American Idioms

Give someone or something a wide berth: keep someone or something at a distance.

e.g. That dog is very fierce. We’d better give it a wide berth.

e.g. Your Mom is in a foul mood; give her a wide berth.

As plain as day: plain and simple

e.g. The briefing was as plain as day; nobody had to ask any question.

All at sea: confused

e.g. The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting reports of the incident.

Odd man out: atypical person or thing

e.g. Everybody has a partner, and you are an odd man out because you don’t have one.

Take the bull by the horns: deal with the challenge directly

e.g. This is a very difficult situation, but we must take the bull by the horns.

Accountable for: able to explain why

e.g. You have to be accountable for every decision you are going to make.

Actions speak louder than words: do something about it, not just talking about it

e.g. Show me what you have done! Actions speak louder than words.

Vested interest: a personal stake

e.g. He showed a vested interest in his uncle’s business.

Above all: most importantly

e.g. Above all, you must have a valid visa if you wish to continue to stay in the United States.

Go for broke: make great effort; risk everything

e.g. To win his re-election, the Mayor would go for broke.

Mind one’s p’s and q’s: pay attention to one’s manners

e.g. When you meet the President, you must mind your p’s and q’s.

Run in the family: a characteristic in all members of a family

e.g. Longevity runs in the family: they all live to a ripe old age.

All at sea: confused

e.g. The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting reports of the incident.

Act one’s age: behave maturely

e.g. Stop behaving like a teenager! Act your age.

You bet: yes, of course

e.g. “Are you hungry?” “You bet!”

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau