MOOCit

Idioms and proverbs




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A

  1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: Better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
  2. A blessing in disguise: A misfortune that eventually results in something good.
  3. A dime a dozen: Something very common and not of much value.
  4. A drop in the bucket: A very small part of something big or whole.
  5. A penny for your thoughts: A way of asking what someone is thinking.
  6. A picture is worth a thousand words: A complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image.
  7. A piece of cake: Something that is easy to do.
  8. A rolling stone gathers no moss: A person who doesn't settle in one place is unlikely to accumulate wealth or status.
  9. Actions speak louder than words: What someone actually does is more significant than what they say they will do.
  10. Add insult to injury: To make a bad situation worse.
  11. Against the clock: Rushed and short on time.
  12. All bark and no bite: When someone is threatening and/or noisy but not willing to engage in a fight.
  13. All ears: Fully listening.
  14. All roads lead to Rome: Different paths can take one to the same goal.
  15. An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Eating healthy food keeps you healthy.
  16. An arm and a leg: Very expensive or costly.
  17. An axe to grind: A personal stake in an issue.
  18. As cool as a cucumber: To remain calm under pressure.
  19. As easy as pie: Very easy.
  20. At the drop of a hat: Without any hesitation; instantly.




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B

  1. Back to square one: Having to start all over again.
  2. Back to the drawing board: When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
  3. Barking up the wrong tree: To be mistaken or misguided.
  4. Beating around the bush: Avoiding the main topic.
  5. Beggars can't be choosers: When the choices are limited, one must accept what is offered even if it is not ideal.
  6. Better late than never: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.
  7. Between a rock and a hard place: Stuck between two very bad options.
  8. Bite off more than you can chew: To take on a task that is way too big.
  9. Bite the bullet: To get something over with because it is inevitable.
  10. Bite the hand that feeds you: To hurt someone who’s helping you.
  11. Break the ice: To initiate a social interaction.
  12. Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night.
  13. Burning bridges: Destroying one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc.
  14. Burst your bubble: To destroy someone's illusion or delusion; to destroy the basis of someone's belief.
  15. Bury the hatchet: To make peace.
  16. Busy as a bee: Very busy and industrious.
  17. By hook or by crook: By any means necessary - ethical or not.
  18. By the book: Doing things according to the rules or the law.
  19. By the seat of your pants: To do something by instinct without proper planning or measuring.
  20. By the skin of your teeth: Just barely making it.




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C

  1. Call it a day: To stop working on something.
  2. Catch someone red-handed: To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.
  3. Caught between two stools: When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
  4. Chew the fat: To chat in a leisurely way; gossip.
  5. Chip on your shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past.
  6. Clam up: To become silent; to stop talking.
  7. Clear the air: To remove the tension.
  8. Clip someone's wings: To limit someone's freedom.
  9. Close but no cigar: To almost achieve success, but ultimately fail.
  10. Cold feet: To hesitate because of fear or uncertainty.
  11. Cold turkey: To abruptly stop a habit or addiction without gradual reduction.
  12. Come hell or high water: No matter what happens or how difficult it becomes.
  13. Cost an arm and a leg: Something that is very expensive.
  14. Cross that bridge when you come to it: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
  15. Cry over spilt milk: To be upset about something that cannot be undone.
  16. Cry wolf: To give a false alarm; to warn of a danger that is not there.
  17. Curiosity killed the cat: Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
  18. Cut corners: To do something badly or cheaply.
  19. Cut the mustard: To succeed; to come up to expectations.
  20. Cut to the chase: To get to the point without wasting time.




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D

  1. Dead as a doornail: Completely dead or unusable.
  2. Devil's advocate: To present a counter argument.
  3. Dime a dozen: Common and easy to get.
  4. Dodge a bullet: To narrowly avoid something particularly bad or problematic.
  5. Dog days: The hottest period of the year.
  6. Don't count your chickens before they hatch: Don't make plans based on future events that might not happen.
  7. Don't judge a book by its cover: Not to judge something based on its outward appearance.
  8. Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Don't risk everything on the success of one venture.
  9. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater: Don't get rid of valuable things along with the unnecessary ones.
  10. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you: Don’t hurt anyone that helps you.
  11. Double-edged sword: A situation or decision that has both positive and negative consequences.
  12. Down to the wire: Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.
  13. Drag your feet: To delay or avoid doing something.
  14. Draw the line: To set a limit; to define a boundary.
  15. Dressed to the nines: Wearing very fancy or stylish clothes.
  16. Drive someone up the wall: To greatly irritate or annoy someone.
  17. Drop in the ocean: A very small amount compared to the amount needed.
  18. Dry spell: A period of inactivity or drought.
  19. Dutch courage: Confidence gained from consuming alcohol.
  20. Dying to try: Extremely eager to experience something.




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E

  1. Early bird catches the worm: The person who takes the earliest opportunity will gain the advantage.
  2. Easier said than done: Something that is easy to say but harder to do.
  3. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission: A phrase encouraging risky behavior that would likely be disapproved.
  4. Eat humble pie: To apologize and face humiliation for a serious error.
  5. Eat one's words: To take back what one has said.
  6. Eating crow: Admitting fault after being proven wrong, often in a humiliating way.
  7. Egg on your face: To look foolish or be embarrassed.
  8. Elbow grease: Hard physical effort.
  9. Elephant in the room: A big issue, problem, or controversy that is obvious or well-known but goes unaddressed.
  10. Empty vessels make the most noise: Those with the least talent and knowledge usually speak the most, speak the loudest, and create the most fuss.
  11. Enter the lion's den: To enter a situation or place that is potentially dangerous or hostile.
  12. Even the score: To retaliate or make things fair after an earlier dispute.
  13. Every cloud has a silver lining: Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
  14. Every dog has its day: Everyone gets a chance to succeed.
  15. Every man for himself: The idea that everyone should look after their own interests, often in a chaotic or crisis situation.
  16. Every nook and cranny: Every part of a place thoroughly.
  17. Everything but the kitchen sink: Almost everything and anything has been included.
  18. Everything's coming up roses: Everything is going well; life is good.
  19. Excuse my French: An apology for using profane language.
  20. Eye for an eye: A form of retributive justice.




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F

  1. Face the music: To confront the consequences of one's actions.
  2. Fair-weather friend: A person who is only a friend in good times.
  3. Fall on your sword: To accept blame; to sacrifice oneself.
  4. Familiarity breeds contempt: The more you know something or someone, the more likely you are to find faults and grow tired of it.
  5. Feast or famine: An all-or-nothing situation.
  6. Fight tooth and nail: To fight fiercely.
  7. Find your feet: To become comfortable in what you are doing.
  8. Fit as a fiddle: In good physical health.
  9. Flash in the pan: Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
  10. Flat as a pancake: Completely flat.
  11. Flog a dead horse: To continue to make an issue of something that is over.
  12. Fly by the seat of your pants: To do something instinctively or without careful thought.
  13. Fly off the handle: To suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason.
  14. Foam at the mouth: To be extremely angry.
  15. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread: Foolish people are often reckless, attempting things that the wise avoid.
  16. For crying out loud: An expression of frustration or annoyance.
  17. For the birds: Worthless or meaningless.
  18. Forbidden fruit: Something that is forbidden or dangerous, which makes it desirable.
  19. Forewarned is forearmed: Being informed about possible problems gives one a tactical advantage.
  20. Full steam ahead: Proceed with as much speed or energy as possible.




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G

  1. Get a taste of your own medicine: To experience the unpleasantness that you have inflicted on others.
  2. Give someone the cold shoulder: To intentionally ignore someone or treat them unfriendly.
  3. Go against the grain: To go against the conventional rules or standards.
  4. Go back to the drawing board: To start over and go back to the planning stage.
  5. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly.
  6. Go for broke: To risk everything in one big effort.
  7. Go off half-cocked: To act too hastily or without due consideration.
  8. Go out on a limb: To put oneself in a risky situation.
  9. Go the extra mile: To do more than what is expected.
  10. Go the whole nine yards: To do something completely or thoroughly.
  11. Golden handshake: A large payment to someone on their retirement.
  12. Good things come to those who wait: Being patient often results in rewards.
  13. Grasp the nettle: To tackle a difficult problem bravely.
  14. Grease someone's palm: To bribe someone.
  15. Great minds think alike: Intelligent people think like each other.
  16. Green with envy: Very jealous.
  17. Grin and bear it: Accept a difficult situation without complaining.
  18. Grow a backbone: To start standing up for oneself.
  19. Guilty as charged: Fully responsible for doing something bad.
  20. Gut feeling: An instinctive feeling, without any logical rationale.




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H

  1. Haste makes waste: Hurrying can lead to mistakes.
  2. Have an axe to grind: To have a selfish motive or personal stake in a matter.
  3. Have your cake and eat it too: To want more than is reasonable or possible.
  4. Head over heels: Deeply in love.
  5. Hear it on the grapevine: To learn something informally and unofficially by means of gossip or rumor.
  6. Heart in the right place: To have good intentions, even if there are mistakes or imperfections in execution.
  7. Heavy heart: Feeling sadness or grief.
  8. Hell in a handbasket: Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
  9. High and dry: To leave someone unsupported and unable to maneuver.
  10. Hit below the belt: To act unfairly.
  11. Hit the nail on the head: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
  12. Hit the sack: To go to bed.
  13. Hitch your wagon to a star: To have ambitious plans or lofty goals.
  14. Hold the fort: To be in charge while someone is away.
  15. Hold your horses: To tell someone to wait or to slow down.
  16. Hold your tongue: To refrain from speaking.
  17. Honesty is the best policy: It's always better to be honest.
  18. Hot potato: A controversial issue or situation which is difficult to handle.
  19. House of cards: A structure or argument built on a shaky foundation or one that will collapse if a necessary element is removed.
  20. Hung out to dry: Left in a difficult or helpless position without support.




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I

  1. Icing on the cake: An additional benefit or positive aspect of something that is already considered positive or beneficial.
  2. If it ain't broke, don't fix it: If something is working adequately well, there is no need to change or interfere with it.
  3. Ignorance is bliss: Not knowing something is often more comfortable than knowing.
  4. In for a penny, in for a pound: Once involved, fully committed to an endeavor.
  5. In hot water: In trouble; facing a difficult situation.
  6. In over your head: Involved in a situation that is too difficult to handle.
  7. In the bag: Assured of a result; virtually guaranteed.
  8. In the blink of an eye: Very quickly; in a short moment.
  9. In the dark: Uninformed or unaware.
  10. In the driver's seat: In control of a situation.
  11. In the heat of the moment: Acting under the pressure of the moment without considering the consequences.
  12. In the limelight: The center of attention.
  13. In the nick of time: Just in time; at the last possible moment.
  14. In the red: Operating at a loss or owing money.
  15. In the same boat: In the same difficult situation as others.
  16. In two minds: Unable to decide between two things.
  17. Iron out the wrinkles: To remove small problems or irregularities.
  18. It takes two to tango: Actions or communications need more than one person.
  19. It's a small world: You frequently see the same people in different places.
  20. It's raining cats and dogs: It's raining very heavily.




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J

  1. Jack of all trades, master of none: Someone who can do many tasks but isn't expert in any.
  2. Jockey for position: To maneuver or compete for a favorable position.
  3. Jog someone's memory: To cause someone to remember something.
  4. Join the club: A response when someone has experienced the same thing as you.
  5. Jot it down: To write something quickly on paper.
  6. Judge a book by its cover: To form an opinion based on outward appearances.
  7. Juggle many hats: To manage or handle many roles or responsibilities.
  8. Jump at the chance: To quickly and eagerly accept the opportunity to do something.
  9. Jump on the bandwagon: To join others in doing something that is becoming popular.
  10. Jump out of one's skin: To be extremely startled.
  11. Jump the gun: To start something before it is permissible, appropriate, or advisable.
  12. Jump the shark: A term used to describe something that was once popular but has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.
  13. Jump through hoops: To go through many often difficult processes.
  14. Jury is still out: It is not yet clear or decided.
  15. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away: Very close by; just a short distance away.
  16. Just a stone's throw away: Very close; a short distance.
  17. Just drop it: A request to stop discussing a certain topic.
  18. Just in the nick of time: Just at the critical moment; barely in time.
  19. Just the ticket: Exactly what is needed.
  20. Just what the doctor ordered: Exactly what is needed or desired.




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K

  1. Kangaroo court: An unofficial court that does not follow the established rules of law.
  2. Keep at bay: To prevent something or someone from coming too close or from attacking.
  3. Keep on truckin'': To keep going, persist.
  4. Keep one's cool: To remain calm under stress.
  5. Keep the ball rolling: Continue or sustain activity or progress.
  6. Keep up with the Joneses: To strive to match one's neighbors in spending and social standing.
  7. Keep your chin up: Stay positive and don't get discouraged.
  8. Keep your eyes peeled: Stay alert and watch carefully.
  9. Keep your nose clean: To stay out of trouble.
  10. Kick the bucket: A euphemism for dying.
  11. Kick the can down the road: To delay dealing with something in the hope that it will become someone else's problem.
  12. Kick up a fuss: Make a scene; create a big disturbance.
  13. Kill two birds with one stone: To accomplish two different tasks in a single action.
  14. King's ransom: A very large amount of money.
  15. Kiss and make up: To reconcile after a dispute.
  16. Knee-jerk reaction: An automatic or reflex reaction.
  17. Knock it off: Stop doing something annoying.
  18. Knock on wood: A phrase said in order to avoid bad luck, often while literally knocking on something wooden.
  19. Know the ropes: To be familiar with the details of an operation or task.
  20. Know which side one's bread is buttered on: Be aware of where one's advantage lies.




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L

  1. Last but not least: An introduction for the last person or item, implying that they are no less important than what was previously mentioned.
  2. Laugh all the way to the bank: To profit handsomely, especially at the expense of others.
  3. Lead by example: To act in a way that shows others how to act.
  4. Leave no stone unturned: To do everything possible to achieve a good outcome.
  5. Lend me your ear: Listen to me.
  6. Let sleeping dogs lie: To avoid restarting a conflict.
  7. Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret or a surprise by accident.
  8. Lick your wounds: To recover from a defeat or setback.
  9. Like a bull in a china shop: Behaving in a very clumsy, aggressive way.
  10. Like pulling teeth: Something very difficult and frustrating.
  11. Like shooting fish in a barrel: Very easy.
  12. Live and let live: Allow others to live their lives as they wish; don't interfere.
  13. Lock, stock, and barrel: Entirely, completely.
  14. Long in the tooth: Old, often used to describe animals or people.
  15. Look before you leap: Think carefully about what you are about to do before you do it.
  16. Look on the bright side: Be optimistic, even in difficulties.
  17. Loose cannon: Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.
  18. Lose your cool: To become angry or agitated.
  19. Love is blind: When you love someone, you cannot see their faults.
  20. Lower the boom: Enforce something strictly or reprimand sharply.




