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Anumber one 1

A one 1

above board 1

Al 1

above the salt 2

according to Cocker 3

according to Hoyle 3

according to the book 3

ace in the hole 3

ace up one s sleeve 4

Achilles heel 4

acid test 4

acknowledge the corn 5

act one s age 5

action atations 5

add insult to injury 6

Adam s ale/wine 6

Adam s apple 6

admirable Crichton 7

admit the corm 8

admitted to the bar 8

advice column 8

advice columnist 8

after someone s own heart 8

against the grain 8

agonizing reappraisal 8

agony aunt 9

agony column 9

agony uncle 9

agree to disagree 9

alarms and excursions 10

Aladdin s cave 10

Aladdin s lamp 10

alarums and excursions 11

albatross around one s neck 11

alive and kicking 11

alive and well 12

all at sea 12

all Greek to someone 12

all one s geese are swans 12

all roads lead to Rome 12

all systems go 13

all thumbs 13

alpha and omega 14

Amalthea s horn 14

ambulance chaser 14

Annie Oakley 15

another string to one s bow 16

the answer to a maiden s prayer 16

A-O.K. 16

appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober 16

applaud someone to the echo 16

apple of discord 17

apple of love 17

apple of Sodom 18

apple of the eye 18

apple-pie order 19

apple polisher 19

April fool 20

Arbor Day 20

armed to the teeth 21

argue the toss 21

armed to the hilt 21

artesian well 22

as(if)to the manner born 22

as one man 22

ask for the moon 22

asphalt jungle 22

ass in a lion s skin 22

assembly line 23

at a loose end 23

at a snail pace 23

at bay 24

at daggers drawn 24

at loggerheads(with) 25

at half-mast 25

at loose ends 26

at one(fell)swoop 26

at sea 27

at sixes and sevens 27

at the double 28

at the eleventh hour 28

at the drop of a hat 29

at the end of one s rope/tether 29

at the Greed calends 30

athlete s foot 30

atomic bomb 30

auld lang syne 31

Augean stable(s) 31

Aunt Sally 31

Attic wit 31

Attic salt 31

ax(e)to grind 32

babe in the wood(s) 34

back and fill 34

back to square one 35

back to the drawing board 35

back-handed compliment 36

backroom boy 36

backstairs influence 37

bad egg 37

badger game 37

bag and baggage 38

bag lady 38

Bailey bridge 39

bag of tricks 39

baker s dozen 40

bala as a coot 40

make ducks and drades of 40

baptism of fire 41

bark up the wrong tree 41

Barmecide s feast 42

bat on a sticky wicket 42

bath chair 42

battle royal 43

be hoist with one s own petard 43

be one s age 43

beam in one s eye 43

bear a charmed life 44

bear down(up)on 45

bear garden 45

one s back is up 46

bear one s cross 46

bear the palm 46

beard the lion in his den 47

beat a dead horse 48

beat about/around the bush 48

beat a retreat 48

beat generation 49

beat it 49

beat one s brains 49

beat someone black and blue 49

beat(someone/something)into a cocked hat 50

beat the air 50

beat the band 50

beat the gun 51

beauty and the beast 51

beauty sleep 51

beer and skittles 52

bee in one s bonnet 52

Bed of Procrustes 52

bed of roses 52

bee s knees 53

before one/you can/could say Jack Robinson 54

before the Flood 54

before the mast 55

beg the question 55

beggar description 56

behind the eightball 57

behind the scenes 57

bell,book and candle 58

bell the cat 58

below the belt 59

below the salt 59

bend over backwards 59

benefit of clergy 59

sober as a judge 60

best man 60

Benjamin s mess 60

best bib and tucker 61

bet one s bottom dollar 61

between cup and lip 62

better half 62

between Scylla and Charybdis 63

between the devil and the deep(blue)sea 63

beyond one s ken 64

Big Brother 65

big as life 65

beyond the pale 65

Big C 66

big wheel 66

bill and coo 66

bird of ill omen 66

birthday suit 67

bite the bullet 67

bite the dust/ground 68

bitter pill(to swallow) 69

bitter end 69

black hole 70

black and blue 70

black book 70

Black Maria 71

black sheep 71

blackboard jungle 71

Blarney stone 72

blaze a trail 72

blindman s buff 72

blot one s copybook 72

blow away the cobwebs 73

blow hot and cold 74

blow off steam 74

blow one s own horn 75

blow one s top 75

blow someone s mind 76

blue blood 76

blow the cobwebs away 76

blue chip 77

blue law 77

blue moon 78

blue ribbon 78

board the gravy train 78

bone of contention 79

bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh 79

bone to pick 79

boot(s)and saddle(s) 80

born in/to the purple 80

born under a lucky star 81

born with a silver spoon in one s mouth 81

bow and scrape 82

both sheets in/to the wind 82

borrowed plumes 82

bow out 83

Box and Cox 84

box office 84

box the compass 85

Boxing Day 85

brand from the burning 85

breach of promise 86

brea the ice 87

bread and circuses 87

bright and early 88

bring down thc house 88

bring home the bacon 88

bring someone to heel 89

bring someone down a peg 89

bring to a head 90

Brother Jonathan 90

brown study 90

the buck stops here 91

build castles in Spain 91

build castles in the air 91

build(up)on(the)sand 91

build a fire under someone 91

bull in a china shop 92

Buridan s ass 92

burn ont s boats/bridges 93

burn someone in effigy 94

burn one s fingers 94

burn the candle at both ends 95

burn the midnight oil 95

bury one s head in the sand 96

bury the hatchet/tomahawk 96

busy as a beaver 97

busy as a bee 97

busman s holiday 97

busy bee 98

buy a pig in a poke 98

by a long chalk 99

by a long shot 99

by and large 99

by heart 100

by shank s mare/pony 101

by rule of thumb 101

by hook or by crook 101

by the skin of one s teeth 102

by the book 103

C 104

Cadmean victor 104

Caesarean/Caesarian section 104

cakes and ale 105

call a spade a spade 105

call one s shot(s) 106

call someone on the carpet 106

call someone over the coals 106

call someone s bluff 106

call the shots 107

call the tune 107

cannon fodder 108

called to the bar 108

call the turn 108

can t hold a candle to 109

cap in hand 109

