you can t make a silk purse out of a sow s ear Idiom, Proverb

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a change of heart

when you change your mind on something: "I've had a change of heart. I think I'll stay in my present job, after all."

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a heart of gold

be a very kind person: "She'll always help - she has a heart of gold."

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A little learning is a dangerous thing

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

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A little learning is a dangerous thing.

People with insufficient knowledge are easily misled.

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A penny saved is a penny earned

Idiom(s): A penny saved is a penny earned

Theme: THRIFT

A proverb meaning that money saved through thrift is the same as money earned by employment. (Sometimes used to explain stinginess.)
• "I didn't want to pay that much for the book," said Mary. "After all, a penny saved is a penny earned."
• Bob put his money in a new bank that pays more interest than his old bank, saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned."

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a word in your ear

something you say before you give some advice or a warning: "A word in your ear - the company are monitoring internet use."

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about one's ears|around one's ears|ear|ears

adv. phr. To or into complete collapse, defeat, or ruin; to the destruction of a person's plans, hopes, or happiness. They planned to have factories all over the world but the war brought their plans down about their ears. John hoped to go to college and become a great scientist some day, but when his father died he had to get a job, and John's dreams came crashing around his ears.
Compare: ON ONE'S HEAD.

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absence makes the heart grow fonder

when friends are apart they like each other more When she's away I'm very lonely. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

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Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more.

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advanced in years

Idiom(s): up in years AND advanced in years; along in years; on in years

Theme: AGE - OLD

old; elderly.
• My uncle is up in years and can't hear too well.
• Many people lose their hearing somewhat when they are along in years.

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after one's own heart

after one's own heart
To one's own personal liking, as in He's very patient with the slower pupils; he's a teacher after my own heart. This idiom appears in the King James Bible of 1611 (I Samuel 13:14). [Late 1500s]

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after one's own heart|after|heart

adj. phr., informal Well liked because of agreeing with your own feelings, interests, and ideas; to your liking-agreeable. Used after "man" or some similar word. He likes baseball and good food; he is a man after my own heart. Thanks for agreeing with me about the class party; you're a girl after my own heart.
Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.

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after the dust clears|after|clear|clears|dust|sett

adv. phr. When a troubling, confusing, or disastrous event is finally over. John invited Tim for dinner, but since Tim's father had just died, he replied, "Thanks. I'd like to come after the dust settles."

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After your own heart

A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you.

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all ears

listening carefully, trying to hear everything When Dad mentioned hunting, I was all ears. I loved to hunt.

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all ears/eyes

attentive（by listening or looking closely）全神贯注地倾听（注视）
Now children，I want you to be all ears in class．孩子们，我要求你们在课堂上专心听讲。

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all ears|all|ear|ears

adj. phr., informal Very eager to hear; very attentive. Used in the predicate. Go ahead with your story; we are all ears. When John told about the circus, the boys were all ears.

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all eyes and ears

Idiom(s): be all eyes (and ears)

Theme: ALERTNESS

to be alert for something to happen; to wait eagerly for something to happen or for someone or something to appear.
• There they were, sitting at the table, all eyes. The birthday cake was soon to be served.
• Nothing can escape my notice. I'm all eyes and ears.

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All heart

Someone who is all heart is very kind and generous.

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all over the earth

Idiom(s): all over the earth AND all over the world

Theme: EVERYWHERE

everywhere.
• Grass grows all over the earth.
• It's the same way all over the world.

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all year round

Idiom(s): all year round

Theme: TIME - DURATION

throughout all the seasons of the year; during the entire year.
• The public swimming pool is enclosed so that it can be used all year round.
• In the South they can grow flowers all year round.

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all year round|all|all year|year

adv. phr. Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. In California the sun shines all year round.

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along in years

Idiom(s): up in years AND advanced in years; along in years; on in years

Theme: AGE - OLD

old; elderly.
• My uncle is up in years and can't hear too well.
• Many people lose their hearing somewhat when they are along in years.

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along in years|along|on in years|year|years

adj. phr. Elderly; growing old. As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful. Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years.

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an earful

a lecture, a scolding, a bawling out If Mom catches you smoking, you'll get an earful.

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angels fear to tread

(See where angels fear to tread)

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Angry as a bear

If someone is as angry as a bear, they are very angry.('Angry as a bear with a sore foot' is also used.)

