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Prepositions used in idioms
Below are examples of
idioms consisting of prepositional phrases. The following selection of idioms
emphasizes those used in North American English. The meaning of each idiom is
indicated after the colon.
At
not
at all: not in any way
at all
times: always
at any rate:
whatever happens
keep someone at arm's
length: avoid becoming closely involved with someone
at close quarters: very near
at one's disposal: to be used as one wishes
at a distance: not near
at
fault: causing something wrong
at
first: at the beginning
see at a
glance: see immediately
at
hand: near; readily available
at
last: finally, after some delay
at a
loss: uncertain what to do or say
at the
mercy of: without defense against
at the
moment: now
at once:
immediately
at present: now
at rest: not moving
at
risk: threatened by danger or loss
at short
notice: with little warning
at
stake: to be won or lost
at a
stretch: continuously
at that
rate: under those circumstances
at this
point: at this place; at this moment
at the
wheel: in control
Behind
behind the scenes: (of persons) influencing events
secretly; (in a theater) behind the stage
behind
schedule: not on time
Beside
be beside
oneself: lose one's self-control
beside the
point: irrelevant
Between
read between the lines: deduce a meaning that is not
actually expressed
Beyond
beyond help: unable to be helped
beyond a joke: too annoying to be amusing
beyond reproach: perfect; blameless
By
by accident: not
deliberately
by all means: by any possible
method
bit by bit: gradually
by chance: by accident; without planning
by courtesy of: with the help or permission
of
win by default: win because of lack of
competition
by degrees: gradually
perform by ear: perform (music) by listening to the
sound, without referring to written music
by
hand: without the use of machinery
by
heart: from memory
little by
little: gradually
by means of:
by using
by mistake: accidentally
by no means: not at all
one
by one: one at a time
by
oneself: alone
side by side:
beside one another
by the way: incidentally
(used to introduce an unrelated topic of conversation)
by word of mouth: orally
For
once and for all:
for the last time (e.g. used when giving someone a final warning)
for certain: definitely; without doubt
for a change: for the sake of variety
for example: as an illustration
for fun: for the sake of enjoyment
for good: permanently
for good
measure: in addition to the necessary amount
for instance: for example; as an illustration
for keeps: (colloquial) permanently
for a living: as a profession
for
now: temporarily
run for
office: compete for an elected position
for
one thing: because of one reason (out of several)
for the sake of: for the benefit of; for the purpose
of
for sale: intended to be sold
for sure: definitely (more colloquial than for
certain)
food for thought: something
which makes one think
play for time: delay
doing something in the hope that the situation will improve
for the time being: until some other arrangement is
made
ask for trouble: act in a dangerous or
foolish way
for a while: for a period of
time
word for word: exactly as said or
written
From
from afar: from a distance
from all
sides: from all directions
from head to
foot: (of a person) completely; all over
from scratch: from the beginning
from time to time: occasionally
In
in addition to: as
well as
in advance: before
be in agreement with: have the same opinion as
in any case: whatever happens
in brief: in a few words
in
bulk: (of goods) in large amounts; not in packages
be in charge of: have responsibility for
in common: shared by all members of a group
in control: having the power to direct something
in the course of: during
in
danger: likely to be harmed
in a
daze: unable to think clearly; confused
in
debt: owing money
in demand:
(of goods or persons) desired by many people
in
depth: (investigate something) thoroughly
in detail: (explain something) thoroughly
in disgrace: regarded with disapproval because of having
done something wrong
in the distance: far
away
in doubt: uncertain
in duplicate: so that there are two identical copies (of a
document)
in earnest: seriously; in a
determined way
in effect: (of rules)
operating
in the end: finally
in fact: in reality; really
in fashion: fashionable; accepted as being the most
desirable and up to date
in favor of:
supporting (an idea)
in flames: burning,
with visible flames
in a flash: very
quickly; suddenly
in full: without omitting
anything
in general: usually; as a
whole
hand in hand: (of persons) holding
hands; (of related situations) occurring together
in a
hurry: trying to accomplish something quickly
in jest: as a joke
in
kind: (payment) in goods rather than in money
in itself: without reference to anything else
in league with: (of persons) joined together with
(usually for a dishonest purpose)
be in the
limelight: be the focus of attention; receive great
publicity
in the long run: in the end;
eventually
in the long term: looking ahead
to the distant future
leave someone in
the lurch: abandon someone who is in a difficult
situation
be in the minority: be in the
smaller of two groups
in mint condition:
(of manufactured goods) perfect; brand-new
in a
minute: soon
in a moment:
soon; quickly
set something in motion:
start something going
nip something in the
bud: put an end to something before it gets properly
started
in no time: very soon; very
quickly
in order of: arranged according
to
in order to: for the purpose
of
in part: to some degree
in particular: especially
in
power: (of a political party) holding office
in practice: able to do something well because of recent
practice; in reality (opposite of in theory)
in
print: (of a book) printed and available from the
publisher
in private: not in front of other
people
in public: openly; not in
private
in reality: really
in reserve: saved for later use
in
retrospect: looking back over past events
in return for: as repayment for
be
in the right: be correct
in
season: (of fruit or vegetables) readily available at that time of
year
in a second: soon; quickly
in short supply: scarce; not easily
obtainable
in sight: able to be
seen
in stock: (of goods at a store)
present and available
in that case: if that
is true
in theory: ideally; according to
theoretical considerations
be in time: not
be late
in touch with in: communication
with; informed about
in triplicate: so that
there are three identical copies (of a document)
be in
trouble: be in a difficult situation; be blamed or punished for
doing something wrong
in tune: at the
correct pitch
act in unison: act
together
in vain: without success
in the vicinity of: near
once