capital crime/offence 109

capital punishment 109

card up one s sleeve 110

carrot and stick 110

carry off the palm 111

carry one s cross 111

carry the day 111

carry coals to Newcastle 111

carry a stiff upper lip 111

cash in 112

cash in one s checks 112

cash in one s chips 112

cash on the barrelhead 112

cash on the nail 113

cask of Danaides 113

cast pearls before swine 113

cast the first stone 114

cast sheep s eyes(at someone) 114

castles in the air 115

castles in Spain 115

catbird seat 116

catch as catch can 116

catch a Tartar 116

catch someone with his pants/trousers down 117

catch some Z s 117

catch that catch can 118

catch-22 118

catch wind of 119

cat s paw 119

caught/taken red-handed 119

caviar(e)to the general 120

chain recation 121

chalk it up 121

champ/chafe/chomp at the bit 122

chance it 122

chance one s arm 122

chance one s luck 123

chapter and verse 123

change horses in midstream 123

chastise with scorpions 124

cheer someone to the echo 125

cherish a snake/serpent/viper in one s/the bosom 125

cheek by jowl(with) 125

chew the fat 125

chewing gum 126

chew the rag 126

Chinaman s chance 127

chime in 127

chip of/off the old block 128

chip in 128

clamp up 129

chip on one s/the shoulder 129

clean bill of health 130

clean hands 130

cleanse the Augean stable(s) 131

climb on the bandwagon 131

cloak-and-dagger 133

close one s eyes to smething 133

the coast is clear 133

cock a snook(at) 134

cock of the roost 134

cock of the walk 134

coffin nail 135

cock-and-bull story 135

cockles of someone s heart 135

coign of vantage 136

cold as charity 136

cold feet 137

come apart at the seams 137

cold shoulder 137

come down a peg(or two) 138

come(down)off the fence 138

come down on the right side of the fence 138

come down the aisle 138

come hell and/or high water 138

come off with flying colours 139

come to a head 139

come in from the cold 139

come to loggerheads 140

come to the end of one s rope/tether 140

come under the hammer 140

come to heel 140

come under the yoke 141

come(up)to(the)scratch 141

conspiracy of silence 142

confess the corn 142

cook soneone s goose 143

cool as a cucumber 143

cool one s heels 144

corner the market 145

corn in Egypt 145

cough up 145

count ont s chickens 146

crack the whip 146

cover over the cracks 146

crocodile tears 147

the/a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow 148

cross as two sticks 148

cross one s fingers 148

cross one s heart 148

cross the Rubicon 149

crown of thorns 149

Crow Jim 149

crow s feet 150

crow s nest 150

cry for the moon 150

cry from the housetops/rooftops 151

cry over spilt milk 151

cry wolf 151

cudgel one s brain(s) 152

cup of tea 152

cupboard love 153

curate s egg 154

curious as Lot s wife 154

curry favour(with someone) 154

cut a dido 155

curtain lecture 155

cut a snook 156

cut and dried 156

cut and run 156

cut and thrust 157

cut on ice 157

cut it 157

cut off one s nose to spite one s face 158

cut of someone s jib 158

cut one s stick 159

cut someone to the quick 159

cut the Gordian knot 160

cut the mustard 161

cut up 161

cut the knot 161

Damon and Pythias 162

D 162

Darby and Joan 163

damp squib 163

dark horse 164

dark meat 165

dash cold water on(something) 165

daughter of the horseleech 165

Davy Jones s locker 166

dead as a/the dodo 167

Dear John letter 168

death s head at the feast 168

deal as a doornail 168

Dead Sea fruit 168

Dead Sea apple 168

dead as a doornail 168

deep six 169

the devil to pay 170

deep throat 170

devil s advocate 171

die in harness 171

die in one s boots/shoes 171

the die is thrown 172

die with one s boots/shoes on 172

the die is cast 172

die the death 172

different kettle of fish 173

dig the hatchet/tomahawk 173

dine with Duke Humphrey 173

dog days 174

dog in the manger 174

do a U-turn 174

do a land-office business 174

dog tag 175

doggie bag 175

domino effect 175

Don Juan 176

donkey s ages 177

donkey s years 177

dot the i s and cross the t s 177

double Dutch 178

double in brass 178

doubting Thomas 178

down in the dumps 179

down for the count 179

draw a/the line 180

drag someone over the coals 180

down on one s uppers 180

draw a blank 180

draw a red herring(across the path/track/trail) 181

draw in one s horns 181

drawing room 182

dressed in borrowed plumes 182

draw to a head 182

draw the wool over someone s eyes 182

draw someone s teeth 182

draw someone s leg 182

dressed to the nines 183

drink like a fish 183

drive someone from pillar to post 184

drive(someone)to the wall 184

druw(someone)out 184

drunk as a lord 184

Dutch courage 185

dumb as a doornail 185

duck soup 185

dry behind the ears 185

duck s egg 185

dry goods 185

Dutch treat 187

Dutch uncle 187

dyed in the wool 188

E 189

eager beaver 189

earn one s salt 189

easy street 189

eat crow 190

eat high off/on the hog 191

eat humble pie 191

eat,drink and be merry 191

eat one s heart out 192

eat one s words 193

eat somebody s salt 193

eat the leek 194

egg on 194

enough to make a saint swear 195

eleventh hour 195

eleventh-hour decision 195

Electra complex 195

elbow grease 195

end of one s rope/tether 195

enter the lists 196

enough to try the patience of a saint/Job 196

enough to make the angels weep 196

enough to provoke a saint 196

even Steven 197

even Stephen(s) 197

excuse my French 198

extra string to one s bow 198

eye for eye 198

every man jack 198

every Tom,Dick and Harry 198

F 200

Fabian policy/stactics 200

face the music 200

fall apart at the seams 201

fall for something hook,line and sinker 201

fall from grace 201

fal for someone hook,line and sinker 201

face value 201

fall gry 202

fall(up)on one s feet 203

fall over backwards 203

fall to loggerheads 203

false colours 203

family skeleton 203

fancy free 203

fate worse than death 204

the fat is in the fire 204

