English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - H, page 5
from: 'haul over the coals'
to: 'head over heels in love'
- haul over the coals
- If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand
them harshly because they have done something wrong or incorrectly.
"He was hauled over the coals for the poor quality of his presentation."
- If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand
them harshly because they have done something wrong or incorrectly.
- have (or keep) both oars in the water
- Someone who has or keeps both oars in the water remains calm and is not subject to extreme emotional reactions.
"Stella can deal with any crisis. She always keeps both oars in the water."
- Someone who has or keeps both oars in the water remains calm and is not subject to extreme emotional reactions.
- have (something) down pat
- If you memorise or practise something until you know it
perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat.
"I rehearsed my presentation until I had it down pat."
- If you memorise or practise something until you know it
perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat.
- have you gone out of your mind?
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind, you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
"You're going to ask for a 100% increase in salary? Have you gone out of your mind?"
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind, you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
- have kittens
- To say that you're going to have kittens is a dramatic way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear.
"His mother nearly had kittens when Alex announced that he wanted to be a trapeze artist."
- To say that you're going to have kittens is a dramatic way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear.
- have the makings of
- A person who has the makings of something has qualities and potential that could be developed.
"The teacher says Sarah has the makings of an excellent journalist."
- A person who has the makings of something has qualities and potential that could be developed.
- have the best of both worlds
- If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things.
"We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the beach. We have the best of both worlds."
- If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things.
- have your cake and eat it
- To say that someone wants to have their cake and eat it means that they want the advantages of two alternative situations when only one is possible.
"Jack enjoys his comfort but is always complaining about the cost of things. He can't have his cake and eat it."
- To say that someone wants to have their cake and eat it means that they want the advantages of two alternative situations when only one is possible.
- have your heart in the right place
- A person who has their heart in the right place has kind feelings and good intentions, even if the results are not too good.
"The old lady's cake wasn't wonderful but she's got her heart in the right place!"
- A person who has their heart in the right place has kind feelings and good intentions, even if the results are not too good.
- have another think coming
- A person who has another think coming is wrong or mistaken about something and needs to reconsider
their plans or expectations.
“If you think I'm going to pay for all this, you have another think coming!”
- A person who has another think coming is wrong or mistaken about something and needs to reconsider
their plans or expectations.
- have time on your side
- If you say that you have time on your side, you
mean that you can afford to wait before doing something without having to worry.
"Property prices are rising, so we don’t have to rush into selling our house. We’ve got time on our side.”
- If you say that you have time on your side, you
mean that you can afford to wait before doing something without having to worry.
- have the world at your feet
- If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely successful and greatly admired.
"The talented young actress has the world at her feet."
- If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely successful and greatly admired.
- have the world by its tail
- Someone who has the world by its tail is very
successful and has many opportunities to choose from.
"Due to her intelligence and hard work, she now has the world by its tail."
- Someone who has the world by its tail is very
successful and has many opportunities to choose from.
- make hay while the sun shines
- This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.
"Successful athletes are advised to make hay while the sun shines."
- This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.
- head and shoulders above
- To say that one person is head and shoulders above
the others means that they are much better than the rest of them.
"The award winner was head and shoulders above the others."
- To say that one person is head and shoulders above
the others means that they are much better than the rest of them.
- old head on young shoulders
- This expression refers to a child or young person who thinks
and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person.
"When she heard Emily warning her brother to stay out of trouble, her mother thought : "That's an old head on young shoulders."
- This expression refers to a child or young person who thinks
and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person.
- (bang) head against brick wall
- If you bang your head against a brick wall, you
continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
"I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother."
- If you bang your head against a brick wall, you
continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
- head in the clouds
- If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed
by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you.
"He doesn't listen to the teacher - he's got his head in the clouds all the time!"
- If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed
by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you.
- (want someone's) head on a platter
- If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be punished, you want their head on a platter.
"He was so angry when he read the article about his family that he wanted the journalist's head on a platter."
- If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be punished, you want their head on a platter.
- (have your) head screwed on
- Someone who has their head screwed on is a sensible and realistic person.
"Don't worry about him. He's adventurous but he's got his head screwed on."
- Someone who has their head screwed on is a sensible and realistic person.
- (a) head start
- If you have a head start, you have an advantage that
enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.
"Bringing detailed maps of the area gave us a head start over the others in the treasure hunt."
- If you have a head start, you have an advantage that
enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.
- head over heels in love
- When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are said to be head over heels in love.
"Tony's only interest at the moment is Maria. He's head over heels in love with her!"
- When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are said to be head over heels in love.
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