English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - M, page 9
from: 'more than meets the eye'
to: 'much obliged'
- more than meets the eye
- When something is more complicated, difficult or interesting
than it appears, it is said that there is more (to it) than meets the eye.
"The owner of the club said that he had simply sold his shares, but I think there's more to it than meets the eye."
- When something is more complicated, difficult or interesting
than it appears, it is said that there is more (to it) than meets the eye.
- more power to your elbow
- This is said to express praise or encouragement to someone for doing something brave.
"I've left my job and I'm going to work free-lance from now on."
Well, more power to your elbow!"
- This is said to express praise or encouragement to someone for doing something brave.
- mouse potato
- The term mouse potato refers to a person who spends a lot of time in front of the computer.
"My son and his friends are all mouse potatoes - constantly glued to the computer!"
- The term mouse potato refers to a person who spends a lot of time in front of the computer.
- all mouth and no trousers
- This is said of someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it.
"Ben keeps saying he's going to resign and travel around the world, but he's all mouth and no trousers."
- This is said of someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it.
- butter wouldn't melt in (someone's) mouth
- If you say that someone looks as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, you mean that they look
completely innocent, but that they are capable of doing unpleasant things.
"The boy who stole the purse looked as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth."
- If you say that someone looks as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, you mean that they look
completely innocent, but that they are capable of doing unpleasant things.
- say a mouthful
- If you make an important or lengthy remark, you say a mouthful.
"The customer said a mouthful when he gave the reason for his dissatisfaction."
- If you make an important or lengthy remark, you say a mouthful.
- move the goalposts
- During a course of action, if someone moves the goalposts they change the rules or conditions.
"Our objectives have been set for next year. Let's hope the boss doesn't move the goalposts halfway through."
- During a course of action, if someone moves the goalposts they change the rules or conditions.
- move heaven and earth
- To say that you will move heaven and earth means
that you are prepared to do everything that is possible to achieve something.
"I promise I will move heaven and earth to get a work permit for you."
- To say that you will move heaven and earth means
that you are prepared to do everything that is possible to achieve something.
- move in the same circles
- When people move in the same circles, they
socialise with other people who have a similar background, interests or lifestyle.
"I've never met the Duchess personally. We don't move in the same circles!"
- When people move in the same circles, they
socialise with other people who have a similar background, interests or lifestyle.
- move up in the world
- A person who moves up in the world becomes more important in society or successful in their career.
"Rachel Jones has moved up in the world since we were kids."
- A person who moves up in the world becomes more important in society or successful in their career.
- movers and shakers
- The term movers and shakers refers to people in power who take an active part in making things happen.
"Mover and shakers are assembling in Brussels for the summit."
- The term movers and shakers refers to people in power who take an active part in making things happen.
- much of a muchness
- The expression much of a muchness means 'very similar' or 'almost alike'.
"It's hard to choose between the two - they're much of a muchness really."
- The expression much of a muchness means 'very similar' or 'almost alike'.
- much ado about nothing
- If people make much ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important.
"A discussion took place about the colour of the receptionist's shoes - much ado about nothing!"
- If people make much ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important.
- much obliged
- Some people use the expression much obliged to say that they are very grateful.
"It's raining Mr. Brown - take my umbrella." "Much obliged."
- Some people use the expression much obliged to say that they are very grateful.
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