Idiom | Meaning | Example |
a nail-biter |
exciting game or movie; having much suspense
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Have you seen the movie The Fugitive? It's a nail-biter.
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a necktie party |
a hanging, a lynching
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If the men catch the outlaw, they want to have a necktie party.
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a new broom sweeps clean |
an employee works hard on the first day or two, make a good impression
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After my first day working for Grandfather, he said, "A new broom sweeps clean."
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a new lease on life |
a feeling that life will be better, a fresh start
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The promotion gave him a new lease on life.
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a notch below |
inferior, not as good
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That bicycle is a notch below the Peugeot. It's not quite as good.
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a nut case |
a person who is crazy, crackpot
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If you go to work in pajamas, people will say you're a nut case.
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A-OK |
fine, better than average
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This restaurant is A-OK. The food and service are good.
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a pack of lies |
many lies, no truth to it
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What Gail is saying about Julie is a pack of lies. It's not true.
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a pain in the ass [B] |
a bother, a lot of trouble
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Fixing that car every day is a pain in the ass.
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a pain in the butt |
a person who causes problems, a pain in the ass
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Hal keeps interrupting me. He's a pain in the butt!
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