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Cake’s not worth the candle
If someone says that the cake’s not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not be worth the effort put in to achieve it.
Calf lick
A calf lick is the weird parting in your fringe where your hair grows in a different direction, usually to one side.
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 it a day
If you call it a day, you stop doing something for a while, normally at least until the following day.
Call on the carpet
If you are called on the carpet, you are summoned for a reprimand by superiors or others in power.
Call the dogs off
If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticizing someone.
Call the shots
If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do.
Call the tune
The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.
Calm before the storm
A calm time immediately before period of violent activity or argument is the calm before the storm.
Can of worms
If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.
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 do it for toffee
If you can’t so something for toffee, you are incapable of doing something properly or to any sort of standard.
Can’t hack it
Unable to perform an act, duty, job etc. (example: I have to quit my job as a computer technician; I just can’t hack it.)
Can’t hold a candle
If something can’t hold a candle to something else, it is much worse.
Can’t see the forest for its trees
If someone can’t see the forest for its trees, they are too focused on specific details to see the picture as a whole.
Canary in a coal mine
(UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.
Card up your sleeve
If you have a card up your sleeve, you have a surprise plan or idea that you are keeping back until the time is right.
Carpetbagger
A carpetbagger is an opportunist without any scruples or ethics, or a politician who wants to represent a place they have no connection with.
Carrot and stick
If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment.
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.
Carry the day
If something carries the day, it wins a battle (the sense is that the battle has been long and could have gone either way) or competition for supremacy.
Case by case
If things are done case by case, each situation or issue is handled separately on its own merits and demerits.
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’.
Cash cow
A product, business, etc, that generates a continuous flow of money or a high proportion of overall profits is a cash cow.
Cash in your chips
If you cash in your chips, you sell something to get what profit you can because you think its value is going to fall. It can also mean ‘to die’.
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 iron stomach
A person with a cast iron stomach can eat or drink anything without any ill effects.
Cast pearls before swine
If you cast pearls before swine, you offer something of value to someone who doesn’t appreciate it- ‘swine’ are ‘pigs’.
Cast sheep’s eyes at
If you cast sheep’s eyes at at someone, you look lovingly or with longing at them.
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.
Casting vote
The casting vote is a vote given to a chairman or president that is used when there is a deadlock.
Castles in the air
Plans that are impractical and will never work out are castles in the air.
Cat among the pigeons
If something or someone puts, or sets or lets, the cat among the pigeons, they create a disturbance and cause trouble.
Cat and dog life
If people lead a cat and dog life, they are always arguing.
Cat burglar
A cat burglar is a skillful thief who breaks into places without disturbing people or setting off alarms.
Cat fur and kitty britches
(USA) When I used to ask my grandma what was for dinner, she would say ‘cat fur and kitty britches’. This was her Ozark way of telling me that I would get what she cooked. (Ozark is a region in the center of the United States)
Cat got your tongue?
If someone asks if the cat has got your tongue, they want to know why you are not speaking when they think you should.
Cat nap
If you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.
Cat’s lick
(Scot) A cat’s lick is a very quick wash.
Cat’s pajamas
(USA) Something that is the cat’s pajamas is excellent.
Cat’s whiskers
Something excellent is the cat’s whiskers.
Catch as catch can
This means that people should try to get something any way they can.
Catch hell
If you catch hell, you get into trouble or get scolded. (‘Catch heck’ is also used.)
Catch some z’s
If you catch some z’s, you get some sleep.
Catch someone red-handed
If someone is caught red-handed, they are found doing something wrong or illegal.
Catch-22
Catch-22 is a situation where conflicting rules make the desired outcome impossible. It comes from a novel by the American author Joseph Heller, in which pilots would not have to fly missions if they were mentally ill, but not wanting to fly dangerous missions was held to be proof of sanity, so they had to fly anyway. (‘Catch 22′, without the hyphen, is also used.)
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar
(USA) If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.
Chalk and cheese
Things, or people, that are like chalk and cheese are very different and have nothing in common.
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.)
Champagne taste on a beer budget
Someone who lives above their means and likes things they cannot afford has champagne taste on a beer budget.
Change horses in midstream
If people change horses in midstream, they change plans or leaders when they are in the middle of something, even though it may be very risky to do so.
Change of heart
If you change the way you think or feel about something, you have a change of heart.
Change tack
If you change tack, you use a different method for dealing with something.
Change your tune
If someone changes their ideas or the way they talk about them, they change their tune.
Chaps my ass
When something/someone really annoys you, it chaps your ass.
Chapter and verse
When you know something very well, and can quote it, you know it chapter and verse.
Charity begins at home
This idiom means that family members are more important than anyone else, and should be the focus of a person’s efforts.
Chase rainbows
If someone chases rainbows, they try to do something that they will never achieve.
Chase your tail
If you are chasing your tail, you are very busy but not being very productive.
Cheap as chips
(UK) If something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.
Cheap at half the price
If something’s cheap at half the price, it’s very cheap indeed.
Cheap shot
A cheap shot is an unprincipled criticism.
Cheat death
If someone cheats death, they narrowly avoid a major problem or accident.
Cheek by jowl
If things or people are cheek by jowl, they are very close together.
Cherry pick
If people cherry pick, they choose things that support their position, while ignoring things that contradict it.
Chew on a bone
If someone is chewing on a bone, he or she is thinking about something intently.
Chew the cud
If you chew the cud, you think carefully about something.
Chew the fat
If you chew the fat with someone, you talk at leisure with them.
Chickenfeed
If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.
Child’s play
If something is child’s play, it is very easy and simple.
Chinese walls
Chinese walls are regulatory information barriers that aim to stop the flow of information that could be misused, especially in financial corporations.
Chinese whispers
(UK) When a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.
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.
Chip on your shoulder
If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they are resentful about something and feel that they have been treated badly.
Chop and change
If things chop and change, they keep changing, often unexpectedly.
Cigarette paper
If you cannot get or put a cigarette paper between people, they are so closely bonded that nothing will separate them or their positions on issues.
Circle the wagons
(USA) If you circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don’t think the same way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean to bring everyone together to defend a group against an attack.
Circling the drain
If someone is circling the drain, they are very near death and have little time to live. The phrase can also describe a project or plan or campaign that that is on the brink of failure.
Class act
Someone who’s a class act is exceptional in what they do.
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 hands
Someone with clean hands, or who keeps their hands clean, is not involved in illegal or immoral activities.
Clean sheet
When someone has a clean sheet, they have got no criminal record or problems affecting their reputation. In football and other sports, a goalkeeper has a clean sheet when let no goals in.
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.
Clean your clock
If you clean your clock, you beat someone decisively in a contest or fight.
Clear as a bell
If something is as clear as a bell, it is very clear or easy to understand.
Clear as mud
If something is as clear as mud, then it is very confusing and unclear.
Cliffhanger
If something like a sports match or an election is a cliffhanger, then the result is so close that it cannot be predicted and will only be known at the very end.
Climb on the bandwagon
When people climb on the bandwagon they do something because it is popular and everyone else is doing it.
Climb the greasy pole
Advance within an organization – especially in politics.
Cling to hope
If people cling to hope, they continue to hope though the chances of success are very small.
Close at hand
If something is close at hand, it is nearby or conveniently located.
Close but no cigar
(USA) If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.
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.
Close shave
If you have a close shave, you very nearly have a serious accident or get into trouble.
Close the stable door after the horse has bolted
If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. ‘Close the barn door after the horse has bolted’ is alternative, often used in American English.
Close to your heart
If something is close to your heart, you care a lot about it. (‘Dear to your heart’ is an alternative.)
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.
Cloth ears
If you don’t listen to people, they may suggest you have cloth ears.
Cloud cuckoo land
If someone has ideas or plans that are completely unrealistic, they are living on cloud cuckoo land.
Cloud nine
If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy. (‘cloud seven’ is a less common alternative)
Cloud of suspicion
If a cloud of suspicion hangs over an individual, it means that they are not believed or are distrusted.
Cloud on the horizon
If you can see a problem ahead, you can call it a cloud on the horizon.
Clutch at straws
If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.
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.
Coals to Newcastle
(UK) Taking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnecessary.
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.
Cock and bull story
A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.
Cock in the henhouse
This is used to describe a male in an all-female environment.
Cock of the walk
A man who is excessively confident and thinks he’s better than other people is the cock of the walk.
Cold day in hell
This is used as a prediction there is no chance some event or condition will ever happen. ‘There will be a cold day in hell before he manages it.’
Cold feet
If you get cold feet about something, you lose the courage to do it.
Cold fish
A cold fish is a person who doesn’t show how they feel.
