English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Descriptions of People-6
from: 'larger than life' to: 'all mouth'
- larger than life
- A person who is larger than life attracts special attention because
they are very impressive or unusually remarkable in their appearance, behaviour or personality.
"He was a larger-then-life character, both onstage and behind the scene."
- A person who is larger than life attracts special attention because
they are very impressive or unusually remarkable in their appearance, behaviour or personality.
- late bloomer
- To refer to someone as
a late bloomer means that they take longer than usual or expected
to develop in a particular field, show their talents or demonstrate their capabilities.
"He was quite slow at school but he turned out to be a late bloomer who is now a renowned academic ! "
- To refer to someone as
a late bloomer means that they take longer than usual or expected
to develop in a particular field, show their talents or demonstrate their capabilities.
- laughing stock
- A person who does something stupid or ridiculous which
causes others to laugh becomes a laughing stock.
" If you wear that to school you'll be the laughing stock of the class!"
- A person who does something stupid or ridiculous which
causes others to laugh becomes a laughing stock.
- (be) led by the nose
- Someone who is led by the nose is dominated, controlled
or influenced by a person or group who makes them do exactly what they want.
"Jack has always been led by the nose by his mother. He always does whatever she wants."
- Someone who is led by the nose is dominated, controlled
or influenced by a person or group who makes them do exactly what they want.
- on the level
- If you say that someone is on the level, you are referring
to a truthful or honest person.
"Tell me straight : Is he on the level or not?"
- If you say that someone is on the level, you are referring
to a truthful or honest person.
- life and soul of the party
- The life and soul of the party is the most lively
and amusing person present at an event.
"I'm so glad we invited Emily. She was the life and soul of the party."
- The life and soul of the party is the most lively
and amusing person present at an event.
- live a lie
- If you spend your life hiding something important about
yourself, or inventing something which is not true, you live a lie.
"To hide his humble origins, he told his wife he had no family and spent his life living a lie."
- If you spend your life hiding something important about
yourself, or inventing something which is not true, you live a lie.
- live wire
- Someone who is highly vivacious, energetic and full of
enthusiasm is a live wire.
"Things have brightened up since Charlie arrived. He's a real live wire! "
- Someone who is highly vivacious, energetic and full of
enthusiasm is a live wire.
- long in the tooth
- A person who is long in the tooth is a bit too old to
do something.
"She's a bit long in the tooth for a cabaret dancer, isn't she?"
- A person who is long in the tooth is a bit too old to
do something.
- look the part
- If you look the part, your appearance makes you ideally
suited for a particular job or role.
"It was a mistake to choose a pretty young girl to play the witch. She didn't look the part at all"
- If you look the part, your appearance makes you ideally
suited for a particular job or role.
- look the picture
- If someone looks the picture, they look very pretty.
"The little girl looked the picture in her new dress."
- If someone looks the picture, they look very pretty.
- look the picture of health
- To look the picture of health means to look
extremely healthy.
"Nice to see you again Mr. Brown. I must say you look the picture of health."
- To look the picture of health means to look
extremely healthy.
- look a sight
- If a person looks a sight, their appearance is
awful, unsuitable or very untidy.
"Chloe looks a sight in that dress!"
- If a person looks a sight, their appearance is
awful, unsuitable or very untidy.
- loose cannon
- Someone who is referred to as a loose cannon
cannot be completely trusted because of unpredictable and irresponsible behaviour
which can cause trouble.
"Keep an eye on Jamie. He tends to turn into a loose cannon when he has a few drinks."
- Someone who is referred to as a loose cannon
cannot be completely trusted because of unpredictable and irresponsible behaviour
which can cause trouble.
- lower than a snake's belly
- To say that someone
is lower than a snake's belly means
that they are bad, dishonest or have very
low moral standards.
"Anyone who is capable of taking advantage of young vulnerable children is lower than a snake's belly."
- To say that someone
is lower than a snake's belly means
that they are bad, dishonest or have very
low moral standards.
- 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.
"He 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.
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