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M

  1. Make a beeline for: To go straight toward something or someone.
  2. Make a mountain out of a molehill: To make a small problem seem much bigger than it actually is.
  3. Make ends meet: To manage one's finances so as to just barely cover expenses.
  4. Make hay while the sun shines: Take advantage of favorable conditions; do something while conditions are good.
  5. Make no bones about it: To state something clearly and directly.
  6. Many hands make light work: Many people working together make a task easier.
  7. Meet your maker: To die.
  8. Mend fences: To improve or repair a relationship that has been damaged.
  9. Method to the madness: An underlying purpose or reason in what appears to be crazy behavior.
  10. Milk it for all it's worth: To take full advantage of a situation.
  11. Mind your Ps and Qs: To be careful about what you say and how you behave.
  12. Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity.
  13. Money doesn't grow on trees: Money is not easily obtained and should be spent wisely.
  14. Monkey see, monkey do: People, especially children, will mimic what they see others doing.
  15. More bang for your buck: More value for your money.
  16. Muddy the waters: To make a situation more confusing or complicated.
  17. Mum's the word: Keep this a secret; don't tell anybody.
  18. Mum's the word: To keep the information confidential.
  19. Music to my ears: News or information that one is happy to hear.
  20. My way or the highway: An ultimatum where someone must either follow instructions or leave.




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N

  1. Nail to the wall: To catch or expose someone in a wrongdoing.
  2. Nail your colors to the mast: To show one's intentions clearly and openly.
  3. Needle in a haystack: Something very hard or impossible to find.
  4. Nest egg: Savings set aside for future use.
  5. Never say die: Never give up.
  6. Nip it in the bud: To stop something at an early stage.
  7. No holds barred: Without any restrictions or rules.
  8. No ifs, ands, or buts: No excuses or exceptions.
  9. No news is good news: If you do not hear about a situation, it is likely that nothing bad has happened.
  10. No pain, no gain: You have to work hard for something you want.
  11. No stone unturned: With no effort spared in searching; very thorough.
  12. No time like the present: The best time to do something is now.
  13. Nose out of joint: To feel upset or annoyed.
  14. Not all it's cracked up to be: Not as good as people say.
  15. Not cut out for: Not suited for (a task).
  16. Not my circus, not my monkeys: Not my problem; I am not responsible for this.
  17. Not playing with a full deck: Not mentally sound; lacking intelligence or understanding.
  18. Not the sharpest tool in the shed: Not very intelligent or clever.
  19. Not worth a dime: Of no value.
  20. Nutty as a fruitcake: Very crazy.




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O

  1. Off the beaten path: Not common or frequented by many people.
  2. Off the hook: No longer in difficulty or trouble.
  3. Off the record: Not to be made public.
  4. Old hat: Outdated.
  5. On cloud nine: Extremely happy or euphoric.
  6. On pins and needles: Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.
  7. On the ball: Doing a good job, being prompt, or being responsible.
  8. On the fence: Undecided.
  9. On the ropes: Close to defeat or failure.
  10. On the same page: Agreeing with someone; sharing the same viewpoint or beliefs.
  11. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely.
  12. One for the books: An unusual event worth recording.
  13. Open a can of worms: To create a new set of problems.
  14. Out in the cold: Excluded.
  15. Out of sight, out of mind: You do not think about people or things that are not visible or present.
  16. Out of the blue: Unexpectedly.
  17. Out of the woods: No longer in danger or difficulty.
  18. Out of your depth: In a situation that is too difficult to handle.
  19. Out on a limb: In a risky position or situation.
  20. Over the moon: Delighted, thrilled.




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P

  1. Paddle your own canoe: To be independent and self-reliant.
  2. Paint the town red: To go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.
  3. Pass the buck: To shift responsibility (and often blame) to another person.
  4. Pay through the nose: To pay an excessive price for something.
  5. Penny for your thoughts: A way of asking someone what they are thinking about.
  6. Pie in the sky: Something that is unrealistic or that cannot be achieved.
  7. Piece of cake: Something that is easy to do.
  8. Play it by ear: To improvise; to respond to circumstances instead of following a plan.
  9. Play second fiddle: To take a subordinate role behind someone more important.
  10. Plead the fifth: To refuse to answer a question, especially in a legal context, to avoid incriminating oneself.
  11. Pull no punches: To be candid; not holding back in criticism or actions.
  12. Pull someone's leg: To joke or tease someone.
  13. Pull the wool over someone's eyes: To deceive; to hoodwink.
  14. Pull yourself together: To regain control of one’s emotions.
  15. Push the envelope: To attempt to extend the current limits of performance. To innovate, or go beyond commonly accepted boundaries.
  16. Put all your eggs in one basket: To risk everything on the success of one venture.
  17. Put that in your pipe and smoke it: Accept that fact, even if you don’t like it.
  18. Put the cart before the horse: To have things in the wrong order; to get ahead of oneself.
  19. Put your best foot forward: To act or appear at your best; to try to make a good impression.
  20. Put your nose to the grindstone: To work hard and diligently.




