Slang & Idioms Starting with "A"

77 entries

• A bee in your bonnet An obsessive idea; something that preoccupies or annoys you.
• A bird in the hand Something certain is worth more than uncertain possibilities.
• A bit fresh British understatement meaning it's quite cold.
• A can of worms A situation that creates many problems; a complicated mess.
• A do A party or social gathering (British)
• A dog's life A miserable, unhappy existence.
• A game of two halves A match where the momentum changes dramatically; a cliché for unpredictability.
• A horse of a different colour Something completely different; a different matter entirely.
• A&E Accident and Emergency department (British hospital emergency room).
• Abar About (Scouse pronunciation).
• Ablutions Formal/military term for bathroom routine.
• Above your station Acting superior to your social class
• Ace Excellent, fantastic
• Ace it To do something extremely well, especially a test.
• ace up your sleeve secret advantage held in reserve
• aches and pains minor physical discomforts
• Ack-ack Anti-aircraft fire or guns
• Actions speak louder than words What people do is more important than what they say
• Adam and Eve Believe.
• Add insult to injury To make a bad situation worse by adding offense
• AFK Away From Keyboard—temporarily unavailable.
• After hours Drinking after official pub closing time.
• Afternoon A casual way to say 'Good afternoon'
• Afternoon tea Traditional British meal of tea, sandwiches, scones, and cakes served mid-aft...
• Afters Dessert (British informal)
• Aggro Aggression, trouble, or hassle
• ahead of the game in an advantageous position
• Airhead A stupid or vacant person; usually applied to women.
• Airing Cupboard Heated storage closet
• Airs and graces Affected superior behaviour
• Albatross around your neck A burden or curse that weighs you down; a persistent problem.
• Ale A type of beer fermented at warm temperatures; traditional British beer.
• All Right Then Okay, goodbye (departure phrase).
• All the best A warm farewell wishing someone well
• Alright my lover Hello, how are you (West Country greeting).
• Alright? Hello, how are you? (British greeting)
• Amazing Extremely good or impressive
• Amenities Toilet facilities (euphemism)
• Angel A wonderful, kind person.
• Ansom Handsome, great, lovely (West Country).
• Answer the call Euphemism for going to the toilet.
• Ants in your pants Unable to sit still; restless; agitated.
• Antsy Restless, fidgety, or impatient
• Anxious Worried, uneasy, or nervously eager
• anyway... transition to leaving
• Apples and pears Stairs.
• Archer Two thousand pounds.
• Aris Arse (backside).
• Ark at ee Hark at him/her, listen to them (West Country).
• Armband Captain's band indicating leadership.
• Arriviste An ambitious social climber
• Arse British term for buttocks; also used in various expressions.
• Arsehole The anus; a contemptible or stupid person.
• Artful dodger Lodger.
• Arvo Afternoon (Australian).
• As If! No way; that's ridiculous; I would never
• Aspiring class People seeking to move up socially
• At Any Rate In any case; anyway; regardless
• at death's door extremely ill, near death
• At death's door Extremely ill; close to dying.
• At ease Relaxed position; command to relax
• At the bar The serving counter in a pub; ordering location.
• At the Coalface Doing the hard work
• At the end of my tether At the limit of patience or endurance (British).
• At the end of the day Ultimately; when all is considered.
• at the top of their game performing at peak ability
• At Wit's End Completely frustrated and out of ideas
• Ate Did something exceptionally well; dominated.
• Ate and left no crumbs Did something so perfectly that nothing was left to criticise.
• Aubergine Eggplant (British)
• Away day Trip to support your team at an away match.
• Awesome Extremely good or impressive (American)
• AWOL Absent Without Leave; missing
• Ay Up Hello/Hi (Northern English greeting).
• Aye Yes (Scottish/Northern).
• Aye Aye Hello (Northern/Scottish).
• Ayrton Tenner (ten pounds).