English-language idioms

A list of idioms can be useful, since the meaning of an idiom cannot be deduced by knowing the meaning of its constituent words.

For example, someone might know perfectly well what a bucket is and also understand the meaning of the verb "to kick" completely. However, unless they had already encountered the meaning of the phrase or were able to tell from the context the phrase appears in, they would not know that to kick the bucket is one of the many colorful idioms in the English language meaning to die.

Usages

There is limited global 'Standard English', and just as there are variants of spelling and vocabulary in English across the world, so are different idioms used. Some idioms may well be used universally, but others are obscure or unknown outside their country or region of origin. A distinction needs also to be made between idioms understood by English speakers, and those naturally used by English speakers. This distinction is important, as very many American English idioms are understood by virtue of the export of American television programmes and films, but not naturally used in other countries. For example, while many people will understand what "To take the fifth" means, very few people outside the United States of America will actually use the phrase as the American Constitution is not extra-territorial.

Legend/Key

• Global = Globally used

• AU = Australia

• NAmer = North America
  • CAN = Canada
  • MEX = Mexico
  • USA = United States

• EU = Europe
  • Ire = Ireland
  • UK = United Kingdom
    • Eng = England
    • Sc = Scotland

• NZ = New Zealand

Dictionary references

• ADHI — The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
• MW — Merriam-Webster Online
• OED — The Oxford English Dictionary Online
• ODI — The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

Contents:	Number A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z - See also - External link

Number

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
He is a 420	India	He is a cheat (420 being the section of the Indian penal code that deals with cheating).

A

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Absence makes the heart grow fonder	UK, USA, CAN	Love grows stronger when people are distanced
Ace in the hole	USA, CAN	A hidden advantage or resource kept in reserve until needed
Achilles' heel	UK, USA, CAN	A person's weak spot
Across the board	USA,CAN	Applying to everyone or everything
Against all odds	USA, CAN	In spite of seeming to be a very unlikely event
Against the grain	USA, CAN	Doing something even though one does not agree with or believe in it
Ahead of the pack	USA, CAN	To make more progress than rivals or contenders
Albatross around one's neck	USA, CAN	A problem as a result of something a person did that stops them from becoming successful
All downhill from here	USA, CAN	Things will go easily from here on out. (Alternatively, things will be more difficult from here on out [uphill].)
All ears	UK, USA, CAN	Showing intense interest in listening or hearing about something
All mouth (talk) and no trousers	UK	Said of someone who boasts in a macho way but is not likely to be able to back up his boasts. The phrase originated in the North of England. Compare variant "All fur coat and no knickers" said of posh people, implying that their airs and graces were a mask for moral laxity beneath the surface; or a Texas expression "Big hat and no cattle," said of someone of meager finances trying to create the appearance of wealth.
All over the place	USA, CAN	Extremely disorganized or confused
All roads lead to Rome	USA	There are many different ways of doing something that achieve the same ends
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride	USA, CAN	To come close to achieving success, and never achieve it
Ants in one's pants	USA, CAN	Being extremely excited that one can't keep still
Any port in a storm	UK, CAN	Unfavourable option which might well be avoided in good times but which nevertheless looks better than the alternatives at the current time.
Any Tom, Dick or Harry	UK, USA, CAN	Something can be done by any ordinary person
Apple of one's eye	USA, CAN	Something that is very special to someone, or someone who is very special to someon
Apples and oranges	Global	Two things (persons, places, situations) are completely different; there is no common ground on which to compare them
Argue the toss	UK	To refuse to accept a decision in an argument
Armed to the teeth	USA, CAN	Possessing lots of weapons
(To pay an) arm and a leg	USA, CAN	An extremely high price; to pay too much for something, sometimes out of a sense of desperation
Asleep at the wheel	USA, CAN	Irresponsible, not doing the job as supposed/assigned to do
At a loose end	USA, CAN	Having spare time and not knowing what to do with it. Also: at loose ends
At death's door	USA, CAN	On the verge of dying
At sixes and sevens	UK, USA	In a state of confusion or disagreement about how to deal with a situation
At the drop of a hat	USA, CAN	To do something immediately
At the end of one's rope (tether)	USA/UK, CAN	Having limited patience
At wits' end	USA, CAN	Not knowing what to do about something no matter how much one contemplates about it
Axe to grind	USA/UK, CAN	Most commonly used to indicate a grievance or resentment held by one party for another with an accompanying desire for revenge or resolution. The earliest usage meant to have an ulterior motive. This less commonly used meaning is anecdotally ascribed to an incident in which Benjamin Franklin was 'tricked' into sharpening an axe for an acquaintance who feigned interest in Franklin's new grinding wheel while conveniently having his own axe at hand.
AWOL	UK, USA, CAN	Absent Without Leave or Absent Without Official Leave - when someone has gone missing without telling anyone or asking for permission

