172 JAMB Idioms and their Meanings (+Free PDF)

See full list of JAMB idioms with their meanings and download free PDF of the ones that have been repeated twice or more over the years.

How JAMB tests idioms

JAMB doesn’t ask you to define any idiom.

Idiom questions is inside Lexis and Structure in JAMB Use of English, often as nearest in meaning or sentence-completion questions.

This means that just memorising the list is half the journey.

Because PASSING JAMB ENGLISH idioms depends on how well you can recognise the meaning of an idiom inside a sentence, especially a tricky one.

More than JAMB idioms and their meanings

Knowing that to “cut corners” means to do something the easiest or cheapest way, often by ignoring rules, is not enough on its own.

JAMB uses it in a sentence like:

• The contractor was fined for cutting corners on the building’s safety requirements. This means that _____

And they expect you to infer the meaning from context rather than just stating definition.

The same applies to idioms that sound like they mean the opposite of what they actually mean.

For example.

“A taste of your own medicine” sounds negative and it is.

But many candidates conclude that any reference to “medicine” is always positive.

And that’s the kind of mistake that JAMB QUESTIONS ON IDIOMS are built to catch.

The best way to prepare with this JAMB idiom list is to write one sentence for each idiom rather than just reading the definition.

Because these writings force you to “understand” beyond cramming.

JAMB idioms (A)

• A BED OF ROSES
  • an easy or pleasant situation.

• A BIG HEART
  • very kind or generous.

• ABOVE BOARD
  • honest and legal.

• A BURNING QUESTION
  • a very important or urgent question.

• A DARK HORSE
  • a person who doesn’t tell others much about their life or who surprises others by having interesting qualities.

• A DOG’S LIFE
  • a sad life, full of problems and unfair treatment.

• A DROP IN THE OCEAN
  • an amount of something that’s too small or unimportant to make any real difference in the situation.

• A FLASH IN THE PAN
  • someone or something whose success or popularity is not likely to last.

• A JAUNDICED EYE
  • to have a negative view or opinion due to past experiences.

• AN ITCHING PALM
  • to have a greedy nature or want a bribe.

• AN OLIVE BRANCH
  • to say or do something that shows you wish to make peace with someone.

• ASK AFTER SOMEONE
  • to want to know how someone is or how they’re doing.

• AS THE CROW FLIES
  • in a straight line.

• A STORM IN A TEACUP
  • a lot of anger or worry about something that’s not important.

• A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE
  • the same bad treatment that you’ve given to others.

• AT CLOSE QUARTERS
  • very near.

• AT CROSS PURPOSES
  • to have opposite views with goals that interfere with each other.

• AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR
  • at the last moment.

• A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
  • to think or talk about past experiences.

JAMB idioms (B)

• BALL OF FIRE
  • an ambitious and enthusiastic person.

• BEAT SOMETHING DOWN
  • to persuade someone to reduce the price of something they’re selling.

• BEAT THE AIR
  • to keep doing something pointless or futile.

• BE BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
  • to have two choices that are both equally unpleasant.

• BEG THE QUESTION
  • to make someone want to ask a question that has not yet been answered.

• BE IN THE RED
  • to owe money to your bank because you’ve sent more than you have in your account.

• BIRD’S-EYE VIEW
  • a view that allows you to see a large area of something.

• BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW
  • (1) to try to do too much.
  • (2) to do something that’s too difficult.

• BREAK EVEN
  • to complete a business without losing money or making a profit.

• BRING SOMEONE TO BOOK FOR SOMETHING
  • to punish someone for doing something wrong.

• BRING SOMETHING UP
  • to mention a topic or start a talk about it.

• BRUSH UP ON SOMETHING
  • to quickly improve your skill on something, especially when you’ve not used it for a while.

• BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS
  • (1) to try to do so many things in too short a period.
  • (2) to work from very early in the morning until very late at night.

• BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS
  • very quickly or in large amounts.

