put two and two together, jump out of your skin, be on cloud nine, be a loose cannon, make no bones about it: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 88. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. put two and two together · idiom/pʊt tu ənd tu təˈɡɛðɚ/

   to figure something out by connecting obvious facts

   When I saw my car was missing from the driveway, I put two and two together and realized it had been towed.

   Origin: From the 1600s — simple arithmetic, the most basic combination of facts that anyone can quickly figure out.

2. jump out of your skin · idiom/dʒʌmp aʊt əv jʊr skɪn/

   to be extremely shocked or frightened

   I nearly jumped out of my skin when my coworker sneaked up behind me and shouted my name.

   Origin: From the 1700s — extreme shock or fear is exaggerated as making a person leap so violently they leave their skin.

3. be on cloud nine · idiom/bi ɔn klaʊd naɪn/

   to be extremely happy or excited

   After hearing she got accepted into her dream university, she was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

   Origin: From American 1950s weather classifications — 'cloud nine' was the highest type of fluffy cumulus cloud in the sky.

4. be a loose cannon · idiom/bi ə lus ˈkænən/

   to be unpredictable and potentially dangerous

   Be careful what you say around Jake—he’s a loose cannon and might explode at the smallest thing.

   Origin: From old warships — a cannon not properly secured could roll dangerously across the deck and kill the crew.

5. make no bones about it · idiom/meɪk noʊ boʊnz əˈbaʊt ɪt/

   to be very direct and not hide your thoughts or feelings

   She made no bones about her disappointment when she didn’t get the promotion and told her boss directly.

   Origin: From the 1400s — possibly from a soup eaten without complaint about bones in it, meaning straightforward acceptance.