1. A hot potato
Meaning: Something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with. (다루기 어렵거나 위험한 문제)
Example: Terrorism is a political hot potato in Afghanistan. (테러는 아프가니스탄에서 정치적으로 민감한 문제이다.)
2. A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: Way of asking what someone is thinking. (상대방의 생각을 물어보는 표현)
Example: “A penny for your thoughts, Lily.” (무슨 생각해, 릴리?)
3. Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do is more significant than what you say. (말보다 행동이 더 중요하다)
Example: She: Actions speak louder than words. (말보다 행동이 중요해.)
4. Add insult to injury
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse. (상황을 더 악화시키다)
Example: Their basement was flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen. (지하실이 침수된 데다 주방 파이프까지 터졌다.)
5. An arm and a leg
Meaning: A lot of money. (엄청난 비용)
Example: It’s the best cruise in the world, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. (세계 최고의 크루즈지만 엄청난 돈이 든다.)
6. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Immediately; without any hesitation. (즉시, 주저 없이)
Example: Ellie was always ready to go shopping at the drop of a hat. (엘리는 언제든지 쇼핑 갈 준비가 되어 있었다.)
7. Back to the drawing board
Meaning: Start something all over again. (처음부터 다시 시작하다)
Example: I failed this semester, but now I am back to the drawing board. (이번 학기는 실패했지만 이제 다시 시작해야 한다.)
8. Ball is in your court
Meaning: It is up to you to take the next step. (이제 너의 차례다)
Example: I’ve made my decision, now the ball is in your court. (내 결정은 끝났어, 이제 네가 할 차례야.)
9. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Looking in the wrong place; accusing the wrong person. (엉뚱한 사람을 의심하다)
Example: He did not commit the crime, you’re barking up the wrong tree. (그는 범인이 아니야, 잘못 짚었어.)
10. Be glad to see the back of
Meaning: Be glad to see someone leave. (누군가가 떠나서 기쁘다)
Example: I never liked her. I’ll be glad to see the back of her. (나는 그녀가 떠나는 게 기쁘다.)
11. Beat around the bush
Meaning: Avoid answering a question; not speaking directly about the issue. (핵심을 피하다, 돌려 말하다)
Example: Tell me what the problem is, stop beating around the bush. (문제가 뭔지 말해봐, 빙빙 돌리지 말고.)
12. Best of both worlds
Meaning: Situation wherein one can enjoy two different opportunities. (두 가지 좋은 점을 동시에 누리는 상황)
Example: She had the best of both worlds. (그녀는 교수로서의 특권과 학생으로서의 자유를 동시에 누렸다.)
13. Best thing since sliced bread
Meaning: A good idea or plan; an excellent new invention. (아주 훌륭한 발명이나 아이디어)
Example: I love your idea. It’s the best thing since sliced bread. (너의 아이디어 정말 좋아. 정말 기발해.)
14. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on a task that is way too big. (감당할 수 없는 일을 벌이다)
Example: Our boss bit off more than she could chew. (우리 상사는 감당 못 할 약속을 해버렸다.)
15. Blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something good that isn’t recognized at first. (처음엔 나쁜 일 같지만 결국 좋은 결과가 되는 일)
Example: Losing his job was a blessing in disguise. (그가 직장을 잃은 것은 결과적으로 좋은 기회가 되었다.)
16. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To stay up working, especially studying, late at night. (밤늦게까지 공부하거나 일하다)
Example: She’s been burning the midnight oil. (그녀는 몇 달째 밤새 공부하고 있다.)
17. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge something primarily by its appearance. (겉모습만 보고 판단하지 말라)
Example: You can’t judge a book by its cover. (겉모습만 보고 판단할 수 없어.)
18. Caught between two stools
Meaning: When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives. (둘 중 하나를 선택하지 못해 곤란한 상황)
Example: He’s caught between two stools. (그는 양쪽 다 선택 못하고 곤란한 상황에 처해 있다.)
19. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary. (일이 생기면 그때 가서 걱정하자)
Example: Cross that bridge when you come to it. (일단 일이 생기면 그때 해결해.)
20. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be unhappy about something that cannot be undone. (이미 지나간 일로 한탄하다)
Example: Don’t cry over spilled milk. (이미 지나간 일에 슬퍼하지 마.)
21. Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being too curious can get you into trouble. (지나친 호기심은 화를 부른다)
Example: Don’t ask about his divorce—curiosity killed the cat! (그의 이혼에 대해 묻지 마—괜히 호기심 부리다 다쳐!)
22. Cut corners
Meaning: To take shortcuts; when something is done badly to save money. (비용이나 시간 절약을 위해 일을 대충하다)
Example: They won’t cut corners just to save money. (그들은 돈을 아끼려고 일을 대충하지 않는다.)
23. Cut the mustard
Meaning: Perform satisfactorily; to succeed. (기대에 부응하다, 제대로 해내다)
Example: This one just doesn’t cut the mustard. (이 사람은 기대에 미치지 못한다.)
24. Devil’s advocate
Meaning: To present a counter argument. (일부러 반대 입장을 취해 토론을 유도하는 사람)
Example: The teacher always played devil’s advocate. (그 선생님은 항상 일부러 반대편 입장에서 토론을 유도했다.)
25. Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
Meaning: Don’t make plans for something that might not happen. (일이 확정되기 전에 너무 기대하지 말라)
Example: Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched. (아직 일어나지도 않은 일로 기대하지 마.)
26. Don’t give up the day job
Meaning: You’re not very good at something. (그 일은 네 재능이 아니야, 본업이나 계속해)
Example: Don’t give up the day job! (그건 네 길이 아니야. 본업에 집중해.)
27. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Don’t focus all of your attention on one thing or one area. (모든 것을 하나에 걸지 말라)
Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (한 군데만 지원하지 말고 여러 곳도 시도해봐.)
28. Drastic times call for drastic measures
Meaning: When you’re extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions. (극단적인 상황에는 과감한 조치가 필요하다)
Example: Drastic times call for drastic measures. (어쩔 수 없이 과감한 결단을 내렸어.)
29. Elvis has left the building
Meaning: The show has come to an end. It’s all over. (모든 것이 끝났다, 끝난 일이다)
Example: Elvis has left the building. (더 이상 볼 게 없다, 끝난 일이다.)
30. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days. (모든 나쁜 일에도 희망은 있다)
Example: Every cloud has a silver lining. (지금은 힘들어도 곧 좋은 날이 올 거야.)
31. Far cry from
Meaning: A thing that is very different from something else. (전혀 다른 것, 거리가 먼 것)
Example: What you did was a far cry from what you said you were going to do. (네가 한 일은 네가 말한 것과는 전혀 달랐어.)
32. Feel a bit under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unhealthy. (몸이 안 좋다, 몸 상태가 나쁘다)
Example: I’m feeling a bit under the weather. (오늘 몸이 좀 안 좋아서 출근 못 해.)
33. Give the benefit of doubt
Meaning: Believe someone’s statement without proof. (확실한 증거는 없지만 믿어주다)
Example: I gave him the benefit of doubt. (나는 그를 믿어주기로 했어.)
34. Hear through the grapevine
Meaning: To hear news from someone who heard that news from someone else. (풍문으로 듣다, 소문으로 알게 되다)
Example: I heard through the grapevine that she’s pregnant. (그녀가 임신했다는 얘기를 풍문으로 들었어.)
35. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To do or say exactly the right thing. (정확히 맞는 말을 하다, 핵심을 찌르다)
Example: You’ve hit the nail on the head. (네가 딱 핵심을 짚었어.)
36. Hit the sack/sheets/hay
Meaning: To go to bed. (잠자리에 들다)
Example: I’m exhausted. I think I’ll just hit the sack. (너무 피곤해서 그냥 자야겠어.)
37. In the heat of the moment
Meaning: Overwhelmed by what’s happening at the moment. (순간의 감정에 휘말려서)
Example: He just said that in the heat of the moment. (그건 순간적으로 감정이 격해져서 한 말일 뿐이야.)
38. It takes two to tango
Meaning: Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it. (일이 벌어지려면 양쪽 모두의 책임이 있다)
Example: It takes two to tango. (문제의 책임은 둘 다에게 있어.)
39. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: Join a popular trend or activity. (유행을 따르다, 대세에 편승하다)
Example: I might as well jump on the bandwagon. (나도 유행에 한번 올라타볼까 해.)
40. Keep something at bay
Meaning: Keep something away. (문제나 위험을 멀리하다, 통제하다)
Example: Meditation keeps anxiety at bay. (명상은 불안을 억제하는 데 도움이 돼.)
41. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To solve two problems at a time with just one action. (일석이조, 한 번에 두 가지 일을 해결하다)
Example: He was killing two birds with one stone. (그는 감자 껍질을 벗기면서 단어 연습도 했어. 일석이조였지.)
42. Last straw
Meaning: The final problem in a series of problems. (인내심의 한계, 더는 참을 수 없는 마지막 문제)
Example: This is the last straw. I’m calling the police. (이제 더 못 참아. 경찰 부를 거야.)
43. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Leave something alone if it might cause trouble. (괜히 문제를 건드리지 말고 그냥 두다)
Example: I decided to let the sleeping dogs lie. (괜히 문제 삼지 않기로 했어.)
44. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret / To share information that was previously concealed. (비밀을 누설하다)
Example: Don’t let the cat out of the bag. (비밀 말하지 마.)
45. Make a long story short
Meaning: Come to the point – leave out the details. (간단히 말하면, 요점을 말하다)
Example: To make the long story short – I never got back the money. (간단히 말하자면, 나는 그 돈을 못 돌려받았어.)
46. Method in the madness
Meaning: A purpose in what one is doing, even though it seems to be crazy. (겉보기엔 엉망처럼 보여도 그 안에 나름의 이유나 계획이 있다)
Example: There is method in my madness. (이상해 보일 수 있지만 나름의 계획이 있어.)
47. Miss the boat
Meaning: To miss out on something. (기회를 놓치다)
Example: You’ll miss the boat and never learn algebra. (기회를 놓쳐서 대수학을 절대 배우지 못할 거야.)
48. Not a spark of decency
Meaning: A person who has no manners. (예의라고는 눈곱만큼도 없는 사람)
Example: Her brother has not a spark of decency. (그녀의 오빠는 정말 예의가 없어.)
49. Not playing with the full deck
Meaning: Someone who is mentally, psychologically or intellectually deficient. (정신적으로 이상하거나 지적 능력이 부족한 사람)
Example: I wonder if he’s not playing with the full deck. (그가 정상인지 의심스러워.)
50. On the ball
Meaning: When someone understands a situation well; attentive. (상황을 잘 파악하고 있는, 민첩한)
Example: If you were on the ball, this wouldn’t have happened. (네가 제대로 대처했으면 이런 일은 없었을 거야.)
51. Off the record
Meaning: Not made as an official or attributable statement; unofficial; confidential. (비공식적인, 기밀의, 보도되지 않는)
Example: He accepted his fault off the record. (그는 비공식적으로 자신의 잘못을 인정했어.)
52. Oldest trick in the book
Meaning: A well known and much used trick/method. (너무 흔하고 오래된 수법)
Example: Drinking turmeric milk is the oldest trick in the book. (강황 우유를 마시는 건 아주 오래된 민간요법이야.)
53. Off the cuff
Meaning: Without preparation; spontaneous. (즉흥적인, 준비 없이 하는)
Example: She handles off the cuff interviews very well. (그녀는 즉석 인터뷰를 아주 잘 소화한다.)
54. Old habits die hard
Meaning: People find it difficult to change their accustomed behavior. (한번 들인 습관은 고치기 어렵다)
Example: Old habits die hard. (오래된 습관은 쉽게 바뀌지 않아.)
55. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely. (아주 드물게, 거의 일어나지 않는)
Example: She speaks to him once in a blue moon. (그녀는 아주 가끔 아버지와 이야기한다.)
56. Open the floodgates
Meaning: Release something that was previously under control. (억제되던 것이 갑자기 쏟아져 나오게 하다)
Example: It will open the floodgates to inflation. (그것은 인플레이션을 폭발시킬 수도 있다.)
57. Out of the blue
Meaning: Happen unexpectedly. (뜻밖에, 갑자기)
Example: She got a call from Harvard out of the blue. (하버드에서 갑자기 전화가 왔다.)
58. Out on a limb
Meaning: Do something risky or something that others do not support. (위험한 일을 하거나 아무도 지지하지 않는 일을 하다)
Example: She was out on a limb with her project. (그녀는 프로젝트에서 고립되어 있었다.)
59. Over the top
Meaning: Totally excessive and not suitable for the occasion. (지나친, 과장된, 상황에 맞지 않게 화려한)
Example: Her sari was way over the top. (그녀의 사리는 너무 과했다.)
60. Pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: Words and communication have a greater effect than war. (펜은 칼보다 강하다; 말이나 글의 힘이 더 강하다)
Example: Pen is mightier than the sword. (손편지 한 장이 냉전을 끝냈어—말의 힘이 더 강한 거야.)
61. Push one’s luck
Meaning: Trying to obtain more than what one has (risk spoiling the current situation). (운을 너무 믿고 무리하다, 지나치게 욕심을 부리다)
Example: Don’t push your luck by planning a night out. (외박까지 하려다간 운이 다할 수도 있어.)
62. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining heavily. (비가 억수같이 쏟아지다)
Example: It’s raining cats and dogs here. (여기 비가 정말 억수같이 와.)
63. Reap the harvest
Meaning: Benefit or suffer as a direct result of past actions. (과거의 행동에 따라 결과를 얻다)
Example: He reaped the harvest of all his hard work. (그는 노력한 만큼의 성과를 거두었다.)
64. Roll up one’s sleeves
Meaning: Get ready for hard work. (힘든 일을 하기 위해 팔을 걷어붙이다, 본격적으로 시작하다)
Example: He would roll up his sleeves and do whatever it takes. (그는 팔을 걷어붙이고 가족을 위해 뭐든지 하겠다고 했다.)
65. See eye to eye
Meaning: To be in agreement with. (의견이 일치하다)
Example: She was glad her roommate saw eye to eye. (룸메이트와 의견이 일치해서 그녀는 기뻤다.)
66. Shot in the dark
Meaning: A complete guess (may or may not be close to the truth). (어림짐작, 막연한 추측)
Example: Answering the interviewer’s question was merely a shot in the dark. (면접관의 질문에 대한 대답은 그저 어림짐작이었다.)
67. Sink your teeth into
Meaning: Do something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. (열정을 가지고 몰두하다)
Example: Robin immediately sank his teeth into his new job. (로빈은 새 일에 즉시 몰두했다.)
68. Skating on thin ice
Meaning: Do or say something risky or something that could cause trouble. (위험한 행동이나 발언을 하다)
Example: You could be skating on thin ice. (그녀의 자존심을 건드리면 위험해질 수 있어.)
69. Stand in a good stead
Meaning: To be useful or be of good service to someone. (도움이 되다, 유리하게 작용하다)
Example: Being fluent in German will stand you in a good stead. (독일어에 능통한 것이 독일 유학 지원에 큰 도움이 될 것이다.)
70. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: To act at the right time. (좋은 기회를 놓치지 않고 바로 행동하다)
Example: Strike while the iron is hot and invest. (지금이 기회야, 바로 투자해.)
71. Take a back seat
Meaning: Choose to be less important in a role. (주도적인 역할에서 물러나다, 뒤로 물러서다)
Example: He finally decided to take a back seat. (그는 결국 주도권을 아들에게 넘기기로 했다.)
72. Take with a grain/pinch of salt
Meaning: To doubt the accuracy of information. (정보를 전적으로 믿지 않고 가감해서 받아들이다)
Example: That information should be taken with a grain of salt. (그 정보는 적당히 걸러서 들어야 해.)
73. Take a nosedive
Meaning: Rapid drop or decrease in value. (급락하다, 폭락하다)
Example: The share prices took a nosedive. (그 회사의 주가는 급락했다.)
74. Take the plunge
Meaning: Venture into something of one’s interest despite the risks involved. (결단을 내리다, 위험을 감수하고 시작하다)
Example: Jack finally took the plunge and opened a restaurant. (잭은 마침내 결단을 내려 식당을 열었다.)
75. Taste of one’s own medicine
Meaning: Treat people the same (unpleasant) way they treated you. (자신이 한 대로 당하다, 자업자득)
Example: He should be given a taste of his own medicine. (그는 자기가 한 대로 당해야 해.)
76. Think the world of
Meaning: Admire someone very much. (누군가를 아주 존경하고 높이 평가하다)
Example: Children think the world of her. (아이들은 그녀를 매우 존경한다.)
77. Tight spot
Meaning: A difficult situation. (곤란한 상황, 궁지)
Example: The recent lawsuit has put the firm in a tight spot. (최근의 소송으로 회사가 궁지에 몰렸다.)
78. Tongue in cheek
Meaning: (of a remark) Supposed to be taken in funny or ironic sense. (농담조로, 진지하지 않은 말투로)
Example: It was supposed to be tongue in cheek. (그건 농담으로 한 말이었어.)
79. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Pretend not to notice. (모르는 척하다, 눈감아주다)
Example: People tend to turn a blind eye to crime against women. (사람들은 여성에 대한 범죄에 눈을 감는 경향이 있다.)
80. Walk on eggshells
Meaning: Be extremely cautious about one's words or actions. (상대방 기분을 상하게 하지 않기 위해 조심스럽게 행동하다)
Example: Celebrities are required to walk on eggshells. (연예인들은 항상 조심스럽게 행동해야 한다.)
81. Want someone’s head on a platter
Meaning: Want someone to be punished severely. (누군가에게 엄한 처벌을 원하다)
Example: “I want that murderer’s head on a platter!” (난 그 살인자를 반드시 처벌받게 할 거야!)
