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Humor:
Teacher: I hope I didn't see you looking at Maria's answers.
Student: I sure hope you didn't, either!
Idioms start with:
(M, N, O, P)
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a widely used saying or expression containing
a figurative
meaning that differs from the phrase’s literal
meaning. The word
“idiom” comes from the Greek word
“idioma,” meaning peculiar phrasing.
For example, “under the weather” is an idiom universally
understood to mean sick or ill. If you say you’re feeling
“under the weather,” you
don’t literally mean that you’re
standing underneath the rain.
Idioms
often summarize or reflect a commonly held cultural
experience, even if
that experience is now out of date or
antiquated. For instance, you
might say that someone
should “bite the bullet” when they need to do
something
undesirable. The phrase’s origin refers to wounded soldiers
literally biting down on a bullet to avoid screaming during a
wartime operation.
That common occurrence from the past
resulted in a phrase we
still use today. These phrases are
also unique to their language of
origin. In other words,
English idioms are different from Spanish or
French idioms.
How to Use Idioms in Writing
Idioms
are a type of figurative language writers can use to
add dynamism and
character to otherwise stale writing.
Writers can also use idioms to:
Add humor:
Idiomatic expressions can help transform flat
descriptions with the
help of a funny turn-of-phrase. For
instance, rather than describing someone as not very smart,
you could say they are “not the sharpest tool
in the shed”
or “not the brightest star in the sky.” In addition to conveying
that the subject in question is not intelligent, the inherent
comparison of a person’s brain to a toolbox or a star is
unexpected and humorous.
Engage the reader:
By inserting an idiomatic phrase into
your writing, you force the
reader to shift from think inliterally
to abstractly. This can help
focus and excite the reader, as
they must activate a more conceptual
part of their brain to
comprehend the idiom’s meaning. For example, the
idiom
“biting off more than they can chew” describes someone
taking on a
challenging task. Using this idiom can
encourage the reader to conjure a
visual image in their
head.
Evoke a specific region:
Certain idioms can be unique to a
particular group of people or world
area. For instance, “that
dog won’t hunt” is a common idiom in the
Southern United
States that means something doesn’t work or make sense.
On the other hand, if someone were to refer to a mess or a
debacle as a
“dog’s dinner,” they are likely British. In fiction
writing, the
strategic employment of specific idioms can
often add a regional flavor
and authenticity to your
characters.
Share a point of view:
Idioms can express commonly
shared or universal ideas, so there are
often dozens of
idioms that apply to the same concept. However,
depending
on which idiom you choose, you can convey an entirely
different attitude or point of view
about the subject. For
example, several idioms express the concept of
death. If
you were to write that someone “passed away,” you are
using an
idiom to describe death in a graceful, delicate way.
Alternatively, you
could say that a person “kicked the
bucket,” a much cruder way of
describing the act of dying.
Though both idioms ultimately mean the same
thing, they
convey entirely different attitudes toward death.
Simplify complex ideas:
Often, idioms can help express a
large or abstract idea in a way that
is concise and easy to
understand. For instance, you could say that two
things are
impossible to compare to one another because they
possess
different traits or meanings. Or you could say it’s
like “comparing
apples to oranges.” In this case, using an
idiom helps express the same
idea in a much simpler way.
~ M ~
- Mad as a badger
- If someone is as mad as a badger, they are crazy.
- Mad as a bag of hammers
- Someone who is as mad as a bag of hammers is crazy or
- stupid. ('Daft as a bag of hammers' is also used.)
- Mad as a cut snake
- (AU) One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of
- reason, is crazy, out of control.
- Mad as a hornet
- (USA) If someone is as mad as a hornet, they are very
- angry indeed.
- Mad as a March hare
- Someone who is excitable and unpredictable is as mad
- as a March hare.
- Mad as a wet hen
- If someone is as mad as a wet hen, they are extremely angry.
- Made in the shade
- One has an easy time in life or in a given situation.
- Finding things working to one's benefit.
- Made of money
- If you are made of money, you have a lot of money.
- Mailed fist
- Someone who rules or controls something with a mailed
- fist is in absolute control and
tolerates no dissent.
- Major league
- Something major league is very important.
- Make a better fist
- If someone makes a better fist of doing something,
- they do a better job.
- Make a clean breast
- If someone makes a clean breast, they confess in full
- to something they have done.
