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Quarrel with bread and butter
Bread and butter, here, indicate the means of one’s living. (That is why we say ‘he is the bread winner of the family’). If a sub-ordinate in an organization is quarrelsome or if he is not patient enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarreled with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and lost his job.
Quart into a pint pot
(UK) If you try to put or get a quart into a pint pot, you try to put too much in a small space. (1 quart = 2 pints)
Queen bee
The queen bee is a woman who holds the most important position in a place.
Queen of Hearts
A woman who is pre-eminent in her area is a Queen of Hearts.
Queer fish
(UK) A strange person is a queer fish.
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.
Question of time
If something’s a question of time, it’s certain to happen, though we don’t know exactly when.
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 buck
If you make some money easily, you make a quick buck.
Quick fix
A quick fix is an easy solution, especially one that will not last.
Quick off the mark
If someone is quick off the mark, they are very quick to use, start or do something new.
Quick on the trigger
Someone who is quick on the trigger acts or responds quickly.
Quids in
(UK) If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.
Quiet as a cat
If somebody is as quiet as a cat they make as little noise as possible and try to be unnoticeable.
Quiet as a mouse
If someone’s as quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no noise.
Quiet before the Storm
When you know that something is about to go horribly wrong, but hasn’t just yet, then you are in the quiet before the storm.
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)
R
Rack and ruin
If something or someone goes to rack and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked.
Rack your brain
If you rack your brain, you think very hard when trying to remember something. (‘Rack your brains’ is an alternative.)
Ragged blue line
(USA) This term was used to signify the Union forces (who wore blue uniforms) in the American Civil war .
Rags to riches
Someone who starts life very poor and becomes rich goes from rags to riches.
Rain on your parade
If someone rains on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or your plans.
Raining cats and dogs
When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.
Rainy day
If you save something, especially money, for a rainy day, you save it for some possible problem or trouble in the future.
Raise Cain
(USA) If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.
Raise eyebrows
If something raises eyebrows, it shocks or surprises people.
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.
Rank and file
The rank and file are the ordinary members of a company, organization, etc, excluding the managers and directors.
Rat race
The rat race is the ruthless, competitive struggle for success in work, etc.
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 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.
Read from the same page
When people are reading from the same page, they say the same things in public about an issue.
Read someone the riot act
If you read someone the riot act, you give them a clear warning that if they don’t stop doing something, they will be in serious trouble.
Real deal
If something is the real deal, it is genuine and good.
Real McCoy
Something that’s the real McCoy is the genuine article, not a fake.
Real plum
A real plum is a good opportunity.
Real trouper
A real trouper is someone who will fight for what they believe in and doesn’t give up easily. (People often use ‘Real trooper’ as the two words sound the same.)
Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic
(UK) If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble.
Recharge your batteries
If you recharge your batteries, you do something to regain your energy after working hard for a long time.
Recipe for disaster
A recipe for disaster is a mixture of people and events that could only possibly result in trouble.
Red carpet
If you give someone the red-carpet treatment, you give them a special welcome to show that you think they are important. You can roll out the red carpet, too.
Red herring
If something is a distraction from the real issues, it is a red herring.
Red letter day
A red letter day is a one of good luck, when something special happens to you.
Red light district
The red light district is the area of a town or city where there is prostitution, sex shops, etc.
Red mist
If someone sees red or the red mist, they lose their temper and self-control completely.
Red rag to a bull
If something is a red rag to a bull, it is something that will inevitably make somebody angry or cross.
Red tape
This is a negative term for the official paperwork and bureaucracy that we have to deal with.
Reds under the bed
An ironic allusion to the obsession some people have that there are reds (communists) everywhere plotting violent revolution.
Reduce to ashes
If something is reduced to ashes, it is destroyed or made useless. His infidelities reduced their relationship to ashes.
Reinvent the wheel
If someone reinvents the wheel, they waste their time doing something that has already been done by other people, when they could be doing something more worthwhile.
Renaissance man
A Renaissance man is a person who is talented in a number of different areas, especially when their talents include both the sciences and the arts.
Rest is gravy
(USA) If the rest is gravy, it is easy and straightforward once you have reached that stage.
