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Across the pondThis idiom means on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, used to refer to the US or the UK depending on the speaker's location.All mouth and trousersSomeone who's all mouth and trousers talks or boasts a lot but doesn't deliver. 'All mouth and no trousers' is also used, though this is a corruption of the original.All my eye and Peggy MartinAn idiom that appears to have gone out of use but was prevalent in the English north Midlands of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire from at least the turn of the 20th century until the early 1950s or so. The idiom's meaning is literally something said or written that is unbelievable, rumor, over embellished, the result of malicious village gossip etc.All talk and no trousersSomeone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.An Englishman's home is his castleThis means that what happens in a person's home or private life is their business and should not be subject to outside interference.Argue the tossIf you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision and argue about it.As the actress said to the bishopThis idiom is used to highlight a sexual reference, deliberate or accidental.At a loose endIf you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.At the end of your tetherIf you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.Back footIf you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.Bad mouthWhen you are bad mouthing,you are saying negative things about someone or something.('Bad-mouth' and 'badmouth' are also used.)Banana skinA banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems.Barrack-room lawyerA barrack-room lawyer is a person who gives opinions on things they are not qualified to speak about.Be up the spoutIf a woman is up the spout, she is pregnant.Been in the warsIf someone has been in the wars, they have been hurt or look as if they have been in a struggle.Beer and skittlesPeople say that life is not all beer and skittles, meaning that it is not about self-indulgence and pleasure.Belt and bracesSomeone who wears belt and braces is very cautious and takes no risks.Bent as a nine bob noteA person who is as bent as a nine bob note is dishonest. The reference comes from pre-decimalisation in UK (1971), when a ten shilling (bob) note was valid currency but no such note as nine shillings existed.Black as Newgate's knockerIf things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.Bob's your uncleThis idiom means that something will be successful: Just tell him that I gave you his name and Bob's your uncle- he'll help you.Box cleverIf you box clever, you use your intelligence to get what you want, even if you have to cheat a bit.Brass neckSomeone who has the brass neck to do something has no sense of shame about what they do.Break your duckIf you break your duck, you do something for the first time.Buggles' turnIf it Buggles' turn, someone gets promotion through length of service rather than ability, especially in the British civil service.By a long chalkIf you beat somebody by a long chalk, you win easily and comfortably.Canary in a coal mineA canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.Cheap as chipsIf something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.Chinese whispersWhen a story is told from person to person, especially if it is gossip or scandal, it inevitably gets distorted and exaggerated. This process is called Chinese whispers.Coals to NewcastleTaking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnecessary.Come a cropperSomeone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.Come up smelling of rosesIf someone comes up smelling of roses, they emerge from a situation with their reputation undamaged.Cupboard loveTo show love to gain something from someoneCurate's eggIf something is a bit of a curate's egg, it is only good in parts.Daft as a brushSomeone who is daft as a brush is rather stupid.Damp squibIf something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.Death warmed upIf someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)Do a Devon LochIf someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.Do a Lord LucanIf someone disappears without a trace or runs off, they do a Lord Lucan. (Lord Lucan disappeared after a murder)Do a runnerIf people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.Do the runningThe person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)Do timeWhen someone is doing time, they are in prison.Dog in the mangerIf someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.Don't wash your dirty laundry in publicPeople, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)Double DutchIf something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.Drunk as a lordSomeone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.Dull as ditchwaterIf something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)Dunkirk spiritDunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.Early bathIf someone has or goes for an early bath, they quit or lose their job or position earlier than expected because things have gone wrong.Easy peasyIf something is easy peasy, it is very easy indeed. ('Easy peasy, lemon squeezy' is also used.)Economical with the truthIf someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.Enough to cobble dogs withA large surplus of anything: We've got enough coffee to cobble dogs with. Possible explanations: A cobblestone is a cut stone with a curved surface. These were set together to create road surfaces, in the days before the widespread use of asphalt. The image the phrase contains is that, even after all the roads have been cobbled, there are so many cobblestones left over that things that don’t need