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What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a widely used saying or expression containing
a figurative
meaning that differs from the phrase’s literal
meaning. The word
“idiom” comes from the Greek word
“idioma,” meaning peculiar phrasing.
For example, “under the weather” is an idiom universally
understood to mean sick or ill. If you say you’re feeling
“under the weather,” you
don’t literally mean that you’re
standing underneath the rain.
Idioms
often summarize or reflect a commonly held cultural
experience, even if
that experience is now out of date or
antiquated. For instance, you
might say that someone
should “bite the bullet” when they need to do
something
undesirable. The phrase’s origin refers to wounded soldiers
literally biting down on a bullet to avoid screaming during a
wartime operation.
That common occurrence from the past
resulted in a phrase we
still use today. These phrases are
also unique to their language of
origin. In other words,
English idioms are different from Spanish or
French idioms.
How to Use Idioms in Writing
Idioms
are a type of figurative language writers can use to
add dynamism and
character to otherwise stale writing.
Writers can also use idioms to:
Add humor:
Idiomatic expressions can help transform flat
descriptions with the
help of a funny turn-of-phrase. For
instance, rather than describing someone as not very smart,
you could say they are “not the sharpest tool
in the shed”
or “not the brightest star in the sky.” In addition to conveying
that the subject in question is not intelligent, the inherent
comparison of a person’s brain to a toolbox or a star is
unexpected and humorous.
~ M ~
- Mad as a badger
- If someone is as mad as a badger, they are crazy.
- Mad as a bag of hammers
- Someone who is as mad as a bag of hammers is
- crazy or stupid. ('Daft as a bag of hammers' is also used.)
- Mad as a cut snake
- (AU) One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all
- sense of reason, is crazy, out of control.
- Mad as a hornet
- (USA) If someone is as mad as a hornet, they are very
- angry indeed.
- Mad as a March hare
- Someone who is excitable and unpredictable is as
- mad as a March hare.
- Mad as a wet hen
- If someone is as mad as a wet hen, they are
- extremely angry.
- Made in the shade
- One has an easy time in life or in a given situation.
- Finding things working to one's benefit.
- Made of money
- If you are made of money, you have a lot of money.
- Mailed fist
- Someone who rules or controls something with a mailed
- fist is in absolute control and
tolerates no dissent.
- Major league
- Something major league is very important.
- Make a better fist
- If someone makes a better fist of doing something,
- they do a better job.
- Make a clean breast
- If someone makes a clean breast, they confess in full
- to something they have done.
- Make a killing
- If you make a killing, you do something that makes you
- a lot of money.
- Make a meal
- If someone makes a meal of something, they spend too
- long doing it or make it look more difficult than it really is.
- Make a mint
- If someone is making a mint, they are making a lot of
- money.
- Make a monkey of someone
- If you make a monkey of someone, you make them
- look foolish.
- Make a mountain out of a molehill
- If somebody makes a mountain out of a molehill, they
- exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem.
- Make a pig's ear
- If you make a pig's ear of something, you make a mess of it.
- Make a pitch
- If you make a pitch for something, you make a bid, offer
- or other attempt to get it.
- Make a request
- If you request something, or make a request, you are
- asking for something you want or need.
- Make a song and dance
- (UK) If someone makes a song and dance, they make
- an unnecessary fuss about something unimportant.
- Make a virtue out of necessity
- If you make a virtue out of necessity, you make the best
- of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation.
- Make an inquiry
- If you make an inquiry, you ask for general information
- about something.
- Make bets in a burning house
- (USA) If people are making bets in a burning house,
- they are engaged in futile activity
while serious
- problems around them are getting worse.
- Make ends meet
- If somebody finds it hard to make ends meet, they
- have problems living on the money they earn.
- Make hay
- If you make hay, or may hay while the sun shines, you take
- advantage of an opportunity as soon as it arises and do
- not waste time.
- Make my day
- If something makes your day, it satisfies you or makes
- you happy.
- Make or break
- A make or break decision, stage, etc, is a crucial one that
- will determine the success or failure of the whole venture.
- Make out like a bandit
- (USA) If someone is extremely successful in a venture,
- they make out like a bandit.
- Make waves
- If someone makes waves, they cause a lot of trouble.
- Make you spit
- If something makes you spit, it irritates you or makes
- you angry.
- Make your blood boil
- If something makes your blood boil, it makes you
- very angry.
- Make your flesh crawl
- If something makes your flesh crawl, it really scares or
- revolts you. ('Make your flesh creep' is an alternative.
- 'Make your skin crawl' is also used.)
- Make your hair stand on end
- If something makes your hair stand on end, it terrifies you.
- Make your toes curl
- If something makes your toes curl, it makes you feel
- very uncomfortable, shocked or embarrassed.
- Make yourself scarce
- If someone makes themselves scarce, they go away
- from a place, especially to avoid trouble or so that they
- can't be found.
