English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
HOUSE, FURNITURE and FITTINGS, page 5
Idioms
from:
'not the sharpest tool' to: 'go
out the window'
- not ther sharpest tool in the shed
- ‘Sharp’ means ‘clever’ or ‘intelligent’.
This expression is used to say that someone is not very intelligent.
"Trust Andy to misunderstand!
Of course we know he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed!"
- ‘Sharp’ means ‘clever’ or ‘intelligent’.
- bang/knock your head against a brick wall
- If you bang or knock your head against a brick wall,
you continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
"I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother!"
- If you bang or knock your head against a brick wall,
you continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts.
- like talking to a brick wall
- To say that a conversation with someone is like talking to brick wall
means that communication is impossible because there is no reaction or response.
"I tried to discuss the problem with him but it was like talking to a brick wall."
- To say that a conversation with someone is like talking to brick wall
means that communication is impossible because there is no reaction or response.
- throw (something) over the wall
- If someone throws something over the wall, they
deal with part of a problem or project, then pass the responsibility to another person
or department without any communication or coordination.
"You can't just manufacture a product then throw it over the wall to the sales department!"
- If someone throws something over the wall, they
deal with part of a problem or project, then pass the responsibility to another person
or department without any communication or coordination.
- (the) writing on the wall
- This refers to a situation where there
are signs showing that a problem is going to occur.
"We all knew Larry was going to lose his job, but he refused to see the writing on the wall."
- This refers to a situation where there
are signs showing that a problem is going to occur.
- good walls make good neighbours
- This expression means that respecting
one another's privacy helps create a good relationship between neighbours.
"We try not to disturb the people next door. Good walls make good neighbours!"
- This expression means that respecting
one another's privacy helps create a good relationship between neighbours.
- bounce off the walls
- Someone who is very excited about something, or full of nervous energy,
is said to be bouncing off the walls.
"Danny can't wait to start his new job. He's bouncing off the walls!"
- Someone who is very excited about something, or full of nervous energy,
is said to be bouncing off the walls.
- a window on the world
- When something provides an opportunity to observe and learn
about people and life in other countries, it is called a window on the world.
"The internet has become a window on the world."
- When something provides an opportunity to observe and learn
about people and life in other countries, it is called a window on the world.
- window shopping
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
"I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping."
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
- go out the window
- If a quality, principle or opportunity goes out the
window, it disappears, is lost or is abandoned.
"When the plant closed down, all hopes of finding a job went out the window."
- If a quality, principle or opportunity goes out the
window, it disappears, is lost or is abandoned.
More Idioms:
House, furniture and household fittings
Alphabetical lists:
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.