Book of Idioms, Episode 2

On The Table: When a course of action is "on the table," it is available for consideration. It is one of the options available. Conversely, when an option is "off the table," it is no longer available. If an option is put on the table, it is to be considered; if it is taken off the table, it is taken out of consideration.
Example: "All options are on the table." This means, no option is being rejected (yet).


"Knock it off" - an idiom telling someone in an assertive, but not profane manner to cease a particular activity, particularly one that is annoying, obnoxious, and disruptive.


"Bullshit." (Abbreviation: B.S. ("Bee Ess")) Literally, this is the excrement of a bull (a male head of cattle). Idiomatically, this signifies something that "smells bad" (in the same sense that something "smells fishy"), indicating it is suspicious or an obvious deception / lie.
Ex.: "I wasn't cheating on you! I just had fun with the guys." "Bullshit! Mary saw you kissing Jessica at the bar! You're a liar!"


"A sacred cow." Western culture has long been fascinated with the phenomenon of the "sacred cow" in India that may not be harmed in any way. Idiomatically, "a sacred cow" is a thing, person, or policy that is protected as if it is holy, and thus beyond all criticism or opposition.
Ex.: "To nerds, Star Trek is a sacred cow. Do not mock it, or you will suffer the consequences."


"Kicking ass." Figuratively speaking, kicking ass is triumphing over someone else by use of some manner of force. (An "ass" is a slang word for buttocks, rump, etc.)
Ex.: President Obama recently said he consults his advisors regularly to find out "whose ass to kick" re: the BP oil spill. Some believe this to be language too crude for a president to use.


"It's no secret." When someone says, "it's no secret that X is true," this means, "the fact X is true is broadly known and accepted."
Ex.: "It's no secret that ice floats on top of water. Just look at icebergs." So, it is a widely known and accepted fact that ice floats on water (even though much of the ice is under the water's surface).


"On the fence." A fence is a boundary dividing two fields. To be "on the fence" is to be on neither side of an argument.
Ex.: "Tracy's on the fence about which guy to go out with. She likes both, but can't decide which one she likes more." Tracy has not committed to one boyfriend or the other. She is still on the fence.


"Watered down." In English and American bars and taverns, late at night, the bartender waters down drinks by literally adding more water to the mix (reducing the alcohol content). Very drunk patrons a) don't notice, b) don't care, c) don't suffer as heavy effects from buying extra drinks. When something is "watered down" as an idiom, it is reduced in intensity.

"In the red." Accountants using English/ American accounting methods usually record negative numbers in red ink. To be "in the red" is therefore to have a negative (red ink) number for what would have been profits; that is, a year-on-year loss of money.
Ex.: "Adverse economic conditions resulted in our being in the red. We hope to be back in the black in very short order."
➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature