English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms H, page 5
Idioms H, page 5: from: 'haul over coals' to: 'head over heels in love'
- haul over the coals
- If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand
them harshly because they have done something wrong or incorrectly.
"He was hauled over the coals for the poor quality of his presentation."
- If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand
them harshly because they have done something wrong or incorrectly.
- have (something) down pat
- If you memorise or practise something until you know it
perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat.
"I rehearsed my presentation until I had it down pat."
- If you memorise or practise something until you know it
perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat.
- have you gone out of your mind?
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind,
you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
"You're going to ask for a 100% increase in salary? Have you gone out of your mind?"
- If you ask someone if they have gone out of their mind,
you think they are crazy, foolish or insane.
- have kittens
- To say that you're going to have kittens is a dramatic
way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear.
"His mother nearly had kittens when Alex announced that he wanted to be a trapeze artist."
- To say that you're going to have kittens is a dramatic
way of expressing worry, anxiety or fear.
- have the makings of
- A person who has the makings of something has
qualities and potential that could be developed.
"The teacher says Sarah has the makings of an excellent journalist."
- A person who has the makings of something has
qualities and potential that could be developed.
- have the best of both worlds
- If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the
benefits and advantages of two different things.
"We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the beach. We have the best of both worlds."
- If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the
benefits and advantages of two different things.
- have the world at your feet
- If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely
successful and greatly admired.
"The talented young actress has the world at her feet."
- If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely
successful and greatly admired.
- have the world by its tail
- Someone who has the world by its tail is very
successful and has many opportunities to choose from.
"Due to her intelligence and hard work, she now has the world by its tail."
- Someone who has the world by its tail is very
successful and has many opportunities to choose from.
- make hay while the sun shines
- This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage
of a good situation which may not last.
"Successful athletes are advised to make hay while the sun shines."
- This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage
of a good situation which may not last.
- head and shoulders above
- To say that one person is head and shoulders above
the others means that they are much better than the rest of them.
"The award winner was head and shoulders above the others."
- To say that one person is head and shoulders above
the others means that they are much better than the rest of them.
- old head on young shoulders
- This expression refers to a child or young person who thinks
and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person.
"When she heard Emily warning her brother to stay out of trouble, her mother thought : "That's an old head on young shoulders."
- This expression refers to a child or young person who thinks
and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person.
- (bang) head against brick wall
- If you bang your head against a brick wall, you
continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
"I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother."
- If you bang your head against a brick wall, you
continue vainly to try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
- head in the clouds
- If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed
by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you.
"He doesn't listen to the teacher - he's got his head in the clouds all the time!"
- If you have your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed
by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you.
- (want someone's) head on a platter
- If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be
punished, you want their head on a platter.
"He was so angry when he read the article about his family that he wanted the journalist's head on a platter."
- If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be
punished, you want their head on a platter.
- (have your) head screwed on
- Someone who has
their head screwed on is a sensible and realistic person.
"Don't worry about him. He's adventurous but he's got his head screwed on."
- Someone who has
their head screwed on is a sensible and realistic person.
- (a) head start
- If you have a head start, you have an advantage that
enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.
"Bringing detailed maps of the area gave us a head start over the others in the treasure hunt."
- If you have a head start, you have an advantage that
enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.
- head over heels in love
- When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are
said to be head over heels in love.
"Tony's only interest at the moment is Maria. He's head over heels in love with her!"
- When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are
said to be head over heels in love.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists H ...
more alphabetical lists...
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.