JAMB idioms (C)

• CALL SOMETHING OFF
  • to cancel something or decide that it will no longer happen.

• COCK AND BULL STORY
  • a story or an excuse that is likely to be false.

• COOK THE BOOKS
  • to change facts or figures dishonestly.

• COUNT YOUR CHICKEN BEFORE THEY HATCH
  • to be too confident that something will be successful without considering that it might still go wrong.

• COME TO A HEAD
  • to be forced to deal with something fast because it has suddenly become very bad.

• COME TO GRIEF
  • (1) to end up in total failure.
  • (2) to be harmed in an accident.

• COME OFF
  • to have the intended effects or results.

• CRACK UP
  • (1) to start laughing a lot.
  • (2) to become ill due to pressure.

• CROSS THE BRIDGE WHEN YOU GET TO IT
  • to worry about a problem when it actually happens and not before.

• CROSS THE RUBICON
  • to pass the point where a decision taken cannot be changed.

• CUPBOARD LOVE
  • a type of affection shown to someone in order to get something.

• CUT CORNERS
  • to do something in the easiest, cheapest or quickest way, often by ignoring the rules.

• CUT NO ICE
  • to have no influence or effect on someone.

JAMB idioms (D)

• DIE-HARD
  • strongly against change.

• DO SOMETHING WITH A HEAVY HAND
  • to do something in a strict way or exerting a lot of control.

• DRAW THE LINE
  • to set a definite limit on what you are willing to do or accept.

JAMB idioms (E)

• EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
  • every sad or difficult situation has a positive side.

JAMB idioms (F)

• FALL IN WITH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE
  • (1) to agree with something.
  • (2) to meet or associate with someone by chance.

• FALL THROUGH
  • to fail to happen as planned.

• FAST FRIENDS
  • very close and loyal friends.

• FULL OF YOURSELF
  • to think that you’re too important in a way that annoys other people.

JAMB idioms (G)

• GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF
  • to control your behaviour or emotion after being afraid or angry.

• GET BACK AT SOMEONE
  • to do something bad to someone who has done something bad to you.

• GET SOMETHING OFF YOUR CHEST
  • to talk about something that has been worrying you for a long time so that you feel less anxious.

• GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
  • to start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way.

• GIVE SOMEONE A BUMPY RIDE
  • to make a situation difficult for someone.

• GO BACK ON YOUR WORD
  • to not do something that you said you would do.

• GO OFF AT A TANGENT
  • to suddenly start saying something that’s off-topic.

• GO THROUGH FIRE
  • to face many challenges in the process of doing something.

• GO UNDER
  • to be unable to pay what you owe.

JAMB idioms (H)

• HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE
  • to be involved in different activities all at once.

• HAVE A HEART OF STONE
  • to not show others sympathy or pity.

• HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND
  • to have private reasons for being involved in something.

• HAVE SOMETHING UP YOUR SLEEVE
  • to keep a plan or an idea secret until you need to use it.

• HAVE YOUR HEART IN YOUR MOUTH
  • to feel nervous or frightened about something.

• HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE
  • to love someone very much.

• HIT ON A PLAN
  • to think of or discover a plan.

• HIT THE JACKPOT
  • to suddenly become very rich or successful.

• HOLD FORTH
  • to speak for a long time about something in a way that other people may find boring.

JAMB idioms (I)

• IN A SPOT
  • in a difficult situation.

• IN THE AIR
  • felt by a number of people to exist or be happening.

• IRON SOMETHING OUT
  • to get rid of a problem or difficulty that’s affecting something.

JAMB idioms (K)

• KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP
  • to hide your emotions and not let other people see what you’re feeling.

• KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON
  • to remain calm in an anxious or annoying situation.

• KNOCKING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL
  • to keep trying to do something that’ll never be successful.

• KNOW WHICH SIDE YOUR BREAD IS BUTTERED
  • to know what to do or who to please in order to put yourself in the best possible situation.

