English Idioms with words high, hot, how

Idiom	Meaning	Sentence
be for the high jump	(informal) to be liable to be punished, criticized etc.	I shall be for the high jump if I make a mess of these invoices again.
be in high spirits	be in a lively, cheerful mood	'You’re in high spirits today. What's happened?' 'I’ve just had some very good news about my daughter.'
be / get on one’s high horse	behave in an arrogant manner	Vicky’s been on her high horse ever since she won a scholarship to Oxford.
high and dry	abandoned, ignored, isolated	The car broke down miles away from anywhere so we were left high and dry until my brother got some help.
a high flyer	a person who is very ambitious in his career, wishes/plans	She is applying for a job in the diplomatic service - but then she's always been a high flyer.
high and low	everywhere possible (with look, search)	Where on earth can my glasses be? I’ve searched high and low for them! Have you seen them?
be riding high	be very successful in one's career, especially in the eyes of others	My sister is riding high at the moment. She's been promoted and she will become the head of the department.
high and mighty	behaving in a superior and arrogant manner	He is high and mighty these days. Do you happen to know why?

Idiom	Meaning	Sentence
be hot on something	be very well informed, knowledgeable and good at something	He was never too hot on maths at school. He was better at languages.
be in / Get into hot water	be in/get into serious trouble	You’ll be in hot water when your father finds out what you’ve done to his car!
blow hot and cold	(informal) be undecided, wanting something and then not wanting it alternately	"Have you decided whether or not to buy a new car?" "Not yet. We’re still blowing hot and cold."
a hot line	a direct, secret telephone link between two important people, e.g. heads of government	After this tragedy there was a hot line between the two heads of state.
the hot seat	an important position in which one is open to criticism and attacks	As a executive director, I’m all the time in the hot seat.
a hot spot	an area of political unrest or danger	I wouldn't like to be a journalist, being sent to all the political hot spots.
hot under the collar	annoyed and irritated	The CEO has just been told to cut the budget so he`s rather hot under the collar.
make it hot for somebody	(informal) make things unpleasant or difficult for someone	If I were you, I would treat him with a little more respect. He’s in a position to make it hot for you.
piping hot	(food) served very hot, suggesting that it has just been freshly cooked	When the weather’s cold I like to have a piping hot soup for lunch.
a hot potato	(informal) issue that is dangerous or embarrassing to deal with	If this is a government cover-up, then it's a real hot potato and they won't touch it!
strike while the iron is hot	make the most of present opportunities	If he offered to pay for your holiday, strike while the iron's hot! If you say no, he may not offer again.

Idiom	Meaning	Sentence
and how!	(informal) to a great extent, very much	'I hear that Billy liked the present I sent him.' 'Oh, and how!'
any old how	in a careless, bad manner	Chris doesn`t care what his homework looks like. He does it any old how.
how about . . .?	used for making a suggestion or to ask someone`s opinion	How about going to the theatre on Saturday?
how come . . .?	(informal) why? How does / did it happen that . . .?	How come you never told me about George before?
how dare you/he/they etc.	expresses shock / annoyance at someone`s impudence, rudeness	How dare you speak to your mother like that?
how is it that . . .?	what is the reason that . . .?	How is it that whenever I see James, he`s always chatting instead of working?
how on earth . . .? / How in the world . . .?	used to emphasize amazement, surprise, bewilderment	How on earth could he have got up on to the roof without a ladder?
how is it going? / How are things going?	an informal greeting among friends	Oh, hello Bob. How is it going?