Meanings

A bit much

If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.

A hitch in your giddy-up

If you have a hitch in your giddy-up, you’re not feeling well. (’A hitch in your gittie-up’ is also used.)

A lick and a promise

If you give something a lick and a promise, you do it hurriedly, most often incompletely, intending to return to it later.

A little learning is a dangerous thing

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.

eg. he said he’d done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

A long row to hoe

Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.

A OK

If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.

A picture is worth a thousand words

A picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal description.

A problem shared is a problem halved

If you talk about your problems, it will make you feel better.

Abide by a decision

If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.

Abject lesson

(India) An abject lesson serves as a warning to others. (In some varieties of English ‘object lesson’ is used.)

Above board

If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.

Accident waiting to happen

If something is an accident waiting to happen, there’s definitely going to be an accident or it’s bound to go wrong. (’Disaster waiting to happen’ is also used.)

Acid test

An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.

Across the board

If something applies to everybody, it applies across the board.

Across the ditch

(NZ) This idiom means on the other side of the Tasman Sea, used to refer to Australia or New Zealand depending on the speaker’s location.

Actions speak louder than words

This idiom means that what people actually do is more important than what they say- people can promise things but then fail to deliver.

Add fuel to the fire

If people add fuel to the fire, they make a bad situation worse.

Add insult to injury

When people add insult to injury, they make a bad situation even worse.

Against the grain

If doing something goes against the grain, you’re unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice.

Age before beauty

When this idiom is used, it is a way of allowing an older person to do something first, though often in a slightly sarcastic way.

Air your dirty laundry in public

If you air your dirty laundry in public, you reveal aspects of your private life that should really remain private, by telling a secret, arguing in public, etc.

Alive and kicking

If something is active and doing well, it is alive and kicking.  (It can be used for people too.)

All along

If you have known or suspected something all along, then you have felt this from the beginning.

All and sundry

This idiom is a way of emphasising ‘all’, like saying ‘each and every one’.

All mod cons

If something has all mod cons, it has all the best and most desirable features. It is an abbreviation of ‘modern convenience’ that was used in house adverts.

All my eye and Peggy Martin

(UK) An idiom that appears to have gone out of use but was prevalent in the English north Midlands of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire from at least the turn of the 20th century until the early 1950s or so. The idiom’s meaning is literally something said or written that is unbelievable, rumor, over embellished, the result of malicious village gossip etc.

All of the above

This idiom can be used to mean everything that has been said or written, especially all the choices or possibilities.

All over bar the shouting

When something is all over bar the shouting, the outcome is absolutely certain.
(’All over but the shouting’ is also used.)

All over the map

(USA) If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn’t stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.

All over the place

If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place.

All over the shop

If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the shop.

All over the show

If something is all over the show, it’s in a complete mess.
An alternative to ‘All over the shop’.

All set

If you’re all set, you are ready for something.

All square

If something is all square, nobody has an advantage or is ahead of the others.

All the rage

If something’s all the rage, it is very popular or fashionable at the moment.

All’s well that ends well

If the end result is good, then everything is good.

Alter ego

An alter ego is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means ‘other self’.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

If someone is always a bridesmaid, never a bride, they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never manage the recognition, etc, they crave.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

This expression means that is is better to try to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise.

Answers on a postcard

This idiom can be used to suggest that the answer to something is very obvious or that the person would really like to hear what people think.

As a rule

If you do something as a rule, then you usually do it.

As good as new

If something has been used but is still in extremely good condition, it is as good as new.

As neat as a new pin

This idiom means tidy and clean.

As you sow, so shall you reap

This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.

Asleep at the switch

If someone is asleep at the switch, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully. ‘Asleep at the wheel’ is an alternative.

At a loose end

(UK) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don’t know what to do with it.

At a loss

If you are at a loss, you are unable to understand or comply.

At cross purposes

When people are at cross purposes, they misunderstand each other or have different or opposing objectives.

At full tilt

If something is at full tilt, it is going or happening as fast or as hard as possible.

At large

If a criminal is at large, they have not been found or caught.

At loggerheads

If people are at loggerheads, they are arguing and can’t agree on anything.

At loose ends

(USA) If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don’t know what to do with it.

At odds

If you are at odds with someone, you cannot agree with them and argue.

At the coalface

If you work at the coalface, you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in a detached way.

At the end of the day

This is used to mean ‘in conclusion’ or ‘when all is said and done’.

At the end of your rope

(USA) If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.

At the end of your tether

(UK) If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.

At the fore

In a leading position

At the top of the list

If something is at the top of the list, it is of highest priority, most important, most urgent, or the next in one’s line of attention.

At your wit’s end

If you’re at your wit’s end, you really don’t know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think about it.

At your wits’ end

If you are at your wits’ end, you have no idea what to do next and are very frustrated.

Avowed intent

If someone makes a solemn or serious promise publicly to attempt to reach a certain goal, this is their avowed intent.

Away with the fairies

If someone is away with the fairies, they don’t face reality and have unrealistic expectations of life.

Awe inspiring

Something or someone that is awe inspiring amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.

AWOL

AWOL stands for “Absent Without Leave”, or “Absent Without Official Leave”. Orignially a military term, it is used when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission.

Back burner

If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority.

Back number

Something that’s a back number is dated or out of fashion.

Back to back

If things happen back to back, they are directly one after another.

Back to the drawing board

If you have to go back to the drawing board, you have to go back to the beginning and start something again.

Bad shape

If something’s in bad shape, it’s in bad condition. If a person’s in bad shape, they are unfit or unhealthy.

Basket case

If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped.

Batten down the hatches

If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you.

Be careful what you wish for

If you get things that you desire, there may be unforeseen and unpleasant consequences.
(’Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.’ and ‘Be careful what you wish for; you may receive it.’ are also used.)

Be that as it may

Be that as it may is an expression which means that, while you are prepared to accept that there is some truth in what the other person has just said, it’s not going to change your opinions in any significant manner.

Be up the spout

(UK) If a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.

Bear the brunt

People who bear the brunt of something endure the worst of something bad.

Beat someone to the draw

(USA) If you beat someone to the draw, you do something before they do.

Beck and call

Someone who does everything for you, no matter when you ask, is at your beck and call.

Been there, done that

People say this when they have already experienced what is being discussed.

Beg the question

In philosophy “to beg the question” is to assume something to be true that has not yet been proved. I have seen the idiom also to mean that a question is crying out to be asked.

Bend over backwards

If someone bends over backwards, they do everything they can to help someone.

Beside the point

If something is beside the point, it’s not relevant to the matter being discussed or considered.

Beside themselves

If people are beside themselves, they are very worried or emotional about something.

 

Beside yourself

If you are beside yourself, you are extremely angry.

Best of a bad bunch

The best that could be obtained from a list of options that were not exactly what was required.

Best of both worlds

If you have the best of both worlds, you benefit from different things that do not normally go together.

Better safe than sorry

This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk.

Between the lines

If you read between the lines, you find the real message in what you’re reading or hearing, a meaning that is not available from a literal interpretation of the words.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

If something’s beyond a shadow of a doubt, then absolutely no doubts remain about it.

Beyond belief

If people behave in such a way that you find it almost impossible to accept that they actually did it, then you can say that their behaviour was beyond belief.

Beyond our ken

If something’s beyond your ken, it is beyond your understanding.

Beyond the pale

If something’s beyond the pale, it is too extreme to be acceptable morally or socially.

Big picture

The big picture of something is the overall perspective or objective, not the fine detail.

Bit part

If someone has a small or unimportant role in something, they have a bit part.

Bit player

A bit player has a small or unimportant role in something.

Bite off more than you can chew

If you bite off more than you can chew, you take on more responsibilities than you can manage. ‘Don’t bite off more than you can chew’ is often used to advise people against agreeing to more than they can handle.

Bits and bobs

Bits and bobs are small, remnant articles and things- the same as ‘odds and ends’.

Bitter end

If you do something to the bitter end, you do it to the very end, no matter how unsuccessful you are.

Bitter pill to swallow

A bitter pill to swallow is something that is hard to accept.

Blessing in disguise

If some bad luck or misfortune ultimately results in something positive, it’s a blessing in disguise.

Blow a gasket

If you blow a gasket, you get very angry.

Blow hot and cold

If you blow hot and cold on an idea, your attitude and opinion keeps changing; one minute you are for it, the next you are against.

Blow me down

People say ‘(well,) blow me down’ when you have just told them something surprising, shocking or unexpected.

 

(’Blow me down with a feather’ is also used.) 

Blow off steam

(USA) If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.

Blow out of the water

If something, like an idea, is blown out of the water, it is destroyed or defeated comprehensively.

Blow smoke

(USA) If people blow smoke, the exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make themselves look better.

Blow the cobwebs away

If you blow the cobwebs away, you make sweeping changes to something to bring fresh views and ideas in.

Blow the whistle

If somebody blows the whistle on a plan, they report it to the authorities.

Blow your stack

If you blow your stack, you lose your temper.

Blow your top

If someone blows their top, they lose their temper.

Both ends meet

If you make both ends meet, you live off the money you earn and don’t go into debt.

Bottom line

In accountancy, the bottom line is net income, and is used idiomatically to mean the conclusion.

Bounce ideas

If you bounce ideas off someone, you share your ideas with them to know whether they think they would work.

Box and dice

Box and dice means everything.

Boxing and coxing

If people are boxing and coxing, they are sharing responsibilities so that one of them is working while the other isn’t. It can also be used when couples are sharing a house, but their relationship has broken down and when one is at home, the other stays out.

Brass tacks

If you get down to brass tacks, you get down to the real business.

Break even

If you break even, you don’t make any money, but you don’t lose any either.

Break ground

If you break ground, or break new ground, you make progress, taking things into a new area or going further than anyone has gone before. ‘Ground-breaking’ is used an adjective.

Breathe life into

If you breathe life into something, you give people involved more energy and enthusiasm again.  (’Breathe new life’ is also used.)