B

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Babe in arms	CAN	A very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position (similar to 'wet behind the ears')
Babe in the woods	CAN	A naive and defenseless young person
(On the) back burner	UK, USA, CAN	Not requiring immediate attention; not urgent or high priority
(On the) back foot	UK	Being at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of one's situation or position
Back in the day	USA, CAN	A long time ago, or in one's youth; in a relatively idealized time period
Back the wrong horse	USA, CAN	To give support to the losing side in something
Back to square one	UK, USA, CAN	Being forced to start at the beginning again. Variant: back to the drawing board
Backseat driver	UK, USA, CAN	An annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome. Probably has its origins in people being told how to drive by a passenger, which is still the most common usage of this phrase
Bad blood	UK, USA, CAN	Hatred between two or more persons as a result of something which happened in the past
Bad egg	UK, USA, CAN	A person who cannot be trusted. Also bad hat
Bad taste in one's mouth	USA, CAN	A feeling there is something wrong about a person or situation
Baker's dozen	UK, USA, CAN	Thirteen. An unlikely origin was the reported Middle Ages practice of including a 13th loaf of bread with an order of twelve to assure that the weight would be adequate and thus avoid severe penalties for short-weighting. The most likely origin has street retailers getting a 13th loaf from the baker to get around the English "Assize of Bread and Ale" law of 1266 which fixed the weight and price of bread. Bakers threw in the 13th loaf, effectively creating a wholesale price while still adhering to the law
Ball and chain	USA	An unhelpful burden which cannot be abandoned
Ball is in one's court	UK, USA, CAN	Someone who is held responsible in making new decisions
Ballpark figure	UK, USA, CAN	A rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.
(Caught) bang to rights	UK, CAN	Caught in an unlawful or immoral act without any mitigating circumstances.
Baptism by fire	USA, CAN	An ordeal forced upon an unskilled person which would be difficult for even a skilled person. E.g., A new recruit forced into the Battle of Normandy
Bar fly	USA, CAN	Someone who frequents many bars
Bare one's heart (or soul)	USA, CAN	To reveal one's innermost secrets, personal and private feelings
Barefaced liar	USA, CAN	Someone who is not afraid to lie even when exposed
(Their) bark is worse than their bite	UK, USA, CAN	Describes persons who are hostile in words but are not equally hostile in action
Bark up the wrong tree	USA, CAN	To blame someone for what another person has done; more broadly, to follow a false lead
Basket case	USA, CAN	A person who is too impaired to function, or who feels that way. Originated as a phrase in World War I for soldiers who were so badly injured they had to be removed from the battle field on a wicker litter or basket. Has subsequently come to imply mental or emotional impairment ('she was a total basket case before the wedding'). Also used to refer to some malfunctioning mechanism
Be that as it may	USA, CAN	To take in new ideas and accept some truth but not willing to change personal opinions
To bear fruit	USA, CAN	To come to a profitable conclusion or to produce something worthwhile
Beat a dead horse	UK, USA, CAN	To engage in pointless and repetitive discussion. Beating is more common in American idiom, while Flogging a dead horse is more common in Britain - both are used equally in Canada.
Beat around the bush	UK, USA, CAN	Procrastinate or hesitate, often while speaking, mainly when one does not want to say something which may offend (circumlocution)
Beat someone to the draw	USA, CAN	To be the first to do something ('beat someone to the punch' is the US variant)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder	USA, CAN	Different people find different things beautiful
Beauty is only skin deep	UK, USA, CAN	Appearances can be deceptive; a pleasant exterior may hide a bad interior
(At one's) beck and call	USA, CAN	Fulfilling any requests, no matter how tedious or frequent
Bed of roses	UK, USA, CAN	A comfortable or luxurious position
Bedroom eyes	UK, CAN	Someone who has a sexy look in their eyes
Bee in one's bonnet	UK, USA, CAN	Describes someone who is very excited
Behind closed doors	UK, USA, CAN	Away from the public eye
Behind one's back	UK, USA, CAN	To do something pertaining to another persons or persons without telling them
Behind the times	UK, USA, CAN	Old-fashioned
Bells and whistles	UK, USA, CAN	Attractive but unnecessary features; an often pejorative term often applied to features of a commercial product which are more useful in attracting customers than in performing the task which the product is designed to perform. See also form follows function#In product design
Best of both worlds	USA, CAN	The most enjoyable or attractive features of two completely different things
(One can) bet one's bottom dollar (that X)	UK, USA, CAN	It is absolutely certain that X will occur
Between a rock and a hard place	USA, CAN	In a very difficult jam, any foreseeable resolution of which will not be pleasant. The most likely origin of this idiom is the episode of Homer's Odyssey in which Odysseus and his crew is caught between Scylla and Charybdis. Another common form of this idiom is "between the Devil and the deep blue sea"
Between the Devil and the deep blue sea	UK, CAN	In a difficult position, any foreseeable resolution of which will not be pleasant. The most likely origin of this idiom is the episode of Homer's Odyssey in which Odysseus and his crew is caught between Scylla and Charybdis. Another form of this idiom is "between a rock and a hard place"
Beyond a shadow/shout of (a) doubt	UK, USA, CAN	Absolutely certain, indubitable
Beyond the pale	UK, Ire, CAN	Too extreme to accept, either morally or socially
Big Brother	UK, USA	A name given to controlling forces that spy on and know information about people, usually used in reference to governemnt agencies, taken from the book 1984 by George Orwell
Big cheese/big fish	USA	An important person in a company or organization
Big picture	USA, CAN	The totality of a situation
(To have) bigger fish to fry	UK, USA, CAN	To have more important things to do
Bird's eye view	UK, USA, CAN	Seeing something with exceptional clarity
The birds and the bees	UK, USA, CAN	Information about sex and reproduction. Used euphemistically
Birds of a feather flock together	UK, USA, CAN	People with similar interests tend to befriend each other
Birthday suit	UK, USA, CAN	The suit one wears at birth (i.e. nothing at all).
(To have the) bit between one's teeth	UK, CAN	To take control of a situation
Bite off more than one can chew	USA, CAN	To agree to more than one can handle
Bite the dust	USA, CAN	To die
Bite the bullet	UK, USA	To accept unpleasant and unavoidable consequences as a result of some action. From the practice of biting a bullet slug to keep from crying out while having some field surgery performed without anesthesia. A less well accepted origin is from the necessity to bite off a paper portion of a bullet cartridge in order to fire it. Once the bullet had been bitten, the cartridge must be fired or discarded. The former is generally considered the true origin of the phrase, as bullets with teeth marks dating back to the Revolutionary war have been found on sites of known battlefields
Bitter pill to swallow	UK, USA, CAN	Something that is difficult to accept
Black and white	USA, CAN	When a situation has a clear distinction between negative and positive sides
Black sheep	UK, USA, CAN	An ostracized or ill-fitting member of a family or group. ("Uncle Ned is the black sheep of the family.")
Blessing in disguise	UK, USA, CAN	A misfortune which nevertheless leads to a positive effect
Blind date	UK, USA, CAN	An arranged meeting between two people of the opposite sex who haven't met before
Blood and thunder		An emotional piece or performance
Blood is thicker than water	UK, USA, CAN	Family relationships are stronger and more important than any other relationships
(Getting) blood from/out of a stone	UK, USA, CAN	Difficult
Blood, sweat, and tears	USA, CAN	The effort and sacrifice put forth to achieve an elusive goal or overcome a difficult situation. See also Blood, toil, tears, and sweat
Blow hot and cold	CAN, USA	Said of an attitude or opinion which vacilates wildly from one position to another
Blow off steam	USA, CAN	To express anger and frustration; often in a way which will not affect others
Blow the cobwebs away	CAN	To make changes for room for fresh new ideas
Blow one's stack	USA, CAN	To lose one's temper and get angry or frustrated
Blue in the face	USA, CAN	Exhausted from anger, strain, or other great effort. Alludes to the bluish skin color resulting from lack of oxygen
Bob's your uncle	UK, CAN	Easy from here on out. Everything is settled and will end in success. Originates from the 19th Century, where "Bob" was Robert Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury who, as the Prime Minister of Britain, nepotistically appointed his nephew Arthur Balfour to be Chief Secretary for Ireland. Balfour became Prime Minister in 1902
Bone to pick	UK, USA, CAN	An argument yet to be settled. ("I've got a bone to pick with him.")
(Were you) born in a barn?	UK, CAN	Said to someone who fails to close an external door behind them on entering a building, thus causing a discomforting draught. There are regional variations, in Lincolnshire for instance, one will hear "Do you come from Bardney?" a reference to a windswept fenland village in that English county. Also said, more generally, of people with crass manners or personal habits
Bottom line	USA, CAN	To come to a conclusion of a profit or loss
Box and Cox	UK	To share a single resource by sharing turn and turn about.
Box and dice		Everything
Boy toy	USA, CAN	A young man who is the lover of an older and usually more prosperous woman
Break (the) ice	USA, CAN	To start a conversation with a new person
Break a leg	UK, USA, CAN	Used as a substitute for "good luck" to wish luck to stage performers before an opening. The "leg" mentioned is the mechanism used to open and close the stage curtains; the hope is that the performance will so well received that their bows will be so frequent and sustained that the leg breaks. Also attributed to theater superstition that the opposite of a wish or curse will befall a performer (thus 'good luck' is a curse and 'break a leg' is a blessing)
Bring a knife to a gunfight	USA	Woefully underprepared
Bring home the bacon	USA, CAN	Earn a living, provide the necessities of life. Be successful, accomplish something of value.
Broken his/her duck	UK	"scored for the first time", or more generally to have avoided complete failure. In British sports slang a "duck's egg" (or "duck") refers to a score of "zero" or "nought". (Similarly "goose eggs" can also mean "00" in American slang.) In the British game of Cricket scoring naught is getting a "duck" and a batter's first run scored is, therefore, "breaking his duck". Generally intended hopefully, as a harbinger of more success to follow. "He's out of his rut and starting to make progress."
Brown nose	UK, USA, CAN	The use of flattery to try to become popular with someone in a position of authority
Brush one's shoulders off		Remove oneself from a situation
Brush (or sweep) under the carpet	UK, USA, CAN	Attempt to hide something from public view
Bulge the (old) onion bag; put a bulge in the onion bag	UK	In soccer, to score a goal. Refers to the bulging of the net when the ball hits it
Built like a brick shithouse	UK, CAN, USA	More often than not referring to a person rather than a thing, it suggest that the person is extremely strong, muscular, or heavy.
Bull in a china shop	UK, USA, CAN	A tactless person who upsets others or upsets plans; a physically or socially clumsy person
Burn one's bridges	UK, USA, CAN	To make it impossible to revert to a previous position
Burn the candle at both ends	UK, USA	Rising early and retiring late and trying to fit a lot in between. This originates from the Romans, who literally burned candles at both ends. Also used similarly to burning bridges.
Burn the midnight oil	UK, USA, CAN	Studying or working late into, or through, the night
Bury one's head in sand	UK, USA, CAN	Ignoring something which is obviously wrong
Bury the hatchet	USA, CAN	To make peace or end hostilities. The phrase originates with the literal practice among the Native Americans of the Iroquois federation and was described as early as 1680 by the Englishman Samuel Sewall. See [1] as well
Busman's holiday	UK, CAN	To combine work with a vacation, or to take a vacation that resembles one's employment - from the notion of a bus-driver going on a bus-tour
Busted flush	UK	Someone who had great potential but ended up a useless and miserable failure
Butter wouldn't melt in their mouth	UK, CAN	Someone who looks very innocent
Butterflies in the stomach	UK, USA, CAN	A feeling of anxiety, usually queasiness in the abdomen
Buy the farm	USA	To die (in reference to wartime pilot crashes causing forced purchases of farmland)
Buy a pig in a poke	UK, CAN	To purchase something without inspection, thereby creating an opportunity for fraud. Canonical: unethical farmer places a barn-yard cat in a burlap bag (poke) and sells it sight-unseen to another, claiming it contains a piglet. Related to "the cat's out of the bag", below
(Doing something) by the numbers or by the book	USA, CAN	To do things precisely as instructed, or as perceived to be instructed
By word of mouth	USA, CAN	Something that is known for being talked about instead of via publicity or advertising

