Entry 1
A drop in the bucket (or ocean)
Meaning A very small part of a bigger whole.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- The country’s debt has risen to a trillion pounds. Paying off a billion is just a drop in the bucket.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 18 entries
Household items
What does "Household items" mean?
A very small part of a bigger whole.
A drop in the bucket (or ocean)
The Bible.
A flash in the pan
The United Kingdom - 17th century.
A foot in the door
A skeleton in the closet (or cupboard)
The United Kingdom.
Bucket list
USA, late 20th century - popularized by the title of the film The Bucket List (2007).
Caught between two stools
14th century Britain.
Chaise Lounge
USA, late 19th century. The misspelling of ‘chaise longue’ causes some amusement in France.
China plate
Duvet day
Britain, 1990s.
Everything but the kitchen sink
Britain, late-19th century.
Get out of the wrong side of the bed
Going to hell in a handbasket
USA, 19th century.
Greasy spoon
USA, 20th century.
Kick the bucket
Britain - 18th century.
Mrs Mop
Britain. First used in the 1940s radio show ITMA.
The empty chair
Throw the towel in
USA, 1910s. The allusion is to a boxing match where throwing the towel in indicates a concession
Wardrobe malfunction
USA. First said by Justin Timberlake to explain the inadvertent exposure of Janet Jackson’s breast during the half-time show at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Entry 2
A flash in the pan
Meaning Something that fails to deliver long-term benefit after an initial success.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Ricky Valance was a one-hit wonder. Pretty much a flash in the pan you might say.
Pronunciation
Entry 3
A foot in the door
Meaning An initial inroad that may lead to greater influence in future.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I convinced them to start displaying my artwork. I’m making a loss on it but it’s a foot in the door.
Pronunciation
Entry 4
A skeleton in the closet (or cupboard)
Meaning A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.
Usage Worldwide, although the British now use ’cupboard’ and the USA still uses ’closet’.
Example
- No one in the family ever talked about Grandad being convicted of child abuse. It was the skeleton in our closet.
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Bucket list
Meaning A list of things you plan to do before you 'kick the bucket' (die). Often a list of fanciful ideas rather than of concrete plans.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- I've always wanted to go to Japan. I guess I'll add that to my bucket list.
Pronunciation
Entry 6
Caught between two stools
Meaning Finding it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
Usage Worldwide, but less commonly so that in the past.
Example
- I'd like to go to the game and stay in for the birthday party. I'm between two stools.
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Chaise Lounge
Meaning The American spelling for the piece of furniture known elsewhere as a chaise longue.
Usage USA.
Example
- You must be tired. Why don't you lie down on the chaise lounge?
Pronunciation
Entry 8
China plate
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for mate.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- We've been friends since school, haven't we my old china?
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Duvet day
Meaning A work day which an employee is allowed to spend at home relaxing.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- We'd all worked so hard getting the latest design out on time the boss rewarded us with a duvet day to do whatever we wanted.
Pronunciation
Entry 10
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 11
Get out of the wrong side of the bed
Meaning Be grumpy because you are having a bad day.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- He shouted at me for nothing. Must have got out of the wrong side of the bed.
Pronunciation
Entry 12
Going to hell in a handbasket
Meaning Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- When the British went over the top at the Somme the soldiers didn't realise they were headed for hell in a handbasket.
Pronunciation
Entry 13
Greasy spoon
Meaning A small cheap cafe selling fried food.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- We had been driving all night. A fried breakfast in a greasy spoon was just what I fancied.
Pronunciation
Entry 14
Kick the bucket
Meaning Die.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Grandad kicked the bucket last week. No real surprise - he was 96.
Pronunciation
Entry 15
Mrs Mop
Meaning traditional English name for a cleaning woman.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- I just don't have time to work full time, look after the kids and keep the house clean - perhaps I should get a Mrs. Mop.
Pronunciation
Entry 16
The empty chair
Meaning The perceived absense of someone who is recently deceased.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Some days I can forget about Jim's death for a while, then I see the empty chair and the grief comes back.
Pronunciation
Entry 17
Throw the towel in
Meaning Give up, especially to avoid further punishment when facing certain defeat.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- AltaVista tried to hang on and compete with Google, but eventually they just couldn't compete and were forced to throw the towel in.
Pronunciation
Entry 18
Wardrobe malfunction
Meaning Referring to an item of clothing slipping out of place to expose part of the body.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Her top slipped down in front of the boys. She said it was a wardrobe malfunction but I think it was deliberate.
Pronunciation