715 entries
Idioms
Everyday idioms - what they mean and where they came from.
A
- A bad break 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- A bad hair day A day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- A bad workman always blames his tools A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- A big ask A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- A bigger bang for your buck Better value for your money.
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush It’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- A bite to eat A small meal, possibly taken quickly when time is short.
- A blessing in disguise An apparent misfortune that works to the eventual benefit of the recipient.
- A bull and cow Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- A bunch of fives A fist, as used in a fight.
- A chip on your shoulder A sense of inferiority characterized by a quickness to take offence.
- A diamond in the rough A person or thing having good underlying qualities while appearing to be coarse and unpolished.
- A dime a dozen So commonplace as to be of little consequence.
- A doubting thomas A sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- A drop in the bucket A very small part of a bigger whole.
- A fate worse than death The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- A feather in ones cap A symbol of achievement.
- A fish out of water Someone in an unfamiliar circumstance.
- A flash in the pan Something that fails to deliver long-term benefit after an initial success.
- A fly in the ointment A small flaw that spoils the whole.
- A fly on the wall 1. An unperceived observer - able to see and hear but not be seen or heard. 2 - A form of cinema in which events are recorded without direction.
- A fool and his money are soon parted A foolish person is very likely to lose his money.
- A fools paradise A state of euphoria with no basis in reality.
- A foot in the door An initial inroad that may lead to greater influence in future.
- A golden key can open any door Money always has a telling influence.
- A hot potato A current issue which many people are talking about and which is controversial.
- A house divided against itself cannot stand Failure is certain if those on the same side argue amongst themselves.
- A knight in shining armour A person who comes to the aid of another when other hopes have faded, like the knights in romantic stories.
- A leopard cant change his spots You cannot change your innate self.
- A little bird told me I was told by an undisclosed source.
- A load of cobblers Nonsense.
- A load of codswallop Nonsense.
- A lot on your plate Having many responsibilities.
- A man after my own heart A kindred spirit. Someone who thinks as I do.
- A miss is as good as a mile Some endeavours either succeed or they don’t - to miss narrowly is still failure.
- A penny for your thoughts A way of asking what someone is thinking.
- A penny saved is a penny earned Anything you save has the same effect as adding to your income.
- A picture paints a thousand words Pictures are far more descriptive than words.
- A piece of cake A task that can be accomplished very easily.
- A pig in a poke A commodity that is bought without first examining it.
- A place in the sun An idealistic dream of a sunny hideaway.
- A red rag to a bull A deliberate provocation.
- A safe pair of hands A reliable person, who can be trusted not to fail in a a task.
- A sea change A radical change.
- A shot in the arm A boost or encouragement.
- A sight for sore eyes A welcome sight that you weren’t expecting.
- A skeleton in the closet A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.
- A slap on the wrist A mild rebuke, often given when a more severe punishment might be expected.
- A sledgehammer to crack a nut The use of excessive resources to overcome a small problem.
- A sorry sight 1. Something sadly neglected. 2. A person or thing of untidy appearance.
- A stitch in time saves nine A small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.
- A stones throw A short distance.
- A taste of your own medicine Mistreatment you receive in retaliation to that you gave to others.
- A thorn in my flesh A persistent and difficult to ignore annoyance.
- A toss up 1. The flip of a coin to decide on something. 2. A result, usually between two courses of action, which is uncertain and could go either way.
- A wolf in sheeps clothing Someone who uses the pretence of kindliness to disguise their evil intent.
- A-Z List of Idioms
- About face 1. A military command to turn when on parade. 2. A change from one’s previous position.
- About time 1. Almost time. 2. High time.
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder Our feelings for people and things grows when we are apart from them.
- Abso bloody lutely A more emphatic version of ’Absolutely’.
- Ace in the hole A saved, hidden advantage that can supply a victory when revealed.
- Achilles heel A fatal weakness in an otherwise strong person or thing.
- Across the board Applying everywhere and to all classes of thing.
- Act your age Behave in a manner appropriate to your stage in life.
- Actions speak louder than words Actions show one’s character more than what you say.
- Adage Money always has a telling influence.
- Adams ale A reference to water - often used to emphasize the purity of water compared to other drinks.
- Add fuel to the fire Make a bad situation even worse than it is.
- Add insult to injury To further a loss. To make a bad situation worse.
- Against the clock In a great hurry to complete something before a set deadline.
- Agreement A kindred spirit. Someone who thinks as I do.
- Aint my first rodeo Said by someone who has experience of a situation.
- Al desko Eating one’s lunch while still working. (A Pun on ’Al fresco’.).
- Al fresco In the open air.
- All at sea In a confused, disordered state.
- All bark and no bite Having lots to say but not willing to engage in a fight.
- All greek to me Incomprehensible, as Greek is to someone who cannot speak it.
- All in a days work Typical; a normal set of circumstances.
- All in all On the whole - when everything is considered.
- All kidding aside Said when you want people to realise you are speaking seriously, when they might otherwise think you were joking.
- All set Ready to go.
- All the way Referring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.
- All thumbs Clumsy or physically inept.
- All to cock Ruined or shambolic.
- All together now Invitation to join in communal singing.
- Alley cat 1. A cat that lives wild in a town. 2. Slang term for a prostitute.
- Alpha mom An ambitious mother who aims to excel at work while raising children.
- Alphabet soup A jumble of words or letters, often referring to organisations known by their initials, like CIA or BBC.
- Amber nectar A slang term for lager.
- America A day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- Amped up Excited and ready for action.
- An act of god Some event that is considered to be outside human control. Commonly used in insurance policies to refer to events that the insured cannot be held responsible for.
- An arm and a leg Very expensive. A large amount of money.
- An axe to grind A dispute with someone.
- An open and shut case A straightforward legal case in which the outcome is clear.
- Animals It’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- Ankle biter A slang term for small child.
- Aphorism A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Apples and pears Cockney rhyming slang for stairs.
- As high as a kite 1. Very high up in the sky. 2. High on drugs or excitement.
- At the drop of a hat With no delay.
- Australian origin A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- Away with the fairies Not facing reality; in a dream world.
B
- Baby brain Confusion or forgetfulness caused by lack of sleep when caring for a new-born.
- Baby bump The protruding belly of a pregnant woman. Also used to describe the unborn child itself.
- Baby snatcher Someone who enters into an amorous relationship with a much younger person.
- Back seat driver Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.
- Back to square one Back to the beginning.
- Back to the drawing board Said when a plan fails and it's time to start again and make a new plan.
- Bag lady A homeless woman, who carries all her possessions in shopping bags.
- Bakers dozen Thirteen.
- Barking up the wrong tree Responding to something which isn't the important issue.
- Barnet fair Cockney rhyming slang for hair.
- Basket case A person or thing that is no longer able to function effectively, either through disability or misfortune.
- Bat from the pavilion end Slang term for a homosexuality.
- Be a sport Be generous and/or sportsmanlike.
- Be glad to see the back of Be happy when a person leaves or when an unpleasant situation is ended.
- Beach bum Someone, usually a youngster, who spends all their time hanging out at the beach surfing and partying.
- Bean counter A disparaging term for an accountant or anyone who compiles statistics.
- Beat around the bush Avoiding the main topic.
- Beauty contest A political contest in which the result is influenced by personality and image more than by policy.
- Bedroom tax slang term for UK's removal of Spare Room Subsidy.
- Bells and whistles Attractive additional features or trimmings.
- Bend over backwards Make extravagant efforts to avoid bias.
- Between a rock and a hard place Between two unwelcome options.
- Between the wars The period between WWI and WWII.
- Beyond price To be so prized and valuable as to not be obtainable by money.
- Biblical A very small part of a bigger whole.
- Big fish in a small pond An important person but only so within a small area of influence.
- Binge watch Watch multiple episodes of a television programme in succession.
- Bitch slap An open-handed slap in the face intended to be humiliating.
- Bite off more than you can chew Take on a task that is more than one can manage.
- Bite the dust Die, especially in a violent or sudden way.
- Bite your tongue Avoid speaking.
- Blood blister Cockney rhyming slang for sister.
- Blood is thicker than water Family loyalties are stronger than those to other people.
- Blow a raspberry Cockney rhyming slang for fart.
- Blue A set meal provided at a reduced price.
- Blue plate special A set meal provided at a reduced price.
- Boat race Cockney rhyming slang for face.
- Body 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Bottle and glass Cockney rhyming slang for arse.
- Bought the farm Died, especially in a violent way which may give rise to an insurance claim.
- Brahms and lizst Cockney rhyming slang for pissed.
- Brass monkey weather Extremely cold weather. The full expression is 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.
- Brass tacks Cockney rhyming slang for facts.
- Break a leg A superstitious way to wish 'good luck' to an actor before a performance while avoiding saying 'good luck' out loud, which is considered unlucky.
- Breast is best Slogan of breastfeeding campaign.
- Bricks and mortar Cockney rhyming slang for daughter.
- Brighton pier Cockney rhyming slang for queer (i.e. homosexual).
- Bring your a game Perform to the best of your ability.
- Brown bread Cockney rhyming slang for dead.
- Brown out 1. A partial failure of the electricity supply. 2. The exposing of one's buttocks in public.
- Brum brum Child's play idiom expressing the sound of a vehicle.
- Bucket list A list of things you plan to do before you 'kick the bucket' (die). Often a list of fanciful ideas rather than of concrete plans.
- Building An upmarket hotel located in a revamped rural mansion.
- Burn the midnight oil To work late into the night.
- Business A worker especially loyal to the employer he works for.
- Bust a move Dance in a stylish way.
- Buy a lemon Waste money by purchasing a car that is frequently faulty.
C
- Calendar year Twelve months beginning from the first of January.
- Cant cut the mustard Unable to meet the demands put upon you.
- Canteen culture Boorish behaviour by rank and file police or soldiers.
- Carbon footprint A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during an industrial or domestic process.
- Carpe diem Latin expression meaning seize the day.
- Cast iron stomach Said to be possessed by someone who is able to eat anything with no ill effects.
- Cat got your tongue? A question addressed to someone who is inexplicably silent. The implication is that the person's tongue is missing.
- Caught between two stools Finding it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
- Caught by the short hairs Trapped by an opponent in a situation you can't escape.
- Chaise lounge The American spelling for the piece of furniture known elsewhere as a chaise longue.
- Charley horse Stiffness or cramp in the arm or leg.
- Chasing tail Of a man pursuing women.