JAMB idioms (L)

• LARGER THAN LIFE
  • attracting special attention because of unusual and flamboyant appearance or behaviour.

• LEAD A DOG’S LIFE
  • to lead a life that’s difficult, unpleasant or boring.

• LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED
  • to be bad or unacceptable.

• LEAVE SOMEONE IN THE LURCH
  • to fail to help someone when they depend on you to.

• LET SOMEONE STEW IN THEIR OWN JUICE
  • to leave someone to worry or suffer the unpleasant effects of their own actions.

• LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
  • to create a situation where everyone has the same opportunity.

• LIKE A BEAR WITH A SORE HEAD
  • bad-tempered.

• LIVE A SPARTAN LIFE
  • to live a strict and harsh life with no pleasures.

• LIVE IN EACH OTHER’S POCKET
  • to be too close to someone or spend too much time with them.

• LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH
  • to have just enough money to live on and nothing extra.

• LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
  • to think about the possible results or danger of something before doing it.

• LOSE GROUND TO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
  • to lose an advantage that you once had.

• LOSE HEART
  • to stop hoping for something or stop trying to do something because you no longer feel confident.

• LOST YOUR TONGUE
  • to suddenly become unable to speak due to shock or confusion.

JAMB idioms (M)

• MAKE A CLEAN SWEEP OF SOMETHING
  • (1) to remove unnecessary people or things from an organisation.
  • (2) to completely win a competition, game or an election.

• MAKE A MESS OF SOMETHING
  • to ruin something.

• MAKE A PROFESSION OF YOUR FAITH
  • a declaration of faith or beliefs.

• MAKE GOOD SOMETHING
  • (1) to amend or correct something.
  • (2) to keep your promise.
  • (3) to accomplish something.

• MAKE SOMEONE’S HAIR STAND ON THE END
  • to shock or frighten someone.

• MEET YOUR WATERLOO
  • to experience your final defeat or failure.

JAMB idioms (N)

• NAIL THE LIE TO THE COUNTER
  • to prove or expose that something is false.

• NECK AND NECK WITH SOMEONE
  • to be at the same level with someone in a competition.

• NIP SOMETHING IN THE BUD
  • to stop something early because it will likely cause more problems later.

• NOT BAT AN EYELID
  • to show no surprise or emotion when something unusual happens.

• NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT
  • not too good, just ordinary.

• NO LOVE LOST
  • when two people or groups do not like each other at all.

JAMB idioms (O)

• ON SOMEONE’S TRAIL
  • to follow or track someone.

• OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
  • to leave the usual method and do something unique.

• OFF THE RECORD
  • not official or publicly known.

• OUT OF TUNE WITH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
  • to have different opinion, feeling or interest with someone or something.

• OUT OF THE WOODS
  • free from problems.

JAMB idioms (P)

• PASS FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
  • to be accepted as someone or something.

• PAY LIP SERVICE TO SOMETHING
  • to say that you agree with something but do nothing to support it.

• PICK SOMEONE TO PIECES
  • to find fault and criticize someone harshly.

• PIGS MIGHT FLY
  • used when you don’t believe that something will ever happen.

• PLAY SECOND FIDDLE
  • to be in a lesser or subordinate position to someone.

• PLAY TO THE GALLERY
  • to do something in public in a way that you hope will impress people.

• PLUMB THE DEPTHS
  • to reach the highest point of evil or unhappiness.

• POINT BLANK
  • very definite or direct.

• PULL THROUGH
  • (1) to get better after a serious illness.
  • (2) to succeed in doing something very difficult.

• PULL TOGETHER
  • to act or work with other people in an organised way without fighting.

• PUT ON A BOLD FRONT
  • to make yourself appear more confident than you really are.

• PUT PAID TO SOMETHING
  • to stop something or destroy it.

• PUT SOMEONE THROUGH
  • (1) to instruct someone to complete a task.
  • (2) to make someone undergo something unpleasant.

