Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook (69 page)

have a thing for

have a wash, British

have a weak stomach

have advice

have an affair

have an agreement

have an appointment

have an argument

have an opinion

have at it

have butterflies in one’s stomach

have chemistry

have chores to do

have egg on your face

have fun

have guilt written all over one’s face

have housework to do

have it bad for

have it made

have it made in the shade

have it off, British

have money

have money to burn

have no heart

have no stomach for

have none of it

have one foot in the grave

have one’s back to/against the wall

have one’s hair stand on end

have one’s hands full

have one’s nose in a book

have one’s nose in the air

have one’s nose in the books

have one’s nose to the grindstone

have one’s teeth chatter

have plans

have second thoughts

have someone’s eyes

have something on the back burner

have something open one’s eyes

have something to say

have the guts

have the jitters

have the upper hand

have the world by its tail

have time

have work

Have you got it?

having a few with friends

He has a chip on his shoulder

head

head (toilet)

head and shoulders above

head for

head of the class

head off

head off/on/in

head out/to/for

head over heels

head over heels in love

head start

headliner

head-on collision

head’s up

heads will roll

health conscious

health issues

heart

heart of stone

heartache

heartbreak

heartbroken

heartless

heartthrob

heavy beard

heavy drinker

heavy heart

heavy smoker

heavy traffic

held over

Hello!

help yourself

helping

here goes nothing

Here’s a thought

Hey

Hi

Hi (Hey) there

hidden agenda

hide one’s face

hide your face

high five

high school

high school dropout

high-income

hired hand

hit and run

hit it off

hit the bars/clubs/parties

hit the books

hit the brakes

hit the ceiling/roof

hit the sack (hay)

hitting a home run

hold a grudge

hold down

hold it

hold off

hold on

hold on (a minute)

hold on to

hold out

hold over

hold something against someone

hold up

hold up/tie up traffic

hold your horses

holding hands

home away from home

home sweet home

homesick

honest as the day is long

honest effort

honest Joe

honest to God

Honey

Honey Bun

honeymooners

hooch

horny

hot date

hot under the collar

hotfoot it

hot-headed

hottie

house-bound

house-hunting

househusbands

housekeeper

housekeeping

housewarming party

housewife

housework

how

How about that?

How are things?

How are you doing?

How come?

How could you?

How do I know?

How do you do?

How goes it?

How in the world?

How is that!?

How nice!

How should I know?

How so?

How’re things?

How’s everything?

How’s it going?

How’s life?

How’s life been treating you?

How’s that?

How’s things?

hubby

Huh?

humble beginnings

humorous

hung up on

hunk

hurried

hurry faster

hurry up

hurry up and wait

hurt

hush (up)

I agree

I appreciate your apology

I blew it

I can go along with that

I can’t believe I (did something)

I can’t eat another bite

I can’t say

I can’t say that I agree

I can’t thank you enough

I could do without

I could eat

I couldn’t agree more

I couldn’t (begin to) tell you

I did it!

I didn’t catch that

I didn’t catch what you said

I disagree

I don’t buy it/that

I don’t care

I don’t get it

I don’t know

I don’t mind

I don’t think so

I don’t understand

I doubt it

I failed

I feel for you

I feel like a million bucks

I got a raw deal

I got an earful

I got it for a song

I got it for peanuts

I guess (so)

I guess not

I had better be going

I have a brainstorm

I have a different take on it

I have no idea

I haven’t (got) a clue

I haven’t got all day

I haven’t the faintest idea

I hear you (ya)

I know what I’m talking about

I made it!

I make good money

I messed up

I need to find a restroom

I never!

I owe you one

I paid next to nothing

I pulled over

I question that

I saw it with my own eyes

I screwed up

I think

I think not

I think so

I think so, too

I was given an earful

I was on the edge of my seat

I wouldn’t be so sure

idiom, defined

if I live to be a hundred

if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times

if the truth be known

I’ll believe it when I see it

I’ll forgive you this time

I’ll never live it down!

I’m afraid I don’t understand

I’m afraid not

I’m afraid so

I’m as good as new

I’m back in business

I’m back to my old self again

I’m back to the land of the living

I’m better than ever

I’m clueless

I’m down with that

I’m fed up!

I’m fit as a fiddle

I’m full/stuffed

I’m game

I’m happy to hear that

I’m healthy as an ox

I’m in

I’m in perfect health

I’m no angel!

I’m not clear on that

I’m not sure

I’m not sure about that

I’m not sure that I agree

I’m of a different mind

I’m off to the office

I’m open

I’m over it!