- Cheek by jowl Side by side; close together.
- Cherry ripe Cockney rhyming slang for pipe.
- Chew someone out Verbally scold someone.
- Chicken feed Something of little importance, especially a small sum of money.
- Childhood A slang term for small child.
- Children The protruding belly of a pregnant woman. Also used to describe the unborn child itself.
- Children should be seen and not heard Old proverb suggesting that children should not impinge on the adult world.
- China plate Cockney rhyming slang for mate.
- Chow down Begin to eat.
- City bike A bicycle designing especially for urban riding.
- Cliche Better value for your money.
- Click bait An eye catching word or image on a website.
- Clock 1. Almost time. 2. High time.
- Close but no cigar Very near to success but falling short.
- Clothes A symbol of achievement.
- Cloud cuckoo land An imaginary idealistic state where everything is perfect. It is usually used with reference to someone who has an overly optimistic and unrealistic belief.
- Cock and bull story An unbelievable tale.
- Cockney rhyming slang Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- Code monkey Slang term for a computer programmer.
- Colour A deliberate provocation.
- Come hell or high water Despite any great difficult or obstacle.
- Comedy Make someone laugh.
- Comfort women women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in WWII.
- Company man A worker especially loyal to the employer he works for.
- Conflict Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- Cop an attitude Adopt an aggressive stance.
- Corduroy road A road that is ridged and furrowed like the fabric.
- Country An upmarket hotel located in a revamped rural mansion.
- Country house hotel An upmarket hotel located in a revamped rural mansion.
- Crack someone up Make someone laugh.
- Cream crackered Cockney rhyming slang for knackered. - note, when this term was coined, cream crackers were a popular snack in the UK.
- Crime A person or thing having good underlying qualities while appearing to be coarse and unpolished.
- Cross that bridge when you come to it Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
- Cross your fingers To hope that something happens.
- Crunch time The period of time just before a project has to be completed.
- Cry wolf Intentionally raise a false alarm.
- Curiosity killed the cat Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
- Currant bun Cockney rhyming slang for sun.
- Cut corners Doing things in a slipshod way, to avoid expense or effort.
- Cut to the chase Leave out all the unnecessary details and get straight to the point.
D
- Daily grind The dull daily routine.
- Daisy roots Cockney rhyming slang for boots.
- Dance Dance in a stylish way.
- Date Behave in a manner appropriate to your stage in life.
- Date rape The rape by a man of his partner on a date.
- Day surgery Minor surgery that does not require the patient to stay in hospital overnight.
- Daylight saving time The adjustment of clocks to provide longer evening daylight.
- Dead ringer An exact duplicate.
- Dead white european male Derogatory reference to someone who has an unjustified reputation.
- Death The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- Designated driver Someone who agrees not to drink alcohol at a social event in order to be sober enough to drive others home.
- Dial down 1. Adjust a device to reduce sound or temperature. 2. Reduce one's emotional reaction to something.
- Dicky dirt Cockney rhyming slang for shirt.
- Discussing uganda Euphemism for sex.
- Disgust Said of someone who the speaker has a deep dislike of.
- Dog and bone Cockney rhyming slang for telephone.
- Dog days of summer The hottest days of the summer season.
- Donkeys years 1. Cockney rhyming slang for ears. 2. A very long time.
- Dont bite the hand that feeds you Don't hurt someone that helps you.
- Dont count your chickens before they hatch Don't count on receiving some benefit until you actually have it.
- Dont cry over spilt milk Don't fret pointlessly about some mistake or loss when it can't be remedied.
- Dont give up the day job Said to someone who is a poor performer at a task - suggesting that they wouldn't be able to succeed at it professionally.
- Dont look a gift horse in the mouth When you receive a gift accept it with good grace and don't find fault with it.
- Dont put all your eggs in one basket Don't risk all your property on a single venture.
- Double denim Denim jeans worn with a denim shirt or jacket.
- Double header A sports expression denoting two events held at the same time.
- Down to the wire Not decided until the very last minute.
- Dressed to the nines Very smartly dressed, in one's best clothes.
- Drink A slang term for lager.
- Drink like a fish Drink very heavily.
- Drive someone up the wall Irritate or annoy very much.
- Dropping like flies Many people either falling ill or dying.
- Dry run A rehearsal.
- Duvet day A work day which an employee is allowed to spend at home relaxing.
E
- Ear popping Sound that is loud or that catches the attention.
- Easy peasy Something that is extremely easy. Often used by children. Sometimes used by adults to demote an achievement that was accomplished with little apparent effort.
- Education The joint name given to Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard universities.
- Effort A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- Eighty six Referring to an item on a menu that is no longer available.
- Elbow grease Energetic labour, especially in the polishing of household items.
- Elephants trunk Cockney rhyming slang for drunk.
- Elvis has left the building The primary performer has left. There's no point waiting around.
- Emotion A day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- Employment Typical; a normal set of circumstances.
- Enhanced interrogation techniques Euphemism for torture.
- Ethnic cleansing The singling out and killing of a specific ethnic group.
- Euphemism The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- Every cloud has a silver lining An encouragement to be optimistic. Even bad events have a good side to them.
- Everything but the kitchen sink Everything imaginable.
- Evil twin An imaginary double, humorously referred to in order to explain the uncharacteristic bad behaviour of a normally moral person. Usually used light-heartedly. The expression formed as an allusion to plots in films involving actual evil twins.
- Excellence To be so prized and valuable as to not be obtainable by money.
- Excess A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
- Excuse my french Please forgive me for swearing.
- Eyebrow raising Something that creates shock or surprise.
F
- Face card The jack queen or king in a set of playing cards.
- Face the music Accept he unwelcome consequences of one's own actions.
- Factory farming Rearing livestock under industrial conditions.
- Failure 1. Something sadly neglected. 2. A person or thing of untidy appearance.
- Fairytale ending A happy simplistic ending to a story similar to those found in fairy tales.
- Family Failure is certain if those on the same side argue amongst themselves.
- Far cry from Very different from.
- Fashion Very smartly dressed, in one's best clothes.
- Feeding frenzy A frantic competition or exploitation - like a group shark attack.
- Fell off the back of a lorry A coy reference to an item that has been stolen.
- Fiddlesticks An exclamation meaning 1. Nonsense; rubbish. 2. An indication of mild annoyance.
- Field day A day noted for remarkable or exciting events.
- Find your feet To become conscious of and develop one's expertise.
- Fire the imagination Inspire with enthusiasm.
- First among equals The most senior person in a group of equal rank.
- First footing Making a round of visits at New Year.
- First world The industrialised affluent and wealthy nations.
- First world problem A relatively trivial problem only affecting the affluent.
- Fixed in your ways Unwilling to change from your habitual way of doing things.
- Flea market A market used to buy and sell inexpensive goods. The kind of place that might sell carpets infested with fleas.
- Flea pit A downmarket cinema - allegedly verminous.
- Flesh and blood 1 - One's family. 2 - the bodily stuff we are made of.
- Flip the bird To aggressively raise your middle finger at someone as a sign of displeasure.
- Flog a dead horse To attempt to make progress with something that has no future.
- Flotsam and jetsam Assorted bits and pieces of rubbish; especially items that are found in the sea.
- Foam at the mouth To show vehement rage.
- Food A small meal, possibly taken quickly when time is short.
- Food fight Chaotic collective behaviour where items of food are thrown about wildly.
- Fools gold Something that appears valuable but really isn't, like iron pyrites - a worthless mineral that resembles gold.
- French Please forgive me for swearing.
- Frock up Wear a smart or formal dress for a special occasion.
- Frog and toad Cockney rhyming slang for road.
- Fruit Cockney rhyming slang for stairs.
- Fuddy duddy An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
- Full monty Everything possible. The whole thing.
- Full of bull Talking hot air.
- Funny farm A mental hospital.
G
- Gee gee Childish term for a horse.
- Gender bender A person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by 'bender' being an earlier slang term for homosexual.
- George raft Cockney rhyming slang for daft.
- Get a gold star Earn a merit point for doing well.
- Get down to brass tacks Concern yourself with the basic and important realities.
- Get off on the wrong foot Make a bad start in a relationship or task.
- Get on board Accept and participate with an idea or project.
- Get out of hand Become chaotic and uncontrollable.
- Get out of the wrong side of the bed Be grumpy because you are having a bad day.
- Get over it Move beyond something that is bothering you.
- Get your head around Understand something, especially something difficult to comprehend because it is complex or surprising.
- Ginger beer Cockney rhyming slang for queer.
- Give him an inch and hell take a mile allow someone a small concession and they will take advantage and try to take more.
- Give the benefit of the doubt Decide to believe a statement which isn't proven.
- Give the slip To get away from. To escape.
- Glass ceiling An unacknowledged or unseen discriminatory barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to positions of power.
- Gnats bollock A very small (imaginary) unit of measurement.
- Go ape shit Become excessively agitated and excited.
- Go belly up Become badly and permanently inoperative.
- Go down like a lead balloon Be received badly.
- Go for broke Put every resource into getting a particular result.
- Go out on a limb Take a risk to support someone or something.
- Go the extra mile Going beyond what is usually required. Make an extra effort.
- Going to hell in a handbasket Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
- Good samaritan Someone who compassionately helps another who is in need.
- Good to go I am ready to participate.
- Graveyard shift Working hours that extend overnight.
- Greasy spoon A small cheap cafe selling fried food.
- Great minds think alike Said ironically when two people have matching thoughts.
- Great scot Exclamation of surprise.
- Greek origin A fatal weakness in an otherwise strong person or thing.
- Gregory peck Cockney rhyming slang for neck.
- Gut feeling A personal intuition, based on feeling rather than fact.
H
- Habit You cannot change your innate self.
- Had a good war To have been successful during a military campaign.
- Hair A day on which everything seems to go wrong.
- Hair of the dog An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.
- Hair of the dog An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.
- Half inch Cockney rhyming slang for pinch.
- Happiness An apparent misfortune that works to the eventual benefit of the recipient.
- Happy sad A bittersweet feeling combining both happiness and sadness.
- Harry spankers Brand spanking new.
- Haste makes waste Doing things in a rush makes for a poor result.
- Hat trick A threefold feat in sports or some other activity.
- Have a blast Have an especially good time.
- Have a captain cook Cockney rhyming slang for look.
- He makes my flesh (or skin) crawl (or creep) Said of someone who the speaker has a deep dislike of.
- Head over heels Very excited, especially when in love.