Cold light of day
If you see things in the cold light of day, you see them as they really are, not as you might want them to be.
Cold shoulder
If you give or show someone the cold shoulder, you are deliberately unfriendly and unco-operative towards them.
Cold sweat
If something brings you out in a cold sweat, it frightens you a lot.
Cold turkey
If someone suddenly stops taking drugs, instead of slowly cutting down, they do cold turkey.
Colder than a witches tit
If it is colder than a witches tit, it is extremely cold outside.
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.
Color bar
Rules that restrict access on the basis of race or ethnicity are a color bar.
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 hell or high water
If someone says they’ll do something come hell or high water, they mean that nothing will stop them, no matter what happens.
Come of age
When something comes of age it develops completely and reaches maturity. When someone comes of age, they reach adulthood or fulfill their potential.
Come on hard
If you come on hard, you are aggressive in your dealing with someone.
Come on the heels of
If something comes on the heels of something, it follows very soon after it.
Come out in the wash
If something will come out in the wash, it won’t have any permanent negative effect.
Come out of the woodwork
When things come out of the woodwork, they appear unexpectedly. (‘Crawl out of the woodwork’ is also used.)
Come out of your shell
If someone comes out of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable.
Come rain or shine
If I say I’ll be at a place come rain or shine, I mean that I can be relied on to turn up; nothing, not even the vagaries of British weather, will deter me or stop me from being there.
Come to a head
If events reach a crisis point, they come to a head.
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 to grips
If you come to grips with a problem or issue, you face up to it and deal with it.
Come to heel
If someone comes to heel, they stop behaving in a way that is annoying to someone in authority and start being obedient.
Come up roses
If things come up roses, they produce a positive result, especially when things seemed to be going badly at first.
Come up smelling of roses
(UK) If someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged.
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.
Connect the dots
When you connect the dots, you understand the connections and relationships.
Constitution of an ox
If someone has the constitution of an ox, they are less affected than most people by things like tiredness, illness, alcohol, etc.
Cook someone’s goose
If you cook someone’s goose, you ruin their plans.
Cook the books
If people cook the books, they keep false accounts to make money illegally or avoid paying tax.
Cook up a storm
If someone cooks up a storm, they cause a big fuss or generate a lot of talk about something.
Cool as a cat
To act fine when you a actually scared or nervous
Cool your heels
If you leave someone to cool their heels, you make them wait until they have calmed down.
Coon’s age
(USA) A very long time, as in ‘I haven’t seen her in a coon’s age!’
Corner a market
If a business is dominant in an area and unlikely to be challenged by other companies, it has cornered the market.
Couch potato
A couch potato is an extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food.
Could eat a horse
If you are very hungry, you could eat a horse.
Couldn’t give two hoots
If you couldn’t give two hoots about something, you don’t care at all about it.
Count sheep
If people cannot sleep, they are advised to count sheep mentally.
Count your blessings
When people count their blessings, they concentrate on all the good things in their lives instead of the negative ones.
Country mile
(USA) A country mile is used to describe a long distance.
Cover all the bases
If you cover all the bases, you deal with all aspects of a situation or issue, or anticipate all possibilities. (‘Cover all bases’ is also used.)
Crack a nut with a sledgehammer
If you use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you apply too much force to achieve a result. (‘Jackhammer’ is also used.)
Crash a party
If you crash a party, or are a gatecrasher, you go somewhere you haven’t been invited to.
Cream of the crop
The cream of the crop is the best there is.
Cream rises to the top
A good person or idea cannot go unnoticed for long, just as cream poured in coffee or tea eventually rises to the top.
Creature comforts
If a person said “I hate camping. I don’t like giving up my creature comforts.” the person would be referring, in particular, to the comfortable things he/she would have at home but not when camping. At home, for example, he/she would have complete shelter from the weather, a television, a nice comfortable warm bed, the ability to take a warm bath or shower, comfortable lounge chairs to relax in and so on. The person doesn’t like giving up the material and psychological benefits of his/her normal life.
Crème de la crème
The crème de la crème is the very best of something.
Crocodile tears
If someone cries crocodile tears, they pretend to be upset or affected by something.
Crooked as a dog’s hind leg
Someone who is very dishonest is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
Cross swords
When people cross swords, they argue or dispute. This expression is used when some groups accuse each other for non-adherence to norms. Actually no sword is used but the tempo of the argument is high enough to cause worsening of the already bad situation. It is a tussle (vehement struggle without use of arms) between the parties to establish supremacy.
