B
Idioms beginning with "B"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of B:
[burn down] {v. phr.}
To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire.
The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could get to it.
[burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.}
To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position.
* /Bob was a good […]
[burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience.
He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn't want to try again.
* /Some people […]
[burn out] {v. phr.}
1. To destroy by fire or by overheating.
Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car.
2. To destroy someone's house or business by fire so that they have to move out.
Three racists burned out the Black family's home.
3a. […]
[burn rubber] {v. phr.}, {slang}
1. To start up a car or a motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the road.
The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber — look at the marks on the road!
2. To leave in a hurry.
* […]
[burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.}
To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired.
He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends.
[burn the midnight oil] {v. phr.}
To study late at night.
Exam time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight oil.
[burn up] {v.}
1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by fire.
Mr. Scott was burning up old letters.
The house burned up before the firemen got there.
2. {informal}
To irritate, anger, annoy.
* /The boy's laziness and rudeness […]
[burn up the road] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To drive a car very fast.
In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on his way to see her.
Speed demons burning up the road often cause accidents.