feather in somebody s cap 205

Father Christmas 205

feather one s nest 206

feed someone to the lions 206

feel one s ears burning 206

feet of clay 207

feel one s oats 207

fellow traveller 208

fiddle while Rome burns 208

field day 209

fifth column 209

fifth wheel 210

fig leaf 210

fight like Kilkenny cats 211

fight hammer and tongs 211

fight fire with fire 211

fight tooth and nail 212

fill the bill 212

fight(with)windmills 212

filthy lucre 213

fine kettle of fish 213

finger on the wall 213

finishing touch(es) 213

fire on all cylinders 214

first fruits 214

first rate 214

flash in the pan 215

fit the bill 215

fish in troubled waters 215

first water 215

flea in one s ear 216

flog a dead horse 217

flotsam and jetsam 217

flea market 217

fly a flag at half-mast 218

fly a kite 218

fly in the ointment 219

fly off the handle 219

foam at the mouth 220

follow suit 221

follow one s nose 221

fond of the limelight 222

fools rush in where angels fear to tread 222

foot the bill 222

forty winks 223

forlom hope 223

footloose and fancy-free 223

foul play 224

four-letter word 225

French leave 225

Freudian slip 225

from A to Z 226

from China to Peru 226

from Dan to Beersheba 226

frog in one s/the throat 226

from hand to mouth 227

from pillar to post 227

from the housetops 228

full court press 228

from the horse s mouth 228

from time immemorial 228

full of beans 229

full of oats 230

the fur statts/begins to fly 230

the fur/feathers fly 230

funny bone 230

G 231

gain one s laurels 231

gain one s spurs 231

gain the day 231

gall and wormwood 231

gain the upper hand 231

gallery play 232

Garrison finish 232

gay Lothario 232

gentleman s agreement 232

get a flea in one s ear 233

get a rise out of someone 233

gentlemen s agreement 233

get a clean bill of health 233

get a rain check on something 233

get cold feet 234

get cracking 234

get down to brass tacks 234

get(hold of)the right end of the stick 235

get hold of the wrong end of the stick 235

get goose pimples 235

get egg/jam on/over one s face 235

get one s back to/against the wall 236

get one s/someone s back up 236

get on the gravy train 236

get on one s high horse 236

get on like a house on fire 236

get off the fence 236

get off one s high horse 236

get one s cards 237

get one s fingers burned 237

get one s/someone s nose to the grindstone 237

get one s own back(on someone) 237

get one s pound of flesh 237

get out of the wrong side of the bed 238

get someone s goat 238

get some Z s 238

get someone over a/the barrel 238

get short shirft 238

get someone by the short hairs 238

get out of bed on the wrong side 238

get someone s monkey up 239

get the axe 240

get someone s hackles up 240

get the ball rolling 241

get the bit between/in one s teeth 241

get the cart before the horse 241

get the cold shoulder 241

get the/a drop on someone 241

get the creeps 241

get the hook 242

get the/a jump on someone 242

get the red carpet treatment 242

get the sack 242

get the third edgree 243

get the short end of the stick 243

get the thumbs down 243

get up on the wrong side of the bed 244

get the wrong end of the stick 244

get the upper hand 244

get to the end of one s rope/tether 244

get to loggerheads 244

get to first base 244

get to(the)windward of 244

get wind of(something) 245

gift of(the)gab 246

gild the lily 246

gird(up)one s loins 247

give a wide berth to(someone/something) 248

give and take 248

give a sop to Cerberus 248

give a lick and a promise 248

girl Friday 248

gvie chapter and verse 249

give short shrift to 249

give someone a rain check on something 249

give someone a Roland for an Oliver 249

give someone the ax(e) 249

give someone the cold shoulder 249

give someone the creeps 249

give someone a clean bill of health 249

give someone the sack 250

give someone/something(the)thumbs down/up 250

give someone the wall 250

give someone the third degree 250

give someone the red carpet treatment 250

give up the ghost 251

go against the grain 251

go at it hammer and tongs 252

go at it tooth and nail 252

go by/on shank s mare 252

go by the board 252

go down the aisle 253

go Dutch 253

go for it 253

go from pillar to post 254

go haywire 254

go(off)like hot cakes 254

go nineteen to the dozen 254

go on the stump 255

go off at half cock 255

go on all fours 255

go off half-cocked 255

go one better 256

go over to the majority 257

go(the)whole hog 257

go over the top 257

go the way of all flesh 257

go through fire and water 258

go through the mill 259

go through the foof 259

go through thick and thin 259

go to Davy Jones s locker 259

go to grass 259

go to loggerheads 259

go to pot 259

go to rack and ruin 259

go to the devil 259

go to the dogs 260

go to the happy hunting ground 261

go to the wall 261

good Samaritan 262

going,going,gone 262

go under the hammer 262

go west 262

golden calf 262

good wine needs on bush 263

grain of mustard seed 264

goose bummps 264

grandstand play 264

grasp the nettle 264

Gordian knot 264

goose that laid the golden egg(s) 264

goose skin 264

goose pimples 264

goose flesh 264

goose egg 264

the grass is always greener on the other side(of the fence) 265

grass roots 266

grass widow 266

gravy train 267

grease someone s palm/hand 268

great cry and little wool 268

great Scott 268

Greek gift 269

green thumb 270

green fingers 270

Greek to someone 270

green-eyed monster 271

grin like a Cheshire cat 272

H 274

halcyon days 274

hair of the dog 274

half seas over 275

ham actor 276

ham it up 277

ham something up 277

hammer and tongs 277

hand and glove 277

hand in glove 277

hand in one s chips 278

hand over fist 278

hand to mouth 279

hand over hand 279

hands down 280

handwriting on the wall 280

hand by a hair/thread 281

hand out false colours 282

hang someone in effigy 282

