idioms

Created by

Helena Duyck

Cards (660)

The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing  
Used to say that two parts of an organization that should be doing the same thing are each doing different things without the other knowing
The devil makes/finds work for idle hands 
Used to say that people who do not have enough to do will start to do bad things
Hand in glove 
Closely connected with someone, especially in an illegal activity
To not have a leg to stand on 
[informal] to be in a situation where you cannot prove or legally support what you say
To go weak at the knees 
Feeling strange because of strong emotions
To have a foot in both camps 
To be involved with or connected with two opposing groups of people
To start/get off on the wrong foot 
To start a job, relationship etc. badly by making a mistake that annoys people
To put your best foot forward 
To start trying hard to behave or work as well as you can
To follow in somebody's footsteps 
To do the same job or to work or live in the same way as someone else before you, especially someone in your family
To fall/land on your feet 
To get into a good situation because you are lucky, especially after being in a difficult situation
To sweep somebody off their feet 
To make someone feel suddenly and strongly attracted to you in a romantic way
To be/get back on your feet
To have enough money again, or to be successful again after having problems
To have/get cold feet
[informal] to suddenly feel that you are not brave enough to do something you planned to do
To cut the ground from under somebody's feet 
To make someone or their ideas seem less impressive by having better ideas yourself or doing something before they do
To stand on your own (two) feet 
To be able to do what you need to do, earn your own money, etc. without help from others
To have one foot in the grave 
To be very old or very ill – used humorously
To have/keep your feet on the ground 
To think in a sensible and practical way and not have ideas or aims that will be impossible to achieve
To dig your heels in
To refuse to do something in spite of other people's efforts to persuade you
To kick up your heels 
To enjoy yourself a lot at a party, event etc.
To toe the line 
To do what other people in a job or organization say you should do, whether you agree with them or not
To tread/step on somebody's toes 
To offend someone, especially by becoming involved in something that they are responsible for
To keep somebody on their toes 
To make sure that someone is ready for anything that might happen
To pick somebody's brains 
To ask someone who knows a lot about something for information and advice about it
To have something at heart 
To be influenced in your actions by something that you really care about
To break somebody's heart 
To make someone very unhappy by ending a relationship with them or doing something that upsets them a lot
To take something to heart 
To consider what someone says to you very seriously, often because it upsets you
To put your heart (and soul) into something 
To do something with a lot of effort
To open your heart (to somebody) / To pour out your heart 
To tell someone your real thoughts and feelings because you trust them
To find it in your heart to do something
[literary] To feel able or willing to do something
To set your heart on something 
To want something very much
To eat your heart out
[British English] To be unhappy about something or to want someone or something very much
Somebody's heart is in the right place
[informal] Used to say that someone is really a kind person and has the right feelings about something important
The heart of the matter/problem
The most important aspect of a situation
From the bottom of the heart 
Used for emphasizing that you are very sincere about something
A heart-to-heart 
A conversation in which two people say honestly and sincerely what they really feel about something
Half-hearted 
Done without much effort and without much interest in the result
A change of heart 
A situation in which you change your opinion about someone or something
My heart bleeds (for somebody)
Used to say that you do not really feel any sympathy towards someone
(With) you heart in your mouth
Feeling very nervous or afraid
To have no stomach for a fight/task etc. 
To have no desire to do something difficult, upsetting, or frightening