English Idioms A - Z - Idiomatic Expressions

The Cambridge dictionary defines an idiom as a group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word understood on its own: For example
To "have bitten off more than you can chew" is an idiom that means you have tried to do something which is too difficult for you.We have offered you a list of commonly used idioms from A to Z.

Idioms K- Idiomatic expressions beginning with K

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1. Keen

as keen as mustard (BrE, informal)
wanting very much to do well at smth; enthusiastic
She’s as keen as mustard. She always gets here first in the morning and she’s the last to leave work in the evening.

1. Keep

keep it up
used to tell smb to continue doing smth as well as they are already doing it
They’ve done well so far. I just wonder how long they can keep it up.

1. Keeps

for keeps (informal)
permanently; for ever
“Are you really giving me this beautiful ring?” “Yes, it’s yours. For keeps.”

1. Ken

beyond/outside your ken (old-fashioned)
not within your knowledge or understanding
Such things are beyond my ken.

1. Kick

kick the bucket (BrE, informal, humorous)
die
He got married for the first time when he was 85 and a week later he kicked the bucket.
kick over the traces (old-fashioned, BrE)
start to behave badly and refuse to accept any discipline or control
She smokes and she drinks. She’s really kicking over the traces, and her parents don’t know what to do with her.

1. Kill

kill two birds with one stone
manage to achieve tow aims by doing one thing
If we have to go to Manchester for the meeting, then let’s visit Joan on the way there. We can kill two birds with one stone.

1. Kind

kind of/sort of (informal)
used with adjectives, adverbs, and verbs when something is difficult to describe or when the word you use is not exactly what you mean.
My new dress is sort of green.
(two) of a kind/sort
(two) people or things with similar characteristics
Uncle Fred and your father are two of a kind; football and beer, that’s all they seem to be interested in.
one of a kind
the only one like this
My father was one of a kind – I’ll never be like him.
nothing of the kind/sort (informal)
not at all as smb said or as you expected
The brochure said it would be a beginner’s course but it’s nothing of the sort.

1. Know

it takes one to know one (informal, disapproving)
you are the same kind of person as the person you are criticizing
“Your brother is a real idiot.” “Well it takes one to know one”.
know smb inside out (informal)
Know smb/smth very well
You’ve read that book so often that you must know it inside out by now.
know your own mind
know what you want or like
At 25 you’re old enough to know your own mind and make these decisions for yourself.

not know smb from Adam (informal)
not know who smb is
This man came into the office and he said that he knew me. I didn’t know him from Adam, which was a bit embarrassing.

1. Knowledge

be common/public knowledge
be smth that everyone knows, especially in a particular community or group

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