82. Watch (someone) like a hawk
Meaning: Keep eyes on or watch carefully. (매의 눈처럼 예리하게 감시하다)
Example: The examiner watched the test takers like a hawk. (감독관은 응시자들을 예리하게 지켜봤다.)
83. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something bad that happened in the past but is no longer important. (과거의 일로, 더 이상 중요하지 않음)
Example: That water is under the bridge now. (그건 이미 지난일이야, 이제 중요하지 않아.)
84. Wave a dead chicken
Meaning: Do some useless, unhelpful thing in the hope that it will solve a problem. (아무 소용없는 행동을 하다)
Example: Restarting the laptop is like waving a dead chicken. (메인보드가 망가졌는데 노트북을 재부팅하는 건 소용없는 짓이야.)
85. Weak in the knees
Meaning: Barely able to stand because of emotion, fear or illness. (감정, 두려움, 병으로 다리가 풀리다)
Example: The shock made me go weak in the knees. (그 충격에 다리가 풀렸다.)
86. Wear many hats
Meaning: Do many different types of tasks. (다양한 역할이나 일을 동시에 하다)
Example: One is often supposed to wear many hats. (직원이 적어서 하나가 여러 가지 일을 맡는다.)
87. Weather the storm
Meaning: Succeed in surviving a difficult period of time. (시련을 이겨내다, 고비를 넘기다)
Example: The Indian economy is weathering the storm. (인도 경제는 어려운 시기를 잘 견디고 있다.)
88. Wet behind the ears
Meaning: Inexperienced and immature. (풋내기인, 경험이 부족한)
Example: She is still wet behind the ears. (그녀는 아직 풋내기야.)
89. Whale of a time
Meaning: Enjoy a lot. (정말 즐거운 시간)
Example: She had a whale of a time in Goa. (그녀는 고아에서 정말 즐거운 시간을 보냈다.)
90. Whistle in the dark
Meaning: Pretend to be brave in a scary situation. (두려움을 감추려 애쓰다)
Example: She blew a whistle in the dark. (그녀는 두려움을 감추기 위해 일부러 용기 내는 행동을 했다.)
91. Why keep a dog and bark for yourself
Meaning: If someone or something can do a job for you, why do it yourself? (남이 할 수 있는 일을 왜 스스로 하려 드는가?)
Example: Why keep a dog and bark for yourself? (프린터가 있는데 왜 굳이 손으로 적니?)
92. Wide off the mark
Meaning: Incorrect; Inadequate; Not what is expected. (정확하지 않은, 빗나간, 기대에 못 미치는)
Example: Her answer was wide off the mark. (그녀의 대답은 핵심을 벗어났어.)
93. Wild goose chase
Meaning: Waste time looking for something that has little chance of being found. (헛수고, 쓸데없는 추적)
Example: It turned out to be a wild goose chase. (결국 헛수고로 끝났다.)
94. Wipe the slate clean
Meaning: Make a fresh start. (과거를 깨끗이 잊고 새로 시작하다)
Example: He decided to wipe the slate clean with his dad. (그는 아버지와의 과거를 잊고 새 출발하기로 결심했다.)
95. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Dangerous person pretending to be harmless. (양의 탈을 쓴 늑대, 겉과 속이 다른 위험한 사람)
Example: She was a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. (그녀는 겉보기와 달리 위험한 사람이었어.)
96. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning: Extreme hard work. (뼈 빠지게 일하다, 매우 고되게 일하다)
Example: She worked her fingers to the bone. (그녀는 정말 뼈 빠지게 일했다.)
97. Worm’s eye view
Meaning: A perspective seen from below or from a low or inferior position. (아랫사람의 시각, 편협한 시각)
Example: Trainees get only a worm’s eye view. (훈련생들은 조직 구조를 좁은 시야로밖에 볼 수 없다.)
98. Worth one’s salt
Meaning: Good or competent at the job or profession specified. (직무에 적합한, 실력 있는)
Example: She is totally worth her salt. (그녀는 자신의 일에 있어 충분히 가치 있는 사람이다.)
99. Wrap one’s brain around
Meaning: Concentrate on something in an effort to understand. (이해하기 위해 열심히 머리를 쓰다)
Example: I need to wrap my brain around this concept. (이 개념을 제대로 이해하려면 머리를 굴려야겠어.)
100. Zero in on something
Meaning: Focus all attention onto one thing. (하나의 목표에 집중하다)
Example: She zeroed in on the weaker students. (그녀는 학습이 뒤처진 학생들에게 집중했다.)
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