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Q

  1. Quake in one's shoes: To be very frightened.
  2. Quaking in one's boots: Extremely scared.
  3. Quality over quantity: The superiority of something good over something more but of less quality.
  4. Quarantine your worries: To isolate or set aside one's worries.
  5. Quarrel over an empty sack: To argue about something that is worthless or not important.
  6. Quarrel with bread and butter: To complain about something that is fundamentally beneficial or necessary.
  7. Quash the rumors: To stop or suppress rumors.
  8. Queer the pitch: To spoil or disrupt someone's efforts.
  9. Quench one's thirst: To satisfy one's thirst with a drink.
  10. Question of time: Something that is inevitable or bound to happen.
  11. Queue up: To line up or wait in line.
  12. Quick as a flash: Very fast or instant.
  13. Quick on the uptake: Quick to understand or learn something.
  14. Quid pro quo: An exchange of goods or services, where one transfer is contingent upon the other.
  15. Quiet as a mouse: Extremely quiet or silent.
  16. Quilt of memories: A collection or amalgamation of memorable moments.
  17. Quip about trivial things: To make witty remarks about insignificant matters.
  18. Quit while you're ahead: To stop doing something while one is successful or winning.
  19. Quiver with fear: To shake or tremble from fear.
  20. Quote chapter and verse: To cite with precise details.




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R

  1. Rack your brains: To think very hard or try to remember something.
  2. Raining cats and dogs: Raining very heavily.
  3. Rake over the coals: To scold, criticize, or punish someone severely.
  4. Rat race: A way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power.
  5. Read between the lines: To understand the hidden meaning or intent.
  6. Rear its ugly head: When something bad appears or makes itself known.
  7. Reinvent the wheel: To waste time creating something that already exists.
  8. Rest on your laurels: To be satisfied with past successes and stop trying hard.
  9. Right as rain: Perfectly fine or functioning well.
  10. Ring a bell: To sound familiar; to cause someone to remember something or someone.
  11. Rise and shine: Wake up and get out of bed quickly.
  12. Rise to the occasion: To show that you can deal with a difficult situation successfully.
  13. Rock the boat: To cause trouble, especially when no trouble is necessary.
  14. Roll with the punches: To adapt to setbacks or difficulties.
  15. Rome wasn't built in a day: Important work takes time.
  16. Rub salt in the wound: To make someone's unhappiness, embarrassment, or misfortune worse.
  17. Ruffle feathers: To irritate or annoy people.
  18. Rule of thumb: A practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something.
  19. Run the gauntlet: To endure a series of troubles or difficulties.
  20. Run-of-the-mill: Ordinary, not special or exceptional.




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S

  1. Save for a rainy day: To save money for a time when it might be needed unexpectedly.
  2. See eye to eye: To agree fully; to have the same opinion.
  3. Sell like hot cakes: To sell very quickly.
  4. Set the record straight: To correct a false story; to provide accurate information.
  5. Shake a leg: To hurry up.
  6. Shoot the breeze: To chat informally.
  7. Sink or swim: To fail or succeed entirely by one's own efforts.
  8. Sit on the fence: To delay making a decision.
  9. Six of one, half a dozen of the other: Two alternatives that are equivalent or indifferent.
  10. Sleep on it: To think about something overnight before making a decision.
  11. Smell a rat: To suspect foul play.
  12. Speak of the devil: When the person you have just been talking about arrives.
  13. Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
  14. Start from scratch: To start from the beginning with nothing.
  15. Steal someone's thunder: To take the credit for something someone else did.
  16. Stick out like a sore thumb: To be conspicuously different.
  17. Stick to your guns: To maintain one's position firmly despite opposition.
  18. Straight from the horse's mouth: Information coming from the most reliable source.
  19. Strike while the iron is hot: To take action at the right moment.
  20. Sweep under the rug: To conceal or ignore a problem in order to make it temporarily disappear.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



T

  1. Take it with a grain of salt: To view something with skepticism or not take it literally.
  2. Take the bull by the horns: To approach, confront, or deal with a problem directly.
  3. Take the cake: To be the most outrageous or egregious of its kind.
  4. Talk the hind legs off a donkey: To talk excessively.
  5. Taste of your own medicine: To experience the unpleasantness that you have inflicted on others.
  6. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: Children usually turn out like their parents.
  7. The ball is in your court: It is up to you to make the next decision or step.
  8. The last straw: The final problem in a series of problems.
  9. The more the merrier: The more people or participants, the better the occasion will be.
  10. The pot calling the kettle black: Accusing someone of faults one also has.
  11. Through thick and thin: In all circumstances, no matter how difficult.
  12. Throw caution to the wind: To take a risk.
  13. Throw in the towel: To give up; to admit defeat.
  14. Throw someone under the bus: To betray someone for personal gain.
  15. Tighten your belt: To reduce your spending.
  16. Time flies when you're having fun: You don't notice how long something lasts when it's enjoyable.
  17. Tip of the iceberg: A small, visible part of a much larger, hidden situation.
  18. To each his own: People have different preferences or tastes.
  19. Turn over a new leaf: To start anew; to change one's behavior for the better.
  20. Twist someone's arm: To coerce someone into doing something.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z