Bright and breezy

When someone is cheerful and full of energy, they are bright and breezy.

Bring on board

To make people embrace the ideas intended by the leader or agree to join a team or project is to bring them on board.

Broad strokes

If something is described or defined with broad stokes, then only an outline is given, without fine details.

Brownie points

If you try to earn Brownie points with someone, you do things you know will please them.

Bur under my saddle

A bur under your saddle is something that annoys you or spurs you into action.
(’Burr’ is an alternative spelling.)

Burn rubber

If you burn rubber, you drive very fast to get somewhere.

Burn the candle at both ends

Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which are likely to affect their health badly.

Burn the midnight oil

If you stay up very late working or studying, you burn the midnight oil.

Burning question

A burning question is something we all want to know about.

Burst at the seams

To be filled to or beyond normal capacity: This room will be bursting at the seams when all the guests arrive.

Busted flush

Someone or something that had great potential but ended up a useless failure is a busted flush.

Butt of a joke

If something or someone becomes the butt of a joke it or they are not taken seriously anymore.

By a long chalk

(UK) If you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably.

By and large

By and large means usually or generally.

By cracky

A term used by rural folks in years past to emphasize a matter of importance or urgency. An example: ‘By cracky, you need to get out there in the field with that mule and plow and finish the sod-busting before dark.’

By dint of

This means ‘as a result of’ or ‘because of’: It would be good to think he’d risen to position of Chief Executive by dint of hard work.

By hook or by crook

If you are prepared to do something by hook or by crook, you are willing to do anything, good or bad, to reach your goal.

By leaps and bounds

Something that happens by leaps and bounds happens very quickly in big steps.

By the book

If you do something by the book, you do it exactly as you are supposed to.

By the by

This is used as a way of introducing an incidental topic in a conversation or to say that something is irrelevant. (’By the bye’ is also used.)

By the same token

If someone applies the same rule to different situations, they judge them by the same token: If things go well, he’s full of praise, but, by the same token, when things go wrong he gets furious.

Call a spade a spade

A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt to conceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.

Call the shots

If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do.

Can’t dance and it’s too wet to plow

(USA) When you can’t dance and it’s too wet to plow, you may as well do something because you can’t or don’t have the opportunity to do anything else.

Can’t hold a candle

If something can’t hold a candle to something else, it is much worse.

Carry the can

If you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn’t do it or are only partly at fault.

Case in point

Meaning an instance of something has just occurred that was previously discussed. For instance, a person may have told another that something always happens. Later that day, they see it happening, and the informer might say, ‘case in point’.

Cast a long shadow

Something or someone that casts a long shadow has considerable influence on other people or events.

Cast aspersion

If you cast aspersion, you try to blacken someone’s name and make people think badly of them.

Cast doubt on

If you make other people not sure about a matter, then you have cast doubt on it.

Cast your mind back

If somebody tells you to cast your mind back on something, they want you to think about something that happened in the past, but which you might not remember very well, and to try to remember as much as possible.

Cast your net widely

If you cast your net widely, you use a wide range of sources when trying to find something.

Catch as catch can

This means that people should try to get something any way they can.

Catch some z’s

If you catch some z’s, you get some sleep.

Champ at the bit

If someone is champing at the bit, they are very eager to accomplish something.  (’Chomping at the bit’ is also used.)

Change tack

If you change tack, you use a different method for dealing with something.

Cheap shot

A cheap shot is an unprincipled criticism.

Chip off the old block

If someone is a chip off the old block, they closely resemble one or both of the parents in character.

Chop and change

If things chop and change, they keep changing, often unexpectedly.

Clean as a whistle

If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean ‘completely’, though this meaning is less common nowadays. If somebody is clean as a whistle, they are not involved in anything illegal.

Clean bill of health

If something or someone has a clean bill of health, then there’s nothing wrong; everything’s fine.

Clean break

If you make a clean break, you break away completely from something.

Clean slate

If you start something with a clean slate, then nothing bad from your past is taken into account.

Clean sweep

If someone makes a clean sweep, they win absolutely everything in a competition or contest.

Climb the greasy pole

Advance within an organisation – especially in politics.

Cling to hope

If people cling to hope, they continue to hope though the chances of success are very small.

Close call

If the result of something is a close call, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the parties involved and to say who has won or whatever.  It can also mean that you very nearly have a serious accident or get into trouble.

Closed book to me

If a subject is a closed book to you, it is something that you don’t understand or know anything about.

Clutch play

If an activity is referred to as a clutch play, it means that the activity was the key to the success or failure of the venture. For instance, a clutch play in a baseball game may be striking out a batter with the bases loaded.

Coast is clear

When the coast is clear, the people supposed to be watching you are not there and you are able to move or leave.

Cock a snook

To make a rude gesture by putting one thumb to the nose with the fingers outstretched.

Collateral damage

Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.

Collect dust

If something is collecting dust, it isn’t being used any more.

Come a cropper

(UK) Someone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.

Come clean

If someone comes clean about something, they admit to deceit or wrongdoing.

Come on hard

If you come on hard, you are aggressive in your dealing with someone.

Come out in the wash

If something will come out in the wash, it won’t have any permanent negative effect.

Come to bear

If something comes to bear on you, you start to feel the pressure or effect of it. 

Come to call

If someone comes to call, they respond to an order or summons directly.

Come up trumps

When someone is said to have ‘come up trumps’, they have completed an activity successfully or produced a good result, especially when they were not expected to.

Come what may

If you’re prepared to do something come what may, it means that nothing will stop or distract you, no matter how hard or difficult it becomes.

Come with the territory

If something comes with the territory, it is part of a job or responsibility and just has to be accepted, even if unpleasant.

Comes with the territory

If something comes with the territory, especially when undesirable, it is automatically included with something else, like a job, responsibility, etc.

(’Goes with the territory’ is also used.) 

Comfort zone

It is the temperature range in which the body doesn’t shiver or sweat, but has an idiomatic sense of a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.

Corner a market

If a business is dominant in an area and unlikely to be challenged by other companies, it has cornered the market.

Couldn’t give two hoots

If you couldn’t give two hoots about something, you don’t care at all about it.

Count your blessings

When people count their blessings, they concentrate on all the good things in their lives instead of the negative ones.

Crash a party

If you crash a party, or are a gatecrasher, you go somewhere you haven’t been invited to.

Cut a long story short

This idiom is used as a way of shortening a story by getting to to the end or the point.

Cut above

If a person is described as a cut above other people, they are better in some way.

Cut and dried

If something is cut and dried, then everything has already been decided and, in the case of an opinion, might be a little stale and predictable.

Cut and run

If people cut and run, they take what they can get and leave before they lose everything.

Cut corners

If people try to do something as cheaply or as quickly as possible, often sacrificing quality, they are cutting corners.

Cut it fine

If you cut it fine, you only just manage to do something- at the very last moment. ‘Cut things fine’ is the same. ‘Cut it a bit fine’ is a common variation.

Cut someone some slack

To relax a rule or make an allowance, as in allowing someone more time to finish something.

Cut to the chase

If you cut to the chase, you get to the point, or the most interesting or important part of something without delay.

Cut to the quick

If someone’s cut to the quick by something, they are very hurt and upset indeed.

Damp squib

(UK) If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn’t, it is a damp squib.

Deaf as a post

Someone who is as deaf as a post is unable to hear at all.

Dear John letter

A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.

Deliver the goods

Do what is required, come up to expectations. For example, Kate delivered the goods and got us the five votes we needed. This phrase alludes to delivering an order of groceries or other items. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

Derring-do

If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.

Diamond in the rough

A diamond in the rough is someone or something that has great potential, but isn’t not refined and polished.

Die is cast

If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.

Different ropes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Different strokes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Dig way down deep

When someone digs way down deep, they look into their inner feelings to see how they feel about it.

Discretion is the better part of valour

This idiom means that it is often better to think carefully and not act than to do something that may cause problems.

Dish the dirt

If you dish the dirt on something or someone, you make unpleasant or shocking information public.

Do as you would be done by

Treat and respect others as you would hope to be respected and treated by them.

Do the needful

(India) If you do the needful, you do what is necessary.

Do the running

(UK) The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. (’Make the running’ is also used.)

Do their dirty work

Someone who does someone’s dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn’t want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a ‘henchman’.

Do’s and don’t’s

The do’s and don’t’s are what is acceptable or allowed or not within an area or issue, etc.

Don’t hold your breath

If you are told not to hold your breath, it means that you shouldn’t have high expectations about something.

Don’t judge a book by the cover

This idiom means that you should not judge something or someone by appearances, but should look deeper at what is inside and more important.

Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you

Don’t go looking for trouble or problems- let them come to you.

Don’t upset the applecart

If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.

Don’t wash your dirty laundry in public

(UK) People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, ‘don’t air your dirty laundry in public’ is used.)

Dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s

If you dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, you do something very carefully and thoroughly.

Down and out

If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.

Down in the dumps

If someone’s down in the dumps, they are depressed.

Down the hatch

This idiom can be said before drinking alcohol in company.

Down the pan

If something has gone down the pan, it has failed or been ruined.

Down the tubes

If something has gone down the tubes, it has failed or been ruined.

Down to the wire

(USA) If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.

Draw a blank

If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don’t get any useful information.

Draw a line in the sand

If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which things will be unacceptable.

Draw a long bow

If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.

Draw the line

When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.

Dress someone down

If you dress someone down, you scold them.

Drive a wedge

If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.

Drive you spare

If someone or something drives you spare, it is extremely annoying.

Drop in the bucket

(USA) A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won’t make any noticeable difference.

Drop someone a line

If you drop someone a line, you send a letter to them.

Dry run

A dry run is a full rehearsal or trial exercise of something to see how it will work before it is launched.

Dull as ditchwater

(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,’things are ‘dull as dishwater’.)

Each to their own

Different people have different preferences. In American English, ‘Each to his own’ is more common.