Cross that bridge when you come to it
If you will cross that bridge when you come to it, you will deal with a problem when it arises, but not until that point
Cross to bear
If someone has a cross to bear, they have a heavy burden of responsibility or a problem that they alone must cope with.
Crossing the Rubicon
When you are crossing the Rubicon, you are passing a point of no return. After you do this thing, there is no way of turning around. The only way left is forward.
Crunch time
When people, companies, etc, have to make an important decision that will have a considerable effect on their future, it is crunch time.
Cry wolf
If someone cries wolf, they raise a false alarm about something.
Cry your eyes out
If you cry your eyes out, you cry uncontrollably.
Cry-baby
A cry-baby is a person who gets emotional and cries too easily.
Cuckoo in the nest
Is an issue or a problem, etc, is a cuckoo in the nest, it grows quickly and crowds out everything else.
Cupboard love
(UK) To show love to gain something from someone
Curate’s egg
(UK) If something is a bit of a curate’s egg, it is only good in parts.
Curiosity killed the cat
As cats are naturally curious animals, we use this expression to suggest to people that excessive curiosity is not necessarily a good thing, especially where it is not their business.
Curry favor
If people try to curry favor, they try to get people to support them.
Curve ball
(USA) If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
Cut a long story short
This idiom is used as a way of shortening a story by getting to the end or the point.
Cut a rug
To cut a rug is to dance.
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 down the tall poppies
(AU) If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticize people who stand out from the crowd.
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 off your nose to spite your face
If you cut off your nose to spite your face, you do something rash or silly that ends up making things worse for you, often because you are angry or upset.
Cut someone some slack
To relax a rule or make an allowance, as in allowing someone more time to finish something.
Cut the Gordian knot
If someone cuts the Gordian knot, they solve a very complex problem in a simple way.
Cut the mustard
(UK) If somebody or something doesn’t cut the mustard, they fail or it fails to reach the required standard.
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.
Cut your coat according to your cloth
If you cut your coat according to your cloth, you only buy things that you have sufficient money to pay for.
Cut your losses
If you cut your losses, you avoid losing any more money than you already have by getting out of a situation before matters worsen.
Cut your teeth on
The place where you gain your early experience is where you cut your teeth.
Cute as a bug
(USA) If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.
Cuts no ice
If something cuts no ice, it doesn’t have any effect or influence.
Cutting edge
Something that is cutting edge is at the forefront of progress in its area.
D
Daft as a brush
(UK) Someone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.
Damp squib
(UK) If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn’t, it is a damp squib.
Dancing on someone’s grave
If you will dance on someone’s grave, you will outlive or outlast them and will celebrate their demise.
Dark horse
If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery.
Davey Jones’ locker
Davey Jones’ locker is the bottom of the sea or resting place of drowned sailors.(‘Davy Jones’ locker’ is an alternative spelling.)
Day in the sun
If you have your day in the sun, you get attention and are appreciated.
Daylight robbery
If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery; open, unfair and hard to prevent. Rip-off has a similar meaning.
Days are numbered
When someone’s days are numbered, they are expected to die soon.
Dead air
When there is a period of total silence, there is dead air.
Dead and buried
If something is dead and buried, it has all long been settled and is not going to be reconsidered.
Dead as a dodo
If something’s dead as a dodo, it is lifeless and dull. The dodo was a bird that lived the island of Mauritius. It couldn’t fly and was hunted to extinction.
Dead as a doornail
This is used to indicate that something is lifeless.
Dead duck
If something is a dead duck, it is a failure.
Dead even
If people competing are dead even, they are at exactly the same stage or moving at exactly the same speed.
Dead from the neck up
Someone who’s dead from the neck up is very stupid indeed.
Dead heat
If a race ends in a dead heat, two or more finish with exactly the same result.
Dead in the water
If something is dead in the water, it isn’t going anywhere or making any progress.
Dead level best
If you try your dead level best, you try as hard as you possibly could to do something.
Dead man walking
A dead man walking is someone who is in great trouble and will certainly get punished, lose their job or position, etc, soon.
Dead meat
This is used as a way of threatening someone: You’ll be dead meat if you don’t go along.
Dead men’s shoes
If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be reached by dead men’s shoes’ by getting rid of them.
Dead right
This means that something or someone is absolutely correct, without doubt.
