B
Idioms beginning with "B"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of B:
[be]
See:
BE [UP TO SOMETHING]
[LET BE],
[TO-BE].
[be a fly on the wall] {v. phr.}
To eavesdrop on a secret conversation.
How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance's parents are saying about me!
[be a good hand at] {v. phr.}
To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity.
Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building.
[be a poor hand at] {v. phr.}
To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity.
Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him.
Contrast: [BE A GOOD HAND AT].
[be an item] {v. phr.}
To be a couple; belong to one another.
No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item.
[be at pains] {v. phr.}
To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something.
The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats.
[be even-Steven] {v. phr.}
To be in a position of owing no favors or debt to someone.
Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I paid for yours; now we're even-Steven.
[be game] {v. phr.}
To be cooperative, willing, sporting.
When I asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game if we were.
[be hard on] {v. phr.}
To be strict or critical with another; be severe.
"Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to rebel as he gets older."
[be in a stew] {v. phr.}
To be worried, harassed, upset.
Al has been in a stew ever since he got word that his sister was going to marry his worst enemy.
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