Idioms for - People

Idioms Describing People

all brawn and no brain	Someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent is said to be all brawn and no brain. He's an impressive player to watch, but he's all brawn and no brain.
all sizzle and no steak	Someone who turns out to be disappointing, after a promotional campaign which led us to expect something better, is called all sizzle and no steak. Because of the electoral promises he made, which so far he has failed to keep, many people call the new president 'all sizzle and no steak'.
all things to all people	If you are all things to all people, you please or satisfy everyone. She's exhausted tying to be a good wife,  a good mother and a good teacher,  but she can't be all things to all people.
alter ego	The term alter ego, which in Latin means 'other self', refers to a very close and trusted friend who is very like yourself.
apple of your eye	A person, usually a child, who is the apple of your eye is one for whom you have great affection. My grandson is the apple of my eye.
armchair critic	An armchair critic is someone who gives advice based on theory rather than practice. That guy is such an armchair critic - no experience but plenty of advice.
armchair traveller	Someone who reads books or watches TV programmes about other places and countries, but doesn't actually travel anywhere, is called an armchair traveller.  A surprising number of adventure books are bought by armchair travellers.
bad egg	Someone who is a bad egg is an untrustworthy person often involved in trouble whose company should be avoided. I don't want my son to be friends with Bobby Smith.  Bobby's a bad egg.
behind the times	A person who is behind the times has old-fashioned ideas and does not keep up with modern life in general. Jane doesn't have a mobile phone.  She's completely behind the times.