Useful English Idioms and their meanings in simple words - Alphabetical list of English Idioms - Sample this: Useful English Idioms -- A -- Aback: be taken aback -- to be shocked - Abeyance: in abeyance -- postponed - Above: above all -- most of all - Abreast: keep abreast of -- to know the latest update - Abstract: in the abstract - generally - Abundance: in abundance -- in great amounts or quantities - Accident: by accident - unintentionally - Accompaniment: to the accompaniment of -- in the addition of something else - Accord: in accord -- in agreement; of your own accord - willingly; with one accord -- in unison - Accordance: in accordance with -- according to a rule or system - Account: by all accounts -- as said by other people; by your own account -- as said by you; of no account -- of no significance; on somebody's account -- because of other person; on account of -- because of; on no account -- without any reason; on your own account -- by or for yourself; on this account -- because of this; turn something to good account -- to make the best use of something; take account of -- to consider something during decision-making process - Ace: hold all the aces -- to be in the most favorable situation; place your ace -- to use your best argument, etc. to make situation in your favor - Acquaintance: make the acquaintance of somebody -- to be familiar with somebody for the first time; of your acquaintances -- that you know; on first acquaintance -- on first meeting - Acquire: an acquired taste -- something that you like gradually - Act: act of God -- a natural event; do a vanishing act -- to be absent when you are required to be present; get your act together -- to make your best efforts achieve to your goal; a hard act to follow -- to be perfect example of something and thus almost impossible to be emulated; in the act of doing something -- while somebody is doing something; in action -- doing the usual activity; into action -- to be implemented; out of action -- not working - Add: add insult to injury -- to aggravate the relationship with somebody - Addition: in addition - besides - Ado: without further ado - immediately - Advanced: of advanced age -- very old - Advantage: work to your advantage -- to try to get advantage form a particular circumstance; to best advantage -- in a best possible way; turn something to your advantage -- to get an advantage from an unfavorable situation - Advisement: take something under advisement -- to consider something during decision-making process - Aegis: under the aegis of -- with the support of - Afoul: run afoul of -- to do something illegal - Afar: from afar -- from a long distance away - Afield: far afield -- from a long distance away - Afoul: run afoul of -- to do something illegal - After: after all -- in spite of everything - Age: act your age -- to behave maturely and sensibly; come of age -- to be legally mature; under age -- to be legally immature - Aggregate: in aggregate -- as a total - Agree: agree to differ -- (of two people) to not discuss their different views about something - Aim: take aim at -- to criticize severely - Air: walk on air -- to be delighted; in the air -- felt by many people; on air -- broadcasting on TV, etc; off air -- not broadcasting on TV, etc; up in the air - undecided - Aisle: walk down the aisle -- to get married - Alarm: alarm bells ring -- to be worried and apprehensive in a sudden way - Alive: alive and kicking -- healthy and lively; bring something alive -- to make something exciting; come alive -- to be exciting - And: and all that -- and other things of the same kind; not all that -- not particularly - Allow: allow me -- used to offer help in a polite manner - Allowance: make allowance for something -- to consider something during decision-making process; make allowance for somebody -- to accept somebody's improper, rude, etc. way of behaving because of special reason