Easier said than done

If something is easier said than done, it is much more difficult than it sounds. It is often used when someone advises you to do something difficult and tries to make it sound easy.

Easy as ABC

Something that is as easy as ABC is very easy or simple.

Easy come, easy go

This idiom means that money or other material gains that come without much effort tend to get spent or consumed as easily.

Eat your words

If you eat your words, you accept publicly that you were wrong about something you said.

End in smoke

If something ends in smoke, it produces no concrete or positive result. This expression refers to the boasting by a person, of having put in a lot of efforts by him, for a particular cause or to attain a result which is very difficult to be done by any person. (This mainly refers to an investigation of a crime or solving a serious offence or a mystery). But at the end, when the desired result is not obtained, his claims are found to be false and not worth mentioning. So, he looses his credibility.

Even keel

If something is on an even keel, it is balanced.

Every nook and cranny

If you search every nook and cranny, you look everywhere for something.

Every trick in the book

If you try every trick in the book, you try every possible way, including dishonesty and deceit, to get what you want.

Explore all avenues

If all avenues are being explored, then every conceivable approach is being tried that could possibly get the desired result.

Fair and square

If someone wins something fair and square, they follow the rules and win conclusively.

Fair crack of the whip

(UK) If everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.

Fair shake of the whip

(USA) If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.

Fair thee well

Meaning completely and fully: I am tied up today to a fair-thee-well.

Fall by the wayside

To fall by the wayside is to give up or fail before completion.

Familiarity breeds contempt

This means that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.

Famous last words

This expression is used as a way of showing disbelief, rejection  or self-deprecation.
‘They said we had no chance of winning- famous last words!’

Fast and furious

Things that happen fast and furious happen very quickly without stopping or pausing.

Fat chance!

This idiom is a way of telling someone they have no chance.

Fat hits the fire

When the fat hits the fire, trouble breaks out.

Fat of the land

Living off the fat of the land means having the best of everything in life.

Feel free

If you ask for permission to do something and are told to feel free, the other person means that there is absolutely no problem

Finders keepers, losers weepers

Whoever finds something can keep it.  This is often shortened to ‘finders keepers’.

Fine and dandy

(UK) If thing’s are fine and dandy, then everything is going well.

Fire away

If you want to ask someone a question and they tell you to fire away, they mean that you are free to ask what you want.

First port of call

The first place you stop to do something is your first port of call.

Fit for a king

If something is fit for a king, it is of the very highest quality or standard.

Fit the bill

If something fits the bill, it is what is required for the task.

Fit to be tied

If someone is fit to be tied, they are extremely angry.

Flat out

If you work flat out, you work as hard and fast as you possibly can.

Fly off the handle

If someone flies off the handle, they get very angry.

Fly the coop

When someone flies the coop, they leave home and their family to start a new life.

Fly the flag

If someone flies the flag, they represent or support their country. (’Wave the flag’ and ’show the flag’ are alternative forms of this idiom)

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me

This means that you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread

This idiom is used where people who are inexperienced or lack knowledge do something that more informed people would avoid.

For kicks

If you do something for kicks, or just for kicks, you do it purely for fun or thrills.

Foregone conclusion

If the result of, say, a football match is a foregone conclusion, then the result is obvious before the game has even begun.

Fortune knocks once at every man’s door

Everyone gets one good chance in a lifetime.

Free rein

If someone has a free rein, they have the authority to make the decisions they want without any restrictions. (’Free reign’ is a common mistake.)

Free-for-all

A free-for-all is a fight or contest in which everyone gets involved and rules are not respected.

From a different angle

If you look at something from a different angle, you look at it from a different point of view.

From pillar to post

If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from one disaster to another.

From scratch

This idiom means ‘from the beginning’.

From the get-go

(USA) If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very beginning.

From the sublime to the ridiculous

If something declines considerably in quality or importance, it is said to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.

From the word go

From the word go means from the very beginning of something.

Full bore

If something is full bore, it involves the maximum effort or is complete and thorough.

Full circle

When something has come full circle, it has ended up where it started.

Full Monty

(UK) If something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.

Full of oneself

Someone who acts in a arrogant or egotistical manner is full of himself/herself.

Full swing

If a something is in full swing, it is going or doing well.

Fuzzy thinking

Thinking or ideas that do not agree with the facts or information available

Game on

When someone says ‘Game on!’, it means that they are accepting a challenge or ready to get something done.

Gather pace

If events gather pace, they move faster.

Gather steam

If something gathers speed, it moves or progresses at an increasing speed.

Get along famously

If people get along famously, they have an exceedingly good relationship.

Get away scot-free

If someone gets away scot-free, they are not punished when they have done something wrong. (’Get off scot-free’ is an alternative.)

Get in on the act

If people want to get in on the act, they want to participate in something that is currently profitable or popular.

Get my drift

If you get someone’s drift, you understand what they are trying to say. (’Catch their drift’ is an alternative form.)

Get off the ground

If a project or plan gets off the ground, it starts to be put into operation.

Get the green light

If you get the green light to do something, you are given the necessary permission, authorisation.

Get the show on the road

If you get the show on the road, you put a plan into operation or begin something.

Get up and go

If someone has lots of get up and go, they have lots of enthusiasm and energy.

Gift of the gab

If someone has the gift of the gab, they speak in a persuasive and interesting way.

Gilded cage

If someone is in a gilded cage, they are trapped and have restricted or no freedom, but have very comfortable surroundings- many famous people live in luxury but cannot walk out of their house alone.

Give and take

Where there is give and take, people make concessions in order to get things they want in negotiations.

Give as good as you get

If you give as good as you get, you are prepared to treat people as badly as they treat you and to fight for what you believe.

Give it some stick

(UK) If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.

Give someone a piece of your mind

If you give someone a piece of your mind, you criticise them strongly and angrily.

Give someone stick

(UK) If someone gives you stick, they criticise you or punish you.

Gnaw your vitals

If something gnaws your vitals, it troubles you greatly and affects you at a very deep level. (’Gnaw at your vitals’ is also used.)

Go against the grain

A person who does things in an unconventional manner, especially if their methods are not generally approved of, is said to go against the grain. Such an individual can be called a maverick.

Go awry

If things go awry, they go wrong.

Go by the board

When something has gone by the board, it no longer exists or an opportunity has been lost.

Go by the boards

If something goes by the boards, it fails to get approved or accepted.

Go down like a lead balloon

(UK)If something goes down like a lead balloon, it fails or is extremely badly received.

Go down swinging

If you want to go down swinging, you know you will probably fail, but you refuse to give up.

Go fly a kite

(USA) This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.

Go off on a tangent

If someone goes off on a tangent, they change the subject completely in the middle of a conversation or talk.

Go over like a lead balloon

(USA)If something goes over like a lead balloon, it will not work well, or go over well.

Go round in circles

If people are going round in circles, they keep discussing the same thing without reaching any agreement or coming to a conclusion.

Go south

If things go south, they get worse or go wrong.

Go spare

(UK) If you go spare, you lose your temper completely.

Go the extra mile

If someone is prepared to go the extra mile, they will do everything they can to help or to make something succeed, going beyond their duty what could be expected of them .

Go through the motions

When you go through the motions, you do something like an everyday routine and without any feelings whatsoever.

Go to the wire

If someone goes to the wire, they risk their life, job, reputation, etc, to help someone.

Go under the hammer

If something goes under the hammer, it is sold in an auction.

Go west

If something goes west, it goes wrong. If someone goes west, they die.

Go with the flow

If you go with the flow, you accept things as they happen and do what everyone else wants to do.

Go-to guy

A go-to guy is a person whose knowledge of something is considerable so everyone wants to go to him or her for information or results.

Going concern

A successful and active business is a going concern.

Going overboard

If you go overboard with something, then you take something too far, or do too much.

Gone for a burton

(UK) If something’s gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined. If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious trouble or have died.

Gone to pot

If something has gone to pot, it has gone wrong and doesn’t work any more.

Good antennae

Someone with good antennae is good at detecting things.

Good shape

If something’s in good shape, it’s in good condition. If a person’s in good shape, they are fit and healthy.

Good spell

A spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time; you’ll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a good spell when they’re performing consistently better than they normally do.

Good to go

Someone or something that meets one’s approval. ‘He is good to go.’ ‘The idea you had is good to go.’

Grease the skids

If you grease the skids, you facilitate something.

Great unwashed

This is a term used for the working class masses.

Grin and bear it

If you have to grin and bear it, you have to accept something that you don’t like.

Gung ho

If someone is gung ho about something, they support it blindly and don’t think about the consequences.

Half-baked

A half-baked idea or scheme hasn’t not been thought through or planned very well.

Hammer and tongs

If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely. The idiom can also be used hen people are doing something energetically.

Hang in the balance

If an outcome is hanging in the balance, there are at least two possibilities and it is impossible to predict which will win out.

Hang out to dry

If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble.

Happy medium

If you reach a happy medium, you are making a compromise; reaching a conclusion or decision.

Hard by

“Hard by” means mean “close to” or “near”.

Hard of hearing

Someone who’s hard of hearing is a bit deaf.

Hard sell

If someone puts a lot of pressure on you to do or buy something, they are hard selling it.

Hard to come by

If something is hard to come by, it is difficult to find.

Hard up

If you are hard up, you have very little money.

Haste makes waste

This idiom means that if you try to do something quickly, without planning it, you’re likely to end up spending more time, money, etc, doing it.

Hatchet job

A piece of criticism that destroys someone’s reputation is a hatchet job.

Have a ball

If you have a ball, you have a great time, a lot of fun.

Have a bash

If you have a bash at something, you try to do it, especially when there isn’t much chance of success.

Have a go

If you have a go, you try to do something, often when you don’t think you have much chance of succeeding.

Have a ripper

If you have a ripper of a time, you enjoy yourself.

Have no truck with

If you have no truck with something or someone, you refuse to get involved with it or them.