- Hear it on the grapevine Hear rumors about something from an anonymous informal contact.
- Heebie jeebies A state of nervous anxiety or fear.
- Hell bent Determined to achieve something at all costs.
- Help yourself Invitation to take something freely.
- Hidden in plain sight Something that defies apprehension by being too obvious.
- High and mighty Proud and arrogant.
- High on the hog Luxurious.
- High season The most popular time to visit a resort or attraction - when prices are highest.
- Hit the books To study, especially for a test or exam.
- Hit the hay Retire to bed.
- Hit the nail on the head Make the precise correct point.
- Hit the sack Retire to bed.
- Hobsons choice 1. A choice forced upon someone. 2. Cockney rhyming slang for voice.
- Hocus pocus A term used to denote magic or trickery.
- Hold your horses Be patient.
- Holy shit An expression of extreme surprise or disbelief.
- Honesty Decide to believe a statement which isn't proven.
- Household items A very small part of a bigger whole.
- Hyperbole The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
I
- I cant be doing with it I am unwilling to tolerate it.
- I cant think straight I'm overwhelmed and stressed and it is affecting my ability to think.
- Idiom categories
- Idioms coined in Britain
- Idioms coined in the USA
- If its not one thing, its another Said after more than one thing goes wrong.
- In a nutshell In a few words. Concisely stated.
- In cahoots with To be in a partnership with, often for unscrupulous purposes.
- In like flynn To be easily successful, especially concerning sex or romance.
- In limbo In an uncertain situation, over which you have no control (a reference to the state of being outside both heaven and hell).
- In the bag Something that is secured.
- In the buff Naked.
- In the heat of the moment In an overwhelming situation, causing you to act rashly.
- In the same boat Jointly facing the same predicament.
- In your face Aggressive confrontation.
- Inside job A crime committed by or with the help of someone living or working in the place that it took place.
- It never rains but it pours When troubles come they often come together.
- It takes two to tango It takes two people to cause a problem between them.
- Its a small world Said when people meet unexpectedly, away from their usual haunts.
- Its all gone pete tong Cockney rhyming slang for gone wrong.
- Its not rocket science Said of something that isn't complex or difficult to understand.
- Ivy league The joint name given to Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard universities.
J
- Jack palancing Cockney rhyming slang for dancing.
- Jam jar Cockney rhyming slang for car.
- Jelly belly An overweight person.
- Jimmy riddle Cockney rhyming slang for piddle.
- Joke Said when you want people to realise you are speaking seriously, when they might otherwise think you were joking.
- Joshing me Tricking me.
- Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend.
- Jump the shark Introduce a ridiculous or unbelievable plot device into a TV series in order to boost flagging ratings.
- Just deserts The result which is deserved. A reward for what has been done - good or bad.
K
- Keep an eye on Observe carefully to make sure something bad isn't done.
- Keep at bay Keep something away.
- Keep body and soul together Earn sufficient money in order to keep yourself alive.
- Keep your chin up Remain positive in a tough situation.
- Khyber pass Cockney rhyming slang for arse.
- Kick the bucket Die.
- Kill two birds with one stone Accomplish two things with a single action.
- Knee jerk reaction A quick and automatic response.
- Knee trembler Sexual intercourse between two people standing up.
- Knock on wood Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid bad luck or to continue having good luck.
- Know the ropes To understand how to do something.
L
- Lame duck A person or thing that is no longer properly able to function. Also, more specifically, a person in authority, for example a president or prime minister, in their final period of office after a successor has already been elected.
- Language Pictures are far more descriptive than words.
- Last but not least An introduction, intended to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is not the least important.
- Last straw The last of a series of problems, which pushes one's endurance beyond its limits.
- Latin Latin expression meaning seize the day.
- Legal A straightforward legal case in which the outcome is clear.
- Lend me your ear Politely ask for someones full attention.
- Let bygones be bygones Allow a disagreement or argument to be put in the past.
- Let sleeping dogs lie Avoid restarting a conflict.
- Let the cat out of the bag Share a secret that wasn't intended to be shared.
- Let your hair down Behave in a free an uninhibited manner. Usually applied to women.
- Lets rewind A suggestion that the thing under consideration has gone along unproductive lines and should be looked at again from the beginning.
- Level playing field Fair competition where no side has an advantage.
- Like a chicken with its head cut off In a frenzied manner.
- Link farm A website that exists primarily to display links to another website, with the intention of improving the search status of the second site.
- Link rot The tendency of WWW addresses to become out of date and point to unavailable pages.
- Liquor someone up To supply or to drink alcoholic drink.
- Little devil An exclamation of surprise and annoyance, directed at someone who has behaved badly or performed some kind of prank. Often applied to children.
- Little fish in a big pond Someone considered unimportant compared to their more significant peers.
- Loaf of bread Cockney rhyming slang for head.
- Location Some endeavours either succeed or they don’t - to miss narrowly is still failure.
- Long in the tooth Old.
- Loose cannon Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage by being reckless.
- Lord fred Cockney rhyming slang for bed.
- Lose your head Overcome by emotion and out of control.
- Lose your touch Lose an ability that you used to possess.
- Luck An apparent misfortune that works to the eventual benefit of the recipient.
M
- Madness Not facing reality; in a dream world.
- Magic mushroom A type of mushroom with hallucinogenic properties - sometimes known as 'shrooms'.