hang up one s hat 282

hangdog look/air 282

happy hunting ground(s) 283

hard row to hoe 283

hark back(to something) 283

hat in hand 284

hat trick 284

haul someone over the coals 285

haul in one s horns 285

have a bee in one s bonnet 286

have a bone to pick with someone 287

have a charmed life 287

have a cross to bear 287

have a/the drop on someone 287

have a field day 287

have a card up one s sleeve 287

have a frog in one s/the throat 288

have a hunch 288

have an/one s ear to the ground 289

have an ax(e)to grind 289

have an ace up one s sleeve 289

have a wolf in the stomach 289

have a stiff upper lip 289

have a screw loose/missing 289

have a/the rise out of someone 289

have a rain check on something 289

have an eye to the main chance 290

have an itching/itchy palm 291

have bats in one s/the belfry 291

have clean hands 292

have cold feet 292

have egg/jam on/over one s face 293

have itching ears 294

have had one s chips 294

have feet of clay 294

have forty winks 294

have Hobson s choice 294

have irons in the fire 294

have more than one string to one s bow 295

have one foot in the grave 295

have one over the eight 295

have one s back to/against the wall 295

have someone on a string 296

have something up/in one s sleeve 296

have someone s nose out of joint 296

have someone over a/the barrel 296

have someone on the carpet 296

have one s tail between one s legs 296

have someone by the short hairs 296

have one s tongue in one s cheek 296

have one s pound of flesh 296

have one s/someon s nose to the trindstone 296

have one s heart on one s sleeve 296

have one s finges crossed 296

have one s fingers burned 296

have the last laugh 297

have the devil to pay 297

have the bit between/in one s teeth 297

have the gift of gab 297

have the/a drop on someone 297

have the/a jump on someone 297

have the Midas touch 298

have the upper hand 298

have too many irons in the fire 298

have two strings to one s bow 298

have wind of 299

He who laughs last laughs best/longest 299

head over heels 299

head the bill 299

heads are likely to roll 299

heads will roll 299

heap coals of fire on someone s head 300

hem and haw 301

heels over head 301

hedge one s bets 301

heap Pelion on Ossa 301

Herculean labo(u)r 302

Herculean task 302

Hercules choice 302

high horse 303

hide one s candle under a bushel 303

hide one s light under a bushel 303

here s the rub 303

hide one s head in the sand 303

high jinks 304

high on/off the hog 305

hightail it 305

hit below the belt 306

hit on all cyinders 306

hit on all six 306

hit the jackpot 307

hit the hay/sack 307

hit the ceiling/roof 307

hitch a ride 308

Hobson s choice 308

hit the nail on the head 308

hos one s own row 309

hoist with one s own petard 310

hold one s horses 311

hold at bay 311

hold a candle to 311

hold one s cards close to one s/the chest 311

hold aloof 311

hold out the olive branch 312

hold the fort 312

hold water 313

hold and corner 313

hole in the corner 314

holy cow/mackerel 314

hook,line and sinker 314

hop on the bandwagon 314

hope springs atemal in the human breast 314

horn of plenty/abundance 315

horns of a dilemma 315

horse of a different colour 315

horses for courses 316

horse of another colour 316

hot dog 317

hot line 317

hue and cry 318

huff and puff 318

hum and haw 319

in a hole 320

in a bad humour 320

I 320

in a good homour 320

in a couple of shakes 320

in a brown study 320

in a (pretty)pickle 321

in a word 321

in apple-pie order 322

in borrowed plumes 322

in Davy Jones s locker 322

in fine/full feather 322

in fine fettle 322

in Carey Street 322

in high dudgeon 323

in hock 324

in like Flynn 324

in one s birthday suit 325

in one s element 325

in one fell swoop 325

in one s best bib and tucker 325

in one s heart of heart(s) 326

in one s/the mind s eye 326

in sackcloth and ashes 327

in queer street 327

in someone s black/bad book(s) 328

in someone s good books 329

in the altogether 329

in the arms of Morpheus 330

in the black 330

in the cards 331

in the buff 331

in the doghouse 332

in the doldrums 332

in the dumps 332

in the catbird seat 332

in the chips 332

in the hole 333

in the land of nod 333

in the limelight 333

in the long run 334

in the offing 335

in the melting pot 335

in the nick of time 335

in the pink of condition 336

in te red 336

in the pink 336

in(the/one s)seventh heaven 337

in two shakes of a duck s tail 338

in two shakes of a lamb s tail 338

in the short run 338

in two shakes 338

in the wings 338

in the spotlight 338

in the wake of 338

Indian giver 339

Indian File 339

Indian summer 340

Indian giving 340

inferiority complex 341

inside the pale 341

irons in the fire 341

It is(all)Greek to me 341

ivory tower 341

itching palms 341

Ivy League 342

J 344

Jack of all trades 344

jack tar 344

Jekyll and Hyde 345

Job s comforter 346

Jim Crow 346

Joe Miller 347

John Hancock 348

John Bull 348

join the(great)majority 349

John Henry 349

Judas kiss 349

jump the gun 350

jump on the bandwagon 350

jump the traces 351

junk food 351

K 352

kangaroo court 352

keep a card up one s sleeve 352

keep a stiff upper lip 352

keep a straight face 353

keep an eye to the main chance 354

keep at bay 354

keep body and soul together 354

keep aloof 354

keep a/one s weather eye open 354

keep an ace up one s sleeve 354

keep one s ear to the ground 355

keep one s eye on the ball 355

keep one s eyes peeled/skinned/open 355

keep one s fingers crossed 355

keep one s/someone s nose to the grindstone 356

keep one s pecker up 356

keep one s shirt on 357

keep one s powder dry 357

keep something up/in one s sleeve 358

keep the ball rolling 358

keep the wolf from the door 359

keep up with the Joneses 360

kettle of fish 361

keynote address/speech 361

kick against the pricks 362

kick over the traces 363

