Idioms: M, N, O, P.

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Idioms start with:
 

(M, N, O, P)






A dictionary for English idioms,


Prepositions, Collocations, Slang and


Phrasal verbs?


Click here to get it at once.





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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experience, even if that experience is now out of date or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.


 


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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.





Engage the reader: By inserting an idiomatic phrase into

your writing, you force the reader to shift from think inliterally

 to abstractly. This can help focus and excite the reader, as

they must activate a more conceptual part of their brain to

comprehend the idiom’s meaning. For example, the idiom

“biting off more than they can chew” describes someone

taking on a challenging task. Using this idiom can

encourage the reader to conjure a visual image in their

head.




Evoke a specific region: Certain idioms can be unique to a

 particular group of people or world area. For instance, “that

dog won’t hunt” is a common idiom in the Southern United

States that means something doesn’t work or make sense.

On the other hand, if someone were to refer to a mess or a

debacle as a “dog’s dinner,” they are likely British. In fiction

 writing, the strategic employment of specific idioms can

often add a regional flavor and authenticity to your

characters.




Share a point of view: Idioms can express commonly

shared or universal ideas, so there are often dozens of

idioms that apply to the same concept. However, depending

 on which idiom you choose, you can convey an entirely

different attitude or point of view about the subject. For

example, several idioms express the concept of death. If

you were to write that someone “passed away,” you are

using an idiom to describe death in a graceful, delicate way.

Alternatively, you could say that a person “kicked the

bucket,” a much cruder way of describing the act of dying.

Though both idioms ultimately mean the same thing, they

convey entirely different attitudes toward death.




Simplify complex ideas: Often, idioms can help express a

large or abstract idea in a way that is concise and easy to

understand. For instance, you could say that two things are

impossible to compare to one another because they

possess different traits or meanings. Or you could say it’s

like “comparing apples to oranges.” In this case, using an

idiom helps express the same idea in a much simpler way.


 


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~ 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.


 




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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.


 


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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.


 


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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.




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.




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.


 



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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 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.



 


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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.





Nickel tour

(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.

 


Idioms :



A)  A        B          C       D





B)  E        F        G         H





C)  I        J        K           l





D) M      N       O           P





E) Q       R       S       T




F) U      V     W        X      Y      Z



InternaLlinks:



1-Classroom rules.




2-Disruptive learners.




3-Classroomdiscipline.




4-Students'

behavior VS

Classroom

Management.




5-Teaching diverand multi-cultured
learners

Forum cover with title and abstract watercolor design of cattails

Teaching Forum, 2016 Volume


54, Number 2



1-Listening Journals e




2-Using Freewriting






3-Using Concept Mapping to Teach EFL





5- Audiovisual Feedback in EFL/ESL







6-Language to Foster Community





7-Teaching Techniques




8-My Classroom: Burma




9-Try This: Collaborative Mind Mapping




10-The Lighter Side: A Maps Mind Map



External Links:



1- English and Urban Slang online.




2-Positive Reinforcement




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