U

  1. Uncharted waters: Situations or areas no one has experienced or explored before.
  2. Under one's thumb: Under someone's control or influence.
  3. Under the gun: Under great pressure.
  4. Under the radar: Not detected or noticed.
  5. Under the table: Illegally or secretly, especially in terms of payments.
  6. Under the weather: Feeling ill or sick.
  7. Under your nose: Right in front of you; obvious.
  8. Unravel at the seams: To come apart; to fail.
  9. Until the bitter end: Continuing until the end, despite difficulties.
  10. Until the cows come home: For a very long time; indefinitely.
  11. Up and running: Fully operational.
  12. Up for grabs: Available for anyone; not yet claimed.
  13. Up in arms: Very angry; protesting vehemently.
  14. Up the ante: To increase what is at stake or the level of something, especially the risks.
  15. Up the creek without a paddle: In a difficult situation without any good options or means of escape.
  16. Up to speed: Fully informed or up to date.
  17. Up to the mark: Satisfactory; good enough.
  18. Uphill battle: A difficult struggle.
  19. Upset the apple cart: To spoil a plan or disturb the status quo.
  20. Use your loaf: To use your head or brain to think something through.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



V

  1. Vale of tears: The world considered as a scene of sadness or hardship.
  2. Value for money: Something well worth the money paid.
  3. Vanish into thin air: To disappear suddenly and completely.
  4. Vanquish your fears: To overcome your fears.
  5. Variety is the spice of life: Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting.
  6. Vault over obstacles: To overcome obstacles or challenges easily.
  7. Veer off course: To suddenly change direction or path.
  8. Veil of secrecy: A situation where information is kept secret.
  9. Vent your spleen: To express anger or frustration.
  10. Venture a guess: To make a guess, usually educated based on the available information.
  11. Vested interests: Personal interests in an existing system, arrangement, or institution for particular personal reasons.
  12. Vice versa: With the order reversed; the other way around.
  13. Vicious circle: A complex, self-perpetuating cycle of events that worsens with each iteration.
  14. View through rose-colored glasses: To see something in an overly favorable way.
  15. Violate the sanctity: To desecrate or treat with disrespect something considered sacred.
  16. Vital part: An essential or very important part of something.
  17. Voice of reason: Someone who speaks sensibly during a time of confusion.
  18. Vote with your feet: To express one's dissatisfaction with something by leaving or not participating.
  19. Vouch for someone: To guarantee someone's integrity or reliability.
  20. Vying for attention: Competing to be noticed.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z




W

  1. Walk on eggshells: To be extremely cautious about one's words or actions.
  2. Walk the talk: To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises.
  3. Wash your hands of something: To refuse to have anything more to do with it.
  4. Water under the bridge: Things from the past that are not considered important or worth arguing about anymore.
  5. Wear your heart on your sleeve: To openly and freely express your emotions.
  6. Weather the storm: To survive a crisis.
  7. Wet behind the ears: Inexperienced and naive.
  8. When pigs fly: Something that will never happen.
  9. Whistle in the dark: To try to keep up one's courage in a scary situation.
  10. White elephant: A possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of.
  11. Whole nine yards: Everything possible or available.
  12. Wild goose chase: A foolish and hopeless pursuit of something unattainable.
  13. Wipe the slate clean: To forget all past mistakes or offenses, as if starting anew.
  14. With bells on: To arrive happily and eagerly.
  15. With flying colors: With great or total success.
  16. Without a shadow of a doubt: Absolutely certain.
  17. Wolf in sheep's clothing: A person who pretends to be nice but is not.
  18. Word of mouth: Information passed by verbal communication in an informal way.
  19. Work like a dog: To work very hard.
  20. Worth its weight in gold: Extremely valuable.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



