| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Be Loath to Do Something | To be reluctant or hesitant to take action or agree to a request, often due to discomfort or uncertainty. | She was loath to ask for help, fearing it might show weakness to her colleagues. |
| Loathe Doing Something | To have a strong dislike or aversion to a specific task or activity, often expressing a sense of disgust or frustration about it. | I truly loathe doing the laundry; it feels like an endless chore that takes up my entire weekend. |
| Be Milk Toast | To describe someone as overly timid or submissive, lacking assertiveness or the courage to stand up for themselves. | As a milk toast, he often allowed his colleagues to take credit for his hard work without speaking up. |
| Be Toast | A phrase indicating that someone is in serious trouble or at risk of failure, often with a sense of finality. | After missing the deadline again, he knew he was toast and would face the consequences from his boss. |
| Be Mixed Up | To feel confusion or uncertainty about one’s thoughts or emotions, often leading to conflicting feelings. | He was mixed up about his future, unsure if he wanted to pursue law or follow his passion for music. |
| Mix It Up | To engage in a heated argument or confrontation, often involving strong emotions and a lack of restraint. | The two players didn’t hesitate to mix it up after the foul, leading to a heated exchange on the court. |
| Be Nettled | To feel irritated or annoyed by someone’s words or actions, often leading to a sense of frustration. | She was nettled by his constant interruptions during the meeting, making it difficult for her to present her ideas. |
| Be on Nettles | To feel anxious or restless, often due to uncertainty or anticipation of an outcome. | He was on nettles before the job interview, pacing back and forth as he waited for his turn. |
| Be Nobody’s Business | To indicate that a particular matter does not concern anyone else, often used to assert privacy. | What I choose to do with my life is nobody’s business but my own. |
| Like Nobody’s Business | To describe an action done with exceptional enthusiasm or skill, often conveying a sense of intensity. | She dances like nobody’s business, captivating everyone in the audience with her energy and grace. |
| Be None of Someone’s Business | To assert that a certain issue does not pertain to another person, often in a dismissive manner. | His financial decisions are none of your business; you should focus on your own affairs. |
| Have No Business to Do Something | To imply that someone lacks the right or authority to undertake a specific action, often indicating an inappropriate or intrusive behavior. | She had no business interfering in their personal lives; it was not her place to meddle. |
| Be of One Mind | To be in complete agreement or harmony with others, often used to indicate a unified stance on an issue. | After much discussion, the committee was of one mind regarding the need for a new policy to address the issue. |
| Be Single-Minded | To be focused on a particular goal or objective, often to the exclusion of other considerations or distractions. | He was single-minded in his pursuit of success, working late hours and sacrificing his social life for his career. |
| Be in Two Minds | To feel indecisive or uncertain about a choice, often leading to hesitation or confusion. | I’m in two minds about accepting the job offer; it sounds great, but I’d have to move away from my family. |
| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Be Off One’s Legs | To be taking a break or resting, usually after a period of activity or exertion, allowing oneself to recover physically. | After running the marathon, she was finally off her legs and could enjoy a well-deserved rest on the sofa. |
| Be Run Off One’s Legs | To be so busy or overwhelmed with tasks that one becomes extremely tired or exhausted. | The staff were run off their legs during the holiday rush, barely able to keep up with the customer demands. |
| Be Off One’s Nana | To be in a state of mental instability or confusion, often used humorously to describe someone who is acting irrationally. | During finals week, everyone was so stressed that I thought we’d all be off our nanas by the end of it. |
| Lose One’s Nana | To become very angry or lose one’s temper, often in response to frustrating situations. | He lost his nana when he found out that the meeting had been rescheduled without anyone informing him. |
| Be Off One’s Nut | To be acting irrationally or be considered mentally unstable, usually in a light-hearted or exaggerated way. | After spending hours playing video games, he was convinced he was off his nut for thinking he could beat the world record. |
| Get One’s Nuts Off | To seek sexual gratification, often used in a vulgar context to describe achieving satisfaction in that regard. | He joked about needing to get his nuts off before the big game, illustrating his relaxed attitude about the weekend. |
| Be on a High | To feel euphoric or filled with excitement, often after achieving something or during a celebratory moment. | After winning the championship, the team was on a high, celebrating their victory long into the night. |
| Be on a High Horse | To act in a self-righteous or superior manner, often looking down on others due to perceived moral or social superiority. | He was on a high horse about his lifestyle choices, judging others for their more relaxed habits. |
| Be on All Fours | To crawl on hands and knees or to describe something that aligns well or matches perfectly. | The toddler was exploring the garden on all fours, while the dog playfully chased after him. |
| Hit on All Four | To function effectively and efficiently, often referring to a team or system working at peak performance. | Once the new software was implemented, the company was finally able to hit on all four, improving productivity across the board. |
| Be on Home Ground | To be in a familiar or comfortable environment, often providing confidence and assurance in one’s abilities. | As a local historian, he felt he was on home ground while giving a lecture about the city’s history in the town hall. |
| Play Away from Home | To engage in an affair or relationship outside of one’s primary romantic partnership, often implying secrecy or deceit. | She had heard whispers that he was playing away from home while on his business trips, causing her to question his fidelity. |
| Be on One’s Last Legs | To be nearing exhaustion or the end of one’s resources, whether physically, mentally, or financially. | After working non-stop for a week, I was on my last legs and needed a proper vacation to recharge. |
| Be the Last Leg | To be the final part of a journey or task, often implying that the end is near and one is almost done. | We’re in the last leg of the project now, so let’s push through to finish strong. |
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