(English Idioms & Sayings)
abide by (something)
- to follow the rules of something
The cleaning staff were forced to abide by the rules of the school.able to breathe easily again
- to be able to relax and recover from a stressful time
My friend was able to breathe easily again when his company did not go out of business.able to do (something) blindfolded
- to be able to do something easily and quickly
The car was easy to fix and we were able to do it blindfolded.able to do (something) standing on one's head
- to be able to do something easily and quickly
The boy is good at fixing his bicycle and he can do it standing on his head.able to take a joke
- to be able to let others laugh and joke about you
Our boss is not able to take a joke and we must be careful what we say to him.about time
- to be something that should have happened earlier
"It is about time that you returned that book to me."about to (do something)
- to be on the point of doing something
She was about to leave when the phone rang.above and beyond
- to be more than is required
The work that the man did on our house was above and beyond what was required.above reproach
- to be not deserving of blame or criticism
The actions of the police officer were above reproach.above suspicion
- to be very honest so that nobody would suspect you
The man's actions are always above suspicion.absent-minded
- to be forgetful
My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his keys.according to Hoyle
- doing something strictly by the rules, doing something the usual and correct way
According to Hoyle we are not allowed to use this room but if nobody knows it should be okay.according to (someone or something)
- as said or told by someone, in agreement with something, in the order of something, in proportion to something
According to our teacher, there will be no class next week.We did everything according to the terms of our agreement.
acid test
- a test where the conclusions are beyond doubt
The problem was an acid test of our faith in the manager.acquire a taste for (something)
- to learn to like something
We acquired a taste for classical music during our trip to Europe.across the board
- equally for everyone or everything
The taxes were increased across the board and everyone had to pay more.act high and mighty
- to act proud and powerful
The woman always acts high and mighty and nobody likes her.act one's age
- to behave as a mature person or at least to behave equal to one's age
My friend never acts her age in public.act up
- to misbehave
The children began to act up during the field trip.add fuel to the fire
- to make a problem worse, to make an angry person angrier
The company added fuel to the fire when they criticized the angry workers.add insult to injury
- to make a person who feels bad feel worse, to make a bad situation worse
Our boss added insult to injury when she refused to let us use the telephone as well as the computers during lunch.add up
- to total up to a certain amount
I began to add up the money that I owed my father.add up (to something)
- to mean something, to result in something
The things that he said about his boss do not add up.advise against (something)
- to suggest that something should not be done
We were advised against swimming in the river.afraid of one's own shadow
- to become frightened easily
The small dog is afraid of his own shadow.(to be continued by Learning English through Idioms and Sayings)
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