I’m pooped (out)

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse

I’m sorry

I’m sorry to hear that

I’m starving

I’m starving to death

I’m stumped

I’m supposed to care?

I’m tired out

I’m tuckered out

I’m warning you

I’m wiped out

I’m with you

I’m worn out

immediate family

in a bad/foul/rotten mood

in a funk

in a good mood

in a mood

in a relationship

in all honesty

in bad shape

in debt

in good shape

in good spirits

in it for oneself

in my business

in my face

in nothing flat

in one ear and out the other

in one’s 20s

in one’s 30s

in person

in poor health

in recovery

in school

in seventh heaven

in shape

in someone’s hands

in the 90th percentile

in the black

in the black/red

in the hole

in the pink

in the prime of life

in the red

in the right place at the right time

in the same boat

in the wings

in two shakes (of a lamb’s tail)

in your dreams

in-between age

inch along

in-laws

inside joke

into oneself

intransitive verbs

invite in

is gone

is taught

Is that a fact?

Is that clear?

Is that so?

island hopper

isn’t working

it beats me

it could be worse

it doesn’t look good

it doesn’t matter (to me)

it is what it is

it takes two (to tango)

it was mutual

it was my pleasure

it was no trouble

item

it’s 50-50

it’s a fact

it’s a no-brainer

it’s a rip off

it’s a steal

it’s all about someone

it’s cool

It’s down to someone, British

it’s highway robbery

it’s likely

it’s no big deal

it’s no picnic

it’s no skin off my nose

it’s no use

it’s no wonder

it’s none of your business

it’s none other than

it’s not clear

it’s not fair

it’s not likely

it’s nothing

it’s okay

it’s our lucky day

it’s possible

It’s up to someone

it’s up to you

it’s your call

I’ve been there

I’ve got the blues

I’ve got to go

I’ve got to split

I’ve got to take off

I’ve got your back

I’ve had it!

I’ve hit on an idea

Jack of all trades

jargon, defined

jet lag

job reduction

john (toilet)

joke around

joker

jokester

Josh’n’Amy

JoshandAmy

jot down

jump a red light, British

jump at the chance

jump in

jump in with both feet

jump on/off

jump the queue, British

jumping for joy

junk food

just a minute

keep a lid on it

keep a straight face

keep an eye on

keep an eye out for

keep down

keep everything inside

keep fit

keep in shape

keep it down

keep it hushed up

keep it to yourself

keep it under your hat

keep off

keep on

keep on/off

keep one’s cool

keep one’s eyes open/peeled

keep one’s head above water

keep one’s mouth shut

keep one’s nose clean

keep one’s nose to the grindstone

keep one’s weight down

keep one’s word

keep out of it

keep people on their toes

keep quiet about it

keep to oneself

keep up

keep your chin up

keep your pecker up, British

keep your voice down

keeper

keeping a level head

keeping house

keeping one’s eyes on the road

keeping one’s head (about oneself)

keys to success

kick around

kick back

kicked the bucket

kicked to the curb

kid around

kiss off

knee slapper

knock down

knock it off

knock off

knock oneself out

knock someone up, American versus British use

knock something out

knock something up, British

knock-knock jokes

knuckleheaded

lady friend

laid back

laid off

land on one’s feet

landed into their lap

last but one, British

later

later alligator

laugh a minute

laugh someone’s head off

laugh till one’s sides ache/burst

laughter is the best medicine

lay a finger on

lay a hand on someone

lay away

lay by, British

lay it on the line

lay off

lay one’s cards on the table

lay one’s hands on something

lay out

lay the table, British

laying on of hands

layover

lazybones

lean on someone

learning your ABCs

leave a bad taste in one’s mouth

leave home

leave me alone

leave the nest

leech

leech off of someone

left me

left me for another man (woman)

left me for someone else

leg room

lend a hand

lend an ear

lend someone a hand

let down

let in on

let it go

let off

let on/off

let someone down

let something get away

let the cat out of the bag

let up

Let’s face it!

let’s go

Let’s hear it!

let’s sit down

level with

level with someone

lie through one’s teeth

lie/laze/sit around

life at the office

life goes on

life of the party

life’s like that

life-threatening disease

lift a finger

light

light eater

light smoker

light up

lighten up

Lighten up!

lightheaded

lights

like crazy/mad

like father, like son

like hotcakes

like mother, like daughter

like nobody’s business

like one’s privacy

like there’s no tomorrow

lily white

line up

lineup

listen up

little black book

little Missus

little old ladies

little short of cash

little white lie

live audience

live broadcast

live comfortably

live concert