American Idioms

(to) Be on Target

To achieve a desired goal; to be correct in one’s analysis or assessment of something

Sam says that he is on his target in his law career.

All Thumbs

Definition:  Awkward, especially with one’s hands; clumsy

Walter tried to fix the broken table but couldn’t. He was all thumbs.

(to) Burn Up the Road

To drive a car very fast

He is so eager to get to the game that he burned up the road all the way.

By Word of Mouth

From person to person by the spoken word; orally

I didn’t read about it but heard the news by word to mouth.

Don’t Be Chicken

Cowardly, easily scared

Don’t be so chicken! There’s nothing to be afraid of!

(to) Cook Up

To plan and organize; to invent; to make up

I have to cook up an excuse for being late again

(to) Get the Message

To understand clearly what is meant.

We explained to him, that we couldn’t help him at all but he didn’t get the message.

Puppy Love

The first love of very young people.

When Fred and Alice began dating in high school, their parents thought it was just puppy love.