Contemporary English

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The Country Mouse and The City Mouse

A little mouse who lived in the country once invited his city cousin to come and make him a visit. When the country mouse had shown the city mouse the green fields and the big red barn, they sat down to a dinner of barley and grain.
The country mouse was hungry and ate heartily, but the city mouse only nibbled daintily.
"Don't you like this barley and grain?" asked the country mouse.
"Not very well, dear Cousin," answered the city mouse. "I don't want to seem impolite, but I wish you could taste the fine things I have to eat every day. M-m-m. You must come to the city and visit me. I will show you what good food is."
"I should like to come very much, dear Cousin," said the country mouse.
One day not long after that, the country mouse came to the city to visit his cousin. "You must be hungry after your trip from the country," said the city mouse. "We will go to the pantry and you shall have a feast."
The city mouse led the way through a hole into the kitchen pantry. The country mouse had never seen so many jars and bags and boxes in all his life as there were on the shelves.The two little mice scampered along the lowest shelf. "Oh what luck!" cried the city mouse. "Some one has left the cake box open."
They crept inside and the country mouse saw something big and round and brown. "This chocolate cake is a little dry," said the city mouse, "but see how you like it." The little country mouse nibbled at the big, round, brown thing. How sweet it was! He had never tasted anything more delicious. The two little mice nibbled away happily. "How very lucky you are, dear Cousin," the country mouse started to say, when the door opened. A big rosy-cheeked woman with a mixing-bowl in her hands came into the pantry. "Sh," whispered the city mouse, "run for the hole." The two little mice scampered along the shelf and back into the hole. When they were safe inside, the city mouse said, "Don't look so frightened, Cousin. That was only the cook. She was going to make a fresh cake and wanted some sugar and flour. "The cook does not like us, but she cannot catch us. She will not stay long in the pantry. We will go back in a few minutes for I have many other things to show you." After a little while, the city mouse looked out of the hole, and saw that the cook had gone. "Come on," he called to his cousin and back they scampered to the pantry shelf. This time the city mouse showed his country cousin a box. "There is something good inside," he said and they began to gnaw a hole in one corner as fast as they could. When they had gnawed through the cardboard, the country mouse tasted something he thought even more delicious than the chocolate cake. The city mouse told him that the box was filled with raisins. "What fun it was to have such fine things to eat everyday," the country mouse was thinking, when he heard a scratching at the door and a queer sound like, meow. "Run, run," whispered the city mouse. When they were safely back in the hole again, the city mouse said, "Don't tremble so, dear Cousin, that was only the cat. Of course she likes to eat mice and she is very good at catching us in her sharp claws, but she will soon go away." The country mouse was so frightened he could not stop trembling. "I would rather not go back to the pantry, dear Cousin, if you don't mind," he said. "All right," said the city mouse. "The really nicest thing for mice is in the cellar cupboard. The cat is in the kitchen, so we are safe." They scampered down the stairs into the cellar cupboard. The country mouse thought it was the most wonderful place he had ever seen. There were ever so many more things there than in the kitchen pantry. On the floor there were barrels of delicious smelling apples. From the ceiling hung strings of sausages. On the shelves there were jars and jars and boxes and bags. Some of the jars were filled with golden butter, and some with red jelly and jam. In the bags there were all sorts of good smelling things. The two little mice scampered about nibbling here and there at what they could find open. The country mouse saw something a deep yellow color. It smelled very good. He took a nibble. It had a most delicious taste. 'That is cheese," his city cousin told him. "There is really nothing better than cheese." The country mouse saw another piece of cheese that looked and smelled even better than the piece he had just nibbled. It was fastened to a queer little round stand. The country mouse was just going to take a big bite of this piece of cheese when the city mouse called out: "Stop, stop, don't eat that cheese. It is in a trap." "What is a trap?" asked the country mouse. 'I never heard of one." "If you touch the cheese in a trap," said the city mouse, "something hard comes down on your neck. You cannot breathe any more. You can never nibble cake or cheese again." "Oh," said the country mouse, trembling. "I think I must be going home right away. You have been very kind to give me all these fine things to eat, dear Cousin. The cake and the raisins and the cheese were delicious, but I would rather eat my barley and grain and be safe."
So the little country mouse went home to the country and ate barley and grain in peace and comfort for the rest of his days.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Tongue Twisted

A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.
I saw a saw that could out saw any other saw I ever saw.
Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said "this butter's bitter! But a bitof better butter will but make my butter better". So she bought some betterbutter, better than the bitter butter, and it made her butter better so 'twasbetter Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter!

Black bug bit a big black bear. But where is the big black bear that the big black bug bit?

A big bug bit the little beetle but the little beetle bit the big bug back.

If you understand, say "understand".If you don't understand, say "don't understand".But if you understand and say "don't understand".How do I understand that you understand? Understand!

I thought, I thought of thinking of thanking you.

RED BULB BLUE BULB RED BULB BLUE BULB.

"RED BLOOD BLUE BLOOD".

I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.

If a sledering snail went down a slippery slide would a snail sleder or slide down the slide
bubble bobble, bubble bobble, bubble bobble

These thousand tricky tongue twisters trip thrillingly off the tongue .

Sounding by sound is a sound method of sounding sounds.

You curse, I curse, we all curse, for asparagus!

Sanjeev's sixth sheep is sick

Double bubble gum, bubbles double.

Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought better butter to make the bitter butter better.

A sailor went to sea To see, what he could see. And all he could see Was sea, sea, sea.

A box of mixed biscuits, a mixed biscuit box.

Upper roller lower roller Upper roller lower roller.

Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People

If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?

SIXTH SICK SHEIK'S SIXTH SICK SHEEP.

Which watch did which witch wear and which witch wore which watch?

Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward.

I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought.If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much.

Once a fellow met a fellow In a field of beans. Said a fellow to a fellow, "If a fellow asks a fellow, Can a fellow tell a fellow What a fellow means?"

How much wood could a wood chuck; chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood..

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Paresh P Patel plans to peel potatoes in Pune

An Ape hates grape cakes.

She sells sea shells on the sea shore she sells sea shells no more.

I slit a sheet, a sheet I slit. And on a slitted sheet I sit. I slit a sheet, a sheet I slit. The sheet I slit, that sheet was it.

Any noise annoys an oyster but a noisy noise annoys an oyster more.

SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS ON THE SEA SHORE ,BUT THE SEA SHELLS THAT SHE SELLS,ON THE SEA SHORE ARE NOT THE REAL ONES

A skunk sat on a stump. The stump thought the skunk stunk. the skunk thought the stump stunk . What stunk the skunk or the stump?

The owner of the inside inn was inside his inside inn with his inside outside his inside inn.

If one doctor doctors another doctor does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does the doctor doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?

Baboon bamboo, baboon bamboo, baboon bamboo, baboon bamboo, baboon bamboo, baboon bamboo......

My Bhaiya buys black Bananas by the bunch.

The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

Daddy draws doors.Daddy draws doors.Daddy draws doors.

Do tongue twisters twist your tongue?

Friendly Fleas and Fire Flies

If you notice this notice, you will notice that this notice is not worth noticing.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, FuzzyWuzzy wasn't very fuzzy... was he???

How many cans can a canner can, if a canner can can cans?A canner can can as many cans as a canner can, if a canner can can cans.

How much wood could a wood chopper chop, if a wood chopper could chop wood?

If a black bug bleeds black blood, what color blood does a blue bug bleed?

If Freaky Fred Found Fifty Feet of Fruit and Fed Forty Feet to his Friend Frank how many Feet of Fruit did Freaky Fred Find?

Penny's pretty pink piggy bank

"When a doctor falls ill another doctor doctor's the doctor. Does the doctor doctoring the doctor doctor the doctor in his own way or does the doctor doctoring the doctor doctors the doctor in the doctor's way".

A tutor who tooted the flute, tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to the tutor, 'Is it harder to toot or to tutor two tooters to toot?'

One smart fellow, he felt smart. Two smart fellows, they felt smart. Three smart fellows, they all felt smart.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,wheres the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Black bug's blood.

Crisp crusts crackle and crunch.

It's not the cough that carries you off, it's the coffin they carry you off in!

Tie a knot, tie a knot.Tie a tight, tight knot.Tie a knot in the shape of a nought.

Freshly-fried fat flying fish

Rubber baby-buggy bumpers.

Jolly juggling jesters jauntily juggled jingling jacks.

Kindly kittens knitting mittens keep kazooing in the king's kitchen.

Billy Button bought a buttered biscuit,
did Billy Button buy a buttered biscuit?
If Billy Button bought a buttered biscuit,
Where's the buttered biscuit Billy Button bought ??

The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

She saw a fish on the seashore and I'm sure The fish she saw on the seashore was a saw-fish.

Swan swam over the sea. Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again. Well swum, swan!

A Tudor who tooted a flutetried to tutor two tooters to toot.Said the two to their tutor,"Is it harder to tootor to tutor two tooters to toot?"

If you tell Tom to tell a tongue-twister his tongue will be twisted as tongue-twister twists tongues

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

Betty Boughter bought some butter. But she said the butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter. It will make my batter bitter. But a bit of better butter will make it better than the bitter butter. So she bought a bit of better butter. And put it in her batter. And her batter was not bitter. So t'was Betty Boughter bought a bit if better butter and put it in herbatter and her batter was not bitter. Here's the answer: The doctoring doctor doctors the doctor the way thedoctoring doctor wants to doctor the doctor. Not the way the doctored doctor wants to be doctored.

Mr. See owned a saw.And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw.Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesawBefore Soar saw See,Which made Soar sore.Had Soar seen See's sawBefore See sawed Soar's seesaw,See's saw would not have sawedSoar's seesaw.So See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw.But it was sad to see Soar so soreJust because See's saw sawedSoar's seesaw!

I cannot bear to see a bear. Bear down upon a hare. When bare of hair he strips the hare. Right there I cry, "Forbear!"

A tree toad loved a she-toad. Who lived up in a tree. He was a two-toed tree toad. But a three-toed toad was she. The two-toed tree toad tried to win. The three-toed she-toad's heart. For the two-toed tree toad loved the ground. That the three-toed tree toad trod. But the two-toed tree toad tried in vain. He couldn't please her whim. From her tree toad bower. With her three-toed power. The she-toad vetoed him.

Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep. The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooedshilly-shallied south. These sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack;sheep should sleep in a shed.

You've no need to light a night-light. On a light night like tonight. For a night-light's light's a slight light. And tonight's a night that's light. When a night's light, like tonight's light. It is really not quite right. To light night-lights with their slight lights. On a light night like tonight.

Of all the felt I ever felt. I never felt a piece of feltwhich felt as fine as that felt felt. when first I felt that felt hat's felt.

I thought a thought.But the thought I thought wasn't the thoughtI thought I thought.

Swan swam over the sea. Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again. Well swum, swan!

Pooped purple pelicans.

Betty block brought some bric a brac.

Cuthbert's cuff links.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Perfect Your English Pronunciation

If you can pronounce correctly every word in this poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native English speakers in the world. Try them yourself.

Dearest creature in creation,

Study English pronunciation.

I will teach you in my verse

Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.

I will keep you, Suzy, busy,

Make your head with heat grow dizzy.

Tear in eye, your dress will tear.

So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,

Dies and diet, lord and word,

Sword and sward, retain and Britain.

(Mind the latter, how it's written.)

Now I surely will not plague you

With such words as plaque and ague.

But be careful how you speak:

Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;

Cloven, oven, how and low,

Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,

Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,

Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,

Exiles, similes, and reviles;

Scholar, vicar, and cigar,

Solar, mica, war and far;

One, anemone, Balmoral,

Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;

Gertrude, German, wind and mind,

Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,

Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.

Blood and flood are not like food,

Nor is mould like should and would.

Viscous, viscount, load and broad,

Toward, to forward, to reward.

And your pronunciation's OK

When you correctly say croquet,

Rounded, wounded, grieve and sieve,

Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour

And enamour rhyme with hammer.

River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,

Doll and roll and some and home.

Stranger does not rhyme with anger,

Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,

Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,

Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,

And then singer, ginger, linger,

Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,

Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,

Nor does fury sound like bury.

Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.

Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.

Though the differences seem little,

We say actual but victual.

Refer does not rhyme with deafer.

Foeffer does, and zephyr, heifer.

Mint, pint, senate and sedate;

Dull, bull, and George ate late.

Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,

Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.

We say hallowed, but allowed,

People, leopard, towed, but vowed.

Mark the differences, moreover,

Between mover, cover, clover;

Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,

Chalice, but police and lice;

Camel, constable, unstable,

Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,

Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.

Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,

Senator, spectator, mayor.

Tour, but our and succour, four.

Gas, alas, and Arkansas.

Sea, idea, Korea, area,Psalm, Maria,but malaria.

Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.

Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,Dandelion and battalion.

Sally with ally, yea, ye,Eye,

I, ay, aye, whey, and key.

Say aver, but ever, fever,Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.

Heron, granary, canary.

Crevice and device and aerie.

Face, but preface, not efface.

Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.

Large, but target, gin, give, verging,

Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.

Ear, but earn and wear and tear

Do not rhyme with here but ere.

Seven is right, but so is even,

Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,Monkey, donkey,

Turk and jerk,Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation (think of Psyche!)Is a paling stout and spikey?

Won't it make you lose your wits,

Writing groats and saying grits?

It's a dark abyss or tunnel:

Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,

Islington and Isle of Wight,Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough,

Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?

Hiccough has the sound of cup.

My advice is to give up!!!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Animals Dumb Laws in USA - REAL!!!

In Kingsville, Texas, there is a law against two pigs having sex on the city's airport property.
It is illegal for hens to lay eggs before 8 am and after 4 pm in Norfolk, Virginia.
Ducks quacking after 10 pm in Essex Falls, New Jersey are breaking the law.

In Quitman, Georgia, it is against the law for a chicken to cross any road within the city limits.

In McDonald, Ohio, farmers cannot march a goose down a city street.

And fowl, particularly roosters, are prohibited from going into bakeries in Massachusetts.

In Kansas, it is illegal for chicken thieves to work during daylight hours.

In New York, frogs may be taken from their ponds from June 16 to September 30, but only between sunrise and sunset.

In Pennsylvania, no one is allowed to shoot bullfrogs on a Sunday.

In Arizona, the bullfrog-hunting season is permanently closed.

In Vermont, you can be fined if your pig runs in a public park without the permission of a selectman.

French Lick Springs, Indiana, once passed a law requiring all black cats to wear bells on Friday the 13th.

Madison, Wisconsin, will not allow joint custody of a family pet when a couple divorces - the animal is legally awarded to whoever happens to have possession of it at the time of the initial separation.

Dogs in Foxpoint, Wisconsin, may not bark profusely, snarl, or make any menacing gestures.

In Texas, it's illegal to put graffiti on someone else's cow.

It is illegal to ride a mule down Lang, Kansas' Main Street in August, unless the animal is wearing a straw hat.

Over in Berea, Kentucky and also in Willamantic, Connecticut, horses are not allowed out on the streets and highways at night unless the animal has a "bright" red taillight securely attached to its rump.

Horses may not wear cowbells inside the city limits of Tahoe City, California.

In Washington, though, every cow wandering the streets of Seattle must be wearing a cowbell.

In Burns, Oregon, horses are allowed in the town's taverns, if an admission fee is paid before they enter.

You can't blow your nose in public places in Leahy, Washington, because it might scare a horse and cause it to panic.

In Wanassa, New Jersey, a dog is breaking the law if it is heard to be "crying."

English Idioms Start with "F"

F
Face like thunder
If someone has a face like thunder, they are clearly very angry or upset about something.
Face the music
If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong. Face value
If you take something at face value, you accept the appearance rather than looking deeper into the matter.
Facts of life
When someone is taught the facts of life, they learn about sex and reproduction.
Fair and square
If someone wins something fair and square, they follow the rules and win conclusively.
Fair crack of the whip
(UK) If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fair shake of the whip
(USA) If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fair thee well
Meaning completely and fully: I am tied up today to a fair-thee-well.
Fairweather friend
A fairweather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.
Fall off the back of a lorry
(UK) If someone tries to sell you something that has fallen of the back of a lorry, they are trying to sell you stolen goods.
Fall off the turnip truck
(USA) If someone has just fallen off the turnip truck, they are uninformed, naive and gullible. (Often used in the negative)
Fall on our feet
If you fall on your feet, you succeed in doing something where there was a risk of failure.
Fall on your sword
If someone falls on their sword, they resign or accept the consequences of some wrongdoing.
Familiarity breeds contempt
This means that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.
Famous last words
This expression is used as a way of showing disbelief, rejection or self-deprecation."They said we had no chance of winning- famous last words!"
Fast and furious
Things that happen fast and furious happen very quickly without stopping or pausing.
Fat cat
A fat cat is a person who makes a lot of money and enjoys a privileged position in society.
Fat chance!
This idiom is a way of telling someone they have no chance.
Fat head
A fat head is a dull, stupid person.
Fat hits the fire
When the fat hits the fire, trouble breaks out.
Fat of the land
Living off the fat of the land means having the best of everything in life.
Fate worse than death
Describing something as a fate worse than death is a fairly common way of implying that it is unpleasant.
Feather in your cap
A success or achievement that may help you in the future is a feather in your cap.
Feather your own nest
If someone feathers their own nest, they use their position or job for personal gain.
Feathers fly
When people are fighting or arguing angrily, we can say that feathers are flying.
Fed up to the back teeth
When you are extremely irritated and fed up with something or someone, you are fed up to the back teeth.
Feel at home
If you feel relaxed and comfortable somewhere or with someone, you feel at home.
Feel free
If you ask for permission to do something and are told to feel free, the other person means that there is absolutely no problem
Feel the pinch
If someone is short of money or feeling restricted in some other way, they are feeling the pinch.
Feeling blue
If you feel blue, you are feeling unwell, mainly associated with depression or unhappiness.
Feet of clay
If someone has feet of clay, they have flaws that make them seem more human and like normal people.
Feet on the ground
A practical and realistic person has their feet on the ground.
Fence sitter
Someone that try to support both side of an argument without committing to either is a fence sitter.
Fiddle while Rome burns
If people are fiddling while Rome burns, they are wasting their time on futile things while problems threaten to destroy them.
Fifth columnist
(UK) A fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade.
Fifth wheel
(USA) A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless.
Fight an uphill battle
When you fight an uphill battle, you have to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances.
Fight tooth and nail
If someone will fight tooth and nail for something, they will not stop at anything to get what they want. ('Fight tooth and claw' is an alternative.)
Fighting chance
If you have a fighting chance, you have a reasonable possibility of success.
Find your feet
When you are finding your feet, you are in the process of gaining confidence and experience in something.
Fine and dandy
(UK) If thing's are fine and dandy, then everything is going well.
Fine tuning
Small adjustments to improve something or to get it working are called fine tuning.
Fine words butter no parsnips
This idiom means that it's easy to talk, but talk is not action.
Finger in the pie
If you have a finger in the pie, you have an interest in something.
Fingers and thumbs
If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are being clumsy and not very skilled with your hands.
Fire away
If you want to ask someone a question and they tell you to fire away, they mean that you are free to ask what you want.
Fire on all cylinders
If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could.
First come, first served
This means there will be no preferential treatment and a service will be provided to those that arrive first.
First out of the gate
When someone is first out of the gate, they are the first to do something that others are trying to do.
First port of call
The first place you stop to do something is your first port of call.
Fish or cut bait
(USA) This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.
Fish out of water
If you are placed in a situation that is completely new to you and confuses you, you are like a fish out of water.
Fishy
If there is something fishy about someone or something, there is something suspicious; a feeling that there is something wrong, though it isn't clear what it is.
Fit as a fiddle
If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.
Fit for a king
If something is fit for a king, it is of the very highest quality or standard.
Fit of pique
If someone reacts badly because their pride is hurt, this is a fit of pique.
Fit the bill
If something fits the bill, it is what is required for the task.
Fit to be tied
If someone is fit to be tied, they are extremely angry.
Flash in the pan
If something is a flash in the pan, it is very noticeable but doesn't last long, like most singers, who are very successful for a while, then forgotten.
Flat as a pancake
It is so flat that it is like a pancake- there is no head on that beer it is as flat as a pancake.
Flat out
If you work flat out, you work as hard and fast as you possibly can.
Fleet of foot
If someone is fleet of foot, they are very quick.
Flesh and blood
Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.
Flogging a dead horse
(UK) If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're flogging a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
Flowery speech
Flowery speech is full of lovely words, but may well lack substance.
Fly by the seat of one's pants
If you fly by the seat of one's pants, you do something difficult even though you don't have the experience or training required.
Fly in the ointment
A fly in the ointment is something that spoils or prevents complete enjoyment of something.
Fly off the handle
If someone flies off the handle, they get very angry.
Fly on the wall
If you are able to see and hear events as they happen, you are a fly on the wall.
Fly the coop
When children leave home to live away from their parents, they fly the coop.
Fly the flag
If someone flies the flag, they represent or support their country. ('Wave the flag' and 'show the flag' are alternative forms of this idiom)
Food for thought
If something is food for thought, it is worth thinking about or considering seriously.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
This means that you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
This idiom is used where people who are inexperienced or lack knowledge do something that more informed people would avoid.
Foot in the door
If you have or get your foot in the door, you start working in a company or organisation at a low level, hoping that you will be able to progress from there.
Foot the bill
The person who foots the bill pays the bill for everybody.
Football's a game of two halves
(UK) If something's a game of two halves, it means that it's possible for someone's fortunes or luck to change and the person who's winning could end up a loser.
For a song
If you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap.
For donkey's years
(UK) If people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey's years.
For England
(UK) A person who talks for England, talks a lot- if you do something for England, you do it a lot or to the limit.
For kicks
If you do something for kicks, or just for kicks, you do it purely for fun or thrills.
For my money
This idiom means 'in my opinion'.
For the time being
For the time being indicates that an action or state will continue into the future, but is temporary. I'm sharing an office for the time being.
Forbidden fruit
Something enjoyable that is illegal or immoral is forbidden fruit.
Foregone conclusion
If the result of, say, a football match is a foregone conclusion, then the result is obvious before the game has even begun.
Forest for the trees
(USA) If someone can't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
Foul play
If the police suspect foul play, they think a crime was committed.
Four corners of the earth
If something goes to, or comes from, the four corners of the earth, it goes or comes absolutely everywhere.
Four-square behind
If someone stands four-square behind someone, they give that person their full support.
Fourth estate
This is an idiomatic way of describing the media, especially the newspapers.
Free rein
If someone has a free rein, they have the authority to make the decisions they want without any restrictions. ('Free reign' is a common mistake.)
Fresh from the oven
If something is fresh from the oven, it is very new.
Freudian Slip
If someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking rather than what they think the other person wants to hear.
Friendly footing
When relationships are on a friendly footing, they are going well.
From a different angle
If you look at something from a different angle, you look at it from a different point of view.
From Missouri
(USA) If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.
From pillar to post
If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from one disaster to another.
From rags to riches
Someone who starts life very poor and makes a fortune goes from rags to riches.
From scratch
This idiom means 'from the beginning'.
From soup to nuts
If you do something from soup to nuts, you do it from the beginning right to the very end.
From the bottom of your heart
If someone does something from the bottom of their heart, then they do it with genuine emotion and feeling.
From the get-go
(USA) If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very beginning.
From the horse's mouth
If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned or responsible.
From the sublime to the ridiculous
If something declines considerably in quality or importance, it is said to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.
From the word go
From the word go means from the very beginning of something.
Full bore
If something is full bore, it involves the maximum effort or is complete and thorough.
Full circle
When something has come full circle, it has ended up where it started.
Full Monty
(UK) If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.
Full of beans
If someone's full of beans, they are very energetic.
Full of hot air
Someone who is full of hot air talks a lot of rubbish.
Full of piss and vinegar
Someone who's full of piss and vinegar is full of youthful energy.
Full of the joys of spring
If you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy.
Full swing
If a something is in full swing, it is going or doing well.
Fullness of time
If something happens in the fullness of time, it will happen when the time is right and appropriate.
Fur coat and no knickers
Someone with airs and graces, but no real class is fur coat and no knickers.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