C

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Call a spade a spade	UK, USA	Someone who speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt to hide their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience
Call it a day	USA	Decide to finish or end something, like a day's work
Call the badger a bishop	UK	This term derives from the practice of badger-baiting, in which a badger is put into a pit and made to fight dogs. To call the badger a bishop is to imply that the badger's overwhelmed condition somehow makes it virtuous, when it is, in fact, just a badger. So, the term means committing the fallacy of projecting virtue on to the oppressed or disadvantaged
Call the shots	USA, CAN	Someone who is in charge and held responsible
Came for the X, stayed for the Y	USA	Being present for a specific cause and receiving a greater benefit
Can of corn	USA	Very easy - from the practice at grocers of placing corn (or other foods) on high up shelves. A can could be pulled down with a stick and the ease with which it could be caught was applied to easy-to-catch hits (pop-up flys) in baseball
(Open up a) can of whoop-ass	USA	To attack another person physically, usually used as part of a threat to do so.
(Open up a) can of worms	UK, USA	To create a situation that is hard to deal with, especially one that comes about unexpectedly and intractably. To "open a can of worms" is to get involved with something that is discomforting, hard to resolve, or not easily escaped (closing a container of worms, used as bait by fishermen, generally involves some tricky handling of the wriggling occupants)
Can't _____ oneself out of a wet paper bag / Can't_____ to save one's life	USA	Woefully unable to perform the task in hand
Can't see the forest (wood) for the trees	UK, USA	Losing sight of the big picture by getting mired down in details
Can't see your nose in front of your face	USA	Being oblivious to something in plain view
Card up one's sleeve	UK, USA	To have a surprise plan or idea that one is keeping back until the time is right
Carry coals to Newcastle	UK	Engaging in useless labour (Newcastle is a famous coal-mining district of England
Carry the can	UK	To take the blame for something one did not do
Cash in one's chips	USA	To sell something to make a profit believing the value is going to fall. To die
Castle in the air	USA	A plan that is impractical, illogical and will never work
Cat amongst the pigeons	UK	Putting a cat amongst the pigeons involves some, usually premeditated, disruption. Such an act might simply be verbal, cutting across an apparent consensus, but will certainly disturb the equilibrium
Cat got your tongue?	UK, USA	Asked of someone rendered speechless to emphasize their inability to speak
Cat in the pan		Betrayer, renegade, turnabout and turncoat; the same as "flip-flopper"
Cat's out of the bag	UK, USA	A secret or hidden thing has been discovered
Catch 22	USA	From the eponymous book by Joseph Heller: a problem with a method of resolution that negates the conditions for resolution. In the book, a soldier is considered insane and unfit for combat if he willingly continues to fly missions. However, asking to be relieved from duty on the basis of insanity shows that he is mentally competent. Consequently, he must continue to serve
(Wouldn't be) caught/seen dead with	USA	Would rather have nothing to do with
Caught red-handed	UK, USA	Caught in the middle of the crime; discovered in a situation where your guilt is obvious. Derived from medieval England where the King owned all the forests and all the game in them. The King had Game Wardens that policed the forest in search of poachers. When the wardens caught a poacher, it was usually when they were dressing and cleaning the kill. Thus they were "caught red handed"
Chalk and cheese	UK	Things or people that are very different and have nothing in common
Champ at the bit	UK, USA	To be frustrated over something
Change horses in midstream	UK, USA	Make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity; connotes an unwise, or at best risky, activity. Apparently first used by Abraham Lincoln in the form swap horses while crossing the river.
Change of heart	UK, USA	A sudden change of one's opinion about something
Charity begins at home	UK, USA	Means that family members are more important than anyone else and should always be the focus of a person's efforts, family comes first before anyone.
Chase rainbows	USA	To do something one may not ever achieve
Cherry pick	USA	To support something that pertains to one's position and ignoring everything else that contradicts it
Chew the cud	USA	To think and ponder carefully about something before taking action
Child's play, Kid's stuff	UK, USA	An easy and simple task that requires little or no effort
Chuck a wobbly		To act in an overly emotional way to express sadness and anger. (One's upper lip does not remain stiff, and wobbles)
Chip off the old block	UK, USA	A person who is highly similar to a direct ancestor or predecessor
Clear as mud	USA	Something that is confusing and not clear
Cliffhanger	USA	In sports or elections, a result that is so close that it cannot be predicted and will only be known at the very end
Close but no cigar	USA	Someone who is close to success but has not gotten there yet
Close the barn door after the horse gets out	USA	Refers to not taking action until after a problem has already occurred, usually when it's too late and should have been done sooner. "Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted" is the common British variant
Close to one's heart	USA	Something or someone in which a person cares very deeply or is passionate about
Closed book	USA	Not known much about, confusing; a topic not to be discussed
Cock and bull story	UK, USA	A far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity
Cold day in hell	USA	A very unlikely event or situation (also "about as much chance as hell freezing over")
Cold feet	UK, USA	Uncourageous, cowardly
Cold light of day	USA	To see things as they really are and not as how one wants them to be
Cold shoulder	USA	Deliberate disregard for someone or something. This term, which first appeared in writings by Sir Walter Scott and others, supposedly alludes to the custom of welcoming a desired guest with a meal of roasted meat, but serving only a cold shoulder of beef or lamb (a far inferior dish) to those who outstayed their welcome, in the early 1800s.
Come clean	USA	To admit to wrongdoing or deceit
Come hell or high water	USA	To be dedicated and committed to something despite any obstacles that may present themselves
Come out in the wash	USA	To come out without any negative effect
(To) come out of the closet	USA	When one publicly reveals a secret about oneself, usually an important or embarrassing secret. Often used in reference to homosexuality
Come the raw prawn	AU	Attempt to cheat or trick
Come up (smelling like) roses	USA	Turn out extremely well; emerge untarnished from a difficult situation, have no stain on one's character
Come what may	USA	To do something regardless of what happens
Come within an ace of (doing) something		To almost achieve something
Comfort zone	USA	It is the temperature range in which the body doesn't shiver or sweat, but has an idiomatic sense of a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.
Constitution of an ox	UK	Someone who is less affected than most people by alcohol, tiredness or illness.
Cook someone's goose	UK	To ruin someone's plans
Cook up a storm	USA	To make a big fuss or generate a lot of talk over something unnecessary
Coon's age	USA	A long time (Note: This idiom is no longer in popular usage as it is mistakenly considered racist, as 'coon' is also offensive slang for an African American).
Couch potato		An idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time in front of a television and eats a diet that is mainly junk food
Cousin Michael	UK	A disparaging designation of the Germans as slow, heavy, unpolished and ungainly. ('Michel,' in Old German, means 'gross')
Cox and box	UK	To share a single resource by sharing turn and turn about.
Crash a party	UK, USA	To be somewhere one has not been invited to, to come uninvited
(To) criticize the paint job on the Titanic	USA	To point out the petty flaws in something which cannot be saved even by a thorough overhaul
(To) cross all your T's and dot all your I's	UK, USA	To take care of every detail, including the minor ones
Cross to bear	USA	To have a heavy burden of responsibility or a problem that one alone must cope with
Cry one's eyes out	USA	To cry uncontrollably
Cry wolf	UK, USA	To raise a false alarm. Alludes from the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Curiosity killed the cat	UK, USA	The literal meaning of the phrase makes reference to the characteristic tendency of housecats to thoroughly investigate anything unfamiliar, perhaps to their detriment if something apparently benign turns out to be dangerous. The phrase is often used as an urge towards caution, an admonition to "leave well enough alone", or, less benevolently, to stop asking questions (lest the benign listener lose patience with the questioner)
Curve ball	USA	Something that is deceptive
Cut it fine	UK	To do something at the last moment
(You have) cut me to the quick	USA	The literal meaning is to cut deeply through the skin to the "living flesh" (quick); perhaps referring to the raw flesh under the fingernails. The phrase is used to express emotional hurt arising from a disparaging comment
Cut off your nose to spite your face	UK, USA	To take rash or single-minded action that hurts your own cause in the end. Similar to "throwing the baby out with the bathwater"
Cut the Gordian knot		To solve a complex problem in a simple way
Cut to the chase	USA	To get to the point, or the most interesting or important part of something without delay
Cutting edge	USA	At the forefront of progress in an area
Culture shock		A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. The term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from a rural area to a big city

D

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Damned if you do, damned if you don't	USA	A situation where one's actions can have no beneficial consequence; an unpleasant outcome will occur no matter what
Dark horse	UK, USA	A surprise candidate or competitor; someone who hides their talents or interests. From the metaphor: "He rode in as if on a dark horse in the night" or "No one saw him coming."
Darken someone's door(step)	UK	Come unwanted to someone's home. As an imperative, the expression is associated with Victorian melodrama, where someone (usually a young woman or man) is thrown out of the parental home for some misdeed, but it is actually much older. Benjamin Franklin used it in The Busybody (1729): "I am afraid she would resent it so as never to darken my doors again."
A day late and a dollar short	USA	Too little, too late
(Your) days are numbered	USA	Used to indicate that someone or something is beyond its years or will not exist for much longer; also for the purpose of evoking a pessimistic view about the future and/or current state of affairs due to repetitious monotony
Dead and buried	UK, USA	A settled issue. Something no longer needing consideration
Dead as a doornail (or dodo)	UK, USA	Useless, very distinctly dead. A doornail is the strikeplate for most door knockers. To hold it in place, after it was driven through the door, the pointed end was bent over and buried in the door, to prevent movement. This nail was unrecoverable, so was considered dead to future reclamation, which was apparently common before modern time
Dead heat	UK, USA	Two or more competitors finish with the same results. From racing.
Dead in the water	UK, USA	Not going anywhere, not making progress
Dead-shot/dead-eye	UK	A good marksman; one who has accuracy in hitting chosen targets using firearms or other weapons.
Dead to rights	USA	Caught in the act ("The police had the burglars dead to rights when they arrived."), or at the mercy of someone ("The cavalry had the fleeing soldiers dead to rights.") 'Bang to rights' is the UK version
Dead to the world	USA	Not in touch, unaware of what is happening
Death of a thousand cuts		Many peccadilloes, none of which are fatal in themselves, which ultimately add up to a slow and painful demise
(Having) deep pockets	USA	Rich and/or generous
Devil's advocate	UK, USA	One who argues a point of view that is not necessarily one's own for the sake of fairness. To play "the devil's advocate" in a debate is to ensure that some attempt was made to hear a side that might otherwise have gone unrepresented
(The) devil finds work for idle hands	UK, USA	Someone who cannot find productivity in life or work will find crime and trouble instead
(The) die is cast	UK, USA	A decision is made that cannot be altered; fate will decide the consequences (from Alea jacta est)
Different kettle of fish	UK	Very different from other things referenced in context
Dime a dozen	USA	Very common and easy to get; very cheap; not special
Dirty look	USA	A look of disapproval or malice. Also: A black look.
Do one's dirty work	USA	To carry out tasks that the original person does not wish to do
Doesn't know (one's) ass from a hole in the ground	USA	Very stupid or uninformed.
Dog and pony show	USA	A presentation which aims to persuade by overwhelming the senses or appealing to fancy; generally a marketing presentation which offers little or no real informational content. May also refer to anything with more style than substance
Dog-eat-dog world	UK, USA	Describes intense competition and rivalry
Dog in the manger	UK	Someone who denies others the use of a resource, even though they cannot possibly use the resource themselves. From Aesop's fable of the same name, The Dog in the Manger, about a dog preventing cows from eating the straw on which it is lying
Don't count your chickens before they hatch	USA	Nothing is certain until the final conclusion
Don't hold your breath	USA	Keep one's expectations low
Don't judge a book by its cover	USA	Do not rely solely on looks and appearance when estimating the value of a person or thing
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth	USA	Do not question the value of a gift. The expression comes from the practice of determining the age of a horse by looking at its teeth
(The) door swings both ways	USA	The same principle applies to two or more situations. Typically used to attack hypocratic statements or actions, e.g. "What you do to me, I can do to you."
Double-edged sword	UK, USA	Something that can give help or harm
Down in the dumps (or doldrums)	UK, USA	Sad or regretful
Drag one's heels (or feet)	USA	To do something slowly or unwillingly
Draw a blank	USA	Unable to come up with a searched-for idea or plan
Draw a long bow		To lie
(To) draw a line (in the sand)	USA	To set limits
Drive a wedge	USA	Introduce a contentious issue into a debate so as to cause a united group to split and disagree among themselves.
Driving one up the wall	USA	Agitating to the point of great frustration
Drop the ball	USA	Make a major mistake; often used when that mistake causes the failure or setback of a larger event
Dry run	USA	Stepping through a process without actually performing any permanent actions. Used to assess the feasability and/or impact of a process.
Dutch uncle		An unhelpful person who gives unwelcome advice
Dwell on the past	USA	Giving energy and thought to the past at the expense of the present or future

E

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Each to one's own	USA	Different people have different preferences (Typically to each his own)
Eagle eyes	USA	Someone who sees everything
Easier said than done	USA	More difficult than it sounds
Eat crow		To suffer humiliation and/or reluctantly admit defeat
(To have) egg on one's face	UK, USA	To be embarrassed
Elephant in the room	USA	The problem or situation immediately obvious to all, but spoken of by none. Usually the topic in question is emotionally charged and so felt by most involved to be best ignored
Eleventh hour	UK, USA	The last minute
(The) ends justify the means	USA	A good result will (or should) atone for any unethical actions which were taken to get there
Even Stevens	UK, USA	When everything is equal among people
Every man for himself	UK, USA	Used of persons trying to save themselves from a difficult situation while ignoring the needs of everyone else
Explore all avenues	USA	To try everything, for a possibility that one will obtain the right result
Eye for an eye	UK	Severe justice; the punishment is equal to that which was lost in the crime. Also known as lex talionis

F

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Fall off the wagon	USA	To return to a previous bad practice one is trying to overcome (usually alcoholism); to revert to undesireable behavior after a period of attempted reform
Fall on (one's) sword	UK, USA	To take responsibility or blame for a negative outcome, especially if one's own idea To sacrifice oneself Originated in the Bible: - Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him... 1 Samuel 31:4-5
Familiarity breeds contempt	UK, USA	The more one knows about a person or situation, the more faults they will find with it
Father figure	USA	A person whom one can turn to for advice and support
Feather one's nest	UK	To make a profit only for oneself, especially by taking advantage of others or one's position
A few X short of a Y	USA	Not possessing all of one's mental faculties; i.e., crazy or stupid. These phrases take the form "A few X short of a Y" where X is a common component of Y. In these phrases, Y represents full mental capacity, and the lack of a few X implies a lack of full mental capacity. Examples include: A few fries short of a Happy Meal. A few sandwiches short of a picnic. Two bricks short of a load. A few syllables short of a Haiku. A couple of cans short of a six-pack. A few pickles shy of a barrel. A few gunmen short of a firing squad. One enchilada short of a full meal deal. One nut short of a fruitcake. A few tacos short of a combo plate. A few clowns short of a circus. One Excedrin tablet short of a full medicine cabinet. A few cards short of a full deck.
Fifteen minutes of fame	USA	To be very popular or famous for a short span of time (i.e. a one hit wonder) and then to be forgotten. Based on the 1968 quote by Andy Warhol, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes"
Fifth wheel	USA	An unnecessary person or thing
(With a) fine-tooth(ed) comb	UK, USA	Very carefully; usually used with a 'searching' or 'looking' verb (e.g. she examined the room with a fine tooth-comb.) It derives from the use of combs with close-set teeth. The Oxford English dictionary dates the figurative usage to 1891 ("...go through this town like a fine-tooth comb...").
First in, best dressed	Australia	The first people to do or ask for something will usually get the thing or will gain an advantage
Fish or cut bait (A variation is "shit or get off the pot")		A pragmatic expression which demands that an indecisive person either do a specific thing immediately, or step aside and let another person attempt it [2]
Fish out of water	UK, USA	A person in uncharted territory; in a confused state due to lack of experience with a situation
(On a) fishing expedition	USA	Trying to find some evidence of something, often through improper methods and without a defined target. Sometimes used in court
Flash in the pan	UK, USA	A transient happening which results in no long-term effect. From a type of misfire of a flintlock gun; OED cites tis usage to 1810: "Flash in the pan, an explosion of gunpowder without any communication beyond the touch-hole."[3]
Flat out, like a lizard drinking	Aus	Extremely busy
Flesh and blood	UK, USA	Blood relatives, especially nuclear family
To flip-flop or to be a flip-flopper	USA	To be inconsistant in views or stances on a subject and to repeatedly go between the two choices. A vacillator.
Fly high	USA	Very successful. Also: be/come/get off to a flying start
Fly off the handle	UK, USA	To react to something with anger or rage
Fly on the wall	USA	To see and hear events as they happen
Follow in someone's footsteps (tracks)	USA	Follow someone's example or guidance
A fool and his money are soon (easily) parted; or A fool and his money are often parted	USA	Someone who recklessly uses money spends it quickly; or in the opinion of the speaker, a person has just spent money unnecessarily and is, therefore, a fool.
(Can't see the) forest for the trees	USA	To get caught up in small details and failing to understand the bigger picture
Fourth estate	USA	The media and newspapers
Fox in the henhouse	USA	Trouble or mischief is apparent
French leave	UK	Absent without permission to be so. AWOL
(Breath of) fresh air	UK, USA	New and refreshing
Freudian slip	UK, USA	Accidental use of the wrong word, especially when the word used implies something that the speaker would not want to admit about his or her true thoughts, e.g. "My mom is here to pick me up," upon the arrival of the speaker's wife.
From rags to riches	UK, USA	To start out as poor and a make a fortune later
From scratch	UK, USA	To start from the beginning. Often used in cooking and baking, meaning that the dish is made from individual ingredients and not from a box mix.
From the bottom of one's heart	UK, USA	To do something with genuine feeling and emotion
Fucked six ways to (or from) Sunday	USA	To be utterly ruined in every possible manner; by every imaginable method.
Full fathom five	USA	(From Shakespeare, The Tempest) Lost deep in the sea
Full swing	USA	Means that things are going well
Fullness of time	UK	Means that something will happen when the time is right and appropriate
Funny enough to make a cat laugh.	UK	Very funny indeed.

G

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Get one's goat	UK, USA	To become irritated by something. Goats used to be put in with nervous horses to calm them down before a race, if you took away the goat the horse would become nervous
Get to grips with	USA	To deal with something decisively, battle with or gain an understanding of. See also: lose one's grip (nerve)
(Bird) in a gilded (or golden) cage	UK	In a pleasant situation but suffering a loss of freedom. For example, celebrities fear they are "prisoners in gilded cages", because despite their wealth and fame, every action they make is under intense scrutiny
Give one's two cents, or "That's my two cents"	USA	To ask for a person's opinion, to give one's opinion
Give 'em hell	USA	An encouragement to a person to give a task or opponent their best effort and ability
Give one curry		To abuse someone angrily
Give up the ghost	UK, USA	To die, expire, or otherwise come to an end. To end all things
Go with the flow	USA	To conform or go along with whatever happens
Go off half-cocked	UK, USA	To do something, typically violent or disruptive, prematurely. From a term for premature firing of a flintlock. (incorrect) Flintlocks "safety" position was halfway between down and fully cocked. This position was used for the loading of the weapon, since the gun would not fire from this position. Soldiers would forget to completely cock the weapon, resulting in the inability to fire when desired. Thus the phrase "Don't go off half cocked!"
Goody two shoes	UK, USA	A self-righteous person who makes a deal of their virtue
(His/her) goose is cooked	USA	The person being referred to is in deep trouble with little hope of recovery
(To) grab/grasp at straws	UK, USA	To make final attempts at reaching an end, especially in a moment of desperation and especially using means that otherwise would be known to be futile. Refers to a drowning person grabbing at straws floating in the water in the effort to stay afloat. If the threat of drowning wasn't so imminent, that person wouldn't bother grabbing at the straws, knowing they would be of no help
(The) grass is greener on the other side	UK, USA	When a different situation seems better than one's own
(Take it with a) Grain of salt	UK, USA	To be skeptical and cautious about whether what someone has said is true, or is the complete story
(To be on the) gravy train	??	To be the recipient of benefits earned by colleagues, such as the agent of an athlete.

H

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Hanging by a thread	UK, USA	In danger; must use more precise caution
(A) hard (or tough) nut to crack	USA	A difficult or troublesome problem, or a person who is difficult to convince.
Haul (someone) over the coals	UK, USA	To harshly scold, remprimand or interrogate someone about something they did. For example, a boss might 'haul an employee over the coals' for poor performance, or the police might do the same to a suspect. In the USA, "rake (someone) over the coals" is more common.
Have a cow	USA	To be dramatically upset or angry, e.g. "He will have a cow if he sees the mess you made"
Have a dog in the fight/race		To have a stake in, or be exposed to the risks associated with, the outcome of some problem or dispute. Conversely, "I don't have a dog in that fight" is frequently used as a way to beg off and opt out of being expected to assist
Have/hold all the aces	USA	To be in a strong position when one is competing with someone else, having all the advantages
Have an ace up one's sleeve	USA	To have an advantage that other people do not know about
Have it out with someone	UK	To resolve a point of disagreement or tension with someone, often longstanding, and sometimes by physical means i.e to intend to have a fight.
Have one's cake and eat it too	UK, USA	To attempt to get all the positive aspects of something while avoiding any negative but usually occurring aspects
(Falling) head over heels	UK, USA	Utter infatuation (e.g. "I fell head over heels for her").
Hear (straight) from the horse's mouth	UK, USA	To hear or get information through a direct source
Heard through the grapevine	UK, USA	To obtain information via public transfer or gossip
Heart and soul	USA	The entirety of one's energies or affections
A ___ in Hell's chance	UK,USA	No chance. ___ can be a cat or a snowball.
(Going to) Hell in a handbasket	USA	Going wrong with alarming speed and ease. Said of a situation, e.g. 'This meeting is going to Hell in a handbasket'
Herding cats	UK	Trying to elicit coordinated action from a group not inclined to do so. Doing something that is very difficult. Also, "Like stacking hard-boiled eggs"
Hit the ground running	UK	To begin an endeavor at full effectiveness, with no delay
Hit the hay	USA	To go to bed; also 'hit the sack'
Hit the nail on the head	USA	To get something exactly right
Hit the roof	UK	Became very angry
Hobson's choice	UK	A choice that is no real choice; a situation from which there is no escape; a problem in which any course of action is likely to result in undesirable consequences. Derives from the practice of Thomas Hobson, a Cambridge innkeeper, of allowing patrons to choose the horse nearest the door, or no horse at all. Similar to a "no-win situation" and Catch 22
Hoist by your own petard	UK	To be harmed by one's own plan to harm someone else or to fall in one's own trap.
A home (away) from home	USA	Place where one feels very welcome
Home truths	UK	Honest criticism which is often painful
(Fell for it) hook, line, and sinker	USA	Completely taken in by someone's deceit
Hot potato	UK, USA	In the common political usage the 'hot potato' represents an issue which is controversial and generally avoided. In a business setting it sometimes refers to a project or responsiblity that no one wants to assume, usually because the probability of failure is high. From a children's game in which an object which represents (or actually is) a hot potato is passed around a circle of players while music plays (or time is kept). The loser - the one left holding the 'potato' when the music stops (or time is up) - is eliminated, until only one person is left. A variation (when using an actual very hot potato) is to eliminate anyone who drops the potato

