Idioms for daily use (A)

A bit much

If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.

A day late and a dollar short
(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.

A fool and his money are soon parted
This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it
quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the
idiom.

A fool at 40 is a fool forever
If someone hasn't matured by the time they reach forty, they never will.

A hitch in your giddy-up
If you have a hitch in your giddy-up, you're not feeling well. ('A hitch in your
gittie-up' is also used.)

A lick and a promise
If you give something a lick and a promise, you do it hurriedly, most often
incompletely, intending to return to it later.

A little bird told me
If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can
say that a little bird told them.

A little learning is a dangerous thing
A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert
than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when
he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is
a dangerous thing

A long row to hoe
Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.

A lost ball in the high weeds
A lost ball in the high weeds is someone who does not know what they are doing,
where they are or how to do something.

An OK
If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.

A penny for your thoughts
This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.

A penny saved is a penny earned
This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it.

A picture is worth a thousand words
A picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal
description.

A poor man's something

Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but
is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't
very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.

A pretty penny
If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive.

A problem shared is a problem halved
If you talk about your problems, it will make you feel better.

A rising tide lifts all boats
This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy
is performing well, all people will benefit from it.

A rolling stone gathers no moss
People say this to mean that that an ambitious person is more successful than a
person not trying to achieve anything. Originally it meant the opposite and was
critical of people trying to get ahead.

A slice off a cut loaf is never missed
Used colloquially to describe having sexual intercourse with someone who is not
a virgin, especially when they are in a relationship. The analogy refers to a loaf
of bread; it is not readily apparent, once the end has been removed, exactly how
many slices have been taken.('You never miss a slice from a cut loaf' is also
used.)

A steal
If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth.

A still tongue keeps a wise head
Wise people don't talk much.

A watched pot never boils
Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly
checking will just make things seem longer.

A1
If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.

Abide by a decision
If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you
might disagree with it.

Abject lesson
(India) An abject lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of
English 'object lesson' is used.)

About as useful as a chocolate teapot
Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a
chocolate teapot.

About face
If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used
when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.

Above board
If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper
manner.

Above par
Better than average or normal

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.

Agony aunt
An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having
problems, especially personal ones.

Ahead of the pack
If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.

Ahead of time
If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time.

Air your dirty laundry in public
If you air your dirty laundry in public, you reveal aspects of your private life that
should really remain private, by telling a secret, arguing in public, etc.

Albatross around your neck
An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something
you did that stops you from being successful.

Alike as two peas
If people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical.

Alive and kicking
If something is active and doing well, it is alive and kicking. (It can be used for
people too.)

All along
If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from
the beginning.

All and sundry
This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.

All bark and no bite
When someone talks tough but really isn't, they are all bark and no bite.

All bets are off
(USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.

All dressed up and nowhere to go
You're prepared for something that isn't going to happen.

All ears
If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about
something.

All eyes on me
If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them.

All fingers and thumbs
If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something
properly that requires manual dexterity. 'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the
idiom.

All hat, no cattle
(USA) When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no
cattle.('Big hat, no cattle' is also used.)

All heart
Someone who is all heart is very kind and generous.

All hell broke loose
When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.

All in a day's work
If something is all in a day's work, it is nothing special.

All in your head
If something is all in your head, you have imagined it and it is not real.

All mod cons
If something has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It
is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.

All of the above
This idiom can be used to mean everything that has been said or written,
especially all the choices or possibilities.

All over bar the shouting
When something is all over bar the shouting, the outcome is absolutely
certain.('All over but the shouting' is also used.)

All over the map
(USA) If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the
main topic and goes off on tangents.

All over the place
If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.

All over the shop
If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.

All over the show
If something is all over the show, it's in a complete mess.An alternative to 'All
over the shop'.

All roads lead to Rome
This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.

All set
If you're all set, you are ready for something.

All sixes
If something is all sixes, it doesn't matter how it's done; it's the same as 'six of
one and half a dozen of the other'.

All skin and bone
If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.

All square
If something is all square, nobody has an advantage or is ahead of the others.

All talk and no trousers
(UK) Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important
things, but doesn't take any action.

All that glitters is not gold
This means that appearances can be deceptive and things that look or sound
valuable can be worthless. ('All that glistens is not gold' is an alternative.)