- Make a scene Cause a disturbance.
- Make no bones about To state a fact so there are no doubts about it.
- Man cave A shed or some other retreat that men decorate in the way they choose (with or without their male friends) and use to relax in traditional male pursuits.
- Many happy returns A toast given to someone on their birthday.
- Mates rates A discount price offered to friends.
- Mea culpa I'm to blame.
- Medical 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Mellow yellow Dried banana peel, used as an intoxicant.
- Men in suits Conventionally minded and dressed men who hold positions of authority. Also called just 'suits'.
- Method to my madness Odd actions that appear meaningless but are done for a good reason.
- Military 1. A military command to turn when on parade. 2. A change from one’s previous position.
- Mince pies Cockney rhyming slang for eyes.
- Mind your language An admonition not to swear.
- Misfortune 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- Miss the boat Missed the chance to take an opportunity.
- Money Better value for your money.
- Mrs mop traditional English name for a cleaning woman.
- Mumbo jumbo Nonsense or meaningless speech.
- Mums the word Keep quiet. Say nothing.
- Music Invitation to join in communal singing.
- Mutt and jeff Cockney rhyming slang for deaf.
- My old china Cockney rhyming slang for mate.
- My old dutch Cockney rhyming slang for duchess.
N
- Nail it To perform something particularly well.
- Name A sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- Nature It’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- Nautical A radical change.
- Nest egg Savings set aside for future use.
- Never never land A utopian dreamland.
- New arrival Colloquial term for a new-born baby.
- New kid on the block Someone new to the group or area.
- New york minute A short space of time.
- Nine to five A standard office day, between 9am and 5pm. Often used to denote the boring nature of the weekly working routine.
- Nip slip The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.
- Nitty gritty The important aspects of a situation; the heart of the matter.
- No dice A refusal to accept a proposition.
- No room to swing a cat An awkward or confined space.
- No rush Said to someone to indicate that you aren't in a hurry for them to complete their task.
- No saint Someone who might claim to be of good behaviour but has in fact a sordid past.
- No spring chicken Said of people who are no longer young but may behave as though they were.
- Nonsense Nonsense.
- North and south Cockney rhyming slang for mouth.
- Nose around Investigate in an off-hand manner.
- Not all there Not in possession of one's mental faculties.
- Not playing with a full deck Someone who lacks intelligence.
- Number So commonplace as to be of little consequence.
O
- Off ones rocker Crazy; out of one's mind.
- Off the hook No longer having to deal with something.
- Off the record Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want repeated.
- Old chestnut A story that has been told repeatedly and which has lost any originality.
- On a hiding to nothing Faced with a hopeless situation, even after making one's best efforts.
- On a wing and a prayer In a difficult situation and reliant on luck to get out of it.
- On cloud nine Blissfully happy.
- On the ball With a good understanding of a situation and a readiness to act.
- On the fence Unwilling to give one's view about which side you support.
- On the record Something said in confidence that the one speaking is happy to have repeated.
- On the same page Several people agreeing.
- On your tod Cockney rhyming slang for alone.
- Once in a blue moon A rare occurrence.
- Open warfare Engaged in active fighting or dispute.
- Out of sight Still used with its literal meaning of 'beyond the range of sight' but more commonly used in its hippie-era meaning of 'excellent; extraordinary'.
- Out of the blue Suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Out on the town Out enjoying oneself.
- Over my dead body Said when you absolutely refuse to allow something to happen.
- Over the top Excessive.
P
- Paint the town red Go on a boisterous or exuberant spree
- Partner up Find a companion.
- Pass the buck Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.
- Patience 1. Almost time. 2. High time.
- Peachy keen Excellent; wonderful.
- Pedal to the metal To go at full speed, when driving a vehicle.
- Peeping tom Someone who covertly observes sexually active or naked people.
- Peg out 1. To die, especially to die of old age. 2. To complete a circuit of the board in the card game cribbage.
- Pen and ink Cockney rhyming slang for stink.
- Perfect pitch The ability to determine a musical note by ear.
- Phone it in Perform an act in an uncommitted disinterested manner.
- Photo bomb Spoil a photograph by unexpectedly appearing in the picture and taking the attention away from the intended subject - usually as a prank.
- Pig out To overeat in a slovenly manner.
- Pigs ear Cockney rhyming slang for beer.
- Pigs might fly Said when referring to something that is highly unlikely.
- Pipe down An instruction to shut-up or be quiet.
- Place An idealistic dream of a sunny hideaway.
- Plates of meat Cockney rhyming slang for feet.
- Play devils advocate A person who takes a contrary position from the one being presented, either for the sake of argument or to test the validity of the opposing point of view.
- Play safe Avoid risk.
- Play the field Indulge in a series of sexual relationships.
- Politics A political contest in which the result is influenced by personality and image more than by policy.
- Pommy bashing Australian slang term for physical or verbal attacks on the English.
- Porky pies Cockney rhyming slang for lies.
- Potatoes (or taters) in the mould Cockney rhyming slang for cold.
- Potty mouth A foul mouthed person.
- Practice makes perfect Diligent practice leads to expertise.
- Prick up your ears Listen very carefully - like a dog or horse with erect ears.
- Pride Proud and arrogant.
- Proverb A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Proverbial A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Pull the plug Bring something to an end.
