| 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 |
Beggars can’t be choosy |
Means people who need something should be satisfied with what they get even if it is not exactly what they wanted |
| 194 |
Behind one’s back |
To do something to someone without them knowing |
| 195 |
Behind someone's back |
Without someone knowing |
| 196 |
Behind the eight ball |
To be in a difficult or unfavorable position |
| 197 |
Behind the scenes |
Something that happens in private |
| 198 |
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 |
| 199 |
Below the belt |
To pass a disrespectful, insulting or unethical comment |
| 200 |
Below the salt |
Common, vulgar, or of low standing |
| 201 |
Belt and suspenders |
Exercising caution and avoiding of risks |
| 202 |
Bend over backward |
Try extremely hard to do something, usually to help
someone with a specific issue |
| 203 |
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 |
| 204 |
Bent out of shape |
Annoyed and upset |
| 205 |
Bermuda triangle |
Is a loosely defined area in the north atlantic ocean where ships and planes have reportedly disappeared |
| 206 |
Beside oneself |
Very troubled or anxious and distraught |
| 207 |
Beside the point |
Irrelevant |
| 208 |
Beside yourself with joy |
To be extremely happy or filled with joy |
| 209 |
Best of both worlds |
All the advantages of two different situations and none of the disadvantages |
| 210 |
Best wishes |
Used to express hope for another person's happiness, success, health |
| 211 |
Bestie |
Best friend |
| 212 |
Besties |
Best friends |
| 213 |
Bet the ranch |
To risk everything on an endeavor that you believe will be
successful |
| 214 |
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 |
| 215 |
Better late than never |
Better to arrive late than not to come at all |
| 216 |
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 |
| 217 |
Between the devil and the deep blue sea |
Having to deal with the reality of two difficult possible outcomes for the same situation |
| 218 |
Beware the ides of march |
Sometimes used as a warning for upcoming events |
| 219 |
Beyond the call of duty |
To exceed expectations; to perform extra work that wasn't required by one's responsibilities |
| 220 |
Beyond the pale |
Outside of the limits of socially or morally acceptable behavior |
| 221 |
Big cheese |
A very important person, especially the most important person
in an organization |
| 222 |
Big deal |
Something is important |
| 223 |
Big fish in a small pond |
Someone who seems more significant than they
are because they live in a small or relatively insignificant community |
| 224 |
Big shot |
A powerful person |
| 225 |
Big wheel |
An influential, powerful, and important person |
| 226 |
Bigwig |
A powerful person with a high position in a corporate structure |
| 227 |
Bird's-eye view |
A broad and expansive view of a place or something |
| 228 |
Birds of a feather |
People who are similar in character |
| 229 |
Birds of a feather flock together |
People who are alike are often friends (usually used negatively) |
| 230 |
Bite off more than you can chew |
To take on more responsibilities or challenges than you can handle |
| 231 |
Bite someone's head off |
To criticize someone strongly |
| 232 |
Bite someone's nose off |
To respond to someone in a very angry or aggressive manner |
| 233 |
Bite the bullet |
To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage |
| 234 |
Bite the dust |
To fail or suffer a defeat |
| 235 |
Bite your tongue |
To stop talking |
| 236 |
Black and blue |
To be bruised |
| 237 |
Black sheep |
A member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to it |
| 238 |
Black-and-white |
To think in an extreme way; everything is either completely right or entirely wrong |
| 239 |
Blackout |
Faint |
| 240 |
Blind date |
Means a social gathering between two people who have not previously met |
| 241 |
Bloodsucker |
A person who unfairly takes or uses things that other people worked for |
| 242 |
Blow off steam |
To express anger or frustration |
| 243 |
Blow this joint |
Means let's leave |
| 244 |
Blown away |
Very impressed |
| 245 |
Blue blood |
A blue blood is an aristocrat. blue bloods come from privileged, noble families that are wealthy and powerful |
| 246 |
Blue in the face |
To be exhausted due to strain or anger |
| 247 |
Blue-collar job |
A job that involves manual labor |
| 248 |
Boil the ocean |
Undertaking an impossible task or making a task unnecessarily difficult |
| 249 |
Bolt from the blue |
Something that happened without warning |
| 250 |
Bone and all |
Signifies the idea of accepting someone completely, including their flaws and vulnerabilities |
| 251 |
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth |
Means that his family is very wealthy, and he is likely to lead a privileged life |
| 252 |
Bought the farm |
To die unexpectedly |
| 253 |
Bounce off the walls |
To be extremely excited and energetic |
| 254 |
Bowl of cherries |
A blissfully happy and comfortable situation |
| 255 |
Bread and butter |
A person’s main source of income |
| 256 |
Break a leg |
A wish for good luck, often used in the theater world |
| 257 |
Break even |
Means to reach a point where expenses and income are equal, resulting in neither a profit nor a loss |
| 258 |
Break new ground |
To do something innovative that is regarded as an advance or of positive benefit |
| 259 |
Break someone’s bubble |
To do or say something that proves someone else’s beliefs are not true |
| 260 |
Break the bank |
To spend a lot of money or exceed one’s budget |
| 261 |
Break the ice |
To start a conversation by making people feel more comfortable |
| 262 |
Breath of fresh air |
Something that is new and refreshing |
| 263 |
Bring home the bacon |
To earn a living or provide financial support for a family |
| 264 |
Broke even |
Means to have neither a profit nor a loss, meaning expenses and income are equal, and there is no gain or loss |
| 265 |
Broke the bank |
To deplete all available funds; to spend more than expected or affordable |
| 266 |
Buck stops here |
I have the final responsibility |
| 267 |
Bug off |
Leave me alone |
| 268 |
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 |
| 269 |
Bun in the oven |
She is pregnant |
| 270 |
Bundle of nerves |
Very nervous or anxious about something |
| 271 |
Burn bridges |
To Do something to spoil relationships |
| 272 |
Burn it all down |
Means to express extreme frustration or a desire for radical change |
| 273 |
Burning daylight |
Means to waste time, especially during the daylight hours |
| 274 |
Burning the candle at both ends |
To work from early in the morning until late at night |
| 275 |
Burning the midnight oil |
Working late into the night |
| 276 |
Bury one's head in the sand |
To ignore something completely |
| 277 |
Bury the hatchet |
Ending a quarrel to make peace |
| 278 |
Busy as a bee |
Very active |
| 279 |
Butter up |
To flatter or praise someone to get their help or support |
| 280 |
Butterfingers |
Is a humorous way to describe someone who is clumsy and often drops things |
| 281 |
Butterflies in your stomach |
Means to feel nervous or excited, especially before a performance or event |
| 282 |
By the skin of your teeth |
To do something with little chance of success |
| 283 |
Caesar's wife |
Means that someone in a position of power, particularly a public figure, must be above suspicion |
| 284 |
Calculated risk |
Is a chance of failure that's been estimated before taking action |
| 285 |
Call a spade a spade |
Identifying what something, or someone, really is |
| 286 |
Call it a day |
To stop working on something |
| 287 |
Call it a night |
Halt your evening or nighttime activities |
| 288 |
Call the shots |
To make the decisions; to decide what will be done |
| 289 |
Call their bluff |
To try to force someone to show that they are lying |
| 290 |
Calm before the storm |
Something bad is coming, but right now it's calm |
| 291 |
Calm someone down |
To help make someone calm |
| 292 |
Can't hold a candle to something or someone |
Cannot compete |
| 293 |
Can't judge a book by its cover |
You shouldn't attempt to judge someone or something just by how it looks |
| 294 |
Can't keep up |
Cannot stay at the same level of achievement |
| 295 |
Can't put a face to the name |
When you hear a name you recognize but you cannot remember what the person looks like |
| 296 |
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 |
| 297 |
Canary in the mine |
Refers to something that acts as an early warning of potential danger or failure |
| 298 |
Can’t take a hint |
Means someone doesn't understand or act on an indirect suggestion |
| 299 |
Card sharp or card shark |
Someone who makes money from cheating at cards |
| 300 |
Carry a torch |
To feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for |
| 301 |
Carry the ball |
To take on greater responsibility in order to help ensure a project continues |
| 302 |
Cash cow |
A consistent and reliable source of income or profits |
| 303 |
Cast pearls before swine |
To display fine attributes to people incapable of appreciating them |
| 304 |
Cast-iron stomach |
A stomach that never seems to get upset, regardless of what one eats |
| 305 |
Castle in the sky |
A hope or daydream for the future that will probably never come true |
| 306 |
Cat got your tongue? |
Expression used to ask someone why they are not speaking or are unusually quiet |
| 307 |
Cat has nine lives |
Cats possess a high level of resilience and the ability to survive against the odds |
| 308 |
Cat nap |
Take a short nap |
| 309 |
Cattywampus |
Crooked or confused |
| 310 |
Caught between a rock and a hard place |
To face a difficult decision with no easy solution |
| 311 |
Caught red-handed |
To be caught in the act of doing something wrong |
| 312 |
Change hands |
For an object to be passed or sold from one owner to another |
| 313 |
Change of heart |
To change your opinion about something |
| 314 |
Changed my mind |
Means that you have decided to do something different than what you originally planned or thought |
| 315 |
Chase adventure |
Go out and do something interesting |
| 316 |
Chasing your tail |
Spending time and energy but achieving nothing; going around in circles |
| 317 |
Chatterbox |
Someone who talks constantly |
| 318 |
Chatty cathy |
To describe someone who talks a lot |
| 319 |
Cheap shot |
To take advantage of someone when they are down |
| 320 |
Check is in the mail |
A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors |
| 321 |
Cherry on top |
A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already very good |
| 322 |
Chew the fat |
To chat or gossip |
| 323 |
Chickens come home to roost |
Means that the consequences of one's past actions, especially negative ones, will eventually return to affect them |
| 324 |
Choke point |
A narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel |
| 325 |
Chop, chop |
Get back to work |
| 326 |
Circle back |
Means to return to a topic or conversation at a later time, often after some delay or after addressing other matters |
| 327 |
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 |
| 328 |
Clean as a whistle |
Something/someone who is free from dirt |
| 329 |
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 |
| 330 |
Clean sweep |
Winning without facing any defeats |
| 331 |
Clean-cut |
Having a neat appearance that suggests you are someone who does not break rules or cause trouble |
| 332 |
Clear as mud |
Very confusing |
| 333 |
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades |
Means that close doesn't count; a close loss is still a loss |
| 334 |
Close, but no cigar |
Nearly achieving a goal but ultimately falling short |
| 335 |
Close-fisted |
To be mean |
| 336 |
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 |
| 337 |
Cold hands warm heart |
Means someone has a kind and loving personality, even though their hands are usually cold |
| 338 |
Cold turkey |
To suddenly stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior |
| 339 |
Come hell or high water |
Something will be done no matter what obstacles or difficulties arise |
| 340 |
Come into your own |
Means to reach a desired level of accomplishment |
| 341 |
Come rain or shine |
No matter what |
| 342 |
Come to grips with it |
Means to begin to understand or deal with a problem or situation in a direct or effective wa |
| 343 |
Come to one's senses |
Start to think and behave reasonably after a period of foolishness or irrationality |
| 344 |
Come to your senses |
To begin to think in a sensible or correct way after being foolish or wrong |
| 345 |
Comes with the territory |
Something is an expected result of a situation or position |
| 346 |
Coming of age |
Is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult |
| 347 |
Coming out guns blazing |
Means to approach something with a lot of force, energy, and determination, often in a forceful or aggressive manner |
| 348 |
Common courtesy |
The level of politeness that people can generally be expected to show |
| 349 |
Common decency |
A set of ethical and moral behaviors that are guided by fairness, respect, and empathy |
| 350 |
Common ground |
Shared interests, beliefs, or opinions between two people or groups of people who disagree about most other subjects |
| 351 |
Common law |
A body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts |
| 352 |
Common law wife |
A woman who is considered to be married to a man without having gone through a formal marriage ceremony |
| 353 |
Common sense |
The ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions |
| 354 |
Comparing apples to oranges |
Comparing two things that cannot be compared |
| 355 |
Compromising position |
Refers to a situation where someone is caught in a suggestive or potentially embarrassing act, often implying infidelity or inappropriate behavior |
| 356 |
Cookie cutter |
The same approach or style is always used and not enough attention is paid to individual differences |
| 357 |
Cool as a cucumber |
To remain calm and composed |
| 358 |
Cool it |
Calm down |
| 359 |
Cooler heads prevail |
Means that in a tense situation, the influence or ideas of calmer and more reasonable people will ultimately win out |
| 360 |
Copycat |
Person who copies another's behavior, dress, or ideas |
| 361 |
Cost an arm and a leg |
Something that is very expensive |
| 362 |
Costs an arm and a leg |
To describe something that is very expensive |
| 363 |
Couch potato |
To be lazy |
| 364 |
Count your blessings |
To make a special effort to appreciate the good things in one's life |
| 365 |
Crack a window |
Open a window slightly |
| 366 |
Cram |
To study frantically before a test |
| 367 |
Crazy like a fox |
Pretty clever |
| 368 |
Cream of the crop |
The best or choicest of anything |
| 369 |
Crush on someone |
Means to have a strong, often romantic, attraction or liking for someone |
| 370 |
Cry for the moon |
To ask for something that is rather difficult |
| 371 |
Cry over spilled milk |
To feel sorry over something that has already happened, even though it’s not helpful |
| 372 |
Curiosity killed the cat |
Stop asking questions |
| 373 |
Curving |
Means to reject or ignore someone who is trying to initiate a romantic or physical relationship by delaying responses to messages or giving lame excuses for not agreeing to meet |
| 374 |
Cut class |
To be deliberately absent from class |
| 375 |
Cut no ice |
Fail to make an impact |
| 376 |
Cut somebody some slack |
Don't be so critical |
| 377 |
Cut the mustard |
You meet expectations and are performing adequately |
| 378 |
Cut to the chase |
Getting to the important point |
| 379 |
Cutting corners |
Doing something poorly in order to save time or money |
| 380 |
Damn someone with faint praise |
To criticize someone in a way that seems to be praise but actually communicates disapproval or condemnation |
| 381 |
Dark horse |
A previously unknown person who becomes prominent or known for something |
| 382 |
Davy jones's locker |
The bottom of the sea, especially the grave of those who die at sea |
| 383 |
Dawned on me |
To suddenly realize or recognize something |
| 384 |
Days are numbered |
Someone or something is nearing the end of their existence, and will not last much longer |
| 385 |
Dead as a doornail |
Completely dead or quiet |
| 386 |
Dead from the neck up |
Unintelligent or stupid |
| 387 |
Dead in the water |
No longer effective |
| 388 |
Dead quiet |
Extremely quiet |
| 389 |
Dead ringer |
A duplicate or double, something that looks just like another |
| 390 |
Dead tired |
Extremely tired |
| 391 |
Dead to the world |
In a deep sleep |
| 392 |
Dead-end job |
A job that doesn't seem to have any opportunities for advancement |
| 393 |
Death and taxes |
Something is inevitable or certain to happen |
| 394 |
Deep down |
How you really feel inside, even if you don't realize it |
| 395 |
Devil is in the details |
Something that seems to be good only from a distance |
| 396 |
Devil quoting the bible |
Good things being twisted for selfish and evil purposes |
| 397 |
Diamond in the rough |
A person who is generally of good character but lacks manners, education, or style |
| 398 |
Dig two graves |
Means that if you seek revenge against someone, you are essentially digging a grave for yourself as well |
| 399 |
Ding-it! |
Expression of complete frustration and anger; usually accompanied by flying hammers |
| 400 |
Dire straits |
To be in a very bad or difficult situation |
| 401 |
Do it ASAP |
Do it as soon as possible |
| 402 |
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you |
Treat people fairly; also known as "the golden rule" |
| 403 |
Do you come here often |
A common phrase for initiating conversation with a stranger, especially one for seeking romantic involvement |
| 404 |
Dodge a bullet |
Means to narrowly escape a dangerous or unpleasant situation, essentially avoiding something bad that could have happened to you |
| 405 |
Doing a 180 |
Means to make a complete about-face or change one's mind or direction, often in a sudden or dramatic way |
| 406 |
Don't beat a dead horse |
To continue to talk about something that is now useless to discuss |
| 407 |
Don't bite the hand that feeds you |
Don't act against someone who is supporting you |
| 408 |
Don't count on it |
You should not expect something to happen or rely on it |
| 409 |
Don't count your chickens before they hatch |
Don't count on something good happening until it's happened |
| 410 |
Don't cry over spilled milk |
There's no reason to complain about something that can't be fixed |
| 411 |
Don't give up your day job |
You're not very good at this |
| 412 |
Don't judge a book by its cover |
This person or thing may look bad, but it's good inside |
| 413 |
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 |
| 414 |
Don't let the inmates run the asylum |
Those who are in charge should make the decisions rather than those in subordinate rolls |
| 415 |
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 |
| 416 |
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth |
To find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor |
| 417 |
Don't make waves |
Don't cause problems |
| 418 |
Don't mention it |
You're welcome |
| 419 |
Don't put all your eggs in one basket |
What you're doing is too risky |
| 420 |
Don't s--t on your own doorstep |
Don't sleep with your housemate or workmate |
| 421 |
Don't spit on me and tell me its raining |
Don't lie to me |
| 422 |
Don't sweat the small stuff |
Don't be concerned about trivial matters |
| 423 |
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 |
| 424 |
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 |
| 425 |
Don’t burst my balloon |
Means to don't spoil my excitement or optimism, or ruin my plans/dreams |
| 426 |
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch |
Don’t depend on something before it happens |
| 427 |
Don’t give up a day’s job |
You are not very good at something or you could not do it professionally |
| 428 |
Don’t jump the gun |
Means to act too soon or before the right time |
| 429 |
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 |
| 430 |
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 |
| 431 |
Done and dusted |
Successfully finished; completely finished |
| 432 |
Dot your i's and cross your t’s |
Means to be very meticulous and pay close attention to every detail, ensuring nothing is overlooked |
| 433 |
Double down |
Means to continue to do something in an even more determined way than before |
| 434 |
Down for the count |
Tired; giving up |
| 435 |
Down to the wire |
Completing or finishing something with no extra time remaining |
| 436 |
Drag your feet |
Slow down intentionally to delay the outcome |
| 437 |
Draw the line |
To stop before a point where something okay gets not okay |
| 438 |
Dressed to the nines |
Wearing stylish or elegant clothing |
| 439 |
Drive me up the wall |
To make one very nervous, upset, or annoyed |
| 440 |
Drop the ball |
To make a mistake or fail to do something |
| 441 |
Drown your sorrows |
Means to drink alcohol in order to forget something sad or upsetting that has happened |
| 442 |
Drum up some support |
Means to make an effort to obtain or increase support for something, often through active solicitation or canvassing |
| 443 |
Duck test |
For application of common sense and/or intuition regardless of technical parameters |
| 444 |
Eager beaver |
Someone who is very eager or excited to do something |
| 445 |
Eagle eye |
Close or careful watch on something |
| 446 |
Earworm |
Thinking about a song or lyrics from a song over and over |
| 447 |
Easier said than done |
Not as easy as it appears to be |
| 448 |
Easy come, easy go |
You get something easily and you lose it easily |
| 449 |
Easy does it |
Slow down |
| 450 |
Eat crow |
To admit that you were mistaken about something |
| 451 |
Eat like a bird |
To eat very little |
| 452 |
Eat like a horse |
To eat a lot and have a big appetite |
| 453 |
Eating crow |
Admitting that you are wrong after taking a strong position |
| 454 |
Eating humble pie |
Admitting that you are wrong after taking a strong position |
| 455 |
Egg on your face |
Look foolish; be publicly embarrassed by something you did |
| 456 |
Eight hundred pound gorilla |
An entity so powerful that it can act without regard to the rights of others or the law |
| 457 |
Elephant in the room |
The big issue; the problem people are avoiding |
| 458 |
End of time |
Means "forever" or "always", essentially signifying something that will last indefinitely |
| 459 |
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 |
| 460 |
Every cloud has a silver lining |
Good things come after bad things |
| 461 |
Every dog has his day |
Everyone gets a chance at least once |
| 462 |
Everything from A to Z |
Everything from start to finish; the complete event |
| 463 |
Everything from soup to nuts |
Everything from start to finish; the complete event |
| 464 |
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 |
| 465 |
Everything is coming up roses |
Things are turning out well or better than expected |
| 466 |
Everything is looking up |
Things are turning out better than in the recent past |
| 467 |
Experience something first-hand |
To experience something yourself |
| 468 |
Eye for an eye |
If someone harms you, you should harm them back in the same way |
| 469 |
Eyes too big for (or bigger than) your stomach |
You took more food on your plate than you can eat |
| 470 |
Face a conundrum |
Means to encounter a difficult problem or puzzle |
| 471 |
Face only a mother could love |
Means they are ugly by the person's standards |
| 472 |
Face the music |
Face the consequences of something you have done |
| 473 |
Factor out |
To isolate a common factor from an expression |
| 474 |
Fair and square |
To be done fairly and correctly |
| 475 |
Fair to middling |
Average in quality |
| 476 |
Fair-weather friend |
A person who only acts like a friend when things are going well and they can benefit in some way |
| 477 |
Fairy Godmother |
Someone who helps others with their problems, sometimes providing financial assistance |
| 478 |
Fall by the wayside |
Something that comes to be ignored |
| 479 |
Fall in love |
Means to develop romantic feelings for someone or something |
| 480 |
Fall off the wagon |
To fail to stick to a determination to do something |
| 481 |
Fall on deaf ears |
Advice is ignored by the people who need to hear it |
| 482 |
False flag |
A harmful action that is designed to make it look like someone else is responsible |
| 483 |
False light |
A legal term that refers to a misleading or false portrayal of someone in public |
| 484 |
Familiarity breeds contempt |
The better you know someone the less you like him |
| 485 |
Fancy pants |
Very fancy and maybe ostentatious |
| 486 |
Fashion victim |
Someone who is obsessed with fashion, probably to the point where they go overboard and end up looking worse |
| 487 |
Fat cat |
A wealthy, but usually very lazy, person |
| 488 |
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 |
| 489 |
Father knows best |
Means that a father is the authority figure who provides guidance and advice for his family |
| 490 |
Feather in one's cap |
Something one is proud of |
| 491 |
Feather in your cap |
Means an achievement or honor that someone can be proud of |
| 492 |
Feather one's nest |
To gather up resources to ensure future comfort |
| 493 |
Feed a cold, starve a fever |
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever |
| 494 |
Feeding frenzy |
To eat a large amount of food |
| 495 |
Feel like a fifth wheel |
Not needed or wanted in the situation, not valued |
| 496 |
Feel like a million dollars |
To feel extremely good |
| 497 |
Feel like death warmed over |
To feel or look extremely tired and drained |
| 498 |
Feel the pinch |
To feel the effects of a lack of money or other resources |
| 499 |
Feeling blue |
Feeling sad or depressed |
| 500 |
Fell on its head |
Means something was poorly executed or had a negative outcome |
| 501 |
Fender bender |
A minor car accident |
| 502 |
Few cards short of a deck |
The man often does very strange things |
| 503 |
Field day |
An enjoyable circumstance or day |
| 504 |
Fifteen minutes of fame |
To enjoy an extremely short period of fame or recognition of some sort |
| 505 |
Fight an uphill battle |
To deal with a difficult situation that becomes harder as you go |
| 506 |
Fight tooth and nail |
To fight hard and determinedly |
| 507 |
Fill in the blanks |
To guess the content of missing information |
| 508 |
Filthy rich |
Extremely wealthy |
| 509 |
Find your feet |
Adjust and become accustomed to new circumstances or expectations |
| 510 |
Finger lickin' good |
Delicious food (very informal) |
| 511 |
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 |
| 512 |
Fish out of water |
To be in an environment that you're not used to or that you don't readily fit into |
| 513 |
Fishy |
Seems suspicious |
| 514 |
Fit as a fiddle |
To be in good health |
| 515 |
Fit to be tied |
Extremely angry |
| 516 |
Fits and starts |
Very brief bursts of motion |
| 517 |
Five o'clock shadow |
The signs of hair starting to grow back on the face of a man who has recently shaved |
| 518 |
Fix someone's wagon |
To ruin someone's chance of success, often in revenge for a grievance |
| 519 |
Fixed in your ways |
Inflexible in the ways you do things |
| 520 |
Fixin' to |
About to do something |
| 521 |
Flavor of the month |
Something that is trendy or fashionable to care about at the moment |
| 522 |
Flea market |
A market where people buy and sell secondhand and/or inexpensive goods |
| 523 |
Flesh and blood |
People who are related to you, or anyone or anything that is alive |
| 524 |
Fly in the face of something |
To act in opposition to something or to show disrespect for someone or something |
| 525 |
Fly in the ointment |
Something unpleasant in a situation that is otherwise entirely pleasant |
| 526 |
Fly off the handle |
To suddenly become extremely angry, especially if overreacting to something |
| 527 |
Fly the coop |
To escape |
| 528 |
Fly-by-night |
Markedly untrustworthy or undependable |
| 529 |
Flying by the seat of your pants |
Making decisions based on instinct/intuition rather than on a plan |
| 530 |
Foam at the mouth |
To show rage |
| 531 |
Follow in someone's footsteps |
To follow the same path in life as someone else |
| 532 |
Follow the money |
To follow the direction of people gaining large amounts of money when investigating corruption |
| 533 |
Food for thought |
Something that you or others think is worth carefully thinking about |
| 534 |
Fool around |
To joke around and act in a jovial or silly way |
| 535 |
Fool's gold |
Something that looks like gold but isn't |
| 536 |
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 |
| 537 |
Foot in the door |
To find an opportunity to make progress in a desired direction |
| 538 |
Foot the bill |
To pay for something, especially something expensive |
| 539 |
Footloose and fancy-free |
To be free of care and worry, able to have fun all the time |
| 540 |
For Christ sake |
An exclamation used to express frustration, annoyance, or exasperation |
| 541 |
For crying out loud |
Exclamation of utter frustration at a person or situation |
| 542 |
For goodness' sake |
Something one says when one is frustrated or in a state of disbelief |
| 543 |
For heaven's sake |
Something one says when one is frustrated or in a state of disbelief |
| 544 |
For the birds |
Something that is silly, ridiculous or ludicrous |
| 545 |
For the love of God |
Used to give added force to an angry statement |
| 546 |
Fork over the money |
To pay money for something |
| 547 |
Formidable opponent |
Is a powerful or strong enemy or competitor that deserves respect and serious attention |
| 548 |
Fortune favors the bold |
You are more likely to succeed if you take risks |
| 549 |
Forty winks |
A very short nap, usually during the day |
| 550 |
Four sheets to the wind |
Means extremely drunk |
| 551 |
Freak out |
To become very angry, worried, or frightened |
| 552 |
Freeze someone out |
To deliberately leave someone out; to choose not to include someone who would expect to be included |
| 553 |
Fresh said of eyes |
Refers to getting someone else to have a look |
| 554 |
From day one |
From the very beginning |
| 555 |
From rags to riches |
To go from being poor to wealthy |
| 556 |
From the get-go |
From the beginning |
| 557 |
From the word go |
From the very beginning |
| 558 |
From time to time |
Occasionally |
| 559 |
Fuddy-duddy |
An excessively old-fashioned person |
| 560 |
Full of bologna |
Means something is filled with nonsense, foolish ideas, or empty words |
| 561 |
Full of crap |
Doesn't know what he or she is talking about Offensive in most contexts |
| 562 |
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 |
| 563 |
Full of it |
Means someone is talking nonsense, exaggerating, or not telling the truth |
| 564 |
Full steam ahead |
Enthusiastically moving forward |
| 565 |
Full-court press |
To put maximum effort into something |
| 566 |
Functioning as advertised |
Means something is operating or performing in the way it was intended and described in its advertising or promotional materials |
| 567 |
Gain ground |
To advance and make progress |
| 568 |
Game plan |
To put a plan in place; to decide how things should be handled |
| 569 |
Garden variety |
Ordinary, common, or unexceptional |
| 570 |
Gave someone the thumbs-up |
Gave someone approval |
| 571 |
Get a handle on something |
To gain control or understanding of something |
| 572 |
Get a hold of something |
To obtain possession of something |
| 573 |
Get a hold of yourself |
To gain control of yourself |
| 574 |
Get a kick out of it |
To be amused by something |
| 575 |
Get a move on |
To start being active again in something |
| 576 |
Get a second wind |
Have more energy after having been tired |
| 577 |
Get a taste of your own medicine |
Get treated the way you've been treating others (negative) |
| 578 |
Get a word in edgewise |
To be able to say something when someone won't stop talking |
| 579 |
Get ahead of the game |
To have an advantage over others |
| 580 |
Get along with each other |
To have a harmonious relationship with someone; to refrain from argument or conflict |
| 581 |
Get back to someone |
To contact a person again to tell them something in the near future |
| 582 |
Get bent out of shape |
To be upset, to take offense, or to be angry |
| 583 |
Get cold feet |
To feel nervous or hesitant about a decision or action |
| 584 |
Get down to brass tacks |
Get to the point of the matter |
| 585 |
Get down to business |
Start doing the practical things that need to be done |
| 586 |
Get down to the nuts and bolts |
To focus on the basics of something or a situation |
| 587 |
Get from A to B |
To get from one place to another |
| 588 |
Get hitched |
Means to get married |
| 589 |
Get hold of someone |
To get in contact with someone |
| 590 |
Get in shape |
To become strong or fit |
| 591 |
Get in someone's hair |
To annoy someone or cause them some kind of irritation or hindrance |
| 592 |
Get into deep water |
In a lot of trouble |
| 593 |
Get it off my chest |
To express something that has been bothering you or |
| 594 |
Get it off your chest |
Share information about something that has been bothering you |
| 595 |
Get off my back |
Stop criticizing me; stop nagging me to do something |
| 596 |
Get out of hand |
To be out of one's control |
| 597 |
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 |
| 598 |
Get some shut eye |
Means to go to sleep or get some rest; it's an informal way of saying get some sleep |
| 599 |
Get something out of your system |
Do the thing you've been wanting to do so you can move on |
| 600 |
Get the ball rolling |
To begin or get started; to put things into motion |
| 601 |
Get the hang of it |
To have the ability to complete a task and do it well |
| 602 |
Get this show on the road |
Let's go; let's get started |
| 603 |
Get wind of something |
To get information about something about to happen |
| 604 |
Get your act together |
Work better or leave |
| 605 |
Get your ducks in a row |
Make proper plans; get things in order |
| 606 |
Get your feet wet |
To take a small step in an effort to learn or do something new |
| 607 |
Get your foot in the door |
To establish an initial connection or opportunity that will benefit you in the future |
| 608 |
Gets my goat |
Something that really bothers or annoys someone |
| 609 |
Give (or get) the bum's rush |
forcible eviction or dismissal |
| 610 |
Give a pass |
To forgive someone or overlook a mistake |
| 611 |
Give it a whirl |
To give something a try |
| 612 |
Give it the gun (or gun it) |
To cause something to start or speed up; press the accelerator |
| 613 |
Give it the once over |
To clean or inspect something in a quick or cursory fashion |
| 614 |
Give it your best shot |
Try as hard as you possibly can; put forth your best effort |
| 615 |
Give kudos to someone |
Praise someone for achievements (note: kudos is not plural, so you can't give a kudo) |
| 616 |
Give props to |
Show appreciation for |
| 617 |
Give someone a hand |
To help or assist someone |
| 618 |
Give someone the benefit of the doubt |
Trust what someone says |
| 619 |
Give someone the cold shoulder |
To act rudely or ignore someone |
| 620 |
Give something a fair shake |
To try something for a while before deciding that it isn't for you |
| 621 |
Give the cold shoulder |
Intentionally ignore someone |
| 622 |
Give them a taste of their own medicine |
To give someone the same bad treatment that they have given to others |
| 623 |
Giving someone a hard time |
To make things difficult or unpleasant for someone |
| 624 |
Go back to the drawing board |
After experiencing failure, it's time to start a over from scratch |
| 625 |
Go bananas |
To go crazy |
| 626 |
Go behind one's back |
To sneak and do something without telling someone who should be aware |
| 627 |
Go belly up |
Go out of business; to lose everything |
| 628 |
Go cold turkey |
To quit or stop addictive or dangerous behaviour |
| 629 |
Go down in flames |
To fail suddenly and terribly |
| 630 |
Go Dutch (or It will be Dutch treat) |
When going somewhere with another person or a group of people, everyone pays their own way |
| 631 |
Go fly a kite |
Means to tell someone to go away or to leave you alone |
| 632 |
Go off half-cocked |
To act or speak impulsively and without proper preparation or consideration |
| 633 |
Go on a wild goose chase |
To do something pointless |
| 634 |
Go the extra mile |
To make an extra effort |
| 635 |
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 |
| 636 |
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 |
| 637 |
Go with the flow |
To let things happen or let other people tell you what to do, rather than trying to take charge |
| 638 |
GOAT |
Greatest of all time |
| 639 |
Going forward |
The next time or on a future occasion |
| 640 |
Going postal |
Becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, usually in a workplace environment |
| 641 |
Going south |
Things are turning out worse than expected; an expression mainly used by ignorant yankees |
| 642 |
Golden handshake |
Special incentive given to an employee (usually an executive) to induce them to retire |
| 643 |
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 |
| 644 |
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 |
| 645 |
Gonna |
Going to |
| 646 |
Good things come to those who wait |
Be patient |
| 647 |
Got a leg up |
Have an advantage over others |
| 648 |
Got away clean |
To escape a situation without any negative consequences |
| 649 |
Grab (or take) the bull by the horns |
Face a difficult situation directly, with confidence |
| 650 |
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 |
| 651 |
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 |
| 652 |
Grasping at straws |
To find a solution or hope in a desperate situation |
| 653 |
Graveyard shift |
Working through the overnight hours |
| 654 |
Green light |
Permission to start or continue something |
| 655 |
Green thumb |
To be good at gardening; having good skills or luck with growing flowers or vegetables |
| 656 |
Green with envy |
Means to be very jealous or envious of someone or something |
| 657 |
Grey area |
Indeterminate territory, undefined position, neither here nor there |
| 658 |
Guard your heart |
Means to protect your heart with care and attention |
| 659 |
Gut feeling |
To do more than you’re required to do |
| 660 |
Hail Mary pass |
To do something desperate that could lead to a big success |
| 661 |
Hair of the dog |
An alcoholic beverage of some kind taken in an attempt to cure a hangover |
| 662 |
Hair of the dog that bit you |
Whatever caused you to be in the situation you're in, go get more of that |
| 663 |
Hair's breadth |
A very narrow space |
| 664 |
Half a mind to do something |
Thinking about doing something |
| 665 |
Half price |
Half the usual price at which something is offered for sale |
| 666 |
Half the battle |
Half of the effort or work required |
| 667 |
Half-baked |
Inadequately thought-out or planned |
| 668 |
Half-baked idea |
Too have a foolish plan |
| 669 |
Hammering out a deal |
To negotiate and arrive at a deal |
| 670 |
Hand in glove |
Very close |
| 671 |
Hand over fist |
Very quickly |
| 672 |
Hands are tied |
Not have the ability to help or take action |
| 673 |
Hands down |
Obviously, unquestionably, without a doubt |
| 674 |
Hang in there |
To not give up |
| 675 |
Hang loose |
Relax, let go, and live in the moment; don't take things too seriously |
| 676 |
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 |
| 677 |
Hang tight |
Just wait for something to happen |
| 678 |
Hang tough |
To stay determined |
| 679 |
Hankering |
Strong intention or desire |
| 680 |
Happy as a clam |
Extremely happy |
| 681 |
Happy-go-lucky |
Very cheerful and happy |
| 682 |
Hard pill to swallow |
Something that is difficult to take or accept |
| 683 |
Hard sell |
To use selling techniques that are relatively aggressive or pushy |
| 684 |
Hari-kari |
To commit suicide |
| 685 |
Haste makes waste |
You'll make mistakes if you rush through something |
| 686 |
Hat trick |
Three successes of the same kind, especially consecutive ones within a limited period, such as three goals in soccer |
| 687 |
Have (or with) a heavy heart |
To be sad about something or reluctant to do something |
| 688 |
Have a bee in your bonnet |
To be extremely upset |
| 689 |
Have a chip on your shoulder |
Holding a grudge or feeling resentful because you believe you have been treated unfairly |
| 690 |
Have a finger in the pie |
To have an interest in or take part in some activity; to meddle in the situation |
| 691 |
Have a hand in |
Have a role in |
| 692 |
Have a method to one’s madness |
Seeming to be crazy but in fact is very clever |
| 693 |
Have a whale of a time |
To have a lot of fun or enjoy oneself very much |
| 694 |
Have an advantage over others |
To have an advantage over others |
| 695 |
Have an axe to grind |
To be upset about something and to perhaps desire revenge of some kind |
| 696 |
Have bats in one's belfry |
Eccentric or crazy in a harmless way |
| 697 |
Have big ears |
To listen to a conversation not intended for you; to eavesdrop |
| 698 |
Have eyes only for something |
To have desire focused on a specific person or object |
| 699 |
Have hell to pay |
To be in severe difficulties |
| 700 |
Have it in spades |
Means that they have a lot of it, or that they have it to a high degree. |
| 701 |
Have one's ear to the ground |
To be well informed about coming events |
| 702 |
Have one's head in the clouds |
To have no concentration at all |
| 703 |
Have some faith |
Means to trust or believe in something or someone strongly, even without complete proof |
| 704 |
Have something down pat |
To thoroughly understand something |
| 705 |
Have the blues |
Sad |
| 706 |
Have the hots |
Means that they feel a strong sexual attraction to that person |
| 707 |
Have the upper hand |
O have more power in a competitive situation than the other side |
| 708 |
Have the world at one’s feet |
To be extremely successful and admired by a large number of people |
| 709 |
Have the world by the tail |
To be doing remarkably well with something; to be in control of one's life and prospects |
| 710 |
Have time off |
To have time away from work |
| 711 |
Have two left feet |
To be clumsy, especially while dancing |
| 712 |
Have your hands full |
To be completely busy or occupied with something |
| 713 |
Have your head in the clouds |
To have no concentration at all |
| 714 |
Have your head in the sand |
To avoid, or try to avoid, a particular situation by pretending that it does not exist |
| 715 |
Having a monkey on your back |
To have a problem that you cannot solve or get rid of easily |
| 716 |
Having the time of his life |
Means someone is enjoying themselves immensely and having a lot of fun |
| 717 |
He has a memory of an elephant |
To be able to remember things easily and for a long period of time |
| 718 |
He has bigger fish to fry |
He has bigger things to take care of than what we are talking about now |
| 719 |
He who laughs last laughs loudest |
I'll get you back for what you did |
| 720 |
He's a chip off the old block |
The son is like the father |
| 721 |
He's not playing with a full deck |
He's not being smart |
| 722 |
He's off his rocker |
He's crazy |
| 723 |
Head and shoulders above |
Vastly superior |
| 724 |
Head honcho |
Someone in the highest position of power within an organization or company |
| 725 |
Head in a noose |
Means to be in a very dangerous or difficult situation, essentially putting yourself on the path to your own downfall |
| 726 |
Head in the clouds |
Tending to live in the imagination and not firmly grounded in reality |
| 727 |
Head on the chopping block |
Means to risk a bad thing happening to you by doing something or helping someone |
| 728 |
Head over heels |
To be very much in love |
| 729 |
Head start |
To have an advantage or an early start in something |
| 730 |
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 |
| 731 |
Heads-up |
An update that provides new knowledge or understanding of something |
| 732 |
Hear it on the grapevine |
To hear a rumor about someone or something |
| 733 |
Hear something straight from the horse's mouth |
Hear something from the person involved |
| 734 |
Heaven can wait |
Means something is not urgent and can be postponed |
| 735 |
Heebie-jeebies |
A creepy feeling that might make you shudder |
| 736 |
Here and there |
On occasion |
| 737 |
High five |
A gesture of celebration or greeting in which two people slap each other's open palm with their arms raised |
| 738 |
High on the hog |
To live in a luxurious way |
| 739 |
High time |
It's time to do something that should have been done a long time ago |
| 740 |
High, wide, and handsome |
Large and impressive |
| 741 |
Hillbilly |
Uneducated, unsophisticated person living in remote mountains or backwoods |
| 742 |
Hindsight is 20/20 |
Means it is easy to understand something after it has already happened |
| 743 |
Hissy fit |
To get really upset and to show it |
| 744 |
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 |
| 745 |
Hit below the belt |
Acting unfairly |
| 746 |
Hit it on the nose |
To have a perfect understanding of something or to do something perfectly |
| 747 |
Hit me up |
Contact me in the near future |
| 748 |
Hit pay dirt |
To come upon something of significant value |
| 749 |
Hit someone below the belt |
To insult or otherwise treat a person in an unfair way |
| 750 |
Hit the books |
To study intensely |
| 751 |
Hit the ceiling |
To get extremely angry |
| 752 |
Hit the hay |
To go to bed and get some sleep |
| 753 |
Hit the jackpot |
To come into possession of wealth or something of great value |
| 754 |
Hit the mark |
To find the perfect or ideal solution; to be in exactly the right place |
| 755 |
Hit the nail on the head |
To do something the exact way it should be done |
| 756 |
Hit the road |
To start on a journey |
| 757 |
Hit the sack |
Go to sleep |
| 758 |
Hit-or-miss |
Something that might be good sometimes and bad other times; unreliable |
| 759 |
Hob·nob |
Means to mix socially |
| 760 |
Hocus-pocus |
Magic of some sort, or perhaps trickery |
| 761 |
Hoist by (or with) your own petard |
Injured or defeated by one's own action that was intended to harm others |
| 762 |
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 |
| 763 |
Hold no grudges |
Means to not have or hold onto anger, bitterness, or resentment toward someone |
| 764 |
Hold the fort |
To take responsibility for a place or maintain an activity while someone is away |
| 765 |
Hold the line |
To stay on the telephone to wait for the party you are calling to become available |
| 766 |
Hold your horses |
Slow down; stop and think about what you're doing |
| 767 |
Hold your tongue |
Stop talking, especially about something specific |
| 768 |
Holding the bag |
Having to be responsible for something |
| 769 |
Holy smokes |
To express surprise, excitement, or pleasure |
| 770 |
Home sweet home |
Used when one returns home after being away to say that one is happy to be home |
| 771 |
Honest mistake |
An unintentional error that is not intended to cause harm |
| 772 |
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 |
| 773 |
Honeymoon |
A trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple |
| 774 |
Hoodwink |
Means to deceive or trick |
| 775 |
Hook, line and sinker |
Doing something or trying to achieve something with thoroughness and passion |
| 776 |
Hook, line, and sinker |
Completely tricked or deceived |
| 777 |
Hope for the best |
To hope that something will be successful or happen in the way you want, even if it seems unlikely |
| 778 |
Hopping mad |
Extremely angry |
| 779 |
Horse around |
To act in a silly way |
| 780 |
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 |
| 781 |
Horse sense |
Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education |
| 782 |
Hot mess |
Something or someone in a state of extreme disorder, but paradoxically attractive |
| 783 |
Hot under the collar |
Angry |
| 784 |
Hot-button issue |
An issue that people tend to have strong opinions on |
| 785 |
Hotcakes |
To sell quickly and in large amounts |
| 786 |
Hotshot |
An important and powerful person in a particular place or situation |
| 787 |
Houston, we have a problem |
Disaster awaits |
| 788 |
How do you like them apples |
An expression used to boast about/gloat over something to someone Can also be used to express surprise |
| 789 |
Hung the moon |
Means to think someone is incredibly special, perfect, or highly admired, as if they have achieved something extraordinary |
| 790 |
Hunky-dory |
Happy and comfortable |
| 791 |
I am broke |
I have no money |
| 792 |
I can't even |
To express that something is intolerable |
| 793 |
I can't imagine |
Something is unbelievable or terrible |
| 794 |
I couldnt't care less |
Means that you are completely not concerned or interested in something |
| 795 |
I don't buy that |
I don't believe you |
| 796 |
I don't have two nickels to rub together |
A drastic lack of money |
| 797 |
I suck at something |
I'm terrible or disappointing at something |
| 798 |
I'll be a monkey's uncle |
I'm shocked, surprised, and can't quite believe what i'm seeing or hearing |
| 799 |
I'm all ears |
The person is prepared and ready to listen to what you have to say |
| 800 |
I'm in over my head |
Something is too difficult for you |
| 801 |
I'm losing my mind |
I forgot something obvious or important |
| 802 |
Icing on the cake |
Something that makes a good situation even better |
| 803 |
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again |
Means to encourage people to keep trying after failure |
| 804 |
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 |
| 805 |
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 |
| 806 |
Ignorance is bliss |
Ou're better off not knowing |
| 807 |
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 |
| 808 |
In a coon's age |
A long time |
| 809 |
In a league of their own |
Someone is better than anyone else at something |
| 810 |
In a nutshell |
Express something in a concise manner |
| 811 |
In cold blood |
Deliberately |
| 812 |
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 |
| 813 |
In good hands |
In the care of somebody good or knowledgeable |
| 814 |
In hog heaven |
In a good situation; surrounded by your favorite things, such as favorite foods |
| 815 |
In hot water |
Someone is in trouble or facing difficulties |
| 816 |
In ship shape |
Means something is neat, tidy, and in good order, like a ship that is well-maintained and organized |
| 817 |
In the ballpark |
Close to a suitable amount or suggestion |
| 818 |
In the black |
To be financially successful |
| 819 |
In the cards |
Likely or certain to happen. |
| 820 |
In the fast lane |
A life filled with excitement |
| 821 |
In the hole |
In debt; in trouble, especially financial trouble |
| 822 |
In the hot seat |
In a difficult position, subject to much attention or criticism |
| 823 |
In the red |
To be losing money |
| 824 |
Inside joke |
A joke that is shared exclusively by a small group of people |
| 825 |
It ain't over until the fat lady sings |
This isn't over yet |
| 826 |
It goes without saying |
Something is so obvious that it doesn't need to be said |
| 827 |
It is a poor workman who blames his tools |
If you can't do the job, don't blame it on others |
| 828 |
It is always darkest before the dawn |
Things are going to get better |
| 829 |
It just goes to show |
Means something demonstrates or proves a point |
| 830 |
It takes one to know one |
You're just as bad as i am |
| 831 |
It takes two to tango |
Two persons are equally responsible for what is happening or has happened |
| 832 |
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 |
| 833 |
It's a win-win situation |
Just let me have my way |
| 834 |
It's all greek to me |
I don't understand any of it |
| 835 |
It's like pulling teeth |
Something that requires a lot of effort |
| 836 |
It's no sweat |
It's not a problem |
| 837 |
It's not rocket science |
It's not complicated |
| 838 |
It's over my head |
I don't understand it because it's too complicated |
| 839 |
It's time to show up |
It's time to be responsible |
| 840 |
It’s raining cats and dogs |
To rain very hard |
| 841 |
Itchy feet |
Someone is getting restless; being ready to move on to the next activity |
| 842 |
Jack of all trades, master of none |
Means someone who is competent in many areas but not an expert in any one |
| 843 |
Jam on the brakes |
Press brakes of a vehicle suddenly |
| 844 |
Jaw hit the floor |
Be surprised |
| 845 |
Jaywalking |
Crossing the street at a place other than the crosswalk |
| 846 |
Joe public |
A hypothetical average or generic member of the public; the common man |
| 847 |
Johnny come lately |
Is a newcomer to or late starter at a particular place or activity |
| 848 |
Joined at the hip |
People who seem to be together all the time |
| 849 |
Joshing me |
Fooling me about something |
| 850 |
Jump at the chance |
To quickly take advantage of a new opportunity |
| 851 |
Jump down someone's throat |
To get really angry with someone and express that emotion, perhaps in an aggressive way |
| 852 |
Jump into the fray |
Means to suddenly and actively participate in a heated argument, fight, or struggle |
| 853 |
Jump into the ring |
Means to suddenly and often enthusiastically become involved in a situation or activity, or to enter a competition or contest |
| 854 |
Jump on the bandwagon |
Join others in supporting a popular activity or trend |
| 855 |
Jump the gun |
To start too quickly, either without adequate preparation or at the wrong time |
| 856 |
Jump through hoops |
To do things that don't seem to make much sense, just because they're required |
| 857 |
Junk food |
Unhealthy, usually heavily processed food (such as candy) |
| 858 |
Jury is still out |
A decision hasn't been made yet |
| 859 |
Just a moment |
Please wait a moment or two |
| 860 |
Just around the corner |
Very close by |
| 861 |
Just in the nick of time |
Just before the last moment when something can be changed or something bad will happen |
| 862 |
Just now |
Something has recently occurred, perhaps within the last few seconds or minutes |
| 863 |
Keep a level head |
Means to remain calm and sensible, especially in a difficult or stressful situation, maintaining composure and clear thinking |
| 864 |
Keep a lookut |
Means to be alert and watch carefully for someone or something, especially to avoid danger |
| 865 |
Keep an ear to the ground |
Staying informed about everything |
| 866 |
Keep an open mind |
To wait until you know all the facts before forming an opinion or making a judgment |
| 867 |
Keep at arm's length |
To deliberately not let someone get too close |
| 868 |
Keep at bay |
To prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect |
| 869 |
Keep body and soul together |
To earn enough money to stay alive |
| 870 |
Keep in contact |
Means to maintain communication with someone, essentially staying in touch with them through regular contact like phone calls, emails, or visits |
| 871 |
Keep it coming |
Don't stop..continue |
| 872 |
Keep it in the family |
To not share information or secrets outside of the family unit |
| 873 |
Keep it in your head |
Means to remember something or keep it in mind, or to keep something to yourself |
| 874 |
Keep it under control |
To control a situation |
| 875 |
Keep it under wraps |
To keep something a secret |
| 876 |
Keep me guessing |
To cause someone to be uncertain: the idea was to keep the enemy guessing until the attack had actually begun |
| 877 |
Keep me in the loop |
Keep me informed |
| 878 |
Keep me posted |
Stay in touch |
| 879 |
Keep my cool |
To stay calm |
| 880 |
Keep my head above water |
To manage to survive adversity, especially with regard to finances |
| 881 |
Keep my nose to the grindstone |
To remain focused on hard work |
| 882 |
Keep someone at arm's length |
To keep someone at a distance |
| 883 |
Keep something at bay |
To keep something at a distance |
| 884 |
Keep something under one's hat |
To keep something private or secret |
| 885 |
Keep the ball rolling |
To keep something going or to make sure it continues |
| 886 |
Keep the faith |
Means to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do so |
| 887 |
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 |
| 888 |
Keep the home fires lit |
To maintain a stable and supportive home environment |
| 889 |
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 |
| 890 |
Keep up with |
To match someone else in terms of progress or success |
| 891 |
Keep you posted |
To keep someone notified of what is happening |
| 892 |
Keep your chin up |
To keep a positive and optimistic frame of mind |
| 893 |
Keep your eye on the ball |
To stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted |
| 894 |
Keep your eyes peeled |
To be watchful and alert |
| 895 |
Keep your fingers crossed |
To hope that nothing will happen to bring bad luck or to ruin one's plans |
| 896 |
Keep your head |
Maintain your sense of logic and be sensible |
| 897 |
Keep your head on a swivel |
To be constantly alert and aware of your surroundings |
| 898 |
Keep your mouth shut |
Stay quiet about something |
| 899 |
Keep your nose clean |
Behave well and stay out of trouble |
| 900 |
Keep your wits about you |
Stay aware of the situation you are in and be ready to react if you need to |
| 901 |
Keeping up with the joneses |
Trying to compete with your peers' social status, wealth, and possessions |
| 902 |
Kept in the dark |
To be kept unaware of something |
| 903 |
Keyed up |
To be tense and anxious, perhaps in anticipation of something |
| 904 |
Kick the bucket |
Die |
| 905 |
Kick the can down the road |
Means to put off confronting a difficult issue or making an important decision, typically on a continuing basis |
| 906 |
Kick the tires |
Means to examine or test something before making a decision |
| 907 |
Kill someone with kindness |
Overwhelm or harm someone with mistaken or excessive benevolence |
| 908 |
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs |
To destroy something that gives you a lot of money to get immediate returns |
| 909 |
Kill two birds with one stone |
Get two things done with a single action |
| 910 |
Kiss and make up |
To become friendly again after a fight or disagreement |
| 911 |
Knee jerk reaction |
A quick response |
| 912 |
Knee-jerk reaction |
Means an automatic, unthinking response to a situation |
| 913 |
Knit one’s brows |
To frown or scowl, usually to indicate anger, worry, or puzzlement |
| 914 |
Knives are out |
People are ready to blame or punish someone |
| 915 |
Knock it out of the park |
You have achieved great success or accomplished something exceptionally well |
| 916 |
Know like the back of your hand |
To know a place very well |
| 917 |
Know the score |
Be aware of all relevant factors and variables |
| 918 |
Know which end is up |
To possess sound judgment or common sense; to have a clear understanding of a situation |
| 919 |
Know which way the wind is blowing |
To understand what is happening |
| 920 |
Know-how |
The knowledge of the methods or techniques of doing something, especially something technical or practical |
| 921 |
Know-it-all |
A person who behaves as if they know everything |
| 922 |
Knucklehead |
Person who doesn't understand something or acts foolishly |
| 923 |
Labor of love |
Something one loves to do, especially for the benefit of someone one loves |
| 924 |
Laid off |
To lose one's job |
| 925 |
Lap of luxury |
To be in an extremely luxurious situation |
| 926 |
Last but not least |
This last-named person is in no way the least (least important, least qualified) of all the people being mentioned |
| 927 |
Last straw |
The latest problem in a series of problems Something that leads someone to finally lose their patience |
| 928 |
Last-ditch effort |
A final, perhaps desperate, effort at something |
| 929 |
Laugh all the way to the bank |
To gain money, most likely in a dishonest manner, and to feel smug about it |
| 930 |
Laughter is the best medicine |
Means that laughter has therapeutic benefits and can improve one's well-being. |
| 931 |
Lay an egg |
To do something that is embarrassing |
| 932 |
Lay down the law |
To set rules, probably strict ones |
| 933 |
Lay it on thick |
Grossly exaggerate or overemphasize something |
| 934 |
Laying it on thick |
Unrealistic flattery or positive descriptions of something |
| 935 |
Lead someone around by the nose |
To compel someone to do something, especially through manipulation or bullying |
| 936 |
Learn by rote |
To memorize something |
| 937 |
Learn the ropes |
To learn how to do well in a new job |
| 938 |
Learned my lesson |
To have learned from an experience, probably one caused by a mistake |
| 939 |
Leave me alone |
I want to be alone, so please stop talking to me; please go somewhere else, somewhere out of my sight |
| 940 |
Leave no stone unturned |
Look everywhere |
| 941 |
Leave someone high and dry |
To leave someone in a difficult position and to take things away from them |
| 942 |
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 |
| 943 |
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 |
| 944 |
Leave well enough alone |
Don't involve yourself in a situation that already seems stable and decent enough |
| 945 |
Left me in the lurch |
To be left in a difficult situation |
| 946 |
Left out in the cold |
Left out of something pleasant, or excluded from an opportunity |
| 947 |
Left someone behind |
To leave someone somewhere and to go somewhere else |
| 948 |
Left-handed compliment |
Saying something insulting in the form of appreciative words |
| 949 |
Lend a hand |
To help somebody with something – especially something that requires physical effort |
| 950 |
Lend me your ear |
Please listen to me |
| 951 |
Lend someone a hand |
To help someone |
| 952 |
Let bygones be bygones |
Leave past grievances in the past |
| 953 |
Let sleeping dogs lie |
To stop discussing something that is already over or sorted out |
| 954 |
Let someone off the hook |
To not hold someone responsible for something |
| 955 |
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 |
| 956 |
Let the cat out of the bag |
To give away a secret |
| 957 |
Let the dust settle |
To wait for circumstances to return to normal after something significant has happened |
| 958 |
Let your hair down |
Let yourself relax |
| 959 |
Letter perfect |
Precisely correct |
| 960 |
Level playing field |
Fair and even circumstances, especially when it comes to anything with an element of competition |
| 961 |
Level the playing field |
To make a situation fair for everyone involved, ensuring that no one has an unfair advantage over others |
| 962 |
Life after death |
Means the idea that a person continues to exist in some form after they die |
| 963 |
Life of Riley |
A very comfortable, and probably luxurious, life |
| 964 |
Light it on fire |
Means to motivate or energize someone, to get them to act quickly or forcefully, or to excite or arouse someone |
| 965 |
Light of my life |
Someone you love who makes your life more cheerful and that you like to be around |
| 966 |
Lightning never strikes the same place twice |
An event that will not likely happen again |
| 967 |
Like a bad penny |
Means something unpleasant keeps coming back |
| 968 |
Like a cakewalk |
So easy task |
| 969 |
Like a cat on hot tin roof |
In an uneasy or nervous state |
| 970 |
Like a chicken with its head cut off |
To behave in a frenzied manner |
| 971 |
Like a deer in headlights |
To have a stunned or confused look on one's face |
| 972 |
Like a prize bull |
Used to describe someone or something that is of exceptional quality or importance, like a prize-winning anima |
| 973 |
Like clockwork |
On a very regular basis |
| 974 |
Like finding a needle in a haystack |
Something difficult to do |
| 975 |
Like nailing jello to the wall |
A very difficult or impossible task |
| 976 |
Like pulling teeth |
something that is difficult to do |
| 977 |
Like riding a bicycle |
Something you never forget how to do |
| 978 |
Like taking candy from a baby |
Extremely easy to do, especially something that involves convincing someone to do, or to give, something |
| 979 |
Like there is no tomorrow |
Living in the moment |
| 980 |
Like water off a duck's back |
It doesn't bother me |
| 981 |
Lite the fires |
Means to ignite passion, enthusiasm, or action, essentially to start something with great energy or zeal |
| 982 |
Live and learn |
I made a mistake |
| 983 |
Live and let live |
To be non-judgmental of others |
| 984 |
Live in the moment |
Means to enjoy the present and not worry about the future |
| 985 |
Live it up |
Have lots of fun |
| 986 |
Living the dream |
Living a wonderful life, the type one would dream of |
| 987 |
LMAO |
Laugh my a$$ off |
| 988 |
Lock, stock, and barrel |
Absolutely everything involved |
| 989 |
LOL |
Laugh out loud |
| 990 |
Long face |
A sad facial expression |
| 991 |
Long in the tooth |
Old or of advanced years |
| 992 |
Long time no see! |
I haven't seen you in a long time |
| 993 |
Look before you leap |
Take only calculated risks |
| 994 |
Look down on someone or something |
To consider someone inferior to yourself; to have contempt for something |
| 995 |
Look down your nose at something or someone |
To consider someone inferior to yourself; to have contempt for something |
| 996 |
Look like a million bucks |
To look very attractive, usually well-dressed |
| 997 |
Look like the cat that swallowed the canary |
To look smugly pleased or satisfied with oneself |
| 998 |
Look up to someone |
To hold that person in high regard; to respect and admire that person |
| 999 |
Looking dapper |
Means someone is neat, stylish, and well-dressed, often used to describe a man who is smart and handsome |
| 1000 |
Looking to your laurels |
Do not be lost in your achievements and lose sight of what is supposed to happen |
| 1001 |
Looney tunes |
Someone who may not be mentally healthy |
| 1002 |
Loose cannon |
A person who is unpredictable and difficult to control, and who will probably inadvertently cause problems |
| 1003 |
Lose one's shirt |
To lose a large amount of money, probably one's financial security as a whole |
| 1004 |
Lose touch |
To discontinue contact with someone, often unintentionally |
| 1005 |
Lose your marbles |
To go crazy |
| 1006 |
Lose your touch |
To lose one's ability or skill in a specific area |
| 1007 |
Lose-lose situation |
Is a situation where all parties involved end up worse off |
| 1008 |
Lost at sea |
To feel confused about a situation, and to not know what to do |
| 1009 |
Lost my head |
To become overcome with emotion or anger; to act irrationally |
| 1010 |
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 |
| 1011 |
Love at first sight |
An instantaneous attraction to someone or something |
| 1012 |
Love is blind |
Means that love can make people overlook their loved one's flaws or faults |
| 1013 |
Love is in the air |
Means a feeling of love is in the air, or that love is everywhere |
| 1014 |
Love it or love it |
Means to express strong enjoyment or pleasure |
| 1015 |
Love of my life |
Means the person someone loves more than anyone else in their entire life |
| 1016 |
Love you to the moon and back |
Is a way of expressing very strong feelings of love for someone |
| 1017 |
Lovebirds |
Means when two people who are in a romantic relationship or are very affectionate |
| 1018 |
Lovey-dovey |
Means two people are being affectionate and amorous, especially in public |
| 1019 |
Low-hanging fruit |
Something that is easy to take advantage of |
| 1020 |
Luck of the draw |
Means something is the result of chance and is beyond one's control |
| 1021 |
Luck out |
To be very lucky |
| 1022 |
Lucky break |
Something very lucky has happened |
| 1023 |
Lucky dog |
A lucky person |
| 1024 |
Mad as a hornet |
Extremely angry |
| 1025 |
Madder than a wet hen |
Extremely angry |
| 1026 |
Made for each other |
When a couple is extremely well-suited to each other |
| 1027 |
Made my hair stand on end |
To be very frightened |
| 1028 |
Make a beeline for |
To go directly toward |
| 1029 |
Make a big stink |
To complain loudly |
| 1030 |
Make a long story short |
Tell something briefly |
| 1031 |
Make a mountain out of a molehill |
Exaggerate a small problem |
| 1032 |
Make a pit stop |
To stop somewhere for a short period of time, usually during a long journey |
| 1033 |
Make a scene |
To create a fuss of some kind that draws the attention of others in a negative way |
| 1034 |
Make ends meet |
To have enough money for daily expenses over the course of a month |
| 1035 |
Make eyes at someone |
To look at someone in a flirtatious way |
| 1036 |
Make hay while the sun shines |
Take advantage of a good situation |
| 1037 |
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 |
| 1038 |
Make it rain |
Means to earn a large amount of money, to bring in a lot of success, or to freely give out cash |
| 1039 |
Make no bones about |
To say something in a very definite way that doesn't allow for objections |
| 1040 |
Make out like a bandit |
To have success in a venture, especially one involving money or other benefits |
| 1041 |
Make out what someone said |
Discern what someone said |
| 1042 |
Make the cut |
To be chosen, selected or included in something |
| 1043 |
Make the grade |
To be satisfactory or to meet necessary standards |
| 1044 |
Make tracks |
To promptly or quickly leave |
| 1045 |
Make two ends meet |
To have just enough money for all your needs |
| 1046 |
Make waves |
To create any controversy or trouble |
| 1047 |
Make yourself at home |
An invitation to feel comfortable in someone else's home |
| 1048 |
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 |
| 1049 |
Man's best friend |
A dog |
| 1050 |
Mark time |
To wait out the minimum time you need to put in |
| 1051 |
Maximize your potential |
Means being more productive and successful by using your talents and working towards your goals |
| 1052 |
Me time |
Time spent doing things you enjoy or relaxing |
| 1053 |
Means to an end |
Something is done solely to achieve a desired outcome, even if it isn't enjoyable or important in itself |
| 1054 |
Meat and potatoes |
The basics of something or a situation |
| 1055 |
Meet halfway |
To understand one another's positions in an argument or situation, and to make compromises accordingly |
| 1056 |
Mending fences |
Means to repair or improve a relationship that has been damaged |
| 1057 |
Mickey mouse job |
A job that is considered insignificant, perhaps even useless |
| 1058 |
Midas touch |
To be able to make money much more easily than other people |
| 1059 |
Middle of the road |
A position (especially political) that is not at either extreme of the spectrum It is pretty much in the middle |
| 1060 |
Mind your own beeswax |
Mind your own business and refrain from interfering in other people's concerns |
| 1061 |
Mind your own business |
Means to stop interfering in what doesn't concern you and focus on your own affairs |
| 1062 |
Mind your ps and qs |
A reminder to be polite and behave appropriately |
| 1063 |
Minimize the risks |
Means to reduce the likelihood of loss or harm by implementing strategies and controls |
| 1064 |
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 |
| 1065 |
Miss the boat |
To act too slowly and missed an opportunity |
| 1066 |
Miss the mark |
Means to fail to achieve a goal or desired result |
| 1067 |
Mission impossible |
Means a task that is extremely difficult or dangerous |
| 1068 |
Mixed bag |
An assortment, or a group of entities with few characteristics in common |
| 1069 |
Mom-and-pop |
A small family-run business, or a tiny establishment, such as a corner shop |
| 1070 |
Monday morning quarterback |
Someone who tries to call the shots after the action is already over |
| 1071 |
Money burns a hole in someone's pocket |
When someone feels the need to spend money simply because they have it |
| 1072 |
Money is no object |
Means you are willing or able to spend as much money as necessary or travel whatever distance is required |
| 1073 |
Money laundering |
Means to disguise financial assets so they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them |
| 1074 |
Money talks |
Money can be used to gain power and leverage; there is a strong implication of corruption |
| 1075 |
Money to burn |
To have large amounts of extra money |
| 1076 |
Monkey business |
Silliness or goofing off; breaking the rules |
| 1077 |
Monkey see, monkey do |
People do what they see other people do |
| 1078 |
More bang for the buck |
Better value for the money |
| 1079 |
More bang for your buck |
To get a lot of value for your money |
| 1080 |
More than I bargained for |
More than I expected |
| 1081 |
More than meets the eye |
There is more to it than you think |
| 1082 |
More than one way to skin a cat |
There are alternative solutions to this problem |
| 1083 |
More the merrier |
To say an occasion will be more enjoyable if a lot of people are there |
| 1084 |
Move some things around |
To make some adjustments |
| 1085 |
Move the goalposts |
To set your sights or standards even higher; to make something more challenging |
| 1086 |
Moving at a glacier pace |
Means something is progressing or changing extremely slowly, like the movement of a glacier |
| 1087 |
Mum's the word |
Stay quiet and don't talk about it |
| 1088 |
Mumbo jumbo |
Meaningless words or nonsense |
| 1089 |
Murphy's law |
What can go wrong, will go wrong |
| 1090 |
My bad |
It was my mistake and I take responsibility for it |
| 1091 |
My eyes are bigger than my stomach |
I wanted to eat more than my stomach could handle |
| 1092 |
My hands are tied |
I cannot do anything to change the situation because I am not the one who can make the decision |
| 1093 |
My heart is set on |
It means a lot to me to do something |
| 1094 |
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 |
| 1095 |
My neck of the woods |
Where one lives |
| 1096 |
Neck and neck |
To be very close as in a race |
| 1097 |
Need elbow room |
To prefer to have plenty of space between you and other people |
| 1098 |
Needs a swift kick in the pants |
Someone needs a strong, immediate push or motivation to get them to take action |
| 1099 |
Netflix and chill |
A slang term that's used as a euphemism for sexual activity |
| 1100 |
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 |
| 1101 |
Next level |
Describes something as being better, more advanced, or more impressive than before |
| 1102 |
Next of kin |
A person's closest living relative or relatives |
| 1103 |
Next time |
The following occasion, or the next time something will happen |
| 1104 |
Nightcap |
An alcoholic or hot drink taken at the end of the day or before going to bed |
| 1105 |
Nincompoop |
Person who doesn't understand something or acts foolishly |
| 1106 |
Nine-to-five |
An average job schedule |
| 1107 |
No accounting for taste |
Means that people's preferences are subjective and cannot be explained or justified rationally |
| 1108 |
No big deal |
Something is not important |
| 1109 |
No biggie |
To say that something is not a problem |
| 1110 |
No holds barred |
Without any restrictions or limits |
| 1111 |
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 |
| 1112 |
No pain no gain |
Means that suffering is necessary in order to achieve something |
| 1113 |
No pain, no gain |
You have to work for what you want |
| 1114 |
No rhyme or reason |
There seems to be no logical reason for it to happen or be done |
| 1115 |
No skin off my nose |
Something isn't going to affect you, so you don't really care |
| 1116 |
No spring chicken |
Not young anymore |
| 1117 |
No stairway to heaven |
Means there is no easy path to success |
| 1118 |
Nose test |
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety |
| 1119 |
Nosebleed section |
The cheapest seats in an arena or stadium, high and far away from the action |
| 1120 |
Not a big deal |
Used to indicate that something is of little consequence |
| 1121 |
Not firing on all cylinders |
Seeming confused; not thinking well |
| 1122 |
Not in a month of sundays |
Something is unlikely to happen |
| 1123 |
Not my cup of tea |
Not something that a person would do |
| 1124 |
Not playing with a full deck |
Seeming confused; not thinking well |
| 1125 |
Not the sharpest tool in the shed |
He's not very smart |
| 1126 |
Not up to snuff |
Means not as good as it should be; not up to an acceptable standard |
| 1127 |
Not worth a hill of beans |
Something has low value |
| 1128 |
Notch up |
To win or create a record |
| 1129 |
Nothing to write home about |
Nothing special or exciting happened |
| 1130 |
Now you're cooking with gas |
You are taking the best approach to this problem and you will make rapid progress |
| 1131 |
Of another mindset |
Means having a different way of thinking or perspective compared to someone else |
| 1132 |
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 |
| 1133 |
Off the top of my head |
To say something spontaneously; without thinking too much |
| 1134 |
Old as dirt |
Someone very old |
| 1135 |
Old as the hills |
Someone very old |
| 1136 |
Old ball and chain |
Means a person or thing that restricts someone's freedom or ability to do things |
| 1137 |
Old flame |
Is someone you previously had a romantic relationship with or sexual encounter with |
| 1138 |
On a fishing expedition |
Trying to get information out of someone without being fully aware of what you're looking for |
| 1139 |
On a shoestring budget |
Operating with very limited funds or resources |
| 1140 |
On a wing and a prayer |
Attempting something without adequate preparation and resources |
| 1141 |
On cloud nine |
Very happy |
| 1142 |
On one hand and then on the other hand |
This expression is used to compare two aspects of a situation |
| 1143 |
On pins and needles |
To be anxious or agitated |
| 1144 |
On the ball |
To be alert, competent, and well-prepared |
| 1145 |
On the rocks |
A relationship or enterprise experiencing difficulties and likely to fail |
| 1146 |
On the same page |
To agree with someone |
| 1147 |
On thin ice |
If you make another mistake, there will be trouble |
| 1148 |
On top of the world |
A state of extreme happiness |
| 1149 |
Once bitten, twice shy |
You're more cautious when you've been hurt before |
| 1150 |
Once in a blue moon |
Rarely |
| 1151 |
One for the road |
A final drink before leaving |
| 1152 |
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 |
| 1153 |
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 |
| 1154 |
Opening pandora's box |
Do something that causes unexpected problems |
| 1155 |
Out of pocket |
Paid for directly rather than being put on account or charged to some other person or organization |
| 1156 |
Out of the blue |
Something that is completely unexpected |
| 1157 |
Out of the frying pan and into the fire |
Things are going from bad to worse |
| 1158 |
Out of the mouth of babes |
Expression used when a child says something surprisingly wise or insightful |
| 1159 |
Out of your league |
Above or beyond what one is capable of attaining |
| 1160 |
Out on a limb |
In or into a dangerous or uncompromising position, where one is not joined or supported by anyone else; vulnerable |
| 1161 |
Over my dead body |
I am strongly opposed to something and will make sure it doesn't happen |
| 1162 |
Overplayed his hand |
To act more confidently than is warranted because one believes they are in a stronger position than they actually are |
| 1163 |
Paint the town red |
Go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly |
| 1164 |
Palm off |
Pass off something as genuine when it is spurious |
| 1165 |
Par for the course |
To be expected; normal; common; usual |
| 1166 |
Party pooper |
Someone who puts a stop to the fun |
| 1167 |
Pass away |
To die |
| 1168 |
Pass gas |
Refers to the normal bodily process of releasing intestinal gas |
| 1169 |
Pass muster |