The Most Common Popular English Idioms A to Z

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush"Dan has asked me to go to a party with him. What if my boyfriend finds out?" Reply: "Don't go. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

A Blessing In Disguise"My car broke down again, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise; I've been wasting too much time driving around anyway."

A Chip On Your Shoulder"What's bothering that guy?" Answer: "Nothing; he's just got a chip on the shoulder."

A Dime A Dozen"I don't need friends like him; they are a dime a dozen."

A Drop In The Bucket"I'd like to do something to change the world but whatever I do seems like a drop in the bucket."

A Fool And His Money Are Easily PartedExample: "Her husband can't seem to hold onto any amount of money; he either spends it or loses it. A fool and his money are easily parted."

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned"I'm going to give you $20 but I want you to put it in the bank; a penny saved is a penny earned!"

A Piece Of Cake"Do you think you will win your tennis match today?" Answer: "It will be a piece of cake."

A Shot In The Dark"That was such a difficult question! How did you get it right?" Reply: "I just took a shot in the dark."

A Slap On The Wrist"He should be in jail for what he did, but he got off with just a slap on the wrist."

A Slip Of The Tongue"Be careful talking to the police tomorrow; one slip of the tongue could get us into big trouble."

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine"It looks like she got a taste of her own medicine."

A Toss-Up"Do you think they'll make it one time?" Answer: "I really don't know. It's a toss-up."

A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"Don't trust the salespeople at that store; they are all wolves in sheep's clothing!"

About Face"Do an about face, get back in that bathroom, and brush your teeth!"

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder"The time we spend apart has been good for us; absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Actions Speak Louder Than Words"Don't tell me how to do this; show me! Actions speak louder than words."

Add Fuel To The Fire"I would like to do something to help, but I don't want to add fuel to the fire."

Against The Clock"We worked against the clock all day to get this report done by 5PM."

Against The Grain"I jog at this track everyday and there is always that one guy who has to go against the grain and run in the opposite direction."

All Bark And No Bite"The new manager threatened to fire me but I know he won't do it; he is all bark and no bite."

All Greek"Did you understand what he just said?" Reply: "Nope. It was all Greek to me."

All In The Same Boat"We can't fight against each other; we need to work together. We're all in the same boat!"

All That Glitters Is Not Gold"Be careful when shopping for your new car; all that glitters is not gold!"

All Thumbs"Hey! You are pouring my coffee on the table!" Reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry! I have been all thumbs today."

An Arm And A Leg"Be careful with that watch; it cost me an arm and a leg."

An Axe To Grind"I have an axe to grind with you." Answer: "Oh no; what did I do wrong?"

Arm In Arm"What a nice afternoon. We walked arm in arm along the beach for hours."

Around The Block"You kids are too young to fall in love: Wait until you have been around the block a time or two."

As Blind As A Bat"Without his glasses, my father is as blind as a bat."

As High As A Kite"The ball got stuck up there on the roof. It's as high as a kite."

As Light As A Feather"Wow, you lift that box so easily!" Reply: "Oh, come on. It is as light as a feather."

At The Drop Of A Hat"Would you travel around the world if you had the money?" Answer: "At the drop of a hat."

At Wit's End"We have been at wit's end trying to figure out how we are going to pay our taxes."

Back To The Drawing Board"It looks like my plan to kill the weeds in the garden has failed. Back to the drawing board."

Barking Up The Wrong Tree"I have been trying to solve this math problem for 30 minutes but I think I've been barking up the wrong tree."

Beat A Dead Horse"There's no use in beating a dead horse."

Beating Around The Bush"If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush."

Bend Over Backwards"We bent over backwards to help him, and he never even thanked us!"

Better Late Than Never"Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic." Answer: "That's okay; better late than never."

Between A Rock And A Hard Place"I'd like to help you but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place."

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together"Look; the volleyball players are eating at the same table together, as always." Answer: "Birds of a feather flock together."

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew"I thought I could finish this report within one month, but it looks like I have bitten off more than I can chew."

Bite Your Tongue"Whenever that professor says something I don't like, I have to bite my tongue."

Blood Is Thicker Than Water"When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water."

Break Down"Did your car break down again?"

Break In"They broke in to my apartment when I was gone, and they took everything!"

Break The Tie"Whoever wins in Florida will have enough votes to break the tie."

Burn Your Bridges"I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you shouldn't go around burning bridges."

Burning The Candle At Both Ends"Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can't take much more of it."

Burning The Midnight Oil"Our son has been working hard preparing for his final exams!" Answer: "Yes, he's been up each night burning the midnight oil."

Call It Off"Tonight's game was called off because of the rain."

Can't Cut The Mustard"Bob dropped out of medical school; he couldn't cut the mustard."

Cold Turkey"I want to quit drinking right now. As of this moment, I am going cold turkey."

Come Hell Or High Water"Will you be at the family reunion next year?" Answer: "Yes- we'll be there, come hell or high water!"

Cross Your Fingers"Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best!"

Cry Over Spilt Milk"Let's not go crying over spilt milk."

Cry Wolf"That kid on the other team just fell down; it looks like he might be hurt!" Answer: "He's not hurt; he's just crying wolf."

Curiosity Killed The Cat"Hey, I wonder what's down that street; it looks awfully dark and creepy." Answer: "Let's not try to find out. Curiosity killed the cat."

Dead Heat"It looks like were going to have to find another way to decide a winner. That one was a dead heat."

Dog-Eat-Dog"I have been in this business for twenty years. It's dog-eat-dog; the competition is always trying to steal your customers."

Don't Count Your Chickens Until They're Hatched"Next Friday I will be able to pay you back that money I owe you." Answer: "I won't be counting my chickens..."

Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! When you buy your own beers you can decide what brand you want."

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket"The best way to gamble is to only bet small amounts of money and never put all your eggs in one basket."

Down To The Wire"It looks like this race is going to come right down to the wire!"

Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures"Sales have been slow and we had to let go three of our employees; drastic times call for drastic measures."

Dry Spell"Sam is a great salesman, though lately he's been having a bit of a dry spell."

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining"I found a new job after all and I like this one much better than the last!" Answer: "You see, every cloud has a silver lining."

Everything But The Kitchen Sink"Whenever we go camping my wife wants to bring everything but the kitchen sink!"

Fair And Fair Alike"Michael stayed home to take care of your sister last night, so tonight it is your turn. Fair and fair alike."

Finding Your Feet"Don't worry about it. We will help you while you are finding your feet."

Fixed In Your Ways"Sometimes it is hard to accept that your parents are fixed in their ways."

Flash In The Pan"What a great first year he had, but after that... nothing!" Answer: "Just another flash in the pan."

From Rags To Riches"My uncle is a real rags to riches story."

Get Over It"I was very sick yesterday, but I got over it quickly."

Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed"Don't start yelling at me just because you got up on the wrong side of the bed."

Give Him The Slip"My brother will be at the movie tonight. Afterwards, let's give him the slip and go to a party."

Go For Broke"The way to be successful is to decide exactly what you want, then go for broke."

Great Minds Think Alike"I have decided that this summer I am going to learn how to scuba dive." Answer: "Me too! I have already paid for the course. Great minds think alike!"

Haste Makes Waste"You should always take your time when doing your taxes and check your numbers very carefully; haste makes waste."

Have No Idea"I can't find my keys. I have no idea where I put them."

He Lost His Head"Okay- I'll tell you what happened. But don't lose your head."

Head Over Heels"I have been head over heels about my girlfriend since the day I met her."

Icing On The Cake"I've been accepted by the university, and they've offered me a position on the basketball team!" Answer: "That's wonderful! Icing on the cake."

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools"It makes me nervous to see those kids outside just standing around; idle hands are the devils tools!"

If It's Not One Thing, It's Another"First the car broke down, and now I can't find my keys! If it's not one thing, it's another!"

In And Out"I know this city in and out."

In Over Your Head"Go ahead and lead the meeting today; I'll help you out if you get in over your head."

In The Dark"Did you know that today was her birthday?" Answer: "No, I was in the dark."

In The Doghouse"You kids will be in the doghouse with your mother after that mess you made in her garden!"

In The Heat Of The Moment"Sorry about what I said; I got caught up in the heat of the moment."

It Takes Two To Tango"Her husband is awful; they fight all the time." Answer: "It takes two to tango."

It's A Small World"Hey, it's funny seeing you here." Reply: "It's a small world."

Its Anyone's Call"Who do you think will win this election?" Answer: "Its anyone's call."

Keep An Eye On Him"I have to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase while I am gone?"

Labor Of Love"Taking care of this dog is a labor of love."

Lend Me Your Ear"Friends, Romans, countrymen; lend me your ear."

Let Bygones Be Bygones"You and I have had our disagreements; let's let bygones be bygones."

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"I wanted to ask her what she thought of her ex-husband, but I figured it was better to let sleeping dogs lie."

Let The Cat Out Of The Bag"Bob didn't tell anyone that he was sick, but his wife let the cat out of the bag."

Mad As A Hatter"Everybody in my family knew that our uncle was as mad as a hatter."

Method To My Madness"Give me a moment to explain; there is method to my madness."

Neck And Neck"They're coming around the final corner. They're neck and neck!"

Neither A Borrower, Nor A Lender Be"Could you lend me twenty dollars?" Answer: "Sorry, neither a borrower nor a lender be."

Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You"We have been your best customers for years. How could you suddenly treat us so rudely? You should never bite the hand that feeds you."

Nose Out Of Joint"We were only joking; don't get your nose out of joint."

Not A Chance"Do you think you will be able to finish your report by five o'clock today?" Answer: "Not a chance. I'll be busy in meetings all day."

Off Limits"Guns are off limits within New York City."

Off On The Wrong Foot"Let's try to start on time tomorrow and get off on the right foot."

Off The Hook"You're lucky; it turns out that Dad never heard you come in late last night." Answer: "Great, that means I'm off the hook!"

On Pins And Needles"Jean was on pins and needles the whole time her father was in the hospital."

On The Fence"Has he decided whether he will take the job yet?" Answer: "No, he's still on the fence."

On The Same Page"Before we make any decisions today, I'd like to make sure that everyone is on the same page."

On Top Of The World"What a great time we had that night; we were on top of the world!"

On Your Last Leg"I would be glad to sell you my car, but I must tell you that it is on its last leg."

On Your Mind"You have been on my mind all day."

One For The Road"Bartender- I'll have one more whiskey for the road."

Out And About"Where have you been all day?" Answer: "Oh, out and about."

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind"I meant to read that book, but as soon as I put it down, I forgot about it." Answer: "Out of sight, out of mind."

Out Of The Blue"Why did she do that?" Answer: "I have no idea. It was completely out of the blue."

Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire"I didn't like that job because I was working too hard. Yet in this new job I work even harder!" Answer: "Out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Out Of The Woods"Joe was sick two weeks ago and we were very worried, but now it looks like he is out of the woods."

Out Of Your Element"He is a great tennis player on the hard courts, but he is out of his element on grass."

Out On A Limb"I want this project to succeed just as much as you do, but I am not willing to go out on a limb."

Out On The Town"Do you want to join us tonight? We're going out on the town."

Over My Dead Body"All of my friends are going out to the lake tonight and I'm going too!" Answer: "Over my dead body you are!"

Par For The Course"I get sick every time I travel." Answer: "That's just par for the course."

Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish"We've worked so hard to save money that if we took a vacation now it would be penny-wise, pound-foolish."

People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones"Look at what time it is... you are late again!" Answer: "Hey, how often are you not on time? People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."

Practice Makes Perfect"You see how quickly you are getting better at the piano! Practice makes perfect!"

Practice What You Preach"Good managers always lead by example and practice what they preach."

Preaching To The Choir"You don't need to tell me this project is important; you're preaching to the choir."

Protest Too Much"Do you think he is telling the truth?" Answer: "I think he protests too much."

Pulling Your Leg"I want to ask you a question and I would like an honest answer; no pulling my leg."

Put Your Best Foot Forward"I want you to get out on that field and put your best foot forward!"

Put Your Foot In Your Mouth"Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't want anyone putting their foot in their mouth."

Raise Cain"Have you two boys been out raising cain again?"

Rock The Boat"Everybody wants to go except for you. Why do you have to rock the boat?"

Roll Out The Red Carpet"We are all so excited about your coming home that we're going to roll out the red carpet."

Rome Was Not Built In One Day"It is taking me a long time to write this computer program." Answer: "Rome was not built in one day."

Round About"Well, I know how to get there in a round about way, but maybe we should check the map."

Rub Salt In An Old Wound"Oh please, let's not rub salt in old wounds!"

Second Nature"It has always been second nature for me to draw with both hands."

Shake A Leg"They are waiting outside in the car; let's shake a leg!"

Sick As A Dog"I heard you were uncomfortable yesterday." Answer: "Uncomfortable? I was as sick as a dog!"

Sink Or Swim"When we interview new teachers, we just put them in with the students and see how they do. It's sink or swim."

Six Of One, A Half-Dozen Of The OtherExample: "I say she's a stewardess. She says she's a flight attendant. It's six of one, a half-dozen of the other."

Skeletons In The Closet"I had only known her for one week. How could I know what skeletons she had in her closet?"

Split Down The Middle"The election is split down the middle with no clear winner at the moment."

Start From Scratch"How are you going to build your business?" Answer: "Just like everyone else does: starting from scratch."

The Apple Of Your Eye"Even when they were young, she was always the apple of his eye."

The Ball Is In Your Court"My uncle helped me to get an interview at his company, now the ball is in my court."

The Best Of Both Worlds"My wife and I bought one house in Paris and one in New York; it gives us the best of both worlds."

The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall"Are you worried that he might be too strong?" Answer: "No I'm not. He is big, but the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

The Devil Is In The Details"I can sketch a basic outline of the plan for you and it may look very simple, but the devil is in the details."

The Early Bird Catches The Worm"I always arrive at work 30 minutes early; the early bird catches the worm!"

The Ends Justify The Means"I agree with your goal, but the ends do not justify the means."

The Jury Is Out"Its hard to say if what we did was the right thing. The jury is still out on it."

The Pot Calling The Kettle Black"Here comes the guy who is always late for work." Answer: "Aren't you the pot calling the kettle black?"

The Pros And Cons"I've considered the pros and cons and I've decided: it is going to be expensive, but I still want to go to college."

The Sky Is The Limit"After I graduate from business school, the sky's the limit!"

The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back"You've been rude to me all day, and I've had it. That's the last straw!"

The Writing On The Wall"Can't you see the writing on the wall?"

Third Wheel"You two go on ahead without me. I don't want to be the third wheel."

Tie The Knot"Did you hear about Dan and Jenny? They finally decided to tie the knot!"

To Err Is Human, To Forgive Divine"I will never forgive my mother for what she has done!" Answer: "Don't be angry at her. To err is human, to forgive divine."

Tooth And Nail"That was a tough match; they fought us tooth and nail!"

Truer Words Were Never Spoken"The earlier I get up, the better the day I have." Answer:" Truer words were never spoken."

Turn Over A New Leaf"I'm turning over a new leaf; I've decided to quit smoking."

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right"That boy pushed me yesterday and I am going to get him back today!" Answer: "No you are not! Two wrongs do not make a right."

Two's Company; Three's a Crowd"Why did you have to bring your sister? Two's company; three's a crowd!"

Under The Gun"Everyone at the office has been working under the gun since the new manager arrived."

Under The Weather"What's wrong?" Answer: "I'm a bit under the weather."

Up Against"We have been up against stronger opponents in the past."

Up For Grabs"Quick- that table is up for grabs; let's get it before someone else does."

Variety Is The Spice Of LifeExample: "We were originally planning to go to Mexico on our vacation this year - like we did last year - but we decided to go to Egypt instead. Variety is the spice of life!"

Water Under The Bridge"Aren't you still angry about what he said?" Answer: "No, that was a long time ago. It's all water under the bridge."

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve"My brother always lets you know how he feels; he wears his heart on his sleeve."

What They Don't Know Won't Hurt Them"Don't tell your father what happened; what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do"Are you sure we should eat this with our hands?" Answer: "Why not? All of these people are eating it that way. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"

When It Rains, It Pours"Sometimes we have no customers for two or three hours then suddenly we get 20 people all at once; when it rains, it pours!"

When Pigs Fly"Would you ever take her on a date?" Answer: "Sure- when pigs fly!"

Wine And Dine"That man is really is really crazy about my sister. He has been wining and dining her all month."

With Your Back Up Against The Wall"I'm sorry I can't help you; I've got my back up against the wall."

Without A Doubt"Are you going to watch the game tomorrow?" Answer: "Without a doubt!"

Word Of Mouth"Where did you hear about that?" Answer: "Just word of mouth."

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover"He dresses in plain clothing and drives an ordinary car. Who would know he is the richest man in town? You can't judge a book by its cover!"

Your Guess Is As Good As Mine"Excuse me, what time does the bus arrive?" Answer: "Your guess is as good as mine; I almost never take the bus."