Dead to the world
If somebody’s fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around them, he or she’s dead to the world.
Dead wrong
If someone is dead wrong, they are absolutely in error, absolutely incorrect or of incorrect opinion.
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.
Death of a thousand cuts
If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.
Death warmed up
(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. (‘death warmed over’ is the American form)
Decorate the mahogany
(USA) When someone buys a round a pub or bar, they decorate the mahogany; putting cash on the bar.
Deep pockets
If someone has deep pockets, they are wealthy.
Deep pockets but short arms
Someone who has money but never puts his hand in his pocket to pay for anything has deep pockets but short arms.
Deer in the headlights
When one is caught off-guard and needs to make a decision, but cannot react quickly.
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]
Demon weed
Tobacco is the demon weed.
Derring-do
If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.
Devil finds work for idle hands
When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don’t have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality.
Devil is in the detail
When people say that the devil in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.
Devil may care
If you live a devil-may-care life it means you are willing to take more risks than most people.
Devil’s advocate
If someone plays Devil’s advocate in an argument, they adopt a position they don’t believe in just for the sake of the argument
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 kettle of fish
If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced.
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.
Dig your heels in
If you dig your heels in, you start to resist something.
Dime a dozen
(USA) If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Dine on ashes
I someone is dining on ashes he or she is excessively focusing attention on failures or regrets for past actions.
Dinosaur
A dinosaur is a person who is thought to be too old for their position.
Dip your toes in the water
If you dip your toes in the water, you try something tentatively because you are not sure whether it will work or not.
Dirty dog
A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person.
Discerning eye
If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.
Discretion is the better part of valor
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 a Devon Loch
(UK) If someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.
Do a Lord Lucan
(UK) If someone disappears without a trace or runs off, they do a Lord Lucan. (Lord Lucan disappeared after a murder)
Do a runner
(UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.
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.
Dodge the bullet
If someone has dodged a bullet, they have successfully avoided a very serious problem.
Dog and pony show
(USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
Dog days
Dog days are very hot summer days.
Dog eat dog
In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.
Dog in the manger
(UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don’t want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.
Dog tired
If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.
Dog’s dinner
Something that is a dog’s dinner is a real mess.
Dog’s life
If some has a dog’s life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.
Dog-eared
If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition, with torn pages, etc.
Dog-whistle politics
(AU) When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics.
Doggy bag
If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven’t eaten for you to take home.
Doldrums
If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed. If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn’t making any progress.
Dollars for doughnuts
(USA) If something is dollars for doughnuts, it is a sure bet or certainty.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds
When someone says this to you, they are trying to tell you not to act against those on whom you depend.
Don’t catch your chickens before they’re hatched
This means that you should wait until you know whether something has produced the results you desire, rather than acting beforehand. (‘Don’t count your chickens until they’ve hatched’ is an alternative.)
Don’t cry over spilt milk
When something bad happens and nothing can be done to help it people say, ‘Don’t cry over spilt milk’.
Don’t give up the day job
This idiom is used a way of telling something that they do something badly.
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 know whether to wind a watch or bark at the moon
If you don’t know what to do, you don’t know whether to wind a watch or bark at the moon.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.
Don’t mention the war
This means that you shouldn’t speak about things that could cause an argument or tension.This idiom was used in a classic episode of the much-loved British comedy series Fawlty Towers. As a consequence if you use this phrase in Britain, listeners will understand you to be referring to Germans, or just start laughing.
Don’t push my buttons!
This can be said to someone who is starting to annoy you.
Don’t shoot the messenger
This phrase can be used when breaking some bad news to someone and you don’t want to be blamed for the news. (‘Don’t kill the messenger’ is also used.)
Don’t stand there with curlers in your hair
This means ‘don’t keep me waiting’. It’s said to someone who is taking too long to get moving.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
(USA) This is used to tell people not to worry about trivial or unimportant issues.
Don’t take any wooden nickels
(USA) This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
Don’t throw bricks when you live in a glass house
Don’t call others out on actions that you, yourself do. Don’t be a hypocrite.
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.)
Done to death
If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has stopped being funny.
Donkey work
Donkey work is any hard, boring work or task.
Donkey’s years
This idiom means ‘a very long time’.
Doormat
A person who doesn’t stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat.
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.
Double Dutch
(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
Double take
If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how shocked or surprised they are.
Double whammy
A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.
Double-edged sword
If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a double-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.