Rest on your laurels
If someone rests on their laurels, they rely on their past achievements, rather than trying to achieve things now.
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.)
Rice missionary
A rice missionary gives food to hungry people as a way of converting them to Christianity.
Rich as Croesus
Someone who is as rich as Croesus is very wealthy indeed.
Rich man’s family
A rich man’s family consists of one son and one daughter.
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.
Ride shotgun
If you ride shotgun, you protect or guard something when it is being transported.
Ride with the tide
If you ride with the tide, you accept the majority decision.
Right as rain
If things are right as rain, then everything is going well in your life.
Right out of the blocks
This means immediately; at the very beginning. It describes a sprinter blasting out of the starting blocks at the beginning of a short distance race (e.g., 100-yard dash, 50-yard dash).
Right royal
(UK) A right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one.
Right up my alley
If something is right up your alley, it suits you perfectly.
Right up your street
If something is ideal for you, it is right up your street.
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.
Ringside seat
If you have a ringside seat, you can observe something from a very close and clear position.
Rip van Winkle
Rip van Winkle is a character in a story who slept for twenty years, so if someone is a Rip van Winkle, they are behind the times and out of touch with what’s happening now.
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.
Road to Damascus
If someone has a great and sudden change in their ideas or beliefs, then this is a road to Damascus change, after the conversion of Saint Paul to Christianity while heading to Damascus to persecute Christians.
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 destabilize a situation by making trouble. It is often used as advice; ‘Don’t rock the boat’.
Rocket science
If something is not rocket science, it is not very complicated or difficult to understand. This idiom is normally used in the negative.
Roll out the red carpet
If you roll out the red carpet, you treat someone in a special way, especially when welcoming them.
Roll with the punches
If you roll with the punches, you are flexible and able to adapt to difficult circumstances.
Roll your eyes
If you roll your eyes, you show with your eyes that you don’t believe someone or aren’t interested in what they’re saying.
Rolling in money
If someone has a lot of money, more than they could possibly need, they are rolling in money.
Rolling in the aisles
If the audience watching something are laughing loudly, the show has them rolling in the aisles.
Rome was not built in a day
This idiom means that many things cannot be done instantly, and require time and patience.
Root hog or die poor
(USA) It’s a expression used in the Southern USA that means that you must look out for yourself as no one’s going to do it for you. (It can be shortened to ‘root hog’. A hog is a pig.)
Rooted to the spot
If someone is rooted to the spot, they cannot move, either physically or they cannot think their way out of a problem.
Rose-colored glasses
If people see things through rose-colored glasses, they see them in a more positive light than they really are.
Rose-tinted glasses
If people see things through rose-tinted glasses, they see them in a more positive light than they really are.
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 diamond
A rough diamond is a person who might be a bit rude but who is good underneath it all.
Rough edges
If something has rough edges, it is still not a finished product and not all of a uniform standard.
Rough end of the stick
To get the rough end of the stick is to be treated unfairly or to come off worse than the other party in a transaction, situation or relationship.
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.
Round the houses
If you go round the houses, you do something in an inefficient way when there is a quicker, more convenient way.
Rub shoulders
If you rub shoulders with people, you meet and spend time with them, especially when they are powerful or famous.
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 organization, company, government, etc, is like a rudderless ship, it has no clear direction and drifts about without reaching its goals.
Rue the day
This means that the person will one day bitterly regret what they have done.
Ruffle a few feathers
If you ruffle a few feathers, you annoy some people when making changes or improvements.
Rule of thumb
Rule of thumb means approximately.
Rule the roost
If someone rules the roost they are the boss. Example: There’s no doubt who rules the roost in this house.
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 around the bush
(USA) If you run around the bush, it means that you’re taking a long time to get to the point.
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 into the sand
If something runs into the sand, it fails to achieve a result.
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 off your feet
If you are run off your feet, you are extremely busy and don’t have enough time to do everything.
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 gauntlet
If somebody is being criticized harshly by a lot of people, they are said to run the gauntlet.
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 your mouth off
If someone runs their mouth off, they talk too much.
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.
Running on fumes
If someone has used all their energy on something, but must continue, they are running on fumes. It is an expression used when driving a car when the needle is on empty but still running. We say it is ‘running on fumes’.