X

  1. X marks the spot: Indicating an exact spot or location.
  2. X out: To cancel, eliminate, or make ineffective.
  3. X-axis: Horizontal axis in a graph.
  4. X-factor: A variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.
  5. X-linked: A gene carried on the X chromosome.
  6. X-ray vision: The ability to see through solid objects, often used metaphorically to suggest clear insight into complex situations.
  7. Xanthoma: A skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin.
  8. Xenial: Hospitable, especially to visiting strangers or foreigners.
  9. Xenocryst: A crystal in an igneous rock which is not derived from the original magma.
  10. Xenodochial: Friendly to strangers.
  11. Xenogenesis: The supposed generation of offspring completely and radically different from the parent(s).
  12. Xenon: A chemical element with symbol Xe and atomic number 54.
  13. Xenophile: An individual who is attracted to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs.
  14. Xenophobia: Fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers.
  15. Xenotransplantation: The transplantation of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.
  16. Xerophyte: A plant adapted to an extremely dry environment.
  17. Xerosis: Abnormal dryness of the skin or mucous membranes.
  18. Xerox: To copy, often used generically despite being a brand name.
  19. Xylophone: A musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic beaters.
  20. Xyst: A garden walk planted with trees.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z




Y

  1. Yank someone's chain: To tease someone.
  2. Yearn for the old days: To desire the way things used to be.
  3. Yell bloody murder: To shout loudly from pain or fright.
  4. Yellow journalism: Journalism that is based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration.
  5. Yellow-bellied: Cowardly.
  6. Yield the floor: To give up one's turn to speak to another speaker.
  7. Yin and yang: Opposite or contrary forces that are actually complementary.
  8. Yoke around your neck: A burden or responsibility that is oppressive.
  9. Yoke together: To join or link together.
  10. Yonder: At some distance in the direction indicated; over there.
  11. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink: You can give someone an opportunity, but you can't force them to take it.
  12. You can't judge a book by its cover: You cannot determine the quality or content of something just by looking at its exterior.
  13. You can't teach an old dog new tricks: It's hard to change someone's established behavior, especially later in life.
  14. You reap what you sow: You eventually have to face up to the consequences of your actions.
  15. You're barking up the wrong tree: You're mistaken or looking in the wrong place.
  16. You've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette: It's necessary to destroy or harm something to accomplish something else.
  17. Young at heart: To be lively and youthful in spirit, regardless of age.
  18. Your guess is as good as mine: I don't know.
  19. Yours truly: A way of referring to oneself in a letter or email.
  20. Yuppie: A young city or suburban resident with a well-paid professional job and an affluent lifestyle.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



Z

  1. Zany: Amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic.
  2. Zebra crossing: A type of pedestrian crossing marked with broad white stripes where pedestrians have right of way.
  3. Zeitgeist: The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.
  4. Zenith: The time at which something is most powerful or successful.
  5. Zephyr: A gentle, mild breeze.
  6. Zero in on: To focus closely on something.
  7. Zero tolerance: A policy of applying the strictest enforcement of rules and penalties to all kinds of wrongdoing, without allowing flexibility by discretion.
  8. Zero-sum game: A situation in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other.
  9. Zest for life: A joyful and enthusiastic appreciation of life.
  10. Zig when you should zag: To make an error in judgment or take the wrong action.
  11. Zigzag: A line or course having sharp alternating turns.
  12. Zillion: A very large, indefinite number.
  13. Zip along: To move quickly.
  14. Zip your lip: To stop talking.
  15. Zipline: A cable suspended above an incline to which a pulley and harness are attached for a rider.
  16. Zodiac: A diagram used in astrology that represents the circle of the zodiacal constellations in twelve equal parts.
  17. Zombie: A fictional undead being created through the reanimation of a human corpse.
  18. Zone defense: A defensive tactic used in team sports where each player is responsible for defending an area rather than marking a specific opponent.
  19. Zone out: To lose concentration or become inattentive.
  20. Zoom in: To focus closer on something, especially a camera.




A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z




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    Schulfach+

    Prüfungsliteratur 2026
    Bundesland Bücher Kurzbeschreibung
    Baden-Württemberg

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck

    Mittlere Reife

    1. Der Markisenmann - Jan Weiler oder Als die Welt uns gehörte - Liz Kessler
    2. Ein Schatten wie ein Leopard - Myron Levoy oder Pampa Blues - Rolf Lappert

    Abitur Dorfrichter-Komödie über Wahrheit/Schuld; Roman über einen Ort und deutsche Geschichte. Mittlere Reife Wahllektüren (Roadtrip-Vater-Sohn / Jugendroman im NS-Kontext / Coming-of-age / Provinzroman).

    Bayern

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck

    Abitur Lustspiel über Machtmissbrauch und Recht; Roman als Zeitschnitt deutscher Geschichte an einem Haus/Grundstück.

    Berlin/Brandenburg

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Woyzeck - Georg Büchner
    3. Der Biberpelz - Gerhart Hauptmann
    4. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck

    Abitur Gerichtskomödie; soziales Drama um Ausbeutung/Armut; Komödie/Satire um Diebstahl und Obrigkeit; Roman über Erinnerungsräume und Umbrüche.

    Bremen

    Abitur

    1. Nach Mitternacht - Irmgard Keun
    2. Mario und der Zauberer - Thomas Mann
    3. Emilia Galotti - Gotthold Ephraim Lessing oder Miss Sara Sampson - Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

    Abitur Roman in der NS-Zeit (Alltag, Anpassung, Angst); Novelle über Verführung/Massenpsychologie; bürgerliche Trauerspiele (Moral, Macht, Stand).

