~ C ~

Call a spade a spade

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

Call the shots

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

Can of worms

If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.

Can't hold a candle

If something can't hold a candle to something else, it is much worse: Her latest book is readable enough, but it can't hold a candle to her earlier work

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.

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 doubt on

to make something seem uncertain: Witnesses have cast doubt on the suspect's innocence

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.

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.

Chickenfeed                                                                                   

If something is small or unimportant, especially money, it is chickenfeed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Cock and bull story

A cock and bull story is a lie someone tells that is completely unbelievable.

Cold feet

If you get cold feet about something, you lose the courage to do it.

Cold sweat

If something brings you out in a cold sweat, it frightens you a lot.

Collateral damage

Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.

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 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/crawl out of the woodwork

to appear after having been hidden or not active for a long time: After you've been in a relationship for a while all sorts of little secrets start to come out of the woodwork

come back/home to roost

to return to cause problems: All his earlier mistakes are coming home to roost

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.

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.

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.

Crash a party

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

Crocodile tears

If someone sheds crocodile tears, they pretend to be upset or affected by 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.

Cut and dried

already decided and unlikely to be changed: We need a cut-and-dried decision by the end of the week.

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

To stop wasting time and get on with what needs to be dealt with

Cut to the quick

If someone's cut to the quick by something, they are very hurt and upset indeed: Her thoughtless remark cut him to the quick

cut your political/professional, etc. teeth

to get your first experience of the type mentioned: The Prime Minister cut her political teeth on student debates

Cutting edge

Something that is cutting edge is at the forefront of progress in its area.

 ~ D ~

Daylight robbery

If you are overcharged or underpaid, it is a daylight robbery;

Dead in the water

If something is dead in the water, it has failed and it seems impossible that it will be successful in the future: So how does a government revive an economy that is dead in the water?.

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.

Death warmed up

(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed: he looks like death warmed up

Devil's advocate

someone who pretends, in an argument or discussion, to be against an idea or plan which a lot of people support, in order to make people discuss and consider it in more detail: I don't really believe all that - I was just playing devil's advocate

Die is cast

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

Discerning eye

If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.

Do a runner

(UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.

do/work wonders

to have a very good effect: Doctors have discovered that keeping a pet can do wonders for your health

don't get me wrong

said when you think someone might not understand what you say, or be upset by it: Don't get me wrong - I'd love to come but I'm too busy next week

Do the dirty on somebody

to behave unfairly towards someone, usually without their knowledge:

He can't forgive her for doing the dirty on him and having an affair with his best friend

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

someone who keeps something that they do not want in order to prevent someone else from getting it

Dog tired

If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.

Dog's life

If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.

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.

Doormat

A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat: He may be selfish and insensitive, but she is a bit of a doormat

Double Dutch

If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.

Double whammy

a situation when two unpleasant things happen at almost the same time: Britain's farmers have faced the double whammy of a rising pound and falling agricultural prices

Double-edged  

describes something that acts in two ways, often with one negative and one positive effect:She paid me the double-edged compliment of saying my work was "excellent for a beginner". / The government's programme to grow cash crops for export is a double-edged sword because it has created a local food shortage.

Down at heel

Someone who is down at heel is short of money. ('Down in heel' is used in American English)

Down in the dumps

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

Draw a blank

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

Draw the line

to never do something because you think it is wrong: I swear quite a lot but even I draw the line at saying certain words.

Drive a wedge

to damage the good relationship that two people or groups of people have:

It would be silly to let things which have happened in the past drive a wedge between us now.

Drop in the Ocean

A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.

Duck to water

to discover when you start to do something for the first time that you have a natural ability to do it:He took to fatherhood like a duck to water.

Dull as ditchwater

(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring.

Dutch courage

Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.

Dutch uncle

A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.

Dyed in the wool

A person with dyed in the wool beliefs, has very strong opinions that will not be affected by what others think: He's a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist where cooking is concerned - he won't have any modern gadgets in the kitchen

 ~ E ~

Eagle eyes

Someone who has eagle eyes sees everything; no detail is too small.

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.

Easier said than done

be much more difficult than it sounds.

Easy come, easy go

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

Eat 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 eatst 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.

Economical with the truth

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.

Elbow grease

If something requires elbow grease, it involves a lot of hard physical work: The polish needs a certain amount of elbow grease to apply

Eleventh Hour

If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens right at the last minute.

Even keel

Regular and well-balanced and not likely to change suddenly: The new manager succeeded in putting the business back on an even keel.

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.

Explore all avenues

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

Eye for an eye

This is an expression for retributive justice, where the punishment equals the crime.

 ~ F ~

Face the music

If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.

Fair weather friend

A fair weather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.

Feather in your cap

an achievement to be proud of: It's a real feather in our cap to be representing Britain in this contest.

feather your own nest MAINLY DISAPPROVING

to make yourself rich, especially in a way that is selfish or dishonest

Fed up to the back teeth

When you are extremely irritated and fed up with something or someone, you are fed up to the back teeth.

Feel at home

If you feel relaxed and comfortable somewhere or with someone, you feel at home.

Feeling Blue

If you feel blue, you are feeling unwell, mainly associated with depression or unhappiness.

Feet on the ground

A practical and realistic person has their feet on the ground.

Fine tuning

Small adjustments to improve something or to get it working are called fine tuning.

Fire away

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

First come, first served

This means there will be no preferential treatment and a service will be provided to those that arrive first.

Fish out of water

If you are placed in a situation that is completely new to you and confuses you, you are like a fish out of water.

Smell Fishy

If a situation or an explanation smells fishy, it causes you to think that someone is being dishonest.

Fit as a fiddle

If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.

Flash in the pan

something that happened only once or for a short time and was not repeated:

Sadly, their success was just a flash in the pan.

fall from grace

When you do something which makes people in authority stop liking you or admiring you: The Finance Minister's fall from grace gave the tabloid press great satisfaction.

nearly/almost fall off your chair

to be extremely surprised: She nearly fell off her chair when she heard her exam result

fall on deaf ears

If a suggestion or warning falls on deaf ears, no one listens to it: Their appeals to release the hostages fell on deaf ears.

fall on hard times

to lose your money and start to have a difficult life: The scheme is designed to help children whose parents have fallen on hard times

 fall down on your knees

to go down on your knees to show respect:The people all fell to their knees and began to pray

Flesh and blood

Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.

Flowery speech

Flowery speech is full of lovely words, but may well lack substance.

Fly on the wall

to hear what is said or see what happens while not being noticed: I'd love to be a fly on the wall when those two get home.

fly in the face of sth

not to obey something, or not to act in a way that agrees with something: This is an argument that seems to fly in the face of common sense

For a song

If you buy or sell something for a song, it is very cheap.

for a man/woman/person of his/her years

considering how old someone is: He dances well for a man of his years

Foregone conclusion

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

Forest for the trees

(USA) If someone can't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.

Foul play

If the police suspect foul play, they think a crime was committed.

Freudian Slip

Something which you say accidentally which is different from what you intended to say, and which seems to show your true thoughts.

From rags to riches

Someone who starts life very poor and makes a fortune goes from rags to riches.

From scratch

This idiom means 'from the beginning'.

From the horse's mouth

If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned or responsible.

From the sublime to the ridiculous

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

Full of the joys of spring

If you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy.

Full swing

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

Fullness of time

If you say something will happen in the fullness of time, you mean that it will happen if you wait long enough: Everything will become clear in the fullness of time.

 ~ G ~

Get on your soapbox

If people get on their soapbox, they hold forth (talk a lot) about a subject they feel strongly about.

Get out of bed on the wrong side

If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you wake up and start the day in a bad mood for no real reason.

Get/set/start the ball rolling

To do something which starts an activity, or to start doing something in order to encourage other people to do the same: I decided to set the ball rolling and got up to dance.

Get the green light

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

get wind of sth

to hear a piece of information that someone else was trying to keep secret: I don't want my colleagues to get wind of the fact that I'm leaving

get weaving

If you tell someone to get weaving, you either want them to start something or to hurry what they are doing: We'd better get weaving - we've got a lot to do today

Ghost of a chance

If something or someone hasn't got a ghost of a chance, they have no hope whatsoever of succeeding.

Gift of the gab

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

Give someone a piece of your mind

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

Give up the ghost

People give up the ghost when they die.

Glutton for punishment

to be someone who seems to enjoy doing something that you consider unpleasant: He's a real glutton for punishment, taking on all that extra work without getting paid for it.

Go against the grain

If something goes against the grain, you would not usually do it because it would be unusual or morally wrong: These days it goes against the grain to show respect for authority.

Go the whole hog

to do something as completely as possible:Having already limited local taxation, why not go the whole hog and abolish it completely.

go out (of) the window

If a quality, principle or idea goes out of the window, it does not exist any more:Then people start drinking and sense goes out of the window

Gone to the dogs

If something has gone to the dogs, it has gone badly wrong and lost all the good things it had.

Good antennae

Someone with good antennae is good at detecting things.

Good walls make good neighbours

Your relationship with your neighbours depends, among other things, on respecting one another's privacy.

Goody two-shoes

somebody smugly well-behaved: somebody smugly well-behaved, irritatingly virtuous, or sanctimonious

Grab the bulls by its horns

If you grab (take) the bull by its horns, you deal head-on and directly with a problem.

Grasp the nettle

to force yourself to be brave and do something that is difficult or unpleasant:

You've been putting off making that phone call for days - I think it's about time you grasped the nettle.

Grass roots

the ordinary people in a society or an organization, especially a political party:

The feeling among the grassroots of the Party is that the leaders are not radical enough.

Grass widow

A grass widow is a woman whose husband is often away on work, leaving her on her own.

Graveyard shift

a period of work, for example in a factory, which begins late at night and ends early in the morning: to work the graveyard shift.

Grease someone's palm

If you grease someone's palm, you bribe them to do something.

Greased lightning

very fast: As soon as I mentioned work, he was out of the door like greased lightning.

Great guns

to go fast or successfully, do well : For the first 400 metres he was going great guns, but then he fell and that lost him the race.

Greek to me

If you don't understand something, it's all Greek to you.

Green fingers

(UK) Someone with green fingers has a talent for gardening.

be green with envy

to be very unhappy because someone has something that you want: Ben's heading off to Spain for the week and I'm green with envy

Greenhorn

Someone lacks the relevant experience and knowledge for their job or task

shades of grey

the possibility of uncertainty: The film presents a straightforward choice between good and evil, with no shades of grey

Grey/gray area

A grey/gray area is one where there is no clear right or wrong.

Guinea-pig

If you are a guinea-pig, you take part in an experiment of some sort and are used in the testing.

 ~ H ~

Be / go at it hammer and tongs

to do something, especially to argue, with a lot of energy or violence.

Hammer home

to make certain that something is understood by expressing it clearly and forcefully: The advertising campaign will try to hammer home the message that excessive drinking is a health risk

Hand in hand

If something goes hand in hand with something else, it is closely related to it and happens at the same time as it or as a result of it: Prosperity goes hand in hand with investment.

hand in glove (US ALSO hand and glove)

working together, often to do something dishonest: It was rumoured at the time that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police

Hand to mouth

Someone who's living from hand to mouth, is very poor and needs the little money they have coming in to cover their expenses.

Handwriting like chicken scratch

If your handwriting is very hard to read, it is like chicken scratch.

Hangdog expression

A hangdog expression is one where the person's showing their emotions very clearly, maybe a little too clearly for your liking. It's that mixture of misery and self-pity that is similar to a dog when it's trying to get something it wants but daren't take without permission.

the hang of sth INFORMAL

to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple:   "I've never used a word processor before." "Don't worry - you'll soon get the hang of it”

have/hold the whip hand

to be the person or group that has the most power in a situation: During the last decade the right wing of the party has held the whip hand

Hard of hearing

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

Have a trick up your sleeve

If you have a trick up your sleeve, you have a secret strategy to use when the time is right.

rue the day

to regret something very much: She'll rue the day (that) she bought that house./ He will rue the day that he crossed me.

Head is in the clouds

have unrealistic, impractical ideas.

Head over heels in love

When someone falls passionately in love and is intoxicated by the feeling has fallen head over heels in love.

Headstrong

very determined to do what you want without listening to others.

Heart of gold

Somone with a heart of gold is a genuinely kind and caring person.

Heaven knows

If you ask someone a question and they say this, they have no idea.

Hedge your bets

to protect yourself against loss by supporting more than one possible result or both sides in a competition: They're hedging their bets and keeping up contacts with both companies.

Hell in a handcart

If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is getting worse and worse, with no hope of stopping the decline.

Here today, gone tomorrow

Money, happiness and other desirable things are often here today, gone tomorrow, which means that they don't last forever.

Hit the sack

When you hit the sack, you go to bed.

Be Hoist with your own petard

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

Hold all the aces

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

Hold the bag

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

Hold your horses

If someone tells you to hold your horses you are doing something too fast and they would like you to slow down.

Hollow victory

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

Honours are even

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

Hope against hope

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

Hope in hell

If something hasn't got a hope in hell, it stands absolutely no chance of succeeding.

Horns of a dilemma

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

Hot ticket

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

Hot water

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

How come

If you want to show disbelief or surprise about an action, you can ask a question using 'how come'. How come he got the job?

How long is a piece of string?

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

Hue and cry

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

wouldn't harm/hurt a fly

If you say that someone wouldn't harm/hurt a fly, you mean they are gentle and would not do anything to injure or offend anyone

~ L ~

Labor of love

a piece of hard work which you do because you enjoy it and not because you will receive money or praise for it, or because you need to do it: He's always working on his car - it's a labor of love.

Labor under the delusion/illusion/misapprehension, etc.

to wrongly believe that something is true: At the time I was still laboring under the delusion that the project might be a success

Lap of the gods

If something is in the lap of the gods, it is beyond our control and fate will decide the outcome.

Larger than life

If someone is larger than life, they attract a lot of attention because they are more exciting or interesting than most people: Most characters in his films are somewhat larger than life.

Last hurrah

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

Last straw

The last in a series of unpleasant events which finally makes you feel that you cannot continue to accept a bad situation: Losing my job was bad enough, but being evicted from my house was the final straw. / She's always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she started insulting my mother.

Last-ditch

last-ditch attempt/effort an effort or attempt which is made at the end of a series of failures to solve a problem, and is not expected to succeed: In a last-ditch attempt to save his party from electoral defeat, he resigned from the leadership.

Law unto yourself

If somebody's a law unto themselves, they do what they believe is right regardless of what is generally accepted as correct.

Lay down the law

If someone lays down the law, they tell people what to do and are authoritarian.

Lead someone up the garden path

If someone leads you up the garden path, they deceive you, or give you false information that causes you to waste your time.

Leave no stone unturned

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

Leave/go off, etc. with your tail between your legs

to leave, feeling ashamed and embarrassed because you have failed or made a mistake: The losing team went off with their tails between their legs

Left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing

If the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, then communication within a company, organization, group, etc, is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing.

Left in the dark

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

Legend in your own lunchtime

To be very famous while you are still alive: Garbo was a legend in her own lifetime.

Let bygones be bygones

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

Let sleeping dogs lie

If someone is told to let sleeping dogs lie, it means that they shouldn't disturb a situation as it would result in trouble or complications.

Let the cat out of the bag

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

Let the devil take the hindmost

This idiom means that you should think of yourself and not be concerned about other people; look after yourself and let the devil take the hindmost.

Level playing field

A situation in which everyone has the same chance of succeeding: If the tax systems are different in each European country, how can industries start on a level playing field.

Lie through your teeth

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

Like a beached whale

Once a whale is on a beach, it cannot get back into the easily, so if you are completely stuck somewhere and can't get away, you are stranded like a beached whale.

Like a cat that got the cream

If someone looks very pleased with themselves and happy, they look like a cat that got the cream.

Take to sth like a duck to water INFORMAL

To discover when you start to do something for the first time that you have a natural ability to do it: He took to fatherhood like a duck to water.

Like a fish needs a bicycle

If someone needs something like a Fish Needs a Bicycle, they do not need it at all, originally a feminist slogan: A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.

Like a fish out of water

If someone feels like a fish out of water, they are very uncomfortable in the situation they are in.

Like a rat deserting a sinking ship

If people leave a company because they know that it's about to have serious problems, or turn their back on a person about to be in a similar situation, they are said to be like rats deserting a sinking ship.

Like lambs to the slaughter

If a person does something or goes somewhere like a lamb to the slaughter, they do it without knowing that something bad is going to happen and therefore act calmly and without fighting against the situation.

Like taking candy from a baby

(USA) If something is like taking candy from a baby, it is very easy to do.

Like the clappers (a piece of metal which hangs inside a bell and makes the bell ring when it hits the sides) extremely fast: You'll have to run like the clappers if you want to catch your train.

Lines of communication

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

Live wire

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

Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

If someone takes action too late, they do this; there is no reason to lock an empty stable.

Long in the tooth

If someone is long in the tooth, they are a bit too old to do something.

Long time no see

Long time no see means that the speaker has not seen that person for a long time.

Look before you leap, and think before you speak

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

look young for your age

to look younger than you really are

Lose your lunch

(UK) If you lose your lunch, you vomit.

Lose your marbles

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

Lower the bar

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

Lower your sights

To accept that you will only be able to get something less than you hoped for: He had hoped to become a doctor, but he had to lower his sights after his disappointing exam results.

Luck of the draw

To have the 'Luck of the draw' is to win something in a competition where the winner is chosen purely by chance.

 ~ M ~

Mad as a March hare

Someone who is excitable and unpredictable is as mad as a March hare.

Major league

Something major league is very important.

Make a mint

If someone is making a mint, they are making a lot of money.

Make a monkey of someone

If you make a monkey of someone, you make them look foolish.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

If somebody makes a mountain out of a molehill, they exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem.

Make (both) ends meet

If somebody finds it hard to make ends meet, they have problems living on the money they earn.

Make headway

To advance or get closer to achieving something: I'm trying to learn to drive, but I'm not making much headway (with it). / Little headway has been made so far in the negotiations.

Make no bones about doing sth

Not hesitate to do sth; be honest and open about sth: She made no bones about telling him she wanted a pay rise. / he makes no bones about the fact that he has been in prison.

Make waves

to be very active so that other people notice you, often in a way that intentionally causes trouble: If a member of the Cabinet started making waves, the prime minister simply got rid of them.

Make your blood boil

If something makes your blood boil, it makes you very angry.

Man in the street

The man in the street is an idiom to describe ordinary people, especially when talking about their opinions and ideas.

Man of letters

A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts and literature, and often a writer too.

Man of means

A man, or woman, of means is a wealthy one.

Make sb’ hair stand on end

to make someone very frightened: To be honest, the thought of jumping out of a moving aeroplane makes my hair stand on end

make sth/it worth your while

to pay you money to do something: If you can get me the list of names I want, I'll make it worth your while

Man of the cloth

A man of the cloth is a priest.

Man's best friend

This is an idiomatic term for dogs.

Mark my words

Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of seriousness to what the speaker is about to say when talking about the future. You often hear drunks say it before they deliver some particularly spurious nonsense.

Marked man

A marked man is a person who is being targeted by people: someone who is at risk of unpleasant action being taken against them: He is still free to travel the world, but he knows that he is a marked man

Matter of life and death

If something is a matter of life and death, it is extremely important.

Mealy-mouthed

Not brave enough to say what you mean directly and honestly: mealy-mouthed excuses / a mealy-mouthed spokesperson.

Meet someone halfway

to do some of the things that someone wants you to do, in order to show that you want to reach an agreement or improve your relationship with them.

Meet your expectations

If something doesn't meet your expectations, it means that it wasn't as good as you had thought it was going to be; a disappointment.

Meet your match

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

Memory like a sieve

If somebody can't retain things for long in his or her memory and quickly forgets, he or she has a memory like a sieve. A sieve has lots of tiny holes in it to let liquids out while keeping the solids inside.

Memory like an elephant

'An elephant never forgets' is a saying, so if a person has a memory like an elephant, he or she has a very good memory indeed.

Midas touch

If someone has the Midas touch, they are financially successful in everything they do.

Mind Your P's and Q's

If you are careful about the way you behave and are polite, you mind Your P's and Q's.

Mint condition

Perfect, as if new: CD player, in mint condition - £50.

Misery guts

someone who is often very unhappy and is always complaining about things:

Stop being such an old misery guts.

Miss the boat

If you miss the boat, you are too late to take advantage of an opportunity.

Money laundering

If people launder money, they get money made illegally into the mainstream so that it is believed to be legitimate and clean.

Money to burn

to spend a lot of money on things that are not necessary: I don't know what her job is but she certainly seems to have money to burn.

Monkey business

If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as MONKEYING AROUND.

Moot point

tending to be discussed or argued about and having no definite answer, a debatable point: It's a moot point whether building more roads reduces traffic congestion

More than one string to their bow

A person who has more than one string to their bow has different talents or skills to fall back on.

Move the goalposts

When people move the goalposts, they change the standards required for something to their advantage.

Movers and shakers

People with a lot of power and influence: It's a play that's attracted the attention of the Broadway movers and shakers.

Mud-slinging

If someone is mud-slinging, they are insulting someone and trying to damage that person's reputation: political mud-slinging. drag sb's name through the mire/mud: to damage someone's reputation by saying extremely insulting things about them

Muddy the waters

to make a situation more confused and less easy to understand or deal with.

Music to my ears

If something someone says is music to your ears, it is exactly what you had wanted to hear.

Mutton dressed as lamb (Budhi ghodi lal lagam)

a way of describing a woman who is dressed in a style that is more suitable for a younger woman: Do you think this dress is too young-looking for me? - I don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb.

My hands are full

If your hands are full, you have so much to do that you cannot take on any more work, responsibilities and so on.

My hands are tied

If your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason.

 ~ N ~

in a vacuum

Kept separate from other people and activities: No artist works in a vacuum - we are all of us influenced by others.

Neck and neck

If two competitors are neck and neck, they are level with each other and have an equal chance of winning: I was a neck and neck situation

be up to your neck in sth

to be very involved in a situation, or to have too much of the thing stated: She's up to her neck in debt/problems/work

be (like) a millstone around/round your neck

to be a responsibility that is difficult to bear and causes you trouble: The mortgage on his house had become a millstone around his neck

Needle in a haystack

Something which is impossible or extremely difficult to find, especially because the area you have to search is too large: looking for/trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Neither fish nor fowl

Like one thing in some ways and like another thing in other ways.

Never a rose without the prick

This means that good things always have something bad as well; like the thorns on the stem of a rose.

New blood

People who join an organization and who can provide new ideas and energy: The company has brought in some new blood in an effort to revive its fortunes.

New lease of life

When you become more energetic and active than before: His grandchildren have given him a new lease of life. / The project suddenly got a new lease of life when the developers agreed to provide some more funding

New man

A man who believes that women and men are equal and should be free to do the same things, and who does tasks and shows emotions that were traditionally considered only suitable for women: I'm not particularly what you would call a New Man, but I do cook, and I iron my own shirts.

Newfangled

People who don't like new methods, technologies, etc, describe them as newfangled, which means new but not as good or nice as the old ones: I really don't understand these newfangled computer games that my children are always playing

Nip it in the bud

If you nip something in the bud, you deal with a problem when it is still small, before it can grow into something serious.

Nitty gritty

The basic facts of a situation: Let's get down to the nitty-gritty - when can you finish the building and how much will it cost?

No great shakes

If someone is no great shakes at something, they are not very good at it: I'm afraid I am no great shakes as a cook/at cooking

No holds barred

If there are no holds barred, there are no rules of conduct; you can do anything: without limits or controls: This is comedy with no holds barred

No ifs or buts

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

No questions asked

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

No time like the present

If people say that there's no time like the present, they believe that it is far better to do something now than to leave it for later, in which case it might never get done.

Not get a word in edgeways

to not be able to say anything because someone else is talking continually: Roz was talking so much that nobody else could get a word in edgeways

Not my cup of tea

If something is not your cup of tea, you don't like it very much.

Notch on your belt

A success or achievement that might help you in the future is a notch on your belt.

 ~ O ~

Odds and ends

Odds and ends are small, remnant articles and things- the same as bits and bobs.

to disagree:

Be at odds

To disagree: They're at odds over the funding of the project. / Her version of events was at odds with (= very different from) the police report. Make no odds - to be unimportant, not making any different: I don't mind whether you come or not - it makes no odds to me. have the odds/cards stacked against you - to be very unlikely to succeed because you are not in an advantageous position

Off colour/color

If someone looks off colour/color, they look ill.

Off the cuff

If you do something off the cuff, you do it without any preparation: I hadn't prepared a speech so I just said a few words off the cuff. / an off-the-cuff remark

Off the hook

If you are off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult situation: John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook. wriggle off the hook -

If someone wriggles off the hook, they avoid a responsibility or avoid doing something

Go off the rails

to start behaving in a way that is not generally acceptable, especially dishonestly or illegally: He went off the rails in his first year at university.

Off your rocker

(UK) Someone who is off their rocker is crazy / stupid / behaving strangely.

Off-hand

Off-hand means without preparation. People say that they don't know the answer off-hand, meaning that they don't know it at that time.

Oldest trick in the book

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

Olive branch

If you hold out or offer an olive branch, you make a gesture to indicate that you want peace.

On tenterhooks

Worried or anxious about something that is going to happen: We were on tenterhooks all morning waiting for the telephone to ring.

On the dot

Exactly at the stated or expected time: The plane landed at two o'clock on the dot. /  UK She came promptly on the dot of eleven.

On the fly

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

On the game

(UK) A person who is on the game works as a prostitute.

On the level

to be acting or speaking honestly: It seems too good to be true. Are you sure this guy's on the level?

On the nod

Someone who has taken a lot of drugs and is barely conscious is on the nod.

get off on the right/wrong foot

to make a successful/unsuccessful start in something

On the shelf

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

On the stump

When politicians are campaigning for support and votes, they are on the stump.

On the tip of your tongue

If a word is on the tip of your tongue, you know you know the word, but you just can't quite remember it at the moment.

On the trot

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

On the up and up

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

On the wagon

If someone is on the wagon, they have stopped drinking alcohol.

On top of the world

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

On your high horse

When someone is on their high horse, they are being inflexible, arrogant and will not make any compromises: It's time you came down off your high horse and admitted you were wrong

On your last legs

A person who is on their last legs is very tired or near to death: We'd been out walking all day and I was on my last legs when we reached the hotel. / It looks as though her grandfather's on his last legs.

Once bitten, twice shy

If somebody is said to be once bitten twice shy, it means that someone who has been hurt or who has had something go wrong will be far more careful the next time.

One bad apple

The full form of this proverb is 'one bad apple spoils the barrel', meaning that a bad person, policy, etc, can ruin everything around it.

One fell swoop

If you do something at/in one fell swoop, you do it all at the same time: I got all my Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop.

One man's meat is another man's poison

This idiom means that one person can like something very much, but another can hate it.

One over the eight

(UK) Someone who is one over the eight is drunk.

One-man band

If one person does all the work or has all the responsibility somewhere, then they are a one-man band.

One-off

A one-off event only happens once and will not be repeated.

Open all hours

If a shop or suchlike is open all hours, it only closes, if at all, terribly late.

Open book

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

Opening a can of worms

If you open a can of worms, you do something that will cause a lot of problems and is, on balance, probably going to cause more trouble than it's worth.

Opportunity knocks but once

This idiom means that you only get one chance to achieve what you really want to do.

Out and about

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

Out like a light

If you are out like a light, you fall fast asleep.

Out of pocket

If you are out of pocket on a deal, you have lost money.

Out of sight, out of mind

Out of sight, out of mind is used to suggest that someone will not think or worry about something if it isn't directly visible or available to them.

Out of sorts

If you are feeling a bit upset and depressed, you are out of sorts.

Out of the blue

If something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire

If you get out of one problem, but find yourself in a worse situation, you are out of the frying pan, into the fire.

outstay/overstay your welcome

to stay too long: I left after two days - I didn't want to overstay my welcome

over-egg the pudding UK

to spoil something by trying too hard to improve it

Over a barrel

If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want.

Over the Counter

Medicines and drugs that can be sold without a doctor's prescription are sold over the counter.

Over the moon

If you are over the moon about something, you are overjoyed.

 ~ P ~

Pain in the neck

If someone is very annoying and always disturbing you, they are a pain in the neck. Pain in the butt, or pain in the ass (USA), and Pain in the arse (UK) are less polite alternative forms.

Paint the town red

If you go out for a night out with lots of fun and drinking, you paint the town red.

Paper tiger

A paper tiger is a person, country, institution, etc, that looks powerful, but is actually weak.

Par for the course

If something is par for the course, it is what you expected it would be. If it is above par, it is better, and if it is below par, it is worse.

Parrot fashion

If you learn something parrot fashion, you learn it word for word. A parrot is a bird from South America that can talk.

Part and parcel

If something is part and parcel of your job, say, it is an essential and unavoidable part that has to be accepted.

Pass muster

If something passes muster, it meets the required standard.

Pass the buck

If you pass the buck, you avoid taking responsibility by saying that someone else is responsible.

Pass the time of day

If you pass the time of day with somebody, you stop and say hello, enquire how they are and other such acts of social politeness.

Pay on the nail

If you pay on the nail, you pay promptly in cash.

Pay through the nose

If you pay through the nose for something, you pay a very high price for it.

Pecking order

The pecking order is the order of importance or rank.

Peeping Tom

A peeping Tom is someone who likes spy on people when they are naked or having sex: a voyeur.

Pen is mightier than the sword

The idiom 'the pen is mightier than the sword' means that words and communication are more powerful than wars and fighting.

Perfidious Albion

England is known to some as perfidious Albion, implying that it is not trustworthy in its dealings with foreigners.

Perish the thought

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

Pick up the Tab

A person who pays for everyone picks up the tab.

Pie in the sky

If an idea or scheme is pie in the sky, it is utterly impractical.

Piece of cake

If something is a piece of cake, it is really easy.

Pig in a poke

If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective.

Pin money

(UK) If you work for pin money, you work not because you need to but because it gives you money for extra little luxuries and treats.

Pink pound

(UK) In the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people.

Pipe dream

A pipe dream is an unrealistic, impractical idea or scheme.

Piping hot

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

Plain sailing

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

Plastic Smile

When someone is wearing a plastic smile, they are appear to be happier with a situation or events than they actually are. This is actually a description of the forced smile you might see in many photographs.

Play hardball

If someone plays hardball, they are very agressive in trying to achieve their aim.

Play havoc

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

Play it by ear

If you play it by ear, you don't have a plan of action, but decide what to do as events take shape.

Play chicken

to play dangerous games in order to discover who is the bravest: They would play chicken by driving head-on at each other until one of them lost their nerve and swerved out of the way

Play second fiddle

If you play second fiddle, you take a subordinate role behind someone more important.

Pointy-heads

Pointy-heads are supposed intellectuals or experts, but who don't really know that much.

Pop your clogs

When someone pops their clogs, they die.

Pot-luck

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

Powder your nose

If somebody goes to powder your nose, it is a euphemism for going to the lavatory (toilet).

Primrose path

The primrose path is an easy and pleasurable lifestyle, but one that ends in unpleasantness and problems.

Proclaim it from the rooftops

If something is proclaimed from the rooftops, it is made as widely known and as public as possible.

Prodigal son

A prodigal son is a young man who wastes a lot on money on a lavish lifestyle. If the prodigal son returns, they return to a better way of living.

Pull in the reins

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

Pull someone's leg

If you pull someone's leg, you tease them, but not maliciously.

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

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

Pull the wool over someone's eyes

If you pull the wool over someone's eyes, you deceive or cheat them.

Pull up your socks

If you aren't satified with someone and want them to do better, you can tell them to pull up their socks.

Pull your finger out!

If someone tells you to do this, they want you to hurry up.

Pull your weight

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

Push the envelope

This means to go to the limits, to do something to the maximum possible.

Pushing up the daisies

If someone is said to be pushing up the daisies, they are dead.

Put all your eggs in one basket

If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything on a single opportunity which, like eggs breaking, could go wrong.

Put or get someone's back up

If you put or get someone's back up, you annoy them.

Put somebody's nose out of joint

If you put someone's nose out of joint, you irritate them or make them angry with you.

put/throw a spanner in the works UK (US throw a (monkey) wrench in the works)

to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding:

The funding for the project was withdrawn so that really threw a spanner in the works

put the frighteners on sb

to threaten someone: He said he wouldn't pay up so I sent my brother round to put the frighteners on him

Put your foot down

When someone puts their foot down, they make a firm stand and establish their authority on an issue.

Put your foot in it

If you put your foot in it, you do or say something embarrassing and tactless or get yourself into trouble.

Putting the cart before the horse

When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing something the wrong way round.

put/get the wind up sb UK

to make someone feel anxious about their situation: Tell them your father's a policeman - that'll put the wind up them

put words in/into sb's mouth

to suggest that someone meant one thing when really they meant another: Stop putting words in my mouth - I didn't say you looked fat in the red dress - I merely said you looked very slim in the black. take the words out of sb's mouth - to say something which another person was just about to say or which they were thinking: "What a rude and obnoxious man!" "You took the words right out of my mouth

Pyrrhic victory

A Pyrrhic victory is one that causes the victor to suffer so much to achieve it that it isn't worth winning.

 ~ Q ~

Queen of Hearts

A woman who is pre-eminent in her area is a Queen of Hearts.

Queer Street

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

Queer your pitch

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

Queue jumping

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

Quick as a flash

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

Quick buck

If you make some money easily, you make a quick buck.

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 mouse

If someone's as quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no noise.

~ T ~

Take a leaf out of someone's book

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

Take a straw poll

If you take a straw poll, you sound a number of people out to see their opinions on an issue or topic.

Take it on the chin

If you take something on the chin, something bad happens to you and you take it directly without fuss.

Take someone for a ride

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

Take the bull by its horns

Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try to compete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tackles their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.

Take the rough with the smooth

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

Taken as read

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

take sb at their word (ALSO take sb's word for it)

to believe that what someone says is true: He said he'd give me a job and I just took him at his word. / If he says there's $500 in the envelope, then I'll take his word for it

Talk of the town

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

Talk out of the back of your head

If someone is talking out of the back of their head, they are talking rubbish.

Talk out of your hat

If someone is talking out of their hat, they're talking utter rubbish, especially if compounded with total ignorance of the subject on which they are pontifcating.

Talk shop

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

Tall order

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

Tall story

A tall story is one that is untrue and unbelievable.

Tally ho!

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

Teething problems

The problems that a project has when it's starting are the teething problems.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

This idiom means that things don't always turn out the way we want.

The ball's in your court

If somebody says this to you, they mean that it's up to you to decide or take the next step.

The be all and end all

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

The common weal

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

The grass is always greener

This idiom means that what other people have or do looks preferable to our life. The complete phrase is 'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'.

The more the merrier

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

The penny dropped

When the penny drops, someone belatedly understands something that everyone else has long since understood.

The sands of time

The sands of time is an idiom meaning that time runs out either through something reaching an end or through a person's death. It comes from the sand used in hourglasses, an ancient way of measuring time.

The short straw

If you take the short straw, you lose a selection process, which means that you have to do something unpleasant.

The world and his wife

If the world and his wife were somewhere, then huge numbers of people were present.

Their bark is worse than their bite

If someone's bark is worse than their bite, they get angry and shout and make threats, but don't actually do anything.

There are many ways to skin a cat

This is an expression meaning there are many different ways of doing the same thing.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

This idiom means that you don't get things for free, so if something appears to be free, there's a catch and you'll have to pay in some way.

There's the rub

The meaning of this idiom is 'that's the problem'.

Thick as thieves

If people are thick as thieves, they are very close friends who have no secrets from each other.

Thick-skinned

If a person is thick-skinned, they are not affected by critisism.

Thin as a rake

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

Thin end of the wedge

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

Thin line

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

Thin-skinned

If somebody is thin-skinned, they are very sensitive to any sort of criticism.

Think the world of (someone / something)

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

think the sun shines out (of) sb's arse/backside UK OFFENSIVE

to love and admire someone so much that you do not think they have any bad qualities

Those who live by the sword die by the sword

This means that violent people will be treated violently themselves.

Three sheets to the wind

If someone is three sheets to the wind, they are drunk.

Thrilled to bits

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

Through thick and thin

If a friend helps you through thick and thin, they help you through the good and the bad times, regardless of the difficulties and circumstances.

Throw a sickie

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

Throw down the gauntlet

Throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge to somebody.

Throw in the towel

If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something.

Throw the baby out with the bath-water

If you get rid of useful things when discarding inessential things, you throw the baby out with the bath-water.

Throw the book at someone

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

throw sb off balance

to confuse or upset someone for a short time by saying or doing something that they are not expecting: The question threw him off balance for a moment

Thumbs down/up

If something gets the thumbs up, it gets approval, while the thumbs down means disapproval.

Tie the knot

When people tie the knot, they get married.

Tight ship

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

Tighten your belt

If you have to tighten your belt, you have to economise.

Till you're blue in the face

If you do something till you're blue in the face, you do it repeatedly without achieving the desired result until you're incredibly frustrated.

Tilt at windmills

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

tilt the balance/scales

If something tilts the balance, it is the thing which causes a particular situation to happen or a particular decision to be made when other situations or decisions are possible:This latest election promise might just tilt the balance in the government's favour

Time of your life

If you're having the time of your life, you are enjoying yourself very much indeed.

Time-honoured practice

A time-honoured practice is a traditional way of doing something that has become almost universally accepted as the most appropriate or suitable way.

Tip of the iceberg

The tip of the iceberg is the part of a problem that can be seen, with far more serious problems lying underneath.

Tired and emotional

(UK) This idiom is a euphemism used to mean 'drunk', especially when talking about politicians.

To a man

If a group of people does, believes, thinks, etc, something to a man, then they all do it.

To a T

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

To little avail

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

To the end of time

To the end of time is an extravagant way of saying 'forever'.

To the ends of the earth

If someone will go to the ends of the earth for something, no distance is too great for them they are so determined to get it.

Top dog

The most important or influencial person is the top dog.

Touch wood

If someone says 'Touch wood' before they do something, they are wishing for good luck.

Touch-and-go

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

Tough cookie

A tough cookie is a person who will do everthing necessary to achieve what they want.

Tried and tested

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

trick of the trade

a clever method used by people who are experienced in a particular type of work or activity: Newspapers often improve photographs before they print them - it's one of the tricks of the trade

guilt/power/ego trip

when you experience a particular feeling strongly and noticeably over a period of time: She's been on a real power trip since she became the office manager. / I suffer from the classic working mother's guilt trip

have no truck with sth/sb

to refuse to become involved with something or someone because you do not approve of them

True blue

A person who is true blue is loyal and dependable, someone who can be relied on in all circumstances.

Truth will out

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

Turf war

If people or organisations are fighting for control of something, it is a turf war.

be in/out of tune with sb/sth

Much of his success comes from being in tune with what his customers want.

Her theories were out of tune with the scientific thinking of the time

be tuned in to

have a good understanding of what is happening in a situation or what other people are thinking:She just doesn't seem to be tuned in to her students' needs

Turn the other cheek

If you turn the other cheek, you are humble and do not retaliate or get outwardly angry when someone offends or hurts you, in fact, you give them the opportunity to re-offend instead and compound their unpleasantness.

a turn of the screw

an action which makes a bad situation worse, especially in order to force someone to do something:Each letter from my bank manager is another turn of the screw

turn your nose up

to not accept something because you do not think it is good enough for you:

They turned their noses up at the only hotel that was available

turn the clock back

If you try to turn the clock back, you want things to be the way they were in the past

Twenty-four seven

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

twist sb's arm

to persuade someone to do something they do not want to do: I didn't want to go but Linda twisted my arm

twist sb around/round your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything you want, usually because they like you so much:He'd do anything for you. You've got him twisted around your little finger

Two left feet

A person with two left feet can't dance.

A two-edged remark

Which can be understood in two very different ways, positive and negative:"That was amazingly generous of you!" "Well, that was a two-edged comment - are you saying I'm usually mean

Two-faced

describes someone who is not sincere, saying unpleasant things about you to other people while seeming to be pleasant when they are with you:I don't trust her - I suspect she's a bit two-faced

two way

describes a situation that involves two people or two groups of people working together to achieve a shared aim: Negotiations are a two-way thing - both sides have to come to a compromise. / Remember, friendships are a two-way street (= both people have to make an effort)

 ~ U ~

U-turn

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

Ugly duckling

An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty.

Uncle Sam

(USA) Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.

Under a cloud

If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.

Under false colours/colors

If someone does something under false colours/colors, they pretend to be something they are not in order to deceive people so that they can succeed.

Under fire

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

Under the table

Bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table.

Under the weather

If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.

Under the wire

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

Under your breath

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

Under your nose

If something happens right in front of you, especially if it is surpsising or audacious, it happens under your nose.

be unequal to sth

to lack the necessary ability, power or qualities to achieve something: He tried to cheer her up but found himself unequal to the task

Unwavering loyalty

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

Up in the air

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

Up sticks

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

Up the ante

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

Up the duff

(UK) If a woman is up the duff, she's pregant.

Up the spout

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

Up the stick

(UK) If a woman is up the stick, she's pregant.

Up the wall

If someone goes up the wall, they get very angry.

Up to scratch

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

Up to snuff

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

Upper crust

The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment.

Upper hand

If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage.

Upset the apple cart

If you upset the apple cart, you cause trouble and upset people.

 ~ V ~

Vale of tears

This vale of tears is the world and the suffering that life brings.

Velvet glove

This idiom is used to describe a person who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible underneath.

Vicar of Bray

(UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray

Vicious circle

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

Virgin territory

If something is virgin territory, it hasn't been explored before.

 ~ W ~

wake up and smell the coffee

used to tell someone that they are wrong about a particular situation and that they must realize what is really happening

Waiting in the wings

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

a walking disaster/encyclopedia, etc.

someone who seems to be a human form of disaster/encyclopedia, etc: You've broken another pair of glasses? - Oh, you're a walking disaster

Walk on eggshells

If you are walking on eggs/eggshells, you are being very careful not to offend someone or do anything wrong: When my mother is staying at our house, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells.

Wallflower

A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.

Warpath

If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.

Warts and all

If you like someone warts and all, you like them with all their faults.

Wash your hands of something

If you wash your hands of something, you disassociate yourself and accept no responsibility for what will happen.

Watching paint dry

If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.

Water off a duck's back

If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest: I've told him that he's heading for trouble, but he doesn't listen - it's just water off a duck's back

Water over the dam

(USA) If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.

Water under the bridge

If something belongs to the past and isn't important or troubling any more, it is water under the bridge.

Watering hole

(UK) A watering hole is a pub.

way/direction the wind blows

If a person tries to discover which way the wind blows/is blowing, they try to discover information about a situation, especially other people's opinions, before they take action:I think I'll see which way the wind is blowing before I vote at the board meeting

Wear sackcloth and ashes

If someone displays their grief or contrition publicly, they wear sackcloth and ashes.

Weather a storm

If someone or something weathers the storm, they successfully deal with a very difficult problem: In the next few days we shall see if the ambassador can weather the political storm caused by his ill-advised remarks.

weigh your words

to carefully think about everything you are going to say before you say it: He gave evidence to the court, weighing each word as he spoke

Wet behind the ears

Someone who is wet behind the ears is either very young or inexperienced.

Wet blanket

A wet blanket is someone who tries to spoil other people's fun.

What will be will be

The expression what will be will be is used to describe the notion that fate will decide the outcome of a course of events, even if action is taken to try to alter it.

What's your take on that?

This idiom is way of asking someone for their opinion and ideas.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

This idiom means that the sexes should be treated the same way and not be subjected to different standards.

When in Rome, do as the Romans.

This idiom means that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.

Where the rubber meets the road

(USA) Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are.

Where there's a will, there's a way

This idiom means that if people really want to do something, they will manage to find a way of doing it.

Whet your appetite

If something whet your appetite, it interests you and makes you want more of it.

Which came first the chicken or the egg?

This idiomatic expression is used when it is not clear who or what caused something.

While the cat's away, the mouse will play

People whose behaviour is strictly controlled go over the top when the authority is not around, which is why most teenagers have parties when their parents have gone on holiday. The parents are the scary authority figures, but the cat's away and the kids are the mice partying and enjoying their freedom.

White as a sheet

A bad shock can make somebody go as white as a sheet.

White elephant

A white elephant is an expensive burden; something that costs far too much money to run, like the Millennium Dome in the UK.

Who wears the pants?

(USA) The person who wears the pants in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.

Who wears the trousers?

(UK) The person who wears the trousers in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.

Wide berth

If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.

Wide of the mark

If you are wide of the mark, you are either wrong or not close to understanding it.

Will-o’-the-wisp

Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment.

Wild-goose-chase

a search which is completely unsuccessful and a waste of time because the person or thing being searched for does not exist or is somewhere else: After two hours spent wandering in the snow, I realized we were on a wild goose chase

Win by a nose

If somebody wins by a nose, they only just beat the others.

Window dressing

If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing.

Winner takes all

If everything goes to the winner, as in an election, the the winner takes all.

With a heavy hand

If someone does something with a heavy hand, they do it in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.

With child

(UK) If a woman's with child, she's pregnant.

with the wisdom of hindsight

with the knowledge that experience gives you: With the wisdom of hindsight we now know that the old-fashioned aerosol sprays were a mistake

Wolf in sheep's clothing

A wolf in sheep's clothing is something dangerous that looks quite safe and innocent.

Wood for the trees

(UK) If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.

work your way up/to the top

to advance in a process or structure: He started as an office junior and worked his way up through the company to become a director

Word of mouth

If something becomes known by word of mouth, it is because people are talking about it, not through publicity, etc.

Word of the law

The word of the law means that the law is interpreted in an absolutely literal way which goes against the ideas that the lawmakers had wished to implement.

Words fail me

If words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say.

word gets about/around/round

When word gets about/around/round, news spreads fast within a group of people: "I hear you were having drinks with a tall, dark, handsome man last night." "Wow, word gets round fast, doesn't it?" / She doesn't want word getting around the office that she's pregnant

(the) word is

used to refer to something which has been reported but not officially stated:

The word is (that) more hostages will be released over the next few weeks