Have your fill

If you have had your fill, you are fed up of somebody or something.

Having a gas

If you’re having a gas, you are having a laugh and enjoying yourself in company.

He that travels far knows much

People who travel widely have a wide knowledge.

He who hesitates is lost

If one waits too long, the opportunity vanishes.

Head south

If something head south, it begins to fail or start going bad.
‘The project proceeded well for the first two months, but then it headed south.’

Headstrong

A headstrong person is obstinate and does not take other people’s advice readily.

Heap coals on someone’s head

To do something nice or kind to someone who has been nasty to you. If someone felt bad because they forgot to get you a Christmas gift, for you to buy them a specially nice gift is heaping coals on their head. (’Heap coals of fire’ is also used.)

Hear a pin drop

If there is complete silence in a room, you can hear a pin drop.

Hear on the grapevine

To receive information indirectly through a series of third parties, similar to a rumour.

Heavy-handed

If someone is heavy-handed, they are insensitive and use excessive force or authority when dealing with a problem.

Hiding to nothing

If people are on a hiding to nothing, their schemes and plans have no chance of succeeding. ‘Hiding to nowhere’ is an alternative.

High and dry

If you are left high and dry, you are left alone and given no help at all when you need it.

High and mighty

The high and mighty are the people with authority and power. If a person is high and mighty, they behave in a superior and condescending way.

High-wire act

A high-wire act is a dangerous or risky strategy, plan, task, etc.

Hit and miss

Something that is hit and miss is unpredictable and may produce results or may fail.

Hit me with your best shot

If someone tells you to hit them with your best shot, they are telling you that no matter what you do it won’t hurt them or make a difference to them.

Hit rock bottom

When someone hits rock bottom, they reach a point in life where things could not get any worse.

Hit the books

If you hit the books, you study or read hard.

Hit the fan

When it hits the fan, or, more rudely, the shit hits the fan, serious trouble starts.

Hit the ground running

If someone hits the ground running, they start a new job or position in a very dynamic manner.

Hit the nail on the head

If someone hits the nail on the head, they are exactly right about something.

Hit the sack

When you hit the sack, you go to bed.

Hoist with your own petard

If you are hoist with your own petard, you get into trouble or caught in a trap that you had set for someone else.

Hold all the aces

If you hold all the aces, you have all the advantages and your opponents or rivals are in a weak position.

Hold the bag

(USA) If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the bag.

Hold the torch

If you hold the torch for someone, you have an unrequited or unspoken love.

Hold your own

If you can hold your own, you can compete or perform equally with other people.

Hollow victory

A hollow victory is where someone wins something in name, but are seen not to have gained anything by winning.

Honest truth

If someone claims that something is the honest truth, they wish to sound extra-sincere about something.

Honours are even

If honours are even, then a competition has ended with neither side emerging as a winner.

Hop, skip, and a jump

If a place is a hop, skip, and a jump from somewhere, it’s only a short distance away.

Hope against hope

If you hope against hope, you hope for something even though there is little or no chance of your wish being fulfilled.

Horns of a dilemma

If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with two equally unpleasant options and have to choose one.

Hostile takeover

If a company is bought out when it does not want to be, it is known as a hostile takeover.

Hot air

Language that is full of words but means little or nothing is hot air.

Hot button

(USA) A hot button is a topic or issue that people feel very strongly about.

Hot ticket

(USA) A hot ticket is something that is very much in demand at the moment.

Hot to trot

If someone is hot to trot, they are sexually aroused or eager to do something.

Hot water

If you get into hot water, you get into trouble.

How come

If you want to show disbelief or surprise about an action, you can ask a question using ‘how come’. How come he got the job? (You can’t believe that they gave the job to somebody like him)

How long is a piece of string

If someone has no idea of the answer to a question, they can ask ‘How long is a piece of string?’ as a way of indicating their ignorance.

How’s tricks?

This is used as a way of asking people how they are and how things have been going in their life.

Hue and cry

Hue and cry is an expression that used to mean all the people who joined in chasing a criminal or villain. Nowadays, if you do something without hue and cry, you do it discreetly and without drawing attention.

Hunky Dory

If something is hunky dory, it is perfectly satisfactory, fine.

I hereby give notice of my intention

Hereby is used sometimes in formal, official declarations and statements to give greater force to the speaker’ or the writer’s affirmation. People will say it sometimes to emphasise their sincerity and correctness.

If at first you don’t succeed try try again

When you fail, try until you get it right!

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Any attempt to improve on a system that already works is pointless and may even hurt it.

If you will

‘If you will’ is used as a way of making a concession in a sentence: He wasn’t a very honest person, a liar if you will. Here, it is used a way of accepting that the reader or listener might think of the person as a liar, but without commit the writer or speaker to that position fully.

Ill at ease

If someone is ill at ease, they are worried or uncomfortable.

In a cleft stick

If you are in a cleft stick, you are in a difficult situation, caught between choices.

In a fix

If you are in a fix, you are in trouble.

In a flash

If something happens in a flash, it happens very quickly indeed.

In a jam

If you are in a jam, you are in some trouble.  If you get out of a jam, you avoid trouble.

In a jiffy

If something happens in a jiffy, it happens very quickly.

In a rut

In a settled or established pattern, habit or course of action, especially a boring one.

In a tick

(UK) If someone will do something in a tick, they’ll do it very soon or very quickly.

In a tight spot

If you’re in a tight spot, you’re in a difficult situation.

In all honesty

If you say something in all honesty, you are telling the complete truth. It can be used as a way of introducing a negative opinion whilst trying to be polite; in all honesty, I have to say that I wasn’t very impressed.

In cahoots

If people are in cahoots, they are conspiring together.

In dire straits

If you’re in dire straits, you’re in serious trouble or difficulties.

In dribs and drabs

If people arrive in dribs and drabs, they come in small groups at irregular intervals, instead of all arriving at the same time.

In droves

When things happen in droves, a lot happen at the same time or very quickly.

In full swing

If things are in full swing, they have been going for a sufficient period of time to be going well and very actively.

In high spirits

If someone is in high spirits, they are in a very good mood or feeling confident about something.

In hot water

If you are in hot water, you are in serious trouble.

In light of

‘In light of’ is similar to ‘due to’.

In my bad books

If you are in someone’s bad books, they are angry with you. Likewise, if you are in their good books, they are pleased with you.

In my book

This idiom means ‘in my opinion’.

In my good books

If someone is in your good books, you are pleased with or think highly of them at the moment.

In perfect form

When something is as it ought to be. Or, when used cynically, it may refer to someone whose excesses are on display; a caricature.

In so many words

This phrase may be used to mean ‘approximately’ or ‘more or less’. I think it may have a sarcastic connotation in that the individual listening needed ’so many words’ to get the point. It also may suggest the effort on the part of the speaker to explain an unpleasant truth or difficult concept.

In spades

(UK) If you have something in spades, you have a lot of it.

In stitches

If someone is in stitches, they are laughing uncontrollably.

In tandem

If people do things in tandem, they do them at the same time.

In the bag

If something is in the bag, it is certain that you will get it or achieve it

In the clear

If someone is in the clear, they are no longer suspected of or charged with wrongdoing.

In the hot seat

If someone’s in the hot seat, they are the target for a lot of unwelcome criticism and examination.

In the know

If you are in the know, you have access to all the information about something, which other people don’t have.

In the long run

This means ‘over a long period of time’, ‘in the end’ or ‘in the final result’.

In the loop

If you’re in the loop, you are fully informed about what is happening in a certain area or activity.

In the lurch

If you are left in the lurch, you are suddenly left in an embarrassing or tricky situation.

In the making

When something is in the making, it means it is in the process of being made.

In the offing

If something is in the offing, it is very likely to happen soon.

In the pipeline

If something’s in the pipeline, it hasn’t arrived yet but its arrival is expected.

In the saddle

If you’re in the saddle, you are in control of a situation.

In the same boat

If people are in the same boat, they are in the same predicament or trouble.

In the short run

This refers to the immediate future.

In the swim

If you are in the swim, you are up-to-date with and fully informed about something.

In the swing

If things are in the swing, they are progressing well.

In the zone

If you are in the zone, you are very focused on what you have to do.

In turn

This means one after the other. Example: She spoke to each of the guests in turn.

In two minds

If you are in two minds about something, you can’t decide what to do.

In your element

If you are in your element, you feel happy and relaxed because you are doing something that you like doing and are good at. “You should have seen her when they asked her to sing; she was in her element.”

Ins and outs

If you know the ins and outs of something, you know all the details.

Into thin air

If something vanishes or disappears without trace, it vanishes into thin air; no-one knows where it has gone.

Irons in the fire

A person who has a few irons in the fire has a number of things working to their advantage at the same time.

It ain’t over till the fat lady sings

This idiom means that until something has officially finished, the result is uncertain.

Itch to

If you are itching to do something, you are very eager to do it.

Jet set

Very wealthy people who travel around the world to attend parties or functions are the jet set.

Jog my memory

If you jog someone’s memory, you say words that will help someone trying to remember a thought, event, word, phrase, experience, etc.

Jump through hoops

If you are prepared to jump through hoops for someone, you are prepared to make great efforts and sacrifices for them.

Just around the corner

If something is just around the corner, then it is expected to happen very soon.

Just coming up to

If the time is just coming up to nine o’clock, it means that it will be nine o’clock in a very few seconds. You’ll hear them say it on the radio in the morning.

Just deserts

If a bad or evil person gets their just deserts, they get the punishment or suffer the misfortune that it is felt they deserve.

Just for the heck of it

When someone does something just for the heck of it, they do it without a good reason.

Just for the record

If something is said to be just for the record, the person is saying it so that people know but does not necessarily agree with or support it.

Keep abreast

If you keep abreast of things, you stay informed about developments.

Keep at bay

If you keep someone or something at bay, you maintain a safe distance from them.

Keep in touch

If you keep in touch with someone, you keep communicating with them even though you may live far apart.

