All Idioms

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straw that broke the camel’s back

Meaning: The final small problem or event that makes a situation unbearable.

Example: After endless delays and mistakes, the missed payment was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the workers went on strike. Read more ➺


paint oneself into a corner

Meaning: To put yourself in a situation where you have no good choices left.

Example: After promising to deliver the project early, she painted herself into a corner and had to work all weekend. Read more ➺


keyed up

Meaning: Feeling nervous, anxious, or tense before an event.

Example: She was keyed up the night before her driving test and couldn't fall asleep. Read more ➺


much of a muchness

Meaning: Very much the same; showing little or no difference.

Example: The two restaurants are much of a muchness — both serve average food at the same price. Read more ➺


hale and hearty

Meaning: In excellent health; strong, fit, and full of life.

Example: After recovering from surgery, my grandfather is now hale and hearty again. Read more ➺


hide and seek

Meaning: To avoid being found, noticed, or contacted; to dodge someone or something.

Example: The politician kept playing hide and seek with the press to avoid tough questions. Read more ➺


hurry-scurry

Meaning: A noisy, confused, and busy situation; a state of commotion or bustle.

Example: There was so much hurry-scurry at the railway station that nobody could hear the announcements. Read more ➺


down in the mouth

Meaning: Feeling sad, unhappy, or low in spirits.

Example: After losing his job, John looked down in the mouth for several days. Read more ➺


split hairs

Meaning: To argue about very small or unimportant differences.

Example: The lawyer told them not to split hairs over a ten-minute delay, since the facts of the case were clear. Read more ➺


a foregone conclusion

Meaning: An outcome that is certain to happen; inevitable result.

Example: Because the team had won every match, the championship was a foregone conclusion before the final game began. Read more ➺


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