- Man Friday
- From 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to an
- assistant or companion, usually a capable one. The
- common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'.
- (Also, 'right-hand man'. )
- Man in the street
- The man in the street is an idiom to describe ordinary
- people, especially when talking about their opinions
- and ideas.
- Man of his word
- A man of his word is a person who does what he
- says and keeps his promises.
- Man of letters
- A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts
- and literature, and often a writer too.
- Man of parts
- A man of parts is a person who is talented in a number
- of different areas or ways.
- A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is
- a man of straw.
- Man of the cloth
- A man of the cloth is a priest.
- Man on the Clapham omnibus
- (UK) The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary
- person in the street.
- Man proposes, God disposes
- Your fate lies in the hands of God.
- Man upstairs
- When people refer to the man upstairs, they
- are referring to God.
- Man's best friend
- This is an idiomatic term for dogs.
- Man's man
- A man's man is a man who does things enjoyed by
- men and is respected by other men.
- Many a slip twixt cup and lip
- There's many a slip twixt cup and lip means that many
- things can go wrong before something is achieved.
- Many hands make light work
- This idiom means that when everyone gets involved in
- something, the work gets done quickly.
- This expression is used to wish someone a happy
- birthday.
- Many moons ago
- A very long time ago.
- March to the beat of your own drum
- If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do
- things the way they want without taking other people
- into consideration.
- Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of
- seriousness to what the speaker is
about to say when
- talking about the future.
- Mark someone's card
- If you mark someone's card, you correct them in a
- forceful and prompt manner when they say something
- wrong.
- Marked man
- A marked man is a person who is being targeted by
- people who want to do them harm or cause them trouble.
- Matter of life and death
- If something is a matter of life and death, it is
- extremely important.
- Mealy-mouthed
- A mealy-mouthed person doesn't say what they
- mean clearly.
- Meat and drink
- If something is meat and drink to you, you enjoy it and
- are naturally good at it, though many find it difficult.
- Meet someone halfway
- If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their
- ideas and make concessions.
- If something doesn't meet your expectations, it means
- that it wasn't as good as you had thought it was going
- to be; a disappointment.
- Meet your Maker
- If someone has gone to meet their Maker, they have died.
- Meet your match
- If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at
- least as good if not better than you are at something.
- Man Friday
- From 'Robinson Crusoe', a 'Man Friday' refers to
- an assistant or companion, usually a capable one.
- The common feminine equivalent is 'Girl Friday'.
- (Also, 'right-hand man'. )
- Man of his word
- A man of his word is a person who does what he says
- and keeps his promises.
- Man of letters
- A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts
- and literature, and often a writer too.
- Man of means
- A man, or woman, of means is wealthy.
- Man of parts
- A man of parts is a person who is talented in a number
- of different areas or ways.
- Man of straw
- A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is
- a man of straw.
- Man of the cloth
- A man of the cloth is a priest.
- Man on the Clapham omnibus
- (UK) The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary
- person in the street.
- Man proposes, God disposes
- Your fate lies in the hands of God.
- Man upstairs
- When people refer to the man upstairs, they are referring
- to God.
- Man's best friend
- This is an idiomatic term for dogs.
- Man's man
- A man's man is a man who does things enjoyed by
- men and is respected by other men.
- Many a slip twixt cup and lip
- There's many a slip twixt cup and lip means that many
- things can go wrong before something is achieved.
- Many hands make light work
- This idiom means that when everyone gets involved in
- something, the work gets done quickly.
- Many happy returns
- This expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday.
- Many moons ago
- A very long time ago.
- March to the beat of your own drum
- If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do
- things the way they want without taking other people
- into consideration.
- Mark my words
- Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of
- seriousness to what the speaker is
about to say when
- talking about the future. You often hear drunks say it
- before they deliver some particularly spurious nonsense.
- Mark someone's card
- If you mark someone's card, you correct them in a forceful and prompt manner when they say something wrong.
- Marked man
- A marked man is a person who is being targeted by people who want to do them harm or cause them trouble.
- Matter of life and death
- If something is a matter of life and death, it is extremely important.
- Mealy-mouthed
- A mealy-mouthed person doesn't say what they mean clearly.
- Meat and drink
- If something is meat and drink to you, you enjoy it and are naturally good at it, though many find it difficult.
- Meet someone halfway
- If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions.
- Meet your expectations
- If something doesn't meet your expectations, it means that
- it wasn't as good as you had thought it was going to be; a disappointment.
- Meet your Maker
- If someone has gone to meet their Maker, they have died.
- Meet your match
- If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at least
- as good if not better than you are at something.
- Megaphone diplomacy
- If negotiations between
countries or parties are held through
- press releases and announcements, this is megaphone
- diplomacy, aiming to force the other party into
adopting
- a desired position.
- Melt your heart
- If something melts your heart, it affects you emotionally
- and you cannot control the feeling.
