To chat in a long, relaxed, friendly way about nothing in particular.
• cloud cuckoo land An unrealistic, over-optimistic state of mind; a fantasy world out of touch with reality.
• cost an arm and a leg To be extremely expensive.
• cut the mustard To reach the required standard; to be good enough.
• dead as a doornail Completely dead, or — of an object — utterly broken and lifeless.
• don't count your chickens before they hatch Do not assume something will succeed, or rely on it, before it has actually happened.
• dressed to the nines Dressed very smartly and elaborately, in your finest clothes.
• easy peasy Extremely easy; requiring no real effort at all.
• egg on your face To look foolish or embarrassed because of something you said or did.
• fit as a fiddle In very good health and excellent physical condition.
• flogging a dead horse Wasting effort on something that has no chance of success.
• gone to the dogs Said of something that has declined badly and fallen into a poor or ruined state.
• happy as a clam Very happy and content.
• kill two birds with one stone To solve two problems or achieve two goals with a single action.
• let sleeping dogs lie To avoid disturbing a situation that is currently calm, in case you cause fresh trouble.
• let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret, usually carelessly.
• like two peas in a pod Two people or things that are extremely similar, or always found together.
• mad as a hatter Completely crazy or wildly eccentric.
• once in a blue moon Very rarely; almost never.
• piece of cake Something very easy to do.
• play it by ear To deal with a situation as it develops, without a fixed plan.
• pleased as punch Very pleased, proud, and delighted.
• preaching to the choir Arguing in favour of something to people who already agree with you, so the effort is wasted.
• pull someone's leg To tease or fool someone in a playful, harmless way; to tell them something untrue as a joke.
• raining cats and dogs Raining very heavily.
• saved by the bell Rescued from a difficult situation at the very last moment.
• selling like hotcakes Selling very quickly and in large numbers.
• spill the beans To reveal a secret, often by accident.
• take the biscuit To be the most surprising, annoying, or extreme example of something — usually said in disbelief.
• the bee's knees Something or someone excellent — first-rate, the very best.
• the cat's pajamas Something or someone wonderful, stylish, or first-rate.
• the dog days of summer The hottest, most sluggish stretch of the summer.
• the elephant in the room An obvious, important problem that everyone present can see but no one wants to mention.
• the straw that broke the camel's back The final small problem that, added to many others, finally causes a collapse or breakdown.
• the whole nine yards Everything; the full extent of something, with nothing left out.
• throw a spanner in the works To do something that suddenly disrupts a plan or stops it from working.
• throw in the towel To give up; to admit defeat and stop trying.
• under the weather Slightly unwell or ill.
• wear your heart on your sleeve To show your emotions and feelings openly, where everyone can see them.
• when the cows come home For a very long time, or — more often — never; used to say something will take forever or simply will not happen.