Showing 1-10 of 53
Apple of my eye
The idiom the apple of my eye means someone who is loved very much. It is often used for children or close family members.The origin is from 9th century Old English, when the pupil of the eye was called the "apple". If you called someone the apple of your eye it meant they were as precious to you as your ability to see.
My daughter is the apple of my eye.
Bend over backwards
To bend over backwards means to make a really big effort to help someone or solve a problem.The phrase comes from the image of bending the body into an extreme position, which is difficult to do and takes a lot of effort.
She bent over backwards to make sure the guests felt welcome.
Blood from a stone
The phrase you can't get blood from a stone means to try and get something out of someone who is unwilling or unable to give it, usually referring to money.I can't pay this bill, I have too many bills already, do they think they can get blood out of a stone?
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.
Caught red-handed
The phrase caught red-handed means being caught while doing something wrong. It suggests that there is clear proof of the action. People often use this idiom when someone is discovered in the act.He was caught red-handed taking the cookies.
Cut off your nose to spite your face
The idiom cut off your nose to spite your face means to do something that disadvantages yourself when you try and punish someone else. It is an act of self-sabotage to spite someone else.She crashed her car on purpose so her boyfriend would stop borrowing it without asking. Didn't she cut off her nose to spite her face?
Dig in your heels
The idiom dig in your heels means to refuse to change your mind or to stubbornly resist. It means to stand your ground even when others push you. The origin is the literal image of planting your heels in the ground so you cannot be moved.When asked to apologize, he dug in his heels and said no.
Dip your toes in
The phrase dip your toes in means to try something in a small, careful way before doing it fully. It often describes starting gently because you are unsure.The idiom comes from the literal action of dipping your toes into a body of water to check the temperature before you get into it to go swimming.
She dipped her toes in coding by making a small game.
Don't hold your breath
The idiom don't hold your breath means that something is unlikely to happen soon, or may never happen at all, so don't expect anything soon.This comes from the idea that a person can only hold their breath for a short time. If something takes too long, they would have to breathe before it happens.
They say the repairs will be finished next week, but I would not hold my breath.