- Melting pot
- A melting pot is a place where people from many ethnicity
- and nationalities live together.
- Memory like an elephant
- 'An elephant never forgets' is a saying, so if a person has a memory like an elephant, he or she has a very good memory indeed.
- Method in his madness
- If there's method in someone's madness, they do things in
- a strange and unorthodox way, but manage to get results.
- Mexican standoff
- When there is a deadlock in strategy and neither side can
- do anything that will ensure victory, it's a Mexican standoff.
- Mickey Mouse
- If something is Mickey Mouse, it is intellectually trivial or
- not of a very high standard.
- Midas touch
- If someone has the Midas touch, they make a lot of money
- out of any scheme they try.
- Middle of nowhere
- If someone says that he/she is in the middle of nowhere,
- he/she means that he/she is not sure where he/she is.
- Might and main
- This means with all your
effort and strength.
- As he failed in the previous exam,the student tried might
- and main to pass the next one.
- Mighty oaks from little acorns grow
- Big or great things start very small.
- Mile a minute
- To do something very quickly. For example:
- He was talking a mile a minute.
- Millstone round your neck
- A millstone around your neck is a problem that prevents
- you from doing what you want to do.
- Mince words
- If people mince words, or mince their words,
- they don't say what they really mean clearly.
- Mind over matter
- This idiom is used when someone uses their willpower
- to rise above adversity.
- Mind the gap
- Mind the gap is an
instruction used on the Underground
- in the UK to warn passengers to be
careful when leaving
- the tube or train as there is quite a distance between the
- train and the platform.
- Mind your own beeswax
- (USA) This idiom means that people should mind their
- own business and not interfere in other people's affairs.
- Mind Your P's and Q's
- If you are careful about the way you behave and are polite,
- you
- Mind your P's and Q's
- This is used as a way of telling someone to be polite and
- behave well.
- Mint condition
- If something is in mint condition, it is in perfect condition.
- Misery guts
- A misery guts is a person who's always unhappy and tries
- to make others feel negative.
- Miss is as good as a mile
- A miss is as good as a mile means that if you fail, even by
- the smallest margin, it is still a failure.
- Miss the boat
- If you miss the boat, you are too late to take advantage of an opportunity.
- Mom and pop
- (USA) A mom and pop business is a small business,
- especially if it is run by members of a
family. It can
- used in a wider sense to mean that something is small scale.
- Monday morning quarterback
- (USA) A Monday morning quarterback is someone who,
- with the benefit of hindsight, knows what should have been done in a situation.
- Money burns a hole in your pocket
- If someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they
- are eager to spend it, normally in a wasteful manner.
- Money doesn`t grow on trees
- This means that you have to work to earn money;
- it doesn't come easily or without effort.
- Money for jam
- If something's money for jam, it's a very easy way of
- making money.
- Money for old rope
- (UK) If something's money for old rope, it's a very easy
- way of making money.
- Money laundering
- If people launder money, they get money made illegally into the mainstream so that it is believed to be legitimate and clean.
- Money makes many things
- This means that money is important.
- Money talks
- This means that people can convey many messages
- with money, and many things can be discovered
about
- people by observing the way they use their money.
- Money to burn
- If someone is very rich, they have money to burn.
- Monkey business
- If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving
- naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as 'monkeying
- around'.
- Monkey see, monkey do
- This idiom means that children will learn their behavior by
- copying what they see happening around them.
- Moot point
- If something's a moot
point, there's some disagreement
- about it: a debatable point. In the
U.S., this expression
- usually means that there is no point in debating
something,
- because it just doesn't matter. An example:
- Moral fibre
- Moral fibre is the inner strength to do what you believe
- to be right in difficult situations Example: He lacked the
- moral fibre to be leader (In American English the
- correct spelling is 'fiber'.)
- Moral high ground
- If people have/take/claim/seize, etc, the moral high ground,
- they claim that their arguments, beliefs, etc, are morally
- superior to those being put forward by other people.
- More bang for your buck
- (USA) Something that will give you more bang for your
- buck will deliver more value than any other option.
- More front than Brighton
- (UK) If you have more front than Brighton, you are very
- self-confident, possibly excessively so.
- More haste, less speed
- The faster you try to do
something, the more likely you
- are to make mistakes that make you take longer than
- it would had you planned it.
- More heat than light
- If a discussion generates more heat than light, it
- doesn't provide answers, but does make people angry.
- More holes than Swiss cheese
- If something has more holes than a Swiss cheese,
- it is incomplete,and lacks many parts.
- More than one string to their bow
- A person who has more than one string to their bow
- has different talents or skills to fall back on.
- More than one way to skin a cat
- When people say that there is more than one way to skin a cat, they mean that there are different ways of achieving the same thing.
- More than you can shake a stick at
- If you have more of something than you can shake a stick at, then you have a lot.
- Mountain to climb
- If you have a mountain to climb, you have to work hard or make a lot of progress to achieve something.
- Move heaven and earth
- This expression indicates a person's determined intention of getting a work done in spite of all odds he may face. He will use all and every means to accomplish the target. Example: He moved heaven and earth to get his literary work recognised by the committee of experts.
- Move mountains
- If you would move mountains to do something, you would make any effort to achieve your aim. When people say that faith can move mountains, they mean that it can achieve a lot.
- Move the goalposts
- When people move the goalposts, they change the standards required for something to their advantage.
- Much ado about nothing
- If there's a lot of fuss about something trivial, there's much ado about nothing.
- Much of a muchness
- Things are much of a muchness when there is very little difference between them.
- Muck or nettles
- 'Muck or nettles' means 'all or nothing'.
- Mud in the fire
- The things that cannot be changed in the past that we usually forget about are mud in the fire.
- Mud in your eye
- This is a way of saying 'cheers' when you are about to drink something, normally alcohol.
~ N ~
- Nail in the coffin
- A nail in someone or something's coffin is a problem or event that is a clear step towards an inevitable failure.
- Nail-biter
- If a game, election, contest, etc, is a nail-biter, it is exciting because the competitors are so close that it is impossible to predict the result.
- Nature abhors a vacuum
- This idiom is used to express the idea that empty or unfilled spaces are unnatural as they go against the laws of nature and physics.
- Nature of the beast
- The basic characteristics of something is the nature of the beast; often used when there's an aspect of something that cannot be changed or that is unpleasant or difficult.
- Neck and neck
- If two competitors or candidates, etc, are neck and neck, then they are very close and neither is clearly winning.
- Neck of the woods
- If someone talks about their neck of the woods, they mean the area where they live.
- Need no introduction
- Someone who is very famous and known to everyone needs no introduction.
- Needle in a haystack
- If trying to find something is like looking for a needle in a haystack, it means that it is very difficult, if not impossible to find among everything around it.
- Neither fish nor fowl
- Something or someone that is neither fish nor fowl doesn't really fit into any one group.
- Neither here nor there
- If something is neither here nor there, it is of very little importance.
- Neither use nor ornament
- Something that serves no purpose and is not aesthetically pleasing is neither use nor ornament.
- Nerves of steel
- If someone has nerves of steel, they don't get frightened when other people do.
- Nervous Nellie
- Someone excessively worried or apprehensive is a nervous Nellie (or Nelly).
- Nest egg
- If you have some money saved for the future, it is a nest egg.
- Never a rose without the prick
- This means that good things always have something bad as well; like the thorns on the stem of a rose.
- Never darken my door again
- This is a way of telling someone never to visit you again.
- New blood
- If something needs new blood, it has become stale and needs new ideas or people to invigorate it.
- New brush sweeps clean
- 'A new brush sweeps clean' means that someone with a new perspective can make great changes.
- New kid on the block
- A new kid on the block is a person who has recently joined a company, organization, team, etc, and does not know how things work yet.
- New lease of life
- If someone finds new enthusiasm and energy for something, they have a new lease of life.
- New man
- (UK) A New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally.
- New sheriff in town
- This is used when a new authority figure takes charge.
- New York minute
- (USA) If something happens in a New York minute, it happens very fast.
- Newfangled
- People who don't like new methods, technologies, etc, describe them as newfangled, which means new but not as good or nice as the old ones.
- Nice as pie
- If a person is nice as pie, they are surprisingly very kind and friendly. "After our argument, she was nice as pie!"
- Nick of time
- If you do something in the nick of time, you do it at the very last minute or second.
- (USA) If someone gives you a nickel tour, they show you around a place. ('Fifty-cent tour' is also used.)
- Night owl
- A night owl is someone who goes to bed very late.
- Ninth circle of hell
- In Dante's Inferno, the ninth circle of hell is the centre where the worst punishments are found, so it is used idiomatically for something that couldn't get worse.
- Nip and tuck
- A close contest where neither opponent seems to be gaining the advantage.
- Nip at the bit
- If someone is nipping at the bit, they are anxious to get something done and don't want to wait.
- Nip it in the bud
- If you nip something in the bud, you deal with a problem when it is still small, before it can grow into something serious.
- Nitty gritty
- If people get down to the nitty gritty, they concentrate on the most important and serious issues.
- No bed of roses
- If something isn't a bed of roses, it is difficult.
- No can do
- No can do means that the speaker can't do whatever it is that has been asked of him or her.
- No go
- Something that will not work. 'A square peg in a round hole is a no go.'
- No good deed goes unpunished
- This means that life is unfair and people can do or try to do good things and still end up in a lot of trouble.
- No great shakes
- If someone is no great shakes at something, they are not very good at it.
- Not all there
- If someone isn't all there, they are a little bit stupid or crazy.
