Ahead of time
Idiom
Something that happens early or before it is supposed to.
Example
We arrived at the airport ahead of time.
CEFR idiom glossary
A2 Idioms & Expressions
High-frequency formulaic expressions and the most accessible figurative chunks.
Around the corner
Idiom
Will happen soon.
Example
Exam season is just around the corner.
Bad apple
Idiom
Troublemaker or undesirable person in a group.
Example
The coach warned that one bad apple could ruin the whole team.
Black and blue
Idiom
Badly bruised.
Example
After falling off his bike, he was black and blue.
Black as night
Idiom
Very dark and hard to see.
Example
By midnight, the road was black as night.
Black eye
Idiom
Bruise around the eye.
Example
He came to school with a black eye after the game.
Black market
Idiom
Where goods are illegally bought and sold for profit.
Example
The stolen phones were being sold on the black market.
Black out
Idiom
Darken by turning off or dimming the lights. Lose consciousness.
Example
The whole neighborhood blacked out during the storm.
Blind date
Idiom
Pre-arranged social interaction between people who have never met.
Example
She went on a blind date with someone her cousin recommended.
Blood red
Idiom
Description of something with a deep red color.
Example
The sunset turned the sky blood red.
Bottom falls out
Idiom
A plan or project that fails.
Example
When the investor pulled out, the whole plan bottomed out.
Bread-winner
Idiom
Person that is the primary source of income for a family.
Example
After her husband lost his job, she became the main bread-winner.
By degrees
Idiom
Something happens or develops gradually or little by little.
Example
By degrees, she became more confident in public speaking.
Cheesy
Idiom
Tacky, silly, inauthentic or cheap.
Example
The movie was fun, but some of the dialogue was really cheesy.
Coming of age
Idiom
When something develops completely and reaches maturity. When a child becomes an adult.
Example
The novel is a coming-of-age story about growing up in a small town.
Copycat
Idiom
Someone who copies the work of another.
Example
The smaller company looked like a copycat of the original brand.
Double date
Idiom
Social interaction that involves two couples.
Example
We went on a double date with my brother and his girlfriend.
Dropout
Idiom
Stop attending school before it is time.
Example
He became a school dropout at sixteen and later returned to study.
Egg head
Idiom
Studious and academic person.
Example
The others teased him for being an egg head, but he won every science prize.
Elbow room
Idiom
Enough space to move or work in.
Example
We moved the desks to give everyone more elbow room.
Fallen in love
Idiom
Start feeling love towards someone.
Example
He has fallen in love with the city since moving there.
Far cry from
Idiom
Very different from.
Example
This tiny apartment is a far cry from the house we used to have.
From now on
Idiom
From this time forward.
Example
From now on, please lock the door after you enter.
From time to time
Idiom
Occasionally or not very often.
Example
We still write to each other from time to time.
Hard time
Idiom
Something that is difficult or to suffer hardship.
Example
She had a hard time adjusting to life in a new country.
Laugh a minute
Idiom
Someone or something that is very funny.
Example
His uncle is a real laugh a minute at family dinners.
Lemon
Idiom
New vehicle that has many faults.
Example
That used car turned out to be a lemon.
Long time no see
Idiom
Not seen since long ago.
Example
Long time no see, how is your family?
Lovey-dovey
Idiom
Making an excessive display of affection.
Example
They were so lovey-dovey at dinner that everyone noticed.
Make time
Idiom
Find time to do something as a priority.
Example
Even busy parents should make time for their children.
Making good time
Idiom
Completing something faster than expected.
Example
We are making good time and should arrive before dark.
Mile a minute
Idiom
Happens very quickly.
Example
She talks a mile a minute when she gets excited.
Now and then (or again)
Idiom
Occasionally.
Example
We still go out for coffee now and then.
Off color
Idiom
Unwell.
Example
He looked a little off color this morning.
Old school
Idiom
Holding ideas that were popular and important in the past but which are no longer so.
Example
My father is old school and still writes letters by hand.
On time
Idiom
Not being late or something happening at the expected time.
Example
The train arrived exactly on time.
Once upon a time
Idiom
Something that happened a long time ago.
Example
Once upon a time, a poor farmer found a hidden cave.
Raring to go
Idiom
Being very eager or enthusiastic about the idea.
Example
By nine o’clock, the whole team was raring to go.
Red hot
Idiom
New and exciting, creating much demand.
Example
Tickets are red hot and selling fast.
Red-eye
Idiom
Journey that leaves late in the night and arrives early in the morning.
Example
We took the red-eye to New York and landed at dawn.
Save time
Idiom
Do something quickly or in a way that allow time for other things.
Example
Ordering online will save time at the checkout.
Shelf life
Idiom
The expected duration of lifespan of something (typically food, drink or medicine).
Example
Fresh bread has a short shelf life.
Show of hands
Idiom
Raising hands to vote about something.
Example
By a show of hands, who agrees with the proposal?
Single file
Idiom
Line of people with one person standing behind another.
Example
The children walked into the museum in single file.
Skip class
Idiom
Not go to school when you should.
Example
He got in trouble for deciding to skip class.
Sooner or later
Idiom
Something is certain to happen but it isn't known when exactly.
Example
Sooner or later, the truth always comes out.
Swallow one's pride
Idiom
Accepting something humiliating or embarrassing.
Example
He swallowed his pride and asked for help.
Time flies
Idiom
When time passes quickly.
Example
Time flies when you spend it with good friends.
Wasting time
Idiom
Doing something with no purpose.
Example
Arguing about blame is just wasting time.