I

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
An ice cube's chance in hell	USA	Meaning virtually no possibility of occuring whatsoever
If it had been a snake, it would have bitten you	USA	Said of someone when what they were looking for was in a very obvious place
In for a penny, in for a pound	UK	Said by someone realising that risks of failure are increasing, but still prepared to press onwards, maintaining their earlier efforts. Similar to the expression "no turning back"
(To stand/step/run/walk) in front of a moving train	UK, USA	To die, or to die a loyal death (suicide) and not necessarily from a train. Sometimes taken literally, as people have died from being in front of trains. Also means to take a huge risk. Another variant is "to crawl in front of/under a moving train" which means to engage in extremely risky behavior since trains have little crawlspace underneath.
In the limelight/spotlight	UK, USA	Possessing large amounts of attention. Originating from Victorian times when spotlights in theatres were used by burning quicklime (Calcium oxide)
In (or out) of the loop	USA	Informed or not informed of key information, respectively
In the same boat	USA	Two or more parties in the same situation, especially a situation where what affects one party affects the other. Making a hole in the boat out of spite would drown the one and the other equally
In the twinkle/blink of an eye/in a flash	UK, USA	To happen very quickly
In this day and age	USA	The present, indicating vast differences between modern and old times
Iron out the difficulty	UK	To resolve an issue. It suggests the problem is minor but is something that will need work (as in smoothing wrinkles out of cloth with an iron)
Is the glass half empty or half full?	USA	A phrase illustrating that 'good' or 'bad' is often a matter of perspective. From the belief that someone who refers to a glass as "half full" has an optimistic outlook on life, and someone who refers to the same glass as half empty has a pessimistic one
Is the Pope Catholic?	UK	A phrase used to answer in the affirmative, implying that the questioner is silly to ask the question, as the answer is obvious.
It's (all) Greek to me	UK, USA	Beyond comprehension, unintelligble. This expression was coined by William Shakespeare, who used it literally in Julius Caesar (1:2), where Casca says of a speech by Seneca, deliberately given in Greek so that some would not understand it, "For mine own part, it was Greek to me."

J

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Jack of all trades, master of none	UK, USA	A person who is skilled at many things, who can do many different types of jobs; a person who knows a little about many jobs but isn't skilled at any one job. (Ex: "I'll have my son fix that plumbing problem for you. He's really a jack of all trades.") In the USA, the second clause is usually omitted.
Join the club	UK, USA	A phrase used to express sympathy for a common experience
Jump down someone's throat	UK, USA	Strongly criticize, reprimand or disagree with someone (Late 1800s)
Jump to a conclusion	UK, USA	Form an opinion or judgment hastily
Jump the gun	USA	Start doing something too soon, act too hastily. Alludes to starting a race before the starter's gun has gone off, and supplants the earlier beat the pistol, which dates from about 1900. (Mid 1900s)
Juggling picked onions (or frogs)		Carrying out a hazardous or difficult task. Both onions and frogs are slippery and so likely to be hard to juggle with ease.
Just for the record	USA	To set things straight, make clear. This usage employs record in the sense of "public knowledge".

K

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Kangaroo loose in the top paddock		Denotes a person who is a little crazy
Keep a stiff upper lip	UK, USA	To exercise self-restraint in the expression of emotion, especially fear or grief
Keep one's eyes open/peeled/skinned	UK, USA	Be observant and perceptive
King of the castle or Lord of the manor	USA	A man who is in complete control of his home
King of the hill, to be king of the hill	USA	To be at the pinacle of one's field
Kill the goose that laid the golden egg	USA	To do away with, in one form or another, a source of benefit, intentionally or not
Kick the bucket	UK, USA	To die. Derived from the slaughter of pigs, the wooden block a pig was hung from during slaughter was referred to as a buque. Thus in the process of killing the pig, it would inevitably kick it
Killing two birds with one stone	UK, USA	Achieving two desirable effects with one process or action
Kick ass or kick butt	USA	Punish harshly or defeat soundly; also used to express extreme approval of a situation - "this concert kicks ass."
Kick ass and take names	USA	More superlative version of the idiom "to kick ass."
Knock on wood/Touch wood (Knocking on wood)	UK, USA	Knock on (or touch) unfinished wood to avert the bad luck evoked by making a confident statement (example: "I haven't been sick in twenty years, knock on wood.") By 'knocking on wood', the speaker hopes to prevent their remarkable good health from suddenly ending because they've bragged about it. The custom comes from the hope of evoking the care of spirits that live in trees (druids)

L

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Last but not least	UK, USA	Things are not necessarily in order of importance. Often introduces the strongest point in an argument, the last point of a message, or the last person to be formally introduced. Sometimes spitefully or facetiously reversed (e.g. "Last and definitely the least")
Last straw	UK, USA	A problem or obstacle that may be trivial in itself, but causes cataclysmic failure because it pushes the total array of problems or obstacles to an intolerable level. Also referred to as the Straw that broke the camel's back, after the original proverb: a straw by itself has an insignificant weight, but enough of them together can be a crushing weight
Let the cat out of the bag	UK, USA	Reveal a big secret, often unintentionally
(The) lights are on, but no one's home	UK, USA	Said of a person that is lacking intellect and/or sanity, even if they may appear at first to possess full mental faculties. Like "two bricks short of a load", there are endless variations, based around the metaphor of a machine or a system that is not operating as it should ("His elevator doesn't stop at all floors.")
Like a moth to a flame	UK, USA	Strongly attracted to something, regardless of likely negative consequence
Like father, like son	UK, USA	In the same manner and likeness from generation to generation
Like taking candy from a baby / Like shooting fish in a barrel	USA	Very easily done
Lion's den	USA	Any dangerous or frightening place
A little bird told me	USA	A source who cannot or will not be identified gave this information.
A little bit from column A, a little bit from column B		An answer to an either/or question implying that both answers are correct
Living under a rock	USA	Ignorant of common knowledge or major events/trends ("Have you been living under a rock?")
Loan shark	UK, USA	A predatory lender, usually one that charges inordinately high interest (Usury).
Loose cannon	UK, USA	A reckless individual
Lose one's nerve	UK, USA	To become frightened or timid, or to lose courage.

M

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Make hay	USA	To take advantage of a favorable opportunity. To work diligently toward a goal. Sometimes this idiom appears as "to make hay while the sun shines"
Make love	Global	To court or to have sexual intercourse. Used by Shakespeare; from French (faire l'amour) or Italian (fare l'amore).
Make a mountain out of a molehill	UK, USA	Interpret great significance (generally negative) from a (seemingly) minor event; to assume something is much worse than it actually is. This is most often used in criticism
Mi casa es su casa	USA	Taken from Spanish where it literally means "My house is your house," a phrase spoken to guests to make them feel at ease in a host's home
Mind one's Ps and Qs	UK, USA	To be very careful and/or to behave correctly. It is tied to the fact that the lowercase letters "p" and "q" mirror each other. This is a term from typesetters in the printing industry. In the days of lead type, letters were set individually into a page, and they were placed one by one, upside down. They were pulled from a typecase, in which each letter had a designated space to reside. Problems came when pages were being taken apart and letters put away. If someone was in a hurry or was not paying attention to what he was doing, he could end up with p's and q's in the wrong slots in the typecase, which he wouldn't notice until the next time he was putting together a page, when he would unknowingly pick out the wrong letter. (This could also happen with b's and d's, but as they are more common than q's, typesetters were more accustomed to finding them, and they were mixed up less often.) Hence, pay attention to what you're doing now, so that you don't give yourself problems later on. In England this phrase is also associated with "p'ease" and "'k you" baby talk for 'Please' and 'Thank you', hence "Mind your P's and Q's" is sometimes used to mean "Remember to say 'Please' and 'Thank you.'"
(There is) more than one way to kill (or skin) a cat	UK, USA	Something can be achieved in several different ways. Often used upon the realization that one attempted method has failed or is about to fail (e.g. "This method has failed, but there's more than one way to skin a cat!")
Move up (in the world)	UK, USA	Advance to a higher level and succeed
Mother nature	UK, USA	Nature and its benevolence towards human beings
Mum's the word	UK, USA	The issue or topic at hand is of great secrecy and one cannot reveal any more than one already has
My old (wo)man	UK	A slightly derogatory term for husband/wife or father/mother

N

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Nailing jelly to a wall/tree	USA	A futile endeavor; impossible task
(That's) neither here nor there	USA	It doesn't matter; said of something irrelevant to the topic under consideration
Nip it in the bud	UK, USA	Taking action at the onset of a problem before it grows into an uncontrollable situation. A bud that is pinched will not bloom
No-brainer	UK, USA	A problem that is especially easy to solve, if not outright obvious
No skin off one's nose	UK, USA	To be indifferent to the outcome of a situation because it does not affect one personally
(Having one's) nose to the grindstone	UK, USA	Working very hard, especially at a tedious task
Not enough room to swing a cat/You couldn't swing a cat in here	UK	An extremely compact room. Sometimes used for the opposite meaning, "You could swing a cat in here."
(The opera's) or (it's) not over until the fat lady sings		This phrase is similar in meaning to "Don't count your chickens before they hatch," i.e., nothing is certain until the final conclusion. It is attributed to Yogi Berra and is probably a humorous jab at the girth of a stereotypical female opera singer, combined with the legitimate observation that such a woman will often sing the final notes of the performance
Not playing with a full deck	USA	Someone who is eccentric, mad or wildly unconventional, bordering on crazy. See Two bricks short of a load
Not the X-est Y in Z		Having comparatively diminished capacities, especially in reference to intelligence. Similar to "A few X short of a Y", but describing quality rather than quantity and often used for mock-humility Not the sharpest pencil in the drawer. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. Not the brightest [light] bulb on the [Christmas] tree. Not the brightest crayon in the box.