kick one s heels 363

kick someone upstairs 363

kick someone downstairs 363

kill by/with kindness 364

kick the bucket 364

kill the fatted calf 365

kill the goose that lays/laid the golden egg(s) 366

King s English 367

kiss of death 367

kiss of life 367

kiss something better 367

kiss the Blarney stone 367

kiss the dust 368

kiss the rod 368

kith and kin 368

knee jerk reaction 369

knight in shining armour 369

knock off(work) 370

knock on wood 370

knock(someone/something)in-to a cocked hat 370

knock into shape 370

knock down 370

knock someone off his pedestal 371

knock(the)spots off someone/something 371

know a hawk from a handsaw 371

know by heart 372

know like a book 372

knuckle down 373

know the ropes 373

knowledge is power 373

knuckle under 374

labour of Hercules 376

L 376

labour of love 377

laour of Sisyphus 377

Lady Bountiful 378

lame duck 378

land of nod 379

land-office business 380

land on one s feet 380

language barrier 380

large as life 381

last hurrrah 381

last straw 382

laugh in one s sleeve 383

laugh in one s beard 383

laugh and the world laughs with you,weep/cry and you weep/cry alone 383

Last Supper 383

laugh like a drain 384

laugh lines 385

laugh on the other/wrong side of one s face 385

laugh on the other/wrong side of one s mouth 385

laugh out of court 385

laughter lines 386

law of the jungle 386

(be)laughing all the way to te bank 386

laugh up one s sleeve 386

laugh out of the other side of one s mouth 386

laugh out of the other corner of one s mouth 386

lay an egg 387

lead(someone)by the nose 388

lay one s cards on the table 388

lead a charmed life 388

lazy Suaan 388

lead someone down/up the garden path 389

lead the life of Riley/Reilly 390

learn the ropes 390

leave no stone unturned 390

lean over backwards 390

learn by heart 390

leave someone in the lurch 391

left with egg/jam on/over one s face 392

left-handed compliment 392

left-handed marriage 393

let off steam 393

let one s hair down 393

let the cat out of the bag 394

let the dead bury their dead 394

lick into shape 395

(a)lick and a promise 395

lick the dust 396

life of Riley/Reilly 396

light on one s feet 397

like a bull in a china shop 397

like a bump on a log 397

like a dose of salts 397

like a house on fire 398

like a red rag to a bull 399

like billio/billyo 399

like it or lump it 400

like Fort Knox 400

like sixty 401

like water off a duck s back 401

line one s/someone s pocket(s) 401

lion in the way/path 402

a little bird 403

a little bird told me 403

lion s share 403

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing 404

a little learning is a dangerous thing 404

load the dice against someone 405

live the life of Riley/Reilly 405

live on the breadline 405

live in an ivory tower 405

live high off/on the hog 405

live from hand to mouth 405

lobster shift 406

loaded for bear 406

lock horns 407

lock,stock and barrel 407

long in the tooth 408

long row to hoe 408

long shot 409

look a gift horse in the mouth 409

look daggers at someone 410

loose cannon 410

look to one s laurels 410

lose one s shirt 411

lose face 411

lose the day 412

lunatic fringe 412

lost generation 412

lynch law 413

M 414

mad as a hatter 414

mad as a march hare 414

Mae West 415

mailed fist 416

main chance 416

make a hash of 416

make a boner 416

make a mountain out of a molelhill 417

make a snook(at) 417

make a U-turn 417

make an April fool of someone 418

make(both)ends meet 418

make bricks without straw 418

make do and mend 419

make do 419

make no bones about 420

make sheep s eyes(at someone) 421

make some Z s 421

make someone s day 421

make someone s flesh creep 421

make someone s hackles rise 422

make someone s hair stand on end 422

make the fur/feathers fly 422

make the grade 423

make things hum 424

make up leeway 424

man Friday 425

man for all seasons 425

man in the street 426

man of straw 427

man of letters 427

man on the Clapham omnibus 428

manna from heaven 428

mare s nest 428

mark time 429

massive retaliation 429

meet one s Waterloo 429

melting pot 430

mess of pottage 431

merchant of death 431

Mickey Mouse 432

Mickey Finn 432

Midas touch 433

milk of human kindness 433

mind one s p s and q s 434

mind the store 435

moment of truth 436

monkey business 437

monkey wrench 437

month of Sundays 437

moot point 438

Mrs.Grundy 439

moot question 439

more sinned against than sinning 439

more cry than wool 439

mote in someone s eye 439

move stakes 439

much ado about nothing 440

much cry and little wool 440

mum s the word 441

Murphy s law 441

Mutt and Jeff 442

N 443

nail a lie(to the counter) 443

nail in someone s coffin 443

nail one s colours to the mast 443

nail to the counter 443

neither fish nor fowl 444

meck and neck 444

neither fish,flesh,fowl nor good red herring 444

name is mud 444

naked truth 444

neither rhyme nor reason 445

nest egg 446

never-never land 446

never say die 447

new wine in old bottles 447

nice kettle of fish 448

the night of the long knives 448

nine day s wonder 449

nip and tuck 451

nip in the bud 451

no love lost(between) 452

no great shakes 452

no-man s land 453

no respecter of persons 453

no room to swing a cat 454

no rhyme or reason 454

no skin off someone s nose 455

nose out of joint 456

nosy parker 456

not bat an eyelid 456

not fit to hold a candle to 457

not dry behind the ears 457

not have a leg to stand on 457

not enough room to swing a cat 457

not cut muck ice 457

not by a long shot 457

not by a long chalk 457

not hold a candle to someone or something 458

not hold water 458

not know somebody from Adam 458

not see someone for dust 459

not to be sniffed at 459

not to be sneezed at 459

not turn a hair 460

not worth a damn 461

not up to the mark 461

not up to scratch 461

nuts and bolts 462

not worth one s salt 462

nothing like leather 462