Doubting Thomas
A Doubting Thomas is someone who only believes what they see themselves, not what they are told.
Down and out
If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.
Down at heel
Someone who is down at heel is short of money. (‘Down in heel’ is used in American English)
Down for the count
If someone is down for the count, they have lost a struggle, like a boxer who has been knocked out.
Down in the doldrums
If somebody’s down in the doldrums, they are depressed and lacking energy.
Down in the dumps
If someone’s down in the dumps, they are depressed.
Down in the mouth
If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed.
Down the drain
If something goes down the drain, especially money or work, it is wasted or produces no results.
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.
Down-to-earth
Someone who’s down-to-earth is practical and realistic. It can also be used for things like ideas.
Drag your feet
If someone is dragging their feet, they are taking too long to do or finish something, usually because they don’t want to do it.
Drag your heels
If you drag your heels, you either delay doing something or do it as slowly as possible because you don’t want to do it.
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.
Draw the shortest straw
If someone draws the shortest straw, they lose or are chosen to do something unpleasant.
Dress someone down
If you dress someone down, you scold them.
Dress to kill
When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.
Dressed to the nines
If you are in your very best clothes, you’re dressed to the nines.
Drink like a fish
If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.
Drive a wedge
If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.
Drive home
The idiomatic expression ‘drive home’ means ‘reinforce’ as in ‘The company offered unlimited technical support as a way to drive home the message that customer satisfaction was its highest priority.’
Drive someone up the wall
If something or someone drives you up the wall, they do something that irritates you greatly.
Drive you spare
If someone or something drives you spare, it is extremely annoying.
Driven by a motor
This is used to describe people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when they talk excessively: ‘they act as if driven by a motor.’
Drop a bombshell
If someone drops a bombshell, they announce something that changes a situation drastically and unexpectedly.
Drop a dime
(USA) If you tell someone to drop a dime, you’re suggesting he or she telephone you at some future time.
Drop in the bucket
(USA) A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won’t make any noticeable difference.
Drop in the ocean
A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.
Drop into your lap
If something drops into your lap, you receive it suddenly, without any warning. (‘Fall into your lap’ is also used.)
Drop like flies
This means that something is disappearing very quickly. For example, if you said people were dropping like flies, it would mean that they were dying off, quitting or giving up something rapidly.
Drop someone a line
If you drop someone a line, you send a letter to them.
Drop the ball
If someone drops the ball, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities seriously enough and let something go wrong.
Dropped like a hot cake
If something is dropped like a hot cake, it is rejected or disposed of very quickly.
Drown your sorrows
If someone gets drunk or drinks a lot to try to stop feeling unhappy, they drown their sorrows.
Drunk as a lord
(UK) Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
Drunker than a peach orchard boar
(USA) Southern US expression – Very drunk, as when a boar would eat fermented peaches that have fallen from the tree.
Dry as a bone
If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.
Dry as snuff
If something is as dry as snuff, it is very dry indeed.
Dry run
A dry run is a full rehearsal or trial exercise of something to see how it will work before it is launched.
Dry spell
If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren’t being as successful as they normally are.
Duck soup
(USA) If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Duck to water
If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.
Ducks in a row
(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
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 color and stagnant (when water turns a funny color and starts to smell bad). (In American English, ‘things are ‘dull as dishwater’.)
Dumb as a rock
If you are dumb as a rock, you have no common sense and are stupid.
Dunkirk spirit
(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.
Dutch auction
If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.
Dutch courage
Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.
Dutch treat
If something like a meal is a Dutch treat, then each person pays their own share of the bill.
Dutch uncle
A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.
Dutch wife
A Dutch wife is a long pillow or a hot water bottle.
Dwell on the past
Thinking too much about the past, so that it becomes a problem is to dwell on the past.
Dyed-in-the-wool
If someone is a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of a political party, etc, they support them totally, without any questions.
E
Each to their own
Different people have different preferences. In American English, ‘Each to his own’ is more common.
Eager beaver
A person who is extremely keen is an eager beaver.
Eagle eyes
Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small.
Early bath
(UK) If someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or lose their job or position earlier than expected because things have gone wrong.
Early bird catches the worm
The early bird catches the worm means that if you start something early, you stand a better chance of success.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise
It means that sleeping well and not staying up late will help you out physically and financially.
Earn a living
To make money Ex: We need to get a good job to earn a decent living.