English Idioms Start With "E"

E
Each to their own
Different people have different preferences. In American English, 'Each to his own' is more common.
Eager beaver
A person who is extremely keen is an eager beaver.
Eagle eyes
Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small.
Early bath
(UK) If someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or lose their job or position earlier than expected because things have gone wrong.
Early bird catches the worm
The early bird catches the worm means that if you start something early, you stand a better chance of success.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.
It means that sleeping well and not staying up late will help you out physically and financially.
Earn a living
To make money Ex: We need to get a good job to earn a decent living.
Easier said than done
If something is easier said than done, it is much more difficult than it sounds. It is often used when someone advises you to do something difficult and tries to make it sound easy.
Easy as pie
If something is easy as pie, it is very easy indeed.
Easy come, easy go
This idiom means that money or other material gains that come without much effort tend to get spent or consumed as easily.
Easy peasy
(UK) If something is easy peasy, it is very easy indeed. ('Easy peasy, lemon squeezy' is also used.)
Eat crow
(USA) If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
Eat humble pie
If someone apologises and shows a lot of contrition for something they have done, they eat humble pie.
Eat like a bird
If someone eats like a bird, they eat very little.
Eat like a horse
Someone who eats like a horse, eats a lot.
Eat like a pig
If some eats like a pig, they either eat too much or they have bad table manners.
Eat my hat
People say this when they don't believe that something is going to happen e.g. 'If he passes that exam, I'll eat my hat!'
Eat someone alive
If you eat someone alive, you defeat or beat them comprehensively.
Eat your heart out
If someone tells you to eat your heart out, they are saying they are better than you at something.
Eat your words
If you eat your words, you accept publicly that you were wrong about something you said.
Economical with the truth
(UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.
Egg on your face
If someone has egg on their face, they are made to look foolish or embarrassed.
Elbow grease
If something requires elbow grease, it involves a lot of hard physical work.
Elbow room
If you haven't got enough elbow room, you haven't got enough space.
Elephant in the room
An elephant in the room is a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Eleventh hour
If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens right at the last minute.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
The thoughtless often speak the most.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while
This expression means that even if people are ineffective or misguided, sometimes they can still be correct just by being lucky.
Even keel
If something is on an even keel, it is balanced.
Even Stevens
If everything is equal between people, they are even Stevens.
Even the dogs in the street know
(Irish) This idiom is used frequently in Ireland, and means something is so obvious that even the dogs in the street know it.
Every ass likes to hear himself bray
This means that people like the sound of their own voice.
Every cloud has a silver lining
People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.
Every dog has its day
This idiom means that everyone gets their moment to shine.
Every man for himself
If it's every man for himself, then people are trying to save themselves from a difficult situation without trying to help anyone else.
Every man jack
If every man jack was involved in something, it is an emphatic way of saying that absolutely everybody was involved.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry
If every Tom, Dick and Harry knows about something, then it is common knowledge.
Every trick in the book
If you try every trick in the book, you try every possible way, including dishonesty and deceit, to get what you want.
Everything but the kitchen sink
If people include everything but the kitchen sink, they include every possibility, regardless of whether they are useful.
Exception that proves the rule
This expression is used by many to indicate that an exception in some way confirms a rule. Others say that the exception tests the rule. In its original legal sense, it meant that a rule could sometimes be inferred from an exemption or exception. In general use, the first meaning predominates nowadays, much to the annoyance of some pedants.
Explore all avenues
If all avenues are being explored, then every conceivable approach is being tried that could possibly get the desired result.
Eye for an eye
This is an expression for retributive justice, where the punishment equals the crime.
Eyes are bigger than one's stomach
If someone's eyes are bigger than their stomach, they are greedy and take on more than they can consume or manage.

English Idioms Start With "D"

D
Daft as a brush
(UK) Someone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.
Damp squib
(UK) If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.
Dancing on someone's grave
If you will dance on someone's grave, you will outlive or outlast them and will celebrate their demise.
Dark horse
If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery.
Day in the sun
If you have your day in the sun, you get attention and are appreciated.
Daylight robbery
If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery; open, unfair and hard to prevent. Rip-off has a similar meaning.
Dead air
When there is a period of total silence, there is dead air.
Dead and buried
If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered.
Dead as a dodo
If something's dead as a dodo, it is lifeless and dull. The dodo was a bird that lived the island of Mauritius. It couldn't fly and was hunted to extinction.
Dead as a doornail
This is used to indicate that something is lifeless.
Dead duck
If something is a dead duck, it is a failure.
Dead from the neck up
Someone who's dead from the neck up is very stupid indeed.
Dead heat
If a race ends in a dead heat, two or more finish with exactly the same result.
Dead in the water
If something is dead in the water, it isn't going anywhere or making any progress.
Dead man walking
A dead man walking is someone who is in great trouble and will certainly get punished, lose their job or position, etc, soon.
Dead meat
This is used as a way of threatening someone: You'll be dead meat if you don't go along.
Dead men's shoes
If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be reached by dead men's shoes' by getting rid of them.
Dead to the world
If somebody's fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around them, he or she's dead to the world.
Deaf as a post
Someone who is as deaf as a post is unable to hear at all.
Dear John letter
A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.
Death of a thousand cuts
If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.
Death warmed up
(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)
Deep pockets
If someone has deep pockets, they are wealthy.
Demon weed
Tobacco is the demon weed.
Derring-do
If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.
Devil finds work for idle hands
When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don't have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality.
Devil is in the detail
When people say that the devil in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.
Devil may care
If you live a devil-may-care life it means you are willing to take more risks than most people.
Devil's advocate
If someone plays Devil's advocate in an argument, they adopt a position they don't believe in just for the sake of the argument
Diamond in the rough
A diamond in the rough is someone or something that has great potential, but isn't not refined and polished.
Die is cast
If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.
Different kettle of fish
If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced.
Different ropes for different folks
(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Different strokes for different folks
(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Dig your heels in
If you dig your heels in, you start to resist something.
Dime a dozen
(USA) If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Dine on ashes
I someone is dining on ashes he or she is excessively focusing attention on failures or regrets for past actions.
Dip your toes in the water
If you dip your toes in the water, you try something tentatively because you are not sure whether it will work or not.
Dirty dog
A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person.
Discerning eye
If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.
Discretion is the better part of valour
This idiom means that it is often better to think carefully and not act than to do something that may cause problems.
Dish the dirt
If you dish the dirt on something or someone, you make unpleasant or shocking information public.
Do a Devon Loch
(UK) If someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.
Do a runner
(UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.
Do as you would be done by
Treat and respect others as you would hope to be respected and treated by them.
Do the needful
(India) If you do the needful, you do what is necessary.
Do the running
(UK) The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)
Do their dirty work
Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'.
Do's and don't's
The do's and don't's are what is acceptable or allowed or not within an area or issue, etc.
Dodge the bullet
If someone has dodged a bullet, they have successfully avoided a very serious problem.
Dog and pony show
(USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
Dog days
Dog days are very hot summer days.
Dog eat dog
In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.
Dog in the manger
(UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.
Dog tired
If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.
Dog's dinner
Something that is a dog's dinner is a real mess.
Dog's life
If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.
Dog-eared
If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition, with torn pages, etc.
Dog-whistle politics
(AU) When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics.
Doggy bag
If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven't eaten for you to take home.
Doldrums
If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed. If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn't making any progress.
Dollars for doughnuts
(USA) If something is dollars for doughnuts, it is a sure bet or certainty.
Don't bite the hand that feeds
When someone says this to you, they are trying to tell you not to act against those on whom you depend.
Don't catch your chickens before they're hatched
This means that you should wait until you know whether something has produced the results you desire, rather than acting beforehand. ('Don't count your chickens until they've hatched' is an alternative.)
Don't cry over spilt milk
When something bad happens and nothing can be done to help it people say, 'Don't cry over spilt milk'.
Don't give up the day job
This idiom is used a way of telling something that they do something badly.
Don't hold your breath
If you are told not to hold your breath, it means that you shouldn't have high expectations about something.
Don't judge a book by the cover
This idiom means that you should not judge something or someone by appearances, but should look deeper at what is inside and more important.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.
Don't mention the war
This means that you shouldn't speak about things that could cause an argument or tension.This idiom was used in a classic episode of the much-loved British comedy series Fawlty Towers. As a consequence if you use this phrase in Britain, listeners will understand you to be referring to Germans, or just start laughing.
Don't push my buttons!
This can be said to someone who is starting to annoy you.
Don't sweat the small stuff
(USA) This is used to tell people not to worry about trivial or unimportant issues.
Don't take any wooden nickels
(USA) This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
Don't throw bricks when you live in a glass house.
Don't call others out on actions that you, yourself do. Don't be a hypocrite.
Don't upset the applecart
If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.
Don't wash your dirty laundry in public
(UK) People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)
Done to death
If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has stopped being funny.
Donkey's years
This idiom means 'a very long time'.
Doormat
A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat.
Double Dutch
(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
Double take
If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how shocked or surprised they are.
Double whammy
A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.
Double-edged sword
If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword; it cuts both ways.
Doubting Thomas
A Doubting Thomas is someone who only believes what they see themselves, not what they are told.
Down and out
If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.
Down at heel
Someone who is down at heel is short of money. ('Down in heel' is used in American English)
Down for the count
If someone is down for the count, they have lost a struggle, like a boxer who has been knocked out.
Down in the doldrums
If somebody's down in the doldrums, they are depressed and lacking energy.
Down in the dumps
If someone's down in the dumps, they are depressed.
Down in the mouth
If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed.
Down the drain
If something goes down the drain, especially money or work, it is wasted or produces no results.
Down the pan
If something has gone down the pan, it has failed or been ruined.
Down the tubes
If something has gone down the tubes, it has failed or been ruined.
Down to the wire
(USA) If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.
Down-to-earth
Someone who's down-to-earth is practical and realistic. It can also be used for things like ideas.
Drag your feet
If someone is dragging their feet, they are taking too long to do or finish something, usually because they don't want to do it.
Drag your heels
If you drag your heels, you either delay doing something or do it as slowly as possible because you don't want to do it.
Draw a blank
If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don't get any useful information.
Draw a line in the sand
If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which things will be unacceptable.
Draw a long bow
If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.
Draw the line
When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.
Draw the shortest straw
If someone draws the shortest straw, they lose or are chosen to do something unpleasant.
Dress to kill
When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.
Dressed to the nines
If you are in your very best clothes, you're dressed to the nines.
Drink like a fish
If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.
Drive a wedge
If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.
Drive home
The idiomatic expression "drive home" means "reinforce" as in "The company offered unlimited technical support as a way to drive home the message that customer satisfaction was its highest priority."
Drive someone up the wall
If something or someone drives you up the wall, they do something that irritates you greatly.
Driven by a motor
This is used to describe people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when they talk excessively: "they act as if driven by a motor."
Drop a bombshell
If someone drops a bombshell, they announce something that changes a situation drastically and unexpectedly.
Drop in the bucket
(USA) A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable difference.
Drop in the ocean
A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.
Drop like flies
This means that something is disappearing very quickly. For example, if you said people were dropping like flies, it would mean that they were dying off, quitting or giving up something rapidly.
Drop someone a line
If you drop someone a line, you send a letter to them.
Drop the ball
If someone drops the ball, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities seriously enough and let something go wrong.
Drunk as a lord
(UK) Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
Dry as a bone
If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.
Dry spell
If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are.
Duck soup
(USA) If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Duck to water
If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.
Ducks in a row
(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
Dull as ditchwater
(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)
Dunkirk spirit
(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.
Dutch auction
If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.
Dutch courage
Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.
Dutch treat
If something like a meal is a Dutch treat, then each person pays their own share of the bill.
Dutch uncle
A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.
Dutch wife
A Dutch wife is a long pillow or a hot water bottle.
Dwell on the past
Thinking too much about the past, so that it becomes a problem is to dwell on the past.
Dyed-in-the-wool
If someone is a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of a political party, etc, they support them totally, without any questions.

English Idioms Start With "C"

C
Cake's not worth the candle
If someone says that the cake's not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not be worth the effort put in to achieve it.
Calf lick
A calf lick is the weird parting in your fringe where your hair grows in a different direction, usually to one side.
Call a spade a spade
A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt to conceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.
Call on the carpet.
If you are called on the carpet, you are summoned for a reprimand by superiors or others in power.
Call the dogs off
If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticising someone.
Call the shots
If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do.
Call the tune
The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.
Can of worms
If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.
Can't dance and it's too wet to plow
(USA) When you can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do something because you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.
Can't do it for toffee
If you can't so something for toffee, you are incapable of doing something properly or to any sort of standard.
Can't hold a candle
If something can't hold a candle to something else, it is much worse.
Canary in a coal mine
(UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.
Card up your sleeve
If you have a card up your sleeve, you have a surprise plan or idea that you are keeping back until the time is right.
Carpetbagger
A carpetbagger is an opportunist without any scruples or ethics, or a politican who wants to represent a place they have no connection with.
Carrot and stick
If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment.
Carry the can
If you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn't do it or are only partly at fault.
Case by case
If things are done case by case, each situation or issue is handled separately on its own merits and demerits.
Cash in your chips
If you cash in your chips, you sell something to get what profit you can because you think its value is going to fall. It can also mean 'to die'.
Cast doubt on
If you make other people not sure about a matter, then you have cast doubt on it.
Cast pearls before swine
If you cast pearls before swine, you offer something of value to someone who doesn't appreciate it- 'swine' are 'pigs'.
Cast sheep's eyes at
If you cast sheep's eyes at at someone, you look lovingly or with longing at them.
Cast your mind back
If somebody tells you to cast your mind back on something, they want you to think about something that happened in the past, but which you might not remember very well, and to try to remember as much as possible.
Cast your net widely
If you cast your net widely, you use a wide range of sources when trying to find something.
Castles in the air
Plans that are impractical and will never work out are castles in the air.
Cat among the pigeons
If something or someone puts, or sets or lets, the cat among the pigeons, they create a disturbance and cause trouble.
Cat burglar
A cat burglar is a skillful thief who breaks into places without disturbing people or setting off alarms.
Cat fur and kitty britches
(USA) When I used to ask my grandma what was for dinner, she would say "cat fur and kitty britches". This was her Ozark way of telling me that I would get what she cooked. (Ozark is a region in the center of the United States)
Cat got your tongue?
If someone asks if the cat has got your tongue, they want to know why you are not speaking when they think you should.
Cat nap
If you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.
Cat's lick
(Scot) A cat's lick is a very quick wash.
Cat's pajamas
(USA) Something that is the cat's pajamas is excellent.
Cat's whiskers
Something excellent is the cat's whiskers.
Catch as catch can
This means that people should try to get something any way they can.
Catch someone red-handed
If someone is caught red-handed, they are found doing something wrong or illegal.
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar
(USA) If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.
Chalk and cheese
Things, or people, that are like chalk and cheese are very different and have nothing in common.
Change horses in midstream
If people change horses in midstream, they change plans or leaders when they are in the middle of something, even though it may be very risky to do so.
Change of heart
If you change the way you think or feel about something, you have a change of heart.
Change tack
If you change tack, you use a different method for dealing with something.
Change your tune
If someone changes their ideas or the way they talk about them, they change their tune.
Charity begins at home
This idiom means that family members are more important than anyone else, and should be the focus of a person's efforts.
Chase rainbows
If someone chases rainbows, they try to do something that they will never achieve.
Cheap as chips
(UK) If something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.
Cheap at half the price
If something's cheap at half the price, it's very cheap indeed.
Cheap shot
A cheap shot is an unprincipled criticism.
Cheat death
If someone cheats death, they narrowly avoid a major problem or accident.
Cheek by jowl
If things or people are cheek by jowl, they are very close together.
Cherry pick
If people cherry pick, they choose things that support their position, while ignoring things that contradict it.
Chew on a bone.
If someone is chewing on a bone, he or she is thinking about something intently.
Chew the cud
If you chew the cud, you think carefully about something.
Chew the fat
If you chew the fat with someone, you talk at leisure with them.
Chickenfeed
If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.
Chinese walls
Chinese walls are regulatory information barriers that aim to stop the flow of information that could be misused, especially in financial corporations.
Chinese whispers
(UK) When a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.
Chip off the old block
If someone is a chip off the old block, they closely resemble one or both of the parents in character.
Chip on your shoulder
If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they are resentful about something and feel that they have been treated badly.
Chop and change
If things chop and change, they keep changing, often unexpectedly.
Cigarette paper
If you cannot get or put a cigarette paper between people, they are so closely bonded that nothing will separate them or their positions on issues.
Circle the wagons
(USA) If you circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don't think the same way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean to bring everyone together to defend a group against an attack.
Class act
Someone who's a class act is exceptional in what they do.
Clean as a whistle
If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean 'completely', though this meaning is less common nowadays.
Clean bill of health
If something or someone has a clean bill of health, then there's nothing wrong; everything's fine.
Clean break
If you make a clean break, you break away completely from something.
Clean hands
Someone with clean hands, or who keeps their hands clean, is not involved in illegal or immoral activities.
Clean sheet
When someone has a clean sheet, they have got no criminal record or problems affecting their reputation. In football and other sports, a goalkeeper has a clean sheet when let no goals in.
Clean slate
If you start something with a clean slate, then nothing bad from your past is taken into account.
Clean sweep
If someone makes a clean sweep, they win absolutely everything in a competition or contest.
Clear as a bell
If something is as clear as a bell, it is very clear or easy to understand.
Clear as mud
If something is as clear as mud, then it is very confusing and unclear.
Cliffhanger
If something like a sports match or an election is a cliffhanger, then the result is so close that it cannot be predicted and will only be known at the very end.
Climb on the bandwagon
When people climb on the bandwagon they do something because it is popular and everyone else is doing it.
Cling to hope
If people cling to hope, they continue to hope though the chances of success are very small.
Close at hand
If something is close at hand, it is nearby or conveniently located.
Close but no cigar
(USA) If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.
Close call
If the result of something is a close call, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the parties involved and to say who has won or whatever.
Close shave
If you have a close shave, you very nearly have a serious accident or get into trouble.
Close the stable door after the horse has bolted
If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. 'Close the barn door after the horse has bolted' is alternative, often used in American English.
Close to your heart
If something is close to your heart, you care a lot about it. ('Dear to your heart' is an alternative.)
Closed book to me
If a subject is a closed book to you, it is something that you don't understand or know anything about.
Cloud cuckoo land
If someone has ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic, they are living on cloud cuckoo land.
Cloud nine
If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy. ('cloud seven' is a less common alternative)
Cloud of suspicion
If a cloud of suspicion hangs over an individual, it means that they are not believed or are distrusted.
Cloud on the horizon
If you can see a problem ahead, you can call it a cloud on the horizon.
Clutch at straws
If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.
Coals to Newcastle
(UK) Taking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnecessary.
Cock and bull story
A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.
Cock in the henhouse
This is used to describe a male in an all-female environment.
Cold day in hell
This is used as a prediction there is no chance some event or condition will ever happen.'There will be a cold day in hell before he manages it.'
Cold feet
If you get cold feet about something, you lose the courage to do it.
Cold fish
A cold fish is a person who doesn't show how they feel.
Cold light of day
If you see things in the cold light of day, you see them as they really are, not as you might want them to be.
Cold shoulder
If you give or show someone the cold shoulder, you are deliberately unfriendly and unco-operative towards them.
Cold sweat
If something brings you out in a cold sweat, it frightens you a lot.
Cold turkey
If someone suddenly stops taking drugs, instead of slowly cutting down, they do cold turkey.
Collateral damage
Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.
Collect dust
If something is collecting dust, it isn't being used any more.
Come a cropper
(UK) Someone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.
Come clean
If someone comes clean about something, they admit to deceit or wrongdoing.
Come hell or high water
If someone says they'll do something come hell or high water, they mean that nothing will stop them, no matter what happens.
Come out in the wash
If something will come out in the wash, it won't have any permanent negative effect.
Come out of the woodwork
When things come out of the woodwork, they appear unexpectedly. ('Crawl out of the woodwork' is also used.)
Come out of your shell
If someone comes out of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable.
Come rain or shine
If I say I'll be at a place come rain or shine, I mean that I can be relied on to turn up; nothing, not even the vagaries of British weather, will deter me or stop me from being there.
Come to bear
If something comes to bear on you, you start to feel the pressure or effect of it.
Come to grips
If you come to grips with a problem or issue, you face up to it and deal with it.
Come to heel
If someone comes to heel, they stop behaving in a way that is annoying to someone in authority and start being obedient.
Come up roses
If things come up roses, they produce a positive result, especially when things seemed to be going badly at first.
Come up smelling of roses
(UK) If someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged.
Come up trumps
When someone is said to have "come up trumps", they have completed an activity successfully or produced a good result, especially when they were not expected to.
Come what may
If you're prepared to do something come what may, it means that nothing will stop or distract you, no matter how hard or difficult it becomes.
Come with the territory
If something comes with the territory, it is part of a job or responsibility and just has to be accepted, even if unpleasant.
Comes with the territory
If something comes with the territory, especially when undesirable, it is automatically included with something else, like a job, responsibility, etc.('Goes with the territory' is also used.)
Comfort zone
It is the temperature range in which the body doesn't shiver or sweat, but has an idiomatic sense of a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.
Constitution of an ox
If someone has the constitution of an ox, they are less affected than most people by things like tiredness, illness, alcohol, etc.
Cook someone's goose
If you cook someone's goose, you ruin their plans.
Cook up a storm
If someone cooks up a storm, they cause a big fuss or generate a lot of talk about something.
Cool your heels
If you leave someone to cool their heels, you make them wait until they have calmed down.
Corner a market
If a business is dominant in an area and unlikely to be challenged by other companies, it has cornered the market.
Couch potato
A couch potato is an extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food.
Could eat a horse
If you are very hungry, you could eat a horse.
Couldn't give two hoots
If you couldn't give two hoots about something, you don't care at all about it.
Country mile
(USA) A country mile is used to describe a long distance.
Cover all the bases
If you cover all the bases, you deal with all aspects of a situation or issue, or anticipate all possibilities. ('Cover all bases' is also used.)
Crack a nut with a sledgehammer
If you use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you apply too much force to achieve a result. ('Jackhammer' is also used.)
Crash a party
If you crash a party, or are a gatecrasher, you go somewhere you haven't been invited to.
Cream of the crop
The cream of the crop is the best there is.
Cream rises to the top
A good person or idea cannot go unnoticed for long, just as cream poured in coffee or tea eventually rises to the top.
Creature comforts
If a person said "I hate camping. I don't like giving up my creature comforts." the person would be referring, in particular, to the comfortable things he/she would have at home but not when camping. At home, for example, he/she would have complete shelter from the weather, a television, a nice comfortable warm bed, the ability to take a warm bath or shower, comfortable lounge chairs to relax in and so on. The person doesn't like giving up the material and psychological benefits of his/her normal life.
Crème de la crème
The crème de la crème is the very best of something.
Crocodile tears
If someone cries crocodile tears, they pretend to be upset or affected by something.
Crooked as a dog's hind leg
Someone who is very dishonest is as crooked as a dog's hind leg.
Cross that bridge when you come to it
If you will cross that bridge when you come to it, you will deal with a problem when it arises, but not until that point
Cross to bear
If someone has a cross to bear, they have a heavy burden of responsibility or a problem that they alone must cope with.
Crunch time
When people, companies, etc, have to make an important decision that will have a considerable effect on their future, it is crunch time.
Cry wolf
If someone cries wolf, they raise a false alarm about something.
Cry your eyes out
If you cry your eyes out, you cry uncontrollably.
Cry-baby
A cry-baby is a person who gets emotional and cries too easily.
Cuckoo in the nest
Is an issue or a problem, etc, is a cuckoo in the nest, it grows quickly and crowds out everything else.
Curate's egg
(UK) If something is a bit of a curate's egg, it is only good in parts.
Curiosity killed the cat
As cats are naturally curious animals, we use this expression to suggest to people that excessive curiosity is not necessarily a good thing, especially where it is not their business.
Curry favour
If people try to curry favour, they try to get people to support them. ('Curry favor' is the American spelling.)
Curve ball
(USA) If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
Cut and dried
If something is cut and dried, then everything has already been decided and, in the case of an opinion, might be a little stale and predictable.
Cut and run
If people cut and run, they take what they can get and leave before they lose everything.
Cut corners
If people try to do something as cheaply or as quickly as possible, often sacrificing quality, they are cutting corners.
Cut down the tall poppies
(AU) If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd.
Cut it fine
If you cut it fine, you only just manage to do something- at the very last moment. 'Cut things fine' is the same. 'Cut it a bit fine' is a common variation.
Cut off your nose to spite your face
If you cut off your nose to spite your face, you do something rash or silly that ends up making things worse for you, often because you are angry or upset.
Cut the Gordian knot
If someone cuts the Gordian knot, they solve a very complex problem in a simple way.
Cut the mustard
(UK) If somebody or something doesn't cut the mustard, they fail or it fails to reach the required standard.
Cut to the chase
If you cut to the chase, you get to the point, or the most interesting or important part of something without delay.
Cut to the quick
If someone's cut to the quick by something, they are very hurt and upset indeed.
Cut your coat according to your cloth
If you cut your coat according to your cloth, you only buy things that you have sufficient money to pay for.
Cut your teeth on
The place where you gain your early experience is where you cut your teeth.
Cute as a bug
(USA) If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.
Cuts no ice
If something cuts no ice, it doesn't have any effect or influence.
Cutting edge
Something that is cutting edge is at the forefront of progress in its area.