in a while: occasionally
in words of
one syllable: (explain something) clearly and simply
in working order: able to function properly
in the wrong: responsible for an error; guilty
Inside
inside out: with the inner side out; thoroughly
Into
paint oneself into a
corner: take a course of action which greatly narrows one's future
choices of action
go into hiding: hide
oneself
get into a rut: get into a fixed
and uninteresting way of life
get into
trouble: get into a difficult situation; do something deserving
blame or punishment
Of
of
course: certainly; as one would expect; as everyone knows
hard of hearing: somewhat deaf
next
of kin: nearest relative or relatives
of one's own accord: voluntarily; on one's own
initiative
of one's own free will:
voluntarily; by choice
one's point of view:
one's opinion about something
right of way:
public right to use a path or road; (of road traffic) right to proceed before
others
rule of thumb: a simple way to
calculate what procedure to follow, based on extensive experience,
rather than
on theoretical considerations
Off
go off the air: (of radio or television) stop
broadcasting
off duty: not engaged in one's
regular work
off one's hands: no longer
one's responsibility
off and on: from time
to time
off the record: say something
privately, that is not to be officially recorded
off the
track: following a wrong line of thought or action
On
on account of:
because of
be on the air: (of radio or
television) be in the process of broadcasting
on the
alert: ready to act
be on all
fours: (of a person) be on hands and knees
on the average: usually; normally
on
behalf of: for; in the interests of
on
board: on a ship or airplane
on
business: as part of one's work
on
condition that: only if; provided that
on
demand: when asked for
on
display: being exhibited
on
duty: engaged in one's regular work
on fire: burning
to go on
foot: to walk
be on one's
guard: be alert and ready to meet an attack
on hand: available
on
loan: lent and not yet returned
shoot on
location: (of a movie) film in natural surroundings, not in a
studio
on the lookout: watchful
put something on the map: cause something to become
well-known
get on one's nerves: annoy;
irritate
on no account: absolutely
not
on the one hand: (used to introduce one
side of an argument)
on one's own: alone;
without help
act on one's own initiative:
act independently, without orders from anyone else
on
order: requested but not yet delivered
on
the other hand: (used to introduce a contrasting side of an
argument)
act on principle: do something to
support a policy
on purpose:
deliberately
go on record: say something
which is to be officially recorded
on sale:
being sold at a lower price than usual
on
schedule: at the correct time; as planned or predicted
on second thoughts: after thinking further about
something
on a shoestring: with a very
small amount of money
be on the spot: be
where important events are taking place; be placed in an awkward
situation
on the spur of the moment: on a
sudden impulse
go off on a tangent: change
suddenly to a new line of thought or action
on
time: at the correct time
walk on
tiptoe: walk on the toes and balls of the feet
accept something on trust: accept something without
proof
on the verge of: very close to; about
to
on the whole: taking everything into
consideration
Out of
out
of the blue: unexpectedly
out of
breath: (after running) panting from a shortage of oxygen
out of character: unlike a person's known
character
out of control: not able to be
regulated or guided
out of danger:
safe
out of date: no longer used;
old-fashioned; (of news) no longer true
out
of debt: having paid one's debts
be out
of one's depth: be unable to handle a situation because of lack
of experience
out of doors: in the open
air; not in a building
out of fashion: not
fashionable; not presently in common use
out of
hand: not under control
out of harm's
way: safe
out of line with: in
disagreement with
be out of one's mind: be
insane
out of order: not functioning
properly; (at a formal meeting) not behaving according to the rules
out of the ordinary: unusual
out
of place: unsuitable
out of
practice: unable to do something as well as one has in past,
because of lack of recent practice
out of
print: (of a book) no longer available from the publisher
out of proportion: too big or too small; not having
the appropriate relationship to something
out of the
question: impossible; not to be considered
out
of season: (of fruit or vegetables) not readily available at
that time of year
out of shape: (of
persons) not in top condition because of lack of exercise
out of sight: hidden, not able to be seen
out of stock: (of goods at a store) temporarily
unavailable
out of style: not
fashionable
out of touch: with not in
communication with; not informed about
out of
town: having temporarily left town
out of
trouble: not in trouble
out of
tune: not at the correct pitch
out of
work: no longer having employment
To
to all intents and
purposes: in all important ways
to a
certain extent: partly
to
date: so far; until now
up to
date: current; modern
see eye to eye
with: agree entirely with
take something to
heart: be much affected by something
made
to measure: exactly suitable; (of clothes) made for a
certain person
keep something to oneself:
not tell anyone
to the point: relevant
Under
under age: below the age of being legally permitted to do
something
be under arrest: be held prisoner
and charged with wrongdoing
under the auspices
of: with the patronage of; supported by
under one's breath: in a whisper
under the circumstances: because this is true
under consideration: being thought about
under control: able to be regulated or
guided
under cover of: protected by;
undetected because of
under fire: being
shot at; being criticized
under the impression
that: having the idea that
be under the
influence of: be affected by
be under
oath: have sworn to tell the truth
under
observation: being watched carefully
under
restraint: prevented from doing something
Up
have something up one's
sleeve: have a secret idea or plan in reserve
With
with impunity:
without risk of injury or punishment
with the naked
eye: without using a magnifying lens
with
no strings attached: (of help given) with no conditions; to be used
freely
take with a pinch of salt: not
believe completely
with regard to:
concerning; about
with respect to:
concerning; about
tarred with the same
brush: having the same faults
with a
vengeance: very much; more than usual
Within
within limits:
to a certain extent; not too much
within living
memory: within the memory of people now alive
Without
go without
saying: be obvious
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