1. Not the brightest star in the sky.

O

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Off (or below) the radar	USA	Beyond popular consciousness, less obvious or less mainstream
Off one's rocker	UK, USA	Mentally imbalanced, crazy
Off the hook	UK, USA	Someone who is off the hook has avoided a situation in which they would be blamed for something or punished for something. Note, hoever, that a telephone that is off the hook is one where the handset has been raised from the body of the telephone, preventing it from ringing - for instance, if somebody does not wish to be disturbed, they will take the 'phone off the hook.
Off the straight and narrow	UK	Someone who is off the straight and narrow is acting in immoral ways.
Off the wall	USA	Strange, odd, or unusual
Off the X		Fairly recent slang expression, in which X is replaced by various nouns to make an expression with the general meaning of "great" or "wonderful". (e.g. Off the chain, off the wall, off the hook, etc.)
Old flame	UK, USA	Someone a person was strongly attracted to in the past, a former lover
On a hiding to nothing	UK	Someone on a hiding to nothing is attempting the impossible, working hard at something that will not produce results.
On a promise	UK	Someone on a promise is acting in the expectation of being rewarded. Usually applies to a man doing something in the expectation that a particular woman will be nice to him/reward him later.
On a wing and a prayer	UK, USA	To rely mostly on hope to get through a desperate situation. Originating from a WWII era song depicting badly damaged aircraft limping back home after a bombing raid
On point	USA	Describing someone or something as extremely effective or very well prepared. See also 'On the ball'
On the fence	UK, USA	Undecided between two options; vacillating between two ideas or choices
On the rag	USA	Someone who is cranky, especially a woman exhibiting symptoms of PMS or menstrual cramps
On the same page	UK, USA	Two or more parties understand a situation the same way and are operating accordingly
(To think) one's head will burst	USA	To be extremely angry
Only the tip of the iceberg	UK, USA	A situation which is more complex than it first seems. Only a small fraction of an iceberg is visible above the surface
On a roll	USA	Enjoying a continuous series of successes
On cloud nine	UK, USA	To be extremely happy. Original connotation referred to a state of stupor or unconsciousness; possibly drug or alcohol induced. Popular usage may have originated from a 1950s American radio program 'Johnny Dollar' in which one character was regularly knocked out and transported to 'Cloud Nine'. A numbering system for clouds in which level 9 is ascribed to the (30-40,000 feet) cumulo-nimbus clouds was established in the 19th century. Its first known codification in 'International Cloud Atlas' was based on work by Luke Howard. These clouds are the white cottony, mountainous appearing clouds that look like one could lie down on them and rest comfortably
On the ball	USA	Prepared for the situation, especially in regard to anticipated future requests or instructions
On the dot	UK, USA	Precisely, punctually. Exactly at the expected interval. Refers to time (e.g. every three months on the dot)
(The situation) on the ground		The practical reality of common, everyday experience, as opposed to what theory or idealism says it could/should be. Sometimes used to mildly disparage an opponent's position as failing to pay sufficient attention to what is actually the case
On the nod	- UK	Under the influence of heroin Also means the passage of resolution in a committee or meeting without a formal vote - it is just 'nodded through' or passes 'on the nod'.
On the nose	USA	Exactly correct. When regarding screenwriting, "on the nose" is referred to dialogue and occurs when a character says something that's rather obvious
Out of (from) left field	USA	Unexpected. In conversation, a topic or idea coming out of left field is one with no obvious logical connection to what has just been said, a non-sequitur. Generally used to denote anything strange and/or random as well as unexpected
Out of luck	USA	Experiencing a temporary misfortune
Out of order	USA	Not functioning properly or inappropriate
Out of (from) nowhere	USA	Unexpected. Similar to "out of (from) left field", but without the 'strange/random' connotation. Also: out of the blue
Out of place	USA	Not in the proper situation or arrangement, or inappropriate for the circumstances
Out of (all) proportion(s)	USA	Not in a proper or pleasing relation to other things, especially in terms of size
Out of sorts	UK, USA	Feeling poorly
Out of the frying pan, into the fire	UK, USA	Escaping a serious predicament only to end up in a worse one
Out of touch	USA	To be unaware of current trends, news, or fashions, especially because of actual physical distance from others
Out of tune	USA	Not in agreement, especially in musical pitch
Out of wedlock	USA	Of parents not legally married (illegitimacy)
Out of work	USA	Unemployed or having nothing to do
Out of the way	USA	Not obstructing or hindering Taken care of
Out the wazoo	USA	Out the ass; excessive or excessively; too much
Over one's head	UK, USA	More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension Too much for one to handle
Over my dead body	UK, USA	No way, under no circumstances
Over the hill	UK, USA	To be past one's prime, old, a senior citizen. A person has reached his/her peak of physical or employment capabilities and is starting the downhill slide
Over the moon	UK, USA	Very happy, giddy

P

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Pain in the ass/butt (USA) neck (UK)	UK, USA	A nuisance; a source of trouble or annoyance
Pass the buck	USA	To lay responsibility on to another party so they will get the blame. Orig. poker jargon.
Pass with flying colors	UK, USA	To succeed easily
Passing fancy	USA	A temporary liking for someone or something
Pay through the nose (for something)	USA	Pay an unusually large amount of money for something
Peace and quiet	USA	Tranquility; freedom from stress or interruptions
Peg the suckometer	USA	To suck as much as possible
Penny for your thoughts	USA	A phrase used to ask a person what they are thinking
Penny pinching	USA	Being frugal with one's money, avoiding unnecessary expenses (can also mean stingy)
Penny wise, pound foolish	UK	Cautious with small amounts of money but wasteful with large amounts. This expression is usually used when discussing short-sighted parsimony (example: "The manager's decision to save money by cutting the maintenance budget was penny wise, pound foolish.")
Pick up the tab	USA	To accept a charge and pay for it, especially for a restaurant meal
Piece of cake	USA	Something done very easy
Piping hot	UK, USA	Very hot
To spit/piss into the wind	USA	To continue with an ineffective action, usually against the natural flow of things, when it is clear that said action will have no useful result. An exercise in futility
To piss on one's own feet		To try to accomplish something beneficial to yourself but hurting yourself in the process so much that the original action is rendered worthless. (e.g. "There's no way I could have stolen Bill's TV because I was at home doing heroin that whole night.") Similar in meaning to 'shoot oneself in the foot'
Play cat and mouse	UK, USA	Amuse oneself or trifle with, toy with
Play second fiddle (to)	USA	To play a subordinate role to another; to be upstaged
(To) play one's ace	USA	To do the thing that one knows will bring success
Play the ponies	USA	To bet on horse racing
Play with fire	UK, USA	Take part in a dangerous undertaking
Point the finger at	USA	To accuse
Pop one's clogs	UK	To die
Pop the cherry	USA	To break the hymen; to lose one's virginity
Pop the question	UK, USA	To propose marriage
Pot calling the kettle black	UK, USA	Accusing someone else of something of which one is also guilty; to betray one's own hypocrisy. From the practice of cooking over an open fire, where soot would blacken any cooking containers so used
Preach to the choir/converted	UK, USA	To declare something with which those present already agree
To pull strings	USA	Using influence or personal connections to facilitate a favorable outcome. Usually implies that the outcome would not occur without said intervention
Pulling the strings	USA	Refers to the practice of those really in power limiting the authority of those who appear to be. An analogy to marionettes, which have the illusion of life because unseen puppeteers manipulate their limbs
Pulling one's leg	UK, USA	Being facetious, or kidding around. Playfully lying
Puppies and rainbows		Eternal bliss, happy-go-lucky, child-like and carefree innocence. May also include: puppies and rainbows, butterflies, daisies, or bunnies.
Puppy dog eyes	USA	A young child who has a very cute look in his or her eyes.
Puppy love	USA	Adolescent love or infatuation, especially one that is not expected to last. Also called calf love
Push the envelope	USA	To approach the limits of normal behavior, to be exceptional
Pushing up daisies	UK, USA	Dead and buried. This comes from the Western cultural practice of burying the deceased in a cemetery or memorial park, often with flowers or grass growing at the grave site
To put a spanner in the works.	UK	To cause an endeavour to fail.
To put one's back into	UK, USA	To make a strenuous effort to do something
Put the cart before the horse	UK	To start a task without adequate preparation or forethought. Alternately, to jump to conclusions
Putting one's foot in one's mouth	UK	Saying something which is quickly regretted, usually offensive to someone else. Connotes speaking in ignorance or without appropriate forethought
Putting one's money where one's mouth is	UK, USA	Backing up one's opinions with practical action
Putting words into one`s mouth	USA	Asserting that another person has certain feelings or opinions which the other person has not stated or confirmed (example: "My boss was putting words into my mouth when he told me what he thought that I wanted to do.")