English Idioms Start With "B"

B
Babe in arms
A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position.
Babe in the woods
A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.
Baby boomer
(USA) A baby boomer is someone born in the years after the end of the Second World War, a period when the population was growing very fast.
Back burner
If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority.
Back foot
(UK) If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
Back number
Something that's a back number is dated or out of fashion.
Back the wrong horse
If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.
Back to back
If things happen back to back, they are directly one after another.
Back to square one
If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again.
Back to the drawing board
If you have to go back to the drawing board, you have to go back to the beginning and start something again.
Back to the salt mine
If someone says they have to go back to the salt mine, they have to return to work.
Back to the wall
If you have your back to the wall, you are in a difficult situation with very little room for manoeuvre.
Backseat driver
A backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome.
Bad blood
If people feel hate because of things that happened in the past, there is bad blood between them.
Bad egg
A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg. Good egg is the opposite.
Bad shape
If something's in bad shape, it's in bad condition. If a person's in bad shape, they are unfit or unhealthy.
Bad taste in your mouth
If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.
Bad workers always blame their tools
"A bad worker always blames their tools" - If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case.
Bag of bones
If someone is a bag of bones, they are very underweight.
Bag of nerves
If someone is a bag of nerves, they are very worried or nervous.
Baker's dozen
A Baker's dozen is 13 rather than 12.
Bald as a coot
A person who is completely bald is as bald as a coot.
Ball is in your court
If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
Ballpark figure
A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.
Banana republic
Banana republic is a term used for small countries that are dependent on a single crop or resource and governed badly by a corrupt elite.
Banana skin
(UK) A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems.
Bandit territory
An area or an industry, profession, etc, where rules and laws are ignored or flouted is bandit territory.
Baptism of fire
A baptism of fire was a soldier's first experience of shooting. Any unpleasant experience undergone, usually where it is also a learning experience, is a baptism of fire.
Bar fly
A bar fly is a person who spends a lot of time drinking in different bars and pubs.
Bare your heart
If you bare your heart to someone, you tell them you personal and private feelings. ('Bare your soul' is an alternative form of the idiom.)
Barefaced liar
A barefaced liar is one who displays no shame about lying even if they are exposed.
Bark is worse than their bite
Someone who's bark is worse than their bite may well get angry and shout, but doesn't take action.
Barking up the wrong tree
If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.
Barkus is willing
This idiom means that someone is willing to get married.
Barrack-room lawyer
(UK) A barrack-room lawyer is a person who gives opinions on things they are not qualified to speak about.
Barrel of laughs
If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
Basket case
If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped.
Bat an eyelid
If someone doesn't bat an eyelid, they don't react or show any emotion when surprised, shocked, etc.
Batten down the hatches
If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you.
Battle of nerves
A battle of nerves is a situation where neither side in a conflict or dispute is willing to back down and is waiting for the other side to weaken. ('A war of nerves' is an alternative form.)
Be that as it may
Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it's not going to change your opinions in any significant manner.
Be up the spout
(UK) If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.
Bean counter
A bean counter is an accountant.
Bear fruit
If something bears fruit, it produces positive results.
Bear the brunt
People who bear the brunt of something endure the worst of something bad.
Beard the lion in his own den
If you confront a powerful or dangerous rival on their territory, you are bearding the lion in his own den.
Beat about the bush
If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating about (around) the bush.
Beat someone to the draw
(USA) If you beat someone to the draw, you do something before they do.
Beat swords into ploughshares
If people beat swords into ploughshares, they spend money on humanitarian purposes rather than weapons. (The American English spelling is 'plowshares')
Beat the daylights out of someone
If someone beats the daylights out of another person, they hit them repeatedly. ('Knock' can also be used and it can be made even stronger by saying 'the living daylights'.)
Beat to the punch
If you beat someone to the punch, you act before them and gain an advantage.
Beating a dead horse
(USA) If someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder means that different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly.
Beauty is only skin deep
This idiom means that appearances can be deceptive and something that seems or looks good may turn out to be bad.
Beck and call
Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call.
Bedroom eyes
Someone with bedroom eyes has a sexy look in their eyes.
Bee in your bonnet
If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.
Bee's Knees
If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class.
Beeline for
If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly.
Been in the wars
(UK) If someone has been in the wars, they have been hurt or look as if they have been in a struggle.
Beer and skittles
(UK) People say that life is not all beer and skittles, meaning that it is not about self-indulgence and pleasure.
Before the ink is dry
If people make an agreement or contract and then the situation changes very quickly, it changes before the ink is dry.
Before you can say Jack Robinson
The term Jack Robinson represents 'a short amount of time'. When you do something before you can say Jack Robinson, you do it very quickly.
Beg the question
In philosophy "to beg the question" is to assume something to be true that has not yet been proved. I have seen the idiom also to mean that a question is crying out to be asked.
Beggars can't be choosers
This idiom means that people who are in great need must accept any help that is offered, even if it is not a complete solution to their problems.
Behind bars
When someone is behind bars, they are in prison.
Behind closed doors
If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors.
Behind someone's back
If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without telling them.
Behind the times
Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated.
Believe in the hereafter
A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life.
Bells and whistles
Bells and whistles are attractive features that things like computer programs have, though often a bit unnecessary.
Bells on
(USA) To be somewhere with bells on means to arrive there happy and delighted to attend.
Belly up
If things go belly up, they go badly wrong.
Below par
If something isn't up to standard, or someone isn't feeling or doing very well, they are below par.
Below the belt
If someone says something that is cruel or unfair, it is below the belt, like the illegal punches in boxing.
Belt and braces
(UK) Someone who wears belt and braces is very cautious and takes no risks.
Belt and suspenders
(USA) Someone who wears belt and suspenders is very cautious and takes no risks.
Bend over backwards
If someone bends over backwards, they do everything they can to help someone.
Benjamin of the family
The Benjamin of the family is the youngest child.
Beside the point
If something is beside the point, it's not relevant to the matter being discussed or considered.
Beside themselves
If people are beside themselves, they are very worried or emotional about something.
Beside yourself
If you are beside yourself, you are extremely angry.
Best of a bad bunch
The best that could be obtained from a list of options that were not exactly what was required.
Best of both worlds
If you have the best of both worlds, you benefit from different things that do not normally go together.
Best thing since sliced bread
If something is the best thing since sliced bread, it is excellent. ('The greatest thing since sliced bread' is also used.)
Bet your bottom dollar
(USA) If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
Better late than never
This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
Better safe than sorry
This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.
Better than a stick in the eye
If something is better than a stick in the eye, it isn't very good, but it is better than nothing.
Better the devil you know
This is the shortened form of the full idiom, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if they are not ideal, than take a risk with an unknown person or thing.
Between a rock and a hard place
If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a position where you have to choose between unpleasant alternatives, and your choice might cause you problems; you will not be able to satisfy everyone.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficult choice.
Between the lines
If you read between the lines, you find the real message in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interpretation of the words.
Between you and me and the cat's whiskers
This idiom is used when telling someone something that you want them to keep secret.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt
If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.
Beyond belief
If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.
Beyond our ken
If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.
Beyond the pale
If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.
Big Apple
(USA) The Big Apple is New York.
Big bucks
If someone is making big bucks, they are making a lot of money.
Big cheese
The big cheese is the boss.
Big fish
An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.
Big fish in a small pond
A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.
Big hitter
A big hitter is someone who commands a lot of respect and is very important in their field.
Big nose
If someone has a big nose, it means they are excessively interested in everyone else's business.
Big picture
The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.
Big time
This can be used to with the meaning 'very much'- if you like something big time, you like it a lot.
Bigger fish to fry
If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry.
Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.
Bird's eye view
If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.
Bird-brain
Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid.
Birds and the bees
If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex.
Birds of a feather flock together
This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.
Birthday suit
If you are in your birthday suit, you are naked.
Bit between your teeth
If you take or have the bit between your teeth, you take or have control of a situation. (Bit = piece of metal in a horse's mouth)
Bit part
If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.
Bit player
A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.
Bite off more than you can chew
If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.
Bite the bullet
If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided.
Bite the dust
This is a way of saying that somebody has died, especially if they are killed violently like a soldier in battle.
Bite your lip
If you have to bite your lip, you have to make a conscious effort not to react or to keep quiet about something that displeases you.
Bite your tongue
If you bite your tongue, you refrain from speaking because it is socially or otherwise better not to.
Bits and bobs
Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as odds and ends.
Bitter end
If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.
Bitter pill to swallow
A bitter pill to swallow is something that is hard to accept.
Black and white
When it is very clear who or what is right and wrong, then the situation is black and white.
Black as Newgate's knocker
(UK) If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.
Black hole
If there is a black hole in financial accounts, money has disappeared.
Black sheep
Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough.
Blackball
If you vote against allowing someone to be a member of an organisation or group, you are blackballing him or her.
Blank cheque
If you are given a blank cheque, you are allowed to use as much money as you need for a project.
Bleeding edge
Similar to 'cutting edge', this implies a technology or process that is at the forefront or beyond current practices. However, because it is unproven, it is often dangerous to use (hence the 'bleeding').
Bleeding heart
A bleeding heart is a person who is excessively sympathetic towards other people.
Blessing in disguise
If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise.
Blind as a bat
If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat.
Blind leading the blind
When the blind are leading the blind, the people in charge of something don't know anything more than the people they are in charge of, when they should have greater knowledge.
Blink of an eye
If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens so fast it is almost impossible to notice it.
Blood and thunder
An emotional speech or performance is full of blood and thunder.
Blood from a turnip
It is impossible to get something from someone if they don't have it, just as you cannot get blood from a turnip.
Blood is thicker than water
This idiom means that family relationships are stronger than others.
Blood is worth bottling
(AU) If an Australian says to you "Your blood is worth bottling", he/she is complimenting or praising you for doing something or being someone very special.
Blood out of a stone
If something is like getting blood out of a stone, it is very difficult indeed.
Blood, sweat and tears
If something will take blood, sweat and tears, it will be very difficult and will require a lot of effort and sacrifice.
Blow a gasket
If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.
Blow by blow
A blow-by-blow description gives every detail in sequence.
Blow hot and cold
If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.
Blow me down
People say '(well,) blow me down' when you have just told them something surprising, shocking or unexpected. ('Blow me down with a feather' is also used.)
Blow off steam
(USA) If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
Blow out of the water
If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.
Blow smoke
(USA) If people blow smoke, the exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make themselves look better.
Blow the cobwebs away
If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.
Blow your mind
Something that will blow your mind is something extraordinary that will amaze you beyond explanation.
Blow your own trumpet
If someone blows their own trumpet, they boast about their talents and achievements.
Blow your stack
If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.
Blow your top
If someone blows their top, they lose their temper.
Blue blood
Someone with blue blood is royalty.
Blue-eyed boy
Someone's blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.
Bob's your uncle
(UK) This idiom means that something will be successful: Just tell him that I gave you his name and Bob's your uncle- he'll help you.
Body politic
A group of people organised under a single government or authority (national or regional) is a body politic.
Bold as brass
Someone who is as bold as brass is very confident and not worried about how other people will respond or about being caught.
Bolt from the blue
If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.
Bone of contention
If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is a bone of contention.
Bone to pick
If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.
Boot is on the other foot
When the boot's on the other foot, a person who was in a position of weakness is now in a position of strength.
Born to the purple
Someone who is born to the purple is born in a royal or aristocratic family. ("Born in the purple" is also used.)
Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you are born into a rich family.
Bottom line
In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.
Bounce off the walls
If someone's bouncing off the walls, they are very excited about something.
Bouquet of orchids
Id someone deserves a bouquet of orchids, they have done something worthy of praise.
Box and dice
Box and dice means everything.
Box clever
(UK) If you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.
Boxing and coxing
If people are boxing and coxing, they are sharing responsibilities so that one of them is working while the other isn't. It can also be used when couples are sharing a house, but their relationship has broken down and when one is at home, the other stays out.
Boys in blue
The boys in blue are the police.
Brain surgery
If something is not brain surgery, it isn't very complicated or difficult to understand or master.
Brass monkey
If it's brass monkey weather, or cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, it is extremely cold.
Brass neck
(UK) Someone who has the brass neck to do something has no sense of shame about what they do.
Brass tacks
If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.
Bread and butter
Bread and butter issues are ones that affect people directly and in a very important way.
Breadwinner
Used to describe the person that earns the most money. For example - She's the breadwinner in the family.
Break a leg
This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck.
Break even
If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.
Break ground
If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before. 'Ground-breaking' is used an adjective.
Break the back of the beast
If you break the back of the beast, you accomplish a challenge.
Break the ice
When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing.
Break your duck
(UK) If you break your duck, you do something for the first time.
Break your heart
If someone upsets you greatly, they break your heart, especially if they end a relationship.
Breathe down your neck
If someone follows you or examines what you're doing very closely, they are breathing down your neck.
Breathe your last
When you breathe your last, you die.
Bridge the gap
If you bridge the gap, you make a connection where there is a great difference.
Bright as a button
A person who is as bright as a button is very intelligent or smart.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
If someone's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, they are full of energy and enthusiasm.
Brighten up the day
If something brightens up your day, something happens that makes you feel positive and happy all day long.
Bring a knife to a gunfight
If someone brings a knife to a gunfight, they are very badly prepared for something.
Bring home the bacon
A person who brings home the bacon earns the money that a family live on.
Bring someone to book
If somebody is brought to book, they are punished or made to account for something they have done wrong.
Bring someone to heel
If you bring someone to heel, you make them obey you.('Call someone to heel' is also used.)
Bring the house down
Something that brings the house down is acclaimed and praised vigorously.
Broad church
If an organisation is described as broad church, it is tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas.
Broad strokes
If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.
Broke as a joke and it ain't funny
This idiom in my opinion describes how it's not funny to be without a cent and just uses broke and joke as rhyming words that help explain this idiom a lot better.
Brown nose
When someone tries to make themselves popular with somebody, usually in a position of authority, especially by flattering them, they are brown nosing.
Brownie points
If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.
Brush under the carpet
If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others.
Bull in a China shop
If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful.
Bull session
If you have a bull session, you have an informal group discussion about something.
Bull-headed
If you're a bull-headed, you're stubborn or inflexible.
Bun in the oven
If a woman has a bun in the oven, she is pregnant.
Bundle of nerves
Someone who is a bundle of nerves is very worried or nervous.
Burn the candle at both ends
Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which are likely to affect their health badly.
Burn the midnight oil
If you stay up very late working or studying, you burn the midnight oil.
Burn your bridges
If you burn your bridges, you do something that makes it impossible to go back from the position you have taken.
Burning question
A burning question is something we all want to know about.
Burst at the seams
To be filled to or beyond normal capacity: This room will be bursting at the seams when all the guests arrive.
Bury the hatchet
If you bury the hatchet, you make peace with someone and stop arguing or fighting.
Bury your head in the sand
If someone buries their head in the sand, they ignore something that is obviously wrong.
Busman's holiday
A busman's holiday is when you spend your free time doing the same sort of work as you do in your job.
Busted flush
Someone or something that had great potential but ended up a useless failure is a busted flush.
Busy as a beaver
If you're as busy as a beaver, you're very busy indeed.
Busy as a bee
If you are as busy as a bee, you are very busy indeed.
Butter wouldn't melt in their mouth
If someone looks as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, they look very innocent.
Butterflies in your stomach
The nervous feeling before something important or stressful is known as butterflies in your stomach.
Button your lip
If you button your lip, you keep quiet and don't speak. It is also used as a way of telling someone to shut up.
By a hair's breadth
If a person escapes from some danger by a hair's breadth, they only just managed to avoid it. The breadth is the thickness of a hair, so they probably feel somewhat lucky because the margin between success and what could easily have been failure was so close.
By a long chalk
(UK) If you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably.
By a whisker
If you do something by a whisker, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing.
By cracky
A term used by rural folks in years past to emphasize a matter of importance or urgency. An example: "By cracky, you need to get out there in the field with that mule and plow and finish the sod-busting before dark."
By dint of
This means 'as a result of' or 'because of': It would be good to think he'd risen to position of Chief Executive by dint of hard work.
By heart
If you learn something by heart, you learn it word for word.
By hook or by crook
If you are prepared to do something by hook or by crook, you are willing to do anything, good or bad, to reach your goal.
By leaps and bounds
Something that happens by leaps and bounds happens very quickly in big steps.
By the back door
If something is started or introduced by the back door, then it is not done openly or by following the proper procedures.
By the book
If you do something by the book, you do it exactly as you are supposed to.
By the same token
If someone applies the same rule to different situations, they judge them by the same token: If things go well, he's full of praise, but, by the same token, when things go wrong he gets furious.
By the seat of your pants
If you do something by the seat of your pants, you do it without help from anyone.
By the skin of your teeth
If you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing.
By word of mouth
If something becomes known by word of mouth, it gets known by being talked about rather than through publicity or advertising, etc.

