List of English Phrases
all at sea - in a state of uncertainty or confusion
ants in the pants - can't sit still
an axe to grind - "He's got an axe to grind" - he has an alterior motive
antsy - nervous
at six and sevens - in a state of confusion or conflict with another person
ball park figure - an aproximation
bug me - of a person, as in "Don't bug me" to bother, of a room, to place a concealed recording device, as in "The CIA bugged my apartment"
bury the hatchet - make a truce
dead serious - not joking
dead set on - "I am dead set on see this movie tonight." - unwilling to give up or alter ones intent
dead straight - correct "You are dead straight about that"
dish the dirt - speak badly about another
down to earth - about a person, concerned with the real world and not abstractions, not sophisticated, not treacherous
get down to brass tacks - "Now it's time to get down to the brass tacks." Dealing with the real substantive issues, usually money
get off your high horse - don't assume a superior air
give lip - argue with your superior, usually a parent
give the cold shoulder - be unfriendly
gnawing at you - bothering you on a daily basis, usually a worry or idea
go jump in a lake - drop dead, I do not aggree with you
he stumped me - he asked a question I could not answer, he baffled me with his behaviour
hit the nail on the head - to express an idea exactly
hunky dory - going well
kick the bucket - die
lip service - mas sfatiyim, speak as though one repects and agrees with another
nitty gritty - deatails
no shit (Sherlock) - what you said is totaly obvious to all
no way - I don't agree
nutty , nuts - crazy
off his rocker - crazy
off the hook - of a person, no longer is he to blame, of a phone, not connected
on the dole - relying on charity or parental monies
on the ball - smart, quick, clever
on the loose- no longer locked up, as in an escaped prisoner
on the money-
on the nose-
on top of things- Organized
out to lunch - not responsive, not clear headed
pound for pound-
push comes to shove-
put that in your pipe and smoke it-
six of one , half dozen of the other-
take the cake - literally it means, Wins the prize, but in common usage said of some act which is unbelievably outrageous.
I've seen a lot of rude and obnoxious behavior in my life, but shoving the woman to get in the front of the line
really takes the cake
throw your weight around-
to rat on someone- to tell the authorities he committed a crime
toe to toe-
tongue in cheek- about a statement, not intended to be serious "It was tongue in cheek when he said he eats ham hocks for breakfast."
under the weather- Not feeling well
water under the bridge- a subject or argument that happened in the past an no longer worth thinking about
went to pot- stopped taking care of himself, fell into disrepair
with it - cool
worked up a storm- worked very hard