Idiomatic expressions

What are idioms?

 

in hot water

• to be in difficulties, especially in serious trouble

butterflies in one’s stomach

• to be very nervous and anxious

 

under the weather

• to be or feel ill / sad or lack energy

hold your horses

• to wait / slow down  / consider things carefully

 a piece of cake

• something very easy to do

knock one’s socks off

• to delight, thrill, amaze / impress

let the cat out of the bag

• to reveal a secret, usually unintentionally

at the drop 

of a hat

• immediately, without any delay or hesitation

cost an arm and a leg

• to be very expensive

pull one’s leg

• to play a joke, tease, trick someone in a friendly way

caught between two stools

• to be unable to choose between two alternatives

lose one’s marbles

• to act in a crazy or strange way

hit the sack

• to go to bed

all ears

• to be eager to hear / listen attentively

cold feet

• to lose courage to do something you had planned