English Idioms Start With "A"

A
A bit much
If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.
A day late and a dollar short
(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
A fool and his money are soon parted
This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.
A little bird told me
If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
A little learning is a dangerous thing
A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing
A OK
If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.
A penny for your thoughts
This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.
A penny saved is a penny earned
This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it.
A picture is worth a thousand words
A picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal description.
A poor man's something
Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.
A pretty penny
If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive.
A rising tide lifts all boats
This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it.
A rolling stone gathers no moss
People say this to mean that that a go-getter type person is more successful than a person not doing any thing.
A steal
If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth.
A1
If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.
Abide by a decision
If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.
Abject lesson
(India) An abject lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English 'object lesson' is used.)
About as useful as a chocolate teapot
Someone or something that is of no practical use is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
About face
If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc, change their position on an issue.
Above board
If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
This idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.
Accident waiting to happen
If something is an accident waiting to happen, there's definitely going to be an accident or it's bound to go wrong. ('Disaster waiting to happen' is also used.)
Ace up your sleeve
If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people don't know about.
Achilles' heel
A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.
Acid test
An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.
Across the board
If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.
Across the ditch
(NZ) This idiom means on the other side of the Tasman Sea, used to refer to Australia or New Zealand depending on the speaker's location.
Across the pond
(UK) This idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker's location.
Actions speak louder than words
This idiom means that what people actually do is more important than what they say- people can promise things but then fail to deliver.
Adam's apple
The Adam's apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men.
Add fuel to the fire
If people add fuel to the fire, they make a bad situation worse.
Add insult to injury
When people add insult to injury, they make a bad situation even worse.
After your own heart
A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you.
Against the clock
If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it.
Against the grain
If doing something goes against the grain, you're unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.
Age before beauty
When this idiom is used, it is a way of allowing an older person to do something first, though often in a slightly sarcastic way.
Agony aunt
An agony aunt is a newspaper columnist who gives advice to people having problems, especially personal ones.
Ahead of the pack
If you are ahead of the pack, you have made more progress than your rivals.
Ahead of time
If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time.
Albatross around your neck
An albatross around, or round, your neck is a problem resulting from something you did that stops you from being successful.
Alike as two peas
If people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical.
All along
If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.
All and sundry
This idiom is a way of emphasising 'all', like saying 'each and every one'.
All bark and no bite
When someone talks tough but really isn't, they are all bark and no bite.
All bark and no bite
Someone who talks a lot, but does nothing to back up their words-- like a dog that barks at strangers, but won't actually bite.
All bets are off
(USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.
All ears
If someone says they're all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.
All eyes on me
If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them.
All fingers and thumbs
If you're all fingers and thumbs, you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity. 'All thumbs' is an alternative form of the idiom.
All hat, no cattle
(USA) When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.('Big hat, no cattle' is also used.)
All heart
Someone who is all heart is very kind and generous.
All hell broke loose
When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
All in your head
If something is all in your head, you have imagined it and it is not real.
All mod cons
If something has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of 'modern convenience' that was used in house adverts.
All mouth and trousers
(UK) Someone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver. 'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.
All of the above
This idiom can be used to mean everything that has been said or written, especially all the choices or possibilities.
All over the map
(USA) If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.
All over the place
If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.
All over the shop
If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.
All roads lead to Rome
This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.
All set
If you're all set, you are ready for something.
All skin and bone
If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.
All square
If something is all square, nobody has an advantage or is ahead of the others.
All talk and no trousers
(UK) Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
All that glitters is not gold
This means that appearances can be deceptive and things that look or sound valuable can be worthless. ('All that glistens is not gold' is an alternative.)
All the rage
If something's all the rage, it is very popular or fashionable at the moment.
All the tea in China
If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
All your eggs in one basket
If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything at once, instead of trying to spread the risk. (This is often used as a negative imperative- 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket'. 'Have your eggs in one basket' is also used.)
All's fair in love and war
This idiom is used to say that where there is conflict, people can be expected to behave in a more vicious way.
All-singing, all-dancing
If something's all-singing, all-dancing, it is the latest version with the most up-to-date features.
Alter ego
An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means 'other self'.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.
Ambulance chaser
A lawyer who encourages people who have been in accidents or become ill to sue for compensation is an ambulance chaser.
Amen
Some use 'Amen' or 'Amen to that' as a way of agreeing with something that has just been said.
An old flame
An old flame is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked on fondly and with affection.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
This expression means that is is better to try to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise.
And all that jazz
This idiom means that everything related or similar is included.
Angry as a bear
If someone is as angry as a bear, they are very angry.('Angry as a bear with a sore foot' is also used.)
Angry as a bull
If someone is as angry as a bull, they are very angry.
Answers on a postcard
This idiom can be used to suggest that the answer to something is very obvious or that the person would really like to hear what people think.
Ants in your pants
If someone has ants in their pants, they are agitated or excited about something and can't keep still.
Any port in a storm
This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
Any Tom, Dick or Harry
If something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone.
Apple of your eye
Something or, more often, someone that is very special to you is the 'apple of your' eye.
Apron strings
A man who is tied to a woman's apron strings is excessively dependent on her, especially when it is his mother's apron strings.
Argue the toss
(UK) If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.
Arm and a leg
If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
Armchair critic
An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.
Armed to the teeth
If people are armed to the teeth, they have lots of weapons.
Around the clock
If something is open around the clock, it is open 24 hours a day. For example, an airport is open around the clock.
Arrow in the quiver
An arrow in the quiver is a strategy or option that could be used to achieve your objective.
As a rule
If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.
As cold as ice
This idiom can be used to describe a person who does not show any emotion.
As cold as stone
If something is as cold as stone, it is very cold. If a person is as cold as stone, they are unemotional.
As cool as a cucumber
If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.
As mad as a hatter
This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.
As much use as a chocolate teapot
Something that is as much use as a chocolate teapot is not useful at all.
As much use as a handbrake on a canoe
This idiom is used to describe someone or something as worthless or pointless.
As neat as a new pin
This idiom means tidy and clean.
As one man
If people do something as one man, then they do it at exactly the same time or in complete agreement.
As the actress said to the bishop
(UK) This idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.
As the crow flies
This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.
As you sow, so shall you reap
This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.
Asleep at the switch
If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. 'Asleep at the wheel' is an alternative.
Asleep at the wheel
If someone is asleep at the wheel, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. 'Asleep at the switch' is an alternative.
At a loose end
(UK) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At arm's length
(India) If something is at arm's length, it is very close to you.
At cross purposes
When people are at cross purposes, they misunderstand each other or have different or opposing objectives.
At death's door
If someone looks as if they are at death's door, they look seriously unwell and might actually be dying.
At each other's throats
If people are at each other's throats, they are fighting, arguing or competing ruthlessly.
At full tilt
If something is at full tilt, it is going or happening as fast or as hard as possible.
At large
If a criminal is at large, they have not been found or caught.
At loggerheads
If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can't agree on anything.
At loose ends
(USA) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At odds
If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.
At sea
If things are at sea, or all at sea, they are disorganized and chaotic.
At the bottom of the totem pole
(USA) If someone is at the bottom of the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top of the totem pole.
At the coalface
If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.
At the drop of a hat
If you would do something at the drop of a hat, you'd do it immediately.
At the end of the day
This is used to mean 'in conclusion' or 'when all is said and done'.
At the end of your rope
(USA) If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
At the end of your tether
(UK) If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
At the top of my lungs
If you shout at the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.
At your wit's end
If you're at your wit's end, you really don't know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.
At your wits' end
If you are at your wits' end, you have no idea what to do next and are very frustrated.
Average Joe
An average Joe is an ordinary person without anything exceptional about them.
Avowed intent
If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.
Awe inspiring
Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.
AWOL
AWOL stands for "Absent Without Leave", or "Absent Without Official Leave". Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.
Axe to grind
If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out. In American English, it is 'ax'.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Most Enough Irregular Verbs List (620 verbs)

