Idiom Category: General, Page 9

Going concern

A successful and active business is a going concern.

Going overboard

If you go overboard with something, then you take something too far, or do too much.

Golden opportunity

A golden opportunity is an usually good chance to do or succeed at something. A chance that should not be missed.

Gone for a burton

(UK) If something's gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined. If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious trouble or have died.

Gone to pot

If something has gone to pot, it has gone wrong and doesn't work any more.

Good antennae

Someone with good antennae is good at detecting things.

Good shape

If something's in good shape, it's in good condition. If a person's in good shape, they are fit and healthy.

Good spell

A spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time; you'll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a good spell when they're performing consistently better than they normally do.

Good to go

Someone or something that meets one's approval. 'He is good to go.' 'The idea you had is good to go.'

Grease the skids

If you grease the skids, you facilitate something.

Great unwashed

This is a term used for the working class masses.

Grey cells

'Grey cells' means 'brain' Eg: Use your grey cells to understand it

Grin and bear it

If you have to grin and bear it, you have to accept something that you don't like.

Grinds my gear

Something that is very annoying grinds your gear.

Grow in the telling

The more you tell it, the larger, wilder, better, etc. the story gets.

Gung ho

If someone is gung ho about something, they support it blindly and don't think about the consequences.

Half-baked

A half-baked idea or scheme hasn't not been thought through or planned very well.

Hammer and tongs

If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely. The idiom can also be used hen people are doing something energetically.

Hang in the balance

If an outcome is hanging in the balance, there are at least two possibilities and it is impossible to predict which will win out.

Hang out to dry

If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble.

Happy medium

If you reach a happy medium, you are making a compromise; reaching a conclusion or decision.

Happy-go-lucky

If someone is happy-go-lucky, they don't worry or plan and accept things as they happen.

Hard act to follow

If something or something is exceptionally good, it is difficult to replace them or take their place.

Hard by

"Hard by" means mean "close to" or "near".

Hard miles

If you have done the hard miles, you have done the hard difficult work and that makes you eligible to comment or participate in something.

Hard of hearing

Someone who's hard of hearing is a bit deaf.

Hard sell

If someone puts a lot of pressure on you to do or buy something, they are hard selling it.

Hard to come by

If something is hard to come by, it is difficult to find.

Hard up

If you are hard up, you have very little money.

Haste makes waste

This idiom means that if you try to do something quickly, without planning it, you're likely to end up spending more time, money, etc, doing it.

Hatchet job

A piece of criticism that destroys someone's reputation is a hatchet job.

Haul someone over the coals

If you haul someone over the coals, you reprimand them severely.

Have a ball

If you have a ball, you have a great time, a lot of fun.

Have a bash

If you have a bash at something, you try to do it, especially when there isn't much chance of success.

Have a blast

It means "to have a lot of fun".

Have a crack

If you have a crack at something, you try to do it. If someone is attempting to do something and they are unsuccessful, you might say, "Let me have a crack at it" suggesting that you might be successful at performing the task. ('Take a crack' is also used.)

Have a go

If you have a go, you try to do something, often when you don't think you have much chance of succeeding.

Have a ripper

If you have a ripper of a time, you enjoy yourself.

Have no truck with

If you have no truck with something or someone, you refuse to get involved with it or them.

Have your fill

If you have had your fill, you are fed up of somebody or something.

Having a gas

If you're having a gas, you are having a laugh and enjoying yourself in company.

He that travels far knows much

People who travel widely have a wide knowledge.

He who hesitates is lost

If one waits too long, the opportunity vanishes.

He who laughs last laughs longest

A person may feel satisfied or pleased when they d something bad or unfair  to you, but if you can get revenge, you will feel more satisfaction.('He who laughs last laughs best' is also used, and 'he' is sometimes omitted.)

Head south

If something head south, it begins to fail or start going bad.'The project proceeded well for the first two months, but then it headed south.'

Headstrong

A headstrong person is obstinate and does not take other people's advice readily.

Heap coals on someone's head

To do something nice or kind to someone who has been nasty to you. If someone felt bad because they forgot to get you a Christmas gift, for you to buy them a specially nice gift is heaping coals on their head. ('Heap coals of fire' is also used.)

Hear a pin drop

If there is complete silence in a room, you can hear a pin drop.

Hear on the grapevine

To receive information indirectly through a series of third parties, similar to a rumour.

Hear something on the grapevine

If you hear something on the grapevine, you are informed about something by someone, circulating information or gossip from one person to another informally. ('Hear it through the grapevine' is also used.)

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