Keep it on the Q T

If you keep something on the Q T, you keep it quiet or secret.
(’Q-T’ is also used.)

Keep mum

If you keep mum about something, you keep quiet and don’t tell anyone.

Keep posted

If you keep posted about something, you keep up-to-date with information and developments.

Keep your cool

If you keep your cool, you don’t get excessively excited or disturbed in a bad situation.

Keep your options open

If someone’s keeping their options open, they aren’t going to restrict themselves or rule out any possible course of action.

Keep your pecker up

If someone tells you to keep your pecker up, they are telling you not to let your problems get on top of you and to try to be optimistic.

Kick a habit

If you kick a habit, you stop doing it.

Kick away the ladder

If someone kicks away the ladder, they remove something that was supporting or helping someone.

Kick the ballistics

It means you realise the intensity of a situation. For example, there is too much unemployment now, so the prime minister must kick the ballistics and change his policy.

Kick the bucket

When someone kicks the bucket, they die.

Kindred spirit

A kindred spirit is someone who feels and thinks the way you do.

King of the castle

The king of the castle is the person who is in charge of something or in a very comfortable position compared to their companions.

King’s ransom

If something costs or is worth a king’s ransom, it costs or is worth a lot of money.

Kiss and tell

If people kiss and tell, they disclose private or confidential information.

Kiss something goodbye

If someone tells you that you can kiss something goodbye, you have no chance of getting or having it.

Kith and kin

Your kith and kin are your family; your next of kin are close relations you nominate to deal with your affairs in the event of your death on a document, like a passport.

Knock the pins from under someone

If someone knocks the pins from under you, they let you down.

Know full well

When you know full well, you are absolutely sure that you know.

Know the ropes

Someone who is experienced and knows how the system works know the ropes.

Know your place

A person who knows their place doesn’t try to impose themselves on others.

Labor of love

A labor of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise.

Labour of love

A labour of love is a project or task undertaking for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than the reward, financial or otherwise.

Land of nod

If someone has gone to the land of nod, they have fallen asleep or gone to bed.

Landslide victory

A landslide victory is a victory in an election by a very large margin.

Larger than life

If something is excessive or exaggerated, it is larger than life.

Last hurrah

If an elderly person does something special before they die, it is a last hurrah.

Last laugh

The person who has the last laugh ends up with the the advantage in a situation after some setbacks.

Last-ditch

A last-ditch attempt is a desperate attempt that will probably fail anyway.

Laughter is the best medicine

Laughing is often helpful for healing, especially emotional healing.

Lean and mean

An organisation that is lean and mean has no excess or unnecessary elements and is very competitive.

Learn the ropes

If you are learning the ropes, you are learning how to do something.

Leave no stone unturned

If you look everywhere to find something, or try everything to achieve something, you leave no stone unturned.

Leave well alone

If you leave something well alone, you keep a safe distance from it, either physically or metaphorically.

Left in the dark

If you are left in the dark about something, you aren’t given the information that you should have.

Left to your own devices

If someone is left to their own devices, they are not controlled and can do what they want.

Let alone

This is used to emphasise how extreme something could be: ‘We hadn’t got the money to phone home, let alone stay in a hotel.’ This emphasises the utter impossibility of staying in a hotel.

Let bygones be bygones

If people decide to let bygones be bygones, they decide to forget old problems or grievances they have with each other.

Let the best be the enemy of the good

If the desire for an unattainable perfection stops someone from choosing good possibilities, they let the best be the enemy of the good.

Let the cat out of the bag

If you accidentally reveal a secret, you let the cat out of the bag.

Let the genie out of the bottle

If people let the genie out of the bottle, they let something bad happen that cannot be put right or controlled.

Lie low

If someone lies low, they try not to be found or caught.

Lie through your teeth

Someone who is always lying, regardless of what people know, lies through their teeth.

Lightning rod

Someone or something that attracts a lot of negative comment, often diverting attention from other problems, is a lightning rod.

Like no one’s business

If I say my children are growing like no one’s business, it means they’re growing very quickly. See also ‘Like the clappers’ and ‘Like there’s no tomorrow’.

Like the clappers

If something is going like the clappers, it is going very fast.

Like wildfire

If something happens or spreads like wildfire, it happens very quickly and intensely.

Lines of communication

Lines of communication are the routes used to communicate by people or groups who are in conflict; a government might open lines of communication with terrorists if it wished to negotiate with them.

Live wire

A person who is very active, both mentally and physically, is a live wire.

Lo and behold

This phrase is used to express surprise.

Lock, stock and barrel

This is an expressions that means ‘everything’; if someone buys a company lock, stock and barrel, they buy absolutely everything to do with the company.

Look after number 1

You are number one, so this idiom means that you should think about yourself first, rather than worrying about other people.

Look before you leap

This idiom means that you should think carefully about the possible results or consequences before doing something.

Look on the bright side

If you look on the bright side, you try to see things in an optimistic way, especially when something has gone wrong.

Lose the plot

If someone loses the plot, they have stopped being rational about something.

Lose your bottle

(UK)If someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something.

Lose your marbles

If someone has lost their marbles, they’ve gone mad.

Love is blind

If you love someone, it doesn’t matter what they look like. You will also overlook faults.

Lower the bar

If people change the standards required to make things easier, they lower the bar.

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.)

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 unecessary fuss about something unimportant.

Make an enquiry

If you make an enquiry, you ask for general information about something.

Make headway

If you make headway, you make progress.

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.

Many happy returns

This expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday.

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.

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 match

If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at least as good if not better than you are at something.

Melting pot

A melting pot is a place where people from many ethnicities and nationalities live together.

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.

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.

Mince words

If people mince words, or mince their words, they don’t say what they really mean clearly.

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.

Mind your P’s and Q’s

This is used as a way of telling someone to be polite and behave well.

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.

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.

Mover and shaker

A person who is a mover and shaker is a highly respected, key figure in their particular area with a lot of influence and importance.

Much ado about nothing

If there’s a lot of fuss about something trivial, there’s much ado about nothing.

Mud-slinging

If someone is mud-slinging, they are insulting someone and trying to damage that person’s reputation.

Muddy the waters

If somebody muddies the waters, he or she makes the situation more complex or less clear.

Mum’s the word

When people use this idiom, they mean that you should keep quiet about something and not tell other people.

Murky waters

Where people are behaving in morally and ethically questionable ways, they are in murky waters.

Need no introduction

Someone who is very famous and known to everyone needs no introduction.

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.

New lease of life

If someone finds new enthusiasm and energy for something, they have a new lease of life.

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.

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.

Nitty gritty

If people get down to the nitty gritty, they concentrate on the most important and serious issues.

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.

No ifs or buts

Ifs and Buts is a term used to describe the reasons people give for not wanting to do something. To show that you don’t wish to accept any excuses, you can tell somebody that you wish to hear no ifs or buts Here IF & BUT have become nouns

No laughing matter

Something that is no laughing matter is very serious.

No love lost

If there is no love lost between two people they have a strong enmity towards or hate for the other and make no effort to conceal it.

No pain, no gain

Achievements require some sort of sacrifice.

No quarter

This means without mercy. We can say no quarter given or asked.

No question

This idiom means that something is certain or definite.

No questions asked

If something is to be done and no questions asked, then it doesn’t matter what methods are used or what rules are broken to ensure that it gets done.

No strings attached

If something has no strings attached, there are no obligations or requirements involved.

No time for

If you have no time for an activity, you have absolutely no desire to spend or waste any time doing it. You can have no time for people, too.

None so blind as those who will not see

This idiom is used when people refuse to accept facts presented to them. (’None so deaf as those who will not hear’ is an alternative.)

Not all there

If someone isn’t all there, they are a little bit stupid or crazy.

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

Describing a film or something as not much cop is a way of saying that you didn’t think much of it.

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 wash

If a story or explanation will not wash, it is not credible.

Nothing to crow about

If something’s nothing to crow about, it’s not particularly good or special.

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.

Null and void

If something’s null and void, it is invalid or is no longer applicable.

Nuts and bolts

The nuts and bolts are the most essential components of something.

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 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 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 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 your rocker

(UK) Someone who is off their rocker is crazy.

Oh, my goodness!

An expression of surprise.

Oldest trick in the book

The oldest trick in the book is a well-known way of deceiving someone, though still effective.

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 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 tenterhooks

This means that she is waiting impatiently and excitedly for something.

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 cheap

If you do something on the cheap, you spend as little as possible to do it.

On the dot

If someone says that they’re leaving at seven on the dot, don’t be late; they mean at exactly seven o’clock.

On the fiddle

(UK) Someone who is stealing money from work is on the fiddle, especially if they are doing it by fraud.

On the flip side

On the reverse or the other side

On the fly

If you do things on the fly, you do things without preparation, responding to events as they happen.

On the ground

Events on the ground are where things are actually happening, not at a distance.

On the level

If someone is honest and trustworthy, they are on the level.

On the make

If someone is on the make, they are trying to make a lot of money, usually illegally.

On the map

If a place becomes widely known, it is put on the map. A place that remains unknown is off the map.

On the never-never

(UK) If you buy something on the never-never, you buy it on long-term credit.

On the same page

If people are on the same page, they have the same information and are thinking the same way.

On the shelf

If something like a project is on the shelf, nothing is being done about it at the moment.

On the skids

When things or people are on the skids, they are in serious decline and trouble.

On the sly

If someone does something on the sly, they do it furtively or secretly.

On the take

(UK) Someone who is stealing from work is on the take.

On the trot

(UK) This idiom means ‘consecutively’; I’d saw them three days on the trot, which means that I saw them on three consecutive days.

On the up and up

If you are on the up and up, you are making very good progress in life and doing well.

On the up and up

When someone is on the up and up, he or she is truthful, honest, and straightforward. It can also mean that they are very successful in life at the moment.

On top of the world

If you are on top of the world, everything is going well for you.

On your soapbox

If someone is up on their soapbox about something, they are very overtly and verbally passionate about the topic.