A
Abide
Abode/Abided
Abode/Abided/Abidden
To continue. To reside\live.
Aby/Abey
Abought
Abought
To make amends for something wrong.
Alight
Alit/Alighted
Alit/Alighted
To get off a bus, train, etc.
Arise
Arose
Arisen
To originate. To get up from horizontal position, out of bed. To come into existence.
Awake
Awoke
Awoken
To stop sleeping and become conscious.
B
Backbite
Backbit
Backbitten
To speak badly about someone.
Backfit
Backfit
Backfit
To fit new parts into an older machine that weren't available when the machine was made.
Backlight
Backlit
Backlit
To illuminate from behind (photography).
Backslide
Backslid
Backslid/Backslidden
To stop making progress and start regressing.
Be
Was/Were
Been
To exist, live or occur. To have as a quality or a state An auxiliary verb.
Bear
Bore
Born/Borne
To carry. To tolerate. To give birth to.
Beat
Beat
Beaten
To hit repeatedly.
Become
Became
Become
To come into existence.
Bedight
Bedight/Bedighted
Bedight/Bedighted
To adorn, decorate.
Befall
Befell
Befallen
To happen. To happen to somebody or something.
Beget
Begot/Begat
Begotten
To cause something to happen. To procreate.
Begin
Began
Begun
To start something.
Begird
Begirt/Begirded
Begirt
To encircle.
Behight
Behight
Behight/Behoten
To promise or vow. To order.
Behold
Beheld
Beheld
To become conscious of by seeing.
Belay
Belaid/Belayed
Belaid/Belayed
To secure a boat with a rope. To tie up.
Bend
Bent
Bent
To curve something by distorting its shape.
Bereave
Bereft
Bereft/Bereaved
To lose a relative through their death. To deprive.
Beseech
Besought/Beseeched
Besought/Beseeched
To ask someone very insistently to do something.
Beset
Beset
Beset
To be restricted and occupied by difficulties.
Bespeak
Bespoke
Bespoken
To be a signal or symbol of something. To set aside or reserve something. To ask for.
Bestrew
Bestrewed
Bestrewed/Bestrewn
To cover a surface by throwing things about randomly.
Bestride
Bestrode
Bestridden
To sit or stand with one leg on either side of something.
Bet
Bet
Bet
To risk money against the result of a future event.
Betake
Betook
Betaken
To go to a place.
Bethink
Bethought
Bethought
To think about something. To remind yourself.
Beweep
Bewept
Bewept
To cry for or over someone or something.
Bid
Bid
Bid
To make an offer of money or services.
Bid
Bade
Bidden
To command or urge someone to do something.
Bide
Bided/Bode
Bided
To wait for. To tolerate. To withstand.
Bind
Bound
Bound
To tie something with string, or similar, to hold it.
Bite
Bit
Bitten
To cut or hold with teeth.
Blaw
Blawed
Blawn
To blow.
Bleed
Bled
Bled
To lose blood through a cut in the skin.
Blend
Blended/Blent
Blended/Blent
To mix together.
Bless
Blessed/Blest
Blessed/Blest
To wish or confer happiness. To make holy.
Blow
Blew
Blown
To move air, wind and gases.
Bottle-feed
Bottle-fed
Bottle-fed
To feed a baby with a bottle.
Bowstring
Bowstrung/Bowstringed
Bowstrung
To strangle with the string from a bow.
Break
Broke
Broken
To cause something to separate into at least two pieces.
Breast-feed
Breast-fed
Breast-fed
To feed a baby with breast milk.
Breed
Bred
Bred
To produce animals or plants by controlling their reproduction.
Bring
Brought
Brought
To carry or convey something to the place where you are going.
Broadcast
Broadcast/Broadcasted
Broadcast/Broadcasted
To transmit radio or TV signals.
Browbeat
Browbeat
Browbeat/Browbeaten
To put pressure on someone or bully them to do something.
Build
Built
Built
To construct.
Burn
Burnt/Burned
Burnt/Burned
To consume or be consumed by fire.
Burst
Burst
Burst
To break something open, usually by internal pressure, such as a balloon with too much air in it.
Bust
Bust
Bust
To break.
Buy
Bought
Bought
To acquire something in exchange for money.
C
Cast
Cast
Cast
To throw or project something.
Catch
Caught
Caught
To receive. To stop and hold a moving object, usually with your hands. To make something unable to escape.
Cheerlead
Cheerled
Cheerled
To cheer and support a team in an organised group.
Chide
Chid
Chid/Chidden
To tell somebody off when they have done something wrong.
Choose
Chose
Chosen
To select.
Clap
Clapped/Clapt
Clapped/Clapt
To hit your hands together to make a sound to show approval. To make a loud noise, like thunder.
Clear-cut
Clear-cut
Clear-cut
To cut down all trees in an area.
Cleave
Cleft/Cleaved/Clove
Cleft/Cleaved/Cloven
To separate or divide something, often with force. To stick or hold together.
Cleek
Claught/Claucht/Cleeked
Cleeked
To grasp or take hold of.
Clepe
Cleped
Cleped/Ycleped/Yclept
To call or name.
Cling
Clung
Clung
To hold on to or to stick to.
Clothe
Clad/Clothed
Clad/Clothed
To dress someone or provide them with clothes.
Colorbreed
Colorbred
Colorbred
To breed an animal to be of a particular color.
Colorcast
Colorcast
Colorcast
To broadcast in color.
Come
Came
Come
To move towards or to arrive at a specified place, time or situation.
Cost
Cost
Cost
The amount of money required to buy something; it costs five dollars.
Cost-cut
Cost-cut
Cost-cut
To redcuce costs or expenditure.
Counterdraw
Counterdrew
Counterdrawn
To copy by tracing.
Counterlight
Counterlit
Counterlit
To light something directly from opposite sides.
Cowrite
Cowrote
Cowritten
To write with someone.
Crash-dive
Crash-dived/Crash-dove
Crash-dived
To go down very quickly.
Creep
Crept
Crept
To move along the ground lying down.
Creep-feed
Creep-fed
Creep-fed
To feed young animals in a special area that adult animals can't get in.
Crib-bite
Crib-bit
Crib-bitten
To bite its manger and swallow air (of a horse).
Cross-bite
Cross-bit
Cross-bitten
To thwart or stop something happening by deception.
Cross-string
Cross-strung
Cross-strung
To place bass strings on a piano across the treble strings.
Crossbreed
Crossbred
Crossbred
To breed animals or plants of different species, like a mule, which is a crossbreed of a donkey and a horse.
Crosscut
Crosscut
Crosscut
To move between scenes or stories in a film or narrative.
Crosslight
Crosslit
Crosslit
To illuminate from different sides, but not directly opposite.
Crow
Crowed/Crew
Crowed
To boast. To utter a sound indicating pleasure.
Cut
Cut
Cut
To break the surface of something with a knife or similar tool.
D
Dare
Dared/Durst
Dared
To have sufficient courage.
Daydream
Daydreamt/Daydreamt
Daydreamt/Daydreamt
To have dream-like thoughts when a wake. To have a fantasy.
Deal
Dealt
Dealt
To distribute, especially playing cards in games.
Deep-freeze
Deep-froze
Deep-frozen
To freeze or store frozen. To suspend progress or activity.
Dig
Dug
Dug
To make a hole in the ground.
Dight
Dight/Dighted
Dight/Dighted
To dictate orders.
Dispread
Dispread
Dispread
To spread out.
Disprove
Disproved
Disproven/Disproved
To prove that something is fale or wrong.
Dive
Dived/Dove
Dived
To jump head first into water. To fall quickly.
Do
Did
Done
To perform or carry out.
Dogfight
Dogfought
Dogfought
To fight in aeroplanes. To arrange a fight between dogs for sport.
Dow
Dought/Dowed
Dought/Dowed
To have the ability to do something. To do well.
Draw
Drew
Drawn
To make a picture using a pen or pencil.
Dream
Dreamt/Dreamed
Dreamt/Dreamed
To see visual images while sleeping.
Drink
Drank
Drunk
To consume liquids.
Drip-feed
Drip-fed
Drip-fed
To feed someone with fluids going into the vein. To release information very slowly, bit by bit.
Drive
Drove
Driven
To operate and control a car or other vehicle.
Dwell
Dwelt
Dwelt
To reside or live somewhere.
E
Eat
Ate
Eaten
To consume solid food.
End-run
End-ran
End-run
To avoid doing something by cheating or deceit.
Engird
Engirt
Engirt
To encircle, encompass.
Engrave
Engraved
Engraved/Engraven
To carve letters or a pattern into the surface of something.
Enwind
Enwound
Enwound
To make into a coil. To wrap around something.
F
Fall
Fell
Fallen
To move downwards or to the ground.
Farebeat
Farebeat
Farebeaten
To avoid paying fares when using public transport.
Fast-cut
Fast-cut
Fast-cut
To cut quickly from one scene to another in a film.
Feed
Fed
Fed
To give or supply food.
Feel
Felt
Felt
To sense by touch. To experience an emotion, or sensation.
Fight
Fought
Fought
To try to hurt or kill someone in combat or war.
Find
Found
Found
To discover something either by chance or when looking for it.
Fit
Fit/Fitted
Fit/Fitted
To be the correct size, for clothes, etc. (fit/fit/fit) To measure someone for size (fit fit/fitted/ fit/fitted).
Flash-freeze
Flash-froze
Flash-frozen
To freeze food very rapidly to preserve taste and nutrients.
Flee
Fled
Fled
To run away in order to find safety.
Fling
Flung
Flung
To throw or move something suddenly.
Floodlight
Floodlit
Floodlit
To use powerful lights to illuminate something outside at night.
Fly
Flew
Flown
To move through the air. To travel by aeroplane.
Flyblow
Flyblew
Flyblown
To contaminate by laying eggs, the way a fly does.
Forbear
Forbore
Forborne/Forborn
Not to use or talk about something.
Forbid
Forbade/Forbad
Forbidden
To prohibit.
Force-feed
Force-fed
Force-fed
To feed someone who refuses or doesn't want to eat.
Fordo/Foredo
Fordid
Fordone
To ruin or destroy.
Forecast
Forecast/Forecasted
Forecast/Forecasted
To predict the future.
Forefeel
Forefelt
Forefelt
To have a feeling before something happens. To have a premonition.
Forego
Forewent
Foregone
To preceed something. To go without something.
Foreknow
Foreknew
Foreknown
To know something beforehand.
Forerun
Foreran
Forerun
To go before something. To show that something is going to happen.
Foresee
Foresaw
Foreseen
To predict or see the future.
Foreshow
Foreshowed
Forshowed/Foreshown
To show something or make it known beforehand. To foretell.
Forespeak
Forespoke
Forespoken
To predict. To speak of something beforehand.
Foretell
Foretold
Foretold
To predict the future.
Forget
Forgot
Forgotten
To be unable to remember something.
Forgive
Forgave
Forgiven
To pardon or stop being angry with someone who has offended you.
Forlese
Forlore
Forlorn
To lose completely.
Forsake
Forsook
Forsaken
To give something up. To abandon.
Forswear
Forswore
Forsworn
To make a false promise or oath.
Fraught
Fraught/Fraughted
Fraught/Fraughted
To stock. To load a ship, etc. To hire a ship, etc.
Free-fall
Free-fell
Free-fallen
To drop or fall suddenly. To fall through the air without opening a parachute.
Freeze
Froze
Frozen
To make liquids into solids by cold temperatures. To store food below zero degrees centigrade.
Frostbite
Frostbit
Frostbitten
To injure or damage part of the body through extreme cold.
G
Gainsay
Gainsaid
Gainsaid
To contradict or deny.
Gaslight
Gaslit/Gaslighted
Gaslit/Gaslighted
To frighten and confuse someone so much that they think they are going mad.
Geld
Gelded/Gelt
Gelded/Gelt
To castrate an animal.
Get
Got
Got/Gotten
To obtain, catch or receive.
Ghostwrite
Ghostwrote
Ghostwritten
To write for someone else, who will put their name as the author.
Gild
Gilt/Gilded
Gilt/Gilded
To cover something with a thin layer of gold.
Gin
Gan
Gan
To begin something.
Gird
Girded/Girt
Girded/Girt
To secure or encirle something with a belt or bend.
Give
Gave
Given
To offer something as a present.
Gnaw
Gnawed
Gnawed/Gnawn
To bite or chew. To cause worry.
Go
Went
Gone/Been
To travel to a place.
Grave
Graved
Graven/Graved
To dig. To carve. To fix in the memory.
Grind
Ground
Ground
To break something into a powder.
Grow
Grew
Grown
To increase in size.
H
Hagride
Hagrode
Hagridden
To torment or cause nightmares.
Halterbreak
Halterbroke
Halterbroken
To break a horse in, to get it used to wearing a halter.
Hamstring
Hamstrung/Hamstringed
Hamstrung/Hamstringed
To make things difficult for someone doing something.
Hand-feed
Hand-fed
Hand-fed
To give food by hand.
Hand-ride
Hand-rode
Hand-ridden
To control an animal by hand.
Handsew
Handsewed
Handsewn/Handsewed
To sew by hand.
Handwrite
Handwrote
Handwritten
To write with a pen or pencil rather than a word processor.
Hang
Hung/Hanged
Hung/Hanged
To suspend from a support. To execute someone by supending them by the neck.
Have
Had
Had
To possess. To do. An auxiliary verb.
Hear
Heard
Heard
To detect or perceive sound.
Heave
Heaved/Hove
Heaved/Hove
To lift something heavy. To throw something heavy.
Hew
Hewed
Hewn
To cut things into pieces.
Hide
Hid
Hidden
To conceal or put something where it cannot be seen.
Hight
Hote/Hight
Hoten
To name. To promise. To command.
Hit
Hit
Hit
To touch somebody or something with force.
Hoise
Hoised/Hoist
Hoised/Hoist
To hoist or lift.
Hoist
Hoist/Hoisted
Hoist/Hoisted
To raise or lift using ropes, etc.
Hold
Held
Held
To secure something in your hand. To contain.
House-sit
House-sat
House-sat
To stay in someone's house to look after it while they are away.
Housebreak
Housebroke
Housebroken
To train an animal to live in a house.
Hurt
Hurt
Hurt
To cause pain, injury or stress. To experience pain, injury or stress.
I
Inbreed
Inbred
Inbred
To produce babies with health problems by sexual relations between close relatives.
Indwell
Indwelt
Indwelt
To inhabit. To exist as a guiding principle.
Inhold
Inheld
Inheld
To have as an inherent characteristic.
Inlay
Inlaid
Inlaid
To put a different material inside another for decoration, with a flat surface.
Input
Input/Inputted
Input/Inputted
To enter data into a computer.
Inset
Inset
Inset
To put a picture or graphic inside a larger one.
Interblend
Interblended/Interblent
Interblended/Interblent
To blend things together.
Interbreed
Interbred
Interbred
To mix species or groups sexually.
Intercut
Intercut
Intercut
To move between different scenes or stories in a film or narrative.
Intergrave
Intergraved
Intergraved/Intergraven
To carve or engrave in alternate sections.
Interlay
Interlaid
Interlaid
To place among or between things.
Interset
Interset
Interset
To set among or between things.
Interweave
Interwove
Interwoven
To join or mix together.
Interwind
Interwound
Interwound
To wind together or intertwine.
Inweave
Inwove/Inweaved
Inwoven/Inweaved
To weave things together.
Inwind
Inwound
Inwound
To wrap or coil around.
J
Jerry-build
Jerry-built
Jerry-built
To build something cheaply and badly.
K
Keep
Kept
Kept
To have possession. To make somebody or something stay in a particular place.
Ken
Kent/Kenned
Kent/Kenned
To know.
Kneel
Knelt/Kneeled
Knelt/Kneeled
To support yourself on your knees.
Knit
Knit/Knitted
Knit/Knitted
To make clothes such as pullovers out of wool.
Know
Knew
Known
To be acquainted with. To have correctly in your memory.
L
Lade
Laded
Laden/Laded
To load (put goods onto) a ship.
Landslide
Landslid/Landslided
Landslid/Landslided
To win a convincing and easy victory in an election.
Lay
Laid
Laid
To put something in a horizontal position.
Lead
Led
Led
To take someone somewhere or guide them. To be in command.
Lean
Leant/Leaned
Leant/Leaned
To place something at an incline for support against something.
Leap
Leapt/Leaped
Leapt/Leaped
To jump
Learn
Learnt/Learned
Learnt/Learned
To acquire knowledge.
Leave
Left
Left
To go out of a place.
Lend
Lent
Lent
To give somebody money that must be returned.
Lep
Lept
Lept
To leap.
Let
Let
Let
To allow something to happen. To allow someone to do something.
Lie
Lay
Lain
To get into or be in a horizontal position.
Light
Lit
Lit
To make something burn.
Linebreed
Linebred
Linebred
Breed animals from a particular family.
Lip-Read
Lip-Read
Lip-Read
To work out what someone is saying from the movements of their mouth.
Lose
Lost
Lost
Not to have something because you do not know where it is.
M
Make
Made
Made
To create or construct something. To cause somebody to do something. To perform an action.
Mean
Meant
Meant
To signify. To intend.
Meet
Met
Met
To make somebody's acquaintance. To be in the same place as somebody.
Melt
Melted
Molten/Melted
To change from solid into a liquid as the temperature goes up.
Misbecome
Misbecame
Misbecome
Not to suit.
Miscast
Miscast
Miscast
To choose the wrong actor for a role.
Mischoose
Mischose
Mischosen
To choose wrongly.
Miscut
Miscut
Miscut
To cut something wrongly or badly.
Misdeal
Misdealt
Misdealt
To distribute playing cards wrongly in a game.
Misdo
Misdid
Misdone
To harm or injure.
Misfall
Misfell
Misfallen
To happen unluckily.
Misfeed
Misfed
Misfed
To feed incorrectly. To jam printers, photocpiers, etc, by feeding the paper incorrectly.
Misgive
Misgave
Misgiven
To become suspicious or worried.
Mishear
Misheard
Misheard
To hear something incorrectly.
Mishit
Mishit
Mishit
To hit a ball badly or inaccurately.
Misknow
Misknew
Misknown
To have the wrong idea about something.
Mislay
Mislaid
Mislaid
To lose or put something where you cannot find it.
Mislead
Misled
Misled
To make someone behave wrongly. To deceive.
Mislearn
Mislearnt/Mislearned
Mislearnt/Mislearned
To learn wrongly.
Misread
Misread
Misread
To read something incorrectly.
Missay
Missaid
Missaid
To say something incorrectly. To talk badly about someone.
Missend
Missent
Missent
To send to the wrong place or person.
Misset
Misset
Misset
To set or place wrongly or incorrectly.
Misspeak
Misspoke
Misspoken
To say or pronounce something wrongly. To say something that is incorrect or inaccurate.
Misspell
Misspelt/Misspelled
Misspelt/Misspelled
To write a word without using the correct letters.
Misspend
Misspent
Misspent
To waste time or money.
Misswear
Misswore
Missworn
To swear or make an oath falsely.
Mistake
Mistook
Mistaken
Not to understand. To confuse somebody with someone else.
Misteach
Mistaught
Mistaught
To teach wrongly or incorrectly.
Mistell
Mistold
Mistold
To tell something wrongly.
Misthink
Misthought
Misthought
To have mistaken thoughts or ideas.
Misunderstand
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Not to understand.
Miswear
Misswore
Misworn
To wear badly.
Miswed
Miswed/Miswedded
Miswed/Miswedded
To marry wrongly.
Miswrite
Miswrote
Miswritten
To write something incorrectly.
Moonlight
Moonlit
Moonlit
To have a second job or to work illegally without paying tax.
Mow
Mowed
Mown
To cut grass or cereals.
N
Naysay
Naysaid
Naysaid
To oppose or criticise.
Nose-dive
Nose-dived/Nose-dove
Nose-dived/Nose-dove
To dive or plunge nose first (aircraft).
O
Offset
Offset
Offset
To compenaste or counterbalance.
Outbid
Outbid
Outbid
To offer more money than someone in an auction or sale.
Outbreed
Outbred
Outbred
To breed faster than others.
Outdo
Outdid
Outdone
To do better than someone.
Outdraw
Outdrew
Outdrawn
To pull out. To pull a gun faster than an opponent.
Outdrink
Outdrank
Outdrunk
To drink more than someone else, usually alcohol.
Outdrive
Outdrove
Outdriven
To drive faster or better.
Outfight
Outfought
Outfought
To fight better than someone.
Outfly
Outflew
Outflown
To fly faster or further.
Outgrow
Outgrew
Outgrown
To grow faster than something or someone. To become too big or mature for something.
Outlay
Outlaid
Outlaid
To spend money for a particular purpose.
Outleap
Outleapt/Outleaped
Outleapt/Outleaped
To jump or leap further or higher.
Output
Output/Outputted
Output/Outputted
To put out or produce.
Outride
Outrode
Outridden
To ride faster than someone.
Outrun
Outran
Outrun
To run or go faster than someone.
Outsee
Outsaw
Outseen
To see further. To have greater foresight.
Outsell
Outsold
Outsold
To sell more than something or someone.
Outshine
Outshone
Outshone
To be better than someone.
Outshoot
Outshot
Outshot
To shoot faster or better.
Outsing
Outsang
Outsung
To sing better or louder than someone.
Outsit
Outsat
Outsat
To sit for longer than someone.
Outsleep
Outslept
Outslept
To sleep for longer than someone.
Outsmell
Outsmelt/Outsmelled
Outsmelt/Outsmelled
To have a better sense of smell.
Outspeak
Outspoke
Outspoken
To speak better or more than someone.
Outspeed
Outsped
Outsped
To go faster than someone or something.
Outspend
Outspent
Outspent
To spend more than someone.
Outspin
Outspun
Outspun
To finish or die.
Outspring
Outsprang
Outsprung
To spring or jump out.
Outstand
Outstood
Outstood
To be clearly different or better.
Outswear
Outswore
Outsworn
To exceed someone in swearing- oaths or bad language.
Outswim
Outswam
Outswum
To swim faster or further than someone.
Outtell
Outtold
Outtold
To be better or exceed in telling or calculating.
Outthink
Outthought
Outthought
To think better ideas than someone.
Outthrow
Outthrew
Outthrown
To throw further or more accurately.
Outwear
Outwore
Outworn
To last longer (of materials, clothes, etc).
Outwind
Outwound
Outwound
To unloose.
Outwork
Outworked/Outwrought
Outworked/Outwrought
To work harder or better.
Outwrite
Outwrote
Outwritten
To be better at writing.
Overbear
Overbore
Overborne
To use force or authority to control.
Overbid
Overbid
Overbid
To bid more something is worth. To bid more than you can win in a card game.
Overblow
Overblew
Overblown
To become subdued. To blow away. To force too much.
Overbreed
Overbred
Overbred
To breed too much so that features become excessive.
Overbuild
Overbuilt
Overbuilt
To build too much, overdevelop.
Overbuy
Overbought
Overbought
To buy too much. To pay too much.
Overcast
Overcast
Overcast
To become cloudy. To sew with overcast stitiches (long slanting stitches).
Overcome
Overcame
Overcome
To master a problem or difficult situation. To become helpless because of excessive emotions or physical difficulties.
Overcut
Overcut
Overcut
To cut down more trees than permitted.
Overdo
Overdid
Overdone
To do something to excess. To cook something too much.
Overdraw
Overdrew
Overdrawn
To take money out of an account so that a negative balance results.
Overdrink
Overdrank
Overdrunk
To drink too much.
Overdrive
Overdrove
Overdriven
To drive or work something too hard.
Overeat
Overate
Overeaten
To eat too much.
Overfeed
Overfed
Overfed
To give too much food.
Overfly
Overflew
Overflown
To fly over a place.
Overgrow
Overgrew
Overgrown
To grow too big or beyond a limit or boundary.
Overhang
Overhung
Overhung
To be above something.
Overhear
Overheard
Overheard
To hear something accidently that was not said to you.
Overlay
Overlaid
Overlaid
To cover something with a layer.
Overleap
Overleapt/Overleaped
Overleapt/Overleaped
To jump over.
Overlearn
Overlearnt/Overlearned
Overlearnt/Overlearned
To continue learning afer having reached a basic proficiency.
Overlie
Overlay
Overlain
To lie on top of. To kill by lying on top of.
Overpass
Overpast/Overpassed
Overpast/Overpassed
To cross, pass over.
Overpay
Overpaid
Overpaid
To pay too much.
Override
Overrode
Overridden
To ride through an enemy's country.
Overrun
Overran
Overrun
To flood. To invade and take control.
Oversee
Oversaw
Overseen
To observe people's work to make sure that it is done properly.
Oversell
Oversold
Oversold
To sell too muchTo publicise too much.
Overset
Overset
Overset
To overpower.
Oversew
Oversewed
Oversewn/Oversewed
To sew two edges together with stitches overlapping both.
Overshoot
Overshot
Overshot
To go past a limit.
Oversleep
Overslept
Overslept
To sleep too late.
Oversow
Oversowed
Oversown/Oversowed
To sow on land that has already be sown.
Overspeak
Overspoke
Overspoken
To speak too long or use too many words.
Overspend
Overspent
Overspent
To spend more than allowed or budgeted.
Overspill
Overspilt/Overspilled
Overspilt/Overspilled
To spill over. To have a population that exceeds the space available.
Overspin
Overspun
Overspun
To make something last too long.
Overspread
Overspread
Overspread
To cover something.
Overspring
Oversprang
Oversprung
To jump over.
Overstand
Overstood
Overstood
Lose a sale of deal by sticking to a price or conditions unacceptable to the other party.
Overstrew
Overstrewed
Overstrewed/Overstrewn
To sprinkle or strew something onto another thing.
Overstride
Overstrode
Overstridden
To walk across or over. To walk faster than someone. To dominate.
Overstrike
Overstruck
Overstruck
To stamp a new value or inscription on a old coin.
Overstring
Overstrung
Overstrung
To tie a string too tightly. To string piano bass strings across treble strings.
Overtake
Overtook
Overtaken
To pass a vehicle that is going more slowly.
Overthink
Overthought
Overthought
To think or plan too much.
Overthrow
Overthrew
Overthrown
To remove someone forcibly from government or power.
Overwear
Overwore
Overworn
To wear something too much or often, or wear it out.
Overwind
Overwound
Overwound
To wind a clock or something too much so it strains the spring.
Overwithhold
Overwithheld
Overwithheld
To deduct too much tax from a payment or salary.
Overwrite
Overwrote
Overwritten
To record data on top of existing data, erasing the original.
P
Partake
Partook
Partaken
To take part in something or a part of something, usually food.
Pay
Paid
Paid
To give somebody money in exchange for things or services.
Pen
Pent/Penned
Pent/Penned
To shut up or enclose in a cage, etc.
Pinch-hit
Pinch-hit
Pinch-hit
To bat instead of a player in baseball, especially when a hit is needed.
Plead
Pled/Pleaded
Pled/Pleaded
To tell a court that you are guilty or innocent. To ask for special treatment by authorities, etc.
Potshot
Potshot/Potshotted
Potshot
To shoot at random. To criticise at random.
Practice-teach
Practice-taught
Practice-taught
To teach as part of training.
Prebind
Prebound
Prebound
To bind before.
Prebuild
Prebuilt
Prebuilt
Prefabricate.
Precut
Precut
Precut
To cut something before selling or assembling it.
Predo
Predid
Predone
To do something before a certain time of stage.
Premake
Premade
Premade
To make something before a time or stage.
Prepay
Prepaid
Prepaid
To pay for something using it.
Presell
Presold
Presold
To sell before a certain time.
Preset
Preset
Preset
To arrange something before it is needed.
Preshrink
Preshrank
Preshrunk
To shrink a fabric before selling it so that it will not become smaller when washed.
Presplit
Presplit
Presplit
To split or divide before a certain time.
Price-cut
Price-cut
Price-cut
To cut or reduce prices.
Proofread
Proofread
Proofread
To read something checking carefully for mistakes.
Prove
Proved
Proven/Proved
To demonstrate that something is true.
Put
Put
Put
To place something in a specific position.
Q
Quick-freeze
Quick-froze
Quick-frozen
To freeze something rapidly.
Quit
Quit
Quit
To stop doing something. To resign from a job.
R
Rap
Rapped/Rapt
Rapped/Rapt
To be very affected by strong emotion.
Re-prove
Re-proved
Re-proven/Re-proved
To prove again.
Read
Read
Read
To look at written words and understand them.
Reave
Reft/Reaved
Reft/Reaved
To deprive. To take by force.
Reawake
Reawoke
Reawoken/Reawaken
To wake up again.
Rebid
Rebid
Rebid
To bid again.
Rebind
Rebound
Rebound
To cover a book again.
Rebroadcast
Rebroadcast
Rebroadcast
To transmit something on televison or the radio again.
Rebuild
Rebuilt
Rebuilt
To build something again.
Recast
Recast
Recast
To replace an actor or actress.
Recut
Recut
Recut
To cut again or differently.
Redd
Redd/Redded
Redd/Redded
To save or rescue.
Redeal
Redealt
Redealt
To deal playing cards again.
Redo
Redid
Redone
To do something again.
Redraw
Redrew
Redrawn
To draw again. To change boundaries, frontiers, etc.
Reeve
Rove/Reeved
Rove/Reeved
To gather together. To thread something through a hole.
Refit
Refit
Refit
To repair a ship, plane or vehicle. To fit something again.
Regrind
Reground
Reground
To grind again. To smooth worn engine parts.
Regrow
Regrew
Regrown
To grow again.
Rehang
Rehung
Rehung
To hang again or in a different position.
Rehear
Reheard
Reheard
To hear something again.
Reknit
Reknit/Reknitted
Reknit/Reknitted
To knit again. To join back together.
Relay
Relaid
Relaid
To operate a system where things are replaced as they become used or tired.
Relearn
Relearnt/Relearned
Relearnt/Relearned
To learn again.
Relight
Relit/Relighted
Relit/Relighted
To light or start something burning again.
Remake
Remade
Remade
To make something again, such as a new version of a film.
Rend
Rent
Rent
To tear or rip.
Repay
Repaid
Repaid
To pay somebody money owed.
Reread
Reread
Reread
To read again.
Rerun
Reran
Rerun
To show a film again.
Resell
Resold
Resold
To sell something again.
Resend
Resent
Resent
To send something again.
Reset
Reset
Reset
To put something back to the original way it was organised.
Resew
Resewed
Resewn/Reswed
To sew again.
Reshoot
Reshot
Reshot
To shoot a film scene again.
Resit
Resat
Resat
To take an exam or test again.
Resow
Resowed
Resown/Resowed
To sow again.
Respell
Respelled/Respelt
Respelled/Respelt
To spell again.
Restring
Restrung
Restrung
To fit new strings on a musical instrument or a bow.
Retake
Retook
Retaken
Take again, especially exams and tests.
Reteach
Retaught
Retaught
To teach again.
Retear
Retore
Retorn
To tear again, usually of injuries.
Retell
Retold
Retold
To tell something again.
Rethink
Rethought
Rethought
To think again.
Retread
Retrod
Retrodden
To tread again. To cut new tread in a tyre.
Retrofit
Retrofit/Retrofitted
Retrofit/Retrofitted
To fit new parts into an older machine that weren't available when the machine was made.
Rewake
Rewoke/Rewaked
Rewoken/Rewaked
To wake again.
Rewear
Rewore
Reworn
To wear again.
Reweave
Rewove/Reweaved
Rewoven/Reweaved
To weave again.
Rewed
Rewed/Rewedded
Rewed/Rewedded
To marry again.
Rewet
Rewet/Rewetted
Rewet/Rewetted
To wet again.
Rewin
Rewon
Rewon
To win again.
Rewind
Rewound
Rewound
To put a cassette or video back to the beginning.
Rewrite
Rewrote
Rewritten
To write something again, usually with improvements.
Rid
Rid/Ridded
Rid/Ridded
To dispose of.
Ride
Rode
Ridden
To travel by horse, bike or motorbike.
Ring
Rang
Rung
To telephone. To make sounds with a bell.
Rise
Rose
Risen
To move upwards.
Rive
Rived
Riven/Rived
To break apart ot split.
Rough-hew
Rough-hewed
Rough-hewn
To make a rough version of something.
Roughcast
Roughcast
Roughcast
To prepare a rough form of something.
Run
Ran
Run
To move quickly, so that both legs leave the ground.
S
Sand-cast
Sand-cast
Sand-cast
To make a cast by pouring metal into a mold made of sand.
Saw
Sawed
Sawn/Sawed
To cut wood, etc, with a tool.
Say
Said
Said
To speak words.
See
Saw
Seen
To notice with your eyes.
Seek
Sought
Sought
To try to find something.
Self-feed
Self-fed
Self-fed
To feed itself without assistance.
Self-sow
Self-sowed
Self-sown/Self-sowed
To sow itself without assistance.
Sell
Sold
Sold
To receive money in exchange for goods.
Send
Sent
Sent
To cause something to be taken to a specific destination, especially letters, message, etc.
Set
Set
Set
To place something somewhere. To fix something in a particular position.
Sew
Sewed
Sewn/Sewed
To join pieces of material together using thread.
Shake
Shook
Shaken
To vibrate. To make something vibrate.
Shave
Shaved
Shaven/Shaved
To remove body hair.
Shear
Shore/Sheared
Shorn/Sheared
To cut with scissors, especially wool from sheep.
Shed
Shed
Shed
To fall off or let something fall off; snakes shed their skin.
Shend
Shent
Shent
To shame or disgrace.
Shew
Shewed
Shewn/Shewed
Show.
Shine
Shone
Shone
To give off or reflect bright light.
Shit
Shat/Shit
Shat/Shit
To get rid of solid body waste.
Shoe
Shod
Shod
To provide with shoes, especially horses.
Shoot
Shot
Shot
To fire a bullet from a gun. To kill or hurt somebody with a gun.
Shortcut
Shortcut
Shortcut
To use a shorter or quicker way of going somehere or doing something.
Show
Showed
Shown
To allow somebody to see something so that they can become aware of it.
Shrink
Shrank
Shrunk
To become smaller. To make something smaller.
Shrive
Shrove
Shriven
To confess or listen to a confession, a religious term.
Shut
Shut
Shut
To close something.
Sidewind
Sidewound
Sidewound
To move like the sidewinder snake.
Sight-read
Sight-read
Sight-read
To read music.
Sightsee
Sightsaw
Sightseen
To visit famous monuments, etc.
Sing
Sang
Sung
To make music with your voice.
Sink
Sank
Sunk
To move downwards in water. To make something move downwards in water.
Sit
Sat
Sat
To support your body with your buttocks not your feet, with the back in a vertical position as on a chair.
Skywrite
Skywrote
Skywritten
To write in the sky with smoke.
Slay
Slew
Slain
To kill.
Sleep
Slept
Slept
To be in a relaxed state with your eyes closed.
Slide
Slid
Slid/Slidden
To move on a smooth surface, such as ice.
Sling
Slung
Slung
To throw something somewhere.
Slink
Slunk
Slunk
To move in a suspicious and guilty way.
Slit
Slit
Slit
To make a long thin cut in something.
Smell
Smelt/Smelled
Smelt/Smelled
To detect odours with your nose. To emit odours.
Smite
Smote
Smitten
To hit.
Snapshoot
Snapshot
Snapshot
Take a quick photograph.
Sneak
Sneaked/Snuck
Sneaked/Snuck
To move around guiltily or to avoid being noticed.
Soothsay
Soothsaid
Soothsaid
To predict the future.
Sow
Sowed
Sown
To plant seeds in the ground to produce plants or cereals.
Speak
Spoke
Spoken
To say words with your mouth. To be able to use a language.
Speed
Sped/Speeded
Sped/Speeded
To move quickly. To drive faster than legally permitted.
Spell
Spelt/Spelled
Spelt/Spelled
To use the correct combination of letters for a word.
Spellbind
Spellbound
Spellbound
To put into a trance or captivate.
Spend
Spent
Spent
To use money to buy things. To use time or energy doing something.
Spill
Spilt/Spilled
Spilt/Spilled
To allow liquids out of their containers accidentally.
Spin
Span/Spun
Spun
To turn repeatedly in circles around a fixed point. To make something turn repeatedly in circles.
Spit
Spat/Spit
Spat/Spit
To eject saliva, liquid or food from the mouth.
Split
Split
Split
To divide. To break open.
Spoil
Spoilt/Spoiled
Spoilt/Spoiled
To let something go bad. To go bad.
Spoonfeed
Spoonfed
Spoonfed
To give someone information in small and very easy bits.
Spread
Spread
Spread
To cover the surface of one thing with something else, like butter on bread.
Spring
Sprang
Sprung
To jump. To become active.
Stall-feed
Stall-fed
Stall-fed
To feed or fatten an animal in a stall.
Stand
Stood
Stood
To be in a vertical position with the weight on the feet. To get into this position.
Stave
Stove/Staved/Stoved
Stove/Staved/Stoved
To break a hole in something.
Steal
Stole
Stolen
To take property or money that is not yours.
Stick
Stuck
Stuck
To attach things with glue. To insert a sharp object into something.
Sting
Stung
Stung
To feel pain caused by an insect or plant or in a particular part of the body.
Stink
Stank
Stunk
To smell very badly.
Straphang
Straphung
Straphung
To hold a strap for support.
Strew
Strewed
Strewn/Strewed
To distribute things randomly over a surface.
Stride
Strode/Strided
Stridden
To walk confidently.
Strike
Struck
Struck/Stricken
To stop working as a protest about working conditions. To hit.
String
Strung
Strung
To attach something using a cord.
Strip
Stript/Stripped
Stript/Stripped
To undress. To remove the covering of something.
Strive
Strove
Striven
To try very hard to do something.
Sublet
Sublet
Sublet
To rent something you have rented.
Sunburn
Sunburned/Sunburnt
Sunburned/Sunburnt
To get red skin from being in the sun for too long.
Swear
Swore
Sworn
To use words which are regarded as offensive. To promise.
Sweat
Sweat/Sweated
Sweat/Sweated
To perspire.
Sweep
Swept/Sweeped
Swept/Sweeped
To clean floors using a brush.
Swell
Swelled
Swollen
To increase in size usually by filling with liquids or gases.
Swim
Swam
Swum
To travel in water by moving your arms and legs.
Swing
Swung
Swung
To move from side to side from a fixed point.
Swink
Swank/Swonk
Swonken
To work, toil or labour.
Switch-hit
Switch-hit
Switch-hit
To bat right-handed against a left-handed bowler, or vice versa, in baseball.
T
Take
Took
Taken
To perform an action. To acquire.
Teach
Taught
Taught
To instruct or train somebody.
Team-teach
Team-taught
Team-taught
To teach with more than one teacher for the class or group.
Tear
Tore
Torn
To make a hole or divide material, paper, etc.
Telecast
Telecast/Telecasted
Telecast/Telecasted
To broadcast on TV.
Tell
Told
Told
To give somebody information.
Test-drive
Test-drove
Test-driven
To drive a car to test it before buying.
Test-fly
Test-flew
Test-flown
To test a plane.
Think
Thought
Thought
To have an opinion. To use the brain.
Thrive
Throve/Thrived
Thriven/Thrived
To do very well because the circumstances or situation is right.
Throw
Threw
Thrown
To cause an object to leave your hand in such a way that it travels through the air.
Thrust
Thrust
Thrust
To push with force.
Thunderstrike
Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck/Thunderstricken
To strike with lightning. To shock.
Tine
Tint/Tined
Tint/Tined
To shut.
Toss
Tossed/Tost
Tossed/Tost
Throw around.
Tread
Trod
Trodden
To put your foot down.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshot
Troubleshot
To solve a problem.
Typecast
Typecast
Typecast
To give an actor the same sort of role repeatedly.
Typeset
Typeset
Typeset
To compose type for printing.
Typewrite
Typewrote
Typewritten
To write with a typewriter.
U
Unbear
Unbore
Unborn/Unborne
To remove a horse's rein and straps.
Unbend
Unbent
Unbent
To retore something to its original shape that has been distorted.
Unbind
Unbound
Unbound
To set something free. To untie, remove ropes, chains, etc.
Unbuild
Unbuilt
Unbuilt
To demolish.
Unclothe
Unclad/Unclothed
Unclad/Unclothed
To remove clothes.
Underbid
Underbid
Underbid/Underbidden
To offer less money in an auction or sale.
Underbuy
Underbought
Underbought
To buy for less than the real value.
Undercut
Undercut
Undercut
To sell at a cheaper price than a competitor.
Underdo
Underdid
Underdone
To do less than necessary. Not to cook enough.
Underfeed
Underfed
Underfed
To give too little food to someone or an animal.
Undergird
Undergirt/Undergirded
Undergirt/Undergirded
To make something secure underneath. To give moral support.
Undergo
Underwent
Undergone
To suffer or go through an unpleasant experience, such as surgery.
Underlay
Underlaid
Underlaid
To put underneath something.
Underlet
Underlet
Underlet
To rent for less than the real value.
Underlie
Underlay
Underlain
To be the real reason, meaning or idea behind something, usually hidden or not clear.
Underpay
Underpaid
Underpaid
To pay someone too little or pay less than the price.
Underrun
Underran
Underrun
To pass or flow underneath something.
Undersell
Undersold
Undersold
To sell at a lower price than a competitor.
Undershoot
Undershot
Undershot
To shoot too short. Not to reach a traget.
Underspend
Underspent
Underspent
To sepnd less money than allocated in the department or company's budget.
Understand
Understood
Understood
To know or come to know the meaning of something.
Undertake
Undertook
Undertaken
To accept responsibility for doing something.
Underthrust
Underthrust
Underthrust
To insert faulted rock under a passive rock mass.
Underwrite
Underwrote
Underwritten
To accept part or all of a financial risk, especially insurance.
Undo
Undid
Undone
To ruin somebody's reputationTo 'open' clothes or shoes before taking them off.
Undraw
Undrew
Undrawn
To open a curtain. To withdraw.
Undraw
Undrew
Undrawn
To open, draw back (curtains, etc).
Unfreeze
Unfroze
Unfrozen
To make assets availably for use. To thaw something.
Unhang
Unhung
Unhung
To remove something that is hanging.
Unhide
Unhid
Unhidden
To expose something that was hidden.
Unhold
Unheld
Unheld
To stop holding or not to hold.
Unknit
Unknit/Unknitted
Unknit/Unknitted
To untie.
Unlade
Unladed
Unladen/Unladed
To remove cargo, unload.
Unlay
Unlaid
Unlaid
To untwist a rope.
Unlearn
Unlearnt/Unlearned
Unlearnt/Unlearned
To try to forget or change a habit or something that had been learned.
Unmake
Unmade
Unmade
To remove a decision.
Unreeve
Unrove/Unreeved
Unrove/Unreeved
To remove a rope from a hook.
Unsay
Unsaid
Unsaid
Not to say somethingTo take back something that you said.
Unsell
Unsold
Unsold
To convince someone that something is worthless or false.
Unsew
Unsewed
Unsewn/Unsewed
To undo someone sewed, remove the stitches.
Unsling
Unslung
Unslung
To remove something held in a sling.
Unspeak
Unspoke
Unspoken
To take back what has been said or not to say something.
Unspin
Unspun
Unspun
To untwist or unravel.
Unstick
Unstuck
Unstuck
To seperate things that have been stuck together. To take off.
Unstring
Unstrung
Unstrung
To open something secured with string.
Unswear
Unswore
Unsworn
To take back an oath.
Unteach
Untaught
Untaught
To make someone forget something they have learned.
Unthink
Unthought
Unthought
To remove something from your mind.
Untread
Untrod
Untrodden
To tread back, retrace your steps.
Unweave
Unwove
Unwoven
To undo things that have been woven together.
Unwind
Unwound
Unwound
To relax.
Unwrite
Unwrote
Unwritten
To delete writing or not to write.
Upbuild
Upbuilt
Upbuilt
To build up, develop on a large scale
Uphold
Upheld
Upheld
To support or confirm a decision.
Uppercut
Uppercut
Uppercut
To punch upwards towards someone's chin.
Uprise
Uprose
Uprisen
To get up, stand up, move up. To return from the dead.
Upset
Upset
Upset
To make somebody unhappy or disturbed.
Upspring
Upsprang
Upsprung
To jump or spring up.
Upsweep
Upswept
Upswept
To sweep or brush upwards.
Uptear
Uptore
Uptorn
To tear into pieces.
V
Vex
Vext/Vexed
Vext/Vexed
To trouble or annoy.
W
Wake
Woke
Woken
To stop sleeping and become conscious. To make somebody stop sleeping.
Waylay
Waylaid
Waylaid
To wait for or to stop somebody to rob them.
Wear
Wore
Worn
To have clothes on your body.
Weave
Wove
Woven
To make material.
Wed
Wed/Wedded
Wed/Wedded
To marry.
Weep
Wept
Wept
To cry heavily.
Wend
Wended/Went
Wended/Went
To go, make your way.
Wet
Wet/Wetted
Wet/Wetted
To make something wet by applying a liquid to it.
Whipsaw
Whipsawed
Whipsawn/Whipsawed
To cut with whipsaw (a saw for two people). To victimise.
Win
Won
Won
To be the best in a competition, game, election, etc.
Wind
Wound
Wound
To turn something round to make a mechanical process operate.
Winterfeed
Winterfed
Winterfed
To feed cattle in the winter when they can't graze.
Wiredraw
Wiredrew
Wiredrawn
To make wireTo make something last a long time, especially speech.
Wit
Wist
Wist
To know.
Withdraw
Withdrew
Withdrawn
To remove money from a bankTo remove something from a place.
Withhold
Withheld
Withheld
Not to let somebody have something.
Withstand
Withstood
Withstood
To resist successfully.
Wont
Wont
Wont/Wonted
To be accustomed.
Work
Worked/Wrought
Worked/Wrought
To make physical or mental effort to produce or achieve something.
Wrap
Wrapped/Wrapt
Wrapped/Wrapt
To coverTo transport emotionally.
Wreak
Wreaked
Wreaked/Wroken
To cause or make something happen.
Wring
Wrung
Wrung
To put a lot of pressure on something to remove liquids.
Write
Wrote
Written
To put words onto paper using a pen or pencil.
Z
Zinc
Zinced/Zincked
Zinced/Zincked
To coat or cover something with a layer of zinc.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Common Mistakes (6)

