All Idioms

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jam on the brakes

Meaning: Suddenly stop or halt an action, plan, or process. (figurative)

Example: After the budget cuts, management jammed on the brakes and suspended all new projects. (figurative) Read more ➺


go great guns

Meaning: To progress rapidly and successfully; to do extremely well.

Example: After the new app launched, the developers go great guns, attracting thousands of users in a week. Read more ➺


goody-goody

Meaning: A person whose overly good or polite behavior is annoying or insincere.

Example: The other kids avoided her because she was always correcting everyone and acting like a goody-goody. Read more ➺


ever since

Meaning: From a past time until now.

Example: She moved to the city in 2018, and ever since she has worked in digital marketing. Read more ➺


long face

Meaning: To look sad, disappointed, or unhappy. (figurative)

Example: Everyone could tell she had a long face after hearing the bad news. Read more ➺


funky chicken

Meaning: Figurative sense: to move, act, or behave frantically and without coordination—like a panicked chicken.

Example: Everyone burst into laughter when Maya started doing the funky chicken at the wedding party. Read more ➺


irons in the fire

Meaning: To be involved in several activities or projects at the same time.

Example: She's launching a podcast, finishing a course, and pitching clients—she clearly has many irons in the fire. Read more ➺


caught lacking

Meaning: Caught in a helpless or vulnerable situation when unready or unprepared for it.

Example: The rival crew filmed him outside the store, and he was caught lacking with no one around to help. Read more ➺


Heath Robinson

Meaning: Used to describe something that is very complex in a ridiculous or silly way.

Example: The inventor proudly displayed a Heath Robinson machine that used ropes, bells, and buckets just to make a cup of tea. Read more ➺


hand over fist

Meaning: Doing something very quickly or in large amounts.

Example: The startup grew hand over fist, signing new customers every week so the team expanded fast. Read more ➺


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