- Not bat an eye
- If someone doesn't bat an eye, they do not react when other people normally would.
- Not born yesterday
- When someone says that they weren't born yesterday, they mean that they are not naive or easily fooled.
- Not cricket
- (UK) If something is not cricket, it is unfair.
- Not enough room to swing a cat
- If a room is very small, you can say that there isn't enough room to swing a cat in it.
- Not give a fig
- If you don't give a fig about something, you don't care about it at all, especially used to express how little one cares about another's opinions or actions.
- Not give a monkey's
- (UK) If you couldn't give a monkey's about something, you don't care at all about it.
- Not have the heart
- If you don't have the heart to do something, you don't have the strength or courage to do something. (Usually used in the negative)
- Not have two pennies to rub together
- If someone hasn't got two pennies to rub together, they are very poor indeed.
- Not hurt a fly
- Somebody who would not hurt a fly is not aggressive.
- Not know beans about
- (USA) If someone doesn't know beans about something, they know nothing about it.
- Not know you are born
- This indicates that the person described is unaware of his or her good fortune or is unaware of how difficult day to day life was before he/she was born. Typical usage: 'Kids today don't know they are born'.
- Not much cop
- Not my cup of tea
- If something is not your cup of tea, you don't like it very much.
- Not on my watch
- Someone distancing themselves from a situation could say that it is not on their watch.
- Not our bag
- If something is not your bag, it is not really suitable for your needs or you don't like it much.
- Not the only pebble on the beach
- If something is not the only pebble on the beach, there are other possibilities or alternatives.
- Not to be sneezed at
- If something is not to be sneezed at, it should be taken seriously.
- Not wash
- If a story or explanation will not wash, it is not credible.
- Not worth a red cent
- (USA) If something is not worth a red cent, it has no value.
- Not worth a tinker's dam
- This means that
something is worthless and dates back to when someone would travel
around the countryside repairing things such as a kitchen pot with a
hole in it.
- Notch on your belt
- A success or achievement that might help you in the future is a notch on your belt.
- Nothing to crow about
- If something's nothing to crow about, it's not particularly good or special.
- Nothing to write home about
- Something that is not special or good is nothing to write home about.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained
- You can't win if you don't join in the game; if you don't participate in something, you will not achieve anything.
- Now and then
- This idiom means 'occasionally'.
- Null and void
- If something's null and void, it is invalid or is no longer applicable.
- Number cruncher
- A number cruncher is an accountant or someone who is very good at dealing with numbers and calculations.
- Nuts and bolts
- The nuts and bolts are the most essential components of something.
- Nutty as a fruitcake
- Someone who's nutty as a fruitcake is irrational or crazy. (This can be shortened to 'a fruitcake'.)
~ O ~
- Object lesson
- An object lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English 'abject lesson' is used.)
- Odds and ends
- Odds and ends are small, remnant articles and things- the same as 'bits and bobs'.
- Off color
- If someone looks off colour/color, they look ill.
- Off the beaten track
- Somewhere that's off the beaten track is in a remote location.
- Off the chart
- If something goes off the chart, it far exceeds the normal standards, good or bad, for something.
- Off the cuff
- If you do something off the cuff, you do it without any preparation.
- Off the grid
- Someone who is off the grid lives outside society and chooses not to follow its rules and conventions.
- Off the hook
- If someone is off the hook, they have avoided punishment or criticism for something they have done.
- Off the mark
- If something is off the mark, it is inaccurate or incorrect.
- Off the rails
- If someone has gone off the rails, they have lost track of reality.
- Off the record
- Something off the record is said in confidence because the speaker doesn't want it attributed to them, especially when talking to the media.
- Off the scale
- If something goes off the scale, it far exceeds the normal standards, good or bad, for something.
- Off the shelf
- If a product is off the shelf, it can be used straightaway without any setting-up.
- Off the top of your head
- If you say something off the top of your head, you don't think about it beforehand.
- Off the track
- If something puts or throws you off your track, it distracts you or keeps you from achieving what you want.
- Off the wall
- Something that is off the wall is unconventional.
- Off your chump
- (UK) If someone is off their chump, they are crazy or irrational.
- Off your rocker
- (UK) Someone who is off their rocker is crazy.
- Off-hand
- Off-hand means without preparation. People say that they don't know the answer off-hand, meaning that they don't know it at that time.
- Oh, my goodness!
- An expression of surprise.
- Old chestnut
- An old chestnut is something that has been repeated so many times that it has lost its impact.
- Old flames die hard
- It's very difficult to forget old things, especially the first love.
- Old friends and old wine are best
- This idiom means that the things and people that we know well are better than the unfamiliar.
- Old hat
- If something's old hat, it seems rather old fashioned and dated.
- Old wive's tale
- A proverb or piece of advice that is commonly accepted as truth and is handed down the generations, but is normally false.
- Oldest trick in the book
- The oldest trick in the book is a well-known way of deceiving someone, though still effective.
- Olive branch
- If you hold out or offer an olive branch, you make a gesture to indicate that you want peace.
- On a fishing expedition
- If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to get information, often using incorrect or improper ways to find things out.
- On a roll
- If you're on a roll, you're moving from success to success.
- On a silver platter
- If you hand or give something on a silver platter to someone, you let them have it too easily.
- On all fours
- If someone is on all fours, they crawl.
- On Carey Street
- (UK) If someone is on Carey Street, they are heavily in debt or have gone bankrupt.
- On good terms
- If people are on good terms, they have a good relationship.
- On hold
- If something is on hold, no action is being taken.
- On ice
- If plans are put on ice, they are delayed and no action will be taken for the foreseeable future.
- On pins and needles
- If you are on pins and needles, you are very worried about something.
- On tenterhooks
- This means that she is waiting impatiently and excitedly for something.
- On the ball
- If someone's on the ball, they are well-informed and know what's going on in their area of responsibility or interest.
- On the blink
- (UK) Is a machine is on the blink, it isn't working properly or is out of order.
- On the blower
- (UK) If someone is on the blower, they are on the phone.
- On the cards
- (UK) If something is in the cards, it is almost certain to happen.
- On the carpet
- When you are called to the bosses office (since supposedly, they are the only ones who have carpet) and its definitely not for a good reason, i.e., you are in trouble, something has not gone according to plan and either maybe you are responsible and/or have some explaining to do.
- On the case
- If someone is on the case, they are dealing with a problem.
- On the cheap
- If you do something on the cheap, you spend as little as possible to do it.
- On the dole
- (UK) Someone receiving financial assistance when unemployed is on the dole.
- Opening a can of worms
- If you open a can of worms, you do something that will cause a lot of problems and is, on balance, probably going to cause more trouble than it's worth.
- Opportunity knocks but once
- This idiom means that you only get one chance to achieve what you really want to do.
- Other fish to fry
- If you have other fish to fry, it doesn't matter if one opportunity fails to materialise as you have plenty of others.
- The other side of the coin is a different, usually opposing, view of a situation. ('Flip side of the coin' is an alternative.)
- Out and about
- Out in the sticks
- (UK) If someone lives out in the sticks, they live out in the country, a long way from any metropolitan area.
- Out like a light
- If you are out like a light, you fall fast asleep.
- Out of hand
- If something gets out of hand, it gets out of control.
- Out of my league
- If someone or something is out of your league, you aren't good enough or rich enough, etc, for it or them.
- Out of pocket
- If you are out of pocket on a deal, you have lost money.
- Out of sight, out of mind
- Out of sight, out of mind is used to suggest that someone will not think or worry about something if it isn't directly visible or available to them.
- Out of sorts
- If you are feeling a bit upset and depressed, you are out of sorts.
- Out of the blue
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Out of the box
- Thinking out of the box is thinking in a creative way. However, it can also be used for a ready-made product that requires no specialist knowledge to set it up.
- Out of the frying pan, into the fire
- If you get out of one problem, but find yourself in a worse situation, you are out of the frying pan, into the fire.
- Out of the gate running
- If someone comes out of the gate running, they start something at a fast pace, without any build-up.
- Out of the left field
- (USA) If something comes out of the left field, it is beside the point and has nothing to do with the matter being discussed.
- Out of the mouths of babes
- People say this when children unexpectedly say something very intelligent or wise.
- Out of the woods
- If you are out of the woods, you have emerged safely from a dangerous situation, though the idiom is often used in the negative.
- Out of this world
- If something is out of this world, it is fantastic.
- Out of Whack
- If something is out of whack, it is not working correctly or not in the correct order.
- Out of your hair
- If you get someone out of your hair, you get them to stop bothering or annoying you. ('Stay/keep/get out of my hair!' can be used as imperatives)
- Out of your mind
- If someone is out of the mind, they are so emotional about something that they are no longer rational.
- Out of your own pocket
- If someone does something out of their own pocket, they pay all the expenses involved.
- Out on a limb
- If somebody's out on a limb, they are in a very exposed position and could get into difficulties.
- Out to lunch
- If someone's out to lunch, they are crazy or out of touch.
- Out-and-out
- This means complete or total; an out-and-out lie is completely false.
- Over a barrel
- If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want.
- Over and over
- If something happens over and over, it happens repeatedly.
- Over my dead body
- If you say that something will happen over your dead body, you will not let it happen.
- Over the counter
- Medicines and drugs that can be sold without a doctor's prescription are sold over the counter.
- Over the hill
- If someone is over the hill they have reached an age at which they can longer perform as well as they used to.
- Over the moon
- If you are over the moon about something, you are overjoyed.
- Over the top
- If something is over the top, it is excessive or unnecessary. It refers to the moment a soldier leaves the trenches.
- Over your head
- If something is over your head, or goes over your head, it is too complex or difficult for you to understand.
- Over-egg the pudding
- (UK) If you over-egg the
pudding, you spoil something by trying to improve it excessively. It is
also used nowadays with the meaning of making something look bigger or
more important than it really is.
~ P ~
- Packed like sardines
- If a place is extremely crowded, people are packed like sardines, or packed in like sardines.
- Paddle your own canoe
- (USA) If you paddle your own canoe, you do things for yourself without outside help.
- Pain in the neck
- If someone is very annoying and always disturbing you, they are a pain in the neck. Pain in the butt, or pain in the ass (USA), and Pain in the arse (UK) are less polite alternative forms.
- Paint the town red
- If you go out for a night out with lots of fun and drinking, you paint the town red.
- Paint yourself into a corner
- (USA) If someone paints themselves into a corner, they get themselves into a mess.
- Painted Jezebel
- A painted Jezebel is a scheming woman.
- Pandora's box
- If you open a Pandora's box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn't anticipated.
- Paper over the cracks
- If you paper over the cracks, you try to make something look or work better but only deal with superficial issues, not the real underlying problems.
- Paper tiger
- A paper tiger is a person, country, institution, etc, that looks powerful, but is actually weak.
- Par for the course
- If something is par for the course, it is what you expected it would be. If it is above par, it is better, and if it is below par, it is worse.
- Parrot fashion
- If you learn something parrot fashion, you learn it word for word. A parrot is a bird from South America that can talk.
- Part and parcel
- If something is part and parcel of your job, say, it is an essential and unavoidable part that has to be accepted.
- Pass muster
- If something passes muster, it meets the required standard.
- Pass the buck
- If you pass the buck, you avoid taking responsibility by saying that someone else is responsible.
- Pass the hat
- If you pass the hat, you ask a people in a group to give money.
- Pass the time of day
- If you pass the time of day with somebody, you stop and say hello, enquire how they are and other such acts of social politeness.
- Pastoral care
- This is used in education to describe the aspect of care offered to pupils that cover things besides learning.
- Patience of Job
- If something requires the patience of Job, it requires great patience.
- Pay on the nail
- If you pay on the nail, you pay promptly in cash.
- Pay the piper
- When you pay the piper, you have to accept the consequences of something that you have done wrong or badly.
- Pay through the nose
- If you pay through the nose for something, you pay a very high price for it.
- Pay your dues
- If you have paid your dues, you have had your own struggles and earned your place or position.
- Peanut gallery
- An audience that interrupts, boos or heckles a performer, speaker, etc, is a peanut gallery.
- Pecking order
- The pecking order is the order of importance or rank.
- Peeping Tom
- A peeping Tom is someone who tries to look through other people's windows without being seen in order to spy on people in their homes.
- Pen is mightier than the sword
- The idiom 'the pen is mightier than the sword' means that words and communication are more powerful than wars and fighting.
- Penny ante
- (USA) Something that is very unimportant is penny ante.
- Penny pincher
- A penny pincher is a mean person or who is very frugal.
- Penny wise, pound foolish
- Someone who is penny wise, pound foolish can be very careful or mean with small amounts of money, yet wasteful and extravagant with large sums.
- People who live in glass houses should not throw stones
- People should not criticize other people for faults that they have themselves.
- Pep talk
- When someone gives you a
pep talk it is to build you up to help you accomplish something.
- Perfidious Albion
- England is known to some as perfidious Albion, implying that it is not trustworthy in its dealings with foreigners.
- Perish the thought
- Pet peeve
- A pet peeve is something that irritates an individual greatly.
- Photo finish
- A photo finish is when
two contestants (usually in a race) finish at almost exactly the same
time, making it difficult to determine the winner.
- Pick up the tab
- A person who pays for everyone picks up the tab.
- Pick-up game
- (USA) A pick-up game is something unplanned where people respond to events as they happen.
- Picture perfect
- When something is exactly as it should be it is said to be picture perfect.
- Pie in the sky
- If an idea or scheme is pie in the sky, it is utterly impractical.
- Piece of cake
- If something is a piece of cake, it is really easy.
- Pieces of the same cake
- Pieces of the same cake are things that have the same characteristics or qualities.
- Pig in a poke
- If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective.
- Pigs might fly
- If you think something will never happen or succeed, you can say that 'pigs might fly' (or 'pigs can fly' and 'pigs will fly'- the idiom is used in many forms)
- Pin down with a label
- If you pin someone down with a label, you characterize them, often meant negatively as the label is restrictive.
- Pin money
- (UK) If you work for pin money, you work not because you need to but because it gives you money for extra little luxuries and treats.
- Pinch of salt
- If what someone says should be taken with a pinch of salt, then they exaggerate and distort things, so what they say shouldn't be believed unquestioningly. ('with a grain of salt' is an alternative.)
- Pink pound
- (UK) In the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people.
- Pipe dream
- A pipe dream is an unrealistic, impractical idea or scheme.
- Piping hot
- If food is piping hot, it is very hot indeed.
- Place in the sun
- If you have your place in the sun, you find wealth, happiness or whatever you are looking for in life.
- Plain as a pikestaff
- (UK) If something is as plain as a pikestaff, it is very clear.
- Plain as the nose on your face
- If something is as plain as the nose on your face, it is very clear and obvious.
- Pull your chain
- (USA) If someone pulls your chain, they take advantage of you in an unfair way or do something to annoy you.
- Pull your finger out!
- (UK) If someone tells you to do this, they want you to hurry up. ('Get your finger out' is also used.)
- Pull your punches
- If you pull your punches, you do not use all the power or authority at your disposal.
- Pull your weight
- If someone is not pulling their weight, they aren't making enough effort, especially in group work.
- Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
- If you pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you make the effort to improve things for yourself.
- Punching bag
- A punching bag (or punch bag) is a person who gets a lot of unfair criticism.
- Pup's chance
- A pup's chance is no chance.
- Puppy love
- Puppy love is love between two very young people.
- Purple patch
- A purple patch is a period of time when someone or something is successful and doing well.
- Push comes to shove
- If or when push comes to shove, the situation has become some bad that you are forced to do something: If push comes to shove, we'll just have to use our savings.
- Push the envelope
- This means to go to the limits, to do something to the maximum possible.
- Pushing up the daisies
- If someone is said to be pushing up the daisies, they are dead.
- Put a bug in your ear
- If you put a bug in someone's ear, you give him or her a reminder or suggestion relating to a future event.
- Put a cork in it!
- This is a way of telling someone to be quiet.
- Put a sock in it
- If someone tells you to put a sock in it, they are telling you to shut up.
- Put all your eggs in one basket
- If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything on a single opportunity which, like eggs breaking, could go wrong.
- Put it on the cuff
- If you put something on the cuff, you will take it now and pay for it later.
- Put lipstick on a pig
- If people put lipstick on a pig, they make superficial or cosmetic changes, hoping that it will make the product more attractive.
- Put more green into something
- (USA) To put more green into something is to spend more or to increase investment in it.
- Put on airs
- If someone puts on airs, they pretend to be grander and more important than they really are.
- Put or get someone's back up
- If you put or get someone's back up, you annoy them.
- Put some dirt on it
- This means that when you get hurt, you should rub it off or shake it off and you'll be ok.
- Put some mustard on it!
- (USA) I think its used to encourage someone to throw a ball like a baseball hard or fast.
- Put somebody's nose out of joint
- If you put someone's nose out of joint, you irritate them or make them angry with you.
- Put someone on a pedestal
- If you put someone on a pedestal, you admire them greatly, idolise them.
- Put someone out to pasture
- If someone is put out to pasture, they are forced to resign or give up some responsibilities.
- Put that in your pipe and smoke it
- This is used as an unsympathetic way of telling someone to accept what you have just said.
- Put the carriage before the horse
- If you put the carriage before the horse, you try to do things in the wrong order.
- Put the kybosh on
- To put an end to something.
- Put the pedal to the metal
- If you put the pedal to the metal, you go faster.
- Put to the sword
- If someone is put to the sword, he or she is killed or executed.
- Put two and two together
- If someone puts two and two together, they reach a correct conclusion from the evidence.
- Put up or shut up
- 'Put up or shut up' means you do something you are talking about or not to talk about it any more.
- Put you in mind
- If something suggests something to you, it puts you in mind of that thing.
- Put you in the picture
- If you put someone in the picture, you tell them the information they need to know about something.
- Put your best foot forward
- If you ut your best foot forward, you try your best to do something.
- Put your cards on the table
- If you put your cards on the table, you make your thoughts or ideas perfectly clear.
- Put your foot down
- When someone puts their foot down, they make a firm stand and establish their authority on an issue.
- Put your foot in it
- If you put your foot in it, you do or say something embarrassing and tactless or get yourself into trouble.
- Put your foot in your mouth
- If you put your foot in your mouth, you say something stupid or embarrassing.
- Put your hand on your heart
- If you can out your hand on your heart, then you can say something knowing it to be true.
- Put your heads together
- If people put their head together, they exchange ideas about something.
- Put your money where your mouth is
- If someone puts their money where their mouth is, they back up their words with action.
- Put your shoulder to the wheel
- When you put your shoulder to the wheel, you contribute to an effort.
- Put your thumb on the scales
- If you put your thumb on the scales, you try to influence the result of something in your favour.
- Put yourself in someone's shoes
- If you put yourself in someone's shoes, you imagine what it is like to be in their position.
- Putting the cart before the horse
- When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing something the wrong way round.
- Pyrrhic victory
- A Pyrrhic victory is one that causes the victor to suffer so much to achieve it that it isn't worth winning.