• PUT SOMETHING ASIDE
  • to ignore or forget about something.

• PUT THE CLOCK BACK
  • to return to a situation that existed in the past.

• PUT UP WITH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
  • to tolerate someone or something.

• PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN
  • to be very strict in opposing what someone wishes to do.

• PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL
  • to start working very hard at a particular task.

JAMB idioms (R)

• RUN SOMEONE DOWN
  • to criticise someone in an unkind way.

• RUN SOMEONE TO EARTH
  • to succeed in finding someone after a long search.

JAMB idioms (S)

• SCARED OF YOUR OWN SHADOW
  • to be easily frightened or nervous.

• SEE EYE TO EYE
  • be in full agreement.

• SET THE CATS AMONG THE PIGEONS
  • to say or do something that’s likely to cause trouble.

• SETTLE AN ACCOUNT WITH
  • to pay or receive money owed.

• STANDING OVATION
  • when people stand up to clap after a speech or performance.

• STAND YOUR GROUND
  • to stick with your opinion or intention, even when someone is against it and wants you to change.

• STEAL THE SHOW
  • to attract the most attention and praise.

• STEER A MIDDLE COURSE
  • to find or take an action that avoids two extreme positions.

• STEPPED OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
  • to have an unfortunate or unpleasant start.

• STICK TO YOUR GUNS
  • to stand on your opinion about something even when others say that you’re wrong.

• STILL WATERS RUN DEEP
  • to say that a person who seems to be quiet or shy knows a lot.

• STRIKE GOLD
  • to find or do something that brings you a lot of success or money.

• STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
  • to be in a situation where you have to choose between two things which are both unpleasant.

• STUCK IN YOUR THROAT
  • (1) words that are difficult or impossible to say.
  • (2) situations that are difficult or impossible to accept.

JAMB idioms (W)

• WALLOW YOUR PRIDE
  • to decide to do something even though it will make you feel embarrassed or ashamed.

JAMB idioms (T)

• TAKE A HIT
  • to be damaged or badly affected by something.

• TAKE TO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
  • to begin to like someone or something.

• TAKE TO YOUR HEELS
  • to run away from something or someone.

• TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE BALL
  • to lose focus or motivation.

• TALK WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK
  • to mean something as a joke or say it without being serious.

• TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF SOMETHING
  • to use charming or persuasive speech to avoid something, especially a punishment.

• TAKE EXCEPTION TO SOMETHING
  • to strongly object to something.

• TAKEN ABACK
  • to surprise or shock.

• TAKE SOMEONE IN
  • to make someone believe something that’s not true.

• TELL-TALE SIGN
  • showing that something exist or has happened.

• THE LAST WORD IN SOMETHING
  • the most recent, fashionable or advanced thing.

• THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
  • an experience that results in a great change in someone’s attitude or beliefs.

• THROW YOUR WEIGHT AROUND
  • to use your position or influence unfairly to get what you want.

• TIGHTEN YOUR HOLD
  • to increase the control you have on someone or something.

• TO BE ON SOMEONE’S TAIL
  • to follow closely behind someone.

• TO KEEP OPEN HOUSE
  • to have your house in a condition in which visitors are welcome at any time.

JAMB idioms (U)

• UNDER A CLOUD
  • to say that other people are suspicious of someone because they think he/she has done something wrong.

• UNDER THE HAMMER
  • for sale.

• UP AGAINST SOMETHING
  • to be facing problems.

• UP IN THE AIR
  • not yet decided.

JAMB idioms (W)

• WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
  • to say that when one bad thing happens, many other bad things follow.

• WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN
  • a difficult situation in which you’re forced to decide what’s important to you.

• WIDE OF THE MARK
  • not accurate.

• WITH YOUR TAILS BETWEEN YOUR LEGS
  • to feel ashamed or embarrassed because you’ve been defeated or punished.

• WRIGGLE OUT OF SOMETHING: to avoid doing something in some clever or dishonest way.

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