English Idioms "B" Part 7

Bone of contention

If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is called a bone of contention.

Bone to pick

If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.

 Born with a silver spoon in your mouth

This idiom tells that you are born into a rich family.

Bottom line

In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.

Brass tacks

If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.
Break a leg

This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck.

Break even

If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.

Break the ice

When you break the ice, you get over any initial shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing.

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English Idioms "B" Part 6

Blow hot and cold

When you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion
 keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.

Blow off steam
You yell, shout, throw things to express your anger or frustration.

Blow the cobwebs away

Requires a change of thinking or environment or
something to bring in fresh views and ideas.

Blow your stack

When you lose your temper.

Blue blood

Someone with blue blood is royalty.

Bolt out of the blue

If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is like a lightning bolt
out of the blue.

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English Idioms that start with C part 5

Comfort zone
a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.

Corner a market
When a business is dominant in a commercial product or service and unlikely to be challenged by any others.

Couch potato
An extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food.

Could eat a horse
When you are very very hungry, you could eat a horse.

Crash a party
You go somewhere you haven't been invited to.

Crocodile tears
They pretend to be upset or affected by something.

Cry your eyes out
you cry uncontrollably.

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English Idioms that start with C part 4

Cold fish

A cold fish is a person who doesn't show how they feel.

Cold sweat

If something brings you out in a cold sweat, it frightens you a lot.

Cold turkey

If someone suddenly stops taking drugs, instead of slowly cutting down, they do cold turkey.

Collateral damage

Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.

Collect dust

If something is collecting dust, it isn't being used any more.

Come clean

If someone comes clean about something, they admit to deceit or wrongdoing.

Come rain or shine

I can be relied on to turn up; nothing, not even the weather, will deter me or stop me from being there.

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Idioms that start with C part 3

Cliffhanger

If something like a sports match or an election is a cliffhanger, then the result is so close that it cannot be predicted and will only be known at the very end.

Close but no cigar

If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.

Close call

If the result of something is a close call, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the parties involved and to say who has won or whatever.

Close the stable door after the horse has bolted

If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Cloud nine

If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy.

Cloud of suspicion

If a cloud of suspicion hangs over an individual, it means that they are not believed or are distrusted.

Cloud on the horizon

If you can see a problem ahead, you can call it a cloud on the horizon.

Clutch at straws

If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.

Cock and bull story

A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.

Cold feet

If you get cold feet about something, you lose the courage to do it.

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English Idioms that begin with C part 2

Charity begins at home

This idiom means that family members are more important than anyone esle, and should be the focus of a person's efforts.

Chase rainbows

If someone chases rainbows, they try to do something that they will never achieve.

Chew the cud

If you chew the cud, you think carefully about something.

Chew the fat

If you chew the fat with someone, you talk at leisure with them.

Chickenfeed

If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.

Chip off the old block

If someone is a chip off the old block, they closely resemble one or both of the parents in character.

Clean as a Whistle

If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean 'completely', though this meaning is less common nowadays.

Clean bill of health

If something or someone has a clean bill of health, then there's nothing wrong; everything's fine.

Clean slate

If you start something with a clean slate, then nothing bad from your past is taken into account.

Clear as mud

If something is as clear as mud, then it is very confusing and unclear.

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