E N T E R

# EXPRESSION MEANING
1 A bad apple Someone who might corrupt the entire group
2 A baker's dozen Thirteen, or one more than an actual dozen
3 A ballpark figure An approximate figure
4 A bat out of hell To describe someone or something moving very fast
5 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush It's better to have what you already have than to risk losing it for something better
6 A bit of a disaster Means something that is unsuccessful or disappointing, but not entirely catastrophic
7 A blessing in disguise A good thing that seemed bad at first
8 A bolt from the blue Something completely unexpected that surprises you
9 A bone to pick A reason why one is upset
10 A breath of fresh air A person who is different from others in a very positive way
11 A bunch of A group of something
12 A cheapskate Someone who is tight with money
13 A chip on your shoulder You have a grievance of some kind or an attitude that you won't let go of
14 A cut above the rest To be better than other people or things
15 A day late and a dollar short Too little and too late
16 A dime a dozen Something very plentiful, common, and therefore, inexpensive.
17 A doozy Something incredible, usually in a negative way
18 A doubting thomas Someone who has a very skeptical attitude and who requires strong evidence to believe something
19 A far cry from something Something that has a great many differences from something else
20 A fifth wheel Something that is useless or unnecessary
21 A flash in the pan Something that seems promising at first but ultimately doesn't deliver anything
22 A fool and his money are easily parted It's easy to convince a foolish person to give you their money for something silly
23 A for effort Made an excellent effort (but perhaps didn't succeed)
24 A fork in the road A situation in which you must choose one path or another
25 A good samaritan A person who helps others in need
26 A hand-me-down A piece of clothing that belonged to an older brother/sister and is passed to a younger brother/sister
27 A hang-up Something, perhaps irrational, that consistently worries you
28 A hard nut to crack Someone who is difficult to get to know or understand, or someone who is tricky to deal with
29 A hot potato An issue, probably from current events, that is causing a lot of discussion and controversy
30 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step Everything in life starts with a simple, yet vital, first step
31 A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step Means that even the most ambitious or challenging goal can be achieved by taking the first, seemingly small, action
32 A kickback A bribe or other illegal payment of money, usually offered to get someone to do something
33 A little bird told me A person (possibly someone recognized by both participants in the conversation) who imparted the information in question
34 A little bit To a small extent or a small amount
35 A little goes a long way Means a small amount of something can have a big impact or be enough
36 A little learning is a dangerous thing People who don't understand something fully are dangerous
37 A little porky Means to tell a lie or make a false statement
38 A match made in heaven Means two people are perfectly suited for each other, implying that their relationship is divinely ordained or simply a perfect fit, like something orchestrated in heaven itself
39 A memory like a sieve An inadequate memory
40 A memory like a steel trap Someone has an exceptionally sharp and reliable memory, where information is easily retained and recalled, just like a steel trap securely catches its prey
41 A pain in the neck Refers to a person who is annoying
42 A penny for your thoughts Tell me what you're thinking
43 A penny saved is a penny earned Money you save today you can spend later
44 A picture is worth a thousand words Better to show than tell
45 A piece of the pie To get a share or portion of something, usually referring to profits or benefits
46 A quart low Seeming confused; not thinking well
47 A ray of sunshine Someone who is always cheerful and makes other people feel more positive
48 A rip-off Something that costs too much for what it is really worth
49 A rising tide lifts all boats It is associated with economic growth, wealth, and prosperity
50 A screw loose To be crazy
51 A screwup A mistake
52 A shoo-in Means someone or something that is a guaranteed winner or is certain to succeed
53 A sledgehammer to crack a nut Using a disproportionate (and probably ineffective) solution for a problem
54 A smart cookie A clever and quick-thinking person
55 A snafu Utter confusion or chaos
56 A sniffle turned into a full-blown cold Something small turned into something big
57 A snowball effect A series of events gain momentum and build upon one another, leading to a more impactful outcome
58 A stitch in time saves nine Fix the problem now because it will get worse later
59 A stone's throw Very close by
60 A storm in a teacup A big fuss about a small problem
61 A storm is brewing There is likely to be significant trouble in the near future
62 A surefire way An approach that will definitely lead to something happening
63 A sweet tooth To love sweet foods and flavors
64 A third wheel Something that is not wanted or needed in a situation
65 A toss-up Something that is difficult to decide
66 Absent-minded Gives the impression of not being aware of what is happening in the present moment
67 Ace in the hole A hidden, but very effective, method for winning a conflict
68 Ace up the sleeve A hidden advantage in a competition
69 Achilles heel A major weakness
70 Achilles' heel A significant weakness and/or reason for potential downfall
71 Acid test An important or critical test of something
72 Across the board In every area and/or in every way
73 Act all high and mighty Thinking or acting as though one is more important than others
74 Actions speak louder than words Believe what people do and not what they say
75 Add insult to injury To make a bad situation, worse
76 Adding fuel to the fire To make a situation worse
77 Against the clock Rushed
78 Ahead of schedule To finish something earlier than the schedule requires
79 All bark and no bite Seems more intimidating than he actually is
80 All bets are off Any existing agreements are discarded
81 All eyes on me Means that everyone is paying attention to you
82 All greek to me I don't understand it
83 All gussied up Dressed in fancy clothes
84 All hat, no cattle All talk, no action or substance
85 All heart To be very kind and loving to others
86 All in the same boat All in the same situation
87 All kidding aside I was joking before, but now i'm going to speak seriously
88 All over the map Something that doesn't stay on target with the primary topic or purpose
89 All set Ready to go or proceed
90 All that glitters is not gold Something may not be as valuable or good as it first appears
91 All the boxes are checked Means that all the necessary requirements or criteria have been met or fulfilled, often in a checklist or list-like context
92 All the gear, no idea Someone who has the necessary tools for a task but lacks the skills or knowledge to use them effectively
93 All thumbs Clumsy, especially with intricate tasks that require a lot of dexterity
94 All thumbs up To be in complete agreement or approval of something
95 All wet To be wrong to the extent of being unbelievable or just silly
96 Almost to the finish line Means that someone is very close to completing a task, project, or goal
97 Along for the ride To be present when something is happening, without actually participating in it
98 Always a bridesmaid, never a bride Being consistently overshadowed by competitors
99 An about-face A sudden change, usually in the opposite direction
100 An albatross around my neck An encumbrance or significant burden
101 An arm and a leg Something that is very expensive
102 An old head on young shoulders Someone who seems to have more perception and wisdom than most other people the same age
103 An old soul Someone who seems to have more emotional insight and wisdom than other people the same age
104 An open book Someone who is extremely open about themselves
105 An ounce of common sense is worth a pound of theory A small amount of practical, everyday understanding is more valuable than a large amount of theoretical knowledge
106 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Its better to prevent a problem with little effort then to fix it later which is normally harder
107 And bob's your uncle Said after explaining how to do something, to emphasize how easy it is
108 Ants in your pants You can't sit still
109 Anything but Means not at all
110 Apple a day will keep the doctor away Eat right to stay healthy
111 Apple of my eye To be cherished or adored by someone else
112 Apply some elbow grease Put some physical effort into what you're doing
113 Armchair quarterback A person who offers opinions and advice but shows no evidence that they actually have any necessary knowledge or skill
114 Armed to the teeth To be heavily armed
115 Around-the-clock At every time of day and night
116 As busy as a bee Very busy
117 As easy as abc Very simple and easy
118 As easy as pie Very simple and easy
119 As genuine as a three-dollar bill Fake, as three-dollar bills do not exist
120 As happy as a clam Happy and content
121 As quiet as a mouse Very quiet and reserved
122 As rare as hen's teeth Extremely rare or non-existent
123 As right as rain Something is perfect
124 As the crow flies Either in a straight line or directly, without the use of roads
125 As white as a ghost Extremely pale, so much so that it causes concern
126 As white as a sheet Extremely pale, so much so that it causes concern
127 At a standstill Means a situation where all movement or activity has stopped, or no progress is being made
128 At best In the best-case scenario
129 At hand Available (used for objects, not people)
130 At least At a minimum
131 At my wits' end Getting extremely frustrated and close to becoming angry
132 At one's fingertips Easily recalled or available
133 At sea Confused
134 At the 11th hour At the last moment
135 At the bottom of the totem pole Having a low-status position, especially at work
136 At the crack of dawn Extremely early in the morning
137 At the drop of a hat Do something without having planned beforehand
138 At the end of your rope Reached the limit of endurance and/or patience with something or someone
139 At-large At liberty when one shouldn't be
140 Avoid at all costs Means to completely prevent something from happening, no matter what the difficulty or sacrifice involved; it emphasizes that something should be completely avoided under any circumstances
141 Baby boomer Someone born during the years following world war ii
142 Back against the wall Means to be in a difficult situation with no easy way out
143 Back to basics To go back to thinking about the basic elements of something
144 Back to square one Back to the beginning of an endeavor
145 Back to the drawing board After experiencing failure, it's time to start a task over from scratch
146 Backfile Refers to a collection of documents that are no longer in use or are in a different format than digital
147 Backfire Means to have an opposite result from what was intended
148 Backhanded compliment A compliment that is really meant as an insult
149 Backseat driver A passenger who tries to interfere with the driver's driving
150 Bad blood Ill or negative feelings
151 Bad egg A person who causes trouble or is dishonest
152 Bad hair day Hair is not looking as good as one would like
153 Bag and baggage To indicate the entirety of someone’s belongings
154 Ball and chain Something that limits one's freedom or ability to do things
155 Ball is in your court It refers to the fact that it’s time for action now
156 Ball's in your court It's your turn to act or respond
157 Ballpark figure A rough numerical estimate
158 Bamboozle Means to fool or cheat
159 Band-aid on a bullet wound Trying to deal with a serious situation in a negligent way
160 Bang for the buck The worth of one's money or exertion
161 Bang for your buck Get the most benefit possible out of the money you spend
162 Bank on it Means to rely on or depend on something happening or someone doing something with confidence. it implies a strong expectation or belief that something will occur as planned
163 Bare bones A very basic model or version, with no extras or add-ons
164 Bare bones and all To give everything you got
165 Barking up the wrong tree To search for solutions in the wrong places
166 Basket case A person or thing regarded as useless or unable to cope.
167 Bats in the belfry Someone is behaving in an eccentric or less than sane manner
168 Batten down the hatches Means to prepare for a difficulty or crisis
169 Batting a thousand To accomplish a task perfectly
170 Be at a loss Uncertain what to do; bewildered
171 Be glad to see the back of Happy when someone leaves
172 Be in a tight corner Being in a difficult situation
173 Be my guest Go ahead and do it
174 Be the best version of yourself Means to actively strive to improve your character, abilities, and overall self by identifying your strengths and weaknesses
175 Bear a grudge To continue to feel angry or unfriendly toward someone or something because of a particular past incident
176 Bear in mind Remember something, while thinking about something else
177 Beat a hasty retreat To leave really quickly, especially to flee a difficult situation
178 Beat around the bush Avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable
179 Beat someone to the draw You do something before someone else manages to
180 Beat someone to the punch To accomplish something before someone else does
181 Beat something into someone's head To teach someone something by repeating it
182 Beat the bushes To search thoroughly
183 Beat you to the draw To do something before someone else manages to
184 Beating a dead horse Continuing to talk about a subject that is now useless to discuss
185 Beating around the bush Trying to avoid a topic
186 Bed head Hair that is messy after sleeping on it
187 Bed of roses A blissfully happy and comfortable situation
188 Bee’s knees The very best
189 Beef up To strengthen something
190 Before the cows come home Means for a very long time, or indefinitely. it's often used to describe activities that are unproductive or futile
191 Before you know it Almost immediately
192 Beg to differ To disagree
193 Behind one’s back To do something to someone without them knowing
194 Behind someone's back Without someone knowing
195 Behind the eight ball To be in a difficult or unfavorable position
196 Behind the scenes Something that happens in private
197 Being stonewalled Means when one person becoming unresponsive, withdrawing, and emotionally disengaging during a conflict or conversation, often giving the silent treatment or avoiding eye contact
198 Below the belt To pass a disrespectful, insulting or unethical comment
199 Below the salt Common, vulgar, or of low standing
200 Belt and suspenders Exercising caution and avoiding of risks
201 Bend over backward Try extremely hard to do something, usually to help someone with a specific issue
202 Bend th rules Means to make an exception to a rule or to not strictly adhere to it, often in a way that is considered minor or not harmfu
203 Bent out of shape Annoyed and upset
204 Bermuda triangle Is a loosely defined area in the north atlantic ocean where ships and planes have reportedly disappeared
205 Beside oneself Very troubled or anxious and distraught
206 Beside the point Irrelevant
207 Beside yourself with joy To be extremely happy or filled with joy
208 Best of both worlds All the advantages of two different situations and none of the disadvantages
209 Best wishes Used to express hope for another person's happiness, success, health
210 Bestie Best friend
211 Besties Best friends
212 Bet the ranch To risk everything on an endeavor that you believe will be successful
213 Better half Refers to a person's spouse or significant other, essentially meaning the person you consider to be the most important or "better" part of your life
214 Better late than never Better to arrive late than not to come at all
215 Better to ask for forgiveness Means that it is often preferable to take action without explicit permission first, and then apologize later if necessary, rather than to ask for permission beforehand and potentially miss an opportunity
216 Between the devil and the deep blue sea Having to deal with the reality of two difficult possible outcomes for the same situation
217 Beware the ides of march Sometimes used as a warning for upcoming events
218 Beyond the call of duty To exceed expectations; to perform extra work that wasn't required by one's responsibilities
219 Beyond the pale Outside of the limits of socially or morally acceptable behavior
220 Big cheese A very important person, especially the most important person in an organization
221 Big deal Something is important
222 Big fish in a small pond Someone who seems more significant than they are because they live in a small or relatively insignificant community
223 Big shot A powerful person
224 Big wheel An influential, powerful, and important person
225 Bigwig A powerful person with a high position in a corporate structure
226 Bird's-eye view A broad and expansive view of a place or something
227 Birds of a feather People who are similar in character
228 Birds of a feather flock together People who are alike are often friends (usually used negatively)
229 Bite off more than you can chew To take on more responsibilities or challenges than you can handle
230 Bite someone's head off To criticize someone strongly
231 Bite someone's nose off To respond to someone in a very angry or aggressive manner
232 Bite the bullet To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage
233 Bite the dust To fail or suffer a defeat
234 Bite your tongue To stop talking
235 Black and blue To be bruised
236 Black sheep A member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to it
237 Black-and-white To think in an extreme way; everything is either completely right or entirely wrong
238 Blackout Faint
239 Blind date Means a social gathering between two people who have not previously met
240 Bloodsucker A person who unfairly takes or uses things that other people worked for
241 Blow off steam To express anger or frustration
242 Blow this joint Means let's leave
243 Blown away Very impressed
244 Blue blood A blue blood is an aristocrat. blue bloods come from privileged, noble families that are wealthy and powerful
245 Blue in the face To be exhausted due to strain or anger
246 Blue-collar job A job that involves manual labor
247 Boil the ocean Undertaking an impossible task or making a task unnecessarily difficult
248 Bolt from the blue Something that happened without warning
249 Bone and all Signifies the idea of accepting someone completely, including their flaws and vulnerabilities
250 Born with a silver spoon in his mouth Means that his family is very wealthy, and he is likely to lead a privileged life
251 Bought the farm To die unexpectedly
252 Bounce off the walls To be extremely excited and energetic
253 Bowl of cherries A blissfully happy and comfortable situation
254 Bread and butter A person’s main source of income
255 Break a leg A wish for good luck, often used in the theater world
256 Break even Means to reach a point where expenses and income are equal, resulting in neither a profit nor a loss
257 Break new ground To do something innovative that is regarded as an advance or of positive benefit
258 Break someone’s bubble To do or say something that proves someone else’s beliefs are not true
259 Break the bank To spend a lot of money or exceed one’s budget
260 Break the ice To start a conversation by making people feel more comfortable
261 Breath of fresh air Something that is new and refreshing
262 Bring home the bacon To earn a living or provide financial support for a family
263 Broke even Means to have neither a profit nor a loss, meaning expenses and income are equal, and there is no gain or loss
264 Broke the bank To deplete all available funds; to spend more than expected or affordable
265 Buck stops here I have the final responsibility
266 Bug off Leave me alone
267 Bull in a china shop A person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior
268 Bun in the oven She is pregnant
269 Bundle of nerves Very nervous or anxious about something
270 Burn bridges To Do something to spoil relationships
271 Burn it all down Means to express extreme frustration or a desire for radical change
272 Burning daylight Means to waste time, especially during the daylight hours
273 Burning the candle at both ends To work from early in the morning until late at night
274 Burning the midnight oil Working late into the night
275 Bury one's head in the sand To ignore something completely
276 Bury the hatchet Ending a quarrel to make peace
277 Busy as a bee Very active
278 Butter up To flatter or praise someone to get their help or support
279 Butterfingers Is a humorous way to describe someone who is clumsy and often drops things
280 Butterflies in your stomach Means to feel nervous or excited, especially before a performance or event
281 By the skin of your teeth To do something with little chance of success
282 Caesar's wife Means that someone in a position of power, particularly a public figure, must be above suspicion
283 Calculated risk Is a chance of failure that's been estimated before taking action
284 Call a spade a spade Identifying what something, or someone, really is
285 Call it a day To stop working on something
286 Call it a night Halt your evening or nighttime activities
287 Call the shots To make the decisions; to decide what will be done
288 Call their bluff To try to force someone to show that they are lying
289 Calm before the storm Something bad is coming, but right now it's calm
290 Calm someone down To help make someone calm
291 Can't hold a candle to something or someone Cannot compete
292 Can't judge a book by its cover You shouldn't attempt to judge someone or something just by how it looks
293 Can't keep up Cannot stay at the same level of achievement
294 Can't put a face to the name When you hear a name you recognize but you cannot remember what the person looks like
295 Can't see the forest for the trees Unable to fully see or understand the whole situation because one is distracted or overwhelmed by the details
296 Canary in the mine Refers to something that acts as an early warning of potential danger or failure
297 Can’t take a hint Means someone doesn't understand or act on an indirect suggestion
298 Card sharp or card shark Someone who makes money from cheating at cards
299 Carry a torch To feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for
300 Carry the ball To take on greater responsibility in order to help ensure a project continues
301 Cash cow A consistent and reliable source of income or profits
302 Cast pearls before swine To display fine attributes to people incapable of appreciating them
303 Cast-iron stomach A stomach that never seems to get upset, regardless of what one eats
304 Castle in the sky A hope or daydream for the future that will probably never come true
305 Cat got your tongue? Expression used to ask someone why they are not speaking or are unusually quiet
306 Cat has nine lives Cats possess a high level of resilience and the ability to survive against the odds
307 Cat nap Take a short nap
308 Cattywampus Crooked or confused
309 Caught between a rock and a hard place To face a difficult decision with no easy solution
310 Caught red-handed To be caught in the act of doing something wrong
311 Change hands For an object to be passed or sold from one owner to another
312 Change of heart To change your opinion about something
313 Changed my mind Means that you have decided to do something different than what you originally planned or thought
314 Chase adventure Go out and do something interesting
315 Chasing your tail Spending time and energy but achieving nothing; going around in circles
316 Chatterbox Someone who talks constantly
317 Chatty cathy To describe someone who talks a lot
318 Cheap shot To take advantage of someone when they are down
319 Check is in the mail A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors
320 Cherry on top A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already very good
321 Chew the fat To chat or gossip
322 Choke point A narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel
323 Chop, chop Get back to work
324 Circle back Means to return to a topic or conversation at a later time, often after some delay or after addressing other matters
325 Clean as a baby bottom Means something is extremely clean, often used to describe something that is very smooth and spotless, like a baby's bottom after being changed
326 Clean as a whistle Something/someone who is free from dirt
327 Clean bill of health A person or a system or organisation has been examined and found in good condition, without facing any significant problems or issues
328 Clean sweep Winning without facing any defeats
329 Clean-cut Having a neat appearance that suggests you are someone who does not break rules or cause trouble
330 Clear as mud Very confusing
331 Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades Means that close doesn't count; a close loss is still a loss
332 Close, but no cigar Nearly achieving a goal but ultimately falling short
333 Close-fisted To be mean
334 Closer to the bone Means something said or written is very close to the truth, often to the point of being potentially offensive or uncomfortable for the person it is about; essentially, it implies a very candid, almost blunt honesty
335 Cold hands warm heart Means someone has a kind and loving personality, even though their hands are usually cold
336 Cold turkey To suddenly stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior
337 Come hell or high water Something will be done no matter what obstacles or difficulties arise
338 Come into your own Means to reach a desired level of accomplishment
339 Come rain or shine No matter what
340 Come to grips with it Means to begin to understand or deal with a problem or situation in a direct or effective wa
341 Come to one's senses Start to think and behave reasonably after a period of foolishness or irrationality
342 Come to your senses To begin to think in a sensible or correct way after being foolish or wrong
343 Comes with the territory Something is an expected result of a situation or position
344 Coming of age Is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult
345 Coming out guns blazing Means to approach something with a lot of force, energy, and determination, often in a forceful or aggressive manner
346 Common courtesy The level of politeness that people can generally be expected to show
347 Common decency A set of ethical and moral behaviors that are guided by fairness, respect, and empathy
348 Common ground Shared interests, beliefs, or opinions between two people or groups of people who disagree about most other subjects
349 Common law A body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts
350 Common law wife A woman who is considered to be married to a man without having gone through a formal marriage ceremony
351 Common sense The ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions
352 Comparing apples to oranges Comparing two things that cannot be compared
353 Compromising position Refers to a situation where someone is caught in a suggestive or potentially embarrassing act, often implying infidelity or inappropriate behavior
354 Cookie cutter The same approach or style is always used and not enough attention is paid to individual differences
355 Cool as a cucumber To remain calm and composed
356 Cool it Calm down
357 Cooler heads prevail Means that in a tense situation, the influence or ideas of calmer and more reasonable people will ultimately win out
358 Copycat Person who copies another's behavior, dress, or ideas
359 Cost an arm and a leg Something that is very expensive
360 Costs an arm and a leg To describe something that is very expensive
361 Couch potato To be lazy
362 Count your blessings To make a special effort to appreciate the good things in one's life
363 Crack a window Open a window slightly
364 Cram To study frantically before a test
365 Crazy like a fox Pretty clever
366 Cream of the crop The best or choicest of anything
367 Crush on someone Means to have a strong, often romantic, attraction or liking for someone
368 Cry for the moon To ask for something that is rather difficult
369 Cry over spilled milk To feel sorry over something that has already happened, even though it’s not helpful
370 Curiosity killed the cat Stop asking questions
371 Cut class To be deliberately absent from class
372 Cut no ice Fail to make an impact
373 Cut somebody some slack Don't be so critical
374 Cut the mustard You meet expectations and are performing adequately
375 Cut to the chase Getting to the important point
376 Cutting corners Doing something poorly in order to save time or money
377 Damn someone with faint praise To criticize someone in a way that seems to be praise but actually communicates disapproval or condemnation
378 Dark horse A previously unknown person who becomes prominent or known for something
379 Davy jones's locker The bottom of the sea, especially the grave of those who die at sea
380 Dawned on me To suddenly realize or recognize something
381 Days are numbered Someone or something is nearing the end of their existence, and will not last much longer
382 Dead as a doornail Completely dead or quiet
383 Dead from the neck up Unintelligent or stupid
384 Dead in the water No longer effective
385 Dead quiet Extremely quiet
386 Dead ringer A duplicate or double, something that looks just like another
387 Dead tired Extremely tired
388 Dead to the world In a deep sleep
389 Dead-end job A job that doesn't seem to have any opportunities for advancement
390 Death and taxes Something is inevitable or certain to happen
391 Deep down How you really feel inside, even if you don't realize it
392 Devil is in the details Something that seems to be good only from a distance
393 Devil quoting the bible Good things being twisted for selfish and evil purposes
394 Diamond in the rough A person who is generally of good character but lacks manners, education, or style
395 Dig two graves Means that if you seek revenge against someone, you are essentially digging a grave for yourself as well
396 Ding-it! Expression of complete frustration and anger; usually accompanied by flying hammers
397 Dire straits To be in a very bad or difficult situation
398 Do it ASAP Do it as soon as possible
399 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Treat people fairly; also known as "the golden rule"
400 Do you come here often A common phrase for initiating conversation with a stranger, especially one for seeking romantic involvement
401 Dodge a bullet Means to narrowly escape a dangerous or unpleasant situation, essentially avoiding something bad that could have happened to you
402 Doing a 180 Means to make a complete about-face or change one's mind or direction, often in a sudden or dramatic way
403 Don't beat a dead horse To continue to talk about something that is now useless to discuss
404 Don't bite the hand that feeds you Don't act against someone who is supporting you
405 Don't count on it You should not expect something to happen or rely on it
406 Don't count your chickens before they hatch Don't count on something good happening until it's happened
407 Don't cry over spilled milk There's no reason to complain about something that can't be fixed
408 Don't give up your day job You're not very good at this
409 Don't judge a book by its cover This person or thing may look bad, but it's good inside
410 Don't jump to conclusions Means to form an opinion or make a decision without having all the facts, essentially reaching a conclusion too quickly based on limited information; it implies making a hasty judgment without considering all possible explanations
411 Don't let the inmates run the asylum Those who are in charge should make the decisions rather than those in subordinate rolls
412 Don't let your guard down Means to remain alert and cautious, not relaxing or becoming complacent, even when you feel safe, as it could lead to potential danger or negative consequences; essentially, stay on your toes and be prepared for anything
413 Don't look a gift horse in the mouth To find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor
414 Don't make waves Don't cause problems
415 Don't mention it You're welcome
416 Don't put all your eggs in one basket What you're doing is too risky
417 Don't s--t on your own doorstep Don't sleep with your housemate or workmate
418 Don't spit on me and tell me its raining Don't lie to me
419 Don't sweat the small stuff Don't be concerned about trivial matters
420 Don't throw out the baby with bath water To be careful not to discard something valuable while trying to get rid of something unwanted
421 Don’t be a stranger Means you should stay in touch with someone, or visit them again soon, especially when they are leaving a place or situation
422 Don’t burst my balloon Means to don't spoil my excitement or optimism, or ruin my plans/dreams
423 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch Don’t depend on something before it happens
424 Don’t give up a day’s job You are not very good at something or you could not do it professionally
425 Don’t jump the gun Means to act too soon or before the right time
426 Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Means to tell someone to get out in a rude or dismissive way, indicating that their departure is desired and you are not sorry to see them go
427 Don’t throw out the baby out with the bath water Means to be careful not to discard something valuable while getting rid of something unwanted
428 Done and dusted Successfully finished; completely finished
429 Double down Means to continue to do something in an even more determined way than before
430 Down for the count Tired; giving up
431 Down to the wire Completing or finishing something with no extra time remaining
432 Drag your feet Slow down intentionally to delay the outcome
433 Draw the line To stop before a point where something okay gets not okay
434 Dressed to the nines Wearing stylish or elegant clothing
435 Drive me up the wall To make one very nervous, upset, or annoyed
436 Drop the ball To make a mistake or fail to do something
437 Drown your sorrows Means to drink alcohol in order to forget something sad or upsetting that has happened
438 Drum up some support Means to make an effort to obtain or increase support for something, often through active solicitation or canvassing
439 Duck test For application of common sense and/or intuition regardless of technical parameters
440 Eager beaver Someone who is very eager or excited to do something
441 Eagle eye Close or careful watch on something
442 Earworm Thinking about a song or lyrics from a song over and over
443 Easier said than done Not as easy as it appears to be
444 Easy come, easy go You get something easily and you lose it easily
445 Easy does it Slow down
446 Eat crow To admit that you were mistaken about something
447 Eat like a bird To eat very little
448 Eat like a horse To eat a lot and have a big appetite
449 Eating crow Admitting that you are wrong after taking a strong position
450 Eating humble pie Admitting that you are wrong after taking a strong position
451 Egg on your face Look foolish; be publicly embarrassed by something you did
452 Eight hundred pound gorilla An entity so powerful that it can act without regard to the rights of others or the law
453 Elephant in the room The big issue; the problem people are avoiding
454 End of time Means "forever" or "always", essentially signifying something that will last indefinitely
455 Even stephen Means having no balance of debt, an equal chance or score, or being exactly equal, like a tied game or a fair exchange
456 Every cloud has a silver lining Good things come after bad things
457 Every dog has his day Everyone gets a chance at least once
458 Everything from A to Z Everything from start to finish; the complete event
459 Everything from soup to nuts Everything from start to finish; the complete event
460 Everything happens for a reason Means that events and experiences, even difficult ones, are not random but have a purpose or underlying cause, often implying a higher, predetermined plan or meaning
461 Everything is coming up roses Things are turning out well or better than expected
462 Everything is looking up Things are turning out better than in the recent past
463 Experience something first-hand To experience something yourself
464 Eye for an eye If someone harms you, you should harm them back in the same way
465 Eyes too big for (or bigger than) your stomach You took more food on your plate than you can eat
466 Face a conundrum Means to encounter a difficult problem or puzzle
467 Face only a mother could love Means they are ugly by the person's standards
468 Face the music Face the consequences of something you have done
469 Factor out To isolate a common factor from an expression
470 Fair and square To be done fairly and correctly
471 Fair to middling Average in quality
472 Fair-weather friend A person who only acts like a friend when things are going well and they can benefit in some way
473 Fairy Godmother Someone who helps others with their problems, sometimes providing financial assistance
474 Fall by the wayside Something that comes to be ignored
475 Fall in love Means to develop romantic feelings for someone or something
476 Fall off the wagon To fail to stick to a determination to do something
477 Fall on deaf ears Advice is ignored by the people who need to hear it
478 False flag A harmful action that is designed to make it look like someone else is responsible
479 False light A legal term that refers to a misleading or false portrayal of someone in public
480 Familiarity breeds contempt The better you know someone the less you like him
481 Fancy pants Very fancy and maybe ostentatious
482 Fashion victim Someone who is obsessed with fashion, probably to the point where they go overboard and end up looking worse
483 Fat cat A wealthy, but usually very lazy, person
484 Fatal attraction A psychological phenomenon where the qualities that initially attract people to each other in a relationship eventually lead to the relationship's end
485 Father knows best Means that a father is the authority figure who provides guidance and advice for his family
486 Feather in one's cap Something one is proud of
487 Feather in your cap Means an achievement or honor that someone can be proud of
488 Feather one's nest To gather up resources to ensure future comfort
489 Feed a cold, starve a fever Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever
490 Feeding frenzy To eat a large amount of food
491 Feel like a fifth wheel Not needed or wanted in the situation, not valued
492 Feel like a million dollars To feel extremely good
493 Feel like death warmed over To feel or look extremely tired and drained
494 Feel the pinch To feel the effects of a lack of money or other resources
495 Feeling blue Feeling sad or depressed
496 Fell on its head Means something was poorly executed or had a negative outcome
497 Fender bender A minor car accident
498 Few cards short of a deck The man often does very strange things
499 Field day An enjoyable circumstance or day
500 Fifteen minutes of fame To enjoy an extremely short period of fame or recognition of some sort
501 Fight an uphill battle To deal with a difficult situation that becomes harder as you go
502 Fight tooth and nail To fight hard and determinedly
503 Fill in the blanks To guess the content of missing information
504 Filthy rich Extremely wealthy
505 Find your feet Adjust and become accustomed to new circumstances or expectations
506 Finger lickin' good Delicious food (very informal)
507 First to cry foul Which means to be the first person to express a complaint or protest about something, often implying that the complaint might be exaggerated or unnecessary
508 Fish out of water To be in an environment that you're not used to or that you don't readily fit into
509 Fishy Seems suspicious
510 Fit as a fiddle To be in good health
511 Fit to be tied Extremely angry
512 Fits and starts Very brief bursts of motion
513 Five o'clock shadow The signs of hair starting to grow back on the face of a man who has recently shaved
514 Fix someone's wagon To ruin someone's chance of success, often in revenge for a grievance
515 Fixed in your ways Inflexible in the ways you do things
516 Fixin' to About to do something
517 Flavor of the month Something that is trendy or fashionable to care about at the moment
518 Flea market A market where people buy and sell secondhand and/or inexpensive goods
519 Flesh and blood People who are related to you, or anyone or anything that is alive
520 Fly in the face of something To act in opposition to something or to show disrespect for someone or something
521 Fly in the ointment Something unpleasant in a situation that is otherwise entirely pleasant
522 Fly off the handle To suddenly become extremely angry, especially if overreacting to something
523 Fly the coop To escape
524 Fly-by-night Markedly untrustworthy or undependable
525 Flying by the seat of your pants Making decisions based on instinct/intuition rather than on a plan
526 Foam at the mouth To show rage
527 Follow in someone's footsteps To follow the same path in life as someone else
528 Follow the money To follow the direction of people gaining large amounts of money when investigating corruption
529 Food for thought Something that you or others think is worth carefully thinking about
530 Fool around To joke around and act in a jovial or silly way
531 Fool's gold Something that looks like gold but isn't
532 Fools rush in where angels fear to tread Means that inexperienced or foolish people will readily jump into dangerous or difficult situations that wiser individuals would avoid
533 Foot in the door To find an opportunity to make progress in a desired direction
534 Foot the bill To pay for something, especially something expensive
535 Footloose and fancy-free To be free of care and worry, able to have fun all the time
536 For Christ sake An exclamation used to express frustration, annoyance, or exasperation
537 For crying out loud Exclamation of utter frustration at a person or situation
538 For goodness' sake Something one says when one is frustrated or in a state of disbelief
539 For heaven's sake Something one says when one is frustrated or in a state of disbelief
540 For the birds Something that is silly, ridiculous or ludicrous
541 For the love of God Used to give added force to an angry statement
542 Fork over the money To pay money for something
543 Formidable opponent Is a powerful or strong enemy or competitor that deserves respect and serious attention
544 Fortune favors the bold You are more likely to succeed if you take risks
545 Forty winks A very short nap, usually during the day
546 Freak out To become very angry, worried, or frightened
547 Freeze someone out To deliberately leave someone out; to choose not to include someone who would expect to be included
548 Fresh said of eyes Refers to getting someone else to have a look
549 From day one From the very beginning
550 From rags to riches To go from being poor to wealthy
551 From the get-go From the beginning
552 From the word go From the very beginning
553 From time to time Occasionally
554 Fuddy-duddy An excessively old-fashioned person
555 Full of bologna Means something is filled with nonsense, foolish ideas, or empty words
556 Full of crap Doesn't know what he or she is talking about Offensive in most contexts
557 Full of hot air To be a person who talks a lot but has no idea what they are talking about and/or is arrogant
558 Full of it Means someone is talking nonsense, exaggerating, or not telling the truth
559 Full steam ahead Enthusiastically moving forward
560 Full-court press To put maximum effort into something
561 Functioning as advertised Means something is operating or performing in the way it was intended and described in its advertising or promotional materials
562 Gain ground To advance and make progress
563 Game plan To put a plan in place; to decide how things should be handled
564 Garden variety Ordinary, common, or unexceptional
565 Gave someone the thumbs-up Gave someone approval
566 Get a handle on something To gain control or understanding of something
567 Get a hold of something To obtain possession of something
568 Get a hold of yourself To gain control of yourself
569 Get a kick out of it To be amused by something
570 Get a move on To start being active again in something
571 Get a second wind Have more energy after having been tired
572 Get a taste of your own medicine Get treated the way you've been treating others (negative)
573 Get a word in edgewise To be able to say something when someone won't stop talking
574 Get ahead of the game To have an advantage over others
575 Get along with each other To have a harmonious relationship with someone; to refrain from argument or conflict
576 Get back to someone To contact a person again to tell them something in the near future
577 Get bent out of shape To be upset, to take offense, or to be angry
578 Get cold feet To feel nervous or hesitant about a decision or action
579 Get down to brass tacks Get to the point of the matter
580 Get down to business Start doing the practical things that need to be done
581 Get down to the nuts and bolts To focus on the basics of something or a situation
582 Get from A to B To get from one place to another
583 Get hitched Means to get married
584 Get hold of someone To get in contact with someone
585 Get in shape To become strong or fit
586 Get in someone's hair To annoy someone or cause them some kind of irritation or hindrance
587 Get into deep water In a lot of trouble
588 Get it off my chest To express something that has been bothering you or
589 Get it off your chest Share information about something that has been bothering you
590 Get off my back Stop criticizing me; stop nagging me to do something
591 Get out of hand To be out of one's control
592 Get out of town Means to leave the current town or city immediately, often used in a surprised or incredulous way to express disbelief at something someone has said or done, essentially saying you can't be serious or i don't believe you
593 Get some shut eye Means to go to sleep or get some rest; it's an informal way of saying get some sleep
594 Get something out of your system Do the thing you've been wanting to do so you can move on
595 Get the ball rolling To begin or get started; to put things into motion
596 Get the hang of it To have the ability to complete a task and do it well
597 Get this show on the road Let's go; let's get started
598 Get wind of something To get information about something about to happen
599 Get your act together Work better or leave
600 Get your ducks in a row Make proper plans; get things in order
601 Get your feet wet To take a small step in an effort to learn or do something new
602 Get your foot in the door To establish an initial connection or opportunity that will benefit you in the future
603 Gets my goat Something that really bothers or annoys someone
604 Give (or get) the bum's rush forcible eviction or dismissal
605 Give a pass To forgive someone or overlook a mistake
606 Give it a whirl To give something a try
607 Give it the gun (or gun it) To cause something to start or speed up; press the accelerator
608 Give it the once over To clean or inspect something in a quick or cursory fashion
609 Give it your best shot Try as hard as you possibly can; put forth your best effort
610 Give kudos to someone Praise someone for achievements (note: kudos is not plural, so you can't give a kudo)
611 Give props to Show appreciation for
612 Give someone a hand To help or assist someone
613 Give someone the benefit of the doubt Trust what someone says
614 Give someone the cold shoulder To act rudely or ignore someone
615 Give something a fair shake To try something for a while before deciding that it isn't for you
616 Give the cold shoulder Intentionally ignore someone
617 Give them a taste of their own medicine To give someone the same bad treatment that they have given to others
618 Giving someone a hard time To make things difficult or unpleasant for someone
619 Go back to the drawing board After experiencing failure, it's time to start a over from scratch
620 Go bananas To go crazy
621 Go behind one's back To sneak and do something without telling someone who should be aware
622 Go belly up Go out of business; to lose everything
623 Go cold turkey To quit or stop addictive or dangerous behaviour
624 Go down in flames To fail suddenly and terribly
625 Go Dutch (or It will be Dutch treat) When going somewhere with another person or a group of people, everyone pays their own way
626 Go fly a kite Means to tell someone to go away or to leave you alone
627 Go off half-cocked To act or speak impulsively and without proper preparation or consideration
628 Go on a wild goose chase To do something pointless
629 Go the extra mile To make an extra effort
630 Go the way of the dinosaurs To go extinct or become obsolete; to fall out of common use or practice; to go off the firsthand market; to become a thing of the past
631 Go the way of the dodo to go extinct or become obsolete; to fall out of common use or practice; to go out of the firsthand market; to become a thing of the past
632 Go with the flow To let things happen or let other people tell you what to do, rather than trying to take charge
633 GOAT Greatest of all time
634 Going forward The next time or on a future occasion
635 Going postal Becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, usually in a workplace environment
636 Going south Things are turning out worse than expected; an expression mainly used by ignorant yankees
637 Golden handshake Special incentive given to an employee (usually an executive) to induce them to retire
638 Golden opportunity Is a great chance to do or achieve something. it's an opportunity that's so beneficial that it's hard to pass up
639 Golden parachute A large payment or other financial compensation guaranteed to a company executive should the executive be dismissed as a result of a merger or takeover
640 Gonna Going to
641 Good things come to those who wait Be patient
642 Got a leg up Have an advantage over others
643 Got away clean To escape a situation without any negative consequences
644 Grab (or take) the bull by the horns Face a difficult situation directly, with confidence
645 Grab the wrong end of the stick To misunderstand a situation or take the wrong approach in the nick of time and at the very last moment, just before it's too late
646 Grandfather it in Means to allow someone or something to continue benefiting from existing rules or conditions even when new rules or requirements are implemented, essentially exempting them from the new changes
647 Grasping at straws To find a solution or hope in a desperate situation
648 Graveyard shift Working through the overnight hours
649 Green light Permission to start or continue something
650 Green thumb To be good at gardening; having good skills or luck with growing flowers or vegetables
651 Green with envy Means to be very jealous or envious of someone or something
652 Grey area Indeterminate territory, undefined position, neither here nor there
653 Guard your heart Means to protect your heart with care and attention
654 Gut feeling To do more than you’re required to do
655 Hail Mary pass To do something desperate that could lead to a big success
656 Hair of the dog An alcoholic beverage of some kind taken in an attempt to cure a hangover
657 Hair of the dog that bit you Whatever caused you to be in the situation you're in, go get more of that
658 Hair's breadth A very narrow space
659 Half a mind to do something Thinking about doing something
660 Half price Half the usual price at which something is offered for sale
661 Half the battle Half of the effort or work required
662 Half-baked Inadequately thought-out or planned
663 Half-baked idea Too have a foolish plan
664 Hammering out a deal To negotiate and arrive at a deal
665 Hand in glove Very close
666 Hand over fist Very quickly
667 Hands are tied Not have the ability to help or take action
668 Hands down Obviously, unquestionably, without a doubt
669 Hang in there To not give up
670 Hang loose Relax, let go, and live in the moment; don't take things too seriously
671 Hang me out to dry To allow someone to be punished, criticized, or made to suffer in a way that is unfair, without trying to help them
672 Hang tight Just wait for something to happen
673 Hang tough To stay determined
674 Hankering Strong intention or desire
675 Happy as a clam Extremely happy
676 Happy-go-lucky Very cheerful and happy
677 Hard pill to swallow Something that is difficult to take or accept
678 Hard sell To use selling techniques that are relatively aggressive or pushy
679 Hari-kari To commit suicide
680 Haste makes waste You'll make mistakes if you rush through something
681 Hat trick Three successes of the same kind, especially consecutive ones within a limited period, such as three goals in soccer
682 Have (or with) a heavy heart To be sad about something or reluctant to do something
683 Have a bee in your bonnet To be extremely upset
684 Have a chip on your shoulder Holding a grudge or feeling resentful because you believe you have been treated unfairly
685 Have a finger in the pie To have an interest in or take part in some activity; to meddle in the situation
686 Have a hand in Have a role in
687 Have a method to one’s madness Seeming to be crazy but in fact is very clever
688 Have a whale of a time To have a lot of fun or enjoy oneself very much
689 Have an advantage over others To have an advantage over others
690 Have an axe to grind To be upset about something and to perhaps desire revenge of some kind
691 Have bats in one's belfry Eccentric or crazy in a harmless way
692 Have big ears To listen to a conversation not intended for you; to eavesdrop
693 Have eyes only for something To have desire focused on a specific person or object
694 Have hell to pay To be in severe difficulties
695 Have it in spades Means that they have a lot of it, or that they have it to a high degree.
696 Have one's ear to the ground To be well informed about coming events
697 Have one's head in the clouds To have no concentration at all
698 Have some faith Means to trust or believe in something or someone strongly, even without complete proof
699 Have something down pat To thoroughly understand something
700 Have the blues Sad
701 Have the hots Means that they feel a strong sexual attraction to that person
702 Have the upper hand O have more power in a competitive situation than the other side
703 Have the world at one’s feet To be extremely successful and admired by a large number of people
704 Have the world by the tail To be doing remarkably well with something; to be in control of one's life and prospects
705 Have time off To have time away from work
706 Have two left feet To be clumsy, especially while dancing
707 Have your hands full To be completely busy or occupied with something
708 Have your head in the clouds To have no concentration at all
709 Have your head in the sand To avoid, or try to avoid, a particular situation by pretending that it does not exist
710 Having a monkey on your back To have a problem that you cannot solve or get rid of easily
711 Having the time of his life Means someone is enjoying themselves immensely and having a lot of fun
712 He has a memory of an elephant To be able to remember things easily and for a long period of time
713 He has bigger fish to fry He has bigger things to take care of than what we are talking about now
714 He who laughs last laughs loudest I'll get you back for what you did
715 He's a chip off the old block The son is like the father
716 He's not playing with a full deck He's not being smart
717 He's off his rocker He's crazy
718 Head and shoulders above Vastly superior
719 Head honcho Someone in the highest position of power within an organization or company
720 Head in a noose Means to be in a very dangerous or difficult situation, essentially putting yourself on the path to your own downfall
721 Head in the clouds Tending to live in the imagination and not firmly grounded in reality
722 Head on the chopping block Means to risk a bad thing happening to you by doing something or helping someone
723 Head over heels To be very much in love
724 Head start To have an advantage or an early start in something
725 Heads will roll Means that as a result of something bad that has happened, you mean that people will be punished for it; especially by losing their jobs
726 Heads-up An update that provides new knowledge or understanding of something
727 Hear it on the grapevine To hear a rumor about someone or something
728 Hear something straight from the horse's mouth Hear something from the person involved
729 Heaven can wait Means something is not urgent and can be postponed
730 Heebie-jeebies A creepy feeling that might make you shudder
731 Here and there On occasion
732 High five A gesture of celebration or greeting in which two people slap each other's open palm with their arms raised
733 High on the hog To live in a luxurious way
734 High time It's time to do something that should have been done a long time ago
735 High, wide, and handsome Large and impressive
736 Hillbilly Uneducated, unsophisticated person living in remote mountains or backwoods
737 Hissy fit To get really upset and to show it
738 Hit a grand slam Means a batter hits a home run with the bases loaded (all three bases occupied by runners), resulting in four runs scored and the maximum possible runs from a single play
739 Hit below the belt Acting unfairly
740 Hit it on the nose To have a perfect understanding of something or to do something perfectly
741 Hit me up Contact me in the near future
742 Hit pay dirt To come upon something of significant value
743 Hit someone below the belt To insult or otherwise treat a person in an unfair way
744 Hit the books To study intensely
745 Hit the ceiling To get extremely angry
746 Hit the hay To go to bed and get some sleep
747 Hit the jackpot To come into possession of wealth or something of great value
748 Hit the mark To find the perfect or ideal solution; to be in exactly the right place
749 Hit the nail on the head To do something the exact way it should be done
750 Hit the road To start on a journey
751 Hit the sack Go to sleep
752 Hit-or-miss Something that might be good sometimes and bad other times; unreliable
753 Hob·nob Means to mix socially
754 Hocus-pocus Magic of some sort, or perhaps trickery
755 Hoist by (or with) your own petard Injured or defeated by one's own action that was intended to harm others
756 Hold down the fort Means to take responsibility for a place or situation while someone else is away or busy, essentially keeping things running smoothly
757 Hold no grudges Means to not have or hold onto anger, bitterness, or resentment toward someone
758 Hold the fort To take responsibility for a place or maintain an activity while someone is away
759 Hold the line To stay on the telephone to wait for the party you are calling to become available
760 Hold your horses Slow down; stop and think about what you're doing
761 Hold your tongue Stop talking, especially about something specific
762 Holding the bag Having to be responsible for something
763 Holy smokes To express surprise, excitement, or pleasure
764 Home sweet home Used when one returns home after being away to say that one is happy to be home
765 Honest mistake An unintentional error that is not intended to cause harm
766 Honesty is the best policy Even when it's difficult, telling the truth is always the best course of action, implying that being truthful will lead to better outcomes in the long run compared to lying; it emphasizes the importance of integrity and genuineness in one's life
767 Honeymoon A trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple
768 Hoodwink Means to deceive or trick
769 Hook, line and sinker Doing something or trying to achieve something with thoroughness and passion
770 Hook, line, and sinker Completely tricked or deceived
771 Hope for the best To hope that something will be successful or happen in the way you want, even if it seems unlikely
772 Hopping mad Extremely angry
773 Horse around To act in a silly way
774 Horse of a different color Something that is very different, especially with regard to a situation or an idea in the context of a debate
775 Horse sense Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education
776 Hot mess Something or someone in a state of extreme disorder, but paradoxically attractive
777 Hot under the collar Angry
778 Hot-button issue An issue that people tend to have strong opinions on
779 Hotcakes To sell quickly and in large amounts
780 Hotshot An important and powerful person in a particular place or situation
781 Houston, we have a problem Disaster awaits
782 How do you like them apples An expression used to boast about/gloat over something to someone Can also be used to express surprise
783 Hung the moon Means to think someone is incredibly special, perfect, or highly admired, as if they have achieved something extraordinary
784 Hunky-dory Happy and comfortable
785 I am broke I have no money
786 I can't even To express that something is intolerable
787 I can't imagine Something is unbelievable or terrible
788 I couldnt't care less Means that you are completely not concerned or interested in something
789 I don't buy that I don't believe you
790 I don't have two nickels to rub together A drastic lack of money
791 I suck at something I'm terrible or disappointing at something
792 I'll be a monkey's uncle I'm shocked, surprised, and can't quite believe what i'm seeing or hearing
793 I'm all ears The person is prepared and ready to listen to what you have to say
794 I'm in over my head Something is too difficult for you
795 I'm losing my mind I forgot something obvious or important
796 Icing on the cake Something that makes a good situation even better
797 If at first you don't succeed, try, try again Means to encourage people to keep trying after failure
798 If the shoe fits More common version of the original "if the shoe fits, wear it"; if it has all of the characteristics of a thing, it probably is that thing
799 If they didn't have bad luck, they would have no luck at all Someone experiences such a consistent stream of negative events that, if they weren't unlucky, they would essentially never experience any positive luck at all
800 Ignorance is bliss Ou're better off not knowing
801 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Means that mediocrity can pay to greatness. it can also mean that someone admires another person's style, ideas, or behavior
802 In a coon's age A long time
803 In a league of their own Someone is better than anyone else at something
804 In a nutshell Express something in a concise manner
805 In cold blood Deliberately
806 In for a penny, in for a pound Since you have started something, you should complete the work although it has become more difficult or complicated than you had expected
807 In good hands In the care of somebody good or knowledgeable
808 In hog heaven In a good situation; surrounded by your favorite things, such as favorite foods
809 In hot water Someone is in trouble or facing difficulties
810 In ship shape Means something is neat, tidy, and in good order, like a ship that is well-maintained and organized
811 In the ballpark Close to a suitable amount or suggestion
812 In the black To be financially successful
813 In the cards Likely or certain to happen.
814 In the fast lane A life filled with excitement
815 In the hole In debt; in trouble, especially financial trouble
816 In the hot seat In a difficult position, subject to much attention or criticism
817 In the red To be losing money
818 Inside joke A joke that is shared exclusively by a small group of people
819 It ain't over until the fat lady sings This isn't over yet
820 It goes without saying Something is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said
821 It is a poor workman who blames his tools If you can't do the job, don't blame it on others
822 It is always darkest before the dawn Things are going to get better
823 It just goes to show Means something demonstrates or proves a point
824 It takes one to know one You're just as bad as i am
825 It takes two to tango Two persons are equally responsible for what is happening or has happened
826 It's a small world People are similar all over the globe; often said when strangers discover that they have shared acquaintances or have visited the same places
827 It's a win-win situation Just let me have my way
828 It's all greek to me I don't understand any of it
829 It's like pulling teeth Something that requires a lot of effort
830 It's no sweat It's not a problem
831 It's not rocket science It's not complicated
832 It's over my head I don't understand it because it's too complicated
833 It's time to show up It's time to be responsible
834 It’s raining cats and dogs To rain very hard
835 Itchy feet Someone is getting restless; being ready to move on to the next activity
836 Jack of all trades, master of none Means someone who is competent in many areas but not an expert in any one
837 Jam on the brakes Press brakes of a vehicle suddenly
838 Jaw hit the floor Be surprised
839 Jaywalking Crossing the street at a place other than the crosswalk
840 Joe public A hypothetical average or generic member of the public; the common man
841 Johnny come lately Is a newcomer to or late starter at a particular place or activity
842 Joined at the hip People who seem to be together all the time
843 Joshing me Fooling me about something
844 Jump at the chance To quickly take advantage of a new opportunity
845 Jump down someone's throat To get really angry with someone and express that emotion, perhaps in an aggressive way
846 Jump into the fray Means to suddenly and actively participate in a heated argument, fight, or struggle
847 Jump into the ring Means to suddenly and often enthusiastically become involved in a situation or activity, or to enter a competition or contest
848 Jump on the bandwagon Join others in supporting a popular activity or trend
849 Jump the gun To start too quickly, either without adequate preparation or at the wrong time
850 Jump through hoops To do things that don't seem to make much sense, just because they're required
851 Junk food Unhealthy, usually heavily processed food (such as candy)
852 Jury is still out A decision hasn't been made yet
853 Just a moment Please wait a moment or two
854 Just around the corner Very close by
855 Just in the nick of time Just before the last moment when something can be changed or something bad will happen
856 Just now Something has recently occurred, perhaps within the last few seconds or minutes
857 Keep a level head Means to remain calm and sensible, especially in a difficult or stressful situation, maintaining composure and clear thinking
858 Keep a lookut Means to be alert and watch carefully for someone or something, especially to avoid danger
859 Keep an ear to the ground Staying informed about everything
860 Keep an open mind To wait until you know all the facts before forming an opinion or making a judgment
861 Keep at arm's length To deliberately not let someone get too close
862 Keep at bay To prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect
863 Keep body and soul together To earn enough money to stay alive
864 Keep in contact Means to maintain communication with someone, essentially staying in touch with them through regular contact like phone calls, emails, or visits
865 Keep it coming Don't stop..continue
866 Keep it in the family To not share information or secrets outside of the family unit
867 Keep it in your head Means to remember something or keep it in mind, or to keep something to yourself
868 Keep it under control To control a situation
869 Keep it under wraps To keep something a secret
870 Keep me guessing To cause someone to be uncertain: the idea was to keep the enemy guessing until the attack had actually begun
871 Keep me in the loop Keep me informed
872 Keep me posted Stay in touch
873 Keep my cool To stay calm
874 Keep my head above water To manage to survive adversity, especially with regard to finances
875 Keep my nose to the grindstone To remain focused on hard work
876 Keep someone at arm's length To keep someone at a distance
877 Keep something at bay To keep something at a distance
878 Keep something under one's hat To keep something private or secret
879 Keep the ball rolling To keep something going or to make sure it continues
880 Keep the faith Means to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do so
881 Keep the home fires burning Means to maintain a stable and supportive home environment, essentially keeping the daily routines and necessities of life going smoothly, often used when someone is away and the family left behind needs to stay strong in their absence
882 Keep the home fires lit To maintain a stable and supportive home environment
883 Keep the lights on Means to maintain the basic operations or functionality of a business, system, or organization, especially during difficult times, ensuring it continues to function
884 Keep up with To match someone else in terms of progress or success
885 Keep you posted To keep someone notified of what is happening
886 Keep your chin up To keep a positive and optimistic frame of mind
887 Keep your eye on the ball To stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted
888 Keep your eyes peeled To be watchful and alert
889 Keep your fingers crossed To hope that nothing will happen to bring bad luck or to ruin one's plans
890 Keep your head Maintain your sense of logic and be sensible
891 Keep your head on a swivel To be constantly alert and aware of your surroundings
892 Keep your mouth shut Stay quiet about something
893 Keep your nose clean Behave well and stay out of trouble
894 Keep your wits about you Stay aware of the situation you are in and be ready to react if you need to
895 Keeping up with the joneses Trying to compete with your peers' social status, wealth, and possessions
896 Kept in the dark To be kept unaware of something
897 Keyed up To be tense and anxious, perhaps in anticipation of something
898 Kick the bucket Die
899 Kick the can down the road Means to put off confronting a difficult issue or making an important decision, typically on a continuing basis
900 Kick the tires Means to examine or test something before making a decision
901 Kill someone with kindness Overwhelm or harm someone with mistaken or excessive benevolence
902 Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs To destroy something that gives you a lot of money to get immediate returns
903 Kill two birds with one stone Get two things done with a single action
904 Kiss and make up To become friendly again after a fight or disagreement
905 Knee jerk reaction A quick response
906 Knee-jerk reaction Means an automatic, unthinking response to a situation
907 Knit one’s brows To frown or scowl, usually to indicate anger, worry, or puzzlement
908 Knives are out People are ready to blame or punish someone
909 Knock it out of the park You have achieved great success or accomplished something exceptionally well
910 Know like the back of your hand To know a place very well
911 Know the score Be aware of all relevant factors and variables
912 Know which end is up To possess sound judgment or common sense; to have a clear understanding of a situation
913 Know which way the wind is blowing To understand what is happening
914 Know-how The knowledge of the methods or techniques of doing something, especially something technical or practical
915 Know-it-all A person who behaves as if they know everything
916 Knucklehead Person who doesn't understand something or acts foolishly
917 Labor of love Something one loves to do, especially for the benefit of someone one loves
918 Laid off To lose one's job
919 Lap of luxury To be in an extremely luxurious situation
920 Last but not least This last-named person is in no way the least (least important, least qualified) of all the people being mentioned
921 Last straw The latest problem in a series of problems Something that leads someone to finally lose their patience
922 Last-ditch effort A final, perhaps desperate, effort at something
923 Laugh all the way to the bank To gain money, most likely in a dishonest manner, and to feel smug about it
924 Laughter is the best medicine Means that laughter has therapeutic benefits and can improve one's well-being.
925 Lay an egg To do something that is embarrassing
926 Lay down the law To set rules, probably strict ones
927 Lay it on thick Grossly exaggerate or overemphasize something
928 Laying it on thick Unrealistic flattery or positive descriptions of something
929 Lead someone around by the nose To compel someone to do something, especially through manipulation or bullying
930 Learn by rote To memorize something
931 Learn the ropes To learn how to do well in a new job
932 Learned my lesson To have learned from an experience, probably one caused by a mistake
933 Leave me alone I want to be alone, so please stop talking to me; please go somewhere else, somewhere out of my sight
934 Leave no stone unturned Look everywhere
935 Leave someone high and dry To leave someone in a difficult position and to take things away from them
936 Leave them laughing Means to depart from a situation or conversation having made the other people laugh, often implying that you've done so in a clever or witty way, leaving them with a positive impression of you even after you've left
937 Leave them wanting more Means to end something (like a performance, story, or event) in a way that leaves the audience eager for more, creating a sense of anticipation and desire for continuation; essentially, to stop at a high point to keep people interested
938 Leave well enough alone Don't involve yourself in a situation that already seems stable and decent enough
939 Left me in the lurch To be left in a difficult situation
940 Left out in the cold Left out of something pleasant, or excluded from an opportunity
941 Left someone behind To leave someone somewhere and to go somewhere else
942 Left-handed compliment Saying something insulting in the form of appreciative words
943 Lend a hand To help somebody with something – especially something that requires physical effort
944 Lend me your ear Please listen to me
945 Lend someone a hand To help someone
946 Let bygones be bygones Leave past grievances in the past
947 Let sleeping dogs lie To stop discussing something that is already over or sorted out
948 Let someone off the hook To not hold someone responsible for something
949 Let the cards fall where they may Means to allow events to happen naturally, without trying to control or influence them, and accept the consequences, whatever they may be
950 Let the cat out of the bag To give away a secret
951 Let the dust settle To wait for circumstances to return to normal after something significant has happened
952 Let your hair down Let yourself relax
953 Letter perfect Precisely correct
954 Level playing field Fair and even circumstances, especially when it comes to anything with an element of competition
955 Level the playing field To make a situation fair for everyone involved, ensuring that no one has an unfair advantage over others
956 Life after death Means the idea that a person continues to exist in some form after they die
957 Life of Riley A very comfortable, and probably luxurious, life
958 Light it on fire Means to motivate or energize someone, to get them to act quickly or forcefully, or to excite or arouse someone
959 Light of my life Someone you love who makes your life more cheerful and that you like to be around
960 Lightning never strikes the same place twice An event that will not likely happen again
961 Like a bad penny Means something unpleasant keeps coming back
962 Like a cakewalk So easy task
963 Like a cat on hot tin roof In an uneasy or nervous state
964 Like a chicken with its head cut off To behave in a frenzied manner
965 Like a deer in headlights To have a stunned or confused look on one's face
966 Like a prize bull Used to describe someone or something that is of exceptional quality or importance, like a prize-winning anima
967 Like clockwork On a very regular basis
968 Like finding a needle in a haystack Something difficult to do
969 Like nailing jello to the wall A very difficult or impossible task
970 Like pulling teeth something that is difficult to do
971 Like riding a bicycle Something you never forget how to do
972 Like taking candy from a baby Extremely easy to do, especially something that involves convincing someone to do, or to give, something
973 Like there is no tomorrow Living in the moment
974 Like water off a duck's back It doesn't bother me
975 Lite the fires Means to ignite passion, enthusiasm, or action, essentially to start something with great energy or zeal
976 Live and learn I made a mistake
977 Live and let live To be non-judgmental of others
978 Live in the moment Means to enjoy the present and not worry about the future
979 Live it up Have lots of fun
980 Living the dream Living a wonderful life, the type one would dream of
981 LMAO Laugh my a$$ off
982 Lock, stock, and barrel Absolutely everything involved
983 LOL Laugh out loud
984 Long face A sad facial expression
985 Long in the tooth Old or of advanced years
986 Long time no see! I haven't seen you in a long time
987 Look before you leap Take only calculated risks
988 Look down on someone or something To consider someone inferior to yourself; to have contempt for something
989 Look down your nose at something or someone To consider someone inferior to yourself; to have contempt for something
990 Look like a million bucks To look very attractive, usually well-dressed
991 Look like the cat that swallowed the canary To look smugly pleased or satisfied with oneself
992 Look up to someone To hold that person in high regard; to respect and admire that person
993 Looking dapper Means someone is neat, stylish, and well-dressed, often used to describe a man who is smart and handsome
994 Looking to your laurels Do not be lost in your achievements and lose sight of what is supposed to happen
995 Looney tunes Someone who may not be mentally healthy
996 Loose cannon A person who is unpredictable and difficult to control, and who will probably inadvertently cause problems
997 Lose one's shirt To lose a large amount of money, probably one's financial security as a whole
998 Lose touch To discontinue contact with someone, often unintentionally
999 Lose your marbles To go crazy
1000 Lose your touch To lose one's ability or skill in a specific area
1001 Lose-lose situation Is a situation where all parties involved end up worse off
1002 Lost at sea To feel confused about a situation, and to not know what to do
1003 Lost my head To become overcome with emotion or anger; to act irrationally
1004 Lot in life Means someone's overall circumstances or life situation, often implying that it's something they have to accept as their fate or destiny
1005 Love at first sight An instantaneous attraction to someone or something
1006 Love is blind Means that love can make people overlook their loved one's flaws or faults
1007 Love is in the air Means a feeling of love is in the air, or that love is everywhere
1008 Love it or love it Means to express strong enjoyment or pleasure
1009 Love of my life Means the person someone loves more than anyone else in their entire life
1010 Love you to the moon and back Is a way of expressing very strong feelings of love for someone
1011 Lovebirds Means when two people who are in a romantic relationship or are very affectionate
1012 Lovey-dovey Means two people are being affectionate and amorous, especially in public
1013 Low-hanging fruit Something that is easy to take advantage of
1014 Luck of the draw Means something is the result of chance and is beyond one's control
1015 Luck out To be very lucky
1016 Lucky break Something very lucky has happened
1017 Lucky dog A lucky person
1018 Mad as a hornet Extremely angry
1019 Madder than a wet hen Extremely angry
1020 Made for each other When a couple is extremely well-suited to each other
1021 Made my hair stand on end To be very frightened
1022 Make a beeline for To go directly toward
1023 Make a big stink To complain loudly
1024 Make a long story short Tell something briefly
1025 Make a mountain out of a molehill Exaggerate a small problem
1026 Make a pit stop To stop somewhere for a short period of time, usually during a long journey
1027 Make a scene To create a fuss of some kind that draws the attention of others in a negative way
1028 Make ends meet To have enough money for daily expenses over the course of a month
1029 Make eyes at someone To look at someone in a flirtatious way
1030 Make hay while the sun shines Take advantage of a good situation
1031 Make it or break it Describes a situation, decision, or period where the outcome will definitively lead to either success or failure, leaving no room for a middle ground
1032 Make it rain Means to earn a large amount of money, to bring in a lot of success, or to freely give out cash
1033 Make no bones about To say something in a very definite way that doesn't allow for objections
1034 Make out like a bandit To have success in a venture, especially one involving money or other benefits
1035 Make out what someone said Discern what someone said
1036 Make the cut To be chosen, selected or included in something
1037 Make the grade To be satisfactory or to meet necessary standards
1038 Make tracks To promptly or quickly leave
1039 Make two ends meet To have just enough money for all your needs
1040 Make waves To create any controversy or trouble
1041 Make yourself at home An invitation to feel comfortable in someone else's home
1042 Making mountain out of molehill Means to exaggerate a minor problem or difficulty, treating it as if it were a much larger and more serious issue
1043 Man's best friend A dog
1044 Mark time To wait out the minimum time you need to put in
1045 Maximize your potential Means being more productive and successful by using your talents and working towards your goals
1046 Me time Time spent doing things you enjoy or relaxing
1047 Means to an end Something is done solely to achieve a desired outcome, even if it isn't enjoyable or important in itself
1048 Meat and potatoes The basics of something or a situation
1049 Meet halfway To understand one another's positions in an argument or situation, and to make compromises accordingly
1050 Mending fences Means to repair or improve a relationship that has been damaged
1051 Mickey mouse job A job that is considered insignificant, perhaps even useless
1052 Midas touch To be able to make money much more easily than other people
1053 Middle of the road A position (especially political) that is not at either extreme of the spectrum It is pretty much in the middle
1054 Mind your own beeswax Mind your own business and refrain from interfering in other people's concerns
1055 Mind your own business Means to stop interfering in what doesn't concern you and focus on your own affairs
1056 Mind your ps and qs A reminder to be polite and behave appropriately
1057 Minimize the risks Means to reduce the likelihood of loss or harm by implementing strategies and controls
1058 Miss by an inch, miss by a mile Means that failing to achieve a goal by a small margin is the same as failing by a large margin
1059 Miss the boat To act too slowly and missed an opportunity
1060 Miss the mark Means to fail to achieve a goal or desired result
1061 Mission impossible Means a task that is extremely difficult or dangerous
1062 Mixed bag An assortment, or a group of entities with few characteristics in common
1063 Mom-and-pop A small family-run business, or a tiny establishment, such as a corner shop
1064 Monday morning quarterback Someone who tries to call the shots after the action is already over
1065 Money burns a hole in someone's pocket When someone feels the need to spend money simply because they have it
1066 Money is no object Means you are willing or able to spend as much money as necessary or travel whatever distance is required
1067 Money laundering Means to disguise financial assets so they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them
1068 Money talks Money can be used to gain power and leverage; there is a strong implication of corruption
1069 Money to burn To have large amounts of extra money
1070 Monkey business Silliness or goofing off; breaking the rules
1071 Monkey see, monkey do People do what they see other people do
1072 More bang for the buck Better value for the money
1073 More bang for your buck To get a lot of value for your money
1074 More than I bargained for More than I expected
1075 More than meets the eye There is more to it than you think
1076 More than one way to skin a cat There are alternative solutions to this problem
1077 More the merrier To say an occasion will be more enjoyable if a lot of people are there
1078 Move some things around To make some adjustments
1079 Move the goalposts To set your sights or standards even higher; to make something more challenging
1080 Moving at a glacier pace Means something is progressing or changing extremely slowly, like the movement of a glacier
1081 Mum's the word Stay quiet and don't talk about it
1082 Mumbo jumbo Meaningless words or nonsense
1083 Murphy's law What can go wrong, will go wrong
1084 My bad It was my mistake and I take responsibility for it
1085 My eyes are bigger than my stomach I wanted to eat more than my stomach could handle
1086 My hands are tied I cannot do anything to change the situation because I am not the one who can make the decision
1087 My heart is set on It means a lot to me to do something
1088 My mind is already made up Means that someone has already reached a decision and is not going to change it; they are fully committed to their choice and won't be persuaded otherwise
1089 My neck of the woods Where one lives
1090 Neck and neck To be very close as in a race
1091 Need elbow room To prefer to have plenty of space between you and other people
1092 Needs a swift kick in the pants Someone needs a strong, immediate push or motivation to get them to take action
1093 Netflix and chill A slang term that's used as a euphemism for sexual activity
1094 Never too old to learn Means it's possible to learn new things at any age. it encourages people to pursue their dreams and desires
1095 Next level Describes something as being better, more advanced, or more impressive than before
1096 Next of kin A person's closest living relative or relatives
1097 Next time The following occasion, or the next time something will happen
1098 Nightcap An alcoholic or hot drink taken at the end of the day or before going to bed
1099 Nincompoop Person who doesn't understand something or acts foolishly
1100 Nine-to-five An average job schedule
1101 No accounting for taste Means that people's preferences are subjective and cannot be explained or justified rationally
1102 No big deal Something is not important
1103 No biggie To say that something is not a problem
1104 No holds barred Without any restrictions or limits
1105 No news is good news Means that when you haven't heard anything about a situation, it's a positive sign that nothing bad has happened, implying that if something negative had occurred, you would have been informed
1106 No pain no gain Means that suffering is necessary in order to achieve something
1107 No pain, no gain You have to work for what you want
1108 No rhyme or reason There seems to be no logical reason for it to happen or be done
1109 No skin off my nose Something isn't going to affect you, so you don't really care
1110 No spring chicken Not young anymore
1111 No stairway to heaven Means there is no easy path to success
1112 Nose test An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety
1113 Nosebleed section The cheapest seats in an arena or stadium, high and far away from the action
1114 Not a big deal Used to indicate that something is of little consequence
1115 Not firing on all cylinders Seeming confused; not thinking well
1116 Not in a month of sundays Something is unlikely to happen
1117 Not my cup of tea Not something that a person would do
1118 Not playing with a full deck Seeming confused; not thinking well
1119 Not the sharpest tool in the shed He's not very smart
1120 Not worth a hill of beans Something has low value
1121 Notch up To win or create a record
1122 Nothing to write home about Nothing special or exciting happened
1123 Now you're cooking with gas You are taking the best approach to this problem and you will make rapid progress
1124 Of another mindset Means having a different way of thinking or perspective compared to someone else
1125 Of two minds Means to be undecided or uncertain about something, essentially having two different opinions or thoughts on a matter; it implies wavering between choices and not being able to make a decision
1126 Off the top of my head To say something spontaneously; without thinking too much
1127 Old as dirt Someone very old
1128 Old as the hills Someone very old
1129 Old ball and chain Means a person or thing that restricts someone's freedom or ability to do things
1130 Old flame Is someone you previously had a romantic relationship with or sexual encounter with
1131 On a fishing expedition Trying to get information out of someone without being fully aware of what you're looking for
1132 On a shoestring budget Operating with very limited funds or resources
1133 On a wing and a prayer Attempting something without adequate preparation and resources
1134 On cloud nine Very happy
1135 On one hand and then on the other hand This expression is used to compare two aspects of a situation
1136 On pins and needles To be anxious or agitated
1137 On the ball To be alert, competent, and well-prepared
1138 On the rocks A relationship or enterprise experiencing difficulties and likely to fail
1139 On the same page To agree with someone
1140 On thin ice If you make another mistake, there will be trouble
1141 On top of the world A state of extreme happiness
1142 Once bitten, twice shy You're more cautious when you've been hurt before
1143 Once in a blue moon Rarely
1144 One for the road A final drink before leaving
1145 Open house Means a day when members of the public are invited to visit a place or institution, especially one to which they do not normally have access
1146 Open your heart Means to be vulnerable and openly share your true feelings, thoughts, and emotions with someone, essentially allowing them access to your most private self
1147 Opening pandora's box Do something that causes unexpected problems
1148 Out of pocket Paid for directly rather than being put on account or charged to some other person or organization
1149 Out of the blue Something that is completely unexpected
1150 Out of the frying pan and into the fire Things are going from bad to worse
1151 Out of the mouth of babes Expression used when a child says something surprisingly wise or insightful
1152 Out of your league Above or beyond what one is capable of attaining
1153 Out on a limb In or into a dangerous or uncompromising position, where one is not joined or supported by anyone else; vulnerable
1154 Over my dead body I am strongly opposed to something and will make sure it doesn't happen
1155 Overplayed his hand To act more confidently than is warranted because one believes they are in a stronger position than they actually are
1156 Paint the town red Go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly
1157 Palm off Pass off something as genuine when it is spurious
1158 Par for the course To be expected; normal; common; usual
1159 Party pooper Someone who puts a stop to the fun
1160 Pass away To die
1161 Pass gas Refers to the normal bodily process of releasing intestinal gas
1162 Pass muster To be accepted as adequate or satisfactory
1163 Pass out He consumed enough alcohol to make him pass out
1164 Pass over To ignore the claims of someone to promotion or advancement
1165 Pass the buck Blame someone else for something or make someone else responsible for a difficult or unpleasant task
1166 Pass the time To spend time doing something enjoyable while waiting or while time passes
1167 Pass through The act of traveling from one place to another, an opening in a wall, and a business structure
1168 Pass up To refrain from taking up an opportunity
1169 Pass with flying colors To be extremely successful, to achieve something that is difficult, to excel
1170 Passive-aggressive behavior A pattern of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them
1171 Patience is a virtue Means waiting calmly and without getting upset is a good quality
1172 Peace and quiet Means a state of calmness and tranquility, free from disturbance, noise, or interruption; essentially, a situation where there is no stress or commotion and one can relax in serenity
1173 Peak something To claim that some commodity has reached its maximum availability and will begin to decline in the future
1174 Peanut gallery The cheapest and rowdiest seats in an arena, usually at the back of the balcony
1175 Penny-pincher Someone who is extremely frugal and careful with their money
1176 Penny-wise and pound foolish Careful in trivial matters but wasteful or extravagant in large matters
1177 Perfect storm The worst possible situation
1178 Pick of the litter Means the best or most desirable member of a group or selection
1179 Pick your brain Ask some questions
1180 Pickup ball and run with it Means to take over and develop an idea or plan that someone else initiated, often when they were unable to fully execute it
1181 Picture perfect Means something is flawless, ideal, or perfect in appearance
1182 Picture-perfect Perfect in appearance as with the subjects in paintings or photographs, without the common imperfections of real life
1183 Pie in the sky Unrealistic expectations
1184 Piece of cake Something is very easy to do
1185 Piece of the pie To get a share or portion of something
1186 Pig in a poke Something purchased without adequate examination
1187 Pipe dream Unrealistic expectations
1188 Pitter-patter of little feet The sound made by children running around inside a house
1189 Plant the seeds Means to introduce an idea or feeling into someone's mind
1190 Play devil's advocate To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument
1191 Play devil’s advocate To argue, just for the sake of it
1192 Play for keeps To exert serious effort because the outcome will be permanent or have a major impact
1193 Play it by ear To go slowly and make a decision later
1194 Play the field Means to indulge in a series of relationships without committing oneself to anyone
1195 Play your cards right To behave or work in a way that gives you an advantage or improves your odds of success
1196 Plead the fifth To refuse to answer a question
1197 Please excuse my dear aunt sally The mnemonic to remember the order of mathematical operations (pemdas)
1198 Pleased as punch Extremely happy about something
1199 Plenty of fish in the sea It's ok to miss this opportunity because others will arise
1200 Plot twist Means an unexpected development
1201 Point of fact Used to emphasize the truth of an assertion, especially one contrary to what might be expected or what has been asserted
1202 Poke the beehive Means to intentionally provoke someone or stir up trouble
1203 Poker face Describes an expressionless face that conceals a person's thoughts or feelings
1204 Poker tell Refers to any physical, verbal, or behavioral cue a player exhibits that, consciously or unconsciously, reveals information about the strength of their hand or their intended actions
1205 Polish the apple To try to gain favor with someone through flattery
1206 Political football An issue that politicians argue in circles about or seek to use for their own political gain
1207 Pop into my head Means an idea or thought came to you suddenly and unexpectedly, without any prior planning or reasoning
1208 Pop the question Means to ask someone to marry you
1209 Popularize the movement To cause something to become known, admired, or used by many people
1210 Possibilities are endless There are a limitless number of options or potential outcomes, suggesting that anything is possible and there are no clear boundaries to what can be achieved or explored; essentially, the potential is vast and seemingly without limit
1211 Poster boy A man who epitomizes or represents a specified quality or cause
1212 Pot calling the kettle black Someone is criticizing another person for a fault that they also have
1213 Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely Means that when someone has complete and unchecked power, they are very likely to abuse it and become morally corrupt
1214 Practice what you preach Means to behave in the same way you advise others to behave
1215 Preaching to the choir Means to try to convince people who already agree with you, essentially wasting time by presenting an argument to an audience that already shares your viewpoint
1216 Pretty penny Very expensive
1217 Pretty please Used for asking someone for something or persuading them to do something by trying to make yourself sound friendly
1218 Promises are meant to be broken Means people often fail to keep their promises, implying that breaking promises is a common occurrence and sometimes considered acceptable, even if it shouldn't be; it essentially suggests that promises are not always reliable and can be disregarded
1219 Protect your blind side Means to be aware of and guard against potential threats or vulnerabilities that you might not be immediately aware of
1220 Pull an all-nighter To study all night
1221 Pull one's head in To keep quiet or mind one's own business
1222 Pull some strings To use one's influence over people of importance in order to make something happen
1223 Pull someone's leg To joke with someone
1224 Pull the last straw The final point in a series of unfortunate events when you feel you cannot take it anymore
1225 Pull the wool over someone's eyes Fool that person; deceive or delude that person
1226 Pull together To unite for a common objective
1227 Pull yourself together Calm down
1228 Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps Improve your situation by your own efforts
1229 Puppy love Refers to a young person's first romantic feelings, usually characterized as being intense but short-lived and often based on infatuation rather than deep understanding
1230 Put a pin in this Stop discussing or working this now, with plans to come back to it later
1231 Put lipstick on a pig If you dress up ugly, there's still ugly underneath
1232 Put one's foot in it To make an embarrassing blunder
1233 Put something on ice Put a projet on hold
1234 Put the cart before the horse Do things in the wrong order
1235 Put up your dukes To be prepared to fight by holding up your fists
1236 Put your best foot forward Begin a project in a positive or favorable way
1237 Put your foot down To be decisive or determined, or to deal with someone in a strict way
1238 Putting on the dog Dressing fancy; doing anything special to impress others
1239 Putting on the ritz To behave extravagantly, lavishly, or self-importantly
1240 Quick and dirty Fast and simple; not very sophisticated
1241 Quick buck To get some easy money
1242 Quit cold turkey To give up something all at once rather than gradually weaning off it
1243 Rain on someone's parade To spoil something
1244 Raining cats and dogs It's raining hard
1245 Reach out to someone Ask someone for information
1246 Read between the lines Understanding the real message behind something
1247 Real page turner Refers to a book that is so exciting that you want to read it quickly
1248 Red herring Something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question
1249 Red tape Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business
1250 Redneck Uneducated, unsophisticated person, usually in the rural south
1251 Remember the alamo Is a battle cry that refers to the 1836 siege of the alamo fort in san antonio, texas
1252 Ride or die Means extreme loyalty and unwavering support for someone
1253 Ride shotgun To say someone wants to sit in the front seat of a car
1254 Riding shotgun Riding in the front passenger seat of a car or truck
1255 Right around the corner Something is very close or will happen very soon
1256 Rise above the crowd To distinguish yourself from others by achieving a higher level of performance, skill, or quality
1257 Rise from the ashes To make a comeback after a long wait
1258 Road hog To take up too much of the road
1259 Rob peter to pay paul To take from one source to pay off another, often resulting in a cycle of debt or financial instability
1260 Rock the boat Doing something that causes problems
1261 Roll out red carpet Means to formally welcome someone important or to give them special treatment
1262 Roll up your sleeves To prepare for hard work, mainly physical task
1263 Roll your eyes Show skepticism about a plan or situation
1264 Rolling in dough To be very wealthy or have a lot of money
1265 Roughneck Person who performs hard manual labor, or is uncouth
1266 Round the bend Crazy
1267 Rounding third base Almost finished with a task
1268 Rude awakening A sudden and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken
1269 Ruffle feathers To irritate or annoy someone
1270 Rule of thumb A general guideline, rather than a strict rule
1271 Run around in circles To be very active but with few results
1272 Run it up the flagpole To present an idea tentatively and see whether it receives a favorable reaction
1273 Run like the wind Run fast
1274 Running around like a chicken with your head cut off Being confused, disorganized, or unsure of where to get started or what to do next
1275 Running on fumes Means to be in a state of near exhaustion or depletion, where you're barely managing to continue
1276 Running point Means taking the lead or being in charge of a specific task or project
1277 Sacred cow Something considered immune from question or criticism, especially unreasonably so
1278 Safety in numbers Being in a group of people makes you feel more confident or secure about taking action
1279 Sail close to the wind To behave in a manner that is on the verge of being dangerous, improper or illegal
1280 Same old same old Used to describe a situation or someone's behavior that remains unchanging, often in a way that is boring or annoying
1281 Same s--t different day Describes a situation where things are essentially unchanged, despite the passage of time, often implying a lack of progress or improvement
1282 Save for a rainy day To save money for later
1283 Save the planet Means to actively protect and preserve the earth's environment from damage caused by human activities, such as pollution, climate change, and resource depletion
1284 Saved by the bell Used when one has been saved by the timely intervention of something or someone, or when one has been rescued from difficulty at the last second
1285 Say "uncle" Expression to demand that the opponent in a contest submit or give up
1286 Say your piece Express your opinion
1287 S—t show Means a situation or event marked by chaos or controversy
1288 Scam To swindle
1289 Scaredy cat Person who is easily frightened
1290 Scorched earth Means a ruthless attempt to win at all costs
1291 Scrape the barrel To be reduced to using things or people of the poorest quality because there is nothing else available
1292 Scratch my back Means to do someone a favor with the expectation that they will do you a favor in return
1293 Sea legs To master a task or a job without feeling overwhelmed or uneasy
1294 Second nature Easy and natural
1295 Second to none Better than all others of the same kind
1296 Second-hand Previously owned or used
1297 See eye to eye To have the same opinion or have the same point of view
1298 See in the dark To be aware of something that others might not know about or understand
1299 See past the end of one's nose To have insight into underlying facts or consequences; to possess common sense or a vision for the future
1300 See the light at the end of the tunnel To have hope that a difficult or unpleasant situation will soon come to an end
1301 See the world through rose-colored glasses Be overly optimistic; only see the positive aspects
1302 Seeing red To be extremely angry
1303 Sell like hot cakes To be sold quickly and in large numbers
1304 Sell someone a bill of goods To deceive someone into buying or believing something that has no value
1305 Separates the men from the boys Means to distinguish between those who are skilled, experienced, or mature, and those who are not, often implying a test or challenge that reveals true capabilities
1306 Set the pace Lead the way in doing or achieving something
1307 Set the record straight To reveal the truth or to clarify
1308 Sh** eating grin A snarky, knowing smile
1309 Sh** happens Life is full of unfortunate unpredictable events
1310 Sh** or get off the pot Just hurry and finish
1311 Shaking like a leaf Very frightened
1312 Shape up or ship out Work better or leave
1313 Sharp as a tack Very intelligent or clever
1314 Shivering in my boots Means to be very nervous or frightened
1315 Shoot for the moon Means to set exceptionally high goals and ambitions, aiming for something very difficult or seemingly impossible to achieve
1316 Shoot the breeze Make small talk; have a casual conversation
1317 Should be straightforward Something should be easy to understand, clear, and direct, without any complications or hidden meanings
1318 Show no remorse To demonstrate a complete lack of guilt, regret, or sorrow for one's actions
1319 Shut the front door Is an informal expression used to convey strong surprise or disbelief, essentially meaning no way or you're kidding me
1320 Sight for sore eyes A way of saying that you are very pleased to see someone or something, or that you think someone or something is very attractive
1321 Silence is golden Means that sometimes it is better to say nothing, implying that keeping quiet can be more valuable than speaking up in certain situations
1322 Silver spoon Means someone was born into a wealthy family and has many advantages in life
1323 Sitting on the fence Can't make up there mind
1324 Skating on thin ice Engaged in some behavior that is risky, dangerous, or could cause trouble
1325 Skedaddle Leave; get out of here
1326 Skin and bones Very thin in a way that is unattractive and unhealthy
1327 Skin in the game Having a vested interest in how something turns out
1328 Skinflint Someone who doesn't like to spend (or give) money
1329 Slap on the wrist A minor caution against doing something
1330 Sleep like a log Sleep very soundly without waking
1331 Slip your mind To forget something
1332 Slow and steady wins the race Reliability is more important than speed
1333 Slow burn Low-level anger that continues to increase over time
1334 Slow poke An informal term for someone who moves or acts slowly
1335 Smell a rat To get a sense that there is a problem with something
1336 Smell test An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety
1337 SNAFU Situation Normal, All F---ed Up
1338 Snail mail Refers to mail that is carried by the traditional postal delivery service
1339 Snap out of it Means to quickly recover from a negative situation or to change one's state of mind
1340 Snowball effect Events have momentum and build upon each other
1341 Snowball's chance in hell No chance at all
1342 Snowed under Very busy
1343 Snug as a bug in a rug Cozy and comfortable
1344 So close but yet so far Means something is almost within reach, but still remains unattainable
1345 So far so good Things are going well so far
1346 Some people spoil the whole bunch A few negative individuals within a group can have a detrimental effect on the entire group
1347 Someone's ears are burning People are talking about that person, usually behind their back
1348 Sounding board Refers to a person or group with whom you discuss ideas to get feedback and assess their viability
1349 Speak of the devil The person we were talking about, just showed up
1350 Spice things up To add some excitement or variety
1351 Spill the beans To give away a secret
1352 Spirited away Means to take someone or something away quickly and secretly, or to remove something mysteriously
1353 Spitballing Means to quickly suggest ideas without thinking them through
1354 Spitting image An exact likeness or close resemblance
1355 Spread too thin Means to try to do too many things at once, so that you can't give enough time or attention to any of them
1356 Squirreled away Means to save or hide something in a safe place for future use
1357 Stab someone in the back To betray a close person
1358 Stand head and shoulders above the rest Someone or something is much better than others
1359 Stand still Means either to remain motionless or to tolerate something
1360 Start off on the right foot Begin a project in a positive or favorable way
1361 Start off on the wrong foot To start a relationship or activity badly
1362 Stay above the fray Means to remain uninvolved or not directly participate in a heated argument, conflict, or struggle
1363 Steal someone’s thunder To direct the attention away from someone else
1364 Steam coming out of ears Angry
1365 Step up your game To start performing better
1366 Stick out like a sore thumb Be noticeably different from others, usually in a bad way
1367 Stick to something like white on rice To cling tightly with no possibility of letting go
1368 Stick to your guns Stay morally strong or be firm in decisions especially when being opposed
1369 Stick your neck out Take a chance on another person
1370 Sticker shock Means an unpleasant surprise at the high price of something
1371 Still have a shot Means to still have a chance or to attempt or try something, even if it seems unlikely
1372 Stir up a hornets nest Means to provoke a situation that causes a lot of anger, controversy, or trouble
1373 Stop and smell the roses Become more aware of your surroundings and appreciate the beauty in life
1374 Stop at nothing Means to be utterly ruthless or determined in one's attempt to achieve something
1375 Straight from the horse's mouth Got information directly from the most knowledgeable source
1376 Straight from the horse’s mouth Directly from the person involved
1377 Straighten up and fly right Get yourself together, behave properly, and do the right thing
1378 Stress out To become extremely anxious, overwhelmed, or mentally strained
1379 Stroke of luck Means a fortunate occurrence that could not have been predicted or expected
1380 Sugar and spice Excerpt from a common nursery rhyme "what are little girls made of?"
1381 Sum of all fears Means the worst possible scenario or outcome that someone can imagine, representing a culmination of all their individual fears, creating a situation of extreme dread
1382 Swan song The last piece of work of an artist before his/her death
1383 Sweep someone off their feet To be completely taken by someone emotionally
1384 Table an item Put something aside for consideration at another time
1385 Tackle the problem Means to deal with or address a difficult situation or issue in a determined or efficient way
1386 Take a backseat to someone To willingly take a less prominent role in some situation
1387 Take a breather Take a short pause in the action (in order to rest or do some other task)
1388 Take a leap of faith Means to do something that requires trust or belief in something uncertain, even when there is no guarantee of success, essentially taking a risk by acting on faith rather than concrete evidence
1389 Take a stand To state your principles or position firmly
1390 Take everything with a grain of salt Don’t take it too seriously
1391 Take it in stride Accept unpleasant news without changing your plans
1392 Take it into one's head To form a notion, purpose, or plan
1393 Take it with a grain of salt Be skeptical; don’t take something too literally
1394 Take matters into own hands To take action on a problem yourself because other people have failed to do so
1395 Take my breath away Astonish or shock one, with pleasure, surprise, or some other emotion
1396 Take one for the team To agree to do something unpleasant that you do not really want to do, or not have something that you want, in order to help or be kind to other people in a group
1397 Take the fifth Means to not want to answer a question
1398 Take the wind out of your sails To be disappointed
1399 Take with a pinch of salt When someone tells you something based on their opinion, rather than facts or evidence
1400 Taken by beauty Implies being so impressed or captivated by something's beauty that it has a strong emotional impact
1401 Talk is cheap It is easy to say something but much harder to actually do it
1402 Test the waters Means to judge people's feelings or opinions before taking further action
1403 Testing my patience Means that something or someone is causing you to become increasingly frustrated or annoyed, pushing the limits of your ability to remain calm and tolerant
1404 That dog won't hunt A plan, idea, or argument is not going to work or is ineffective
1405 That is lame To be boring, dull, or uninspired
1406 That really knocked my socks off To be really impressed by something
1407 That rings a bell To remember slightly or vaguely recognize something
1408 That ship has sailed It's too late
1409 That takes the prize Means that something is so outstanding, remarkable, or extreme that it surpasses everything else
1410 That would be my bet Means that based on your understanding of the situation, you believe something specific is likely to happen or be true
1411 That's above my pay grade I don't have responsibility or authority to do something
1412 That's good enough for government work Make sure you are doing a good job, of a high quality good enough for government work
1413 That's my kryptonite Something that is a weakness or can be used to hurt me
1414 That's no big deal That's not a problem
1415 That's rad That's cool
1416 That's serendipitous An event that was not planned but has a good result
1417 That's the last straw My patience has run out
1418 That's the way the cookie crumbles Such is life
1419 That’s the spirit Used to approve or encourage someone's positive attitude or action
1420 The ball is in your court It's your decision
1421 The beginning of the end The event to which ending or failure can be traced
1422 The best of both worlds An ideal situation
1423 The best thing since sliced bread A really good invention
1424 The buck stops here Means to take responsibility for something and not pass it on to someone else
1425 The butterfly effect How small changes can result in unpredictable consequences over a period of time
1426 The early bird gets the worm The first people who arrive will get the best stuff
1427 The enemy of your enemy is your friend Two parties who have an enemy in common should join forces against it
1428 The good die young People with positive qualities, kindness, and good intentions often pass away at a young age, implying a sense of unfairness or tragedy in their early death
1429 The grass is always greener on the other side Never being satisfied with what one gets
1430 The lights are on but nobody's home Someone is present but is actually not paying attention or thinking clearly
1431 The other side With several meanings, ranging from the afterlife to a different perspective or an opposing force, depending on the context
1432 The other side of the coin To look at different aspects of a situation
1433 The straw that broke the camel's back A minor action that causes a big reaction due to a series of previous small actions
1434 The walls have ears Something you say to warn someone that it is not safe to speak at that particular time because other people might be listening
1435 The whole enchilada To refer to the entirety of something, down to the last detail
1436 The world is your oyster To be in a position to take advantage of life's opportunities
1437 There are clouds on the horizon Trouble is coming
1438 There is no stairway to heaven There is no easy way to achieve perfection
1439 There ya go Means this is what you wanted
1440 There's a method to his madness He seems crazy but actually he's clever
1441 There's no such thing as a free lunch Nothing is entirely free
1442 Thick as thieves Very close or friendly
1443 Think on your feet To react quickly in a tricky or fast-moving situation
1444 Think outside the box Think of new ideas outside the norm
1445 Third times the charm Means that after two unsuccessful attempts, the third attempt is likely to be successful, often used as a form of encouragement or to express hope for a positive outcome
1446 Those three little words Refers to the phrase "i love you," signifying the powerful and significant nature of expressing deep affection with just those three simple words
1447 Those who can't do, teach People who can't do something well end up teaching it
1448 Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones People who are morally questionable shouldn't criticize others
1449 Three sheets to the wind To be intoxicated
1450 Through thick and thin In good times and in bad times
1451 Throw a curveball To unexpectedly present something surprising or unexpected
1452 Throw caution to the wind To act recklessly or without concern for the consequences
1453 Throw in the towel To give up or surrender
1454 Throw the fight Means to deliberately lose a competition, usually in a fighting context, by not trying your best or by intentionally allowing your opponent to win, often for personal gain or under outside pressure
1455 Throw your hat into the ring Means to announce that you are going to participate in a contest or competition, especially a political election or a business venture
1456 Throw your weight around Try to exert influence
1457 Tick, tock Time is a wasting
1458 Tie one on Drink a lot of alcohol
1459 Tie the knot Means to get married or to perform a wedding ceremony
1460 Ties that bind Describes the shared beliefs or ideas that connect people
1461 Till death do us part A common phrase said between the bride and the groom at a christian wedding, indicating togetherness and commitment
1462 Till the cows come home A long time
1463 Time and again Repeatedly
1464 Time constraints Limitations on how much time is available to complete a task or achieve a goal
1465 Time flies To observe that time seems to pass very quickly
1466 Time flies when you're having fun You don't notice how long something lasts when it's fun
1467 Time flies when you’re having fun When you’re having a good time, you don’t notice how quickly the time is passing
1468 Time frame A period of time that is used or planned for a particular action or project
1469 Time is all relative Means that how someone perceives the passage of time depends on their perspective, situation, or frame of reference
1470 Time is money Work quickly
1471 Time is of the essence Prompt action is absolutely necessary
1472 Time management The ability to use one's time effectively or productively,
1473 Time out Pause your action
1474 Time will tell Sooner or later something will become known or be revealed
1475 Time-lapse The photographic technique of taking a sequence of frames at set intervals to record changes that take place slowly over time
1476 Timeless Not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion
1477 Times gone by Means in the past, or bygone days, referring to periods or events that have already occurred. it evokes a sense of nostalgia and can be used to reminisce about past experiences, events, or periods
1478 Tip your hand To reveal a secret, especially about your own plans or opinions
1479 To backbite a person To speak negatively about someone in their absence
1480 To be a chicken/to chicken out To be too afraid
1481 To be a fly on the wall To wish to witness what is going on without anyone being aware that you are there
1482 To be a good catch Means that someone is considered a desirable partner in a romantic relationship
1483 To be at loggerheads with someone To quarrel or disagree
1484 To be beside yourself To feel extremely emotional with worry, anxiety, or sadness
1485 To be closefisted Someone who is stingy with money
1486 To be in the doldrums To be in a low spirit
1487 To be loaded To have a lot money; to be wealthy
1488 To be named after To be named in honor, or in memory, of someone else
1489 To be out of the question To be impossible or unacceptable
1490 To be red in the face Showing signs of embarrassment, shame, or humiliation
1491 To be tied up with something or someone To be completely occupied with someone or on something
1492 To be up to something To be doing something, or planning to do something, that other people aren't expecting or that you perhaps shouldn't
1493 To beat the band To do something in an exaggerated or extreme way
1494 To bell the cat To face a risk
1495 To bend someone's ear To speak to someone eagerly, especially in order to ask for a favor
1496 To bite the dust To be defeated in battle
1497 To black out To lose consciousness
1498 To blow your own horn To outwardly praise yourself for something
1499 To bomb To completely fail at something
1500 To box someone in To trap someone in a situation, or to put them in circumstances where their options are limited
1501 To bug someone To annoy someone
1502 To butt in To interrupt in a rude manner
1503 To call a person hot Describe the person as sexually attractive, fashionable, or cool
1504 To call a person or situation cool Describe a person or situation as interesting and fun to be around; impressive in a unique way; describe a person as hot
1505 To call it a day To stop working for the day
1506 To call someone on the carpet To confront someone with whom you're having a conflict
1507 To carry a torch for someone To continue to have an infatuation with someone
1508 To catch one’s eye To attract attention
1509 To cause bad blood To create feelings of resentment, hostility, or animosity
1510 To come out flat-footed To have been unprepared
1511 To come out swinging To strongly defend oneself as a confrontation or debate begins
1512 To corner the market To become the most dominant (or the only dominant) player in a specific area of the market
1513 To cry wolf To deliberately raise an alarm for no real reason
1514 To do a number on something To hurt or severely damage something
1515 To draw a blank To forget something you specifically wanted to remember
1516 To drink like a fish To drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis
1517 To drop by To drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis
1518 To find fault with To look for faults in someone or something
1519 To follow up on something To check up on someone or something
1520 To get bent out of shape To get upset
1521 To get ghosted When someone stops responding to texts, calls, or messages on social media without any closure
1522 To get in touch with To contact
1523 To get rid of To do away with something
1524 To get your walking papers To get fired from your job
1525 To give in To decide to go along with something, usually as a result of some sort of pressure
1526 To give someone the heads-up To notify someone of something and to keep them up-to-date
1527 To go down like a lead balloon To be terribly received by an audience
1528 To go dutch For every individual to pay for their own bill in a restaurant
