Idioms: common comparisons and reactions

Vocabulary in this set

Use ten common idioms for simple comparisons, reactions, health, warnings, and unlikely events.

1. A dime a dozen

   Expression

   Very common and easy to find.

   Those trinkets are a dime a dozen; you can get them anywhere.

2. Easy as pie

   Phrase

   Very easy to do.

   Cooking that recipe is as easy as pie; you'll have no trouble at all.

3. Fit as a fiddle

   Expression

   In very good health and physically fit.

   After regular exercise, he felt fit as a fiddle.

4. No pain, no gain

   Expression

   You have to work hard and endure difficulties to achieve success.

   Training for a marathon is tough, but no pain, no gain.

5. Quick as a cat

   Expression

   Very fast.

   He was quick as a cat in responding to the emergency situation.

6. Needle in a haystack

   Expression

   Something extremely difficult to find.

   Finding a specific book in this large library is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

7. Penny for your thoughts

   Expression

   Asking someone what they are thinking about.

   You look deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?

8. Kick the bucket

   Phrase

   To die.

   He lived a long and fulfilling life before finally kicking the bucket at the age of 95.

9. When pigs fly

   Phrase

   Something that will never happen; an absurd or impossible event.

   You'll finish your homework when pigs fly!

10. Cry wolf

    Phrase

    To give a false alarm; to warn of a danger that is not real.

    After many false alarms, nobody believed him when he tried to cry wolf about a real danger.