Idioms beginning with B

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be a doll

Meaning: A polite and affectionate way to ask someone to do something kind or helpful.

Example: Be a doll and hand me the keys before you leave. Read more ➺


by heart

Meaning: To memorize something completely.

Example: Emily knew the entire poem by heart after practicing it every evening for a week. Read more ➺


big back

Meaning: A person who eats a lot or is strongly obsessed with food (informal, humorous slang).

Example: After finishing three burgers and fries, his friends jokingly called him big back. Read more ➺


behind the times

Meaning: Outdated or old-fashioned; not keeping up with modern ideas, trends, or technology.

Example: The company's policies are behind the times, ignoring modern workplace flexibility. Read more ➺


blow your top

Meaning: To suddenly lose your temper and become very angry.

Example: Try not to blow your top when the delay is only a few minutes. Read more ➺


bah humbug

Meaning: An exclamation expressing disapproval, annoyance, or contempt, used to dismiss something seen as foolish, false, or irritating.

Example: He waved off the proposal with a sharp bah humbug, refusing to take it seriously. Read more ➺


break cover

Meaning: To reveal your true position, intentions, or opinions after hiding them.

Example: The adviser decided to break cover and admit he had been guiding the project from the start. Read more ➺


by a long chalk

Meaning: By a wide margin; by far; to a great extent.

Example: The new striker is better by a long chalk than anyone else on the field. Read more ➺


back down

Meaning: To withdraw from a position, claim, or argument; to yield or surrender.

Example: Sarah backed down when she saw her facts were wrong. Read more ➺


between Scylla and Charybdis

Meaning: Facing two dangerous options where avoiding one brings you closer to the other.

Example: The company was between Scylla and Charybdis: raise prices and lose customers, or keep them the same and face bankruptcy. Read more ➺


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