nothing to sneeze at 462

nourish a snake/serpent/viper in one s/the bosom 462

nurse a snake/serpent/viper in one s/the bosom 462

odd bedfellows 463

the observed of all observers 463

O 463

Oedipus complex 463

off the beam 464

off beam 464

of the first water 464

off the cuff 465

off the wagon 465

oil someone s palm/hand 465

old as Methuselah 465

old hat 466

old man of the sea 466

Old Nick 467

old school tie 468

old stamping ground 468

olive branch 468

on a shoestring 469

on a sticky wicket 470

on all fours 471

on easy street 471

on one s high horse 471

on one s last legs 471

on a wild-goose chase 471

on one s uppers 472

on shank s mare/pony 472

on tenterhooks 472

on the barrelhead 473

on the breadline 473

on the beam 473

on the ball 473

on the bandwagon 473

on the bum 474

on the cards 474

on the carpet 474

on the dot 475

on the cuff 475

on the double 476

on the fence 476

on the fritz 477

on the Greek calends 477

on the homs of a dilemma 478

on the house 478

on the nail 479

on the nose 479

on the level 479

on the qui vive 480

on the QT 480

on the quiet 481

on the rocks 481

on the side of the angels 481

on the spot 482

on the square 482

on the stump 482

on the wagon 482

on the warpath 483

on thin ice 483

once in a blue moon 484

one degree under 485

one foot in the grave 485

one up on(someone) 486

one s best bib and tucker 486

one s cup of tea 486

one s ears prick up 486

one s hair stands on end 486

one over the eight 486

open Pandora s box 487

open sesame 487

out for the count 487

one s tail is between one s legs 487

one s pound of flesh 487

one s(old)stamping ground 487

one s name is mund 487

out of humour 488

out of one s element 489

out of one s ken 489

out of sorts 489

out of the limelight 489

out of touch 490

out-herod Herod 490

outside one s ken 491

outside the pale 491

over a/the barrel 491

over the top 492

P 493

paddle one s own canoe 493

paint the lily 493

paint the town red 494

painted sepulchre 494

palm off 495

pan out 495

Pandora s box 495

paaer over the cracks 496

par for the course 497

pardon my French 497

Parthian shot/shaft 497

parting shot 498

pass in one s chips 498

pass muster 498

pass the buck 499

paste over the cracks 500

patience of Job 500

patient as Job 500

Paul Pry 500

pass under the yoke 500

pay on the nail 501

pay the fiddler 501

pay through the nose 502

pecking order 503

peeping Tom 503

Penelope s web 504

penny wise and pound foolish 505

penny for your thoughts 505

penny for them 505

peter out 506

Peter Pan 507

Philadelphia lawyer 507

pick up the gauntlet/glove 508

pie in the sky 508

pig in a poke 508

pile Pelion on Ossa 508

pin money 509

pin one s heart on one s sleeve 510

the pink of perfection 510

pink slip 510

pin-up girl 510

pipe dream 511

pitched battle 512

place(someone)on a pedestal 512

plain as a pikestaff 512

(the)pot calling the kettle black 513

plain sailing 513

plain as the nose on your face 513

play cat and mouse with(someone) 514

Platonic love 514

play ducks and drakes with 515

play fast and loose 516

play Judas 516

play one s cards close to one s/the chest/vest 516

play one s hunch 517

play possum 517

play Russian roulette 518

play second fiddle 518

play(the)devil s advocate 518

play the field 518

play to the gallery 519

play the sedulous ape 519

play with loaded dice 520

plead the Fifth 520

plead the Fifth Amendment 520

pleased as Punch 520

play to the grandstand 520

plumb the depths 521

point of no return 521

polish the apple 522

poor as a church mouse 523

poor as Job 523

pound of flesh 524

pot shot 524

the/a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow 524

potluck dinner 524

pot luck 524

pour cold water on 525

pour oil on troubled waters 525

the powers that be 526

pretty kettle of fish 526

prick up one s ears 526

primrose path 527

Procrustean bed 527

proud as a peacock 528

pull a boner 529

pull devil,pull baker 529

pull someone s chestunts out of the fire 530

pull one s punches 530

pull in one s homs 530

pull someone s leg 531

pull someone s teeth 532

pull the strings 532

pull the wires 532

pull the wool over someone s eyes 532

pull strings 532

pull up stakes 533

pull wires 534

purple patches 534

push(someone)th the wall 534

put a sock in it 534

put on one s thinking cap 535

put into the melting pot 535

put a wet blanket on 535

put a spoke in someone s wheel 535

put on the dog 536

put on the screw(s) 536

put one s/someone s back up 537

put one s best foot forward 537

put one s cards on the table 538

put one s foot in it 538

put one s foot in one s mouth 538

put one s/someone s nose to the grindstone 539

put one s shoulder to the wheel 539

put someone on the spot 540

put(someone)on a pedestal 540

put someone through the mill 540

put out to grass/pasture 540

put out of court 540

put one s thinking cap on 540

put someone s monkey up 541

put someone s nose out of joint 541

put the kibosh on 542

put the cart before the horse 542

put the screw on someone 543

put through the mill 543

Pyrrhic vectory 543

Q 545

Queen s English 545

queer someone s pitch 545

queer the pitch for someone 545

quick as you can say Jack Robinson 545

rack one s brain(s) 546

rack and ruin 546

R 546

rain cats and dogs 547

rain check 548

raise Cain 549

raise someone s hackles 549

raise the ante 549

raised to the purple 549

rake someone over the coals 549

rank and file 550

reach first base 550

reach the end of one s rope/tether 550

read between the lines 550

read like a book 550

read the(hand)writing on the wall 550

the real McCoy 551

the real Mackay 551

read the riot act 551

the real Simon Pure 552

reckon without one s host 553

red carpet 553

red herring 553

reap(one s)laurels 553

red-letter day 554

red light district 554

red rag 555

red tape 555

remain aloof 555

