English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms H, page 12
Idioms H, page 12: from: 'straight from horse's mouth' to: 'hustle and bustle'
- straight from horse's mouth
- If you learn something straight from the horse's
mouth, the information is given to you by someone who is directly involved.
"How do you know Sam has resigned?"
"I got it straight from the horse's mouth - Sam told me himself!"
- If you learn something straight from the horse's
mouth, the information is given to you by someone who is directly involved.
- hot off the press
- If a news article, for example, is hot off the press,
it has just been published and contains the most recent information on the subject.
"I just got it hot off the press; another bank has gone bankrupt."
- If a news article, for example, is hot off the press,
it has just been published and contains the most recent information on the subject.
- hot on the trail
- If you are hot on the trail of someone or something,
you are very close to finding them.
"The police are hot on the trail of the bank robber."
- If you are hot on the trail of someone or something,
you are very close to finding them.
- hot under the collar
- If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed,
indignant or embarrassed.
"If anyone questions his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot under the collar."
- If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed,
indignant or embarrassed.
- hot potato
- A hot potato is a very sensitive and controversial matter
which is difficult to deal with.
"The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any hot potatoes yet."
- A hot potato is a very sensitive and controversial matter
which is difficult to deal with.
- like a house on fire
- Two people who get on like a house on fire have
similar interests and quickly become good friends.
"As soon as Sarah met her brother's girlfriend, they got on like a house on fire."
- Two people who get on like a house on fire have
similar interests and quickly become good friends.
- (not) give house room
- If you refuse togive house room to someone or something,
you do not accept them into your home because you dislike or disapprove of them.
"I wouldn't give house room to that painting - it's grotesque!"
- If you refuse togive house room to someone or something,
you do not accept them into your home because you dislike or disapprove of them.
- on the house
- Something which is on the house is offered free of
charge, usually in a bar or restaurant.
"The new owner of the bar offered us a drink on the house."
- Something which is on the house is offered free of
charge, usually in a bar or restaurant.
- put (your) house in order
- If you tell someone to put their house in order, you
are saying that they should organise their own affairs or take care of their own
problems before giving advice to other people.
"You should put your house in order before telling me what to do!"
- If you tell someone to put their house in order, you
are saying that they should organise their own affairs or take care of their own
problems before giving advice to other people.
- household name
- When the name of something becomes very familiar because it
is so often used, it is called a household name or word.
"The product was so successful that its name became a household name in no time."
- When the name of something becomes very familiar because it
is so often used, it is called a household name or word.
- how the other half lives
- This expression refers to the way of life of another social group.
"He prefers not to know how the other half lives."
- This expression refers to the way of life of another social group.
- hue and cry
- If there is a hue and cry about something,
there is loud opposition to it.
"There will no doubt be a great hue and cry when the reorganisation is announced."
- If there is a hue and cry about something,
there is loud opposition to it.
- hunky-dory
- Using the expression 'hunky dory' is an
informal way of saying that everything is satisfactory and there are no problems.
"Need any help?" Everything's hunky dory, thanks."
- Using the expression 'hunky dory' is an
informal way of saying that everything is satisfactory and there are no problems.
- (wouldn't) hurt a fly
- The expression wouldn’t hurt a fly is used to describe a person who is so gentle
and non-violent that they wouldn’t harm anyone, not even an insect.
"The man you’re accusing is a peaceful non-aggressive person. He wouldn’t hurt a fly!"
- The expression wouldn’t hurt a fly is used to describe a person who is so gentle
and non-violent that they wouldn’t harm anyone, not even an insect.
- (a) hush fell over (someone/a group)
- If a hush falls over a group of people, they suddenly become silent.
"As the golf player took his stance, a hush fell over the spectators."
- If a hush falls over a group of people, they suddenly become silent.
- hush money
- Money paid to keep information secret or avoid a scandal
is called hush money.
"The politician had an extra-marital affair and paid hush money to keep it secret."
- Money paid to keep information secret or avoid a scandal
is called hush money.
- hustle and bustle
- This term refers to busy energetic activity in an atmosphere of
general excitement.
"I prefer to live in the country. I hate the hustle and bustle of city life."
- This term refers to busy energetic activity in an atmosphere of
general excitement.
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists H ...
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