go to the dogs

Have you been at a loss lately? If you have, something has ❛perplexed or puzzled❜ you and/or even left you ❛uncertain about what you should say or do❜. To see how the English idiom to be at a loss can be used, check out the following example:

Bashir was at a loss when he heard about his wife’s plan to open a Scottish restaurant.

In this sentence, Bashir is ❛confused and speechless❜ about his wife’s new business plan, i.e. he is at a loss.

Some recent headlines that have included the English idiom to be at a loss are:

Putin ❛at a loss❜ after Bethlehem street named for him
- ca.news.yahoo.com, 26 June 2012, AFP
EU at a loss over Syria
- dw.de, 25 June 2012, Christoph Hasselbach
Euro 2012: Germany’s Mats Hummels at a loss to explain England’s failings on world stage
- telegraph.co.uk, 21 June 2012, Chris Bascombe

to be at a loss

to be on the rocks

If someone or something comes out of the woodwork, he/she or it ❛appears after having been hidden, unknown or inactive for a long time❜. For example:

Since his death, many Michael Jackson fans have come out of the woodwork.

This sentence means that many of the singer’s fans, who, perhaps, had not listened to much of his music throughout the years prior to his death, have come out and publicly acknowledged their liking of Michael Jackson music, i.e. they have come out of the woodwork.

The following headlines/blog titles also contain the English idiom to come out of the woodwork:

DiManno: Post-Diamond Jubilee, anti-monarchists and uber-monarchists come out of woodwork
- the star.com, 6 June 2012, Rosie DiManno
Manchester City fans coming ❛out of the woodwork❜ says Rio Ferdinand
- idependent.co.uk, 23 March 2012, PA
Artists Coming Out of the Woodwork: Éva Jospin
- en.paris-lifestyle.fr, Thomas jean

to come out of the word work

The English idiom to get cracking means ❛to start working❜. For example:

There is no use standing around talking about what we want to do. Let’s get cracking!

Instead of ❛Let’s get cracking!❜, one could have also said ❛Let’s get to work!❜. The following articles/blog posts all contain the idiom to get cracking in their titles:

Get cracking on that list of things to organize
- miamiherald.com, 22 January 2012, Mary Beth Breckenridge, Akron Beacon Journal
Get Cracking on Innovative Tax Reform
- jamaica-gleaner.com, 23 January 2012, Garth A. Rattray
Let’s Get Cracking: How toMake an Omelet
- artofmaniliness.com, 31 January 2012, Matt Moore

Due to the fact that you have to ❛crack ❜ an egg to open it, you often see the English idiom to get cracking in connection with eggs or egg products. Thus, the title of the last article above ❛Let’s Get Cracking: How to Make an Omelet❜, in which ❛Let’s Get Cracking❜ has a double meaning.

to get cracking

in a bind, in a fix, in a mess, in a pickle, in a predicament, in a jam

honesty os the best policy

In the course of a lifetime, you will hear many stories. Which of the following stories is ❛a sad story that will likely make you cry❜?

a) a tall story
b) a shaggy dog story
c) a fish story
d) a sob story
e) a likely story

To find out which of the English idioms above refers to a sad story that will likely make you cry, click here.

tall story, shaggy dog story, fish story, sob story, likely story

teacher's pet

However, what does to blow a fuse mean in the idiomatic or figurative sense? Here’s a clue: it means the same thing as ❛to flip one’s lid❜, ❛ to hit the ceiling❜ and ❛to fly off the handle❜. Now, do you know what this English idiom means?

A synonym for ❛to lose one’s temper❜, the expression to blow a fuse means ❛to become very angry❜. For example:

When Lucinda found out how much her husband had spent on his Portuguese stamp collection, she blew a fuse.

to blow a fuse

Below, you will find a selection of English idioms that all contain the word ❛short❜. Which idiom means ❛to come away with less than you deserve or what is deemed fair in a deal or contest❜?

a) to cut someone or something short
b) to get the short end of the stick
c) to make a long story short
d) to sell someone or something short
e) to stop short of something

For the correct answer, click here.

short idioms, to cut someone or something short, to get the short end of the stick, to make a long story short, to sell someone or something short, to stop short of something

NEW! The English Idioms Daily Blog now has its own official iPhone / iPad App. Intended for intermediate to advanced speakers of English, WhizzQuiz will test your knowledge of English idioms. For more information on WhizzQuiz and where to get it, click here!

whizzquiz, learn english app, iPhone app, iPad app

No more Mr. Nice Guy is an English expression that is used to refer to someone who is no longer going to be friendly, agreeable and accommodating to achieve his goals❜. It can be used in the following way:

A: I have had enough of my co-workers’ constant demands.
B: What do you mean?
A: I have been trying to please them for years and they still aren’t happy. From now on, I am doing what I want. No more Mr. Nice Guy!

The English idiom No more Mr. Nice Guy implies that the speaker is now going to take a tougher approach to how he does things. In other words, he won’t be the ❛nice guy❜ that everyone, perhaps, thinks he is. No more Mr. Nice Guy can be further exemplified in the following recent articles:

Barack Obama: No More Mr. Nice Guy
- www2.mcleans.ca, 8 June 2012, Luiza Ch. Savage
❛No More Mr. Nice Guy’ - Why You Should Think Twice Before Co-Signing a Loan
- www.huffingtonpost.com, 7 June 2012, Jeanne Kelly
Bill Clinton is Back and it’s No More Mr. Nice Guy
- townhall.com, 8 June 2012, Donald Lambro

How does that grab you?

on the mend

at loggerheads

The English idiom to talk shop means ❛to talk about business, particularly in a non-work environment❜. For example:

A: Ted and Sue came to our party last night, but they didn’t speak to anyone.
B. What did they do all night?
A. They stood at the bar and talked shop.
B. As if there isn’t anything more interesting to talk about than that!

As the dialogue above confirms, it is often considered impolite to talk shop at social events. At the very least, talking shop is considered to be boring. However, when you consider how much time we spend in the workplace, it does seem rather natural to talk about what we do every day, doesn’t it?

For some further examples of how the English idiom to talk shop can be used, have a look at these two recent articles :

Putin Welcomes Kissinger: ❛Old Friends❜ to talk Shop
- nytimes.com, 19 January 2012, Ellen Barry
African American Engineers Convene in Pittsburgh to Talk Shop, Promote Their Field
- imaginepittsburghnow.com, 28 March 2012, Bonnie Pfister

talk shop

Which of the following four English idioms mean ❛not in working order❜? Clue: there is more than one correct answer.

a) on the fritz
b) on the blink
c) on the outs
d) out of order

To go to the answers, click here.

on the fritz, on the blink, on the outs, out of order, broken idioms