List of English idioms starting with B

Showing 21-25 of 25

Photo of teeth

By the skin of your teeth

The phrase by the skin of your teeth means barely succeeding. It could also mean to narrowly avoid disaster.
Your teeth have no skin on them, so this idiom is drawn from the impossible measurement of how thick the skin on your teeth is. A similar impossible idiom is rare as hen's teeth.

I caught the bus by the skin of my teeth.

Photo of a bee

It's the bee's knees

The bee's knees is slang for something that is excellent. A similar idiom is "the cat's pajamas".

This cafe is just the bee's knees!

Photo of a tennis match

The ball is in your court

The idiom the ball is in your court means that it is your turn to do something, usually in the context of a decision-making process or a work project.
This phrase originated from games like tennis where you need to return a ball when it comes to you.

I've gone as far as I can go with this, now the ball is in your court.

Generated image of an inner city terrace

The best of both worlds

You have the best of both worlds if you are benefiting from two completely different situations at the same time.

You have a garden but you still live right by the city? Wow, that's the best of both worlds!

Altered photo of a bridge on fire

To burn bridges

The phrase to burn bridges means to damage a relationship so badly that it cannot be repaired. It suggests making choices that prevent returning to an earlier situation. This idiom is often used as a warning to think carefully before acting. You cannot cross a bridge after it has been burned away.

He burned bridges by leaving without saying goodbye.