rest on one s laurels 555

return to one s umttons 556

ride roughshod over(someone/something) 557

rhyme or reason 557

rich as Croesus 557

riddle of Sphinx 557

ride the gravy train 558

ride the high horse 558

right-hand man 558

ring false 558

ring the changes 558

ring true 559

rise from the ashes 560

rise like a phoenix from the ashes 560

rise like the phoenix 560

rise to the bait 560

Roland for an Oliver 561

rob Peter to pay Paul 561

roll out the red carpet 562

round robin 563

round-table conference 563

rub salt in/into someone s/the wound(s) 564

rub someone(up)the right way 565

rub someone(up)the wrong way 565

Rube Goldberg 565

rule of thumb 566

rule out of court 566

rule the roost/roast 567

run amuck 567

run nineteen to the dozen 568

run riot 568

run the gauntlet/gantlet 568

running dog 569

Russian roulette 569

S 571

sackcloth and ashes 571

sacred cow 571

sad sack 571

safe as Fort Knox 572

sail under false colours 572

salad days 573

salt of the earth 573

Santa Claus 574

save face 574

saved by the bell 574

scotch a/the snake 575

scarlet letter 575

say cheese 575

scrape the(bottom of the)barrel 576

seamy side 577

second string to one s bow 577

see red 577

see the(hand)writing on the wall 578

sell down the river 578

sell like hot cakes 578

send someone off with a flea in his/their ear 579

send someone on a wild-goose chase 579

send someons to Coventry 579

send out to grass/pasture 579

sell the pass 579

sell one s birthright for a mess of pottage 579

send someone from pillar to post 579

sent up the river 580

separate the sheep from the goats 580

set one s/someone s back up 581

set one s cap at/for 581

set off a chain reaction 581

serpent in one s/the bosom 581

set(someone)on a pedestal 582

set someone s teeth on edge 582

set the ball rolling 583

set the cart before the horse 583

set the fur/feathers flying 583

set the Thames on fire 583

shank s mare/pony 584

shake the dust from/off one s feet 584

seventh heaven 584

set the world on fire 584

shake a leg 584

shed crocodile tears 585

sheet in/to the wind 585

shell out 585

shopping mall 585

short shrift 586

shot in the arm 587

shotgun marriage/wedding 588

shout from the housetops/rooftops 588

show a leg 588

show someone the ropes 589

show the cloven foot/hoof 589

show one s(true)colours 589

show oneself in one s true colours 589

show one s hand 589

show one s cards 589

show the white feather 590

shuffle off this mortal coil 590

Siamese twins 591

silent majority 591

silly season 592

Simon Legree 592

since time immemorial 593

sing for one s supper 593

sitting target 594

sitting duck 594

six and two three 594

six of one and half a dozen of the other 594

sit(back)on one s laurels 594

sit in the catbird seat 594

Sisyphean labour/task 594

sit on the fence 594

sixty-four(thousand)dollar question 595

skate on thin ice 596

skeleton at the feast 596

skeleton in the closet 596

skeleton in the cupboard 596

sleep like a top 597

slough of despond 598

smoke the pipe of peace 599

smoking gun 599

smell a rat 599

slush fund 599

smooth over the cracks 600

smooth sailing 600

snail s pace 600

snake in one s/the bosom 600

snake in the grass 601

snup as a bug in a rug 601

so long 602

soap opera 602

sob sister 603

sob story 603

sob stuff 604

Socratic irony 604

someone s hands are clean 605

someone s hackles rise 605

someone s head rolls 605

someone s name is mud 605

someone s back is to/against the wall 605

someone s ears are burning 605

Sod s law 605

soda pop 605

someone s(old)stamping ground 606

sop to Cerberus 606

sort(out)the sheep from the goat 607

sour grapes 607

sow dragon s teeth 607

sow one s wild oats 608

spare the rod 609

speak with one s tongue in one s cheek 609

Sphinx s riddle 609

spill the beans 610

spike someone s guns 610

spin doctor 611

the spirit is willing(but the flesh is weak) 612

spit and image 612

spit and polish 612

spitten image 613

spitting image 613

splice the minbrace 614

split hairs 614

spoils system 615

stamping ground 615

stand aloof 616

stand pat 616

state of the art 617

(start)from scratch 617

start the ball rolling 617

stand to one s guns 617

start a chain reaction 617

stave off 618

steal a march(on someone) 618

steal someone s thunder 619

steal the limelight 620

stick in someone s craw 620

stick in someone s throat 620

stick one s chin out 620

stick one s neck out 621

stick to one s guns 621

stick to one s last 621

sticky wicket 622

stiff upper lip 622

still small voice 622

stool pigeon 623

stones will cry out 623

storm in a teacup 624

straight from the horse s mouth 625

straight from the shoulder 625

straina point 626

strain at a gnat(and swallow a camel) 626

strange bedfellows 626

straw man 627

stream of consciousness 627

stretch a point 627

strike a bargain 628

strike behind the belt 628

stumbling block 628

survival of the fittest 629

sure as eggs is eggs 629

superiority complex 629

sub rosa 629

stump orator/speaker 629

stump up 629

swallow hook,line and sinkery 630

swallow one s words 630

swallow the bait 630

swallow the leek 630

swan song 630

swap horses while crossing a stream 631

sweep the board 631

sword of Damocles 631

T 632

take a leaf out of someone s book 632

take a pot shot 632

take a sight(at) 633

take aback 633

take a rain check on something 633

take a/the rise out of someone 633

take a powder 633

take forty winks 634

take French leave 634

take it easy 634

take if/something on the chin 635

take pot luck 635

take someone/something at face value 636

take someone by the short hairs 637

take someone down a peg 637

take someone down the aisle 637

take someone for a ride 637

take the bit between/in one s teeth 638

take the biscuit 638

take the bait 638

take something on the chin 638

take(something)with a grain/pinch of salt 638

