20 idioms with the meaning and sentence

1 Back against the wall

Be in a difficult situation from where escape is difficult

Example: With banks baying for his blood over default in payments, he has his back against the wall.

2 Bite off more than you can chew

To try to do something that is too difficult for you

Example: He has taken more responsibilities as he couldn’t say ‘no’ to his boss. I think he has bitten more than he can chew, and he’ll struggle to handle them all.

3 Upset someone’s applecart

If you upset someone’s applecart, you do something that causes a plan to go wrong.

Example: The increase in customs duty by the government has upset the applecart of those car companies who were importing most of their car parts.

4. Spoil someone’s plans

To ruin someone’s plans

Example: The heavy overnight rain spoilt our plan to play cricket next morning.

5. Keep someone at arm’s length

If you keep someone at arm’s length, you avoid becoming friendly with them.

Example: I’ve more productive time in the day because I’ve developed this good habit of keeping video games at arm’s length.

6. Drive a hard bargain

If you drive a hard bargain, you argue hard to get a favorable deal.

Example: The author tried to drive a hard bargain with the publisher on signing amount, but couldn’t because he didn’t have best sellers in his name.

7. Barking up the wrong tree

To ask the wrong person or follow the wrong course

Example: The sales team blamed the engineers for the organization’s failure to bag the mega deal, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

8. Scrape the barrel

When you’re scraping the barrel, you’re using something you do not want to but you’ve no option.

Example: I was scraping the barrel when I had to stay for six months with my parents after I lost my job.

9. A chip off the old block

If you’re a chip off the old block, you’re similar in some distinct way to your father or mother.

Example: He is as stingy as her mother – a real chip off the old block.

10. Blow your own trumpet

If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people how good or successful you are (used in negative way).

Example: That doctor can be so off-putting. He is always blowing his trumpet mentioning his awards and positions in various associations.

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