Phrases and Idioms 501-600 (killing - mind)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
501. killing  - make a killing To make a large profit in a short time.
502. kind  – of a kind Scarcely worthy of what is specified or described.
503. kiss  – kiss of death A kindly act which produces negative outcome
504. kiss  – kiss of life Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
505. kiss  – kiss someone’s arse To be excessively slavish or obedient to someone.
506. knife  - under the knife Having a surgery.
507. knock  – knock it off Used to tell someone to stop doing something.
508. know  – know by heart Have learned something by rote and now able to repeat it from memory.
509. know  – know no bounds Have no limits.
510. know  – know one’s onions Be experienced in or knowledgeable about something.
511. know  – know one’s stuff Be fully acquainted with something.
512. know  – know the ropes To have experience in or familiar with something.
513. know  – know what’s what Have the necessary experience, ability or knowledge to do something successfully.
514. large  - in large part/measure Mostly; to a great extent.
515. latest  - at the latest No later than the time referred to.
516. law  – law and order A situation in which people are abiding by the law.
517. lead  – lead someone astray To influence someone to act or behave in a wrong way.
518. least  – at the very least At the minimum; adopting the most negative stance.
519. least  – least of all Not less than; if nothing else;
520. least  – not in the least Not at all.
521. lend  – lend an/one’s ear listen sympathetically to someone.
522. lend  – lend weight to To put more value on something.
523. letter  - to the letter Pay close attention to every detail.
524. liberty  – take liberties with To conduct oneself in an improper manner towards; to deal with rules, writing, etc. without due consideration to facts.
525. liberty  – take the liberty To do something without permission.
526. lick  – at a lick Very fast.
527. lick  – lick one’s wounds To think carefully and seriously about one’s defeat or disappointment that has just happened.
528. lick  – lick someone’s boots More than willing to serve or please others.
529. lie  – lie in state Display of an important deceased person’s body in a public place for people to pay their last respect.
530. life  – come to life To become exciting, or lively; to start working again.
531. life  – for dear life Do whatever one can to escape death.
532. life  – full of life Very lively and happy.
533. life  – larger than life Someone who attracts a lot of attention due to an exceptional personal attribute they possess.
534. life  - way of life The way people choose to live their lives.
535. light  – bring/come to light To make or become known.
536. light  – throw light on To clarify things by providing more or new information.
537. line  - along party line Acting in accordance to the party one belongs to.
538. line  - bring into line To make to conform
539. line  - fall into line To conform to the way in which something is done.
540. line  - in line with In accordance with
541. line  - line of vision The direction in which an observer looks.
542. line  - on the line at serious risk, (job, etc.) likely to be lost.
543. line  - out of line Behaving unacceptably or inappropriately.
544. lip  - pay lip service express support without action to show it.
545. lip  - read one’s lips To listen carefully so as to understand what is said.
546. living  - in living memory That can still be remembered by people.
547. loiter  – loiter with intent Hang around a place with criminal intent.
548. long  - at long last Finally; after a long time
549. loose  - on the loose Having escaped from prison or cage.
550. lose  – lose one’s mind To become insane.
551. lose  – lose sight of No longer able to see someone or something; to forget something.
552. lost  – a lost cause Something that is not likely to be achieved.
553. lost  - be lost on Refuse to appreciate or accept.
554. luck  – just my luck Used to express disappointment that something bad has happened to one.
555. luck  – out of luck Suffering misfortune; having bad luck.
556. luck  – press one’s luck Take unnecessary risks.
557. luck  – try one’s luck To attempt something difficult and hope it will succeed.
558. make  – make away with carry away secretly or illegally.
559. make  – make or break To be a decisive factor in the success or failure of something or someone.
560. man  – a man’s man A man who moves around and engages with other men at social functions and in manly activities.
561. man  – be man enough be strong or brave enough
562. man  – be someone’s man A man who satisfies fully someone’s requirement.
563. man  - man about town A man who is socially active.
564. man  - man and wife (be) To be married.
565. man  - man of God A deeply religious man or a priest.
566. man  - man of letters A male writer.
567. man  - man to man In direct and frank engagement between two men.
568. man  - man’s best friend A dog.
569. man  - to a man Without exception.
570. manner –  all manner of Many different kinds of.
571. many  - a good many Quite a lot
572. many  – a great many A fairly large number of.
573. many  – one too many To be drunk.
574. mark  – leave/make its/a mark Leave a permanent or significant impression.
575. mark  – make one’s mark Attain fame or distinction.
576. mark  – mark my words Used to tell someone to be attentive to what one is saying.
577. mark  – near/close to the mark Almost accurate; almost on target.
578. mark  – off/wide off the mark Not correct or inaccurate.
579. mark  – on your marks Instruction to competitors to correctly position themselves to start a race.
580. marked  - a marked man Someone who is in danger of being harmed by his enemy.
581. marriage  – marriage of convenience Marriage for other reasons and not for love.
582. marry  – marry a fortune Marry a rich heiress.
583. marry  – marry into money Marry a wealthy person or someone from a wealthy family.
584. matter  - matter of fact (a) In reality; in fact.
585. matter  - no matter what One will do something regardless of what happens.
586. means –  beyond one’s means More than one can afford.
587. means  - by all means Of course.
588. means  – by any means At all.
589. means  – by means of By using something
590. means  – by no means Not at all.
591. means –  man/woman of means Man/woman who is rich.
592. means –  within one’s means Not more than one can afford.
593. measure  - for good measure Additional input to what is already enough or required.
594. mend  – mend one’s fences Make peace with someone whom one has offended.
595. mend  – on the mend Improving in one’s health or a situation.
596. middle  – the middle ground Something which provides a basis for a discussion, negotiation, meeting, etc. to be carried out.
597. might  – might is right Used to say powerful people/countries are free from prosecution/retaliation and so can do what they like
598. mincemeat  - make mincemeat of To defeat someone totally.
599. mind  – a close mind (have) Not willing to consider new ideas.
600. mind  – have in mind Plan, intend