Idioms

Here are some common idiomatic expressions in English.

Mean business

When you mean business, you are serious.

Mean well

When you mean well, you have good intentions, but you don’t always manage to carry them out.

A means to an end

If something is a means to an end it is not valued in itself but is useful in achieving an aim.

Have the measure of

When you have the measure of someone, you understand their character or abilities.

Mention someone in your will

To mention someone in your will is to leave a legacy to them.

Mess something up

To mess something up is to handle it badly.

Mill about

To mill about is to move about in a confused mass.

Not mince words

When you don’t mince words you speak plainly.

Be in two minds

When you are in two minds, you are unable to decide between alternatives.

Out of your mind

When you are out of your mind, you are not thinking sensibly.

Upwardly mobile

An expression used to refer to people who are moving to a higher social class.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

To make a mountain out of a molehill is to exaggerate the importance of a small problem.