Figures of speech

1. A bad egg/ bad penny = a person who is up to no good

2. A big bug = an important person
3. A bolt from the blue = a sudden occurrence that is unexpected
4. A bone of contention = cause for disagreement
5. A bookworm = person who is always poring over books
6. A close shave = narrow escape
7. A cock and bull story = foolish and incredible story
8. A cut-threat = killer or murderer
9. A daredevil = a person who is reckless and fearless
10. A die-hard = a person who only gives in after a great struggle
11. A feather in ones cap = an honour
12. A fish out of water = a person in an awkward or embarrassing
position
13. A flash in the pan = a sudden, single success
14. A foregone conclusion = a decision made beforehand
15. A gargantuan appetite = a big appetite
16. A good Samaritan = a friend in need
17. A good-for-nothing = a worthless people
18. A Greek gift = a gift given with some evil ulterior motive
19. A hard nut to crack = a stubborn person or problem
20. A heavy purse = wealthy
21. A martinet = a very strict disciplinarian
22. A mercurial temperament = a fickle, flighty, indecisive
personality
23. A nine days wonder = a event which creates a sensation for a
time but is soon forgotten
24. A skeleton in the cupboard = a dreadful secret that must be
kept within the family
25. A thorn in the flesh = a person of thing which annoys
26. A triton among the minnows = a person who completely dominates
all his fellows

27. A wet blanket = a person who discourages others, who is a

damper to enjoyment
28. A white lie = a harmless, non-malicious untruth
29. Above par = of superior quality
30. An Adonis = a very handsome man
31. An Amazon = a warlike woman, a masculine woman, a virago
32. An Ananias = a liar
33. An Exodus = a departure of a large body of people
34. An empty purse/ light purse = poverty
35. An eye-servant = one who works only under supervision
36. Arcadian life = a blissfully happy, rural and simple life
37. As the crow flies = in a direct line, the shortest distance
between two points
38. At first blush = at first sight
39. At his wits end = utterly confounded
40. At the eleventh hour = at the last moment
41. At the end of his tether = unable to proceed any further
42. Back in harness = to resume work after a holiday
43. Backstairs influence = influence exerted in an underhand or
clandestine manner
44. Bad faith = dishonest intentions
45. Bad form = bad manners
46. Bag and baggage = with all ones belongings
47. Baptism of fire = a soldiers first experience of actual war
48. Bed and board = lodgings and food
49. Beeline = the shortest distance between two places
50. Before long = soon, in a short while
51. Behind the scenes = in private, out of sight
52. Behind ones back = without ones knowledge
53. Blue Ribbon = the highest prize in any sort of competition or
tournament
54. Breach of promise = failure to keep a promise to marry one to
whom you are betrothed
55. But me not buts = do not bring forward any objections

56. By fits and starts = not continuous, intermittently, spasmodically

57. By hook or by crook = by fair means or foul
58. By leaps and bounds = with remarkable speed
59. Capital punishment = the death sentence or penalty
60. Days of reckoning = the time when one will have to settle
accounts, or give some account of ones work
61. Dead beat = very exhausted
62. Dead broke = penniless
63. Dirt cheap = very cheap
64. Down and out = penniless, ruined
65. Draconian Legislation = very severe laws
66. Dutch courage = bravery or courage induced by alcoholic
beverages
67. Eagled-eyed = very observant and discerning
68. Elysian Happiness = a state of perfect bliss
69. Evil days = a period of misfortune or adversity
70. Fabian Tactics = a policy of wearing down an opponent by
delaying action, harassing an enemy by avoiding open battle
71. Fire away = begin, say what you want to say
72. Foul play =cheating or unfair dealing in a game
73. From hand to hand = from one person to another
74. Halcyon Days = a time when there is peace and happiness in the
land
75. Hard and fast rules = strict rules
76. Hard lines = a hard lot, to be in an extremely unenviable position
77. Hard of hearing = almost deaf
78. He has a green eye = he is jealous
79. He has no backbone = he has no will of his own
80. He has seen better days = he was one prosperous
81. He is a cats paw = one used as a tool to do something dangerous
82. He is the backbone of his team = he is the one on whom his team
mainly relies for its successes
83. High-flown language = bombastic language
84. His better half = his wife

85. His bread is well buttered = he is in fortunate circumstances

86. His heart is in his boots = he is a coward
87. Hobsons choice = no alternative, take what you are offered or
none at all
88. Homeward bound = on the way home
89. Hostages to fortune = ones wife and children
90. In a jiffy = in a very short time
91. In a nutshell = summed up in a few words
92. In cold blood = deliberately
93. In for a penny, in for a pound = since I am to attempt a little I
might as well attempt a lot
94. In good faith = with honest intensions
95. In the long run = eventually
96. In the nick of time = at the right moment, just before too late
97. In the same boat = in the same misfortune or circumstances
98. It is as broad as it is long = it is the same whichever way you
view it
99. In black and white = write it on paper with ink
100. Lock, stock and barrel = the whole of everything
101. Much of the muchness = almost alike
102. Nail the lie to the counter = expose it publicly
103. Next of kin = nearest of blood relations
104. Not up to the mark = not measuring up to the required standard
105. Odds and ends = remnants
106. Off colour = not in the usual form
107. Off the bat = without previous preparation
108. On no account = not for any reason
109. Once in a blue moon = a very rare occurrence