Useful English Idioms and their meanings in simple words | Alphabetical list of English Idioms | Sample this: Useful English Idioms -- A -- Aback: be taken aback -- to be shocked | Abeyance: in abeyance -- postponed | Above: above all -- most of all | Abreast: keep abreast of -- to know the latest update | Abstract: in the abstract - generally | Abundance: in abundance -- in great amounts or quantities | Accident: by accident - unintentionally | Accompaniment: to the accompaniment of -- in the addition of something else | Accord: in accord -- in agreement; of your own accord - willingly; with one accord -- in unison | Accordance: in accordance with -- according to a rule or system | Account: by all accounts -- as said by other people; by your own account -- as said by you; of no account -- of no significance; on somebody's account -- because of other person; on account of -- because of; on no account -- without any reason; on your own account -- by or for yourself; on this account -- because of this; turn something to good account -- to make the best use of something; take account of -- to consider something during decision-making process | Ace: hold all the aces -- to be in the most favorable situation; place your ace -- to use your best argument, etc. to make situation in your favor | Acquaintance: make the acquaintance of somebody -- to be familiar with somebody for the first time; of your acquaintances -- that you know; on first acquaintance -- on first meeting | Acquire: an acquired taste -- something that you like gradually | Act: act of God -- a natural event; do a vanishing act -- to be absent when you are required to be present; get your act together -- to make your best efforts achieve to your goal; a hard act to follow -- to be perfect example of something and thus almost impossible to be emulated; in the act of doing something -- while somebody is doing something; in action -- doing the usual activity; into action -- to be implemented; out of action -- not working | Add: add insult to injury -- to aggravate the relationship with somebody | Addition: in addition - besides | Ado: without further ado - immediately | Advanced: of advanced age -- very old | Advantage: work to your advantage -- to try to get advantage form a particular circumstance; to best advantage -- in a best possible way; turn something to your advantage -- to get an advantage from an unfavorable situation | Advisement: take something under advisement -- to consider something during decision-making process | Aegis: under the aegis of -- with the support of | Afoul: run afoul of -- to do something illegal | Afar: from afar -- from a long distance away | Afield: far afield -- from a long distance away | Afoul: run afoul of -- to do something illegal | After: after all -- in spite of everything | Age: act your age -- to behave maturely and sensibly; come of age -- to be legally mature; under age -- to be legally immature | Aggregate: in aggregate -- as a total | Agree: agree to differ -- (of two people) to not discuss their different views about something | Aim: take aim at -- to criticize severely | Air: walk on air -- to be delighted; in the air -- felt by many people; on air -- broadcasting on TV, etc; off air -- not broadcasting on TV, etc; up in the air - undecided | Aisle: walk down the aisle -- to get married | Alarm: alarm bells ring -- to be worried and apprehensive in a sudden way | Alive: alive and kicking -- healthy and lively; bring something alive -- to make something exciting; come alive -- to be exciting | And: and all that -- and other things of the same kind; not all that -- not particularly | Allow: allow me -- used to offer help in a polite manner | Allowance: make allowance for something -- to consider something during decision-making process; make allowance for somebody -- to accept somebody's improper, rude, etc. way of behaving because of special reason
