Entry 1
A bigger bang for your buck
Meaning Better value for your money.
Usage Worldwide, but overused to the point of cliche.
Example
- Those Chinese fireworks are so cheap. We literally get a bigger bang for our buck.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 18 entries
Cliche
What does "Cliche" mean?
Better value for your money.
A bigger bang for your buck
A piece of cake
As high as a kite
1. Britain - 17th century. It probably refers to Red Kites, birds that were common in the UK in the 17th century, rather than children’s kites. 2. USA.
Back to the drawing board
USA, 20th century.
Between a rock and a hard place
USA, 20th century. Sometimes mistakenly thought to come from Homer’s Odyssey.
Bite the dust
Britain, 18th century. Probably influenced by a biblical passage.
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Curiosity killed the cat
USA, late 19th century. Probably deriving from a much older British phrase - ‘care killed the cat’.
Dead ringer
American, late 19th century.
Don’t cry over spilt milk
Britain, 17th century proverb.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Britain, 17th century. From a poem by John Milton.
Go out on a limb
USA, 19th century.
In the bag
USA,, early 20th century.
Know the ropes
Britain, 19th century. Possibly of nautical origin.
Practice makes perfect
Britain, 18th century proverb.
Saved by the bell
Britain, 18th century. Not connected, as is often thought, to bells attatched to coffins.
The apple of my eye
Britain, 9th century - making it one of the oldest phrases in the language that is still in regular use in its original form.
Zip your lip
USA, 1940s. Deriving from the allusion to closing a garment with a zipper.
Entry 2
A piece of cake
Meaning A task that can be accomplished very easily.
Usage Very widely and commonly used, to the point of being considered a cliche.
Example
- Jumping that two-foot fence? No problem - a piece of cake.
Pronunciation
Entry 3
As high as a kite
Meaning 1. Very high up in the sky. 2. High on drugs or excitement.
Usage 1. In the UK. 2. Worldwide.
Example
- 1. The Petronas Tower is as high as a kite. 2. She was ecstatic that she won the gold medal. She was high as a kite afterwards.
Pronunciation
Entry 4
Back to the drawing board
Meaning Said when a plan fails and it's time to start again and make a new plan.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- That battery hovercraft was a nice idea but it just didn't work. I guess it's back to the drawing board.
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning Between two unwelcome options.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- The only choices I have are poverty or a boring job - I'm between a rock and a hard place.
Pronunciation
Entry 6
Bite the dust
Meaning Die, especially in a violent or sudden way.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bit the dust at the end of the movie.
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- My pension might not be enough to live on when I'm retired, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Pronunciation
Entry 8
Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I heard a noise outside and went to have a look. It turns out I should have ignored it, it was a bear. Curiosity killed the cat they say.
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Dead ringer
Meaning An exact duplicate.
Usage Most common in the USA, but used worldwide too.
Example
- I can't tell the twins apart. They're dead ringers of each other.
Pronunciation
Entry 10
Don't cry over spilt milk
Meaning Don't fret pointlessly about some mistake or loss when it can't be remedied.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Well, the vase is smashed. There's no point crying over spilt milk.
Pronunciation
Entry 11
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning An encouragement to be optimistic. Even bad events have a good side to them.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Okay he wasn't faithful but at least you found out now rather than after the wedding - every cloud has a silver lining.
Pronunciation
Entry 12
Go out on a limb
Meaning Take a risk to support someone or something.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- He knew his boss was an army man, so saying that he was against the war was really going out on a limb.
Pronunciation
Entry 13
In the bag
Meaning Something that is secured.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I knew when they sent all the other interviewees home that my job application was in the bag.
Pronunciation
Entry 14
Know the ropes
Meaning To understand how to do something.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I'm being supervised by Jim for now, but as soon as I know the ropes I'll be working on my own.
Pronunciation
Entry 15
Practice makes perfect
Meaning Diligent practice leads to expertise.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- 10,000 hours needed to make a top class pianist. Keep going - practice makes perfect.
Pronunciation
Entry 16
Saved by the bell
Meaning Saved by a last minute intervention.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- That solar panel scheme was just about to be cancelled, then an environmentalist minister came in and it was saved by the bell.
Pronunciation
Entry 17
The apple of my eye
Meaning Someone who is cherished above all others.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- She's my only child - the apple of my eye.
Pronunciation
Entry 18
Zip your lip
Meaning Say nothing; keep your mouth shut. Often shortened to 'zip it'.
Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.
Example
- I saw Kevin put sneezing powder in the staff room but he told me to zip my lip about it or it would spoil the joke.
Pronunciation