English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Actions and Behaviour-5
from: 'excuse my French' to: 'freeze out'
- excuse/pardon my French
- This expression is used as an apology for using crude or offensive language.
"He's a bloody nuisance, if you'll excuse my French."
- This expression is used as an apology for using crude or offensive language.
- fall over backwards
- If you fall over backwards to accomplish something, you do everything you possibly can to please and impress.
"Sally's mother fell over backwards to make her wedding reception a memorable event."
- If you fall over backwards to accomplish something, you do everything you possibly can to please and impress.
- false move
- In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false move, you do something
which may have unpleasant consequences.
"He is under close surveillance. If he makes one false move he'll be arrested"
- In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false move, you do something
which may have unpleasant consequences.
- feed the kitty
- If you feed the kitty, you contribute to a collection of money called a 'kitty' in order to help a good cause.
"Come on! Every little helps. You should feed the kitty for a good cause!"
- If you feed the kitty, you contribute to a collection of money called a 'kitty' in order to help a good cause.
- fiddling while Rome burns
- To say that someone is fiddling while Rome burns means that they are doing
unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with. me
"His visit to the trade fair during the strike was 'fiddling while Rome burns' according to the workers."
- To say that someone is fiddling while Rome burns means that they are doing
unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with. me
- fight a losing battle
- If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is
little chance of succeeding.
"The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."
- If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is
little chance of succeeding.
- fight shy
- If you fight shy of something, such as a task, a problem or a duty, you want to
avoid doing it or you are unwilling to confront it.
"He had money problems for years but he fought shy of asking his children for help."
- If you fight shy of something, such as a task, a problem or a duty, you want to
avoid doing it or you are unwilling to confront it.
- have a finger in every pie
- If someone has a finger in every pie,
they are involved in a large and varied number of activities and enterprises.
"For information about the activities in this town, you should talk to John Brown. He's got a finger in every pie."
- If someone has a finger in every pie,
they are involved in a large and varied number of activities and enterprises.
- fish for compliments
- When someone is obviously waiting for you to
say something nice, they are fishing for compliments.
"I know why she invited us to her new house - she's just fishing for compliments."
- When someone is obviously waiting for you to
say something nice, they are fishing for compliments.
- fling yourself into something
- If you fling yourself into an activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
"Ever since she flung herself in the anti-pollution campaign, she rarely has a free moment!"
- If you fling yourself into an activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
- follow your nose
- If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead.
(This can also mean to follow your instinct in life.)
"The station is at the end of the road - just follow your nose."
- If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead.
- follow in someone's footsteps
- If you follow in someone's footsteps, for example a parent, you lead a similar life or do the same job.
"Lily followed in her mother's footstepsand became a teacher."
- If you follow in someone's footsteps, for example a parent, you lead a similar life or do the same job.
- foul your own nest
- If you act in a way that harms your own interests, your position or your reputation,
you foul your own nest.
"He fouled his own nest by wrongly accusing his boss."
- If you act in a way that harms your own interests, your position or your reputation,
you foul your own nest.
- freeze somebody out
- If you deliberately isolate someone or prevent them from participating in a social or business activity by treating them
unfairly or harshly, you freeze them out.
"Pablo was treated unfairly. The rest of the team just decided to freeze him out of the project."
- If you deliberately isolate someone or prevent them from participating in a social or business activity by treating them
unfairly or harshly, you freeze them out.
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