take the bull by the horns 639

take the cake 639

take the count 640

take the Fifth 640

take the gilt off the gingerbread 641

take the wall(of) 641

take the wind of 641

take the wind out of someone s sails 641

take time by the forelock 642

take to the hustings 643

take(to)the stump 643

take under one s wing(s) 643

taken red-handed 644

taken aback 644

talk a blue streak 644

take up one s cross 644

take up the hatchet/tomahawk 644

take up the gauntlet/glove 644

talk like a Dutch uncle 645

talk nineteen to the dozen 645

talk through one s hat 645

talk turkey 646

talking head 647

taper off 647

tar and feather 647

tarred with the same brush 648

teach one s grandmother to suck eggs 648

teddy bear 649

tell it/that to the marines 650

tell the sheep from the goats 651

tempest in a teapot 651

thand one s(lucky)stars 651

that s the rub 651

there/therein lies the rub 651

there ll be the devil to pay 651

there s the rub 651

there s many a slip 652

third degree 652

thorn in someone s flesh/side 652

three sheets in/to the wind 653

through the mill 653

through thick and thin 654

throw a wet blanket on 655

throw cold water on(something) 655

throw a monkey wrench in/into 655

throw a spanner in the works 655

throw a sop to Cerberus 655

throw down the gauntlet/glove 656

throw dust in/into someone s eyes 657

throw in one s hand 657

throw in/up the sponge/towel 658

throw into the melting pot 658

throw one s hat in the ring 658

throw the book at 659

throw to the lions 659

throw to the wolves 659

thumb a lift/ride 660

thumbs down 661

thumb one s nose(at) 661

tie the knot 662

thumbs up 662

tied to someone s apron strings 663

tighten the screws on someone 663

till the cows come home 663

tilt at windmills 664

time is money 664

Tin Pan Alley 665

tinker s damn/cuss 665

tip of the iceberg 665

tit for tat 666

to a turn 667

to the bitter end 667

to heel 667

to a tittle 667

to a T 667

to the manner born 668

toe the line/mark/scratch 669

Tom,Dick and Harry 669

tongue in cheek 670

too many irons in the fire 670

toot one s own horn 670

tooth and nail 670

top the bill 671

toss one s hat in the ring 671

touch all bases 671

touch and go 671

touch wood 672

turn a blind eye to something 673

true to one s salt 673

tower of ivory 673

tough row to hoe 673

Trojan horse 673

thrn a deaf ear 674

turn out to grass/pasture 675

turn over a new leaf 675

turn the other cheek 675

turn the tables 676

turn thumbs down 676

turn turtle 676

tweedledum and tweedledee 677

twenty-one gun salute 678

two sheets in/to the wind 678

two strings to one s bow 678

um and aah/ha 679

Uncle Sam 679

U 679

ugly duckling 679

Uncle Tom 680

under someone s thumb 681

under someone s wing 681

under the aegis of 681

under the counter 682

under the hammer 682

under the rose 683

under the table 683

under the umbrella of 683

up a gum tree 684

until the Greek calends 684

untie the Gordian knot 684

uneasy bedfellows 684

under the weather 684

unlikely bedfellows 684

up a tree 685

up stakes 685

up the ante 685

up the creek 686

up the river 686

up the spout 687

up to one s/the ears 687

up to one s/the eyes/shoulders/neck 688

up to scratch 688

up to the mark 688

upper crust 688

upset the applecart 689

upper hand 689

upside down 690

V 691

variety is the spice of life 691

venetian blind(s) 692

vent one s spleen 692

vicar of Bray 692

vicious circle 692

viper in one s/the bosom 693

voice(crying)in the wilderness 693

W 694

wait in the wings 694

walk a/the chalk(line) 694

walk a tightrope 695

walk Spanish 696

walk down the aisle 696

walk one s chalks 696

walk the plank 697

walking orders 697

walking papers 697

walking ticket 698

wandering Jew 698

warm a snake/serpent/viper in one s/the bosom 699

warm the cockles of someone s heart 699

warp and woof 699

warts and all/everything 700

wash one s hands of 700

watch the birdie 701

water off a duck s back 701

wear one s heart on one s sleeve 702

wave the bloody shirt 702

wear sackcloth and ashes 703

wear the willow 703

web of life 703

web of Penelope 703

wet behind the ears 703

wet blanket 704

wet one s whistle 705

wheel of fortune 705

when the chips are down 706

when the cows come home 706

whip into shape 706

whipping boy 706

whistle for it 707

whistle in the dark 707

white elephant 708

whited sepulchre 709

whole bag of tricks 709

widow s peak 709

white meat 709

widow s weeds 710

wild-goose chase 710

wild oats 711

win hands down 711

win(one s)laurels 712

win one s spurs 712

win the day 712

wise as Solomon 712

wishful thinking 713

witch hunt 713

with a capital A(B,C,etc.) 714

with a grain of salt 714

the witching hour 714

with a big A 714

with a pinch of salt 715

with a straight face 715

with an ax(e)to grind 715

with an eye to the main chance 715

with bats in one s/the belfry 715

with clean hands 715

with egg/jam on/over one s face 715

with flying colours 715

with one s tail between one s legs 716

with one s monkey up 716

with one s ear to the ground 716

with one s hackles up 716

with one s back to/against the wall 716

with one foot in the grave 716

with one fell swoop 716

with(one s)tongue in(one s)cheek 717

with someone s pants/trousers down 717

with the skin of one s teeth 717

within an ace of 717

within an inch of 718

within the pale 718

without a leg to stand on 718

without batting an eye 718

without rhyme or reason 718

without turning a hair 718

wolf in sheep s clothing 718

the word is mum 719

work in season 719

word to the wise 719

woman of the street(s) 719

wooden horse of Troy 719

woman of letters 719

work like a beaver 720

work off steam 720

work on all cylinders 720

the world is someone s oyster 720

worship the golden calf 721

worth one s salt 721

write like an angel 722

writing on the wall 722

Y 723

yellow journalism 723

yellow press 723