English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms L, page 10
Idioms L, page 10: from: 'by the look of things' to: 'at a loss'
- (by the) look of things
- This expression is used to express an opinion
based on what you actually see.
"I glanced into the kitchen and by the look of things dinner will be late!"
- This expression is used to express an opinion
based on what you actually see.
- look out for n°1
- If you take care of yourself first, and look after your own
interests rather than those of other people, you look out for number one.
"Andy's father told him that looking out for number one should be his first priority."
- If you take care of yourself first, and look after your own
interests rather than those of other people, you look out for number one.
- be on the lookout
- If you are on the lookout, you are particularly vigilant and
keep watching for something to appear, either because you don’t want to miss it or because
it is dangerous and must be avoided.
"Please be on the lookout for small things that the baby might swallow, and put them out of reach."
- If you are on the lookout, you are particularly vigilant and
keep watching for something to appear, either because you don’t want to miss it or because
it is dangerous and must be avoided.
- 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.
- loose end
- A person who is at a loose end has some spare time, and
feels quite bored by having nothing in particular to do.
"When the meeting was cancelled at the last minute, Julie unexpectedly found herself at a loose end."
- A person who is at a loose end has some spare time, and
feels quite bored by having nothing in particular to do.
- lord it over (someone)
- A person who lords it over others behaves as
though they are superior or more important.
"Steve has been lording it over his colleagues since he got a promotion."
- A person who lords it over others behaves as
though they are superior or more important.
- lose one's marbles
- If someone loses their marbles, they become
mentally confused, or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
"The old man is acting very strangely. He seems to have lost his marbles."
- If someone loses their marbles, they become
mentally confused, or no longer behave sensibly or rationally.
- lose the plot
- If a situation becomes so confusing that you are unable to
understand what is happening or what you are supposed to do, you lose the plot.
"His instructions were so long and confusing that I just lost the plot!"
- If a situation becomes so confusing that you are unable to
understand what is happening or what you are supposed to do, you lose the plot.
- lose your cool
- Someone who loses their cool behaves in a bad-temepered manner
or become angry, frantic or flustered.
"The customer lost his cool when the waiter spilt the wine."
- Someone who loses their cool behaves in a bad-temepered manner
or become angry, frantic or flustered.
- lose your shirt
- If you lose your shirt, you lose all your money or
possessions, especially as a result of speculation or gambling.
"Our neighbour lost his shirt when the bank went bankrupt."
- If you lose your shirt, you lose all your money or
possessions, especially as a result of speculation or gambling.
- (not) lose sleep
- When something happens that in your opinion is not a cause
for worry, you can say that you will not lose (any) sleep over it.
"I've mislaid the book but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it."
- When something happens that in your opinion is not a cause
for worry, you can say that you will not lose (any) sleep over it.
- lose the thread
- If you lose the thread of a conversation or story, you
are unable to follow it.
"There were so many interruptions during the film that I completely lost the thread."
- If you lose the thread of a conversation or story, you
are unable to follow it.
- lose your touch
- If you lose your touch, you no longer have the
ability to do something skillfully.
"My mother used to make great cup cakes but she seems to have lost her touch."
- If you lose your touch, you no longer have the
ability to do something skillfully.
- lose track of time
- When you give all your attention to something and become so
engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose track of time.
"Whenever I start surfing on the web, I lose track of time."
- When you give all your attention to something and become so
engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose track of time.
- lose your train of thought
- If you forget what you were saying, for example after a
disturbance or interruption, you lose your train of thought.
"Now what was I telling you? I'm afraid I've lost my train of thought."
- If you forget what you were saying, for example after a
disturbance or interruption, you lose your train of thought.
- at a loss
- If a person is at a loss, they don't know what to say
or do in a particular situation.
"Teachers are at a loss to know how to deal with the increasing violence in schools."
- If a person is at a loss, they don't know what to say
or do in a particular situation.
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