air one`s dirty linen in public

- tell about one`s private quarrels or problems where others can hear

His personal problems are nobody else`s business and he doesn`t like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they go out with friends.

ants in one`s pants

- restlessness, nervousness

You are moving around as if you have ants in your pants the teacher said to the little boy.

at the drop of a hat

- without waiting, immediately, promptly

He will stop working and help you at the drop of a hat if you ask him politely.

bee in one`s bonnet

- an idea that seems strange or crazy

She has a bee in her bonnet about going to live on an island and starting a herb farm.

below the belt

- in an unfair or cowardly way

I think that he was hitting below the belt when he began to criticize me after I told him my true feelings on the matter.

bet one`s boots

- bet everything that one has

I will bet my boots that he is not able to save up enough money to come with us to Greece this winter.

birthday suit

- complete nakedness

The little boy was running around the picnic site in his birthday suit.

buckle down

- give complete attention or effort to do something

I told her that it was time that she buckled down and began to work harder than before.

burn a hole in one`s pocket

- money likely to be quickly spent

The money that he made at his part-time job is burning a hole in his pocket and he will probably spend it quickly.

burst at the seams

- too full or too crowded

The train station was bursting at the seams as everyone was waiting to go away for their holidays.

card up one`s sleeve

- another plan or argument kept back and produced if needed

I don`t know what he is planning to say at the meeting but I think that he has another card up his sleeve and will make an important announcement.

catch with one`s pants down

- surprise someone in an embarassing situation or a guilty act

He was caught with his pants down when he was asked for the figures but was unable to produce them.

come into fashion

- become fashionable

Recently in some areas the mini-skirt has come into fashion again.

decked out

- dressed in fancy clothes

I saw her at the concert last night and she was all decked out in a beautiful silk dress.

die with one`s boots on

- die while still active in one`s work

He worked hard all his life and died with his boots on when he had a heart attack and died in the factory.

dressed to kill

- wear one`s finest clothes

She was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention.

dressed to the nines (teeth)

- dressed elegantly

They were dressed to the nines when they went to the opening of the new theater production.

dress up

- put on one`s best clothes

I decided to dress up to go to dinner on Saturday night.

feather in one`s cap

- something to be proud of, an honor

Winning the speech contest was a feather in his cap and the greatest honor that he has ever won.

fill one`s shoes

- take the place of another and do as well as he or she would

It will be difficult for him to fill the shoes of the previous supervisor.

fine-tooth comb

- great care, careful attention so as not to miss anything

We went over the room with a fine-tooth comb but were unable to find the missing credit card.

fit like a glove

- fits perfectly

Her new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy.

fly by the seat of one`s pants

- do something by instinct rather than by knowledge or logic

He was forced to fly by the seat of his pants when nobody was in the office to help him fix the computer.

handle with kid gloves

- treat very gently and carefully

You must handle the new employee with kid gloves as he is very sensitive.

hand-me-down

- clothing that is given away after another person doesn`t need it

During his childhood growing up on a farm he wore many hand-me-down clothes.

if the shoe fits wear it

- that what is said in general can also be said of an individual person

You shouldn`t criticize others for something that you would do yourself. Remember, if the shoe fits wear it.

in one`s shoes

- in another`s place or position

I would hate to be in his shoes now that he has lost his job.

keep one`s shirt on

- calm down, keep from losing one`s temper or getting excited

Keep your shirt on. You shouldn`t get so excited about small problems.

keep (something) under one`s hat

- keep something secret

I plan to keep my plans to apply for a new job under my hat.

lose one`s shirt

- lose all or most of one`s money

He lost his shirt gambling and now he is in serious financial difficulty.

off the cuff

- without preparation

He made a very interesting off-the-cuff speech at the party last night.

old hat

- not new or different, old-fashioned

We have been using the new computer program for many months. It is old hat now.

on a shoestring

- on a very low budget, with little money to spend

We went to China and Japan on a shoestring and enjoyed it very much.

on one`s coat-tails

- as a result of someone else doing something

She was elected to city council by running on her well-known husband`s coat-tails.

pull out of a hat

- get something as if by magic, invent, imagine

At first he said that he didn`t have any of the information but then it suddenly appeared as if he had pulled it out of a hat.

pull up one`s socks

- make a greater effort

It is time that you pull up your socks and begin to work hard and take this job seriously.

put on one`s thinking cap

- think hard and long about something

I will put on my thinking cap and try to find a solution to the problem by next week.

roll up one`s sleeves

- get ready for a hard job, prepare to work hard or seriously

Let`s roll up our sleeves and begin to work so that we can finish early.

shoe is on the other foot

- the opposite is true, places are changed

For a long time my friend laughed at my problems at work. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he also has serious problems.

stuffed shirt

- a person who is too rigid or too formal

I don`t want to invite him to go with us because he is a stuffed shirt and not very interesting to spend time with.

take one`s hat off to someone

- admire, respect, praise

You have to take your hat off to him. He has started a small business and now it is very successful.

talk through one`s hat

- say something without knowing or understanding the facts

He is talking through his hat again and doesn`t really know what he is talking about.

tighten one`s belt

- live on less money than usual

If we want to go on a holiday to Europe this year we will have to tighten our belts and begin to save some money.

too big for one`s breeches/boots

- think that you are more important than you really are

He is too big for his breeches and needs someone to make him realize that he is not very important.

under one`s belt

- in one`s experience or possession; gained by effort and skill

Now that you have experience working for an international company under your belt you will have more chances to apply for a better job.

up one`s sleeve

- kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed

I don`t know what he has up his sleeve but I am sure that he is planning to say something at the meeting.

wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve

- show one`s feelings openly

She is wearing her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows that she is having problems with her boyfriend again.

wear the pants in one`s family

- be the boss of a family or household

She seems to wear the pants in her family and is always telling her husband what to do.

wolf in sheep`s clothing

- a person who pretends to be good but is really bad

He is a wolf in sheep's clothing and someone that you should be very careful around.

you bet your boots

- most certainly, yes indeed

You can bet your boots that I am going to go and apply for my passport as early as possible.