On your tod

If you are on your tod, you are alone.

One good turn deserves another

This means that when people do something good, something good will happen to them.

Open book

If a person is an open book, it is easy to know what they think or how they feel about things.

Open old sores

When a sore is almost healed, and if a person rips or tears it open, it is way of preventing the healing process and further aggravating the pain. This phrase, metaphorically suggests, to revive or reopen a quarrel or enmity which was almost forgotten.

Out and about

If someone is out and about, they have left their home and are getting things done that they need to do.

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 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 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 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 this world

If something is out of this world, it is fantastic.

Out-and-out

This means complete or total; an out-and-out lie is completey 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 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.

Paddle your own canoe

(USA) If you paddle your own canoe, you do things for yourself without outside help.

Paint yourself into a corner

(USA) If someone paints themselves into a corner, they get themselves into a mess.

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.

Pep talk

When someone gives you a pep talk it is to build you up to help you accomplish something. In sports a coach might give a player a pep talk before the game to bolster his confidence. At work the boss might give you a pep talk to get you to do a better job.

Perish the thought

Perish the thought is an expression meaning that you really hope something will not happen.

Picture perfect

When something is exactly as it should be it is said to be picture perfect.

Pin down with a label

If you pin someone down with a label, you characterise them, often meant negatively as the label is restrictive.

Piping hot

If food is piping hot, it is very hot indeed.

Plain as a pikestaff

(UK) If something is as plain as a pikestaff, it is very clear.

Plain sailing

If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing.

Plan B

Plan  is an alternate or fall-back position or method when the initial attempt or plan goes wrong.

Play fast and loose

If people play fast and loose, they behave in an irresponsible way and don’t respect rules, etc.

Play for keeps

If you are playing for keeps, you take things very seriously and the outcome is very important to you; it is not a mere game.

Play hard to get

If someone plays hard to get, they pretend not to be interewsted or attracted by someone, usually to make the other person increase their efforts.

Play havoc

Playing havoc with something is creating disorder and confusion; computer viruses can play havoc with your programs.

Play hooky

If people play hooky, they don’t attend school when they should and don’t have a valid reason for their absence.

Play the fool

If someone plays the fool, they behave in a silly way to make people laugh. (’Act the fool’ is and alternative form.)

Play with fire

If people take foolish risks, they are playing with fire.

Playing to the gallery

If someone plays to the gallery, they say or do things that will make them popular, but which are not the right things to do.

Poetry in motion

Something that is poetry in motion is beautiful to watch.

Pop the question

When someone pops the question, they ask someone to marry them.

Pot-luck

If you take pot-luck, you take whatever happens to be available at the time.

Pour oil on troubled waters

If someone pours oil on troubled waters, they try to calm things down.

Powers that be

The powers that be are the people who are in charge of something.

Practical joke

A practical joke is a trick played on someone that is meant to be funny for people watching, though normally embarrassing for the person being tricked.

Presence of mind

If someone behaves calmly and rationally in difficult circumstances, they show presence of mind.

Prim and proper

Someone who is prim and proper always behaves in the correct way and never breaks the rules of etiquette.

Pros and cons

Pros and cons are arguments for or against a particular issue. Pros are arguments which aim to promote the issue, while cons suggest points against it. The term has been in use since the 16th century and is a shortening of a Latin phrase, pro et contra, which means “for and against.” Considering the pros and cons of an issue is a very useful way to weigh the issue thoughtfully and reach an informed decision.

Pull in the reins

When you pull in the reins, you slow down or stop something that has been a bit out of control.

Pull strings

If you pull strings, you use contacts you have got to help you get what you want.

Pull the other one, it’s got brass bells on

This idiom is way of telling somebody that you don’t believe them. The word ‘brass’ is optional.

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 weight

If someone is not pulling their weight, they aren’t making enough effort, especially in group work.

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.

Put a cork in it!

This is a way of telling someone to be quiet.

Put on airs

If someone puts on airs, they pretend to be grander and more important than they really are.

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 someone on a pedestal

If you put someone on a pedestal, you admire them greatly, idolise them.

Put the kybosh on

To put an end to something.

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.

Queer Street

If someone is in a lot of trouble, especially financial, they are in Queer Street.

Queer your pitch

If someone queers your pitch, they interfere in your affairs and spoil things.

Queue jumping

Someone who goes to the front of a queue instead of waiting is jumping the queue.

Quick as a flash

If something happens quick as a flash, it happens very fast indeed.

Quick fix

A quick fix is an easy solution, especially one that will not last.

Quitters never win; winners never quit

If you quit you will never get what you want, but if you keep trying you will find a way to get what you want.
(’Quitters never win, winners never quit, but those who never win and never quit are idiots’ is a variation accredited to Larry Kersten)

Rack and ruin

If something or someone goes to rack and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked.

Rake over old coals

(UK) If you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.

Rake someone over the coals

(USA) If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.

Rather you than me

Rather you than me is an expression used when someone has something unpleasant or arduous to do. It is meant in a good natured way of expressing both sympathy and having a bit of a laugh at their expense.

Raw deal

If you get a raw deal, you are treated unfairly.

Read from the same page

When people are reading from the same page, they say the same things in public about an issue.

Real deal

If something is the real deal, it is genuine and good.

Recharge your batteries

If you recharge your batteries, you do something to regain your energy after working hard for a long time.

Reduce to ashes

If something is reduced to ashes, it is destroyed or made useless.His infidelities reduced their relationship to ashes.

Revenge is sweet

When you are happy to be proved right, then you know that revenge is sweet.

Rewrite history

If you rewrite history, you change your version of past events so as to make yourself look better than you would if the truth was told.

Rhyme or reason

If something is without rhyme or reason, it is unreasonable. (’Beyond rhyme or reason’ is an alternative.)

Ride for a fall

If sxomeone is riding for a fall, they are taking great risks that are likely to end in a disaster.

Ride high

If someone is riding high, they are very successful at the moment.

Ride roughshod

If someone rides roughshod over other people, they impose their will without caring at all for other people’s feelings.

Right royal

(UK) A right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one.

Ring a bell

If something rings a bell, it reminds you of something you have heard before, though you may not be able to remember it very well. A name may ring a bell, so you know you have heard the name before, but cannot place it properly.

Rise and shine

If you wake up full of energy, you rise and shine.

Rise from the ashes

If something rises from the ashes, it recovers after a serious failure.

Rob Peter to pay Paul

If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you try to solve one problem, but create another in doing so, often through short-term planning.

Rock the boat

If you rock the boat, you destabilise a situation by making trouble. It is often used as advice; ‘Don’t rock the boat’.

Rolling in the aisles

If the audience watching something are laughing loudly, the show has them rolling in the aisles.

Rooted to the spot

If someone is rooted to the spot, they canot move, either physically or they cannot think their way out of a problem.

Rough and ready

If something is rough and ready, it has not been carefully prepared, but is fit for its purpose. If a person is rough and ready, they are not very refined or mannered.

Rough around the edges

If someone is rough around the edges, they haven’t mastered something, though they show promise.

Rough edges

If something has rough edges, it is still not a finished product and not all of a uniform standard.

Rough-hewn

If something, especially something made from wood or stone, is rough-hewn, it is unfinished or unpolished.

Round the bend

If someone has gone round the bend, they have stopped being rational about something. If something drives you round the bend, it irritates you or makes you angry.

Rub someone up the wrong way

If you annoy or irritate someone when you didn’t mean to, you rub them up the wrong way.

Rudderless ship

If an organisation, company, government, etc, is like a rudderless ship, it has no clear direction and drifts about without reaching its goals.

Ruffle a few feathers

If you ruffle a few feathers, you annoy some people when making changes or improvements.

Run a mile

If someone “Runs a mile”, they do everything they can to avoid a situation. Example: “I was worried that he’d take one look at me and run a mile.”

Run amok

When things or people are running amok, they are wild and out of control.
(’Run amuck’ is also used.) 

Run before you can walk

If someone tries to run before they can walk, they try to do something requiring a high level of knowledge before they have learned the basics.

Run circles around someone

If you can run circles around someone, you are smarter and intellectually quicker than they are.

Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes

This idiom is used to suggest trying out an idea to see if people accept it.

Run out of gas

If a campaign, project, etc, runs out of gas, it loses energy and momentum, and progress slows or halts.

Run rings around someone

If you run rings around someone, you are so much better than them that they have no chance of keeping up with you.

Run something into the ground

If people run something into the ground, they treat or manage it so badly that they ruin it.

Run the show

If someone runs the show, they like to be in control and make all the decisions.

Run to ground

If you run someone or something to ground, you pursue until you capture or find them or it.

Run-of-the-mill

If something is run-of-the-mill, there is nothing exceptional about it- it is ordinary or average.

Running on empty

If you are exhausted but keep going, you are running on empty.

Rusty needle

When something is described as a rusty needle, it is badly damaged but still works, or if someone very is sick or tired but still manages to do things at a fairly good level. An alternative form is “a tarnished needle”.

Safe and sound

If you arrive safe and sound, then nothing has harmed you on your way.

Safe bet

A proposition that is a safe bet doesn’t have any risks attached.

Safety in numbers

If a lot of people do something risky at the same time, the risk is reduced because there is safety in numbers.

Same old, same old

When nothing changes, it’s the same old, same old.

Say when

People say this when pouring a drink as a way of telling you to tell them when there’s enough in your glass.

Say-so

If you do something on someone else’s say-so, you do it on the authority, advice or recommendation.

Schoolyard pick

When people take it in turns to choose a member of a team, it is a schoolyard pick.

Scraping the barrel

When all the best people, things or ideas and so on are used up and people try to make do with what they have left, they are scraping the barrel.

Screw loose

If someone has a screw loose, they are crazy.

Screwed if you do, screwed if you don’t

This means that no matter what you decide or do in a situation, there will be negative consequences.

Seamy side

The seamy side of something is the unpleasant or sordid aspect it has.

