Idioms starting with A

English

A skeleton in the cupboard

Something shocking, embarrassing, etc. that has happened to you or your family in the past that you want to keep secret

A rotten apple

One bad person who has a bad effect on others in a group

Separate the sheep from the goats

To recognize the difference between people who are good at something, intelligent, etc. and those who are not

A close call

A situation in which you only just manage to avoid an accident, etc.

A chip off the old block

A person who is very similar to their mother or father in the way that they look or behave

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

It is better to keep something that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much more

Add insult to injury

To make a bad relationship with somebody worse by offending them even more

A nine days' wonder

A person or thing that makes people excited for a short time but does not last very long

A dangerous game

A situation in which somebody takes risks, usually hoping to gain an advantage

A hostage to fortune

Something that you have, or have promised to do, that could cause trouble or worry in the future