To be accepted as adequate or satisfactory |
| 1170 |
Pass out |
He consumed enough alcohol to make him pass out |
| 1171 |
Pass over |
To ignore the claims of someone to promotion or advancement |
| 1172 |
Pass the buck |
Blame someone else for something or make someone else responsible for a difficult or unpleasant task |
| 1173 |
Pass the time |
To spend time doing something enjoyable while waiting or while time passes |
| 1174 |
Pass through |
The act of traveling from one place to another, an opening in a wall, and a business structure |
| 1175 |
Pass up |
To refrain from taking up an opportunity |
| 1176 |
Pass with flying colors |
To be extremely successful, to achieve something that is difficult, to excel |
| 1177 |
Passive-aggressive behavior |
A pattern of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them |
| 1178 |
Patience is a virtue |
Means waiting calmly and without getting upset is a good quality |
| 1179 |
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 |
| 1180 |
Peak something |
To claim that some commodity has reached its maximum availability and will begin to decline in the future |
| 1181 |
Peanut gallery |
The cheapest and rowdiest seats in an arena, usually at the back of the balcony |
| 1182 |
Penny-pincher |
Someone who is extremely frugal and careful with their money |
| 1183 |
Penny-wise and pound foolish |
Careful in trivial matters but wasteful or extravagant in large matters |
| 1184 |
Perfect storm |
The worst possible situation |
| 1185 |
Pick of the litter |
Means the best or most desirable member of a group or selection |
| 1186 |
Pick your brain |
Ask some questions |
| 1187 |
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 |
| 1188 |
Picture perfect |
Means something is flawless, ideal, or perfect in appearance |
| 1189 |
Picture-perfect |
Perfect in appearance as with the subjects in paintings or photographs, without the common imperfections of real life |
| 1190 |
Pie in the sky |
Unrealistic expectations |
| 1191 |
Piece of cake |
Something is very easy to do |
| 1192 |
Piece of the pie |
To get a share or portion of something |
| 1193 |
Pig in a poke |
Something purchased without adequate examination |
| 1194 |
Pipe dream |
Unrealistic expectations |
| 1195 |
Pitter-patter of little feet |
The sound made by children running around inside a house |
| 1196 |
Plant the seeds |
Means to introduce an idea or feeling into someone's mind |
| 1197 |
Play devil's advocate |
To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument |
| 1198 |
Play devil’s advocate |
To argue, just for the sake of it |
| 1199 |
Play for keeps |
To exert serious effort because the outcome will be permanent or have a major impact |
| 1200 |
Play it by ear |
To go slowly and make a decision later |
| 1201 |
Play one's cards close to one's chest |
Means to be extremely secretive and cautious about one's intentions |
| 1202 |
Play the field |
Means to indulge in a series of relationships without committing oneself to anyone |
| 1203 |
Play your cards right |
To behave or work in a way that gives you an advantage or improves your odds of success |
| 1204 |
Playing hardball |
Means using tough, uncompromising tactics to achieve a goal, often involving being harsh or unfair |
| 1205 |
Plead the fifth |
To refuse to answer a question |
| 1206 |
Please excuse my dear aunt sally |
The mnemonic to remember the order of mathematical operations (pemdas) |
| 1207 |
Pleased as punch |
Extremely happy about something |
| 1208 |
Plenty of fish in the sea |
It's ok to miss this opportunity because others will arise |
| 1209 |
Plot twist |
Means an unexpected development |
| 1210 |
Point of fact |
Used to emphasize the truth of an assertion, especially one contrary to what might be expected or what has been asserted |
| 1211 |
Poke the beehive |
Means to intentionally provoke someone or stir up trouble |
| 1212 |
Poker face |
Describes an expressionless face that conceals a person's thoughts or feelings |
| 1213 |
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 |
| 1214 |
Polish the apple |
To try to gain favor with someone through flattery |
| 1215 |
Political football |
An issue that politicians argue in circles about or seek to use for their own political gain |
| 1216 |
Pop into my head |
Means an idea or thought came to you suddenly and unexpectedly, without any prior planning or reasoning |
| 1217 |
Pop the question |
Means to ask someone to marry you |
| 1218 |
Popularize the movement |
To cause something to become known, admired, or used by many people |
| 1219 |
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 |
| 1220 |
Poster boy |
A man who epitomizes or represents a specified quality or cause |
| 1221 |
Pot calling the kettle black |
Someone is criticizing another person for a fault that they also have |
| 1222 |
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 |
| 1223 |
Practice what you preach |
Means to behave in the same way you advise others to behave |
| 1224 |
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 |
| 1225 |
Pretty penny |
Very expensive |
| 1226 |
Pretty please |
Used for asking someone for something or persuading them to do something by trying to make yourself sound friendly |
| 1227 |
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 |
| 1228 |
Protect your blind side |
Means to be aware of and guard against potential threats or vulnerabilities that you might not be immediately aware of |
| 1229 |
Pull an all-nighter |
To study all night |
| 1230 |
Pull one's head in |
To keep quiet or mind one's own business |
| 1231 |
Pull some strings |
To use one's influence over people of importance in order to make something happen |
| 1232 |
Pull someone's leg |
To joke with someone |
| 1233 |
Pull the last straw |
The final point in a series of unfortunate events when you feel you cannot take it anymore |
| 1234 |
Pull the wool over someone's eyes |
Fool that person; deceive or delude that person |
| 1235 |
Pull together |
To unite for a common objective |
| 1236 |
Pull yourself together |
Calm down |
| 1237 |
Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps |
Improve your situation by your own efforts |
| 1238 |
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 |
| 1239 |
Put a pin in this |
Stop discussing or working this now, with plans to come back to it later |
| 1240 |
Put lipstick on a pig |
If you dress up ugly, there's still ugly underneath |
| 1241 |
Put one's foot in it |
To make an embarrassing blunder |
| 1242 |
Put something on ice |
Put a projet on hold |
| 1243 |
Put the cart before the horse |
Do things in the wrong order |
| 1244 |
Put up your dukes |
To be prepared to fight by holding up your fists |
| 1245 |
Put your best foot forward |
Begin a project in a positive or favorable way |
| 1246 |
Put your foot down |
To be decisive or determined, or to deal with someone in a strict way |
| 1247 |
Putting on the dog |
Dressing fancy; doing anything special to impress others |
| 1248 |
Putting on the ritz |
To behave extravagantly, lavishly, or self-importantly |
| 1249 |
Quick and dirty |
Fast and simple; not very sophisticated |
| 1250 |
Quick buck |
To get some easy money |
| 1251 |
Quit cold turkey |
To give up something all at once rather than gradually weaning off it |
| 1252 |
Rain on someone's parade |
To spoil something |
| 1253 |
Raining cats and dogs |
It's raining hard |
| 1254 |
Reach out to someone |
Ask someone for information |
| 1255 |
Read between the lines |
Understanding the real message behind something |
| 1256 |
Real page turner |
Refers to a book that is so exciting that you want to read it quickly |
| 1257 |
Red herring |
Something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question |
| 1258 |
Red tape |
Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business |
| 1259 |
Redneck |
Uneducated, unsophisticated person, usually in the rural south |
| 1260 |
Remember the alamo |
Is a battle cry that refers to the 1836 siege of the alamo fort in san antonio, texas |
| 1261 |
Ride or die |
Means extreme loyalty and unwavering support for someone |
| 1262 |
Ride shotgun |
To say someone wants to sit in the front seat of a car |
| 1263 |
Riding shotgun |
Riding in the front passenger seat of a car or truck |
| 1264 |
Right around the corner |
Something is very close or will happen very soon |
| 1265 |
Rise above the crowd |
To distinguish yourself from others by achieving a higher level of performance, skill, or quality |
| 1266 |
Rise from the ashes |
To make a comeback after a long wait |
| 1267 |
Road hog |
To take up too much of the road |
| 1268 |
Rob peter to pay paul |
To take from one source to pay off another, often resulting in a cycle of debt or financial instability |
| 1269 |
Rock the boat |
Doing something that causes problems |
| 1270 |
Roll out red carpet |
Means to formally welcome someone important or to give them special treatment |
| 1271 |
Roll up your sleeves |
To prepare for hard work, mainly physical task |
| 1272 |
Roll your eyes |
Show skepticism about a plan or situation |
| 1273 |
Rolling in dough |
To be very wealthy or have a lot of money |
| 1274 |
Roughneck |
Person who performs hard manual labor, or is uncouth |
| 1275 |
Round the bend |
Crazy |
| 1276 |
Rounding third base |
Almost finished with a task |
| 1277 |
Rude awakening |
A sudden and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken |
| 1278 |
Ruffle feathers |
To irritate or annoy someone |
| 1279 |
Rule of thumb |
A general guideline, rather than a strict rule |
| 1280 |
Run around in circles |
To be very active but with few results |
| 1281 |
Run it up the flagpole |
To present an idea tentatively and see whether it receives a favorable reaction |
| 1282 |
Run like the wind |
Run fast |
| 1283 |
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 |
| 1284 |
Running on fumes |
Means to be in a state of near exhaustion or depletion, where you're barely managing to continue |
| 1285 |
Running point |
Means taking the lead or being in charge of a specific task or project |
| 1286 |
Sacred cow |
Something considered immune from question or criticism, especially unreasonably so |
| 1287 |
Safety in numbers |
Being in a group of people makes you feel more confident or secure about taking action |
| 1288 |
Sail close to the wind |
To behave in a manner that is on the verge of being dangerous, improper or illegal |
| 1289 |
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 |
| 1290 |
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 |
| 1291 |
Save for a rainy day |
To save money for later |
| 1292 |
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 |
| 1293 |
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 |
| 1294 |
Say "uncle" |
Expression to demand that the opponent in a contest submit or give up |
| 1295 |
Say your piece |
Express your opinion |
| 1296 |
S—t show |
Means a situation or event marked by chaos or controversy |
| 1297 |
Scam |
To swindle |
| 1298 |
Scaredy cat |
Person who is easily frightened |
| 1299 |
Scorched earth |
Means a ruthless attempt to win at all costs |
| 1300 |
Scrape the barrel |
To be reduced to using things or people of the poorest quality because there is nothing else available |
| 1301 |
Scratch my back |
Means to do someone a favor with the expectation that they will do you a favor in return |
| 1302 |
Sea legs |
To master a task or a job without feeling overwhelmed or uneasy |
| 1303 |
Second nature |
Easy and natural |
| 1304 |
Second to none |
Better than all others of the same kind |
| 1305 |
Second-hand |
Previously owned or used |
| 1306 |
See eye to eye |
To have the same opinion or have the same point of view |
| 1307 |
See in the dark |
To be aware of something that others might not know about or understand |
| 1308 |
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 |
| 1309 |
See the light at the end of the tunnel |
To have hope that a difficult or unpleasant situation will soon come to an end |
| 1310 |
See the world through rose-colored glasses |
Be overly optimistic; only see the positive aspects |
| 1311 |
Seeing red |
To be extremely angry |
| 1312 |
Sell like hot cakes |
To be sold quickly and in large numbers |
| 1313 |
Sell someone a bill of goods |
To deceive someone into buying or believing something that has no value |
| 1314 |
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 |
| 1315 |
Set the pace |
Lead the way in doing or achieving something |
| 1316 |
Set the record straight |
To reveal the truth or to clarify |
| 1317 |
Sh** eating grin |
A snarky, knowing smile |
| 1318 |
Sh** happens |
Life is full of unfortunate unpredictable events |
| 1319 |
Sh** or get off the pot |
Just hurry and finish |
| 1320 |
Shaking like a leaf |
Very frightened |
| 1321 |
Shape up or ship out |
Work better or leave |
| 1322 |
Sharp as a tack |
Very intelligent or clever |
| 1323 |
Shivering in my boots |
Means to be very nervous or frightened |
| 1324 |
Shoot for the moon |
Means to set exceptionally high goals and ambitions, aiming for something very difficult or seemingly impossible to achieve |
| 1325 |
Shoot the breeze |
Make small talk; have a casual conversation |
| 1326 |
Should be straightforward |
Something should be easy to understand, clear, and direct, without any complications or hidden meanings |
| 1327 |
Show no remorse |
To demonstrate a complete lack of guilt, regret, or sorrow for one's actions |
| 1328 |
Shut the front door |
Is an informal expression used to convey strong surprise or disbelief, essentially meaning no way or you're kidding me |
| 1329 |
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 |
| 1330 |
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 |
| 1331 |
Silver spoon |
Means someone was born into a wealthy family and has many advantages in life |
| 1332 |
Sitting on the fence |
Can't make up there mind |
| 1333 |
Skating on thin ice |
Engaged in some behavior that is risky, dangerous, or could cause trouble |
| 1334 |
Skedaddle |
Leave; get out of here |
| 1335 |
Skin and bones |
Very thin in a way that is unattractive and unhealthy |
| 1336 |
Skin in the game |
Having a vested interest in how something turns out |
| 1337 |
Skinflint |
Someone who doesn't like to spend (or give) money |
| 1338 |
Slap on the wrist |
A minor caution against doing something |
| 1339 |
Sleep like a log |
Sleep very soundly without waking |
| 1340 |
Slip your mind |
To forget something |
| 1341 |
Slow and steady wins the race |
Reliability is more important than speed |
| 1342 |
Slow burn |
Low-level anger that continues to increase over time |
| 1343 |
Slow poke |
An informal term for someone who moves or acts slowly |
| 1344 |
Smell a rat |
To get a sense that there is a problem with something |
| 1345 |
Smell test |
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety |
| 1346 |
SNAFU |
Situation Normal, All F---ed Up |
| 1347 |
Snail mail |
Refers to mail that is carried by the traditional postal delivery service |
| 1348 |
Snap out of it |
Means to quickly recover from a negative situation or to change one's state of mind |
| 1349 |
Snowball effect |
Events have momentum and build upon each other |
| 1350 |
Snowball's chance in hell |
No chance at all |
| 1351 |
Snowed under |
Very busy |
| 1352 |
Snug as a bug in a rug |
Cozy and comfortable |
| 1353 |
So close but yet so far |
Means something is almost within reach, but still remains unattainable |
| 1354 |
So far so good |
Things are going well so far |
| 1355 |
Some people spoil the whole bunch |
A few negative individuals within a group can have a detrimental effect on the entire group |
| 1356 |
Someone's ears are burning |
People are talking about that person, usually behind their back |
| 1357 |
Sounding board |
Refers to a person or group with whom you discuss ideas to get feedback and assess their viability |
| 1358 |
Speak of the devil |
The person we were talking about, just showed up |
| 1359 |
Spice things up |
To add some excitement or variety |
| 1360 |
Spill the beans |
To give away a secret |
| 1361 |
Spirited away |