Searching question

A searching question goes straight to the heart of the subject matter, possibly requiring an answer with a degree of honesty that the other person finds uncomfortable.

Second thoughts

If some has second thoughts, they start to think that an idea, etc, is not as good as it sounded at first and are starting to have doubts.

Second wind

If you overcome tiredness and find new energy and enthusiasm, you have second wind.

See the light

When someone sees the light, they realise the truth.

See you anon

(UK) If somebody says this when leaving, they expect to see you again soon.

See you later

A casual way of saying to friends I’ll see you again, sometime, (without a definite date or time having been set) – this is often abbreviated to ‘Later’ or ‘Laters’ as an alternative way of saying goodbye.

Seeing is believing

This idiom means that people can only really believe what they experience personally.

Seen better days

If something’s seen better days, it has aged badly and visibly compared to when it was new. The phrase can also be used to describe people.

Send someone packing

If you send someone packing, you send them away, normally when they want something from you.

Set in stone

If something is set in stone, it cannot be changed or altered.

Set the wheels in motion

When you set the wheels in motion, you get something started.

Shades of meaning

Shades of meaning is a phrase used to describe the small, subtle differences in meaning between similar words or phrases; ‘kid’ and ‘youth’ both refer to young people, but carry differing views and ideas about young people.

Shape up or ship out

If someone has to shape up or ship out, they have to improve or leave their job, organisation, etc.

Sharpen your pencil

(USA)If someone says this when negotiating, they want the other person to make a better offer, a lower price.

Shilly-shally

If people shilly-shally, they can’t make up their minds about something and put off the decision.

Shoot your wad

When you have shot your wad, you have expended everything and have no more to say or do about a matter.

Short shrift

If somebody gives you short shrift, they treat you rudely and brusquely, showing no interest or sympathy.

Shot in the dark

If you have a shot in the dark at something, you try something where you have little hope of success.

Show someone the ropes

If you show someone the ropes, you explain to someone new how things work and how to do a job.

Sick and tired

If you are sick and tired of something, it has been going on for a long time and you can no longer tolerate it.

Sight to behold

If something is a sight to behold, it means that seeing it is in some way special, either spectacularly beautiful or, equally, incredibly ugly or revolting, etc.

Silence is golden

It is often better to say nothing than to talk, so silence is golden.

Silver bullet

A silver bullet is a complete solution to a large problem, a solution that seems magical.

Silver screen

The silver screen is the cinema.

Sink or swim

Of you are left to sink or swim, no one gives you any help and it’s up to you whether you fail or succeed.

Sit pretty

Someone who’s sitting pretty is in a very advantageous situation.

Sit well with

If something doesn’t sit well with you, it doesn’t please you or is not acceptable to you.

Skunkworks

An unauthorised, or hidden program or activity, often research-oriented, and out of the bureaucratic chain of command is known as a ’skunkworks’.

Sleep like a log

If you sleep like a log, you sleep very soundly.

Slim chance

A slim chance is a very small chance.

Slippery customer

A person from whom it is difficult to get anything definite or fixed is a slippery customer.

Slow and steady wins the race

This expression means that consistency, although progress may be slow, will eventually be more beneficial than being hasty or careless just to get something done.

Slow but sure

If something or someone is slow but sure, they may take their time to do something, but they are reliable.

Smart as a whip

A person who is smart as a whip is very clever.

Smoke and mirrors

An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors.

Smokestack industry

Heavy industries like iron and steel production, especially if they produce a lot of pollution, are smokestack industries.

So it goes

This idiom is used to be fatalistic and accepting when something goes wrong.

So on and so forth

And so on and so forth mean the same as etcetera (etc.).

Soft soap someone

If you soft soap someone, you flatter them.

Sound as a bell

If something or someone is as sound as a bell, they are very healthy or in very good condition.

Spanner in the works

(UK) If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan. In American English, ‘wrench’ is used instead of ’spanner’.

Speak volumes

If something speaks volumes, it tells us a lot about the real nature of something or someone,even though it may only be a small detail.

Spick and span

If a room is spick and span, it is very clean and tidy.

Spin a yarn

If someone spins a yarn, they tell a story, usually a long or fanciful one.

Spinning a line

When someone spins you a line, they are trying to deceive you by lying.

Spinning a yarn

When someone spins you a yarn, they are trying to deceive you by lying.

Spitting image

If a person is the spitting image of somebody, they look exactly alike.(’Spit and image’ is also used.) 

Spot on

If something is spot on, it is exactly right.

Spring to mind

If something springs to mind, it appears suddenly and unexpectedly in your thoughts.

Square peg in a round hole

If somebody’s in a situation, organisation, etc, where they don’t fit in and feel out of place, they are a square peg in a round hole.

Squared away

Being prepared or ready for business or tasks at hand. Having the proper knowledge, skill and equipment to handle your assignment or station. ‘He is a great addition to the squad; he is squared away.’

Squeaky clean

If something is squeaky clean, it is very clean indeed- spotless. If a person is squeaky clean, they have no criminal record and are not suspected of illegal or immoral activities.

Stand in good stead

If something will stand you in good stead, it will probably be advantageous in the future.

Start from scratch

When you start something from scratch, you start at the very beginning.

State of the art

If something is state of the art, it is the most up-to-date model incorporating the latest and best technology.

Status quo

Someone who wants to preserve the status quo wants a particular situation to remain unchanged.

Steer clear of

If you steer clear of something, you avoid it.

Step on it

This idiom is a way of telling someone to hurry up or to go faster.

Step up to the plate

If someone steps up to the plate, they take on or accept a challenge or a responsibility.

Stick-in-the-mud

A stick-in-the-mud is someone who doesn’t like change and wants things to stay the same.

Sticking point

A sticking point is a controversial issue that blocks progress in negotiations, etc, where compromise is unlikely or impossible.

Stiff as a poker

Something or someone that is stiff as a poker is inflexible. (’Stiff as a board’ is also used.)

Stone’s throw

If a place is a stone’s throw from where you are, it is a very short distance away.

Stop cold

To stop suddenly out of surprise.

Straw poll

A straw poll is a small unofficial survey or ballot to find out what people think about an issue.

Streets ahead

If people are streets ahead of their rivals, they are a long way in front.

Strike while the iron is hot

If you strike while the iron is hot you do something when things are going well for you and you have a good chance to succeed.

Sure-fire

If something is sure-fire, it is certain to succeed. (’Surefire’ is also used.)

Sweep things under the carpet

If people try to ignore unpleasant things and forget about them, they sweep them under the carpet.

Swimmingly

If things are going swimmingly, they are going very well.

Swing the lead

If you swing the lead, you pretend to be ill or do not do your share of the work.

Swings and roundabouts

If something’s swings and roundabouts, it has about as many disadvantages as it has advantages.

Take a hike

This is a way of telling someone to get out.

Take a leaf out of someone’s book

If you take a leaf out of someone’s book, you copy something they do because it will help you.

Take for granted

If you take something for granted, you don’t worry or think about it because you assume you will always have it.  If you take someone for granted, you don’t show your appreciation to them.

Take someone down a peg

If someone is taken down a peg (or taken down a peg or two), they lose status in the eyes of others because of something they have done wrong or badly.

Take someone for a ride

If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived by someone.

Take the fall

If you tall the fall, you accept the blame and possibly the punishment for another’s wrongdoing, with the implication that the true culprit, for political or other reasons, cannot be exposed as guilty (accompanied by a public suspicion that a reward of some sort may follow).

Take the heat

If you take the heat, you take the criticism or blame for something you didn’t do, normally to protect the guilty person.

Take the plunge

If you take the plunge, you decide to do something or commit yourself even though you know there is an element of risk involved.

Take the rough with the smooth

People say that you have to take the rough with the smooth, meaning that you have to be prepared to accept the disadvantages as well of the advantages of something.

Take up the torch

If you take up the torch, you take on a challenge or responsibility, usually when someone else retires, or leaves an organisation, etc.

Take your breath away

If something takes your breath away, it astonishes or surprises you.

Taken as read

If something can be taken as read, it is so definite that it’s not necessary to talk about it.

Talk is cheap

It’s easy to talk about something but harder to actually do it.

Talk of the town

When everybody is talking about particular people and events, they are he talk of the town.

Talk shop

If you talk shop, you talk about work matters, especially if you do this outside work.

Tall order

Something that is likely to be hard to achieve or fulfil is a tall order.

Tall story

A tall story is one that is untrue and unbelievable.

Tally ho!

(UK) This is an exclamation used for encouragement before doing something difficult or dangerous.

Tar with the same brush

If people are tarred with the same brush, they are said to have the same set of attributes or faults as someone they are associated with.

Taste of your own medicine

If you give someone a taste of their own medicine, you do something bad to someone that they have done to you to teach them a lesson.

Teeny-weeny

If something is teensy-weensy, it is very small indeed.
(’Teeny-weeny’ and ‘teensie-weensie’ are also used.)

Test the waters

If you test the waters, or test the water, you experiment to see how successful or acceptable something is before implementing it.

That’s all she wrote

(USA) This idiom is used to show that something has ended and there is nothing more to say about something.

The be all and end all

The phrase ‘The be all and end all’ means that a something is the final, or ultimate outcome or result of a situation or event.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

This idiom means that the more powerful have more to lose, so when they suffer something bad, it is worse for them.

The common weal

If something is done for the common weal, it is done in the interests and for the benefit of the majority or the general public.

The line forms on the right

Something’s meaning is becoming clear when the line forms on the right.

The more the merrier

The more the merrier means that the greater the quantity or the bigger the number of something, the happier the speaker will be.

The Mountie always gets his man

(Canada) The Mounties are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and they have a reputation for catching criminals they are after.

The plot thickens

When the plot thickens, a situation become more complicated and difficult.

The rough and tumble

The rough and tumble refers to areas of life like business, sports, politics, etc, where competition is hard and people will take any advantage that they can.

