List of Idioms
All Idioms Start with “A”
About to do
something
- On
the point of doing something
She was about to leave when the phone rang.
About time
- Something that should have happened earlier
It is about time that you returned that book to me.
Absent-minded
- Forgetful
My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his key.
According to Hoyle
- Strictly by the rules, the usual and correct way to do something
According to Hoyle you are not allowed to enter this room but if nobody is here I think it will be okay.
Add up
- seem consistent or reasonable
The things that he said about his boss don’t really add up.
Ahead of time
- Early
We started the meeting ahead of time so we could go home early.
air one’s dirty laundry (linen) in public
- make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret
The dinner party became uncomfortable when the host began to air his colleagues' dirty laundry in public.
All along
- all the time
I knew all along that he would not get the promotion.
all at once
- suddenly, without warning
All at once the fire alarm rang so we had to leave the building.
all day long
- the whole day
She has been sitting and waiting for the mail to arrive all day long.
all ears
- eager to listen to someone
Okay, I`m all ears, please tell me about the party.
all in all
- in summary, after considering everything
We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful.
all of a sudden
- suddenly, without advance warning
All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain.
all right
- okay, satisfactory
She said that it would be all right for me to bring my friend to the party.
all the time
- continually
She asks for money all the time but I don’t like to give it to her.
all thumbs
- have difficulty fixing things or working with one’s hands, clumsy
He is all thumbs when it comes to fixing things around the house.
an arm and a leg
- (cost) a large amount of money
His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
Apple of one’s eye
- One’s favorite
His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
As a rule
- Usually, as a habit
As a rule I usually get up at 7:00 AM every morning.
As far as
- To the extent or degree that
As far as I know he will be here in a few minutes.
ask for trouble
- behave in a way that trouble is likely
He is asking for trouble if he misses another class.
Asleep at the switch
- Not alert to an opportunity
I think he was asleep at the switch. He didn’t even know that the job was available so he never applied for it.
As long as
- Provided that, on condition that
As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car.
As the crow flies
- By the most direct way, along a straight line between two places
As the crow flies it is about 6 kilometers between my house and my company.
As usual
- Most of the time, as is the custom
As usual, she forgot to bring her book to class.
As well as
- In addition to
Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel.
As yet
- Until now, up to the present
As yet, she has not told me about her plans to leave the company.
At cross purposes
- have opposite ways to do something, opposing goals
They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do.
At fault
- be responsible or to blame for something
The truck driver was at fault in the terrible accident.
at first
- At the beginning
At first she didn`t want to go to a movie but later she changed her mind.
At first blush
- When first seen, without careful study
At first blush he seemed like a good worker but later we had many problems with him.
At heart
- Basically, fundamentally
She is a very nice person at heart although many people dislike her.
at home
- in one’s house
I’m sorry but I left my money at home. Can you lend me some money?
At last
- Finally, after a long time
I was waiting all morning for her call but at last it came.
at loggerheads
- having a quarrel, opposing each other
We have been at loggerheads over their plans to build a new office complex.
at odds
- in disagreement
He has been at odds with his boss over the new sales territory.
at someone’s beck and call
- Always ready to serve somebody
His eldest daughter is always at his beck and call when he spends an evening at home.
at the end of one’s rope
.
She was about to leave when the phone rang.
About time
- Something that should have happened earlier
It is about time that you returned that book to me.
Absent-minded
- Forgetful
My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his key.
According to Hoyle
- Strictly by the rules, the usual and correct way to do something
According to Hoyle you are not allowed to enter this room but if nobody is here I think it will be okay.
Add up
- seem consistent or reasonable
The things that he said about his boss don’t really add up.
Ahead of time
- Early
We started the meeting ahead of time so we could go home early.
air one’s dirty laundry (linen) in public
- make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret
The dinner party became uncomfortable when the host began to air his colleagues' dirty laundry in public.
All along
- all the time
I knew all along that he would not get the promotion.
all at once
- suddenly, without warning
All at once the fire alarm rang so we had to leave the building.
all day long
- the whole day
She has been sitting and waiting for the mail to arrive all day long.
all ears
- eager to listen to someone
Okay, I`m all ears, please tell me about the party.
all in all
- in summary, after considering everything
We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful.
all of a sudden
- suddenly, without advance warning
All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain.
all right
- okay, satisfactory
She said that it would be all right for me to bring my friend to the party.
all the time
- continually
She asks for money all the time but I don’t like to give it to her.
all thumbs
- have difficulty fixing things or working with one’s hands, clumsy
He is all thumbs when it comes to fixing things around the house.
an arm and a leg
- (cost) a large amount of money
His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
Apple of one’s eye
- One’s favorite
His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
As a rule
- Usually, as a habit
As a rule I usually get up at 7:00 AM every morning.
As far as
- To the extent or degree that
As far as I know he will be here in a few minutes.
ask for trouble
- behave in a way that trouble is likely
He is asking for trouble if he misses another class.
Asleep at the switch
- Not alert to an opportunity
I think he was asleep at the switch. He didn’t even know that the job was available so he never applied for it.
As long as
- Provided that, on condition that
As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car.
As the crow flies
- By the most direct way, along a straight line between two places
As the crow flies it is about 6 kilometers between my house and my company.
As usual
- Most of the time, as is the custom
As usual, she forgot to bring her book to class.
As well as
- In addition to
Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel.
As yet
- Until now, up to the present
As yet, she has not told me about her plans to leave the company.
At cross purposes
- have opposite ways to do something, opposing goals
They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do.
At fault
- be responsible or to blame for something
The truck driver was at fault in the terrible accident.
at first
- At the beginning
At first she didn`t want to go to a movie but later she changed her mind.
At first blush
- When first seen, without careful study
At first blush he seemed like a good worker but later we had many problems with him.
At heart
- Basically, fundamentally
She is a very nice person at heart although many people dislike her.
at home
- in one’s house
I’m sorry but I left my money at home. Can you lend me some money?
At last
- Finally, after a long time
I was waiting all morning for her call but at last it came.
at loggerheads
- having a quarrel, opposing each other
We have been at loggerheads over their plans to build a new office complex.
at odds
- in disagreement
He has been at odds with his boss over the new sales territory.
at someone’s beck and call
- Always ready to serve somebody
His eldest daughter is always at his beck and call when he spends an evening at home.
at the end of one’s rope
.
- at
the limit of one’s ability to cope
I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my current situation at work.
I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my current situation at work.
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