Means to take someone or something away quickly and secretly, or to remove something mysteriously |
| 1362 |
Spitballing |
Means to quickly suggest ideas without thinking them through |
| 1363 |
Spitting image |
An exact likeness or close resemblance |
| 1364 |
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 |
| 1365 |
Squirreled away |
Means to save or hide something in a safe place for future use |
| 1366 |
Stab someone in the back |
To betray a close person |
| 1367 |
Stand head and shoulders above the rest |
Someone or something is much better than others |
| 1368 |
Stand still |
Means either to remain motionless or to tolerate something |
| 1369 |
Start off on the right foot |
Begin a project in a positive or favorable way |
| 1370 |
Start off on the wrong foot |
To start a relationship or activity badly |
| 1371 |
Stay above the fray |
Means to remain uninvolved or not directly participate in a heated argument, conflict, or struggle |
| 1372 |
Steal someone’s thunder |
To direct the attention away from someone else |
| 1373 |
Steam coming out of ears |
Angry |
| 1374 |
Step up your game |
To start performing better |
| 1375 |
Stick out like a sore thumb |
Be noticeably different from others, usually in a bad way |
| 1376 |
Stick to something like white on rice |
To cling tightly with no possibility of letting go |
| 1377 |
Stick to your guns |
Stay morally strong or be firm in decisions especially when being opposed |
| 1378 |
Stick your neck out |
Take a chance on another person |
| 1379 |
Sticker shock |
Means an unpleasant surprise at the high price of something |
| 1380 |
Still have a shot |
Means to still have a chance or to attempt or try something, even if it seems unlikely |
| 1381 |
Stir up a hornets nest |
Means to provoke a situation that causes a lot of anger, controversy, or trouble |
| 1382 |
Stop and smell the roses |
Become more aware of your surroundings and appreciate the beauty in life |
| 1383 |
Stop at nothing |
Means to be utterly ruthless or determined in one's attempt to achieve something |
| 1384 |
Straight from the horse's mouth |
Got information directly from the most knowledgeable source |
| 1385 |
Straight from the horse’s mouth |
Directly from the person involved |
| 1386 |
Straighten up and fly right |
Get yourself together, behave properly, and do the right thing |
| 1387 |
Stress out |
To become extremely anxious, overwhelmed, or mentally strained |
| 1388 |
Stroke of luck |
Means a fortunate occurrence that could not have been predicted or expected |
| 1389 |
Sugar and spice |
Excerpt from a common nursery rhyme "what are little girls made of?" |
| 1390 |
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 |
| 1391 |
Swan song |
The last piece of work of an artist before his/her death |
| 1392 |
Sweep someone off their feet |
To be completely taken by someone emotionally |
| 1393 |
Table an item |
Put something aside for consideration at another time |
| 1394 |
Tackle the problem |
Means to deal with or address a difficult situation or issue in a determined or efficient way |
| 1395 |
Take a backseat to someone |
To willingly take a less prominent role in some situation |
| 1396 |
Take a breather |
Take a short pause in the action (in order to rest or do some other task) |
| 1397 |
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 |
| 1398 |
Take a stand |
To state your principles or position firmly |
| 1399 |
Take everything with a grain of salt |
Don’t take it too seriously |
| 1400 |
Take it in stride |
Accept unpleasant news without changing your plans |
| 1401 |
Take it into one's head |
To form a notion, purpose, or plan |
| 1402 |
Take it with a grain of salt |
Be skeptical; don’t take something too literally |
| 1403 |
Take matters into own hands |
To take action on a problem yourself because other people have failed to do so |
| 1404 |
Take my breath away |
Astonish or shock one, with pleasure, surprise, or some other emotion |
| 1405 |
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 |
| 1406 |
Take the fifth |
Means to not want to answer a question |
| 1407 |
Take the wind out of your sails |
To be disappointed |
| 1408 |
Take with a pinch of salt |
When someone tells you something based on their opinion, rather than facts or evidence |
| 1409 |
Taken by beauty |
Implies being so impressed or captivated by something's beauty that it has a strong emotional impact |
| 1410 |
Talk is cheap |
It is easy to say something but much harder to actually do it |
| 1411 |
Test the waters |
Means to judge people's feelings or opinions before taking further action |
| 1412 |
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 |
| 1413 |
That dog won't hunt |
A plan, idea, or argument is not going to work or is ineffective |
| 1414 |
That is lame |
To be boring, dull, or uninspired |
| 1415 |
That really knocked my socks off |
To be really impressed by something |
| 1416 |
That rings a bell |
To remember slightly or vaguely recognize something |
| 1417 |
That ship has sailed |
It's too late |
| 1418 |
That takes the prize |
Means that something is so outstanding, remarkable, or extreme that it surpasses everything else |
| 1419 |
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 |
| 1420 |
That's above my pay grade |
I don't have responsibility or authority to do something |
| 1421 |
That's good enough for government work |
Make sure you are doing a good job, of a high quality good enough for government work |
| 1422 |
That's my kryptonite |
Something that is a weakness or can be used to hurt me |
| 1423 |
That's no big deal |
That's not a problem |
| 1424 |
That's rad |
That's cool |
| 1425 |
That's serendipitous |
An event that was not planned but has a good result |
| 1426 |
That's the last straw |
My patience has run out |
| 1427 |
That's the way the cookie crumbles |
Such is life |
| 1428 |
That’s the spirit |
Used to approve or encourage someone's positive attitude or action |
| 1429 |
The ball is in your court |
It's your decision |
| 1430 |
The beginning of the end |
The event to which ending or failure can be traced |
| 1431 |
The best of both worlds |
An ideal situation |
| 1432 |
The best thing since sliced bread |
A really good invention |
| 1433 |
The buck stops here |
Means to take responsibility for something and not pass it on to someone else |
| 1434 |
The butterfly effect |
How small changes can result in unpredictable consequences over a period of time |
| 1435 |
The early bird gets the worm |
The first people who arrive will get the best stuff |
| 1436 |
The enemy of your enemy is your friend |
Two parties who have an enemy in common should join forces against it |
| 1437 |
The game is afoot |
Means a challenge has been accepted or a new and exciting activity has begun |
| 1438 |
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 |
| 1439 |
The grass is always greener on the other side |
Never being satisfied with what one gets |
| 1440 |
The lights are on but nobody's home |
Someone is present but is actually not paying attention or thinking clearly |
| 1441 |
The other side |
With several meanings, ranging from the afterlife to a different perspective or an opposing force, depending on the context |
| 1442 |
The other side of the coin |
To look at different aspects of a situation |
| 1443 |
The straw that broke the camel's back |
A minor action that causes a big reaction due to a series of previous small actions |
| 1444 |
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 |
| 1445 |
The whole enchilada |
To refer to the entirety of something, down to the last detail |
| 1446 |
The world is your oyster |
To be in a position to take advantage of life's opportunities |
| 1447 |
There are clouds on the horizon |
Trouble is coming |
| 1448 |
There is no stairway to heaven |
There is no easy way to achieve perfection |
| 1449 |
There ya go |
Means this is what you wanted |
| 1450 |
There's a method to his madness |
He seems crazy but actually he's clever |
| 1451 |
There's no such thing as a free lunch |
Nothing is entirely free |
| 1452 |
Thick as thieves |
Very close or friendly |
| 1453 |
Think on your feet |
To react quickly in a tricky or fast-moving situation |
| 1454 |
Think outside the box |
Think of new ideas outside the norm |
| 1455 |
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 |
| 1456 |
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 |
| 1457 |
Those who can't do, teach |
People who can't do something well end up teaching it |
| 1458 |
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones |
People who are morally questionable shouldn't criticize others |
| 1459 |
Three sheets to the wind |
To be intoxicated |
| 1460 |
Through thick and thin |
In good times and in bad times |
| 1461 |
Throw a curveball |
To unexpectedly present something surprising or unexpected |
| 1462 |
Throw caution to the wind |
To act recklessly or without concern for the consequences |
| 1463 |
Throw in the towel |
To give up or surrender |
| 1464 |
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 |
| 1465 |
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 |
| 1466 |
Throw your weight around |
Try to exert influence |
| 1467 |
Tick, tock |
Time is a wasting |
| 1468 |
Tie one on |
Drink a lot of alcohol |
| 1469 |
Tie the knot |
Means to get married or to perform a wedding ceremony |
| 1470 |
Ties that bind |
Describes the shared beliefs or ideas that connect people |
| 1471 |
Till death do us part |
A common phrase said between the bride and the groom at a christian wedding, indicating togetherness and commitment |
| 1472 |
Till the cows come home |
A long time |
| 1473 |
Time and again |
Repeatedly |
| 1474 |
Time constraints |
Limitations on how much time is available to complete a task or achieve a goal |
| 1475 |
Time flies |
To observe that time seems to pass very quickly |
| 1476 |
Time flies when you're having fun |
You don't notice how long something lasts when it's fun |
| 1477 |
Time flies when you’re having fun |
When you’re having a good time, you don’t notice how quickly the time is passing |
| 1478 |
Time frame |
A period of time that is used or planned for a particular action or project |
| 1479 |
Time is all relative |
Means that how someone perceives the passage of time depends on their perspective, situation, or frame of reference |
| 1480 |
Time is money |
Work quickly |
| 1481 |
Time is of the essence |
Prompt action is absolutely necessary |
| 1482 |
Time management |
The ability to use one's time effectively or productively, |
| 1483 |
Time out |
Pause your action |
| 1484 |
Time will tell |
Sooner or later something will become known or be revealed |
| 1485 |
Time-lapse |
The photographic technique of taking a sequence of frames at set intervals to record changes that take place slowly over time |
| 1486 |
Timeless |
Not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion |
| 1487 |
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 |
| 1488 |
Tip your hand |
To reveal a secret, especially about your own plans or opinions |
| 1489 |
To backbite a person |
To speak negatively about someone in their absence |
| 1490 |
To be a chicken/to chicken out |
To be too afraid |
| 1491 |
To be a fly on the wall |
To wish to witness what is going on without anyone being aware that you are there |
| 1492 |
To be a good catch |
Means that someone is considered a desirable partner in a romantic relationship |
| 1493 |
To be at loggerheads with someone |
To quarrel or disagree |
| 1494 |
To be beside yourself |
To feel extremely emotional with worry, anxiety, or sadness |
| 1495 |
To be closefisted |
Someone who is stingy with money |
| 1496 |
To be in the doldrums |
To be in a low spirit |
| 1497 |
To be loaded |
To have a lot money; to be wealthy |
| 1498 |
To be named after |
To be named in honor, or in memory, of someone else |
| 1499 |
To be out of the question |
To be impossible or unacceptable |
| 1500 |
To be red in the face |
Showing signs of embarrassment, shame, or humiliation |
| 1501 |
To be tied up with something or someone |
To be completely occupied with someone or on something |
| 1502 |
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 |
| 1503 |
To beat the band |
To do something in an exaggerated or extreme way |
| 1504 |
To bell the cat |
To face a risk |
| 1505 |
To bend someone's ear |
To speak to someone eagerly, especially in order to ask for a favor |
| 1506 |
To bite the dust |
To be defeated in battle |
| 1507 |
To black out |
To lose consciousness |
| 1508 |
To blow your own horn |
To outwardly praise yourself for something |
| 1509 |
To bomb |
To completely fail at something |
| 1510 |
To box someone in |
To trap someone in a situation, or to put them in circumstances where their options are limited |
| 1511 |
To bug someone |
To annoy someone |
| 1512 |
To butt in |
To interrupt in a rude manner |
| 1513 |
To call a person hot |
Describe the person as sexually attractive, fashionable, or cool |
| 1514 |
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 |
| 1515 |
To call it a day |
To stop working for the day |
| 1516 |
To call someone on the carpet |
To confront someone with whom you're having a conflict |
| 1517 |
To carry a torch for someone |
To continue to have an infatuation with someone |
| 1518 |
To catch one’s eye |
To attract attention |
| 1519 |
To cause bad blood |
To create feelings of resentment, hostility, or animosity |
| 1520 |
To come out flat-footed |
To have been unprepared |
| 1521 |
To come out swinging |
To strongly defend oneself as a confrontation or debate begins |
| 1522 |
To corner the market |
To become the most dominant (or the only dominant) player in a specific area of the market |
| 1523 |
To cry wolf |
To deliberately raise an alarm for no real reason |
| 1524 |
To do a number on something |
To hurt or severely damage something |
| 1525 |
To draw a blank |
To forget something you specifically wanted to remember |
| 1526 |
To drink like a fish |
To drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis |
| 1527 |
To drop by |
To drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis |
| 1528 |
To find fault with |
To look for faults in someone or something |
| 1529 |
To follow up on something |
To check up on someone or something |
| 1530 |
To get bent out of shape |
To get upset |
| 1531 |
To get ghosted |
When someone stops responding to texts, calls, or messages on social media without any closure |
| 1532 |
To get in touch with |
To contact |
| 1533 |
To get rid of |
To do away with something |
| 1534 |
To get your walking papers |
To get fired from your job |
| 1535 |
To give in |
To decide to go along with something, usually as a result of some sort of pressure |
| 1536 |
To give someone the heads-up |
To notify someone of something and to keep them up-to-date |
| 1537 |
To go down like a lead balloon |
To be terribly received by an audience |
| 1538 |
To go dutch |
For every individual to pay for their own bill in a restaurant |
| 1539 |
To go for broke |
To gamble all of your resources |
| 1540 |
To go off the deep end |
To get extremely upset and/or emotional |
| 1541 |
To go to bat |
To speak out positively about someone or something with the intent of helping |
| 1542 |
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 |
| 1543 |
To have no backbone |
Someone who lacks courage |
| 1544 |
To have one's back to the wall |
To feel trapped, with no real options to deal with the situation |
| 1545 |
To have sticky fingers |
To be likely to steal |
| 1546 |
To hold out an olive branch |
To offer a gesture of peace or to ask for forgiveness or a truce |
| 1547 |
To hold your own |
To be confident and politely assertive with other people and in various situations |
| 1548 |
To keep an eye on |
To closely watch and/or monitor |
| 1549 |
To know by heart |
Memorize something so that you can recite it without consulting the words |
| 1550 |
To know by sight |
To know someone when you look at them |
| 1551 |
To let someone off the hook |
To release someone from responsibility |
| 1552 |
