Expression Cards: idiom
386 cards available.
idiom
a bright spark
Meaning
a clever and intelligent person; someone with original ideas
Example
He's such **a bright spark**; he always finds innovative solutions.
idiom
a brush with fame
Meaning
a brief encounter or experience with a famous person
Example
During the exhibition, I had **a brush with fame** when I met a renowned painter.
idiom
a bug in the system
Meaning
a problem or error in a program or system
Example
There seems to be **a bug in the system** causing slow performance.
idiom
a bumper crop
Meaning
an unusually large harvest
Example
Farmers are happy this year because of **a bumper crop** of rice.
idiom
a bundle of joy
Meaning
someone or something that brings great happiness
Example
Their new baby is **a bundle of joy** for the family.
idiom
A bundle of nerves
Meaning
To be extremely anxious or tense.
Example
Before the presentation, she was **a bundle of nerves**.
idiom
a burning desire
Meaning
a strong and intense wish to achieve something
Example
She has **a burning desire** to become the best in her field.
idiom
A Catch-22
Meaning
A dilemma or difficult situation from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting conditions.
Example
It’s a **Catch-22**—you can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job.
idiom
a catnap
Meaning
a short, light sleep
Example
I took **a catnap** after lunch.
idiom
a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
Meaning
the strength of a group depends on the weakest member
Example
In any team, **a chain is only as strong as its weakest link**.
idiom
a change of heart
Meaning
a change in one’s opinion or feelings
Example
She had **a change of heart** and decided to stay.
idiom
a chapter of one’s life
Meaning
a period or stage in someone’s life
Example
Leaving college was the end of an important **chapter of her life**.
idiom
a chatterbox
Meaning
someone who talks a lot, especially a child
Example
My little sister is **a chatterbox**; she never stops talking.
idiom
a chip off the old block
Meaning
someone who is very similar to their parent
Example
Your daughter is so smart — she’s **a chip off the old block**.
idiom
a clean bill of health
Meaning
a report confirming good health
Example
The doctor gave me **a clean bill of health** after the check-up.
idiom
a clean slate
Meaning
a fresh start; an opportunity to begin again without past mistakes
Example
He moved to a new city for **a clean slate**.
idiom
a clear conscience
Meaning
a state of being free from guilt or regret
Example
She could sleep soundly at night because she had **a clear conscience**.
idiom
A clear conscience is a soft pillow
Meaning
When you live honestly, you sleep peacefully without guilt.
Example
After telling the truth, he had a peaceful night’s sleep because **a clear conscience is a soft pillow**.
idiom
a close call
Meaning
A situation where a disaster or accident was narrowly avoided.
Example
That was **a close call** — the car almost hit us!
idiom
a closed book
Meaning
something or someone that is difficult to understand
Example
He’s **a closed book** when it comes to his personal life.
idiom
a cog in the machine
Meaning
a small but essential part of a large system
Example
Every engineer is **a cog in the machine** that keeps the factory running.
idiom
a cold fish
Meaning
someone who is unemotional or not friendly
Example
He seemed **a cold fish** when I first met him.
idiom
a cold war
Meaning
a state of political hostility without open warfare
Example
The two nations seem to be entering **a cold war** again.
idiom
a couch potato
Meaning
a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV
Example
He’s become **a couch potato** since he lost his job.