We have got such much to do but only so many hours in
a day. - INCORRECT SENTENCE

We have got so much to do but only so many hours in
a day. - CORRECT SENTENCE

The old man was walking towards the entrance although it had closed slowly.
The old man was walking slowly towards the entrance although it had closed.

He has completed the course satisfactory.
He has completed the course satisfactorily.

My sister treats the baby motherly.
My sister treats the baby in a motherly way.

Please give me a detail description of the robbery.
Please give me a detailed description of the robbery.

I want to know the detail of the plan.
I want to know the details of the plan.

It was a long time before when I met her for the first time.
It was a long time ago when I met her for the first time.

She has not told him her name ago.
She has not told him her name before.

Judy, as well as Joei, play the piano.
Judy, as well as Joei, plays the piano.

It is me who won the first prize last year.
It is I who won the first prize last year.

The standard of living of Singapore people are reasonably high.
The standard of living of Singapore people is reasonably
high.

I like apple.
I like apples.

An American old couple visited him last week.
An old American couple visited him last week.

Ball games is my hobby.
Ball games are my hobby.

Ten thousand dollars are a large sum of money.
Ten thousand dollars is a large sum of money.

Five years are much too long for me. I cannot wait.
Five years is much too long for me. I cannot wait.

The clerk and typist have been with this company for
two years.
The clerk and typist has been with this company for
two years.

The manager and the secretary was out.
The manager and the secretary were out.

Neither they nor I are to blame for this mistake.
Neither they nor I am to blame for this mistake.

Either of you have given me the gift.
Either of you has given me the gift.

Many people prefer to buy Malaysia products.
Many people prefer to buy Malaysian products.

Japan spare parts are rather expensive nowadays.
Japanese spare parts are rather expensive nowadays.

My cousin dead in that accident.
My cousin died in that accident.

You have to on the switch before putting the disk in the computer.
You have to turn on the switch before putting the disk in the computer.

My aim is to communicate clear and concise with my colleagues.
My aim is to communicate clearly and concisely with my colleagues.

He gave me useful advices.
He gave me useful advice.

I like to eat good foods.
I like to eat good food.

She bought two photos albums.
She bought two photo albums.

He has three son-in-laws.
He has three sons-in-law.

The passengers's luggage was misplaced.
The passengers' luggage was misplaced.

The football's players wives often watch them play.
The football players' wives often watch them play.

Please supply us with 12 pieces of cushion covers.
Please supply us with 12 cushion covers.

Do you like to play the badminton.
Do you like to play badminton.

I looked at me in the mirror.
I looked at myself in the mirror.

He has a little interesting shop.
He has an interesting little shop.

The frigthen women screamed.
The frightened women screamed.

James is a matured man of forty.
James is a mature man of forty.

Pak Dollah is very loved by his grandchildren.
Pak Dollah is much loved by his grandchildren.

My report will stress on the problem of 'junk food'.
My report will stress the problem of 'junk food'.

You shouldn't worry of getting married.
You shouldn't worry about getting married.

My writing needs to be improving.
My writing needs to be improved.

Since that incident, I followed my friend's advice.
Since that incident, I have followed my friend's advice.

Some badminton players face problems such as do not have a job.
Some badminton players face problems such as not having a job.

I think there will never be another singer as Sudirman.
I think there will never be another singer like Sudirman.

You may need English in correspondence or meet foreigners.
You may need to know English when writing to or meeting foreigners.

This rice is not the same quality like you sold before.
This rice is not the same quality that you sold before.

If we practice sports we will enjoy together.
If we play sports we will enjoy ourselves. OR
If we play sports we will enjoy it together.

Mary's friends advised her don't be so proud.
Mary's friends advised her not to be so proud.

I do not know why did this happen.
I do not know why this happened.

University life is not that hard as school life.
University life is not as hard as school life.

After the shower, the air was nice and cooling
After the shower, the air was nice and cool.The adjective for something which is at a fairly low temperature is “cool”. The word “cooling” is used for something which causes something else to become cool.

The alphabets F.R.C.P. after his name show that he is a medical specialist.
The letters F.R.C.P. after his name show that he is a medical specialist.
The word for a single symbol used in the written form of a language is “letter”. An alphabet is a full collection of such letters.

There were several incidences of burglary in that neighborhood.
There were several incidents of burglary in that neighborhood.The word for an occurrence is “incident”, the plural of which is “incidents”. The word “incidence” indicates the level of an occurrence.

You must return back the book by next Friday or you'll be fined.
You must return the book by next Friday or you'll be fined.

They came out of the blues and snatched my dog away.
They came out of the blue and snatched my dog away.

Two hundred over people were present at the meeting.
Over two hundred people were present at the meeting.

I cannot understand that map; it is too complicating.
I cannot understand that map; it is too complicated.

I was boring watching that TV program.
I was bored watching that TV program.

Why the postman did not come today ?
Why didn't the postman come today ?

She will finish schooling in two years' time.
She will finish her schooling in two years' time.

We'll get down at the next bus stop.
We'll get off at the next bus stop.

Mr. Choy is the personal manager of the company.
Mr. Choy is the personnel manager of the company.

The wasteful usage of water in factories leads to a shortage of water.
The wasteful use of water in factories leads to a shortage of water.

Twenty-five-year-old Thomas Pang is regarded as matured enough to be elected president of the party.
Twenty-five-year-old Thomas Pang is regarded as mature enough to be elected president of the party. The past participle of the verb may also be used adjectivally, but it should not be used to refer to human being.

The presence of one corrupted member in the council led to bad administration.
The presence of one corrupt member in the council led to bad administration. The past participles of the verbs may also be used adjectivally, but they should not be used to refer to human being.

The swimming pool is opened to club members five days a week.
The swimming pool is open to club members five days a week.

He was so tensed before the interview that he had to take a tranquilliser.
He was so tense before the interview that he had to take a tranquilliser.

Common Mistakes (5)

There is a stranger stand at the door. - INCORRECT SENTENCE
There is a stranger standing at the door. - CORRECT SENTENCE

The robbers run into goldsmith's shop, shouted, " This is a robbery ".
The robbers run into goldsmith's shop, shouting, " This is a robbery ".

