AMERICAN IDIOMS (B)
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Idioms starting with B
Here is our list of popular "B" idioms that are used in American English:
Bachelor pad: An apartment where a single man or woman (sometimes referred to as a "bachelorette pad") lives alone.
Back in the day: Many years ago; a long time ago.
Example: "Back in the day, we used to pay much more for laptops."
(To be) back on one's feet: (To) recover (from an illness).
Example: "You'll be back on your feet in no time."
Back to the drawing board: A phrase that is said when you have to start some process from the beginning (usually after having failed in the previous attempt).
Example: "Well, that didn't work... Looks like it's back to the drawing board."
Backhanded compliment: An insult disguised as a compliment.
Example of a backhanded compliment: "Hey, don't feel bad! You're not as fat as you used to be!"
(To) badmouth/bad-mouth: To verbally criticize; to knock; to talk badly of.
Example: "She's such a negative person. All she does is badmouth people all day."
Baggage (n.): Short for "emotional baggage", which is a collection of painful memories, experiences, mistrust, etc. carried around as a result of negative past experiences/relationships.
Example: "I wouldn't get involved with her. She's got a lot of baggage."
Behind bars: In jail.
Example: "The robbers were caught and are now behind bars."
(a) ball-park/ballpark figure:
A rough estimate.
Example: "Can you give me a ball-park figure of what this project will cost?"
(To get/jump on the) bandwagon:
To begin to like something/start doing something because it's popular, "hip", or everyone else is doing it.
Example: "Everyone's jumping on the tablet bandwagon."
(To) bank on something:
To count or rely on something.
(To) bark up the wrong tree:
To ask the wrong person; to make the wrong choice.
Example: "The gangster told the cops they were barking up the wrong tree in thinking he was responsible for the robbery."
Bash (n.): Party.
(A) basket-case:
A very nervous person; someone at the verge of being neurotic.
Example: "All the stress from the divorce turned John into a basket case."
(To) be a fan of someone/ something:
To like, idolize, admire someone/ or something.
Example: "I'm not a big fan of heavy metal music."
(To) be in one's element:
To be completely comfortable doing something; to do something that comes very naturally to someone.
Example: "When it comes to speaking in public, the senator is in his element."
(To) be the case: To be a reality. To be the way things are.
Example: "I wish I had a million dollars, but that's not the case."
(To) be up to no good:
To be planning something bad, mischievous, etc.
Example: "I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was up to no good."
Beat (adj.): Tired.
Example: "Man, I'm beat. I'm going to bed."
(To) beat around the bush:
To avoid getting to the point.
Example: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think."
(To) beg to differ:
A polite way of saying "to disagree", most often heard in the phrase "I beg to differ!"
(To be) behind (someone):
To be in the past. To no longer be the case.
Example: "I used to smoke, drink, and take drugs, but all that is behind me now."
(To get) behind (someone/something): To support (someone/something).
Example: "I'm behind you on this."
Believe it or not:
Used at the beginning of a sentence to state that something is true whether one chooses to believe it or not.
Example: "Believe it or not, I still care for her."
Bent out of shape: Upset/agitated.
Example: "Don't get all bent out of shape over that."
(To give someone a) big hand: To applaud (for someone) energetically. To give (someone) a big round of applause.
Example: "Let's give our performers a big hand!"
(To have a) big mouth:
To not be able to keep a secret.
Example: "Don't tell her anything. She's got a really big mouth."
Big-shot (noun/adjective):
An important person.
Example: "All the big-shots at headquarters never listen to what we have to say."; "A big-shot reporter."
(A) Bimbo:
A foolish or empty man or woman.
Example: "John only talks about his car and his clothes. He's a real bimbo."
(The) birds and the bees:
Sex; human reproduction.
Example: "It's about time I talked to my son about the birds and the bees."
(A) bite to eat:
A snack, some food.
Example: "Let's go grab a bite to eat before we go to the game."
(To) bite the hand that feeds you:
To do harm to someone who helps you.
(To) bite one's tongue:
To struggle not to say something that you want to say.
Example: "I wanted to tell her the truth, but I had to bite my tongue because I had promised Bill that I wouldn't say anything."
Black sheep (of the family):
The worst or least accepted member of a family.
Example: "Peter is the black sheep of his family."
(A) blast:
A great time; a fun time.
Example: "We had a blast last night."
(To) blow: To lose is a wasteful way/ to waste.
Example: "Sarah blew all her money on gambling."
(To) blow (someone) away: To really impress (someone).
Example: "We were all blown away by her performance."
(To) blow someone's cover:
To reveal someone's secret, or true identity.
Example: "The spy was very careful not to blow her cover."
(To) blow (something) out of proportion: To make (something) seem much more important than it actually is.
Example: "Of course his reaction was extreme! He always blows things out of proportion."
(To) blow (someone) out: In sports, - to win by a large margin, by a lot of points. To be blown out means to lose by a large margin.
Example: "Q: How did your team do? A: They were blown out."
B.O.: Short for "body odor" - the foul smell from one's armpits, especially when one doesn't shower/wash.
Example: "The woman sitting beside me had really bad B.O."
(To) bolt (for): To run (towards).
Example: "As soon as I turned around, he bolted for the door."
Booze: Alcohol.
(to) boss (someone) around: To be bossy towards (someone); to constantly tell (someone) what to do.
Example: "It's annoying how she bosses everyone around."
Break (n.):: Stroke of luck.
Example: "We got a big break in the case today!"
(To) break even:
To neither win nor lose.
Example: "Michael thought he would lose $200, but he ended up breaking even."
(To) break it up: To end a fight.
Example: "All right, break it up, you two!"
(To) break new ground:
To do something that hasn't been done before; to innovate.
Example: "Dr. Davis was breaking new ground in cancer research."
(To) break someone's heart:
To cause someone (strong) emotional pain.
Example: "Fiona broke James' heart when she refused to marry him."
(To) break the news to someone/ to break "it" to someone:
To tell someone some important news, usually bad news.
Example: "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your son has been selling stolen baseball cards."
Broke (adj.): Having no money.
Example: "He should really get a job. He's always broke!"
Bum (n.): Mendicant; Homeless person.
Bummed (adj.): Disappointed; Dejected.
Example: "He was really bummed about having lost the game."
'Burbs (n.pl): Short for "suburbs";
Example: "Tina lives in the 'burbs with her folks."
(To really) burn someone up: To really upset someone.
Example: "It really burns me up when he talks to me in that tone of voice."
Burnt out: Exhausted from doing something too much and too intensely (especially used when speaking about work, etc.)
Example: "He was completely burnt out after working for three weeks straight."
(To) burst into tears:
To start crying suddenly.
Example: "She burst into tears when she heard the news."
(To) bust: To nail; To catch;
Example: "He got busted for driving drunk."
