Idiom Category: General, Page 3

Beside the point

If something is beside the point, it's not relevant to the matter being discussed or considered.

Beside themselves

If people are beside themselves, they are very worried or emotional about something. 

Beside yourself

If you are beside yourself, you are extremely angry.

Best of a bad bunch

The best that could be obtained from a list of options that were not exactly what was required.

Best of both worlds

If you have the best of both worlds, you benefit from different things that do not normally go together.

Better safe than sorry

This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.

Beyond belief

If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.

Beyond our ken

If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.

Beyond the pale

If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.

Big picture

The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.

Bit part

If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.

Bit player

A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.

Bite off more than you can chew

If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.

Bits and bobs

Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as 'odds and ends'.

Bitter end

If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.

Blank slate

A blank slate is something that hasn't been developed or described in any detail.

Blessing in disguise

If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise.

Blot your copybook

If you blot your copybook, you make a mistake or do something wrong that will negatively affect someone's opinion of you.

Blow a gasket

If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.

Blow hot and cold

If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.

Blow me down

People say '(well,) blow me down' when you have just told them something surprising, shocking or unexpected. ('Blow me down with a feather' is also used.) 

Blow off steam

(USA) If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.

Blow out of the water

If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.

Blow smoke

(USA) If people blow smoke, they exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make themselves look better.

Blow the cobwebs away

If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.

Blow the whistle

If somebody blows the whistle on a plan, they report it to the authorities.

Blow your stack

If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.

Blow your top

If someone blows their top, they lose their temper.

Boil to the surface

If a problem or issue boils to the surface, it emerges at a particular time and needs to be discussed or resolved.

Both ends meet

If you make both ends meet, you live off the money you earn and don't go into debt.

Bottom line

In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.

Bounce ideas

If you bounce ideas off someone, you share your ideas with them to know whether they think they would work.

Box and dice

Box and dice means everything.

Box of fluffy ducks

(NZ) Used when something is working well or going your way. If you are happy, you are a box of fluffy ducks. Also can be shortened to 'a box of fluffies'.  

Boxing and coxing

If people are boxing and coxing, they are sharing responsibilities so that one of them is working while the other isn't. It can also be used when couples are sharing a house, but their relationship has broken down and when one is at home, the other stays out.

Brass tacks

If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.

Break even

If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either.

Break ground

If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before. 'Ground-breaking' is used an adjective.

Breathe life into

If you breathe life into something, you give people involved more energy and enthusiasm again.  ('Breathe new life' is also used.)

Brevity is the soul of wit

The best way to communicate intelligently is to be concise and not to use unnecessary words.

Bright and breezy

When someone is cheerful and full of energy, they are bright and breezy.

Bring on board

To make people embrace the ideas intended by the leader or agree to join a team or project is to bring them on board.

Broad strokes

If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.

Broken record

When someone sounds like a broken record, they keep on repeating the same things. ('Stuck record' is also used.)

Brownie points

If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.

Buck stops here

The buck stops here is used to say that this is the point where responsibility lies or the person who is responsible.

Bur under my saddle

A bur under your saddle is something that annoys you or spurs you into action.('Burr' is an alternative spelling.)

Burn rubber

If you burn rubber, you drive very fast to get somewhere.

Burn the candle at both ends

Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which are likely to affect their health badly.

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