| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| I smell where you're stepping |
I understand the direction of your thought, follow me,
get my drift |
"Do you understand?" "Yes, please continue. I smell where you're steppin'" |
| I'll be a monkey's uncle |
I cannot believe it, I must be dreaming |
When Farley won the new car, he said, "I'll be a monkey's uncle!" |
| I'm afraid so |
(See afraid so) |
|
| icing on the cake |
a bonus, extra benefit, the rest is gravy |
We've sold enough tickets to pay for the trip. This money from the
Elks Club is icing on the cake! |
| idiot lights |
warning lights on the instrument panel of a car |
Kim wants a car with gauges, not idiot lights. |
| if a mussel doesn't open don't eat it |
if you force things to happen you may regret it, leave well enough alone |
If you force a child to talk, you may regret it. As they say, If a mussel doesn't open, don't eat it. |
| if looks could kill |
the look on your face was evil or hateful |
If looks could kill, I'd be dead. Are you mad at me or something? |
| if my memory serves me correctly |
if I can remember well, if I have a good memory |
Your name is Jose - if my memory serves me correctly. |
| if only |
I wish, we wish |
If only we'd phoned before we came. There's nobody home! |
| if that doesn't beat all |
that is the best/biggest/worst I have ever seen |
Fifty people in a phone booth - if that doesn't beat all! |
.