| Idiom |
Where Used |
Meaning |
|---|
| (the) icing on the cake |
AUS, UK, USA |
Something that makes a good situation even better |
| if it had been a snake, it would have bitten you |
USA |
Said of someone when what they were looking for was in a very obvious place |
| I'll cross that bridge when I get to it |
|
I'll deal with that (usually unpleasant) situation only when I can't avoid it any longer; sometimes mangled ironically as "I'll burn that bridge when I get to it", in allusion to "burning one's bridges". |
| in a jam |
USA |
In a difficult position, often needing help |
| in a pickle |
Global |
In a difficult position, often needing help |
| in clover |
Global |
In a fortunate position, well provided for. |
| in for a penny, in for a pound |
esp. UK |
Said by someone realizing that risks of failure are increasing, but still prepared to press onwards, maintaining their earlier efforts. Similar to the expression "no turning back" |
| (to stand/step/run/walk) in front of a moving train |
Global |
To die, or to die a loyal death (suicide) and not necessarily from a train. Sometimes taken literally, as people have died from being in front of trains. Also means to take a huge risk. Another variant is "to crawl in front of/under a moving train" which means to engage in extremely risky behavior since trains have little crawlspace underneath. |
| in his cups |
UK |
Drunk |
| in hot water |
Global |
In a difficult position, often needing help |
| in the limelight, in the spotlight |
Global |
Possessing large amounts of attention. Originating from Victorian times when spotlights in theatres operated via limelight produced by heating calcium oxide. |
| in (or out) of the loop |
Global |
Informed (or not informed) of key information, respectively |
| in the same boat |
Global |
Two or more parties in the same situation, especially a situation where what affects one party affects the other. Making a hole in the boat out of spite would drown the one and the other equally |
| in the twinkle/blink of an eye; in a flash |
Global |
To happen very quickly |
| in this day and age |
Global |
The present, indicating vast differences between modern and old times |
| iron out the difficulty |
AUS, UK |
To resolve an issue. It suggests the problem is minor but is something that will need work (as in smoothing wrinkles out of cloth with an iron) |
| is the glass half empty or half full? |
Global |
A phrase illustrating that 'good' or 'bad' is often a matter of perspective. From the belief that someone who refers to a glass as "half full" has an optimistic outlook on life, and someone who refers to the same glass as half empty has a pessimistic one |
| is the Pope Catholic? |
Global |
A phrase used to answer in the affirmative, implying that the questioner is silly to ask the question, as the answer is obvious. Used in many variations ("Is/Does the ___ ___?") of equally obvious nature, e.g., "Is the sky blue?" |
| (the) 'it' factor |
Global |
A specific aspect of a person which makes him/her better or more appealing than those around him. |
| it's all Greek to me |
Global |
Beyond comprehension, unintelligible. This expression was coined by William Shakespeare, who used it literally in Julius Caesar (1:2), where Casca says of a speech by Seneca, deliberately given in Greek so that some would not understand it, "For mine own part, it was Greek to me." |
| it's not over til the fat lady sings, it ain't over til the fat lady sings |
USA |
Roughly, do not make premature judgements or give up on something too soon/easily. Taken from the opera, particularly Wagner. |