To live beyond your means |
To live in a manner that requires more money than you can afford |
| 1553 |
To live hand-to-mouth |
To live with very little money |
| 1554 |
To look down one's nose |
To feel superior to someone else |
| 1555 |
To look like death warmed over |
Used to describe someone who appears very ill, exhausted, or unwell |
| 1556 |
To make a long story short |
To tell someone something in a brief and simple way |
| 1557 |
To make a mountain out of a molehill |
To overreact and overstate a situation |
| 1558 |
To make matters worse |
Make a problem worse |
| 1559 |
To mention something in passing |
To mention something casually |
| 1560 |
To nix something |
To cancel a plan or dismiss an idea, or to forbid something |
| 1561 |
To not see the wood for the trees |
To be so involved in trivial matters that you don’t get the important facts |
| 1562 |
To outdo oneself |
To do better at something that one has done before |
| 1563 |
To paddle your own canoe |
To be self-sufficient and think independently |
| 1564 |
To pick and choose |
To make a careful selection |
| 1565 |
To pig out |
To eat too much |
| 1566 |
To pony up |
To pay money that is owed or that you need to pay for some other reason |
| 1567 |
To punch above your weight |
To perform at a level that is considered beyond one's abilities |
| 1568 |
To rat someone out |
To tell somebody in authority about something wrong that somebody else has done |
| 1569 |
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 |
| 1570 |
To run interference |
To try to remove obstacles that are in someone's way; clearing the way for someone else |
| 1571 |
To run/blow hot and cold |
To sometimes seem enthusiastic and other times seem the opposite |
| 1572 |
To see the light |
To finally see something clearly and understand it |
| 1573 |
To serve one right |
It was a just consequence or punishment |
| 1574 |
To smooth things over |
To restore peace to a situation or to resolve conflict |
| 1575 |
To square the circle |
To attempt something impossible |
| 1576 |
To stand up for |
To help defend someone |
| 1577 |
To start over from scratch |
To start over again from the very beginning |
| 1578 |
To stonewall |
To be intentionally vague or to make insignificant statements in response to a question, specifically to avoid answering it |
| 1579 |
To take a load off someone's back |
To relieve someone of a specific burden or a potential burden |
| 1580 |
To take a rain check |
To postpone a plan |
| 1581 |
To take it easy |
To relax and/or rest |
| 1582 |
To take sides |
To choose a team or align yourself with one point of view in a controversy |
| 1583 |
To take someone under one's wing |
To protect or teach someone |
| 1584 |
To take something for granted |
To assume that you would have had, or will have, something no matter what |
| 1585 |
To take up arms |
To prepare for battle or engage in a conflict |
| 1586 |
To tear your hair out |
To be completely frustrated by a person or situation |
| 1587 |
To the best of my knowledge |
Means you believe something is true, but you might not know all the facts |
| 1588 |
To the hilt |
To do something in an extremely thorough way |
| 1589 |
To turn a blind eye |
Pretend not to notice |
| 1590 |
To vanish into thin air |
To disappear without leaving a trace |
| 1591 |
To zero in on something |
To aim or focus directly on something |
| 1592 |
Toe the line |
To stay within the acceptable boundary or limits |
| 1593 |
Tomorrow is another day |
One may not accomplish everything today but will have another chance |
| 1594 |
Tomorrow never comes |
You should take action today and not procrastinate |
| 1595 |
Tomorrow onwards |
Starting tomorrow and continuing after that |
| 1596 |
Tomorrow will be a better day |
Things may be better tomorrow |
| 1597 |
Too clever by half |
Clever in a way that is annoying or arrogant, and in danger of overreaching |
| 1598 |
Top notch |
Means the highest quality or standard as in excellent or first-rate |
| 1599 |
Top of the line |
The best possible version of something |
| 1600 |
Top shelf |
Means something is of the highest quality or standard |
| 1601 |
Topsy-turvy |
In utter confusion or disorder |
| 1602 |
Total smoke show |
Means someone is extremely physically attractive, often used to describe a woman who is considered very beautiful and eye-catching |
| 1603 |
Totaled |
Completely destroyed |
| 1604 |
Touch base |
To communicate with someone regarding future plans |
| 1605 |
Tough as nails |
Very tough or resilient |
| 1606 |
Tried and true |
Means something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable |
| 1607 |
Trifecta |
Three things that happen at the same time |
| 1608 |
Triple threat |
A person, especially a performer or athlete, who is proficient in three important skills within their particular field |
| 1609 |
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 |
| 1610 |
Trust but verify |
Means to be trusting but also to verify what is said or done |
| 1611 |
Try your hand at |
Try doing something for the first time |
| 1612 |
Tug on the heartstrings |
Cause someone to become emotional |
| 1613 |
Turn a blind eye |
To ignore or pretend not to see something |
| 1614 |
Turn a deaf ear |
To ignore what someone is saying |
| 1615 |
Turn someone's head |
To cause someone to become smug or conceited |
| 1616 |
Turn up the heat on someone |
Put pressure on someone to do something or agree with a particular viewpoint |
| 1617 |
Turtle wins the race |
To have endurance and persistence is more important than speed |
| 1618 |
Twist someone’s arm |
To convince someone |
| 1619 |
Two heads are better than one |
It's better to work together |
| 1620 |
Two peas in a pod |
They're always together; they have similar interests |
| 1621 |
Two shakes of a lamb's tail |
Very quickly |
| 1622 |
Under foot |
To be in the way |
| 1623 |
Under the table |
To do something secretly, often used to refer to working for pay unofficially (and illegally) |
| 1624 |
Under the weather |
Not feeling very well |
| 1625 |
Underscore the fact |
Means to emphasize or highlight the importance of a particular fact or point |
| 1626 |
Unfinished business |
Refers to something that has not been completed or dealt with |
| 1627 |
Until we meet again |
Goodbye |
| 1628 |
Up a creek |
To be in a difficult or unfavorable position, facing serious problems |
| 1629 |
Up against the clock |
Running out of time |
| 1630 |
Up for grabs |
Available for everyone |
| 1631 |
Up in arms |
To be angry or rebellious |
| 1632 |
Up in the air |
Uncertain or unsettled |
| 1633 |
Up my alley |
Something that is within your skillset |
| 1634 |
Up the creek without a paddle |
In a bad situation and unable to proceed; in an
awkward position with no easy way out |
| 1635 |
Up to par |
Meeting normal standards |
| 1636 |
Up to snuff |
Means to meet the required standard |
| 1637 |
Use your head |
To tell someone to think more carefully about what they are doing |
| 1638 |
Va-va-voom! |
Exclamation to indicate a that a person or event has a strikingly sexy, impressive, or appealing quality |
| 1639 |
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 |
| 1640 |
Vanish into thin air |
Disappear without leaving a trace |
| 1641 |
Variety is the spice of life |
Trying different things keeps life interesting |
| 1642 |
Vault over |
To jump or leap over someone or something |
| 1643 |
Veer off |
To turn or steer sharply away from someone or something |
| 1644 |
Veer toward |
To turn sharply or swerve toward someone or something |
| 1645 |
Veg out |
To relax and not think about anything that stresses you out |
| 1646 |
Velvet glove |
A superficial display of gentleness or courtesy that masks a strong or unyielding will or determination |
| 1647 |
Vent your spleen |
To express anger or frustration |
| 1648 |
Vested interest in |
A personal or biased interest, often financial, in something |
| 1649 |
Vicar of bray |
A person who changes their beliefs or allegiances to gain an advantage |
| 1650 |
Vicious circle |
A chain of events in which the response to one difficulty creates a new problem that aggravates the original difficulty |
| 1651 |
Vie with someone |
To compete or contend with someone |
| 1652 |
Vim and vigor |
Energy and enthusiasm |
| 1653 |
Virgin territory |
A new experience or situation that someone has no experience with |
| 1654 |
Visible to the naked eye |
Can be easily seen |
| 1655 |
Visit the plumbing |
To go to the bathroom |
| 1656 |
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 |
| 1657 |
Volte-face |
A major change in attitude or principle or point of view |
| 1658 |
Vultures are circling |
Something is in danger and its enemies are getting ready for the kill |
| 1659 |
Wait for nature to take its course |
To allow a situation to unfold naturally without interfering |
| 1660 |
Wake up and smell the coffee |
Realize the truth about a situation |
| 1661 |
Wake up on the wrong side of the bed |
Start the day in a bad mood |
| 1662 |
Walk in the other’s shoes |
To understand what the other is going through |
| 1663 |
Walk on eggshells |
To be very careful with your actions and words |
| 1664 |
Walk the talk |
Means to act in accordance with what you say |
| 1665 |
Walking on a tightrope |
Being in a difficult situation that requires extreme care and precision |
| 1666 |
Warm reception |
A friendly, enthusiastic, or hospitable welcome |
| 1667 |
Wash your hands |
To stop being responsible for or involved in something |
| 1668 |
Waste not, want not |
Don't waste things and you'll always have enough |
| 1669 |
Water under the bridge |
Means something that's in the past and no longer relevant to the current situation |
| 1670 |
We don't see eye to eye |
We disagree |
| 1671 |
We'll cross that bridge when we get to it |
To wait to deal with the problem when it happens |
| 1672 |
Wear their feelings on their sleeves |
Means someone is openly and freely displaying their emotions, rather than hiding them |
| 1673 |
Wear your heart on your sleeve |
To be extremely open about what you feel and think |
| 1674 |
Weather the storm |
To go through something difficult |
| 1675 |
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it |
If that problem comes up, we’ll deal with it then, not right now |
| 1676 |
Weigh the pros and cons |
Means to consider the advantages and disadvantages of something before making a decision |
| 1677 |
Well begun is half done |
Getting a good start is important |
| 1678 |
Well under way |
Means something has already started and is progressing well or making good progress |
| 1679 |
Went out like a light |
Fall asleep rapidly, or pass out (lose consciousness) |
| 1680 |
Went over like a lead balloon |
To be poorly received |
| 1681 |
Wet behind the ears |
Doesn't have very much experience; isn't very skilled |
| 1682 |
Wet blanket |
Someone who is dull and keeps others from having fun |
| 1683 |
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 |
| 1684 |
What the f--k |
To be shocked at what is happening |
| 1685 |
What we got here is a failure to communicate |
You didn't do what I told you to do |
| 1686 |
What's the damage |
What's the cost |
| 1687 |
What's up |
What is happening with you |
| 1688 |
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 |
| 1689 |
When it rains, it pours |
Everything is going wrong at once |
| 1690 |
When pigs fly |
When something is unlikely or impossible to happen |
| 1691 |
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 |
| 1692 |
Where the rubber meets the road |
The point where actions begin to matter |
| 1693 |
Where there's smoke, there's fire |
Rumors are sometimes close to the truth |
| 1694 |
Whisper sweet nothings |
Romantic things that people who are in love say to each other |
| 1695 |
Whistle past the graveyard |
Act confidently or cheerfully in a scary or dangerous situation |
| 1696 |
White collar |
An office worker |
| 1697 |
White elephant |
A possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of |
| 1698 |
White lie |
A harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings |
| 1699 |
White-collar job |
A high-salary job that doesn't involve manual labor |
| 1700 |
Whitewash |
Means to cover up or hide an unpleasant situation, wrongdoing, or error |
| 1701 |
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 |
| 1702 |
Whole nine yards |
Refers to everything; the complete extent |
| 1703 |
Will it into existence |
Means to desire or believe in something so intensely that it appears to become real |
| 1704 |
Win-win situation |
Is a mutually beneficial outcome where everyone involved benefits |
| 1705 |
Wipe out |
To destroy or remove something or someone completely; to be completely exhausted |
| 1706 |
Wipe the slate clean |
Make a fresh start despite past mistakes or problems |
| 1707 |
Wishy-washy |
Lacking decisiveness |
| 1708 |
Worth its weight in gold |
To be highly valued or appreciated |
| 1709 |
Wrap your head around something |
To try to make sense about what is happening |
| 1710 |
Writer's block |
The condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing |
| 1711 |
WTF |
What the f--k |
| 1712 |
X marks the spot |
This is the exact spot |
| 1713 |
Yellow belly |
Coward |
| 1714 |
You bet (or You betcha) |
You're welcome; I agree with what you just said |
| 1715 |
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 |
| 1716 |
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar |
You are more likely to get what you want by being nice |
| 1717 |
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink |
You can't force someone to make the right decision |
| 1718 |
You can say that again |
That's true, I agree |
| 1719 |
You can't have your cake and eat it too |
You can't have everything |
| 1720 |
You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs |
There's always a cost to doing something |
| 1721 |
You can't teach an old dog new tricks |
It's hard to change someone's established behavior or beliefs |
| 1722 |
You don't say |
Used to show surprise at something that is being said |
| 1723 |
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 |
| 1724 |
You look beside yourself |
You look very troubled or anxious and distraught |
| 1725 |
You made your bed, now lie in it |
Means that someone must accept the negative consequences of their actions |
| 1726 |
You never cease to amaze |
Used to express that one is consistently impressed or surprised by someone or something |
| 1727 |
You protest too much |
Means someone is denying something so strongly that it makes others suspect they are not being truthful |
| 1728 |
You're out of your mind |
Someone is acting foolishly, irrationally, or in a way that is not normal |
| 1729 |
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 |
| 1730 |
You're the s--t |
You're the coolest |
| 1731 |
You've got another think coming |
You are mistaken about something and need to reconsider your opinion |
| 1732 |
You've outdone yourself this time |
You exceeded expectations |
| 1733 |
You've sold me |
You have convinced me |
| 1734 |
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 |
| 1735 |
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 |
| 1736 |
Your guess is as good as mine |
I have no idea |
| 1737 |
Your John Hancock |
Your official signature |
| 1738 |
Your neck of the woods |
The general area where someone lives |
| 1739 |
Your secret is safe with me |
Someone will not share a secret with anyone else |
| 1740 |
Zebras don't change their stripes |
Don't expect anyone to be anything other than who they really are |
| 1741 |
Zero sum gain |
A situation where one person's gain is exactly balanced by another person's loss |
| 1742 |
Zero tolerance |
Refusal to tolerate something at all |
| 1743 |
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 |
| 1744 |
Zip |
Nothing |
| 1745 |
Zip it |
Be quiet |
| 1746 |
Zip past |
To move very quickly past something |
| 1747 |
Zone out |
To shift attention away from the present situation, as in daydreaming |
| 1748 |
Zonk out |
To fall asleep suddenly or lose consciousness |
