English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - L, page 4
from: 'lend an ear'
to: 'licence to print money'
- lend an ear
- If you lend an ear to someone, you listen carefully and sympathetically.
"The best person to talk to is Jenny. She's always ready to lend an ear."
- If you lend an ear to someone, you listen carefully and sympathetically.
- lend oneself to
- If you lend yourself to something, you approve of it or become associated with it.
"No decent father would lend himself to violent behaviour."
- If you lend yourself to something, you approve of it or become associated with it.
- less is more
- This expression, used particularly in architecture and design, conveys the idea that things that are simple
in style and smaller in size are better.
"Simplicity is fashionable today. Less is more."
- This expression, used particularly in architecture and design, conveys the idea that things that are simple
in style and smaller in size are better.
- lesser of two evils
- If you choose the lesser of two evils, you opt for the less unpleasant of two poor options.
"I didn't want to go. Choosing the train instead of driving was the lesser of two evils; at least I could relax on the way."
- If you choose the lesser of two evils, you opt for the less unpleasant of two poor options.
- let bygones be bygones
- If you let bygones be bygones, you decide to forget about old arguments, or problems that happened in the past, and improve your relationship
with someone.
"When Charlie's son was born, he decided to let bygones be bygones and contacted his parents."
- If you let bygones be bygones, you decide to forget about old arguments, or problems that happened in the past, and improve your relationship
with someone.
- let me bounce this off you
- You can use this expression when you present an idea or plan to someone in order to test their reaction or obtain feedback.
"I think I've found a way of making money. Let me bounce this off you."
- You can use this expression when you present an idea or plan to someone in order to test their reaction or obtain feedback.
- let the cat out of the bag
- If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
"When the child told her grandmother about the plans for her birthday, she let the cat out of the bag. It was supposed to be a secret!"
- If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
- let your hair down
- If you suggest that someone should let their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves.
"Come on! We're not in the office now. You can let your hair down!"
- If you suggest that someone should let their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves.
- let off steam
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy or strong
feelings either through intense physical activity or by talking in an unrestrained manner.
"Let's bring the kids to the playground so they can let off steam."
- A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy or strong
feelings either through intense physical activity or by talking in an unrestrained manner.
- let it ride
- When you decide to do nothing about a particular situation and allow it to remain as it is, you let it ride.
"Bill didn't like the way his wife spoke to the operator, but he let it ride because he didn't want another quarrel."
- When you decide to do nothing about a particular situation and allow it to remain as it is, you let it ride.
- let sleeping dogs lie
- If you tell someone to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems.
"Look, they've settled their differences. It's time to let sleeping dogs lie."
- If you tell someone to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems.
- let slip through fingers
- If you allow something such as a good opportunity to slip through your fingers, you allow it to pass without taking advantage of it,
through carelessness or lack of effort.
"He should have accepted the job when it was offered. He let the opportunity slip through his fingers."
- If you allow something such as a good opportunity to slip through your fingers, you allow it to pass without taking advantage of it,
through carelessness or lack of effort.
- to the letter
- If you follow instructions or directions to the letter, you do exactly as is told or written.
"Although she followed the instructions to the letter, she couldn't get the DVD player to work."
- If you follow instructions or directions to the letter, you do exactly as is told or written.
- on the level
- If you say that someone is on the level, you are referring to a truthful or honest person.
"Tell me straight : Is he on the level or not?"
- If you say that someone is on the level, you are referring to a truthful or honest person.
- barefaced liar
- Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is called a barefaced liar.
"That barefaced liar stole my watch and then said that he'd found it!"
- Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is called a barefaced liar.
- licence to print money
- An officially authorized activity which enables people to make
a lot of money without much effort is called a licence to print money.
"The contract to supply computers to schools was a licence to print money."
- An officially authorized activity which enables people to make
a lot of money without much effort is called a licence to print money.
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