R

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Raining/pouring cats and dogs	UK, USA	Raining heavily
Rake over the ashes	UK, USA	To restart an argument that was thought to be completed; closely examine the history of a failed endeavor or relationship.
Rake (someone) over the coals	USA	To harshly scold, remprimand or interrogate someone about something they did. For example, a boss might 'rake an employee over the coals' for poor performance, or the police might do the same to a suspect. (AHDI[4])
Raise one's voice	UK, USA	Talking loudly as to be heard clearer or when angry
(Having a) ramrod up one's spine	USA	Being stubborn or strong willed. A ramrod is a stiff pole which does not bend easily
(Read/in) between the lines	USA	Inferring additional information or nuances not explicitly stated, perhaps revealing a hidden agenda or true motive. The lines here refers to lines of printed text
Read my lips: _____	USA	Used to emphasize the statement or promise which immediately follows, often with slight aggression or beligerence. Example: George H.W. Bush's famous 1988 promise "Read my lips: No new taxes", meaning he absolutely would not raise taxes
(To) rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic	UK, USA	Attempting to solve a serious problem with superficial or irrelevant actions.
Red herring	UK, USA	A false clue or issue intended to lead one astray or a fallacious argument (Ignoratio elenchi)
Red-light district	USA	Area of town or city with a high concentration of houses of prostitution or prostitutes. From the practice of displaying a red light in a window or over the door to notify potential customers of the activity available within
Red tape	UK, USA	Bureaucratic obstacles to a desired result. Derived from the Civil War-era practice of binding records and files with red tape
Reinvent the wheel	UK, USA	Duplicate a basic method or concept; create a new solution to a problem for which an adequate one already exists. The new solution does not add value and implies a waste of time and/or money. Related to NIH (not invented here) in which a technician or artisan refuses to use an existing solution through the arrogant notion that only they can produce a 'correct' solution
Right under your nose		Something so obvious that it is easily overlooked
Rob Peter to pay Paul	UK, USA	Solving a problem in a way that leads to a new problem; a quick solution with an obvious drawback (Peter and Paul being the disciples of Jesus); robbing Peter to pay Paul was used at least as far back as the 14th century, when theologian John Wycliff asked, "How should God approve that you rob Peter, and give this robbery to Paul in the name of Christ?" (courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online [5])
Rock the boat	UK, USA	Disturbing the social group. Breaking with tradition or going against custom or an apparent consensus, possibly with entirely benign motives - but perhaps out of selfishness
Rotten or evil to the core	USA	To say of someone who has no good within them at all
Run the table		In sports or other competitions, to win every contest or series. ("To make the playoffs, the team will have to run the table."). Most often used in various games of pocket billiards meaning to shoot all (or sometimes the remainder of) balls off the table and winning the game without giving the opponent the opportunity to "shoot"
(It) Runs in the family	UK, USA	Ability, talent, or trait that is passed on through generations

S

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander	UK, USA	If something is good for one person, it follows that it is good for everybody
To see a man about a dog (or a horse)	UK, USA	To urinate (in men), but occasionally used when someone goes missing
To seize the bull by its horns	UK	Take direct action to solve a problem without looking for other, less demanding, approaches.
Sell like hotcakes	UK, USA	Selling very rapidly
Send flying	USA	Cause to be knocked or scattered about
Set the Thames on fire	UK	Perform an astonishing feat. This phrase is almost invariably used in the negative: "He'll never set the Thames on fire." Latin and German have similar idioms regarding the Tiber and the Rhine, respectively
Shake one's booty	USA	To dance vigorously
Shake the dust off your shoes/feet		Make a clean break from a (bad) former situation. Derived from the gospel of S. Matthew, ch. 10 v. 14: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."
Shanks' pony (or mare)	UK	One's own feet. To travel someplace by Shanks' pony is to walk there
To shift gears	USA	To talk about or work on a different subject or to change the speed at which one is working. Normally referring to speeding up. "Boy he sure shifted (into a higher) gear(s) when he saw that the end was in sight!"
To shoot oneself in the foot	USA	Similar to spit or piss into the wind, to bring injury or ill fortune upon oneself
"Show me an X and I'll show you a Y"	USA	"I see possibilities that you don't." Example: "Show me a traumatized ant and I'll show you a vulnerable midnight snack"
Show one's true colors	UK, USA	One's true nature is now visible. Implies that there has been a period of ambiguity if not outright deception beforehand
Short/shitty end of the stick; short end	NAmer, UK	The worse part of an unequal deal or situation AHDI cites the first use of "short end..." to the 1930s, but notes the etymology is lost; it also posits an origin in the phrase "worse end of the staff" from the 1500s, which evolved into thye current "short/shitty end...", "allegedly from a stick poked up one's rectum by another in command of the situation". It also suggests an origin in stick-fighting.[6] OED does not cite the whole phrase, but lists "short end" alone as "US Slang, the inferior part or share (of something), the losing end, a bad deal"; it is listed with other uses meaning odds-annd-ends or leftovers, and cites first usage in 1904[7].Compare "wrong end of the stick," below.
Sitting ducks	USA	Something or someone that is easy to attack or criticize
Six feet under	UK, USA	Dead and buried (from a traditional depth for human graves)
Six of one, half a dozen of another / Six and two threes/ Sixes	UK, USA	Two options which are essentially the same so there is no real choice to be made (USA first one only)
Six ways to (or from) Sunday	USA	In every possible manner; by every imaginable method
Skeletons in the closet	USA	Secrets from one's past that one would like to conceal
Sleep with the fishes	USA	To be dead, often murdered. "X knew to much. Now he is sleeping with the fishes"
Slower than molasses in January	USA	Excruciatingly slow; molasses is very thick and therefore would run slowly at any time of year, but is exaggerated here with the coldest month in many regions. Often used to describe a person or an object ("My computer is running slower than molasses in January.")
Small fry	USA	Young children, or persons of little importance or influence
Small world	USA	One encounters the same people, events or situations in unexpected places
Soft sawder		Cajoling or flattery
Soup to nuts	USA	From beginning to end; etymologically, from the first course of a meal (soup) to the last course (nuts, which are often found in desserts)
Sour grapes	USA	To decide that an out-of-reach prize was probably not worth having. Spitefully belittling another's success when one has failed. (Aesop's Fables: The Fox and the Grapes)
To spit or piss into the wind	USA	Similar to shooting oneself in the foot, to bring injury or ill fortune upon oneself
To spin a yarn	USA	To tell a story, especially a long one with distorted truths or exaggerations
Speak of the devil (and he shall appear)	USA	Said aloud when someone who was being discussed in conversation enters the area of those conversing; from the belief that uttering the name of a demon could serve to summon it
Spill the beans	UK, USA	To reveal a secret
Spirit of the law	USA	To interpret something as it is meant, not as explicitly stated. The 'spirit' of the law is often contrasted with the 'letter' of same, which is its explicit statement
Squaring the circle/Make a square circle		Trying to do something which is impossible
Stalking horse	UK	A political candidate unlikely to succeed against an incumbent, standing to generate an election and to reveal disquiet with the incumbent's recent performance — possibly inducing other competitors for that post to declare their interest. Refers to American Indian hunting practice of approaching a herd of wild animals while mostly concealed by a tame mount
Start with a clean slate/sheet (of paper)	UK, USA	To completely start over, or to contemplate solving a problem without preconceptions
Stand in good stead		To be extremely useful in the future
Steal someone's thunder	USA	Taking the credit for something positive occasioned largely by someone else, or simply to upstage someone. From a stage thunder device by John Dennis which actually was stolen
Stem the tide	UK, USA	To stop or control the growth or increase of something, usually unpleasant
Stick (or stuck) in the mud	UK, USA	An old-fashioned idea or concept, or someone who moves or adapts slowly. Also used to describe a person who does not want to participate in activities suggested by one or more people
Stick it to The Man	USA	To perform an action that is against the wishes of 'The Man.' Defined below.
Sticky wicket	UK	A tough situation; for example, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, maneuvering his way through the sticky wicket of the Middle East, wanted to stress the need to maintain an international coalition. -- William Safire; Fog of War: Von Clausewitz Strikes Again; The New York Times Magazine; Nov 18, 2001. The term comes from the parlance of cricket, and describes a situation in which rain has dampened the pitch. This makes the path of the ball more unpredictable thus making the job of defending the stumps that much more difficult.
Stiff-necked	UK	Stubborn. This is an example of metonymy. A stubborn person frequently does not turn his head to listen and appears stiff in the neck. Thus having a stiff neck and not turning both imply stubbornness; by the rule of metonymy, 'stiff necked' means stubborn
Straw that broke the camel's back	UK, USA	From a proverb about loading up a camel beyond its capacity to move. This is a reference to any process by which catastrophic failure (a broken back) is achieved by a seemingly inconsequential addition (a single straw). This also gives rise to the phrase 'the last straw'
Sugar daddy	USA	A rich man who is generous to younger women in return for sexual favors; a patron
Sure-fire	USA	Somthing which is 'sure-fire' is certain to happen.
Swan song	UK, USA	A final appearance; a theatrical or dramatic farewell, from a legendary belief that a swan would sing its own dirge as it died
Sweet dreams	USA	A wish for one to sleep well
Swim with the fishes	USA	To die, especially to be murdered and have your body disposed of, often in a body of water. (See also "sleep with the fishes"). It's presumed to be a bit of Mafia jargon
Swim with (the) sharks	USA	To take a huge risk
Sword of Damocles	UK, USA	Alludes to a myth in which a man who resented the ruling classes was invited to dine with a sword perilously suspended over his head in order to experience life as they do. The Sword of Damocles refers to the insecurity felt by those with great power due to the possibility of that power being taken away suddenly, or, more generally, any feeling of impending doom