Runs in the family
If a characteristic runs in the family, it can clearly be seen members of different generations. A hereditary illness that is passed from one generation to the next also runs in the family.
Russian roulette
If people take a dangerous and unnecessary risk, they are playing Russian roulette.
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”.
S
Sacred cow
Something that is a sacred cow is held in such respect that it cannot be criticized or attacked.
Safe and sound
If you arrive safe and sound, then nothing has harmed you on your way.
Safe as houses
Something that is as safe as houses is very secure or certain.
Safe bet
A proposition that is a safe bet doesn’t have any risks attached.
Safe pair of hands
A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.
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.
Saigon moment
(USA) A Saigon moment is when people realize that something has gone wrong and that they will lose or fail.
Sail close to the wind
If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.
Sail under false colors
Someone who sails under false colors is hypocritical or pretends to be something they aren’t in order to deceive people.
Salad days
Your salad days are an especially happy period of your life.
Salt in a wound
If you rub salt in a wound, you make someone feel bad about something that is already a painful experience. ‘Pour salt on a wound’ is an alternative form of the idiom.
Salt of the earth
People who are salt of the earth are decent, dependable and unpretentious.
Salty dog
A salty dog is an experienced sailor.
Same old, same old
When nothing changes, it’s the same old, same old.
Save face
If someone saves face, they manage to protect their reputation.
Save someone’s bacon
If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon.
Save your skin
If someone saves their skin, they manage to avoid getting into serious trouble.
Saved by the bell
If you are saved by the bell, you are rescued from a danger or a tricky situation just in time.
Saving grace
If someone has some character defects, but has a characteristic that compensate for their failings and shortcomings, this is their saving grace.
Say uncle
(USA) If you say uncle, you admit defeat. (‘Cry uncle’ is an alternative form.)
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.
Saying is one thing; doing is another
It’s harder to do something than it is to say that you will do it.
Scales fall from your eyes
When the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly realize the truth about something.
Scare the daylights out of someone
If you scare the daylights out of someone, you terrify them. (This can be made even stronger by saying ‘the living daylights’.)
Scarlet woman
This idiom is used as a pejorative term for a sexually promiscuous woman, especially an adulterer.
Scattered to the four winds
If something’s scattered to the four winds, it goes out in all directions.
Scent blood
If you can scent blood, you feel that a rival is having difficulties and you are going to beat them.
Schoolyard pick
When people take it in turns to choose a member of a team, it is a schoolyard pick.
Scot free
If someone escapes scot free, they avoid payment or punishment. ‘Scot’ is an old word for a tax, so it originally referred to avoiding taxes, though now has a wider sense of not being punished for someone that you have done.
Scotch Mist
The phrase ‘Scotch mist’ is used humorously to refer to something that is hard to find or doesn’t exist – something imagined.
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.
Scream blue murder
If someone shouts very loudly in anger, or fear, they scream blue murder.
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.
Sea legs
If you are getting your sea legs, it takes you a while to get used to something new.
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 eye to eye
If people see eye to eye, they agree about everything.
See red
If someone sees red, they become very angry about something.
See the elephant
If you see the elephant, you experience much more than you wish to; it is often used when a soldier goes into a warzone for the first time.
See the light
When someone sees the light, they realise the truth.
See which way the cat jumps
(AU) If you see which way the cat jumps, you postpone making a decision or acting until you have seen how things are developing.
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.
See you on the big drum
A good night phrase to children.
Seed money
Seed money is money that is used to start a small business.
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.
Sell down the river
If you sell someone down the river, you betray their trust.
Sell like hot cakes
If a product is selling very well, it is selling like hot cakes.
Sell like hotcakes
If something is selling like hotcakes, it is very popular and selling very well.
Sell your birthright for a mess of pottage
If a person sells their birthright for a mess of pottage, they accept some trivial financial or other gain, but lose something much more important. ‘Sell your soul for a mess of pottage’ is an alternative form.
Sell your soul
If someone sells their soul, their betray the most precious beliefs.
Send someone packing
If you send someone packing, you send them away, normally when they want something from you.
Send someone to Coventry
(UK) If you send someone to Coventry, you refuse to talk to them or co-operate with them.
Separate the sheep from the goats
If you separate the sheep from the goats, you sort out the good from the bad.
Separate the wheat from the chaff
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, you select what is useful or valuable and reject what is useless or worthless.
Serve time
When someone is serving time, they are in prison.
Serve your country
When someone is serving their country, they have enrolled in the military.
Set in stone
If something is set in stone, it cannot be changed or altered.
Set the Thames on fire
If you do something remarkable, you set the Thames on fire, though this expression is used in the negative; someone who is dull or undistinguished will never set the Thames on fire.
Set the wheels in motion
When you set the wheels in motion, you get something started.
Set your sights on
If you set your sights on someone or something, it is your ambition to beat them or to achieve that goal.
Seven sheets to the wind
If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.
Seventh heaven
If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.
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.
Shaggy dog story
A shaggy dog story is a joke which is a long story with a silly end.
Shake a leg
If you shake a leg, you are out of bed and active. It can be used to tell someone to hurry up.
Shanks’s pony
(UK) If you go somewhere by Shanks’s pony, you walk there.
Shape up or ship out
If someone has to shape up or ship out, they have to improve or leave their job, organization, etc.
Sharp as a tack
(USA) If someone is as sharp as a tack, they are very clever indeed.
Sharp cookie
Someone who isn’t easily deceived or fooled is a sharp cookie.
Sharpen your pencil
(USA) If someone says this when negotiating, they want the other person to make a better offer, a lower price.
She’ll be apples
(AU) A very popular old Australian saying meaning everything will be all right, often used when there is some doubt.
Shed light
If you shed light on something, you make it clearer and easier to understand.
Shifting sands
If the sands are shifting, circumstances are changing.
Shilly-shally
If people shilly-shally, they can’t make up their minds about something and put off the decision.
Ship came in
If your ship has come in, something very good has happened to you.
Shipshape and Bristol fashion
If things are shipshape and Bristol fashion, they are in perfect working order.
Shoe is on the other foot
If the shoe is on the other foot, someone is experiencing what they used to make others experience, normally negative things.
Shoestring
If you do something on a shoestring, you try to spend the absolute minimum amount of money possible on it.
Shoot down in flames
If someone demolishes your argument, it (and you) have been shot down in flames.
Shoot from the hip
Someone who shoots from the hip talks very directly or insensitively without thinking beforehand.
Shoot the breeze
When you shoot the breeze, you chat in a relaxed way.
Shoot your wad
When you have shot your wad, you have expended everything and have no more to say or do about a matter.
Shoot yourself in the foot
If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do something that damages your ambition, career, etc.
Shooting fish in a barrel
If something is like shooting fish in a barrel, it is so easy that success is guaranteed.
Shop floor
‘Shop floor’ refers to the part of an organization where the work is actually performed rather than just managed.
Short end of the stick
If someone gets the short end of the stick, they are unfairly treated or don’t get what they deserve.
Short horse soon curried
A convenient and superficial explanation that is normally unconvincing is a short horse soon curried.
Short shrift
If somebody gives you short shrift, they treat you rudely and brusquely, showing no interest or sympathy.
Short-change
If you are short-changed, someone cheats you of money or doesn’t give you full value for something.
Shot across the bow
A shot across the bow is a warning to tell someone to stop doing something or face very serious consequences.
Shot in the dark
If you have a shot in the dark at something, you try something where you have little hope of success.
Shotgun marriage
A shotgun marriage, or shotgun wedding, is one that is forced because of pregnancy. It is also used idiomatically for a compromise, agreement or arrangement that is forced upon groups or people by necessity.
Show me the money
When people say this, they either want to know how much they will be paid for something or want to see evidence that something is valuable or worth paying for.
Show someone a clean pair of heels
If you show someone a clean pair of heels, you run faster than them when they are chasing you.
Show someone the ropes
If you show someone the ropes, you explain to someone new how things work and how to do a job.
Show your true colors
To show your true colors is to reveal yourself as you really are.
Shrinking violet
A shrinking violet is a shy person who doesn’t express their views and opinions.
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.
Sick as a dog
If somebody’s as sick as a dog, they throw up (=vomit) violently.
Sick as a parrot
If someone’s sick as a parrot about something, they are unhappy, disappointed or depressed about it.
Sick to death
If you are sick to death of something, you have been exposed to so much of it that you cannot take any more.
Sight for sore eyes
Someone or something that is a sight for sore eyes is a pleasure to see.
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.
Signed, sealed and delivered
If something’s signed, sealed and delivered, it has been done correctly, following all the necessary procedures.
Silence is golden
It is often better to say nothing than to talk, so silence is golden.
Silly season
The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories.
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.
Silver surfer
A silver surfer is an elderly person who uses the internet.
Since time immemorial
If something has happened since time immemorial, it’s been going on for such a long time that nobody can remember a time without it.
Sing for your supper
If you have to sing for your supper, you have to work to get the pay or reward you need or want.
Sing from the same hymn sheet
If people are singing from the same hymn sheet, they are expressing the same opinions in public.
Sing like a canary
If someone sings like a canary, they tell everything they know about a crime or wrongdoing to the police or authorities.
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 on the fence
If someone sits on the fence, they try not to support either side in a dispute.
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.
Sitting duck
A sitting duck is something or someone that is easy to criticise or target.
Six feet under
If someone is six feet under, they are dead.
Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other
This is an idiom used when there is little or no difference between two options.
Sixes and sevens
If something is all at sixes and sevens, then there is a lot of disagreement and confusion about what should be done.
Sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question
The sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question is the most important question that can be asked about something.
Skate on thin ice
If someone is skating on thin ice, they are taking a big risk.
Skeleton in the closet
If someone has a skeleton in the closet, they have a dark, shameful secret in their past that they want to remain secret.
Skin and bones
If someone is skin and bones, they are very underweight and look bad.
Skin in the game
A person who has skin in the game has invested in the company they are running.
Skin someone alive
If someone skins you alive, they admonish and punish you hard.
Skunkworks
An unauthorized, or hidden program or activity, often research-oriented, and out of the bureaucratic chain of command is known as a ’skunkworks’.
Sky is the limit
When people say that the sky is the limit, they think that there are no limits to the possibilities something could have.
Slap leather
(USA) This is used as an instruction to tell people when to draw their guns.
Slap on the wrist
If someone gets a slap on the wrist, they get a very minor punishment when they could have been punished more severely.
Sleep like a baby
If you sleep very well, you sleep like a baby.
Sleep like a log
If you sleep like a log, you sleep very soundly.
Sleep well- don’t let the bedbugs bite
This is a way of wishing someone a good night’s sleep.
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand is the ability to use your hands in a clever way, like a magician performing tricks you can’t see.
Slim chance
A slim chance is a very small chance.
Sling your hook
This is used as a way of telling someone to leave or go away.
Slip of the tongue
If you say something accidentally, it is a slip of the tongue.
Slip through one’s fingers
If something slips through one’s fingers it escapes or is lost through carelessness.
Slippery customer
A person from whom it is difficult to get anything definite or fixed is a slippery customer.
Slippery slope
A slippery slope is where a measure would lead to further worse measures.
Slough of despond
If someone is very depressed or in despair, they’re in a slough of despond.
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 boat to China
This idiom is used to describe something that is very slow and takes a long time.
Slow but sure
If something or someone is slow but sure, they may take their time to do something, but they are reliable.
Slower than molasses going uphill in January
(USA) To move extremely slowly. Molasses drips slowly anyway but add January cold and gravity, dripping uphill would be an impossibility, thereby making the molasses move very slowly indeed!
Slowly, slowly catchy monkey
This means that eventually you will achieve your goal.
Sly as a fox
Someone who is as sly as a fox is cunning and experienced and can get what they want, often in an underhand way.
Smack in the face
If something is a smack in the face, it is a shock, usually one that impedes progress.
Small beer
If something is small beer, it’s unimportant.
Small dog, tall weeds
This idiom is used to describe someone the speaker does not believe has the ability or resources to handle a task or job.
Small fry
If someone is small fry, they are unimportant. The term is often used when the police arrest the less important criminals, but are unable to catch the leaders and masterminds.
Small-time
If a person or a thing is called ’small-time’ it means they’re inconsequential, not worth much, don’t play in the ‘big leagues’, as in ‘a small-time operator’.
Smart Alec
A smart Alec is a conceited person who likes to show off how clever and knowledgeable they are.
Smart as a whip
A person who is smart as a whip is very clever.
Smarty pants
A smarty pants is someone who displays the intelligence in an annoying way.
Smell a rat
If you smell a rat, you know instinctively that something is wrong or that someone is lying to you.
Smoke and mirrors
An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors.
Smoke like a chimney
Someone who smokes very heavily smokes like a chimney.
Smoke the peace pipe
If people smoke the peace pipe, they stop arguing and fighting.
Smokestack industry
Heavy industries like iron and steel production, especially if they produce a lot of pollution, are smokestack industries.
Smoking gun
A smoking gun is definitive proof of someone’s guilt.
Smooth as a baby’s bottom
If something is smooth as a baby’s bottom, it has a regular, flat surface.
Smooth sailing
If something is smooth sailing, then you can progress without difficulty. (‘Plain sailing’ is an also used.)
Snake in the grass
Someone who is a snake in the grass betrays you even though you have trusted them.
Snake oil
Advice or medicine which is of no use.
Snake oil salesperson
A person who promotes something that doesn’t work, is selling snake oil.
Snug as a bug in a rug
If you’re as snug as a bug in a rug, you are feeling very comfortable indeed.
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.).
Sod’s law
Sod’s law states that if something can go wrong then it will.
Soft soap someone
If you soft soap someone, you flatter them.
Some other time
If somebody says they’ll do something some other time, they mean at some indefinite time in the future, possibly never, but they certainly don’t want to feel obliged to fix a specific time or date.
Something nasty in the woodshed
Something nasty in the woodshed means that someone as a dark secret or an unpleasant experience in their past.
Sound as a bell
If something or someone is as sound as a bell, they are very healthy or in very good condition.
Sound as a pound
(UK) if something is as sound as a pound, it is very good or reliable.
Sour grapes
When someone says something critical or negative because they are jealous, it is a case of sour grapes.
Sow the seeds
When people sow the seeds, they start something that will have a much greater impact in the future.
Sow your wild oats
If a young man sows his wild oats, he has a period of his life when he does a lot of exciting things and has a lot of sexual relationships. for e.g. He’d spent his twenties sowing his wild oats but felt that it was time to settle down.
Spanish practices
Unauthorized working methods that benefit those who follow them are Spanish practices.
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’.
Spare the rod and spoil the child
This means that if you don’t discipline children, they will become spoilt.
Speak of the devil!
If you are talking about someone and they happen to walk in, you can use this idiom as a way of letting them know you were talking about them.
Speak to the organ grinder not the monkey
Talk to the boss not the subordinate
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.
Speak with a forked tongue
To say one thing and mean another, to lie, to be two-faced
Spend a penny
(UK) This is a euphemistic idiom meaning to go to the toilet.
Spend like a sailor
Someone who spends their money wildly spends like a sailor.
Spice of life
The spice of life is something that makes it feel worth living.
Spick and span
If a room is spick and span, it is very clean and tidy.
Spill the beans
If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret or confess to something.
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.
Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
If the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, someone lacks the willpower to change things they do because they derive too much pleasure from them.
Spirit of the law
The spirit of the law is the idea or ideas that the people who made the law wanted to have effect.
Spit blood
If someone is spitting blood, they are absolutely furious.
Spit it out
People say this when someone has something to say but is too embarrassed, shy, etc, to say it.
Spit the dummy
Reference to an infant spitting out their dummy (or pacifier) in order to cry. ‘To spit the dummy’ is to give up.
Spitting image
If a person is the spitting image of somebody, they look exactly alike.(‘Spit and image’ is also used and some suggest it is a hasty pronunciation of “spirit & image”, to suggest that someone completely resembles someone else. Example: He’s the spirit & image of his grandfather.)
Split hairs
If people split hairs, they concentrate on tiny and unimportant details to find fault with something.
Split the blanket
If people split the blanket, it means they get a divorce or end their relationship.
Spoil the ship for a ha’pworth of tar
(UK) If someone spoils the ship for a ha’pworth (halfpenny’s worth) of tar, they spoil something completely by trying to make a small economy.
Spot on
If something is spot on, it is exactly right.
Sprat to catch a mackerel
If you use a sprat to catch a mackerel, you make a small expenditure or take a small risk in the hope of a much greater gain.
Spring to mind
If something springs to mind, it appears suddenly and unexpectedly in your thoughts.
Spur of the moment
If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it because you felt like it at that time, without any planning or preparation.
Sputnik moment
A Sputnik moment is a point where people realize that they are threatened of challenged and have to redouble their efforts to catch up. It comes from the time when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, the Sputnik 1, and beat the USA into space.
Square meal
A square meal is a substantial or filling meal.
Square Mile
(UK) The Square Mile is the City, the financial area of London.
Square peg in a round hole
If somebody’s in a situation, organization, etc, where they don’t fit in and feel out of place, they are a square peg in a round hole.
Square the circle
When someone is squaring the circle, they are trying to do something impossible.
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.
Squeaky wheel gets the grease
(USA) When people say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, they mean that the person who complains or protests the loudest attracts attention and service.
Squeeze blood out of a turnip
(USA) When people say that you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip, it means that you cannot get something from a person, especially money, that they don’t have.
Stalking horse
A stalking horse is a strategy or something used to conceal your intentions. It is often used where someone put themselves forwards as a candidate to divide opponents or to hide the real candidate.
Stand in good stead
If something will stand you in good stead, it will probably be advantageous in the future.
Stars and stripes
The stars and stripes is the American flag.
Stars in your eyes
Someone who dreams of being famous has stars in their eyes.
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.
Steal a march
This expression indicates the stealth of a person over another to gain advantage of the situation. For instance, if two persons are offered some jobs which are vacant, they resolve to go together next day at an agreed time, but one of them, without telling the other, goes earlier than the other and secures the better of the two jobs, he is said to steal a march on the other person.
Steal someone’s thunder
If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.
Steer clear of
If you steer clear of something, you avoid it.
Stem the tide
If people try to stem the tide, they are trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse, usually when they don’t succeed.
Step on it
This idiom is a way of telling someone to hurry up or to go faster.
Step on someone’s toes
If you step on someone’s toes, you upset them, especially if you do something that they should be in charge of.
Step up to the plate
If someone steps up to the plate, they take on or accept a challenge or a responsibility.
Stew in your own juices
If you leave someone to stew in their own juices, you leave them to worry about the consequences of what they have done wrong or badly.
Stick in your craw
If someone or something really annoys you, it is said to stick in your craw.
Stick out like a sore thumb
If something sticks or stands out like a sore thumb, it is clearly and obviously different from the things that are around it.
Stick to your guns
If you stick to your guns, you keep your position even though people attack or criticize you.
Stick your neck out
If you stick you neck out, you take a risk because you believe in something.
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.
Sticky end
(UK) If someone comes to a sticky end, they die in an unpleasant way. (‘Meet a sticky end’ is also used.)
Sticky fingers
The tendency to keep (or steal) an object you touch. Also, to steal something quickly without anyone noticing. (ex: ‘You stole that guy’s wallet? You have some sticky fingers, my friend.’)
Sticky wicket
(UK) If you are on a sticky wicket, you are in a difficult situation.
Stiff as a poker
Something or someone that is stiff as a poker is inflexible. (‘Stiff as a board’ is also used.)
Stiff upper lip
(UK) If you keep your emotions to yourself and don’t let others know how you feel when something bad happens, you keep a stiff upper lip.
Stiff-necked
A stiff-necked person is rather formal and finds it hard to relax in company.
Still in the game
If someone is still in the game, they may be having troubles competing, but they are not yet finished and may come back.
Still waters run deep
People use this idiom to imply that people who are quiet and don’t try to attract attention are often more interesting than people who do try to get attention.
Stir the blood
If something stirs your blood, it arouses feelings or passions,.
Stitch in time saves nine
A stitch in time saves nine means that if a job needs doing it is better to do it now, because it will only get worse, like a hole in clothes that requires stitching.
Stone dead
This idiom is a way of emphasizing that there were absolutely no signs of life or movement.
Stone deaf
Someone who is stone deaf is completely deaf.
Stone’s throw
If a place is a stone’s throw from where you are, it is a very short distance away.
Stool pigeon
(USA) A stool pigeon is a police informer.
Stop cold
To stop suddenly out of surprise.
Storm in a teacup
If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is, then they are making a storm in a teacup.
Straight face
If someone keeps a straight face, they remain serious and do not show emotion or amusement.
Straight from the shoulder
If someone talks straight from the shoulder, they talk honestly and plainly.
Strain every nerve
If you strain every nerve, you make a great effort to achieve something.
Strange at the best of times
To describe someone or something as really weird or unpleasant in a mild way.
Straw man
A straw man is a weak argument that is easily defeated. It can also be a person who is used as to give an illegal or inappropriate activity an appearance of respectability.
Straw poll
A straw poll is a small unofficial survey or ballot to find out what people think about an issue.
Straw that broke the camel’s back
The straw that broke the camel’s back is the problem that made you lose your temper or the problem that finally brought about the collapse of something.
Streets ahead
If people are streets ahead of their rivals, they are a long way in front.
Strike a chord
If strikes a chord, it is familiar to you, reminds you of something or is connected to you somehow.
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.
Stroll down memory lane
If you take a stroll down memory lane, you talk about the past or revisit places that were important to you in the past. (You can also ‘take a trip down memory lane’.)
Strong as an ox
Someone who’s exceedingly strong physically is said to be as strong as an ox.
Stubborn as a mule
Someone who will not listen to other people’s advice and won’t change their way of doing things is as stubborn as a mule.
Stuffed to the gills
If someone is stuffed to the gills, they have eaten a lot and are very full.
Succeed in the clutch
If you succeed in the clutch, you perform at a crucial time; it is particularly used in sports for the decisive moments of the game. The opposite is ‘fail in the clutch.’
Suck hind teat
A person who sucks hind teat is at a disadvantage or considered worse or less important than others.
Sunday driver
A Sunday driver drives very slowly and makes unexpected maneuvers.
Sure as eggs is eggs
These means absolutely certain, and we do say ‘is’ even though it is grammatically wrong.
Sure-fire
If something is sure-fire, it is certain to succeed. (‘Surefire’ is also used.)
Swansong
A person’s swansong is their final achievement or public appearance.
Swear like a sailor
Someone who is foul-mouthed and uses bad language all the time, swears like a sailor.
Swear like a trooper
Someone who is foul-mouthed and uses bad language all the time, swears like a trooper.
Sweat blood
If you sweat blood, you make an extraordinary effort to achieve something.
Sweat like a pig
If someone is sweating like a pig, they are perspiring (sweating) a lot.
Sweep off your feet
If you are swept off your feet, you lose control emotionally when you fall in love or are really impressed.
Sweep things under the carpet
If people try to ignore unpleasant things and forget about them, they sweep them under the carpet.
Sweet as a gumdrop
This means that something or someone is very nice or pretty.
Sweet tooth
If you have a sweet tooth, you like eating food with sugar in it.
Swim against the tide
If you swim against the tide, you try to do something that is very difficult because there is a lot of opposition to you. (‘Go against the tide’ is an alternative form.)
Swim with the fishes
If someone is swimming with the fishes, they are dead, especially if they have been murdered. ‘Sleep with the fishes’ is an alternative form.
Swim with the tide
If you swim with the tide, you do the same as people around you and accept the general consensus. (‘Go with the tide’ is an alternative form.)
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.
Swinging door
This idiom refers to something or someone that can go in two conflicting or opposite directions.
Swings and roundabouts
If something’s swings and roundabouts, it has about as many disadvantages as it has advantages.
Feb 18, 2009 at 23:59:33
wow Gammy, you are as smart as a whip! or are just a queer fish? HAHAHAHA na-nosebleed ako dito
) ano ba yan, ang random hahahahaha – i miss english, idiomatic expressions!:D
Feb 19, 2009 at 22:11:28
wahaha…adik andi!!…sinend lang sakin yan sa email…ayun…