Influence & Involvement - Importance & Unimportance

Dive into English idioms regarding importance and unimportance, like "red herring" and "loom large".

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English idioms related to Influence & Involvement

matter of life and death

[phrase]

a situation that is not to be ignored or underestimated

Ex: The doctor stressed that taking the prescribed medication was a matter of life and death for the patient.

big deal

[noun]

something of high priority or special importance

Ex: They told him not to worry because it wasn’t a big deal.

crying need

[noun]

an urgent need or desire that one feels for something

Ex: In the aftermath of the natural disaster, there was a crying need for emergency medical supplies.

to loom large

[phrase]

to be of significant influence or importance and often a cause of worry

Ex: Rising tuition costs loom large in the minds of many parents.

to make the world go around

[phrase]

to play a crucial role in causing other things in life to work the way they are supposed to

Ex: In the business world, reliable employees who work diligently are the ones who make the world go around.

meat on the bone

[phrase]

extra details that are added to a plan, idea, etc. that make it more complete or much better

Ex: The initial draft of the project proposal is promising, but there's still some meat on the bone that we can flesh out.

larger than life

[phrase]

(of a person) behaving in a manner that is very exciting and attracts others' attention

Ex: Most characters in his movies are somewhat larger than life.

a dime a dozen

[phrase]

something that is very common and therefore, not very high on price and value

Ex: In the digital age, information is a dime a dozen, making it essential to filter through to find reliable sources.

for the birds

[phrase]

used to refer to something that does not deserve one's attention due to not being important or interesting enough

Ex: I can't stand this pointless paperwork; it's all for the birds.

hill of beans

[phrase]

something that is completely worthless in terms of importance, value, or use

Ex: In the grand scheme of things, his complaints about the weather are just a hill of beans.

little frog in a big pond

[phrase]

a person who is less qualified or important when compared to others in a company or organization

Ex: Starting a new job in the city made me feel like a little frog in a big pond.

odds and ends

[phrase]

various small things that have no importance or value

Ex: The drawer is full of odds and ends I never use.

third wheel

[noun]

someone who is considered as an extra or unwanted person in a situation, especially in presence of a couple

Ex: When I went out with my best friend and her new boyfriend, I felt like a third wheel all evening.

no laughing matter

[phrase]

something very important and serious that cannot be joked about or underestimated

Ex: The budget cuts are no laughing matter; they will lead to layoffs and reduced services.

red herring

[noun]

anything that is intended to take people's focus away from what is important

Ex: The suspect's alibi seemed like a red herring, as it couldn't be corroborated by any evidence.

small potatoes

[phrase]

a person or thing of small importance

Ex: Compared to the major problems we face, that issue is just small potatoes.

chopped liver

[noun]

a very insignificant individual or thing

Ex: I've been working hard on this project, and now they're all praising Sarah. What am I, chopped liver?

Influence & Involvement
Having an Effect	The Reason Why	Results & Consequences	Persuasion
Reversal of a Situation	Change	Involvement	Uninvolvement
Ending	Importance & Unimportance	Priority	Main Elements

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