Idiom Collection

An idiom is an accepted phrase having a meaning other than the literal. "Skating on thin ice" and "a blind alley" are two common examples. Idioms are a fun, playful part of language.

Don't break my heart by leaving without adding one to our collection! When you're done here, learn the Idiom of the Day from across the pond. For the new school year, now you can search and add comments to idioms!

• As rough as wood - Steven Arnst 2002-03-23
• As smooth as silk - Steven Arnst 2002-03-23 (1)
• Social Butterfly - Susan S. 2002-03-22 (1)
• He has a board loose in his attic - Kaitlin from Trinity School, PA 2002-03-21
• Get to the bone of the matter - John W. from Huntley Middle school, Huntley, Illinois 2002-03-21
• by trial and error - anon 2002-03-19 (1)
• on thin ice - Mitchell GA 2002-03-19
• Dogs will hunt! - Travis Woodhouse from Virginia Wesleyan College 2002-03-19 (1)
• "It takes my breath away" - Sarahjean from CCS (junior high), Long Island, NY 2002-03-18
• throw cold water - Susmita Banerjee from Frank Correa, Calcutta India 2002-03-17
• Paint the town red - Casey Tan , New Town Primary School 2002-03-16
• Go rattle his (her) cage - Gail LaPierre Miller, Hopedale Jr Sr High, Massachusetts 2002-03-15
• Mosey home - Mike.W,Limon Villa 2002-03-13
• Here's mud in your eye! - Theo L. 2002-03-11
• You're getting on my nerves! - hulagirl13 2002-03-11
• He doesn't know "come here" from "sic'em" - Mrs. Taylor from Lakeside Middle School, Hot Springs, AR 2002-03-11
• just in the nick of time - loli 2002-03-10
• You're seeing castles in the sky - THOMAS GROVER MIDDLE SCHOOL 2002-03-10
• Old Fire stick is easy to catch. - Sheila Scavella, Lewis Yard Primary School, Bahamas 2002-03-10
• Cock (Rooster) mouth kill Cock . - Carolyn Wright, Vaz Prep. , Jamaica 2002-03-10
• As scarce as hen's teeth. - Brenda B. from Dinwiddie Elementary School 2002-03-06
• That's a swamp to jump in! - Mark Barlass from McDonald County R-1, Missouri 2002-03-06
• getting long in the tooth - Betty Pearson from Umpire School, Arkansas 2002-03-06
• Streak a trot - Betty Pearson from Umpire School, Arkansas 2002-03-06
• Gag me with a spoon - Betty Pearson from Umpire School, Arkansas 2002-03-06
• Back-door - Angelo 2002-03-06 (1)
• He has bedroom eyes - Betty Pearson from Umpire School, Arkansas 2002-03-06 (1)
• Everything but the kitchen sink - Cristine 2002-03-04
• Throw the book at - Anon. 2002-03-04
• Time flies - Josephine W. from Laura Secord 2002-03-04
• snail mail - Miriam P. from Hancock, MI 2002-03-03
• "hoisted by one's own petard" - Rosalie 2002-03-03
• "don' know whether I'm afoot or ahorseback" - Rosalie 2002-03-03
• ***heard it through the grapevine*** - **RaChEl L. from Strath Haven Middle School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania 6th grade** 2002-02-28
• Snake in the grass - Jean C. , A mom 2002-02-28
• I could care less. - Alex from North Carolina 2002-02-25
• A Mickey Mouse Job - Ben B. From Oregon 2002-02-23
• You don't know Jack - Trey Sutton University Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 2002-02-22
• Don't rock the boat - Amy Cathryn Anthony University of Mississippi Medical Center 2002-02-22
• To hit a snag - Hiphop A from Barr Middle school , Nebraska 2002-02-20
• the whole nine yards - Dawn W. from Lynnhaven,Va Beach, Virginia 2002-02-18
• Your breaking my heart! - Devin B. from Allendale Public Middle School, Allendale, Michigan 2002-02-17
• as cool as a cucumber - Sofie Ball 2002-02-16
• Take forty winks. - Shalini C.from Yangzheng Primary School. 2002-02-15
• speak to the hand - joanna s from NZ 2002-02-15
• Hit the hay - Kadisha C. from New York University 2002-02-13
• She rubbed me the wrong way! - Chad 2002-02-13
• you couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. - Chad 2002-02-13
• that just goes to show you.... - Chad 2002-02-13
• toss your cookies - Chad 2002-02-13
• Keep the home fires burning - Courtney, Downingtown PA 2002-02-11
• The name of the car model was on the tip of my tongue - Shelly : 2002-02-10
• He who hesitates is lost - Nancy K. 2002-02-09
• That will happen when donkeys fly! - Barbara O'Finan from Houston, Texas 2002-02-09 (2)
• a bunion on the foot of progress - Tyler K. 2002-02-09
• Don't sweat the small stuff! - Sara Luna from Wainwright Elementary,Houston,Texas 2002-02-06
• Sharp as a knife - Sam S. 2002-02-05
• You can't see the forest through the trees - nd from chateaugay central school, chateaugay, ny 2002-02-05
• Only the shadow knows - Geoffrey Forbes 2002-02-05
• smooth as a baby's bottom - Sam S. 2002-02-05
• You could hear a pin drop - Sam S. 2002-02-05 (1)
• Read between the lines. - May Kho from P.S. 41,Manhattan, New York 2002-02-04
• HELP! Dead as a doornail - Desiree .D. from Saint John the Apostle school, Hialeah 2002-02-02
• Tickled Pink - Marla Vieira, Houston Community College, Houston, Texas 2002-01-31
• He can "get away with murder". - Adam W., Sunset Elem, Issaquah, WA 2002-01-29
• wear your heart on your sleeve - Adam W., Sunset Elem, Issaquah, WA 2002-01-29
• tickled pink - Adam W., Sunset Elem, Issaquah, WA 2002-01-29
• Shop 'Til You Drop - Stephanie T. 2002-01-27
• Throw me a bone - Stephanie T. 2002-01-27
• to carry the bags - Kristina E. from Ocean Palme Elementary School 2002-01-23
• What's that have to do with the price of tea in China. - "Alexis L. from Mercer Elementary, Mercer PA" 2002-01-23
• Rule of Thumb - Tina S. from Newark Charter School Newark, DE 2002-01-17
• Bite the Dust - Tina S. from Newark Charter School Newark, DE 2002-01-17
• Bacon is frying - Tina S. from Newark Charter School Newark, DE 2002-01-17
• Don't step on a crack or you'll fall and break your back. - Kara M. from Little Harbour School, Portsmouth, N.H. 2002-01-16
• Red-carpet treatment - Nicole Roca from Saint John the Apostle Catholic School, Miami, Florida 2002-01-13
• famous last words - 2002-01-13
• Cool - Kristian Ronge, Royal Institute of Technology 2002-01-11
• Come Again - Janelys Cbrera Saint John the Apostle Hialeah, Florida 2002-01-10
• Left out in the cold - Lily V. from st. john school, Miami ,Florida 2002-01-10
• Work against the clock - Maria K. from pearson School 2002-01-09
• Ace up your sleeve - Jake W. from Alhambra High School 2002-01-04
• Can't see the forest for the trees. - Ashley 2001-12-31
• The face that SUNK a thousand ships!!!! - William M. Norton, Naugatuck Valley College, Waterbury, CT 2001-12-30
• Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. - Lori M. Norton, Teacher, Wolcott HS, Wolcott, CT 2001-12-30 (1)
• That dog won't hunt - Jackie 2001-12-26
• Jump off the deep end - Patrick Condon. from Computech Middle School, Fresno,California 2001-12-20
• Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - Patrick Condon. from Computech Middle School, Fresno,California 2001-12-20
• 'Tis better to light a candle than curse the darkness - Dan Edinger 2001-12-20
• Kill two birds with one stone - Patrick Condon. from Computech Middle School, Fresno,California 2001-12-20
• By hook or by crook - 2001-12-16
• Dog-Eat-Dog World - Michelle Diehl 2001-12-13
• I am all - me 2001-12-12
• Tail wagging the dog - Leah 2001-12-11
• Old as Methuselah - Brittany J. from Ramtown School, Howell, NJ 2001-12-11
• nutty as a fruitcake - Patricia J., teacher in Howell, NJ 2001-12-11
• He went down like the Titanic - Tiffany J. from Land O' Pines School, Howell, NJ 2001-12-11
• WALLS HAVE EARS - ADRIANA CHIEPPE. FROM BRAZIL 2001-12-11
• straighten up or I'll jerk a knot in you! - cyf 2001-12-10
• kiss my grits - CYF 2001-12-10

Special thanks to early supporters Woodbury Heights Elementary and Yahooligans, and, from Pine Crest School, teacher Mrs. Carol Sasadu and librarian supreme Mrs. Arlene McDace.