Important Idioms & Phrases Start with 'A'

1. All at sea – Puzzled
2. A white elephant – Costly or troublesome possession
3. A wild goose chase – Futile search
4. At one’s wit’s end – Puzzled/confused/perplexed
5. An open book – One that hold no secrets
6. An axe to grind – A private interest to serve
7. A bolt from the blue – Something unexpected and unpleasant
8. A sore point – Something which hurts
9. A Red letter day – An important day
10. At stone’s throw – Very near
11. A dark horse – An unforeseen competitor
12. At snail’s pace – To do things very slowly
13. At stake – In danger/ that can be lost or won depending on the success of a particular action
14. A man in the street – An ordinary person / common man
15. A damp squib – A disappointing result
16. A little gush of gratitude – Excessive enthusiasm
17. At the eleventh hour – At the very last moment
18. A close shave – Narrow escape from danger
19. At sixes and seven – In disorder or confusion
20. At one’s beck and call – Ready to follow orders/ To be dominated by someone
21. An open book – Straight forward and honest dealings
22. At a loss – Unable / Not knowing about what to do or say
23. A hard nut to crack – A difficult problem or situation to solve or deal with
24. A shot in the dark – An attempt to guess something
25. As hard as nail – Emotionless / To show no sympathy, kindness or fear
26. Allow a free hand – Complete liberty
27. Apple of discord – Cause of animosity
28. A fish out of water – In uncomfortable situation
29. Achilles’s heel – Weak spot
30. A cakewalk – An easy achievement
31. A month of Sundays – A long time
32. A closed book – A mystery
33. Above board – Legal and honest
34. All moonshine – Superficial
35. All might and main – With full force
36. At a stretch - Continuously
37. Add fuel to the fire – Worsen the situation
38. Around the clock – Day and night
39. All ears - Attentive
40. A close fisted person – A miser
41. A black sheep – A person with bad reputation
42. An about turn – Complete change of opinion or situation
43. At draggers drawn - Enmity
44. Average out - Balance
45. At random - Without any aim or target
46. A sacred cow – A person never to be criticised
47. A dog’s breakfast – A total mess / A thing that has been done badly
48. At loggerheads – In strong disagreement
49. Alma mater – Institution where one got education
50. As draft as a brush – Very silly
51. A man of letters – A literary person
52. A golden mean – Middle course between two extremes
53. A bee hive – A busy place
54. Arm-chair critic – A person who give advice based on theory not on practice
55. A chip of the old block – An experienced old man
56. A rough, violent, troublesome person - Tartar
57. A left hand compliment – An ambiguous compliment
58. A cuckoo in the nest – An unwelcomed intruder
59. A house of cards – An insecure scheme
60. At sea – At a loss
61. A drop in a bucket – A very insignificant amount
62. A live wire – Lively and active