Anybody is found picking the flowers will be prosecuted.
Anybody who is found picking the flowers will be prosecuted.

Being no other business, the chairman declared the
meeting closed.
There being no other business, the chairman declared the meeting closed.

Laura has spent half a day to revise his lessons.
Laura has spent half a day revising his lessons.

Finally, Ricky succeeded to enter the University.
Finally, Ricky succeeded in entering the University.

I am used to watch television with the light on.
I am used to watching television with the light on.

After dinner, my mother suggested to go for a walk.
After dinner, my mother suggested going for a walk.

The government is considering the possibility to build a new airport on Lantau island.
The government is considering the possibility of building a new airport on Lantau island.

Would you mind to pass me the salt, please ?
Would you mind to passing me the salt, please ?

I am going to watch the cinema tonight.
I am going to a movie tonight.

My son will marry next month.
My son will get married next month.

My sister is going to marry with a doctor.
My sister is going to marry a doctor.

You can sit my next seat.
You can sit next to me.

I think you cheat me !
I think you are lying to me !

My head is sick.
I have a headache.

Which team you support hah.
Which team do you root for.

This is my older brother.
This is my elder brother.

Thanks to see me.
Thanks for dropping by. ( coming ).

Where are you come from ?
Where do you come from ?

I want to reduce my weight.
I want to lose weight.

Bobby is a black beautiful dog.
Bobby is a beautiful black dog.

We had a lot of difficulty to find the place
We had a lot of difficulty ( in ) finding the place.

Killing the robbers are something the detective would not do.
Killing the robbers is something the detective would not do.

I was difficult to get a good job.
It was difficult to get a good job.

It is capable of getting his work done without help.
He is capable of getting his work done without help.

Rose is capable to cook Indian food
Rose is able to cook Indian food.

My father is busy in his business.
My father is busy with his business.

Sorry, Jane is busy with cleaning up her room.
Sorry, Jane is busy cleaning up her room.

Some people argue that fate is determining everything.
Some people argue that fate determines everything.

Every one of us determines to win this match.
Every one of us is determined to win this match.

This film is worth being watched.
This film is worth watching.

These stamps worth nothing now.
These stamps are worth nothing now.

He looked fearfully because he had seen a ghost.
He looked frightened because he had seen a ghost.

Tom looked angry at me because I had broken his valuable vase.
Tom looked angrily at me because I had broken his valuable vase.

I am no afraid of any threats.
I am not afraid of any threats.

We have not money left.
We have no money left.

Tims was dangerous because his sampan had overturned.
Tims was in danger because his sampan had overturned.

Joanna was painful when her boyfriend left her.
Joanna was in pain when her boyfriend left her.

We are necessary to help the poor in our community.
It is necessary for us to help the poor in our community.

We are not easy to find a good school in Singapore.
It is not easy to find a good school in Singapore.

I have watched some films late.
I have watched some films lately.

I was only late five minutes but Mary was already gone.
I was only five minutes late but Mary was already gone.

Lorna likes the kitten. I like it either
Lorna likes the kitten. I like it too.

Edward never went to a party, so did David.
Edward never went to a party, neither did David.

I will go but I have not finished my homework too.
I will go but I have not finished my homework yet.

She is yet talking on the phone.
She is still talking on the phone.

Michelle is working hardly for the test.
Michelle is working hard for the test.

Veronica is a hard student.
Veronica is a hard-working student

He worked enough hard that he finally became a billionaire.
He worked so hard that he finally became a billionaire.

We have never been to so a nice place.
We have never been to such a nice place.

Common Mistakes (4)

Mr. Teow arrived at the office lately this morning. - INCORRECT SENTENCE
Mr. Teow arrived at the office late this morning. - CORRECT SENTENCE

Joseph did not go to the concert last week, I did not go too.
Joseph did not go to the concert last week, I did not go either.

We have been waiting for half an hour. She has still not come.
We have been waiting for half an hour. She has not come yet.

The hinges of the door had rusted. We had to push hardly to open it.
The hinges of the door had rusted. We had to push hard to open it.

The sea was very rough that the ferry service had to be suspended.
The sea was so rough that the ferry service had to be suspended.

It is unkind of him to ask a little child to do such many things in a day.
It is unkind of him to ask a little child to do so many things in a day.

The three women quarrelled for more than an hour angrily outside the boutique.
The three women quarrelled angrily for more than an hour outside the boutique.

You should describe what has happened detailly.
You should describe what has happened in detail.

I received a letter from my sister two days before.
I received a letter from my sister two days ago.

The driver, as well as four passengers, were injured in the head-on collision.
The driver, as well as four passengers, was injured in the head-on collision.

More than one convict were sentenced to death.
More than one convict was sentenced to death.

One of my students have sent me a birthday card.
One of my students has sent me a birthday card.

Sophie is one of the most intelligent students that has ever existed in our school.
Sophie is one of the most intelligent students that have ever existed in our school.

Reading detective stories are my favorite passtime.
Reading detective stories is my favorite passtime.

" Snow White and the seven Dwarfs " are a very popular fairy tale.
" Snow White and the seven Dwarfs " is a very popular fairy tale.

Five hundred miles are a long distance.
Five hundred miles is a long distance.

Either you or he are the one who stole the watch.
Either you or he is the one who stole the watch.

The quality of these products is more superior than that of the others.
The quality of these products is superior to that of the others.

The living standard in Japan is higher than Korea.
The living standard in Japan is higher than that in Korea.

My younger brother is taller than me.
My younger brother is taller than I.

Which of the two girls is the most intelligent.
Which of the two girls is more intelligent.

The patient felt much better in the morning than afternoon.
The patient felt much better in the morning than in the afternoon.

What we need is the most perfect plan.
What we need is a most perfect plan.

Which of these two shirts do you prefer more.
Which of these two shirts do you prefer.

No sooner had I arrived home when it began to rain.
No sooner had I arrived home than it began to rain.

Mike found it more easier to work out a mathematical problem than to write a poem.
Mike found it easier to work out a mathematical problem than to write a poem.

Charles loves Angel more than Simpson.
Charles loves Angel more than Simpson does.

I saw where my mistakes lay and how to make up for them.
I saw where my mistakes lay and how I could make up for them.

My archrival, Frankie, he scored very high marks in the last test..
Frankie, my archrival, scored very high marks in the last test.

I felt very difficult to deal with this physics problem.
I found it very difficult to deal with this physics problem.

The general meeting is scheduled to be held this afternoon at three.
The general meeting is scheduled to be held at three this afternoon.

She ran into her boyfriend yesterday morning in Fair Avenue..
She ran into her boyfriend in Fair Avenue yesterday morning.

Having not finished her housework, Mrs. Smith could not go window-shopping with her friends.
Not having finished her housework, Mrs. Smith could not go window-shopping with her friends.

All the students are in interested in joining the club.
No student is interested in joining the club.

I do not understand what is he talking about.
I do not understand what he is talking about.

There were three thousands of spectators watching the
final match.
There were three thousand spectators watching the
final match.

I've got many homeworks to do.
I've got a lot of homework to do.

I went shopping at CauseWay Bay yesterday and bought a trousers.
I went shopping at CauseWay Bay yesterday and bought a pair of trousers.

There are more than four million peoples in Singapore..
There are more than four million people in Singapore.

I feel boring.
I feel bored.

Would you give me some advices before I go to the interview.
Would you give me some advice before I go to the interview.

We went fishing last Saturday and John got five fishes.
We went fishing last Saturday and John got five fish.

Typhoon Andrew has caused widespread damages to the crops.
Typhoon Andrew has caused widespread damage to the crops.

Congratulation ! You have passed the driving test at
long last.
Congratulations ! You have passed the driving test at
long last.

I am afraid that this is the dirty mean to gain success.
I am afraid that this is the dirty means to gain success.

Chinese are more conservative than English.
The Chinese are more conservative than the English.

Cow is a useful animal.
The cow is a useful animal.

I have got headache.
I have got a headache.

Comparing with that in Singapore, the living standard in Hong Kong is very high.
Compared with that in Singapore, the living standard in Hong Kong is very high.

Finishing his homework, Walters went to the football pitch with his friends.
After finishing his homework, Walters went to the football pitch with his friends.

Sophia felt embarassing when I asked her how old she was.
Sophia felt embarassed when I asked her how old she was.

It is more hygenic to drink boiling water.
It is more hygenic to drink boiled water.

I have cut my hair at the barber's once a month.
I have my hair cut at he barber's once a month.

I am sorry to have kept you waited.
I am sorry to have kept you waiting.

Common Mistakes (3)

He got 87 points in chemistry. - INCORRECT SENTENCE
He got an 87 in chemistry. - CORRECT SENTENCE

Chang is a popular name in Taiwan.
Chang is a common name in Taiwan.

I'm a public servant.
I work for the government.

She is pure.
She is naive.

I have a question to you.
I have a question to ask you.

This book deserves to read several times.
This book deserves to be read several times.

I like red tea.
I like black tea.

History repeats.
History repeats itself.

I make a rule of going to bed early and get up early.
I make a rule to keep early hours.

I went to the sea.
I went to the beach.

The door was shut when I returned home.
The door was closed when I returned home.

Shall we sit in that sofa ?
Shall we sit on that sofa ?

This steak is soft.
This steak is tender.

His new book will be sold well.
His new book will sell well.

There're a lot of sparrows stopping on the telephone lines.
There're a lot of sparrows sitting on the telephone lines.

He hit me strongly.
He hit me hard.

My pay cannot support my living.
My pay is not enough to live on.

He wants to establish a sweet home.
He wants to establish a happy home.

Why don't you take a driving license.
Why don't you get a driving license.

Last year I went to Seattle. I liked there very much.
Last year I went to Seattle. I liked it very much.

My mother likes to drink thick tea.
My mother likes her tea strong.

I think it will not rain tomorrow.
I don't think it will rain tomorrow.

Is your camera this kind ?
Is your camera like this ?

His house was struck by thunder last night.
His house was struck by lightning last night.

My grandmother lived to eighty-five.
My grandmother lived to be eighty-five.

I have a lot of work to be done.
I have a lot of work to do.

To drink too much is bad for one's health.
Drinking too much is bad for one's health.

Today is hot.
It's hot today.

My father will be home today afternoon.
My father will be home this afternoon.

What is the total sum ?
How much does it come to ?

We changed our train at Woodland.
We changed trains at Woodland.

I traveled to Europe.
I made a trip to Europe.

I very like swimming.
I like swimming very much.

Wait for your turn, please.
Wait your turn, please.

What time is your watch.
What time is it by your watch.

I don't know what did he say.
I don't know what he said.

What do you feel now ?
How do you feel now?

What season do you like best ?
Which season do you like best ?

Welcome you to Taiwan.
Welcome to Taiwan.

Where is the capital of Australia.
What is the capital of Australia.

He has a wide shoulders.
He has a broad shoulders.

We enjoyed the cool wind.
We enjoyed the cool breeze.

I bought this book with 50 dollars.
I bought this book for 50 dollars.

He played all yesterday without working.
He played all yesterday instead of working.

Don't work too hard.
Yes, I won't
Don't work too hard.
All right, I won't

What will you do over the weekend ? I will play tennis with Tom on Sunday.
What are you going to do over the weekend ? I am going to play tennis with Tom on Sunday.

My father bought me a black small leather wallet yesterday.
My father bought me a small black leather wallet yesterday.

Most of the time, it is difficult for Sam in finishing his work on time.
Most of the time, it is difficult for Sam to finish his work on time.

These thugs are quite capable to do really hasty things.
These thugs are quite capable of doing really hasty things.

I very enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.

If you determine to make the grade in the entrance examination, you must work extra hard.
If you are determined to make the grade in the entrance examination, you must work extra hard.

Please handle this gold watch carefully. It worths more than five thousand dollars.
Please handle this gold watch carefully. It is worth more than five thousand dollars.

I ran into Maria yesterday morning. She looked healthily.
I ran into Maria yesterday morning. She looked healthy.

I am the only son in the family. I have not brothers.
I am the only son in the family. I have no brothers.

My borther has been busy in preparing for his final examination.
My brother has been busy preparing for his final examination.

As the citizens of Hong Kong, we are necessary to help the police in their fight against crime.
As the citizens of Hong Kong, it is necessary for us to help the police in their fight against crime.

The children were very dangerous as the knife-wielding madman was running amok in the kindergarten.
The children were in great danger as the knife-wielding madman was running amok in the kindergarten.

Common Mistakes (2)

I visited her ill mother in the hospital. - INCORRECT SENTENCE
I visited her sick mother in the hospital. - CORRECT SENTENCE

There is a limit in my patience.
There is a limit to my patience.

Please wait inside the white line.
Please wait behind the white line.

Is your house insured for fire ?
Is your house insured against fire ?

I introduce Mr. Smith to you !
May I introduce Mr. Smith to you !

She was first prize.
She took first prize.

Do you have any automatic camera ? Yes I have it .
Do you have any automatic camera ? Yes, I have one.

That was a traffic accident on my way here. It is why I was late.
That was a traffic accident on my way here. That is why I was late.

She is wearing blue jeans pants.
She is wearing blue jeans.

Keep the right.
Keep to the right.

Last night I didn't keep my diary.
Last night I didn't write anything in my diary.

The train was late about an hour.
The train was about an hour late.

Leave your hand from the end of the wire.
Let go of the end of the wire.

I was ten minutes late for the English lesson.
I was ten minutes late for the English class.

How many Chinese letters do you know ?
How many Chinese characters do you know ?

He is fighting for his life.
He is fighting for his bread.

Why do you say like that.
Why do you say that.

I have no house to live.
I have no house to live in.

What a dirty face ! Look at the mirror.
What a dirty face ! Look in the mirror.

He lost conciousness for a long time.
He was unconcious for a long time.

He made a world record.
He set a world record.

Her marriage was happy.
Her married life was happy.

Maybe I think so.
I think so.

The club's members are 55.
There are 55 members in the club.

They didn't understand my mind.
They didn't understand what I was thinking.

This is where you mistake.
This is where you are mistaken.

I felt good mood.
I am in a good mood.

Please allow me more two hours.
Please allow me two more hours.

My watch doesn't move at all. I must get it checked up.
My watch isn't running, I must get it checked up.

We moved house to Johor last month.
We moved to Johor last month.

He is our common friend.
He is our mutual friend.

It was my first time to go abroad.
It was the first time I had gone abroad.

While walking along the street, I met my friend.
While walking along the street, I met a friend of mine.

My this book cost me nearly 300 dollars.
This book of mine cost me nearly 300 dollars.

My room is narrow.
My room is small.

I'll visit my native place for the first time in ten years this summer.
I'll visit my birth place for the first time in ten years this summer.

Here is a pair of nice shoes.
Here is a nice pair of shoes.

Is this seat empty.
Is this seat taken.

Don't be noisy.
Be quiet.

It is not of only your business.
It is none of your business.

I will do anything I can do for you.
I will do anything I can for you.

This is the key of my room.
This is the key to my room.

I am going to take a two-year course of English.
I am going to take a two-year course in English.

He treated me very friendly.
He treated me in a friendly way.

This is the largest department store of the world.
This is the largest department store in the world.

It's a novel of three volumes.
It's a novel in three volumes.

He is a student of Harvard University.
He is a student at Harvard University.

Do you know the meaning of the word of bumpy ?
Do you know the meaning of the word bumpy ?

He had a child of his former wife.
He had a child by his former wife.

She married old.
She married late in life.

I saw it on the newspapers.
I read ( saw ) it in the newspapers.

He is a liar, and you are one too.
He is a liar, and you are too.

Open page 20 of your books.
Open your books to page 20.

Our Chinese students are diligent.
We Chinese students are diligent.

Don't make the office out of order.
Don't leave the office in a mess.

I like to paint this door to black.
I'd like to paint this door black.

I have a Chinese pen friend.
I have a Chinese pen pal.

Give me a phone.
Give me a phone call.

Is there any place for me in the car.
Is there any room for me in the car.

Let's play together.
Why don't you come over ?

I was very pleasant today.
I had a very good time today.

Common Mistakes (1)

It's seven twenty o'clock. - INCORRECT SENTENCE
It's seven twenty. - CORRECT SENTENCE

Your coat is broken.
Your coat is torn.

Susan didn't make a fault anyway.
Susan didn't make a mistake anyway.

Would you mind posting this letter for me ? Yes, certainly.
Would you mind mailing this letter for me ? Of course not. OR ( Not at all )

He becomes better.
He got better.

We'll have a hearing test tomorrow.
We'll have a listening test tomorow.

I recommend you to take a long vation.
I recommend that you take a long vacation.

The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's about eleven now, Hurry up!
The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's nearly ( almost ) eleven now, Hurry up!

It was still bright outside.
It was still light outside.

Come to here
Come here.

Common students in US don't wear a uniform.
The average students in US don't wear a uniform.

Who cooked this salad ?
Who made this salad ?

Different from me, she is proficient in English.
Unlike me, she is proficient in English.

Little children are difficult to understand that.
It is difficult for children to understand that.

Don't step on the grass.
Keep off the grass.

I get my salary twice a month.
I get paid twice a month..

Would you like a drink ?
Would you like something to drink ?

Let me examine your pulse.
Let me feel your pulse.

I have no exercise talent.
I am not athletic.

Don't expect me too much.
Don't expect too much from (of ) me.

I know his face.
I know him by sight.

I forget my hat in the house.
I left my hat in the house.

Lend me some money, for instance 500 dollars, Lin.
Lend me some money, say 500 dollars, Lin.

I have a free time.
I am free.

The sun rises from the East.
The sun rises in the East.

The thief got in from the window.
The thief got in through the window.

Let's begin from page 10.
Let's begin at ( on ) page 10.

Did you attend college ?
Did you go to college ?

I wanted to go to Europe last summer, but it was too expensive so I gave up to go.
I wanted to go to Europe last summer, but it was too expensive so I gave up the idea.

I'll go there at three.
I'll be there at three.

I am going back my home.
I am going home.

His temperature went down.
His temperature came down.

I like green color.
I like green.

Today's newspapers has his articles on Taiwan.
Today's newspapers carries his articles on Taiwan.

Give me money, if you have.
Give me money, if you have any.

You'll have a cold if you sleep with your window open.
You'll catch a cold if you sleep with your window open.

Somebody's knocking on the door. Go and see who he is.
Somebody's knocking on the door. Go and see who it is.

The head office is in Taipei.
The main office is in Taipei.

He cannot read and write.
He cannot read or write.

Where is here.
Where are we.

How heavy are you ?
How much do you weigh ?

He was talking in a high voice.
He was talking loud.

Most Westerners have high noses.
Most Westerners have long noses.

Are you home tomorrow.
Are you at home tomorrow.

How does she look like ?
What does she look like ?

This is the way how I did it.
This is how I did it. or This is the way I did it.

How do you think about Taiwan.
What do you think about Taiwan.

How can I do ?
What can I do ?

" How long have you been in Taiwan ?"
" Six months "
" How about Chinese food ?"
" How long have you been in Taiwan ? "
" Six months "
" Do you like Chinese food ?"

English proverbs (4)

A bad cause requires many words.
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush.
A broken hand works, but not a broken heart.
A cat has nine lives.
A clear conscience is a soft pillow.
A close friend can become a close enemy.
A closed mouth catches no flies.
A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs.
A courtyard common to all will be swept by none.
A dimple on the chin, the devil within.
A dog is wiser than a woman; it does not bark at is master.
A drink precedes a story.
A drowning man is not troubled by rain.
A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.
A forest is in an acorn.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A friend's eye is a good mirror.
A good denial, the best point in law.
A good husband is healthy and absent.
A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
A healthy man is a successful man.
A hedge between keeps friendship green.
A hen is heavy when carried far.
A hound's food is in its legs.
A house without a dog or a cat is the house of a scoundrel.
A hungry man is an angry man.
A lie travels round the world while truth is putting her boots on.
A little too late, is much too late.
A loan though old is not gift.
A lock is better than suspicion.
A man does not seek his luck, luck seeks its man.
A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance to steal.
A man may well bring a horse to the water, but he cannot make him drink.
A man should live if only to satisfy his curiosity.
A monkey never thinks her baby's ugly.
A new broom sweeps clean, but the old brush knows all the corners.
A penny for your thoughts.
A penny saved is a penny gained.
A poor beauty finds more lovers than husbands.
A prudent man does not make the goat his gardener.
A rumor goes in one ear and out many mouths.
A silent mouth is melodious.
A single Russian hair outweighs half a Pole.
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
A son is a son till he gets him a wife,
But a daughter's a daughter the rest of your life.
A spo

Contemporary English

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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

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