Oxford Dictionary of Idioms by Judith Siefring

339 Index

root and branch seven-league boots
from soda to hock a magic carpet
from soup to nuts as the crow flies
stay the course on the gad
leave no stone unturned hit the road
pull out all the stops go round the houses
get itchy feet
Time knight of the road
live out of a suitcase
arrow of time
once in a blue moon waltz Matilda
turn back the clock
till the cows come home Mexican overdrive
in a dog's age ride the rails
donkey's years ride shotgun
the year dot round Robin Hood's barn
a movable feast a rolling stone
a fly in amber put down roots
till hellfreezesover a sabbath day's journey
till kingdom come
many moons ago on Shanks's pony
a month of Sundays
a New York minute pull up stakes
before the Rinderpest up sticks
round the clock on the stump
time immemorial
the watches of the night go walkabout
the witching hour
Unhappiness and
Traitors and treachery disappointment

point the bone at your heart sinks into your boots
turn cat in pan beat your breast
do the dirty on someone a dog's life
fifth column down in the mouth
a fair-weather friend down in the dumps
beware the Greeks bearing gifts dust and ashes
eat your heart out
a Judas kiss end in tears
a ghost at the feast
night of the long knives a kick in the teeth
sell the pass a lump in your throat
a poisoned chalice sick as a parrot
play someone false a slap in the face
put someone's pot on vale of tears
sell someone down the river wear the green willow
a snake in the grass wormwood and gall
a stab in the back wring your hands
a Trojan horse
a viper in your bosom Violence

Travel and transport blood and guts
blood and thunder
a bird of passage have blood on your hands
ride bodkin give someone Bondi
bunch of fives
tap someone's claret

Index 340

beat the living daylights out of chuck it down
duke it out the eye of the storm
the gloves are off the heavens opened
go the knuckle Indian summer
punch someone's lights out a London particular
tear someone limb from limb rain cats and dogs
lovely weather for ducks
get physical
Work and employment
take a pop at
get the boot
a Procrustean bed hang up your boots
someone's bread and butter
he who lives by the sword dies by the on the broo
sword burn the midnight oil
a busman's holiday
beat the tar out of get your cards
have been in the wars get the gate
a golden handshake
Warfare put someone out to grass
hit the bricks
a call to arms jobs for the boys
blood and iron live over the shop
the dogs of war put someone out to pasture
the pen is mightier than the sword walk the plank
a pitched battle the oldest profession
rattle sabres punch the time clock
a roll of honour give someone the push
throw away the scabbard hang out your shingle
take the King's (or Queen's) shilling talk shop
beat swords into ploughshares put up the shutters
the smell of the lamp
the late unpleasantness old Spanish customs
by the sweat of your brow
the war to end all wars Buggins' turn
walk of life
Weakness on the wallaby track

an Achilles heel Youth
besetting sin
big girl's blouse angry young man
built on sand the awkward age
a chink in someone's armour babes in the wood
a faint heart bright young thing
have feet of clay (see foot) a broth of a boy
hit where you live at your mother's (or father's) knee
a house of cards knee-high to a grasshopper
a house divided poor little rich girl (or boy)
man of straw your salad days
milk and water ugly ducking
a paper tiger take years off someone
a broken reed
fall apart at the seams
knock the stuffing out of

Weather

blow great guns
brass monkey