speak of the devil, bark is worse than one’s bite, keep a lid on it, get off someone’s back, make a beeline for: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 69. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. speak of the devil · idiom/spik əv ðə ˈdɛvəl/

   said when someone being talked about appears unexpectedly

   We were just talking about Lisa, and here she comes—speak of the devil!

   Origin: From a medieval superstition — saying 'the devil' aloud was believed to summon him, so people stopped mid-conversation.

2. bark is worse than one’s bite · idiom/bɑrk ɪz wɜrs ðæn wʌnz baɪt/

   to seem threatening but not actually be harmful

   My boss yells a lot, but don’t worry—his bark is worse than his bite. He’s actually quite reasonable.

   Origin: From a 17th-century English proverb — loud barking dogs often look fierce but rarely bite anyone in practice.

3. keep a lid on it · idiom/kip ə lɪd ɔn ɪt/

   to keep something secret or under control

   This new project is top secret, so we have to keep a lid on it until the official announcement.

   Origin: A 20th-century expression — keeping the lid on a boiling pot or container prevents anything from escaping.

4. get off someone’s back · idiom/ɡɛt ɔf ˈsʌmwʌnz bæk/

   to stop bothering or criticizing someone

   I know you don’t like your little brother copying you, but get off his back—he just looks up to you.

   Origin: From the 1800s — riders sat on the backs of horses; a horse wanted them to dismount and stop the pressure.

5. make a beeline for · idiom/meɪk ə ˈbilaɪn fɚ/

   to go straight toward something quickly

   The moment the doors opened, the shoppers made a beeline for the biggest sales.

   Origin: From beekeepers' observations — worker bees fly back to their hive in a perfectly straight, fast line.