- Pull the wool over someones eyes Deceive someone.
- Pull your horns in Become less ambitious; curb your enthusiasm.
- Pulling your leg Tricking someone as a joke.
- Put a sock in it An instruction to a noisy person or a group to be quiet.
Q
- Quality time Time spent with a child, spouse or friend in an uninterrupted and attentive way.
- Queer bashing Making an unprovoked physical or verbal attack on homosexuals.
- Queer street The imaginary location of people who have major problems in their life, especially debt. (Note: not a real place, nor connected to homosexuality)
- Queer the pitch Ruin a plan or undertaking.
R
- Rabbit and pork Cockney rhyming slang for talk.
- Rags to riches From poverty to wealth.
- Raining cats and dogs Raining very heavily.
- Red letter day A significant, important or happy day.
- Red tape Bureaucracy, especially in public business.
- Reduplication Child's play idiom expressing the sound of a vehicle.
- Relaxation A work day which an employee is allowed to spend at home relaxing.
- Religion A sceptic who won’t accept a widely believed truth until seeing the evidence in person.
- Rest up Take a break from one's efforts.
- Revenge porn The malicious posting of sexual images online to harm the reputation of an ex partner.
- Riding shotgun Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.
- Ring fencing Earmarking funds to guarantee a specific project can go ahead.
- Rise and shine Instruction to get out of bed and get ready for work.
- Risk It’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
- Rome was not built in one day Major and important projects take time.
- Rosie lea Cockney rhyming slang for tea.
- Rubbish Assorted bits and pieces of rubbish; especially items that are found in the sea.
- Ruby murray Cockney rhyming slang for curry.
- Rule of thumb A rough estimate.
- Run out of steam Completely out of energy.
S
- Sad ass A reference to an inept or undesirable person or thing.
- Salad days The days of one's youthful inexperience and enthusiasm.
- Saved by the bell Saved by a last minute intervention.
- Scarper flow Cockney rhyming slang for go.
- Science Said of something that isn't complex or difficult to understand.
- Scot free Without payment.
- Scrape together To manage, with difficulty, enough of what is needed - especially money.
- Scrub up Make an effort to present oneself well dressed and smartly turned out.
- Secrets A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.
- See eye to eye When two or more people agree.
- Sex The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
- Sexton blake Cockney rhyming slang for fake.
- Shakespeare A state of euphoria with no basis in reality.
- Shoot down in flames Destroy an argument or theory.
- Shoot straight To talk or deal honestly.
- Shoot through To leave or abscond.
- Shovel ready A building project in which all the preliminaries have been arranged.
- Side boob The side of a female breast revealed by skimpy clothing.
- Silver bullet A simple and seeming effortless solution to a difficult problem.
- Silver fox A handsome grey-haired man.
- Silver surfer An older person who uses the World Wide Web.
- Silver threads amongst the gold Blonde hair that is turning grey.
- Silver tongued Eloquent or persuasive manner of speech.
- Sit tight Wait and take do nothing until the time is right for action.
- Sixth sense An imaginary intuitive facility.
- Skid row The rundown area of a city inhabited by the destitute.
- Slang Cockney rhyming slang for a row or argument.
- Smell a rat To begin to suspect that things aren't as they should be.
- Smell something fishy Detect that something isn't as it should be.
- Sniff test Sniff an item of clothing (or food) to check if it might be suitable to wear (or eat).
- Son of a gun A rogue.
- Sparrow fart Jokey term for the early morning.
- Spitting image The exact likeness.
- Spoiler alert Said, or printed, as a warning that the following will give away the ending or important plot development of a drama.
- Sport Back to the beginning.
- Stab someone in the back Hurt someone who was close to us by betraying them secretly and breaking their trust.
- Steal someones thunder Take the credit for something someone else did.
- Step up to the mark Mark yourself ready to take responsibility.
- Stitch up 1. Put someone in difficulty, often by making it appear that they are to blame for a misdemeanour. 2. Repair with needle and thread.
- Straight from the horses mouth Heard from the authoritative source.
- Stranger things have happened Said when the feasibility of some unlikely event is questioned.
- Stupidity A foolish person is very likely to lose his money.
- Success Something that is extremely easy. Often used by children. Sometimes used by adults to demote an achievement that was accomplished with little apparent effort.
- Suck it up Accept a bad situation.
- Surprise Something that creates shock or surprise.
- Swing by Drop in for a visit.
- Swipe right (On the dating app Tinder) to indicate that you find someone unattractive by dragging one's finger to the right, across their screen image.
- Sympathy 1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.
- Syrup of figs Cockney rhyming slang for wig.
T
- Take a butchers Cockney rhyming slang for look.
- Take a raincheck An offer that is declined now but may be reconsidered later.
- Take with a grain of salt Don't take what someone says too seriously - the the implication that it isn't true.
- Talk of the devil Said when someone that you have just been talking about arrives.
- Tea leaf Cockney rhyming slang for thief.
- Technology A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during an industrial or domestic process.
- That friday feeling Anticipation of the weekend after a hard working week.
- That sucks 1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.
- The acid test 1. A scientific test to distinguish between gold and base metals. 2. A conclusive test to determine the validity of a claim.
- The apple of my eye Someone who is cherished above all others.
- The author of your own misfortune Be to blame for one's own problems.