- Make a killing
- If you make a killing, you do something that makes you
- a lot of money.
- Make a meal
- If someone makes a meal of something, they spend too
- long doing it or make it look more difficult than it really is.
- Make a mint
- If someone is making a mint, they are making a lot of money.
- Make a monkey of someone
- If you make a monkey of someone, you make them look foolish.
- Make a mountain out of a molehill
- If somebody makes a mountain out of a molehill, they
- exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem.
- Make a pig's ear
- If you make a pig's ear of something, you make a mess of it.
- Make a pitch
- If you make a pitch for something, you make a bid, offer or other attempt to get it.
- Make a request
- If you request something, or make a request, you are asking for something you want or need.
- Make a song and dance
- (UK) If someone makes a song and dance, they make
- an unnecessary fuss about something unimportant.
- Make a virtue out of necessity
- If you make a virtue out of necessity, you make the best
- of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation.
- Make an inquiry
- If you make an inquiry, you ask for general information about something.
- Make bets in a burning house
- (USA) If people are making bets in a burning house,
- they are engaged in futile activity
while serious problems
- around them are getting worse.
- Make ends meet
- If somebody finds it hard to make ends meet, they have
- problems living on the money they earn.
- Make hay
- If you make hay, or may hay while the sun shines, you take
- advantage of an opportunity as soon as it arises and do
- not waste time.
- Make my day
- If something makes your day, it satisfies you or makes you happy.
- Make or break
- A make or break decision, stage, etc, is a crucial one that will determine the success or failure of the whole venture.
- Make out like a bandit
- (USA) If someone is extremely successful in a venture,
- they make out like a bandit.
- Make waves
- If someone makes waves, they cause a lot of trouble.
- Make you spit
- If something makes you spit, it irritates you or makes
- you angry.
- Make your blood boil
- If something makes your blood boil, it makes you very angry.
- Make your flesh crawl
- If something makes your flesh crawl, it really scares or
- revolts you. ('Make your flesh creep' is an alternative.
- 'Make your skin crawl' is also used.)
- Make your hair stand on end
- If something makes your hair stand on end, it terrifies you.
- Make your toes curl
- If something makes your toes curl, it makes you feel very uncomfortable, shocked or embarrassed.
- Make yourself scarce
- If someone makes themselves scarce, they go away
- from a place, especially to avoid trouble or so that they
- can't be found.
- Man Friday
- From 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to an assistant or companion, usually a capable one. The common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'. (Also, 'right-hand man'. )
- Man in the street
- The man in the street is an idiom to describe ordinary people, especially when talking about their opinions and ideas.
- Man of his word
- A man of his word is a person who does what he says
- and keeps his promises.
- Man of letters
- A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts
- and literature, and often a writer too.
- Man of parts
- A man of parts is a person who is talented in a number
- of different areas or ways.
- Man of straw
- A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is
- a man of straw.
- Man of the cloth
- A man of the cloth is a priest.
- Man on the Clapham omnibus
- (UK) The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary
- person in the street.
- Man proposes, God disposes
- Your fate lies in the hands of God.
- Man upstairs
- When people refer to the man upstairs, they are referring
- to God.
- Man's best friend
- This is an idiomatic term for dogs.
- Man's man
- A man's man is a man who does things enjoyed by
- men and is respected by other men.
- Many a slip twixt cup and lip
- There's many a slip twixt cup and lip means that many
- things can go wrong before something is achieved.
- Many hands make light work
- This idiom means that when everyone gets involved in
- something, the work gets done quickly.
- Many happy returns
- This expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday.
- Many moons ago
- A very long time ago.
- March to the beat of your own drum
- If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do
- things the way they want without taking other people
- into consideration.
- Mark my words
- Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of
- seriousness to what the speaker is
about to say when
- talking about the future.
- Mark someone's card
- If you mark someone's card, you correct them in a forceful and prompt manner when they say something wrong.
- Marked man
- A marked man is a person who is being targeted by people who want to do them harm or cause them trouble.
- Matter of life and death
- If something is a matter of life and death, it is extremely important.
- Mealy-mouthed
- A mealy-mouthed person doesn't say what they mean clearly.
- Meat and drink
- If something is meat and drink to you, you enjoy it and are naturally good at it, though many find it difficult.
- Meet someone halfway
- If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions.
