interesting idioms

A bad apple

Meaning:

A (morally) bad person who makes a whole group bad.

A bad apple is someone who has a bad effect on a whole group or system.

People also say, "One bad/rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel/barrel."


Example:

The corruption in the government started with a bad apple, a high official two years ago. Now the whole system is corrupt.

Be a piece of cake

Meaning:

To be very easy

If something is a piece of cake, it is very easy to do.

Example:

A: How was the driving test yesterday? Did you pass?
B: Of course! It was a piece of cake.

Be all ears

Meaning:

Be very intersted in what someone is about to say.

If you are all ears, you are eager and ready to listen to what someone is going to say.


Example:

Now tell us all about your adventures in Afraica last summer. I'm all ears.

When the president started his speech, he found everyone listening, all ears.

Be the apple of someone's eye

Meaning:

Be loved very much by someone.

If someone is the apple of your eye, you think he/she is very important to you, and you love him/her very much.
This idiom is used especially when someone is loved by an older member of his/her family.


Example:

Erika is Mark's only granddaughter, and she's the apple of his eye.

Sarah's only son was the apple of her eye.

Be as blind as a bat

Meaning:

Be unable to see well or unable to see at all.

If someone is as blind as a bat, he/she cannot see well or cannot see at all because of his/her very bad eyesight.

Example:

A: Can you read the first paragraph on page 115 for me?
B: Sorry, I forgot to bring my glasses. I'm as blind as a bat without them.