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 as beans
Something that is so easy that anyone can do it is easy as beans.
Easy as pie
If something is easy as pie, it is very easy indeed.
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.
Easy peasy
(UK) If something is easy peasy, it is very easy indeed. (‘Easy peasy, lemon squeezy’ is also used.)
Eat crow
(USA) If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
Eat humble pie
If someone apologizes and shows a lot of contrition for something they have done, they eat humble pie.
Eat like a bird
If someone eats like a bird, they eat very little.
Eat like a horse
Someone who eats like a horse, eats a lot.
Eat like a pig
If some eats like a pig, they either eat too much or they have bad table manners.
Eat my hat
People say this when they don’t believe that something is going to happen e.g. ‘If he passes that exam, I’ll eat my hat!’
Eat someone alive
If you eat someone alive, you defeat or beat them comprehensively.
Eat your heart out
If someone tells you to eat your heart out, they are saying they are better than you at something.
Eat your words
If you eat your words, you accept publicly that you were wrong about something you said.
Economical with the truth
(UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.
Egg on your face
If someone has egg on their face, they are made to look foolish or embarrassed.
Elbow grease
If something requires elbow grease, it involves a lot of hard physical work.
Elbow room
If you haven’t got enough elbow room, you haven’t got enough space.
Elephant in the room
An elephant in the room is a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo, embarrassing, etc.
Eleventh hour
If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens right at the last minute.
Empty vessels make the most noise
The thoughtless often speak the most.
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 loses his credibility.
Etched in stone
Something, especially rules and customs, that cannot be changed at all is said to be etched in stone.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while
This expression means that even if people are ineffective or misguided, sometimes they can still be correct just by being lucky.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day
This is used when people get lucky and are undeservedly successful.(‘Even a stopped clock is right twice a day’ is also used.)
Even keel
If something is on an even keel, it is balanced.
Even Stevens
If everything is equal between people, they are even Stevens.
Even the dogs in the street know
(Irish) This idiom is used frequently in Ireland, and means something is so obvious that even the dogs in the street know it.
Every ass likes to hear himself bray
This means that people like the sound of their own voice.
Every cloud has a silver lining
People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who’s having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.
Every dog has its day
This idiom means that everyone gets their moment to shine.
Every man and his dog
A lot of people – as in sending out invitations to a large number of people
Every man for himself
If it’s every man for himself, then people are trying to save themselves from a difficult situation without trying to help anyone else.
Every man has his price
Anyone’s opinion or support can be bought, everyone’s principles have a limit.
Every man jack
If every man jack was involved in something, it is an emphatic way of saying that absolutely everybody was involved.
Every nook and cranny
If you search every nook and cranny, you look everywhere for something.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry
If every Tom, Dick and Harry knows about something, then it is common knowledge.
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.
Everybody and their uncle
This basically means a lot of people or too many people; everybody and their uncle was there.
Everything but the kitchen sink
If people include everything but the kitchen sink, they include every possibility, regardless of whether they are useful.
Exception that proves the rule
This expression is used by many to indicate that an exception in some way confirms a rule. Others say that the exception tests the rule. In its original legal sense, it meant that a rule could sometimes be inferred from an exemption or exception. In general use, the first meaning predominates nowadays, much to the annoyance of some pedants.
Explore all avenues
If all avenues are being explored, then every conceivable approach is being tried that could possibly get the desired result.
Eye candy
When a person is very attractive, they can be described as eye candy – sweet to look at!
Eye for an eye
This is an expression for retributive justice, where the punishment equals the crime.
Eye- wash
This expression ‘eye-wash’ is generally used to cover up the anxiety of a person who is seeking a concrete reply or justification for an act or an event that had affected his personal image or caused him a loss. The affected person usually represents his case to the higher-ups and puts forth his demands for redress. But the authority, in order to avoid embarrassment to his organization or to himself, is not in a position to expose the entire material or evidence which in turn tell upon the credibility of the organization. In such circumstances, he will usually call for an investigation to satisfy the complainant, but will not be keen in disposing the case. The authority will drag on the issue, (at the same time pretending to be serious) until the seriousness of the issue dies down and no finality is reached. So, ‘ The investigation on the issue by the authority is an eye-wash’.
Eye-opener
Something surprising, unexpected which reveals the truth about something or someone.
Eyes are bigger than one’s stomach
If someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach, they are greedy and take on more than they can consume or manage.
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