The whole shooting match

Everything, the entire object, or all the related parts.

There’s the rub

The meaning of this idiom is ‘that’s the problem’.

Thick and fast

If things are happening thick and fast, they are happening so fast they seemed to be joined together.

Thin as a rake

A rake is a garden tool with a long, thin, wooden handle, so someone very thin is thin as a rake.

Thin end of the wedge

The thin end of the wedge is something small and seemingly unimportant that will lead to something much bigger and more serious.

Thin line

If there’s a thin line between things, it’s hard to distinguish them- there’s a thin line between love and hate.

Think outside the box

If you think outside the box, you think in an imaginative and creative way.

Think the world of

To hold something or someone in very high esteem. To love or admire immensely.

Third rail

The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train.

Thrilled to bits

If you are thrilled to bits, you are extremely pleased or excited about something.

Through thick and thin

If someone supports you through thick and thin, they support you during good times and bad.

Throw a sickie

If you pretend to be ill to take a day off work or school, you throw a sickie.

Throw someone a line

If someone throws you a line, they give you help when you are in serious difficulties.

Throw someone in at the deep end

If you are thrown in at the deep end, you have to deal with serious issues the moment you start something like a job, instead of having time to acquire experience.

Throw the book at someone

If you throw the book at someone, you punish them as severely as possible.

Throw your toys out of the pram

To make an angry protest against a relatively minor problem, in the process embarrassing the protester. The analogy is with a baby who throws toys out of the pram in order to get their parent to pay attention to them. The implication in the idiom is that the protester is acting like a baby.

Throw your weight around

If someone throws their weight around, they use their authority or force of personality to get what they want in the face of opposition.

Tickle your fancy

If something tickles your fancy, it appeals to you and you want to try it or have it.

Tie the knot

When people tie the knot, they get married.

Tight rein

If things or people are kept on a tight rein, they are given very little freedom or controlled carefully.

Tight ship

If you run a tight ship, you control something strictly and don’t allow people much freedom of action.

Till the pips squeak

If someone will do something till the pips squeak, they will do it to the limit, even though it will make other people suffer.

Tilt at windmills

A person who tilts at windmills, tries to do things that will never work in practice.

Tipping point

Small changes may have little effect until they build up to critical mass, then the next small change may suddenly change everything. this is the tipping point.

Tit for tat

If someone responds to an insult by being rude back, it’s tit for tat- repaying something negative the same way.

To a fault

If something does something to a fault, they do it excessively. So someone who is generous to a fault is too generous.

To a T

If something is done to a T, it is done perfectly.

To all intents and purposes

This means in all the most important ways.

To little avail

If something is to little avail, it means that, despite great efforts, something ended in failure, but taking comfort from the knowledge that nothing else could have been done to avert or avoid the result.

Too many irons in the fire

This means juggling too many projects at once and something’s bound to fail; when a smith had too many irons in his fire, he couldn’t effectively keep track of all of them.

Top notch

If something is top notch, it’s excellent, of the highest quality or standard.

Touch and go

If something is touch and go, the result is uncertain and could be good or bad.

Touch base

If you touch base with someone, you contact them.

Touch-and-go

If something is touch-and-go, it is very uncertain; if someone is ill and may well die, then it is touch-and-go.

Tough luck

Tough luck is bad luck.

Tough row to hoe

(USA) A tough row to hoe is a situation that is difficult to handle. (’A hard row to hoe’ is an alternative form.)

Trade barbs

If people trade barbs, they insult or attack each other.

Tread water

If someone is treading water, they are making no progress.

Tried and tested

If a method has been tried and tested, it is known to work or be effective because it has been successfully used long enough to be trusted.

Trump card

A trump card is a resource or strategy that is held back for use at a crucial time when it will beat rivals or opponents.

Truth will out

Truth will out means that, given time, the facts of a case will emerge no matter how people might try to conceal them.

Turn the corner

To get over a bad run. When a loss making venture ceases to make losses, it has “turned the corner”.

Turn the crack

(Scot) If you turn the crack, you change the subject of a conversation.

Turn the tables

If circumstances change completely, giving an advantage to those who seemed to be losing, the tables are turned.

Turn-up for the books

A turn-up for the books is an unexpected or surprising event.

Twenty-four seven

Twenty-four seven or 24/7 means all the time, coming from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

U-turn

If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn.

Uncalled for

If someone does something bad and unnecessary without consideration for anothers feelings, what they do is uncalled for.

Under a flag of convenience

If a ship sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a country where taxes, etc, are lower than in the country it comes from, so if someone does something under a flag of convenience, they attempt to avoid regulations and taxes by a similar means.

Under fire

If someone is being attacked and cricitised heavily, they are under fire.

Under the radar

If something slips under the radar, it isn’t detected or noticed.

Under the wire

(USA) If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.

Under your breath

If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly.

Unwavering loyalty

Unwavering loyalty does not question or doubt the person or issue and supports them completely.

Up for grabs

If something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first or is successful will get it.

Up in the air

If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it.

Up sticks

(UK) If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.

Up the ante

If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there’s an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet).

Up the creek

If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble. ‘Up the creek without a paddle’ is an alternative, and ‘up shit creek (without a paddle)’ is a ruder form.

Up the spout

(UK) If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.

Up to scratch

If something doesn’t come up to scratch, it doesn’t meet the standard required or expected.

Up to snuff

If something isn’t up to snuff, it doesn’t meet the standard expected.

Up to speed

If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something.

Vicious circle

A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, then loses their job… ‘Vicious cycle’ is also used.

Waiting in the wings

If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.

Wake-up call

A wake-up call is a warning of a threat or a challenge, especially when it means that people will have to change their behaviour to meet it.

Walk a fine line

If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing. (’Walk a thin line’ is an alternative.)

Walk a tightrope

If you walk a tightrope, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people who could become enemies.

Walk in the park

An undertaking that is easy is a walk in the park. The opposite is also true – “no walk in the park”.

Walk the plank

If someone walks the plank, they are going toward their own destruction or downfall

Walking on broken glass

When a person is punished for something.e.g. ‘She had me walking on broken glass.’

Warm and fuzzy

Meaning the feeling evoked as though you were enclosed in a warm and fuzzy blanket.

Warpath

If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.

Waste not, want not

If you don’t waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.

Watching paint dry

If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.

Watering hole

(UK) A watering hole is a pub.

What can sorry do?

This means that it is not enough to apologise.

What goes around comes around

This saying means that of people do bad things to other people, bad things will happen to them.

What goes around, comes around

The good or bad you do to others is requited.

What will be will be

The expression what will be will be is used to describe the notion that fate will decide the outcome of a course of events, even if action is taken to try to alter it.

What’s up?

This can be used to ask ‘What’s wrong?’ or ‘How are you?’.

What’s your poison?

This is a way of asking someone what they would like to drink, especially alcohol.

What’s your take on that?

This idiom is way of asking someone for their opinion and ideas.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

This idiom means that if people really want to do something, they will manage to find a way of doing it.

Whet your appetite

If something whets your appetite, it interests you and makes you want more of it.

Who will ring the bell?

‘Who will ring the bell?’ asks who will assume the responsibility to help us out of a difficult situation. 

Whole ball of wax

(USA) The whole ball of wax is everything.

Whole kit and caboodle

The whole kit and caboodle means ‘everything’ required or involved in something. (’Kaboodle’ is an alternative spelling.)

Whole shebang

The whole shebang includes every aspect of something.

Wide berth

If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.

Will never fly

If an idea or project, etc, will never fly, it has no chance of succeeding.

Will-o’-the-wisp

Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment.

Window dressing

If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing.

Winner takes all

If everything goes to the winner, as in an election, the winner takes all.

With a heavy hand

If someone does something with a heavy hand, they do it in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

This expression is used when people behave badly or treat someone badly that they are supposed to be friends with.

Without a hitch

If something happens without a hitch, nothing at all goes wrong.

Woe betide you

This is used to wish that bad things will happen to someone, usually because of their bad behaviour.

Woe is me

This means that you are sad or in a difficult situation. It’s archaic, but still used.

Words fail me

If words fail you, you can’t find the words to express what you are trying to say.

Work like a charm

If something works like a charm, it works perfectly.

Worse for wear

If something’s worse for wear, it has been used for a long time and, consequently, isn’t in very good condition. A person who’s worse for wear is drunk or high on drugs and looking rough.

Worth a shot

If something is worth a shot, it is worth trying as there is some chance of success.

Wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole

(UK) If you wouldn’t touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In American English, people say they wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole)

Wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole

(USA) If you wouldn’t touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In British English, people say they wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole)

Wrap yourself in the flag

If someone wraps themselves in the flag, they pretend to be doing something for patriotic reasons or out of loyalty, but their real motives are selfish. (’Drape yourself in the flag’ is an alternative form of this idiom)

Wrench in the works

(USA) If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan. In British English, ’spanner’ is used instead of ‘wrench’.

Writ large

If something is writ large, it is emphasised or highlighted.

Written in stone

If something is written in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed.

Wrong end of the stick

If someone has got the wrong end of the stick, they have misunderstood what someone has said to them.

X factor

The dangers for people in the military that civilians do not face, for which they receive payment, are known as the X factor.

X marks the spot

This is used to say where something is located or hidden.

Yah boo sucks

Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.

Yank my chain

If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering them.

Yen

If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.

You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family

Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.

You can say that again

If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say ‘You can say that again’ as a way of doing so.

You can’t take it with you

Enjoy life, enjoy what you have and don’t worry about not having a lot, especially money…because once you’re dead, ‘you can’t take it with you.’ For some, it means to use up all you have before you die because it’s no use to you afterwards.

You reap what you sow

This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things.  It is normally used when someone has done something bad.

You said it!

Used to say you agree completely with something just said.

You what?

This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.

Your call

If something is your call, it is up to you to make a decision on the matter.

Your name is mud

If someone’s name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.

Zigged before you zagged

If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged.