English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms E, page 3
Idioms E, page 3: from: 'ego trip' to: 'even keel'
- ego trip
- If you do something primarily to draw attention to yourself and
feel important or superior to others, you are on an ego trip.
"His speech about creating an association to help the underprivileged was one long ego trip."
- If you do something primarily to draw attention to yourself and
feel important or superior to others, you are on an ego trip.
- one over the eight
- If a person has one over the eight, they are slightly
drunk.
"Don't listen to him. Can't you see he's one over the eight!"
- If a person has one over the eight, they are slightly
drunk.
- elbow grease
- If you use elbow grease, you need energy and
strength to do physical work such as cleaning or polishing.
"It took a considerable amount of elbow grease to renovate the old house."
- If you use elbow grease, you need energy and
strength to do physical work such as cleaning or polishing.
- elbow room
- If you need some elbow room, you need more space to
move.
"We shared a small office where neither of us had much elbow room."
- If you need some elbow room, you need more space to
move.
- in your element
- When you are in your element, you are doing something
that you do well, and you are enjoying yourself.
"My brother, who is an estate agent, was in his element house-hunting for our parents."
- When you are in your element, you are doing something
that you do well, and you are enjoying yourself.
- (an) elephant in the room
- A problem that no one wants to discuss, but is so obvious that
it cannot be ignored, is called an elephant in the room.
"Let's face it, his work is unsatisfactory. It's an elephant in the room that we need to discuss."
- A problem that no one wants to discuss, but is so obvious that
it cannot be ignored, is called an elephant in the room.
- (at the) eleventh hour
- If something happens at the eleventh hour, it
happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.
"Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour."
- If something happens at the eleventh hour, it
happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.
- (an) embarrassment of riches
- When there is much more of something than necessary, and it is
difficult to make a choice, you have an embarrassment of riches.
"Our hosts presented us with an embarrassment of riches. There was so much food that we didn't know where to start!"
- When there is much more of something than necessary, and it is
difficult to make a choice, you have an embarrassment of riches.
- (make) ends meet
- If you find it difficult to pay for your everyday needs
because you have very little money, it is hard for you to make ends meet.
"Anne's salary is so low that she finds it hard to make ends meet."
- If you find it difficult to pay for your everyday needs
because you have very little money, it is hard for you to make ends meet.
- enough said
- This expression is used to indicate that you completely
understand the situation and you do not need any further details.
"Your mother-in-law arrived unexpectedly last night? Enough said!"
- This expression is used to indicate that you completely
understand the situation and you do not need any further details.
- err on the side of caution
- When uncertain about what to do, if you err on the side
of caution you do more than what is adequate rather than take any risks.
"When I'm not sure how much food to prepare, I tend to err on the side of caution and prepare far too much."
- When uncertain about what to do, if you err on the side
of caution you do more than what is adequate rather than take any risks.
- see the error of one's ways
- When someone sees the error of their ways, they
understand that what they are doing is wrong and accept to change their behaviour.
"He talked to a counsellor who tried to make him see the error of his ways."
- When someone sees the error of their ways, they
understand that what they are doing is wrong and accept to change their behaviour.
- in essence
- The term 'in essence' means 'basically', fundamentally'
or 'essentially', and refers to the most important or essential facts.
"In essence, lightning is a great big spark of electricity."
- The term 'in essence' means 'basically', fundamentally'
or 'essentially', and refers to the most important or essential facts.
- (on an) even keel
- A situation or person who stays on an even keel
manages to remain calm, stable and untroubled in all circumstances.
"She managed to keep her life on an even keel in spite of the difficulties."
- A situation or person who stays on an even keel
manages to remain calm, stable and untroubled in all circumstances.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists E ...
more alphabetical lists...