| Idiom/Saying |
Explanation |
An anorak
For example:
"He's got hundreds of old Japanese robots that he insists on showing to anyone who visits. He's such an anorak." |
Used to describe a dull person or an individual with a boring hobby who insists on talking about it. |
To hit someone below the belt.
For example:
"I think it was a bit below the belt when he lied to her." |
To do something in an unfair or cowardly way. |
To have something under your belt.
For example:
"Hermine has years of English practice under her belt. One day it will really help her." |
If you have something under your belt, you have completed something successfully, and it may be useful to you in the future. |
Get dressed in your best bib and tucker.
For example:
"Alex wore his best bib and tucker when he got married." |
To dress in your best clothes. |
To have a bee in your bonnet.
For example:-
She's got a real bee in her bonnet about that new advertising campaign, she's even phoned the ACA! |
To be obsessed about something. |
Birthday suit. (See below)
For example:-
"He won't wear pyjamas, he sleeps in his birthday suit." |
To be in the nude. |
Buckle down.
For example:
"He realised before the exam that it was time to buckle down to some real work." |
To put in a lot of effort into doing something. |
If the cap fits, wear it. (Often shortened to "If the cap fits."
For example:
"He complained about being blamed for everything, but I told him, if the cap fits." |
Said to someone who is guilty of something bad, that they should accept criticism. |
To put on your thinking cap.
For example:
"The economy is in a mess, it's time for everyone to put their thinking caps on." |
To start to think seriously about how to solve a problem. |
Wolf in sheep's clothing.
For example:
"I don't trust him, I think he's a wolf in sheep's clothing." |
To pretend to be harmless when your really dangerous. |
Hot under the collar.
For example:-
"She got very hot under the collar when I told her someone had scratched her car." |
To be very angry. |
Off-the-cuff.
For example:
"He made a stupid off-the-cuff remark." |
Without preparation. |
To dress someone down.
For example:
"He was given a real dressing down for making such a stupid mistake." |
To tell someone off for doing something bad. |
Mutton dressed as lamb.
For example:
"In her mini skirt and short tank top, she looked like mutton dressed as lamb." |
To be dressed too young for your age. |
Dressed to kill.
For example:
"She had bought a new outfit and was dressed to kill." |
To make yourself look really good by wearing your best clothes. |
Dressed up like a dog's dinner.
For example:
"She was dressed up like a dog's dinner." |
To be overdressed |
Fit like a glove.
For example:
"The dress fitted her like a glove." |
Fits very well. |
To be hand in glove.
For example:
"They make a great team. They work hand in glove." |
To have an extremely close relationship, especially at work. |
To take the gloves off.
For example:
They took the gloves off and suspended trading. |
To argue or compete without controlling your actions or feelings. |
To treat someone with kid gloves.
For example:
After the disappointment of not getting into her preferred university, the teachers treated her with kid gloves. |
To deal with someone very gently or carefully. |
At the drop of a hat.
For example:
"If he asked me out I would go at the drop of a hat." |
To make a decision or do something very quickly without
thinking about it. |
Old hat
For example:
"I've been doing this job for so long it's all old hat now." |
Not new or different. |
Take one's hat off to someone.
For example:
"He always works so hard on his English, you have to take your hat off too him." |
To admire or respect someone. |
Keep something under your hat.
For example:
"You can trust me, I'll keep anything you tell me under my hat." |
To keep something you are told or know in strictest confidence. |
To talk / speak through your hat.
For example:
"He kept telling everyone what to do, but he was speaking through his hat, as he didn't have a clue and things just kept getting worse." |
To talk nonsense; especially on a subject that one professes to be knowledgeable about but in fact is ignorant of. |
Knickers in a twist.
For example:
"Dame Kiri Te Kanawa really got her knickers in a twist after being compared to Susan Boyle from the TV reality show." |
To get upset. |
To air one's dirty linen in public.
For example:
"The president was embarrassed to have his dirty linen aired in public." |
To have your private or personal problems discussed in public. |
Have ants in your pants.
For example:
"She never sits still, it's as though she's got ants in her pants." |
To be restless or incapable of sitting still. |
Burn a hole in one's pocket.
For example:
"He was never able to save any money, it always burned a hole in his pocket." |
To have money that you just want to spend. |
To be in your glad rags.
For example:-
"She must be going to a party, she was in her glad rags." |
To be dressed up in your party clothes. |
Bursting at the seams.
For example:
"The airport was so busy it was bursting at the seams." |
To be very busy or overcrowded. |
Keep your shirt on.
For example:
"Stop shouting, keep your shirt on!" |
Don't lose your temper. |
Lose one's shirt.
For example:
"He went to the races and lost his shirt." |
To lose all your money (usually in a business venture or by gambling). |
Someone who will give you the shirt off their back.
For example:
"He's so generous, he would give you the shirt off his back." |
Used to describe someone who is very generous. |
Stuffed shirt.
For example:
"He never has a laugh or a joke, he's a real stuffed shirt." |
To be to rigid or formal. |
In someone else's shoes.
For example:
"I hear he is very ill, I would hate to be in his shoes." |
To be in someone else's place or position. |
On a shoestring budget.
For example:
"When I went to university I had to live on a shoestring budget." |
To have a very small amount of money for something. |
Card up your sleeve.
For example:
"When he grinned like that I knew he had a card up his sleeve. |
To have something in reserve in case it is needed. |
Roll up your sleeves.
For example:
"We'll get the job finished if we all roll up our sleeves." |
Prepare to work hard. |
Put a sock in it.
For example:
"He wouldn't stop complaining, so I told him to put a sock in it." |
Used to tell someone to shut up. |
To be in your birthday suit. (See below).
For example:
"When I walked into the bathroom she was just standing their in her birthday suit!" |
To be completely naked. |
Wear the trousers.
For example:
"His wife is always telling him what to do. You can tell who wears the trousers in their house." |
To be the boss of a family or household. |
Keep it zipped.
For example:
"He was warned to keep it zipped, or else." |
To keep quiet about something. (Usually with an implied
threat.) |