Dictionary of English Idioms: Vocabulary Building

Useful English Idioms and their meanings in simple words | Alphabetical list of English Idioms

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Useful English Idioms -- A

Aback
be taken aback -- to be shocked

Abeyance
in abeyance -- postponed

Above
above all -- most of all

Abreast
keep abreast of -- to know the latest update

Abstract
in the abstract -- generally

Abundance
in abundance -- in great amounts or quantities

Accident
by accident -- unintentionally

Accompaniment
to the accompaniment of -- in the addition of something else

Accord
in accord -- in agreement
of your own accord -- willingly
with one accord -- in unison

Accordance
in accordance with -- according to a rule or system

Account
by all accounts -- as said by other people
by your own account -- as said by you
of no account -- of no significance
on somebody’s account -- because of another person
on account of -- because of
on no account -- without any reason
on your own account -- by or for yourself
on this account -- because of this
turn something to good account -- to make the best use of something
take account of -- to consider something during the decision-making process

Ace
hold all the aces -- to be in the most favorable situation
place your ace -- to use your best argument, etc. to make the situation in your favor

Acquaintance
make the acquaintance of somebody -- to be familiar with somebody for the first time
of your acquaintances -- that you know
on first acquaintance -- on first meeting

Acquire
an acquired taste -- something that you like gradually

Act
act of God -- a natural event
do a vanishing act -- to be absent when you are required to be present
get your act together -- to make your best efforts achieve to your goal
a hard act to follow -- to be the perfect example of something and thus almost impossible to be emulated
in the act of doing something -- while somebody is doing something
in action -- doing the usual activity
into action -- to be implemented
out of action -- not working

Add
add insult to injury -- to aggravate the relationship with somebody

Addition
in addition -- besides

Ado
without further ado -- immediately

Advanced
of advanced age -- very old

Advantage
work to your advantage -- to try to get an advantage from a particular circumstance
to best advantage -- in a best possible way
turn something to your advantage -- to get an advantage from an unfavorable situation

Advisement
Take something under advisement -- to consider something during the decision-making process

Aegis
under the aegis of -- with the support of

Afoul
run afoul of -- to do something illegal

Afar
from afar -- from a long distance away

Afield
far afield -- from a long distance away

Afoul
run afoul of -- to do something illegal

After
after all -- in spite of everything

Age
act your age -- to behave maturely and sensibly
come of age -- to be legally mature
under age -- to be legally immature

Aggregate
in aggregate -- as a total

Agree
agree to differ -- (of two people) to not discuss their different views about something

Aim
take aim at -- to criticize severely

Air
walk on air -- to be delighted
in the air -- felt by many people
on air -- broadcasting on TV, etc.
off air -- not broadcasting on TV, etc.
up in the air -- undecided

Aisle
walk down the aisle -- to get married

Alarm
alarm bells ring -- to be worried and apprehensive in a sudden way

Alive
alive and kicking -- healthy and lively
bring something alive -- to make something exciting
come alive -- to be exciting

And
and all that -- and other things of the same kind
not all that -- not particularly

Allow
allow me -- used to offer help in a polite manner

Allowance
make allowance for something -- to consider something during the decision-making process
make allowance for somebody -- to accept somebody’s improper, rude, etc. way of behaving because of special reason