- Meet your expectations
- If something doesn't meet your expectations, it means that it wasn't as good as you had thought it was going to be; a disappointment.
- Meet your Maker
- If someone has gone to meet their Maker, they have died.
- Meet your match
- If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at least as good if not better than you are at something.
- Man Friday
- From 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to an assistant or companion, usually a capable one. The common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'. (Also, 'right-hand man'. )
- Man in the street
- The man in the street is an idiom to describe ordinary people, especially when talking about their opinions and ideas.
- Man of his word
- A man of his word is a person who does what he says
- and keeps his promises.
- Man of letters
- A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts
- and literature, and often a writer too.
- Man of means
- A man, or woman, of means is wealthy.
- Man of parts
- A man of parts is a person who is talented in a number
- of different areas or ways.
- Man of straw
- A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is
- a man of straw.
- Man of the cloth
- A man of the cloth is a priest.
- Man on the Clapham omnibus
- (UK) The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary
- person in the street.
- Man proposes, God disposes
- Your fate lies in the hands of God.
- Man upstairs
- When people refer to the man upstairs, they are referring
- to God.
- Man's best friend
- This is an idiomatic term for dogs.
- Man's man
- A man's man is a man who does things enjoyed by
- men and is respected by other men.
- Many a slip twixt cup and lip
- There's many a slip twixt cup and lip means that many
- things can go wrong before something is achieved.
- Many hands make light work
- This idiom means that when everyone gets involved in
- something, the work gets done quickly.
- Many happy returns
- This expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday.
- Many moons ago
- A very long time ago.
- March to the beat of your own drum
- If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do
- things the way they want without taking other people
- into consideration.
- Mark my words
- Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of
- seriousness to what the speaker is
about to say when
- talking about the future. You often hear drunks say it
- before they deliver some particularly spurious nonsense.
- Mark someone's card
- If you mark someone's card, you correct them in a forceful and prompt manner when they say something wrong.
- Marked man
- A marked man is a person who is being targeted by people who want to do them harm or cause them trouble.
- Matter of life and death
- If something is a matter of life and death, it is extremely important.
- Mealy-mouthed
- A mealy-mouthed person doesn't say what they mean clearly.
- Meat and drink
- If something is meat and drink to you, you enjoy it and are naturally good at it, though many find it difficult.
- Meet someone halfway
- If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions.
- Meet your expectations
- If something doesn't meet your expectations, it means that
- it wasn't as good as you had thought it was going to be; a disappointment.
- Meet your Maker
- If someone has gone to meet their Maker, they have died.
- Meet your match
- If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at least
- as good if not better than you are at something.
- Megaphone diplomacy
- If negotiations between
countries or parties are held through
- press releases and announcements, this is megaphone
- diplomacy, aiming to force the other party into
adopting
- a desired position.
- Melt your heart
- If something melts your heart, it affects you emotionally
- and you cannot control the feeling.
- Melting pot
- A melting pot is a place where people from many ethnicity
- and nationalities live together.
- Memory like an elephant
- 'An elephant never forgets' is a saying, so if a person has a memory like an elephant, he or she has a very good memory indeed.
- Method in his madness
- If there's method in someone's madness, they do things in
- a strange and unorthodox way, but manage to get results.
- Mexican standoff
- When there is a deadlock in strategy and neither side can
- do anything that will ensure victory, it's a Mexican standoff.
- Mickey Mouse
- If something is Mickey Mouse, it is intellectually trivial or
- not of a very high standard.
- Midas touch
- If someone has the Midas touch, they make a lot of money
- out of any scheme they try.
- Middle of nowhere
- If someone says that he/she is in the middle of nowhere,
- he/she means that he/she is not sure where he/she is.
- Might and main
- This means with all your
effort and strength.
- As he failed in the previous exam,the student tried might
- and main to pass the next one.
- Mighty oaks from little acorns grow
- Big or great things start very small.
- Mile a minute
- To do something very quickly. For example:
- He was talking a mile a minute.
- Millstone round your neck
- A millstone around your neck is a problem that prevents
- you from doing what you want to do.
- Mince words
- If people mince words, or mince their words,
- they don't say what they really mean clearly.
- Mind over matter
- This idiom is used when someone uses their willpower
- to rise above adversity.
- Mind the gap
- Mind the gap is an
instruction used on the Underground
- in the UK to warn passengers to be
careful when leaving
- the tube or train as there is quite a distance between the
- train and the platform.
