English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Success and Failure-1
from: 'ace a test'
to: 'had one's chips'
- ace a test
- If you obtain a very high score or an excellent result, you ace a test or exam.
"Maria's parents said she could go to the party if she aced her English test."
- If you obtain a very high score or an excellent result, you ace a test or exam.
- (an) ace in the hole
- A poker term wihch means an advantage or resource kept hidden until needed.
"Our candidate has an ace in the hole that will ensure victory ... you'll see!"
- A poker term wihch means an advantage or resource kept hidden until needed.
- (have an) ace up your sleeve
- If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage and obtain success.
"I'm well prepared for the negotiations. I've got an ace up my sleeve"
- If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage and obtain success.
- hold all the aces
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
"Given the high unemployment rates today, employers hold all the aces."
- A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
- also ran
- The term also ran refers to an unsuccessful competitor whose performance is so much poorer than the winner's that it
appears insignificant.
"He entered the contest hoping that he wouldn't end up as an 'also-ran'."
- The term also ran refers to an unsuccessful competitor whose performance is so much poorer than the winner's that it
appears insignificant.
- back to square one
- To say that someone is back to square one means that they have not succeeded in what they were trying to do, so
they have to start again.
"When the plans were refused, it was 'back to square one' for the architect."
- To say that someone is back to square one means that they have not succeeded in what they were trying to do, so
they have to start again.
- (be) in the bag
- People use the expression 'in the bag' when it becomes obvious that success or victory is going to be achieved.
"An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in the bag for the Conservative candidate."
- People use the expression 'in the bag' when it becomes obvious that success or victory is going to be achieved.
- (be) on a roll
- If someone is on a roll, they are experiencing a period of success or good luck which
seems likely to continue.
"Our team has won three games in a row. We’re on a roll!"
- If someone is on a roll, they are experiencing a period of success or good luck which
seems likely to continue.
- bear fruit
- If something bears fruit, it produces positive or successful results.
"After years of hard work, his research finally began to bear fruit."
- If something bears fruit, it produces positive or successful results.
- beat yourself up
- If you beat yourself up, you blame yourself or worry unnecessarily about something you did,
or some failure or mistake.
"It’s just a minor mistake. Don’t beat yourself up about it!"
- If you beat yourself up, you blame yourself or worry unnecessarily about something you did,
or some failure or mistake.
- blind alley
- If you go up, or a lead up, a blind alley, you follow an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results.
"The suspect's 'revelations' lead the police up a blind alley."
- If you go up, or a lead up, a blind alley, you follow an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results.
- (a) blockbuster
- Something that is outstanding, impressive or particularly successful, such as a film or a book, is called a blockbuster.
"The TV series was a blockbuster."
- Something that is outstanding, impressive or particularly successful, such as a film or a book, is called a blockbuster.
- blood, sweat and tears
- A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
"His success wasn't due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way."
- A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
- blow out of the water
- The expression 'blow out of the water' is used in a situation where someone or something completely
defeats or surpasses another, or shows overwhelming superiority.
(The term comes from naval warfare and refers to the explosion of ship hit by enemy fire.)
"The skater’s performance blew all the other competitors out of the water!”
- The expression 'blow out of the water' is used in a situation where someone or something completely
defeats or surpasses another, or shows overwhelming superiority.
- blow up in your face
- When working on a plan or project, if it suddenly goes wrong or fails, it blows up in your face.
"The trip was difficult to organise, but it blew up in his face when the airline company went on strike."
- When working on a plan or project, if it suddenly goes wrong or fails, it blows up in your face.
- (the) bottom falls out / drops out
- When something causes a plan, project or venture to collapse or fail, the bottom falls out of it.
"When heavy rain was announced, the bottom fell out of their plans for a beach party."
- When something causes a plan, project or venture to collapse or fail, the bottom falls out of it.
- bring the house down
- If you bring the house down, you give a very successful performance.
"If he sings like that on Saturday, he'll bring the house down."
- If you bring the house down, you give a very successful performance.
- (the) cake not worth the candle
- To say that the cake is not worth the candle meansthat the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.
"He recorded an album but sold very few copies; the cake wasn't worth the candle."
- To say that the cake is not worth the candle meansthat the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.
- take a chance
- If you take a chance on something, you take action in the hope of success even though you know that the result may be negative.
"My proposal may not be accepted, but I'll take a chance on it."
- If you take a chance on something, you take action in the hope of success even though you know that the result may be negative.
- chance one's arm
- If you chance your arm, you decide to do something even though there is little hope of success.
"Tony knew there was little hope of getting into Harvard but he decided to chance his arm anyway."
- If you chance your arm, you decide to do something even though there is little hope of success.
- chasing rainbows
- Someone who is chasing rainbows is pursuing goals that are unrealistic, unattainable
or unlikely to happen, or trying to do something that they will never achieve.
"She's trying to get into Oxford university, but I think she's chasing rainbows."
- Someone who is chasing rainbows is pursuing goals that are unrealistic, unattainable
or unlikely to happen, or trying to do something that they will never achieve.
- had one's chips
- To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve.
"After the second round, it looked as though Watson had had his chips."
- To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve.
More Idioms:
Success and failure ...
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