1529 To go for broke To gamble all of your resources
1530 To go off the deep end To get extremely upset and/or emotional
1531 To go to bat To speak out positively about someone or something with the intent of helping
1532 To have another thing coming To have something else that will happen in the near future that you didn't expect or think would happen
1533 To have no backbone Someone who lacks courage
1534 To have one's back to the wall To feel trapped, with no real options to deal with the situation
1535 To have sticky fingers To be likely to steal
1536 To hold out an olive branch To offer a gesture of peace or to ask for forgiveness or a truce
1537 To hold your own To be confident and politely assertive with other people and in various situations
1538 To keep an eye on To closely watch and/or monitor
1539 To know by heart Memorize something so that you can recite it without consulting the words
1540 To know by sight To know someone when you look at them
1541 To let someone off the hook To release someone from responsibility
1542 To live beyond your means To live in a manner that requires more money than you can afford
1543 To live hand-to-mouth To live with very little money
1544 To look down one's nose To feel superior to someone else
1545 To make a long story short To tell someone something in a brief and simple way
1546 To make a mountain out of a molehill To overreact and overstate a situation
1547 To make matters worse Make a problem worse
1548 To mention something in passing To mention something casually
1549 To nix something To cancel a plan or dismiss an idea, or to forbid something
1550 To not see the wood for the trees To be so involved in trivial matters that you don’t get the important facts
1551 To outdo oneself To do better at something that one has done before
1552 To paddle your own canoe To be self-sufficient and think independently
1553 To pick and choose To make a careful selection
1554 To pig out To eat too much
1555 To pony up To pay money that is owed or that you need to pay for some other reason
1556 To punch above your weight To perform at a level that is considered beyond one's abilities
1557 To rat someone out To tell somebody in authority about something wrong that somebody else has done
1558 To ride off into the sunset Means to leave or depart, often signifying the end of a chapter in life, heading towards a new and potentially better phase, typically with a positive connotation, like a happy ending to a story or a well-deserved retirement
1559 To run interference To try to remove obstacles that are in someone's way; clearing the way for someone else
1560 To run/blow hot and cold To sometimes seem enthusiastic and other times seem the opposite
1561 To see the light To finally see something clearly and understand it
1562 To serve one right It was a just consequence or punishment
1563 To smooth things over To restore peace to a situation or to resolve conflict
1564 To square the circle To attempt something impossible
1565 To stand up for To help defend someone
1566 To start over from scratch To start over again from the very beginning
1567 To stonewall To be intentionally vague or to make insignificant statements in response to a question, specifically to avoid answering it
1568 To take a load off someone's back To relieve someone of a specific burden or a potential burden
1569 To take a rain check To postpone a plan
1570 To take it easy To relax and/or rest
1571 To take sides To choose a team or align yourself with one point of view in a controversy
1572 To take someone under one's wing To protect or teach someone
1573 To take something for granted To assume that you would have had, or will have, something no matter what
1574 To take up arms To prepare for battle or engage in a conflict
1575 To tear your hair out To be completely frustrated by a person or situation
1576 To the best of my knowledge Means you believe something is true, but you might not know all the facts
1577 To the hilt To do something in an extremely thorough way
1578 To turn a blind eye Pretend not to notice
1579 To vanish into thin air To disappear without leaving a trace
1580 To zero in on something To aim or focus directly on something
1581 Toe the line To stay within the acceptable boundary or limits
1582 Tomorrow is another day One may not accomplish everything today but will have another chance
1583 Tomorrow never comes You should take action today and not procrastinate
1584 Tomorrow onwards Starting tomorrow and continuing after that
1585 Tomorrow will be a better day Things may be better tomorrow
1586 Too clever by half Clever in a way that is annoying or arrogant, and in danger of overreaching
1587 Top notch Means the highest quality or standard as in excellent or first-rate
1588 Top of the line The best possible version of something
1589 Top shelf Means something is of the highest quality or standard
1590 Topsy-turvy In utter confusion or disorder
1591 Total smoke show Means someone is extremely physically attractive, often used to describe a woman who is considered very beautiful and eye-catching
1592 Totaled Completely destroyed
1593 Touch base To communicate with someone regarding future plans
1594 Tough as nails Very tough or resilient
1595 Tried and true Means something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable
1596 Trifecta Three things that happen at the same time
1597 Triple threat A person, especially a performer or athlete, who is proficient in three important skills within their particular field
1598 Triumph over adversity Means to successfully overcome significant challenges or difficult situations, essentially achieving victory despite facing setbacks or obstacles; it highlights the idea of resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship
1599 Trust but verify Means to be trusting but also to verify what is said or done
1600 Try your hand at Try doing something for the first time
1601 Tug on the heartstrings Cause someone to become emotional
1602 Turn a blind eye To ignore or pretend not to see something
1603 Turn a deaf ear To ignore what someone is saying
1604 Turn someone's head To cause someone to become smug or conceited
1605 Turn up the heat on someone Put pressure on someone to do something or agree with a particular viewpoint
1606 Turtle wins the race To have endurance and persistence is more important than speed
1607 Twist someone’s arm To convince someone
1608 Two heads are better than one It's better to work together
1609 Two peas in a pod They're always together; they have similar interests
1610 Two shakes of a lamb's tail Very quickly
1611 Under foot To be in the way
1612 Under the table To do something secretly, often used to refer to working for pay unofficially (and illegally)
1613 Under the weather Not feeling very well
1614 Underscore the fact Means to emphasize or highlight the importance of a particular fact or point
1615 Unfinished business Refers to something that has not been completed or dealt with
1616 Until we meet again Goodbye
1617 Up a creek To be in a difficult or unfavorable position, facing serious problems
1618 Up against the clock Running out of time
1619 Up for grabs Available for everyone
1620 Up in arms To be angry or rebellious
1621 Up in the air Uncertain or unsettled
1622 Up my alley Something that is within your skillset
1623 Up the creek without a paddle In a bad situation and unable to proceed; in an awkward position with no easy way out
1624 Up to par Meeting normal standards
1625 Use your head To tell someone to think more carefully about what they are doing
1626 Va-va-voom! Exclamation to indicate a that a person or event has a strikingly sexy, impressive, or appealing quality
1627 Vale of tears Is a christian phrase referring to the tribulations of life that christian doctrine says are left behind only when one leaves the world and enters heaven
1628 Vanish into thin air Disappear without leaving a trace
1629 Variety is the spice of life Trying different things keeps life interesting
1630 Vault over To jump or leap over someone or something
1631 Veer off To turn or steer sharply away from someone or something
1632 Veer toward To turn sharply or swerve toward someone or something
1633 Veg out To relax and not think about anything that stresses you out
1634 Velvet glove A superficial display of gentleness or courtesy that masks a strong or unyielding will or determination
1635 Vent your spleen To express anger or frustration
1636 Vested interest in A personal or biased interest, often financial, in something
1637 Vicar of bray A person who changes their beliefs or allegiances to gain an advantage
1638 Vicious circle A chain of events in which the response to one difficulty creates a new problem that aggravates the original difficulty
1639 Vie with someone To compete or contend with someone
1640 Vim and vigor Energy and enthusiasm
1641 Virgin territory A new experience or situation that someone has no experience with
1642 Visible to the naked eye Can be easily seen
1643 Visit the plumbing To go to the bathroom
1644 Voice in the wilderness Someone who expresses an idea or opinion that is not popular or that the individual is the sole person expressing that particular opinion with the suggestion that the opinion is then ignored
1645 Volte-face A major change in attitude or principle or point of view
1646 Vultures are circling Something is in danger and its enemies are getting ready for the kill
1647 Wait for nature to take its course To allow a situation to unfold naturally without interfering
1648 Wake up and smell the coffee Realize the truth about a situation
1649 Wake up on the wrong side of the bed Start the day in a bad mood
1650 Walk in the other’s shoes To understand what the other is going through
1651 Walk on eggshells To be very careful with your actions and words
1652 Walk the talk Means to act in accordance with what you say
1653 Walking on a tightrope Being in a difficult situation that requires extreme care and precision
1654 Warm reception A friendly, enthusiastic, or hospitable welcome
1655 Wash your hands To stop being responsible for or involved in something
1656 Waste not, want not Don't waste things and you'll always have enough
1657 Water under the bridge Means something that's in the past and no longer relevant to the current situation
1658 We don't see eye to eye We disagree
1659 We'll cross that bridge when we get to it To wait to deal with the problem when it happens
1660 Wear your heart on your sleeve To be extremely open about what you feel and think
1661 Weather the storm To go through something difficult
1662 We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it If that problem comes up, we’ll deal with it then, not right now
1663 Weigh the pros and cons Means to consider the advantages and disadvantages of something before making a decision
1664 Well begun is half done Getting a good start is important
1665 Well under way Means something has already started and is progressing well or making good progress
1666 Went out like a light Fall asleep rapidly, or pass out (lose consciousness)
1667 Went over like a lead balloon To be poorly received
1668 Wet behind the ears Doesn't have very much experience; isn't very skilled
1669 Wet blanket Someone who is dull and keeps others from having fun
1670 What comes around goes around People's actions will eventually have consequences which they will have to deal with, even though this may not happen for a long time
1671 What the f--k To be shocked at what is happening
1672 What we got here is a failure to communicate You didn't do what I told you to do
1673 What's the damage What's the cost
1674 What's up What is happening with you
1675 Whe the fat lady sings Meaning that the final outcome of something is not known until it is truly over, and you shouldn't assume the outcome based on current events
1676 When it rains, it pours Everything is going wrong at once
1677 When pigs fly When something is unlikely or impossible to happen
1678 Where on God's green earth Where in the world - it's an idiom expressing a strong sense of disbelief or frustration at something happening seemingly anywhere on the planet, implying that the situation is unbelievable or outrageous
1679 Where the rubber meets the road The point where actions begin to matter
1680 Where there's smoke, there's fire Rumors are sometimes close to the truth
1681 Whisper sweet nothings Romantic things that people who are in love say to each other
1682 Whistle past the graveyard Act confidently or cheerfully in a scary or dangerous situation
1683 White collar An office worker
1684 White elephant A possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of
1685 White lie A harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings
1686 White-collar job A high-salary job that doesn't involve manual labor
1687 Whitewash Means to cover up or hide an unpleasant situation, wrongdoing, or error
1688 Who left the barn door open Means someone has made a significant mistake by neglecting to take necessary precautions, allowing a problem to occur because they weren't careful enough
1689 Whole nine yards Refers to everything; the complete extent
1690 Will it into existence Means to desire or believe in something so intensely that it appears to become real
1691 Win-win situation Is a mutually beneficial outcome where everyone involved benefits
1692 Wipe out To destroy or remove something or someone completely; to be completely exhausted
1693 Wipe the slate clean Make a fresh start despite past mistakes or problems
1694 Wishy-washy Lacking decisiveness
1695 Worth its weight in gold To be highly valued or appreciated
1696 Wrap your head around something To try to make sense about what is happening
1697 Writer's block The condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing
1698 WTF What the f--k
1699 X marks the spot This is the exact spot
1700 Yellow belly Coward
1701 You bet (or You betcha) You're welcome; I agree with what you just said
1702 You can catch more bees with honey Means it's easier to convince people to do something by being nice and respectful, rather than being aggressive
1703 You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar You are more likely to get what you want by being nice
1704 You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink You can't force someone to make the right decision
1705 You can say that again That's true, I agree
1706 You can't have your cake and eat it too You can't have everything
1707 You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs There's always a cost to doing something
1708 You can't teach an old dog new tricks It's hard to change someone's established behavior or beliefs
1709 You don't say Used to show surprise at something that is being said
1710 You don’t have the cards Means that you are not in a position of power or control in a situation, essentially lacking the necessary advantages or information to achieve a desired outcome
1711 You look beside yourself You look very troubled or anxious and distraught
1712 You made your bed, now lie in it Means that someone must accept the negative consequences of their actions
1713 You protest too much Means someone is denying something so strongly that it makes others suspect they are not being truthful
1714 You're out of your mind Someone is acting foolishly, irrationally, or in a way that is not normal
1715 You're the doctor You are the expert in this situation, so the speaker is deferring to your judgment and asking you to make the decision because you know best
1716 You're the s--t You're the coolest
1717 You've got another think coming You are mistaken about something and need to reconsider your opinion
1718 You've outdone yourself this time You exceeded expectations
1719 You've sold me You have convinced me
1720 You’ll be sorry you asked The person you are speaking to is about to hear something unpleasant or unwelcome information, and they will likely regret having asked the question in the first place
1721 Young at heart Someone who maintains a youthful mindset, energy, and outlook on life despite their actual age, essentially acting and thinking like a younger person even if they are older
1722 Your guess is as good as mine I have no idea
1723 Your John Hancock Your official signature
1724 Your neck of the woods The general area where someone lives
1725 Your secret is safe with me Someone will not share a secret with anyone else
1726 Zebras don't change their stripes Don't expect anyone to be anything other than who they really are
1727 Zero sum gain A situation where one person's gain is exactly balanced by another person's loss
1728 Zero tolerance Refusal to tolerate something at all
1729 Zest for life Means having a strong enthusiasm, excitement, and passion for living life to the fullest, approaching experiences with energy and a positive attitude
1730 Zip Nothing
1731 Zip it Be quiet
1732 Zip past To move very quickly past something
1733 Zone out To shift attention away from the present situation, as in daydreaming
1734 Zonk out To fall asleep suddenly or lose consciousness
EXPRESSION MEANING
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