English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - L, page 11
from: 'lost ball in high weeds'
to: 'in the lurch'
- lost ball in high weeds
- Someone who is totally confused, and doesn't know what they are doing or how to do it, is a lost ball in high weeds.
"The new intern in a lost ball in high weeds - he has no idea now to begin the task he's been given."
- Someone who is totally confused, and doesn't know what they are doing or how to do it, is a lost ball in high weeds.
- (be) lost on someone
- Of something is lost on someone, they do not understand the meaning.
"Sam's joke was completely lost on Charlie."
"The culturel reference was lost on the children."
- Of something is lost on someone, they do not understand the meaning.
- love me, love my dog
- This expression means that if someone loves you,
they must love everything about you, including everyone and everything you love.
"Harry didn't like Sally's best friend, but Sally said : 'love me, love my dog!'"
- This expression means that if someone loves you,
they must love everything about you, including everyone and everything you love.
- no love lost
- To say that there is no love lost between two people or organisations means that they do not like each other at all.
"There is no love lost between the Conservatives and Democrats."
- To say that there is no love lost between two people or organisations means that they do not like each other at all.
- not for love or money
- If you say that you cannot or will not do something for love or
money, you mean that you will not do it under any circumstances.
"I would not try bungee jumping for love or money!"
- If you say that you cannot or will not do something for love or
money, you mean that you will not do it under any circumstances.
- at a low ebb
- A person or organisation at a low ebb is not as strong or successful as usual.
"The recent political crisis has left the country at a low ebb."
- A person or organisation at a low ebb is not as strong or successful as usual.
- low-hanging fruit
- To refer to something as a low-hanging fruit means that it is a target that can be easily reached, or a goal that can
be accomplished with a minimum of effort.
"Teenagers are low-hanging fruit for fashionable mobile devices."
- To refer to something as a low-hanging fruit means that it is a target that can be easily reached, or a goal that can
be accomplished with a minimum of effort.
- lower than a snake's belly
- To say that someone is lower than a snake's belly means that they are bad, dishonest or have very low moral standards.
"Anyone who is capable of taking advantage of young vulnerable children is lower than a snake's belly."
- To say that someone is lower than a snake's belly means that they are bad, dishonest or have very low moral standards.
- (as) luck would have it
- The expression ‘as luck would have it’ is used to indicate that something happened purely by chance, because of good or bad luck.
"Because of roadworks the traffic was deviated, and as luck would have it, the route took him past his ex-wife’s house."
- The expression ‘as luck would have it’ is used to indicate that something happened purely by chance, because of good or bad luck.
- luck of the draw
- To refer to something that happens as the luck of the draw
means that it is the result of pure chance, with no possibility of choice.
"The samples distributed varied in size and value; it was the luck of the draw."
- To refer to something that happens as the luck of the draw
means that it is the result of pure chance, with no possibility of choice.
- (the) luck of the Irish
- This expression is used as a good-natured comment meaning to be extremely lucky or have good fortune.
(Some suggest that the expression may be ironic since the Irish have had a tragic past.)
"I can’t believe Jack won the contest ! He must have the luck of the Irish !"
"Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you."
- This expression is used as a good-natured comment meaning to be extremely lucky or have good fortune.
- (take) pot luck
- If you take pot luck, you accept whatever is available without knowing what it will be like.
"We were so hungry we decided to take pot luck and stopped at the first restaurant we saw."
- If you take pot luck, you accept whatever is available without knowing what it will be like.
- push your luck
- If you push your luck, you try to obtain something more than what you have already received
"Thanks for lending me your motorbike Steve. Any chance you could lend me money for petrol too? Don’t push your luck!"
- If you push your luck, you try to obtain something more than what you have already received
- a lucky streak
- If you are on (or have) a lucky streak, you have a sequence of lucky wins in gambling or games.
"I don’t often win, but I had a lucky streak and came away with enough to pay for my hotel room!"
- If you are on (or have) a lucky streak, you have a sequence of lucky wins in gambling or games.
- lull before the storm
- A period of unnatural calm before a difficult time or violent activity is called the lull before the storm.
"The sales start on January 1st. The quiet period before that is just the lull before the storm."
- A period of unnatural calm before a difficult time or violent activity is called the lull before the storm.
- lump in your throat
- If you have a lump in your throat, you have a tight
feeling in your throat because of a strong emotion such as sadness or gratitude.
"The speech was so touching that I had a lump in my throat."
- If you have a lump in your throat, you have a tight
feeling in your throat because of a strong emotion such as sadness or gratitude.
- (at the) top of your lungs
- If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.
"The place was so noisy that I had to shout at the top of my lungs to be heard."
- If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.
- in the lurch
- Someone who is left in the lurch is left in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
"Paul was left in the lurch when he missed the last bus."
- Someone who is left in the lurch is left in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
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