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another country heard from

Idiom(s): another country heard from

Theme: INTERRUPTION

a catch phrase said when someone makes a comment or interrupts.
• Jane and Bill were discussing business when Bob interrupted to offer an opinion. "Another country heard from," said Jane.
• In the middle of the discussion, the baby started crying. "Another country heard from," said Tom.

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another county heard from

another county heard from
An unexpected person has spoken up or arrived on the scene, as in Jane's cousin from California decided to contest the will—another county heard from. This idiom originally alluded to the counting of returns on election night; it appears in that context in Clifford Odets's play, Awake and Sing (1931). However, it may echo the much older phrase, another Richmond in the field, alluding to Henry of Richmond (later Henry VII of England), chronicled in Shakespeare's Richard III (5:4): “I think there be six Richmonds in the field; five have I slain today.” Whatever the origin, today it simply refers to an unforeseen participant or attender.

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anywhere near|anything|anything like|anywhere

adv. Nearly. Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, often in the negative forms "nothing like" or "nowhere near". It's not anything like as hot today as it was yesterday. Do you think that gold ring is worth anywhere near a hundred dollars? Today's game was nowherenear as exciting as yesterday's game. Studying that lesson should take nothing like two hours.

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appear as

Idiom(s): appear as sth

Theme: PERFORMANCE

to act a certain part in a play, opera, etc.
• Madame Smith-Franklin appeared as Carmen at the City Opera last season.
• The actor refused to appear as a villain in the play.

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appear out of nowhere

Idiom(s): appear out of nowhere

Theme: SUDDENNESS

to appear suddenly, without warning.
• A huge bear appeared out of nowhere and roared and threatened us.
• A butler appeared out of nowhere and took our coats.

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appearance

appearance
see keep up; put in an appearance.

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apples and pears

stairs. Possibly the most commonly expressed piece of Cockney rhyming slang that is used as an example of such, or used in jocular mimicry. The term is infrequently heard used in genuine daily use

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arrears

arrears
see in arrears.

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ass into gear

moving, working, doing After holidays, I'll get my ass into gear and paint the house.

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at an early date

Idiom(s): at an early date

Theme: SOON

soon; some day soon.
• The note said, "Please call me at an early date."
• You're expected to return the form to the office at an early date.

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at hand|at close hand|close hand|hand|near at hand

adv. phr. 1. Easy to reach; nearby. When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary at hand. 2. formal Coming soon; almost here. Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand.

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at heart

with feeling for you, with you in mind Believe me, she has your needs at heart. She cares about you.

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at heart|heart

adv. phr. 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart. 2. As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. He has the welfare of the poor at heart.

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at one's earliest convenience

Idiom(s): at one's earliest convenience

Theme: TIME

as soon as it is easy or convenient for someone. (This is also a polite way of saying immediately.)
• Please stop by my office at your earliest convenience.
• Bill, please have the oil changed at your earliest convenience.

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Bare your heart

If you bare your heart to someone, you tell them you personal and private feelings. ('Bare your soul' is an alternative form of the idiom.)

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be all ears

be eager to hear what someone has to say.

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Be swift to hear, slow to speak.

Listen carefully before speaking.

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bear

bear
In addition to the idioms beginning with bear, also see bring to bear; cross as a bear; cross to bear; grin and bear it; loaded for bear.
* * *
- bear a grudge
- bear down
- bear fruit
- bear in mind
- bear one's cross
- bear out
- bear the brunt
- bear up
- bear with
- bore to death

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bear a grudge

Idiom(s): bear a grudge (against someone) AND have a grudge (against sb); hold a grudge (against sb)

Theme: ENMITY

to have an old resentment for someone; to have continual anger for someone.
• She bears a grudge against the judge who sentenced her.
• I have a grudge against my landlord for overcharging me.
• How long can a person hold a grudge? Let's be friends.

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bear a grudge|bear|grudge

v. phr. To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. Come on, John, be a good sport and don't bear a grudge because I beat you at golf.
Antonym: BURY THE HATCHET.

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bear down

try harder, bite the bullet If you bear down a little, you can graduate this year.

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bear down on

bite
"The soldier had to bear down on the leather strap while the doctor removed a bullet from the soldier's arm."

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bear down on|bear|bear down upon

v. phr. To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car.