English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Descriptions of people
(personality - character - appearance)
(page 2: call a spade → down to
earth)
| call a spade a spade | A person who calls a spade a spade
speaks openly and truthfully about
something, especially difficult matters. What I like about the new manager is that he calls a spade a spade - it makes things so much easier for everyone. |
| fat cat | To refer to a rich and powerful person
as a fat cat
means that you disapprove of the way they
use their money or power. The place was full of fat cats on their big yachts. |
|
cat's whiskers (also: cat's pyjamas) |
This expression refers to someone who
considers themselves to be better than others in a particular area : beauty, competence, intelligence, sport, etc. Ever since she got a promotion, she thinks she's the cat's whiskers! |
| chip off the old block | A person who is a
chip off the old block
resembles one of their parents in
appearance, character or behaviour. James is a chip off the old block - he reacts the same way as his father. |
| class act |
To say that someone, for example an athlete
or entertainer, is a class act
means that they are very good at what they
do. Her career is just beginning but she's already a class act. |
| cog in the machine | If you say that
someone is a cog in the machine,
you mean that, while they are necessary,
they only play a small part in an
organization or plan. The police quickly realized that the suspect was just a cog in the machine. |
| couch potato | If you refer to someone as a couch
potato, you criticize them for spending
a lot of time sitting and watching
television. Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV. |
| not cut out for something | If you are not cut out for something,
you are not the sort of person to succeed or
be happy in a particular activity. I started studying medicing but I quickly realized I wasn't cut out for it. |
| dead loss | Someone described as a
dead loss is absolutely useless or a
complete failure. When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss. |
| dead man walking | A dead man walking is someone
who will inevitably be in great trouble very
soon, especially a person who is about to
lose their job or position. Because of the way he handled the recent riots, the minister is a dead man walking. |
| dog in the manger | A person referred to as a dog in the
manger is someone who stops others from
enjoying something he/she cannot use or
doesn't want. She hates the guitar so she won't allow her son to learn to play it - a real dog in the manger! |
| doubting Thomas | A 'doubting Thomas' is a person who will
not believe something without proof, or
without seeing it for themselves. I had to show him my membership card. What a doubting Thomas! |
| down at heel | A person who is
down-at-heel is someone whose
appearance is untidy or neglected because of
lack of money. The down-at-heel student I first met became a successful writer. |
| down to earth | Somene who is
down to earth is not a dreamer but a
realistic and practical person who has
sensible reactions and expectations. Don't ask Suzy for help. She's fun, but not very down to earth. |
