Babe in arms      A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position. Babe in the woods      A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person. Back burner      If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority. Back foot      If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position. Back the wrong horse      If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something. Back to square one      If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again. Backseat driver      A backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome. Bad egg      A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg. Good egg is the opposite. Bad taste in your mouth      If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it. Bad workers always blame their tools       "A bad worker always blames their tools" - If somebody does a job badly or loses in a game and claims that they were let down by their equipment, you can use this to imply that this was not the case. Baker's dozen      A Baker's dozen is 13 rather than 12. Ballpark figure      A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc. Bar fly      A bar fly is a person who spends a lot of time drinking in different bars and pubs. Barefaced liar      A barefaced liar is one who displays no shame about lying even if they are exposed. Bark is worse than their bite       Someone who's bark is worse than their bite may well get angry and shout, but doesn't take action. Barking up the wrong tree      If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong. Barrel of laughs      If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny. Basket case      If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped. Bat an eyelid      If someone doesn't bat an eyelid, they don't react or show any emotion when surprised, shocked, etc. Be that as it may      Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it's not going to change your opinions in any significant manner. Bean counter      A bean counter is an accountant. Beat around the bush      If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they are beating around the bush. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder       Beauty is in the eye of the beholder means that different people will find different things beautiful and that the differences of opinion don't matter greatly. Beck and call      Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call. Bedroom eyes      Someone with bedroom eyes has a sexy look in their eyes. Bee in your bonnet      If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet. Bee's Knees      If something is the bee's knees, it's outstanding or the best in its class. Beeline for      If you make a beeline for a place, you head there directly. Behind closed doors      If something happens away from the public eye, it happens behind closed doors. Behind someone's back      If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without telling them. Behind the times      Someone that is behind the times is old-fashioned and has ideas that are regarded as out-dated. Believe in the hereafter       A belief in the hereafter is a belief in the afterlife, or life after death. It is, therefore, associated with religions and the soul's journey to heaven or to hell, whichever way being just deserts for the person based on how they led their life. Below par      If something isn't up to standard, or someone isn't feeling or doing very well, they are below par. Below the belt      If someone says something that is cruel or unfair, it is below the belt, like the illegal punches in boxing. Between the devil and the deep blue sea.       If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficult choice. Between the lines      If you read between the lines, you find the real massage in what you're reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interprtation of the words. Beyond a shadow of a doubt      If something's beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it. Beyond belief       If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief. Beyond our ken      If something's beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding. Beyond the pale      If something's beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially. Big Apple      (USA) The Big Apple is New York. Big bucks      If someone is making big bucks, they are making a lot of money. Big cheese      The big cheese is the boss. Big fish in a small pond       A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation. Big hitter      A big hitter is someone who commands a lot of respect and is very important in their field. Bigger fish to fry      If you aren't interested in something because it isn't important to you and there are more important things for you to do, you have bigger fish to fry. Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush      'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb meaning that it is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything. Bird's eye view      If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly. Bird-brain      Someone who has a bird-brain, or is bird-brained, is stupid. Birds and the bees      If a child is taught about the birds and the bees, they are taught about sex. Birds of a feather flock together      This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together. Birthday suit      If you are in your birthday suit, you are naked. Bit part      If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part. Bit player      A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something. Bite the bullet      If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided. Bite the dust      This is a way of saying that somebody has died, especially if they are killed violently like a soldier in battle. Bits and bobs      Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as odds and ends. Bitter end      If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are. Black hole      If there is a black hole in financial accounts, money has disappeared. Black sheep      Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough. Blessing in disguise      If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it's a blessing in disguise. Blind as a bat      If you are in total darkness and can't see anything at all, you are as blind as a bat. Blood is thicker than water      This idiom means that family relationships are stronger than others. Blow a gasket      If you blow a gasket, you get very angry. Blow hot and cold       If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against. Blow the cobwebs away      If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in. Blue-eyed boy      Someone's blue-eyed boy is their favourite person. Bolt from the blue      If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue. Bone of contention      If there is an issue that always causes tension and arguments, it is a bone of contention. Bone to pick      If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth      If you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you are born into a rich family. Brass tacks      If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business. Break a leg      This idiom is a way of wishing someone good luck. Break even      If you break even, you don't make any money, but you don't lose any either. Break the ice      When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing. Breathe your last      When you breathe your last, you die. Brighten up the day      If something brightens up your day, something happens that makes you feel positive and happy all day long. Broad church      If an organisation is described as broad church, it is tolerant and accepting of different opinions and ideas. Broken his duck      (UK) If you "Break your duck" you score for the first time. Brownie points      If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them. Brush under the carpet      If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others. Bull in a China shop      If someone behaves like a bull in a China shop, they are clumsy when they should be careful. Burn the candle at both ends      Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which are likely to affect their health badly. Burn the midnight oil      If you stay up very late working or studying, you burn the midnight oil. Busman's holiday      A busman's holiday is when you spend your free time doing the same sort of work as you do in your job. By a hair's breadth       If a person escapes from some danger by a hair's breadth, they only just managed to avoid it. The breadth is the thickness of a hair, so they probably feel somewhat lucky because the margin between success and what could easily have been failure was so close. By a long chalk      If you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably. By a whisker      If you do something by a whisker, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing. By hook or by crook      If you are prepared to do something by hook or by crook, you are willing to do anything, good or bad, to reach your goal. By the book      If you do something by the book, you do it exactly as you are supposed to. By the skin of your teeth      If you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it and come very near indeed to failing. By word of mouth      If something becomes known by word of mouth, it gets known by being talked about rather than through publicity or advertising, etc.