English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms B, page 6
Idioms B, page 6: from: 'beggars can't be choosers' to: 'beside yourself'
- beggars can't be choosers
- The expression 'beggars can't be choosers'
means that you should not reject an offer if it is the only possibility
you have. You have no other choice.
"He'll be lucky if he finds any kind of job at all. Beggars can't be choosers!"
- The expression 'beggars can't be choosers'
means that you should not reject an offer if it is the only possibility
you have. You have no other choice.
- behind bars
- Someone who is
behind bars is in prison.
"If you hang around with that gang, you'll find yourself behind bars in no time!"
- Someone who is
behind bars is in prison.
- behind closed doors
- If something takes place behind closed doors,
it is done privately, with no observers or intruders.
"The matter was discussed behind closed doors."
- If something takes place behind closed doors,
it is done privately, with no observers or intruders.
- behind the times
- A person who is behind the times has
old-fashioned ideas and does not keep up with modern life in general.
"Jane doesn't have a mobile phone. She's completely behind the times."
- A person who is behind the times has
old-fashioned ideas and does not keep up with modern life in general.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unpleasant alternatives.
"When the new product didn't take off, the management was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: develop a new marketing campaign or drop the product."
- If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you are in a situation where there are two equally unpleasant alternatives.
- ring a bell
- If something rings a bell, it is vaguely familar
to you, but you can't remember the exact details.
"John Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don't remember him."
- If something rings a bell, it is vaguely familar
to you, but you can't remember the exact details.
- with bells on
- If you do something or go somewhere with bells on,
you are very enthusiastic and eager to participate.
('with bells on' adds emphasis to the excited response)
"Of course I'll be there - with bells on!"
- If you do something or go somewhere with bells on,
you are very enthusiastic and eager to participate.
- below the belt
- An action or remark described as below the belt
is considered to be unfair or cruel.
"Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals below the belt."
- An action or remark described as below the belt
is considered to be unfair or cruel.
- tighten one's belt
- If you need to tighten your belt, you must
spend less money or be careful how you spend it because there is less available.
"Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!"
- If you need to tighten your belt, you must
spend less money or be careful how you spend it because there is less available.
- under one's belt
- If you have something under your belt,
you have acquired experience or have satisfactorily achieved something.
"You've got to have some work experience under your belt before you can hope to get a permanent job."
- If you have something under your belt,
you have acquired experience or have satisfactorily achieved something.
- bend over backwards
- If you bend over backwards, you try very hard
to do something, especially to please somebody.
"The manager bent over backwards to try to make Jack stay, but Jack wouldn't change his mind."
- If you bend over backwards, you try very hard
to do something, especially to please somebody.
- bend the truth
- If you bend the truth, you say something
that is not entirely true.
"Ok, I bent the truth a bit. I told him it was my natural colour, but I didn't say that my hairdresser helped me to keep it natural!"
- If you bend the truth, you say something
that is not entirely true.
- benefit of the doubt
- If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you
choose to believe that the person is innocent, honest or telling the truth,
because there is no evidence to the contrary.
"Although he found it hard to believe Tom's explanation, the teacher decided to give him the benefit of the doubt."
- If you give someone the benefit of the doubt, you
choose to believe that the person is innocent, honest or telling the truth,
because there is no evidence to the contrary.
- (get) bent out of shape
- If you get bent out of shape, you become annoyed or
upset about something that is usually not that important or cannot be avoided.
"Don't get bent out of shape if you're delayed. We'll wait for you."
- If you get bent out of shape, you become annoyed or
upset about something that is usually not that important or cannot be avoided.
- beside yourself
- If you are beside yourself (with an emotion),
you lose your self-control because of the intensity of the emotion you are feeling.
"Sam was beside himself with grief when he lost his son."
- If you are beside yourself (with an emotion),
you lose your self-control because of the intensity of the emotion you are feeling.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.