    Hamburg

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Das kunstseidene Mädchen - Irmgard Keun

    Abitur Justiz-/Machtkritik als Komödie; Großstadtroman der Weimarer Zeit (Rollenbilder, Aufstiegsträume, soziale Realität).

    Hessen

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Woyzeck - Georg Büchner
    3. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck
    4. Der Prozess - Franz Kafka

    Abitur Gerichtskomödie; Fragmentdrama über Gewalt/Entmenschlichung; Erinnerungsroman über deutsche Brüche; moderner Roman über Schuld, Macht und Bürokratie.

    Niedersachsen

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochene Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Das kunstseidene Mädchen - Irmgard Keun
    3. Die Marquise von O. - Heinrich von Kleist
    4. Über das Marionettentheater - Heinrich von Kleist

    Abitur Schwerpunkt auf Drama/Roman sowie Kleist-Prosatext und Essay (Ehre, Gewalt, Unschuld; Ästhetik/„Anmut“).

    Nordrhein-Westfalen

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck

    Abitur Komödie über Wahrheit und Autorität; Roman als literarische „Geschichtsschichtung“ an einem Ort.

    Saarland

    Abitur

    1. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck
    2. Furor - Lutz Hübner und Sarah Nemitz
    3. Bahnwärter Thiel - Gerhart Hauptmann

    Abitur Erinnerungsroman an einem Ort; zeitgenössisches Drama über Eskalation/Populismus; naturalistische Novelle (Pflicht/Überforderung/Abgrund).

    Sachsen (berufliches Gymnasium)

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Woyzeck - Georg Büchner
    3. Irrungen, Wirrungen - Theodor Fontane
    4. Der gute Mensch von Sezuan - Bertolt Brecht
    5. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck
    6. Der Trafikant - Robert Seethaler

    Abitur Mischung aus Klassiker-Drama, sozialem Drama, realistischem Roman, epischem Theater und Gegenwarts-/Erinnerungsroman; zusätzlich Coming-of-age im historischen Kontext.

    Sachsen-Anhalt

    Abitur

    1. (keine fest benannte landesweite Pflichtlektüre veröffentlicht; Themenfelder)

    Abitur Schwerpunktsetzung über Themenfelder (u. a. Literatur um 1900; Sprache in politisch-gesellschaftlichen Kontexten), ohne feste Einzeltitel.

    Schleswig-Holstein

    Abitur

    1. Der zerbrochne Krug - Heinrich von Kleist
    2. Heimsuchung - Jenny Erpenbeck

    Abitur Recht/Gerechtigkeit und historische Tiefenschichten eines Ortes – umgesetzt über Drama und Gegenwartsroman.

    Thüringen

    Abitur

    1. (keine fest benannte landesweite Pflichtlektüre veröffentlicht; Orientierung am gemeinsamen Aufgabenpool)

    Abitur In der Praxis häufig Orientierung am gemeinsamen Aufgabenpool; landesweite Einzeltitel je nach Vorgabe/Handreichung nicht einheitlich ausgewiesen.

    Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

    Abitur

    1. (Quelle aktuell technisch nicht abrufbar; Beteiligung am gemeinsamen Aufgabenpool bekannt)

    Abitur Land beteiligt sich am länderübergreifenden Aufgabenpool; konkrete, veröffentlichte Einzeltitel konnten hier nicht ausgelesen werden.

    Rheinland-Pfalz

    Abitur

    1. (keine landesweit einheitliche Pflichtlektüre; schulische Auswahl)

    Abitur Keine landesweite Einheitsliste; Auswahl kann schul-/kursbezogen erfolgen.




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    YouTube Music: THE MONKEY DANCE


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    The Monkey Dance | aiMOOCs

    1. Trust Me It's True: #Verschwörungstheorie #FakeNews
    2. Gregor Samsa Is You: #Kafka #Verwandlung
    3. Who Owns Who: #Musk #Geld
    4. Lump: #Trump #Manipulation
    5. Filth Like You: #Konsum #Heuchelei
    6. Your Poverty Pisses Me Off: #SozialeUngerechtigkeit #Musk
    7. Hello I'm Pump: #Trump #Kapitalismus
    8. Monkey Dance Party: #Lebensfreude
    9. God Hates You Too: #Religionsfanatiker
    10. You You You: #Klimawandel #Klimaleugner
    11. Monkey Free: #Konformität #Macht #Kontrolle
    12. Pure Blood: #Rassismus
    13. Monkey World: #Chaos #Illusion #Manipulation
    14. Uh Uh Uh Poor You: #Kafka #BerichtAkademie #Doppelmoral
    15. The Monkey Dance Song: #Gesellschaftskritik
    16. Will You Be Mine: #Love
    17. Arbeitsheft
    18. And Thanks for Your Meat: #AntiFactoryFarming #AnimalRights #MeatIndustry


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