- The ball is in your court It is your turn to make a decision.
- The best of both worlds The benefits available from two apparently conflicting options.
- The best thing since sliced bread An outstandingly good idea or plan.
- The big pond Nickname of the Atlantic Ocean between the UK and the USA.
- The bull in the bowler hat Jokey term for artificial insemination.
- The empty chair The perceived absense of someone who is recently deceased.
- The fog of war Confusion caused by the chaos of battle.
- The glorious twelfth The 12th of August - the start of the British grouse shooting season.
- The god squad enthusiastic Christian believers.
- The human body 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.
- The icing on the cake Something that makes a good situation even better.
- The last straw The last of a series of problems, which pushes one's endurance beyond its limits.
- The sound of leather on willow The sound of the ball on the bat in cricket.
- The tail wagging the dog A small and usually insignificant factor (or person) dominates over one that is normally more powerful and influential.
- The town bike Promiscuous woman.
- The wheels have come off Said when a previously promising enterprise goes irretrievably wrong.
- The whole nine yards The full entirety of something.
- Theatre A superstitious way to wish 'good luck' to an actor before a performance while avoiding saying 'good luck' out loud, which is considered unlucky.
- Third time lucky Said when trying something for the third time.
- Third times a charm The third try is often successful.
- Throw the towel in Give up, especially to avoid further punishment when facing certain defeat.
- Tie the knot Get married.
- Til the cows come home A long time to wait.
- Time A small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.
- Titfer tat Cockney rhyming slang for hat.
- To cut a long story short Said when a storyteller doesn't want to bore his audience with a long involved account.
- Tongue in cheek Humorously, not to be taken seriously.
- Tool A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Top banana The leading, most important, person in a group or organisation.
- Tour de force A feat of strength power or skill.
- Toy boy A woman's much younger male lover.
- Travel Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.
- Trickery A commodity that is bought without first examining it.
- Trouble and strife Cockney rhyming slang for wife.
- Turn a blind eye Refuse to acknowledge something that you know is genuine.
- Twenty three skidoo Invitation to go away.
- Twist someones arm Persuade someone to do something they don't really want to do.
- Two and eight Cockney rhyming slang for state.
- Types of Phrase
U
- Uncle dick Cockney rhyming slang for sick.
- Uncle tom A derogatory term for a black man who is servile towards white men.
- Under the weather Feeling ill.
- Unlucky in love Having been unable to find a long-term romantic partner.
- Up a blind alley On a fruitless course of action.
- Up shit creek without a paddle In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.
- Ups a daisy A saying, usually to a child, after a stumble or fall, to encourage them to get up. (ups is a variant of whoops).
- Us versus them Denoting the enmity between two opposing groups.
- Use your loaf Think smart.
V
- Van goghs ear for music Tone deaf.
- Variety is the spice of life Increased experience makes for a more exciting life.
- Vatican roulette The rhythm method of birth control.
- Veg out Relax in a slothful manner, usually watching tv while lying on a sofa - (that is, become a 'couch-potato').
- Vehicle Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.
W
- ‘Worldwide’ Idioms
- Wardrobe malfunction Referring to an item of clothing slipping out of place to expose part of the body.
- Washed up 1. Deposited on a beach by the tide. 2. Finished and failed, with no further chance of success.
- Water Someone in an unfamiliar circumstance.
- Water under the bridge A past experience that you prefer not to affect your current life.
- Wear your heart on your sleeve Openly express your emotions.
- Weather Extremely cold weather. The full expression is 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'.
- Well hung Said of a man with large genitals.
- Wet behind the ears Young and naive, like a new-born baby.
- Where theres muck theres brass Dirt and muddle are evidence of products being manufactured and money (brass) being made.
- Whipper snapper A child or impertinent youth.
- Whistle and flute Cockney rhyming slang for suit.
- White elephant An object that appears magnificent but which is a burdensome financial liability.
- Wild and woolly Uncultured and lawless.
- Wind someone up Deliberately draw attention to something with the intention of causing trouble.
- Wine and dine Entertain in a high class restaurant.
- Winter drawers on British euphemistic joke.
- Word for word An exact, precisely corresponding to, copy of another's words.
- Work A proverb that suggests a poor workman tends to look for an excuse for his poor work.
- Work out 1. Calculate using arithmetic. 2. Take exercise (also spelled 'workout').
- Worse for wear Either 1. Shabby and worn out, or 2. Drunk.
- Would you adam and eve it Cockney rhyming slang for would you believe it?
- Wouldnt be caught dead Referring to something you absolutely refuse to do.
X
Y
- Yarn bombing The adorning of public buildings with knitted or crocheted material - either for fun or to make a political point.
- Yellow belly A coward.
- You are what you eat What you eat affects you health.
- You can lead a horse to water You can encourage someone to to do something but, in the end, what they do is their own choice.
- You cant judge a book by its cover Decisions can't be made solely on appearance.
- You cant take it with you Suggestion that you should spend money and live life now as it will be no use to you after you die.
- You cant teach an old dog new tricks Once animals (and people) are set in their ways they struggle to assimilate new ideas.
- Your guess is as good as mine I have no idea.
- Your name is mud You are discredited or in disgrace. The very mention of your name produces scorn.
- Your number is up It is now your turn. For instance, if 1. You are about to die. or 2. You have won a lottery.