English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: House and Furniture-3
from: 'light bulb moment' to: 'rob the cradle'
- (have a) light bulb moment
- A light bulb moment is when you have a sudden moment of inspiration, comprehension or realization.
"Harry had a light-bulb moment when he finally understood what was blocking the mechanism."
- A light bulb moment is when you have a sudden moment of inspiration, comprehension or realization.
- not the brightest bulb in the box
- ‘Bright’ means ‘clever’ or ‘intelligent’.
This expression is used to say that someone is not very intelligent.
"Max has failed the exam for the third time! He's obviously not the brightest bulb in the box!"
- ‘Bright’ means ‘clever’ or ‘intelligent’.
- strike while the iron is hot
- If you strike while the iron is hot, you act immediately because now is the ideal time to do it.
"The price of property has dropped. It's a good time to buy. You should strike while the iron is hot."
- If you strike while the iron is hot, you act immediately because now is the ideal time to do it.
- see (something) in a new light
- If you see something in a new light, you view it
in a way that makes you change the opinion you had before.
"After listening to my colleague, I began to see things in a new light."
- If you see something in a new light, you view it
in a way that makes you change the opinion you had before.
- (a) mug's game
- An unprofitable or ill-advised activity that only a fool (mug)
would do is called a mug's game.
"Spending hours making home-made cakes for a few customers is a mug's game."
- An unprofitable or ill-advised activity that only a fool (mug)
would do is called a mug's game.
- (the) big picture
- If you talk about the big picture, you refer to the
overall situation, or the project as a whole rather than the details.
"While each aspect is important, try not to forget the big picture."
- If you talk about the big picture, you refer to the
overall situation, or the project as a whole rather than the details.
- (the) picture of health
- Someone who looks the picture of health looks
extremely healthy.
"Nice to see you again Mr. Brown. I must say you look the picture of health!"
- Someone who looks the picture of health looks
extremely healthy.
- a picture is worth a thousand words
- This expression means that a picture can give just as much
information as a large amount of descriptive text.
"Look at the picture of the crash! A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it?"
- This expression means that a picture can give just as much
information as a large amount of descriptive text.
- get the picture
- A person who gets the picture understands what is
being explained or described.
"The alarm went off and people started running everywhere - you get the picture I'm sure!"
- A person who gets the picture understands what is
being explained or described.
- put (someone) in the picture
- If you give somebody all the information necessary to
enable them to fully understand a situation, you put them in the picture.
"Some changes were made during your absence. Let me put you in the picture."
- If you give somebody all the information necessary to
enable them to fully understand a situation, you put them in the picture.
- a lot on your plate
- If someone has a lot on their plate, they are
extremely busy or have several problems to handle at the same time.
"It's not a good time to discuss the problem with David. He's got a lot on his plate at the moment."
- If someone has a lot on their plate, they are
extremely busy or have several problems to handle at the same time.
- (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.
- poker face
- If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
"All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face."
- If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
- the pot calling the kettle black
- This expression is used in a situation where a person with a
fault criticizes someone else for having the same fault.
"After being disqualified for not obeying the rules, the player accused another competitor of cheating; it was the pot calling the kettle black!"
- This expression is used in a situation where a person with a
fault criticizes someone else for having the same fault.
- (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.
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