T

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Take a flyer		To take a chance or risk
Take a hike	USA	To go away
Take a powder		To leave. Especially: to leave unexpectedly and without a firm (or any) intention to return. Often used to describe the actions of a man who abandons family or other obligations when conditions no longer suit him
Take five (or ten)	US	Pause, take a short or break, as of five (or ten) minutes. (OED: "US Colloquial", from 1929[8]; ADHI[9]
Take it easy	USA	Don't hurry, proceed at a comfortable place, relax; also used as a farewell statement in the same way as "good bye."
Take it on the chin		Accept a difficult situation without complaining
Take it or leave it	UK, USA	Accept or reject unconditionally
Taken to the cleaners	USA	Defrauded, robbed, cheated, conned
(The) tail that wags the dog	UK, USA	The reversal of a normal control-reaction relationship. Often used in reference to relationships of authority and subjugation. Normally a dog wags its tail, not the other way around. To have misplaced priorities, with the less important part controlling the main thing. See also: putting the cart before (or in front of) the horse
Teach an old dog new tricks	UK, USA	To change longstanding habits, especially in a person who of an older generation. References the difficulty of changing one's ways in an ever-changing society.
Tell it to the marines	UK, USA	"I do not believe what you said", also Tell it to Sweeney
Tempest in a teapot (or: a storm in a teacup)	USA	A large fuss about an insignificant matter.
To test the waters	USA	To try something in a small ammount with caution to then judge whether to go in fully or not at all
The jig is up	USA	Some activity that was supposed to remain secret (implied to be illegal, immoral or otherwise prohibited activity) is now exposed
The more things change, the more they stay the same	USA	Despite the appearance of change, there is little fundamental difference between the past and the present
The Man	USA	Any government, company, boss, or set of rules that hold power over a person's behavior; often used in the abstract. Similar to 'The Powers That Be'
The Powers That Be	UK, USA	Generic term for people who are in charge. Often used either derisively or when the actual people are not known. Usually capitalized
Tide over	UK, USA	To support someone, especially financially, for a limited period
Third rail	USA	A topic or issue of such contention or sensitivity that any attempt to address it will result in deleterious consequences for those who attempt to do so. From the electrified third rail used to power many subway systems, the touching of which will result in death. (Example: Social Security reform is the third rail of American politics, anyone who brings it up is likely to find himself out of office)
This is not your father's ____	USA	Despite similarities, there is a fundamental difference between the past and the present subject; usually implying a favorable updating. From an ad campaign for Oldsmobile in the 1980s
Three sheets to the wind	UK	Drunk, usually heavily inebriated. 'Sheets' are ropes used to attach a sail; if three of them are unattached ('to the wind'), the sail will not sit correctly and the ship will lurch and wobble
Throw down the gauntlet	UK, USA	To challenge
Throw in the towel	USA	To give up a fight, argument or conflict and to admit defeat, taken from boxing
Throw or toss a wrench into things	USA	To do something that causes a process to be hindered or stopped completely
Throw out the baby with the bath water	UK, USA	To discard something of value with something useless
Throw the game/match/fight	USA	To intentionally lose the game/match/fight
Thumb up (one's) ass	USA	Expression of a lack of something industrious to do, i.e., "He was standing around with his thumb up his ass."
'Til the cows come home	USA, UK	For a long time. Alludes to when the cows return to the barn for milking.
To be catty	USA	Antagonistic about trivial matters, usually applied to women
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians	USA	Too many people in a situation are assuming a leadership role without enough people taking on the subservient/working roles.
Too many cooks spoil the broth/soup	UK, USA	Too many people crowding a situation are bound to ruin it; alternately, consulting a large number of people for a solution will inevitably result in confusing or self-contradictory advice
To the letter/To the "T"	UK, USA	To interpret and follow instructions or rules in as literal a manner as possible, doing nothing that one is not explicitly instructed or told to do, often deliberately ignoring the implicit meaning of those instructions or rules. To follow the letter of the law to the detriment of the spirit in which it was written
To turn turtle	UK	To capsize
Tongue-in-cheek	UK, USA	To speak in irony only half seriously
Touch base	USA	To briefly communicate with someone in order to ascertain that a shared situation or project is proceeding as it should
Toot your own horn/blow your own trumpet	USA	To brag about oneself, often downplaying the contributions of others
Toe the line or Toe the mark	NAmer, UK	To follow rules and regulations faithfully. To be careful to never commit any transgressions. To conform, particularly to conform to onerous or odious demands through loyalty. Frequently used pejoratively in reference to politicians who comform to their party's policy on an issue despite their stated personal beliefs ("toe the party line"). (ADHI[10]; OED cites "toe the mark", an American usage, to 1813; earliest British usage "toe...a tolerable line", 1826[11]
Treading water	UK, USA	Sustaining the present situation, neither improving or worsening. Usually used to denote a negative situation or achieving the bare minimum above defeat. A person working very hard at his job but never receiving promotion would be "treading water"
Trip the light fantastic	UK, USA	To dance nimbly
Twenty-four seven	USA	Always; at all times. From 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week.
Two (or ten) a penny	UK	Very common, cheap, not special. Similar in meaning to the USA's 'a dime a dozen'
Two peas in a pod	UK, USA	To bear a close resemblence

U

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Ugly duckling	UK, USA	An ugly or unpromising individual who grows into an attractive or talented person. Alludes to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, about a cygnet hatched with ducklings that is despised for its clumsiness until it grows up into a beautiful swan.
Under someone's spell	UK, USA	Fascinated or influenced by someone. Derives from the literal meaning of spell.
Under the impression	USA	Thinking, assuming, or believing something.
Under the weather	UK, USA	Feeling ill. Orig. USA.
Under wraps	UK, USA	Kept secret or hidden
Up a [shit] creek without a paddle		In an untenable position. Having no recourse or satisfactory course of action. Or "Up a creek with a hole in the boat"
Up for grabs	USA	Available for anyone
Up to eleven		As high, loud, or powerful as possible...and then some. One more than the standard 'ten'. From the famous mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap
Up to one's neck	UK, USA	neck-deep: deeply involved; "neck-deep in work"; "up to their necks in debt"
Use one's head	UK, USA	To think, to have common sense

W

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Waka-jumping	New Zealand	Used to describe elected politicians that transfer allegiance from one political party to another.
Wake up on the wrong side of the bed		Be very grumpy. Usually used in response to discovering someone is very grumpy. "Whoa! Looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!"
Walking on eggshells	UK, USA	An idiomatic expression used to convey sensitivity in conversations. Originating from expressions such as "walking on thin ice.". 1800 Old english usage of eggshells being easily broken.
Water under the bridge	UK, USA	Something that has happened in the past and is no longer worth agonizing over. A dismissal of prior offenses or transgressions. Generally said after emotional conflicts
Weekend warrior	USA	A person who indulges in a sport or pastime on an infrequent basis, usually on weekends when work commitments are not present
Wet behind the ears	UK, USA	Inexperienced because of youth, practically a newborn. A humorous exaggeration
What is coming down the pike	USA	Events or happenings expected to come to pass in the near future
What goes around comes around	USA	If a person does something bad, something bad will eventually happen to him. See: karma
What's good for the goose is good for the gander; or What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander;		Generally speaking, that which benefits the individual benefits society as a whole; or What you've had or put up with can equally well be had or put up with by me or somebody else.
When the gloves are off		After the polite negotiations have failed, when false posturing is no longer plausible. Similar to 'when the chips are down' or 'when push comes to shove'
When Old Nick's wearing iceskates.	UK	Never, or at least a very long time. 'Old Nick' is the Devil, so the phrase alludes to Hell freezing over.
Where there's smoke, there's fire	USA	If there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring
Whistling Dixie	USA	Being unrealistically optimistic.
Whistling past the graveyard	USA	To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation. To ignore an obvious hazard. To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences. To proceed despite ignorance while hoping for a good outcome
Whistle in the dark		To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it
The whole nine yards	UK, USA	The entire amount, everything. Frequently "Going the whole nine yards" to indicate completion to surfeit, sparing nothing, or employing procedures reserved for only the most important events. The etymology is ambiguous, with explanations ranging from the 9 yard machine gun belts used in some WWII military aircraft to an older use of 9 yards in the textile industry for ceremonious saris, normal saris comprising only 6 yards, dating back to English introduction to Indian tailoring in the 18th century. Another explanation is that the term is a sarcastic reference to American football, where ten yards is the length of a first down. With running nine yards being no real achievement, to say that someone ran 'the whole nine yards' would be to say that they almost achieved something. Like many words with ambiguous etymology, this phrase may have more than one derivation.[12]
Wild goose chase	UK, USA	To send someone on a task that is impossible or completely irrelevant as a distraction to keep them occupied, out of your way, or away from something else.
Work one's tail off	USA	Work especially hard and energetically, e.g. "We worked our tails off to get this project done."
Work one's fingers to the bone.	UK	Work especially hard, usually for an extended period.
(The) worm has turned		Circumstances have changed
Wrestling blancmange	USA	Attempting to grapple with a hard to grasp or almost insoluble issue
Writing on the wall; or handwriting on the wall	USA	Ominous signals of impending disaster, or of one's own unpleasant fate. "To see the (hand)writing..." is to note those signals and be prepared to act accordingly. AHDI lists both usages[13], MW only "handwriting..."[14]. OED[15] and ODI[16] both list "writing..." (although ODI mentions "handwriting" as a "North American variant"), and cite its origin in the Bible at Daniel 5:5 and 5:25-28, in which King Belshazzar of Babylon sees a ghostly hand writing on the wall, and the prophet Daniel interprets it to mean that he would lose his kingdom to the Medes and Persians[17]
Wrong end of the stick	USA	The wrong idea about something, often in the phrase "get (a hold of) the wrong end of the stick". AHDI cites an origin in the 1400s as "worse end of the staff", referring to holding a walking stick upside-down; it evolved to its current phraseology in the late 1800s[18].

X

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
X marks the spot	USA	Locating something

Y

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Year in, year out	USA	Regularly as in every year, annually
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink	UK, USA	Even favorable circumstances won't force one to do something one doesn't want to
You can say that again	USA	To agree completely with what was previously communicated
You know (what/where/who/when)	USA	To be aware, to understand what one is communicating about. Sometimes used in oral speech as a conversation filler.
Young at heart	USA	Having a youthful outlook at an advanced age
Your guess is as good as mine	UK, USA	Not knowing any more than the other person
Yours truly	UK, USA	A self-reference, from a common salutation at the end of a letter.

Z

Idiom	Where Used	Meaning
Zebra		In the medical world, a case that has been diagnosed as an obscure or serious case when, in reality, the affliction is common. Derives from "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." In professional sports, especially American Football, it is a term used to refer to referees, due to the comonality of black and white striped uniforms.

See also

• Idiom
• Idiom dictionary