- Mind your own beeswax
- (USA) This idiom means that people should mind their
- own business and not interfere in other people's affairs.
- Mind Your P's and Q's
- If you are careful about the way you behave and are polite,
- you
- Mind your P's and Q's
- This is used as a way of telling someone to be polite and
- behave well.
- Mint condition
- If something is in mint condition, it is in perfect condition.
- Misery guts
- A misery guts is a person who's always unhappy and tries
- to make others feel negative.
- Miss is as good as a mile
- A miss is as good as a mile means that if you fail, even by
- the smallest margin, it is still a failure.
- Miss the boat
- If you miss the boat, you are too late to take advantage of an opportunity.
- Mom and pop
- (USA) A mom and pop business is a small business,
- especially if it is run by members of a
family. It can
- used in a wider sense to mean that something is small scale.
- Monday morning quarterback
- (USA) A Monday morning quarterback is someone who,
- with the benefit of hindsight, knows what should have been done in a situation.
- Money burns a hole in your pocket
- If someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they
- are eager to spend it, normally in a wasteful manner.
- Money doesn`t grow on trees
- This means that you have to work to earn money;
- it doesn't come easily or without effort.
- Money for jam
- If something's money for jam, it's a very easy way of
- making money.
- Money for old rope
- (UK) If something's money for old rope, it's a very easy
- way of making money.
- Money laundering
- If people launder money, they get money made illegally into the mainstream so that it is believed to be legitimate and clean.
- Money makes many things
- This means that money is important.
- Money talks
- This means that people can convey many messages
- with money, and many things can be discovered
about
- people by observing the way they use their money.
- Money to burn
- If someone is very rich, they have money to burn.
- Monkey business
- If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving
- naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as 'monkeying
- around'.
- Monkey see, monkey do
- This idiom means that children will learn their behavior by
- copying what they see happening around them.
- Moot point
- If something's a moot
point, there's some disagreement
- about it: a debatable point. In the
U.S., this expression
- usually means that there is no point in debating
something,
- because it just doesn't matter. An example:
- Moral fibre
- Moral fibre is the inner strength to do what you believe
- to be right in difficult situations Example: He lacked the
- moral fibre to be leader (In American English the
- correct spelling is 'fiber'.)
- Moral high ground
- If people have/take/claim/seize, etc, the moral high ground,
- they claim that their arguments, beliefs, etc, are morally
- superior to those being put forward by other people.
- More bang for your buck
- (USA) Something that will give you more bang for your
- buck will deliver more value than any other option.
- More front than Brighton
- (UK) If you have more front than Brighton, you are very
- self-confident, possibly excessively so.
- More haste, less speed
- The faster you try to do
something, the more likely you
- are to make mistakes that make you take longer than
- it would had you planned it.
- More heat than light
- If a discussion generates more heat than light, it
- doesn't provide answers, but does make people angry.
- More holes than Swiss cheese
- If something has more holes than a Swiss cheese,
- it is incomplete,and lacks many parts.
- More than one string to their bow
- A person who has more than one string to their bow
- has different talents or skills to fall back on.
- More than one way to skin a cat
- When people say that there is more than one way to skin a cat, they mean that there are different ways of achieving the same thing.
- More than you can shake a stick at
- If you have more of something than you can shake a stick at, then you have a lot.
- Mountain to climb
- If you have a mountain to climb, you have to work hard or make a lot of progress to achieve something.
- Move heaven and earth
- This expression indicates a person's determined intention of getting a work done in spite of all odds he may face. He will use all and every means to accomplish the target. Example: He moved heaven and earth to get his literary work recognised by the committee of experts.
- Move mountains
- If you would move mountains to do something, you would make any effort to achieve your aim. When people say that faith can move mountains, they mean that it can achieve a lot.
- Move the goalposts
- When people move the goalposts, they change the standards required for something to their advantage.
- Much ado about nothing
- If there's a lot of fuss about something trivial, there's much ado about nothing.
- Much of a muchness
- Things are much of a muchness when there is very little difference between them.
- Muck or nettles
- 'Muck or nettles' means 'all or nothing'.
- Mud in the fire
- The things that cannot be changed in the past that we usually forget about are mud in the fire.
- Mud in your eye
- This is a way of saying 'cheers' when you are about to drink something, normally alcohol.
