Idioms beginning with L

Idiom

Meaning

Last straw

The final problem or annoyance that causes someone to lose patience or give up.

Let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information.

Learn the ropes

To become familiar with the details or procedures of a particular task or activity.

Light at the end of the tunnel

A sign of hope or relief in a difficult or challenging situation.

Leave no stone unturned

To make every possible effort or attempt; to search thoroughly.

Let sleeping dogs lie

To avoid stirring up old conflicts or problems.

Lose your touch

To lose one’s skill or ability in a particular area.

Look before you leap

To consider the possible consequences before taking action.

Like a bull in a china shop

Clumsy or reckless behavior, especially in a delicate situation.

Lay down the law

To establish rules or principles and insist on compliance.

Learn the hard way

To learn from experience, often through difficulty or failure.

Let someone off the hook

To excuse or release someone from blame or responsibility.

Live and let live

To accept others’ differences and beliefs without interference.

Let the chips fall where they may

To allow events to unfold naturally without interference.

Leap of faith

To take a risk or act without certain knowledge or assurance.

Look the other way

To deliberately ignore or pretend not to notice something.

Lend an ear

To listen attentively to someone.

Let off steam

To release pent-up energy or frustration through action or expression.

Let bygones be bygones

To forget past grievances or conflicts and move forward.

Lead someone up the garden path

To deceive or mislead someone.

Look down on

To view someone or something as inferior or unworthy.

Look on the bright side

To focus on the positive aspects of a situation.

Lost cause

A hopeless or futile situation or endeavor.

Like finding a needle in a haystack

Something extremely difficult or impossible to locate.

Lick one’s wounds

To recover from a setback or defeat.

Let the dust settle

To wait for a situation to become calmer or clearer.

Look someone in the eye

To make direct eye contact, often to convey sincerity or honesty.

Lead by example

To set a good example for others through one’s actions.

Leave well enough alone

To refrain from interfering or making changes when a situation is satisfactory as it is.

Live in a fishbowl

To live in a situation where one’s actions are constantly observed or scrutinized.

Lion’s share

The largest portion or share of something.

Love is blind

Love can make someone overlook flaws or fail to see reality clearly.

Lend a hand

To offer assistance or help.

Lost in the shuffle

To be overlooked or forgotten amid a larger group or activity.

Lay it on the line

To speak frankly and directly; to be honest and straightforward.

Loosen the purse strings

To spend money more freely or to become less strict about budgeting.

Light a fire under someone

To motivate or inspire someone to take action or work harder.

Like shooting fish in a barrel

Something very easy to accomplish or achieve.

Lead someone down the garden path

To deceive or mislead someone.

Land on one’s feet

To recover quickly from a setback or difficulty.

Look out for number one

To prioritize oneself; to act in one’s own best interests.

Lay the groundwork

To establish the necessary foundation or preparation for something.

Like a chicken with its head cut off

To act in a panicked or chaotic manner.

Lighten up

To become less serious or strict; to relax or have fun.

Leave someone high and dry

To abandon or leave someone in a difficult or helpless situation.

Live high on the hog

To live lavishly or extravagantly.

Level the playing field

To make a situation fair and equal for everyone involved.

Look the part

To have the appearance or demeanor suitable for a particular role or situation.

Leap in the dark

To take a risky or uncertain action without knowing the consequences

Like water off a duck’s back

To have no effect or impact on someone; to not be bothered by criticism or insults.

Like a fish out of water

To feel uncomfortable or out of place in a new or unfamiliar environment.

Lose your marbles

To become mentally unstable or lose one’s sanity.

Lay it on thick

To exaggerate or overstate something, usually for dramatic effect.

Live from hand to mouth

To live with only enough money or resources to meet basic needs.

Like a moth to a flame

Attracted to something or someone that is likely to cause harm or danger.

Lost in translation

Misunderstood or misrepresented when translated from one language to another.

Let the grass grow under one’s feet

To be idle or inactive; to not take action when necessary.

Live in one’s own little world

To be disconnected from reality; to have one’s own unrealistic perceptions or beliefs.

Lay an egg

To fail or perform poorly, especially in a public setting.

Love at first sight

Romantic attraction felt immediately upon meeting someone for the first time.

Let your hair down

To relax and enjoy oneself, often after a period of stress or tension.

Like a bat out of hell

Very quickly; with great speed or urgency.

Lose one’s train of thought

To forget what one was saying or thinking.

Let the good times roll

To have a good time or enjoy oneself without worrying about the future.