Common Idioms and Their Meanings

Front

bang the drum

Back

to speak or write in strong support for something/someone

Front

be in the catbird seat

Back

to be in a favorable, important, or advantageous position

Front

to be no spring chicken

Back

a person who is no longer young (often used in contexts in which a person might appear younger than they are)

Front

be on tenterhooks

Back

to be very nervous, tense or excited about something to happen

Front

be under a cloud

Back

to be under suspicion to have done something wrong and not trusted because of that

Front

bust a gut

Back

to work extremely hard in order to achieve something

Front

carry a torch for someone

Back

to feel love, devotion and tenderness for someone (often secretly)

Front

change your tune

Back

to change your opinion suddenly and completely out of self-interest

Front

cook the books

Back

to illegally change numbers or figures in official financial records

Front

draw a bead on (someone or something)

Back

to focus or concentrate on something/someone to attack someone or attain something