Entry 1
A big ask
Meaning A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Tod had only just got home from his overnight flight when his boss told him to get back to the airport and fly to Sydney. That was a big ask.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 27 entries
Excess
What does "Excess" mean?
A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
A big ask
Australia.
Add insult to injury
The United Kingdom - 17th century.
Bells and whistles
USA, late 20th century. First used in the computing world to refer to machines with lots of new features. Probably ultimately deriving as an allusion to fairgound organs, which have numerous bells and whistles.
Binge watch
USA, late 20th century.
Ear popping
USA, early 20th century.
Everything but the kitchen sink
Britain, late-19th century.
Feeding frenzy
USA, mid 20th century.
Fire the imagination
Go ape shit
Originally USA (as ‘go ape’). Britain, 1950s (as ‘go ape shit’). Derived from the habit of apes of throwing faeces at adversaries when agitated.
Go for broke
USA, mid 20th century.
Have a blast
USA, mid 20th century.
Head over heels
Britain, 18th century.
Hell bent
USA, 18th century.
Help yourself
In the heat of the moment
Knee jerk reaction
Britain, 19th century. Driving from the medical test involving tapping the knee.
Let your hair down
Britain, 17th century.
Like a chicken with its head cut off
USA, late 19th century.
Lose your head
Britain, late 18th century.
Over the top
Britain, 1920s. The literal ‘over the top’ relating to trench warfare originated a few years earlier.
Paint the town red
USA, 19th century.
Pedal to the metal
USA, 1970s
Pig out
USA, late 20th century.
Raining cats and dogs
Tour de force
Britain, 19th century.
Variety is the spice of life
Britain, 18th century.
Wild and woolly
USA, late 19th century.
Entry 2
Add insult to injury
Meaning To further a loss. To make a bad situation worse.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- She jilted him at the altar, but to add insult to injury, she later married his brother.
Pronunciation
Entry 3
Bells and whistles
Meaning Attractive additional features or trimmings.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- It was expensive to get all the optional extras for my new car, but I decided that I wasn't going to get another for a few years so why not go for all the bells and whistles?
Pronunciation
Entry 4
Binge watch
Meaning Watch multiple episodes of a television programme in succession.
Usage Initially the USA, but quickly spreading Worldwide.
Example
- We started off just planning to watch an episode of The Sopranos but ended up binge-watching the whole series.
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Ear popping
Meaning Sound that is loud or that catches the attention.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Led Zeppelin were good on stage and ear-poppingly loud.
Pronunciation
Entry 6
Everything but the kitchen sink
Meaning Everything imaginable.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I said she could stay for a few days but there's hardly room. She brought everything but the kitchen sink.
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Feeding frenzy
Meaning A frantic competition or exploitation - like a group shark attack.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- When Princess Diana was killed there was a feeding frenzy of journalists trying to get the story.
Pronunciation
Entry 8
Fire the imagination
Meaning Inspire with enthusiasm.
Example
- I didn't agree with Billy Graham's views but his fervent delivery really fired the imagination of those who did.
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Go ape shit
Meaning Become excessively agitated and excited.
Usage Worldwide, but not in polite company.
Example
- John had been promised the job. He went ape shit when he found out it went to one of his subordinates.
Pronunciation
Entry 10
Go for broke
Meaning Put every resource into getting a particular result.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- We needed a goal so we went for broke to score and forgot about defence.
Pronunciation
Entry 11
Have a blast
Meaning Have an especially good time.
Usage Mostly USA.
Example
- We are loving our holiday here in the West Indies. Were having a blast.
Pronunciation
Entry 12
Head over heels
Meaning Very excited, especially when in love.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- She said yes! We are to be married and I'm head over heels.
Pronunciation
Entry 13
Hell bent
Meaning Determined to achieve something at all costs.
Usage Worldwide, although more common in the USA than elsewhere.
Example
- Susie broke her ankle a mile from the end of the marathon but she was hell bent to finish and stumbled over the line on crutches.
Pronunciation
Entry 14
Help yourself
Meaning Invitation to take something freely.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- There's plenty of food for everyone - just help yourself to whatever you want.
Pronunciation
Entry 15
In the heat of the moment
Meaning In an overwhelming situation, causing you to act rashly.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- When the burglars broke in I just lashed out. I didn't think - it was just a heat of the moment reaction.
Pronunciation
Entry 16
Knee jerk reaction
Meaning A quick and automatic response.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- When Isis bombed Paris the knee-jerk reaction was to bomb them back.
Pronunciation
Entry 17
Let your hair down
Meaning Behave in a free an uninhibited manner. Usually applied to women.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Its Sharon's hen party tonight - the girls are really going to let their hair down.
Pronunciation
Entry 18
Like a chicken with its head cut off
Meaning In a frenzied manner.
Usage Worldwide, but not particularly common.
Example
- He was shouting and swearing because they had lost the contract - he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Pronunciation
Entry 19
Lose your head
Meaning Overcome by emotion and out of control.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- When the traffic warden had his car towed, Jack lost his head and hit him.
Pronunciation
Entry 20
Over the top
Meaning Excessive.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- A fine for my parking offence, that's okay, but crushing the car was over the top.
Pronunciation
Entry 21
Paint the town red
Meaning Go on a boisterous or exuberant spree
Usage Worldwide, although considered rather old fashioned language
Example
- It's the last day of term and everyone wants to party. Why don't we paint the town red?
Pronunciation
Entry 22
Pedal to the metal
Meaning To go at full speed, when driving a vehicle.
Usage Mostly USA.
Example
- Well never make it to the hospital in time at this speed. Put the pedal to the metal and hurry things up.
Pronunciation
Entry 23
Pig out
Meaning To overeat in a slovenly manner.
Usage Worldwide, but mostly by the younger generations.
Example
- I told the babysitters not to pig out but when we got back there were nine pizza boxes on the floor.
Pronunciation
Entry 24
Raining cats and dogs
Meaning Raining very heavily.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- The monsoon will be here soon - then it will rain cats and dogs.
Pronunciation
Entry 25
Tour de force
Meaning A feat of strength power or skill.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- He managed to lift the back off that truck off the ground - a real tour de force.
Pronunciation
Entry 26
Variety is the spice of life
Meaning Increased experience makes for a more exciting life.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Surfing today, bungie-jumping tomorrow. You know what they say - variety is the spice of life.
Pronunciation
Entry 27
Wild and woolly
Meaning Uncultured and lawless.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- If you are looking for entertainment that's wild and woolly, have you considered cage fighting?
Pronunciation