1 Idiom Meaning This slang expression refers to someone who is considered to be insignificant or worthless. A Abbreviated piece of nothing Bob doesn't think much of his new colleague. He calls him an 'abbreviated piece of nothing'! When someone does something to the best of their ability, they do it as well as they possibly can. (to the) best of one's ability "I felt nervous all through the interview, but I replied to the best of my ability." A person of no fixed abode has nowhere permanent to live. (of) no fixed abode A 30-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was charged with the burglary. This term refers to a complete change of opinion or policy. about-turn / about-face "The ambassador's recent declarations indicate an about-turn in foreign policy." If a person does something which is above and beyond the call of duty, they show a greater degree of courage or effort Above and beyond the call of than is usually required or expected in their job. duty "The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went above and beyond the call of duty Something which happens more by accident than (by) design is More by accident than (by) done without deliberate intention. design "I became an interpreter more by accident than design; nobody else could speak the language of the refugees." If you do something intentionally, but pretend it was an accident, you do it 'accidentally on purpose'. Accidentally on purpose "I accidentally-on-purpose erased his email address so I couldn't contact him again." An accomplished fact Something that has been done or completed, before those affected (also: 'fait accompli') by it can intervene or change it, is called an accomplished fact. If you obtain a very high score or an excellent result, you ace a test or exam. Ace a test "Maria's parents said she could go to the party if she aced her English test." If you have an ace up your sleeve, it means that you have Have an ace up your sleeve. something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage. A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else. Hold all the aces "Given the high unemployment figures in some countries, employers hold all the aces." This expression refers to a vulnerable area or weak spot in an otherwise strong situation that could cause one's downfall or failure. Achilles' heel "He's extremely intelligent, but his inability to speak in public is his Achilles' heel." Idioms A to Z | KaySungPark.WordPress.Com 2 To refer to something as the acid test means that it will prove how effective or useful something is. Acid test "The training course was very interesting but the acid test will come when I start my new job." This term refers to a natural event or accident, for which no person is responsible (such as an earthquake, lightning and similar acts of nature). Act of God "The insurance company refused to pay for the damage because it was caused by an act of God." If you tell someone to get their act together, you mean Get your act together! that they need to organize their affairs more effectively in order to be more successful. If you add fuel to the flames, you say something that makes a difficult situation worse. Add fuel to the flames "He forgot their wedding anniversary, and his apologies only added fuel to the flames." If people make "much ado about nothing", they make Much ado about nothing. a lot of fuss about something which is not important. A person who is afraid of their own shadow is very nervous or easily frightened. Afraid of one's own shadow "I've never seen anyone so easily scared - she's afraid of her own shadow." If something is done after the fact, it is too late, after something has actually happened, particularly a crime or an accident. After the fact "He said he realized he had put people in danger, but that was of no help after the fact." If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it. Against the clock "They are working against the clock to have the presentation ready for Monday." If something sets the alarm bells ringing, it makes you begin to Set (the) alarm bells ringing/ worry because it shows that there may be a problem. alarm bells start to ring "Alarm bells started to ring when my old neighbour didn't open his shutters all day and didn't answer the phone." Someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent is said All brawn and no brain to be all brawn and no brain. "He's an impressive player to watch, but he's all brawn and no brain." If you are allowed to do something after a check-up to make sure that everything is all right, you get the all clear. All clear "Dad says he's going to play golf as soon as he gets the all clear from his doctor." To say that you are all ears means that you are listening very All ears attentively. "Of course I want to know - I'm all ears!" To say that all hell broke loose means that there was a sudden angry, noisy reaction to something. All hell broke loose "All hell broke loose when it was announced that the plant was going to close down." If something is all in your head, it is not real. It is in your imagination. All in your head "Don't be silly. Nobody is trying to harm you. It's all in hour head!" Idioms A to Z | KaySungPark.WordPress.Com 3 To use the term 'of all people' emphasizes that the person you mention, more than anyone else, is the one you would expect to do Of all people something. "As an artist, you, of all people, should support the new art gallery." If you are all things to all people you please or satisfy everyone. (You can't be) all things to all people She's exhausted trying to be a good wife, a good mother and a good teacher, but she can't be all things to all people. This expression refers to a probable situation if in all other ways the conditions remain unchanged or equal. All (other) things being equal "All (other) things being equal, a reduction in the cost of transport should enable us to lower our prices." When something is all the rage, it has become very popular or trendy. All the rage "Twittering text messages is all the rage these days, both among individuals and companies." Someone or something that turns out to be disappointing, after a promotional campaign or marketing operation which led us to expect something better, is called all sizzle and no steak. All sizzle and no steak "Because of all the electoral promises he made, which so far he has failed to keep, many people call the new president "all sizzle and no steak". If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are awkward and clumsy and All thumbs/all fingers and do things incorrectly. thumbs "Would you mind wrapping this for me? I'm all fingers and thumbs!" All told means the final number when everything has been counted. All told "The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 2543." This term refers to an unsuccessful competitor whose performance is Also-ran so much poorer than the winner's that it appears insignificant. "He entered the contest hoping that he wouldn't end up as an 'also-ran'. The term alter ego, which in Latin means 'other self', Alter ego refers to a very close and trusted friend who is very like yourself. This terms refers to a lawyer who finds work by persuading people injured in accidents to claim money from the person who caused Ambulance chaser the accident. "Peterson & Scott are well-known ambulance chasers - that's how they make their money!" If someone has to answer for something, they have to accept Answer for responsibility for their actions. "He will have to answer for his dishonesty." Answer the call of nature/ When a person answers the call of nature, they go to the toilet. nature's call I had to get up in the middle of the night to answer the call of nature People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about Ants in one's pants something "I wish he'd relax. He's got ants in his pants about something today!" Idioms A to Z | KaySungPark.WordPress.Com 4 When you have no choice, any port in a storm refers to a solution you accept, which in normal circumstances you would find Any port in a storm unacceptable. "The hotel was substandard, but it was a case of any port in a storm; all the others were full." If somebody is the apple of your eye, this means that you like The apple of your eye. them very much : "My grandson is the apple of my eye". To upset (or to overturn) the applecart means to spoil a satisfactory To upset the applecart plan or situation "I hope Julie doesn't attend the meeting; she could upset the applecart!" If something is in apple-pie order, it is very well organized or in perfect order. Apple-pie order "They made sure the house was in apple-pie order before their parents arrived back home." If one person is tied to another's apron strings, they remain dependent at an age when they should be independent.