cobbling – such as dogs – could still be cobbled. A cobbler repairs shoes, so if you have enough leather to cobble an animal with four feet or that doesn't need shoes, you have a surplus.Fair crack of the whipIf everybody has a fair crack of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.Fall off the back of a lorryIf someone tries to sell you something that has fallen of the back of a lorry, they are trying to sell you stolen goods.Fifth columnistA fifth columnist is a member of a subversive organisation who tries to help an enemy invade.Fine and dandyIf thing's are fine and dandy, then everything is going well.Flogging a dead horseIf someone is trying to convince people to do or feel something without any hope of succeeding, they're flogging a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do any more work.Flutter the dovecotesSomething that flutters the dovecots causes alarm or excitement.Football's a game of two halvesIf something's a game of two halves, it means that it's possible for someone's fortunes or luck to change and the person who's winning could end up a loser.For donkey's yearsIf people have done something, usually without much if any change, for an awfully long time, they can be said to have done it for donkey's years.For EnglandA person who talks for England, talks a lot- if you do something for England, you do it a lot or to the limit.Full MontyIf something is the Full Monty, it is the real thing, not reduced in any way.Gardening leaveIf someone is paid for a period when they are not working, either after they have given in their notice or when they are being investigated, they are on gardening leave.Get it in the neckIf you get it in the neck, you are punished or criticised for something.Get out of your pramIf someone gets out of their pram, they respond aggressively to an argument or problem that doesn't involve them.Get the nodIf you get the nod to something, you get approval or permission to do it.Give it some stickIf you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.Give someone stickIf someone gives you stick, they criticise you or punish you.Give the nodIf you give the nod to something, you approve it or give permission to do it.Go down like a cup of cold sickAn idea or excuse that will not be well accepted will go down like a cup of cold sick.Go down like a lead balloonIf something goes down like a lead balloon, it fails or is extremely badly received.Go spareIf you go spare, you lose your temper completely.Gone for a burtonIf something's gone for a burton, it has been spoiled or ruined. If a person has gone for a burton, they are either in serious trouble or have died.Gone pear-shapedIf things have gone pear-shaped they have either gone wrong or produced an unexpected and unwanted result.Grasp the nettleIf you grasp the nettle, you deal bravely with a problem.Green fingersSomeone with green fingers has a talent for gardening.Grey poundIn the UK, the grey pound is an idiom for the economic power of elderly people.Hairy at the heelSomeone who is hairy at the heel is dangerous or untrustworthy.Hard cheeseHard cheese means hard luck.Have your collar feltIf someone has their collar felt, they are arrested.Hear something on the jungle telegraphIf you hear something on the jungle telegraph, you pick up some information or informal gossip from someone who shares some common interest. ('Bush telegraph' is also used.)Heath RobinsonIf a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks.Hold the babyIf someone is responsible for something, they are holding the baby.Home, JamesThis is a cliched way of telling the driver of a vehicle to start driving. It is supposed to be an order to a chauffeur (a privately employed driver). The full phrase is 'Home, James, and don't spare the horses'.I should cocoaThis idiom comes from 'I should think so', but is normally used sarcastically to mean the opposite.If you'll pardon my FrenchThis idiom is used as a way of apologising for swearing.In a tickIf someone will do something in a tick, they'll do it very soon or very quickly.In rude healthIf someone's in rude health, they are very healthy and look it.In spadesIf you have something in spades, you have a lot of it.In the clinkIf someone is in the clink, they are in prison.In the clubIf a woman's in the club, she's pregnant. 'In the pudding club' is an alternative form.It's as broad as it is longUsed to express that it is impossible to decide between two options because they're equal.Jam tomorrowThis idiom is used when people promise good things for the future that will never come.Jersey justiceJersey justice is very severe justice.Keen as mustardIf someone is very enthusiastic, they are as keen as mustard.Keep your chin upThis expression is used to tell someone to have confidence.Keep your wig on!This idiom is used to tell someone to calm down.Kick your heelsIf you have to kick your heels, you are forced to wait for the result or outcome of something.Kitchen-sinkKitchen-sink drama deals with ordinary people's lives.Laugh to see a pudding crawlSomeone who would laugh to see a pudding crawl is easily amused and will laugh at anything.Like a bear with a sore headIf someone's like a bear with a sore head, they complain a lot and are unhappy about something.Like giving a donkey strawberriesIf something is like giving a donkey strawberries, people fail to appreciate its value.Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselvesIf you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves, meaning that if someone takes care not to waste small amounts of money, they will accumulate capital. ('Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves' is an alternative form of this idiom.)Lose your bottleIf someone loses their bottle, they lose the courage to do something.Lose your lunchIf you lose your lunch, you vomit.Make a song and danceIf someone makes a song and dance, they make an unecessary fuss about something unimportant.Man on the Clapham omnibusThe man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary person in the street.Money for old ropeIf something's money for old rope, it's a very easy way of making money.More front than BrightonIf you have more front than Brighton, you are very self-confident, possibly excessively so.New manA New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally.Nod's as good as a wink'A nod's as good as a wink' is a way of saying you have understood something that someone has said, even though it was not said directly. The full phrase (sometimes used in the UK ) is 'a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse'.Noddy workUnimportant or very simple tasks are noddy work.Nosy parkerA nosy parker is someone who is excessively interested in other people's lives. ('Nosey parker' is an alternative spelling.)Not cricketIf something is not cricket, it is unfair.Not give a monkey'sIf you couldn't give a monkey's about something, you don't care at all about it.Off on oneIf someone goes off on one, they get extremely angry indeed.Off your chumpIf someone is off their chump, they are crazy or irrational.Off your rockerSomeone who is off their rocker is crazy.On Carey StreetIf someone is on Carey Street, they are heavily in debt or have gone bankrupt.On the blinkIs a machine is on the blink, it isn't working properly or is out of order.On the blowerIf someone is on the blower, they are on the phone.On the cardsIf something is in the cards, it is almost certain to happen.On the doleSomeone receiving financial assistance when unemployed is on the dole.On the fiddleSomeone who is stealing money from work is on the fiddle, especially if they are doing it by fraud.On the gameA person who is on the game works as a prostitute.On the knockIf you buy something on the knock, you pay for it in instalments.On the knockerIf someone is on the knocker, they are going from house to house trying to buy or sell things or get support.On the never-neverIf you buy something on the never-never, you buy it on long-term credit.On the nodIf something is accepted by parliament or a committee majority, it is on the nod.On the nodSomeone who's on the nod is either asleep or falling asleep, especially when the shouldn't or are are in a position unusual for sleep, like sitting or standing.On the nodWhen a horse runs, its head moves backwards and forwards alternately - in horse racing, if 2 horses cross the line together the one whose head happens to be going forward often wins and is said to win 'on the nod'.On the takeSomeone who is stealing from work is on the take.On the trotThis idiom means 'consecutively'; I'd saw them three days on the trot, which means that I saw them on three consecutive days.One over the eightSomeone who is one over the eight is drunk.One over the eightSomeone who has had one over the eight is very drunk indeed. It refers to the standard eight pints that most people drink and feel is enough.Out in the sticksIf someone lives out in the sticks, they live out in the country, a long way from any metropolitan area.Over-egg the puddingIf you over-egg the pudding, you spoil something by trying to improve it excessively. It is also used nowadays with the meaning of making something look bigger or more important than it really is. ('Over-egg' alone is often used in this sense.)Pin moneyIf you work for pin money, you work not because you need to but because it gives you money for extra little luxuries and treats.Pink poundIn the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people.Plain as a pikestaffIf something is as plain as a pikestaff, it is very clear.Pull your finger out!If someone tells you to do this, they want you to hurry up. ('Get your finger out' is also used.)Quart into a pint potIf you try to put or get a quart into a pint pot, you try to put too much in a small space. (1 quart = 2 pints)Queer fishA strange person is a queer fish.Quids inIf somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.Rake over old coalsIf you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.Rearrange the deckchairs on the TitanicIf people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble.Right royalA right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one.See you anonIf somebody says this when leaving, they expect to see you again soon.Send someone to CoventryIf you send someone to Coventry, you refuse to talk to them or co-operate with them.Shanks's ponyIf you go somewhere by Shanks's pony, you walk there.Slip through the cracksIf something slips through the cracks, it isn't noticed or avoids detection.Sound as a poundif something is as sound as a pound, it is very good or reliable.Spanner in the worksIf someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan. In American English, 'wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.Spend a pennyThis is a euphemistic idiom meaning to go to the toilet.Spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tarIf someone spoils the ship for a ha'pworth (halfpenny's worth) of tar, they spoil something completely by trying to make a small economy.Square MileThe Square Mile is the City, the financial area of London.Sticky endIf someone comes to a sticky end, they die in an unpleasant way. ('Meet a sticky end' is also used.)Sticky wicketIf you are on a sticky wicket, you are in a difficult situation.Stiff upper lipIf you keep your emotions to yourself and don't let others know how you feel when something bad happens, you keep a stiff upper lip.Take the biscuitIf something takes the biscuit, it is the absolute limit.Take the MickeyIf you take the Mickey, you tease someone. ('Take the Mick' is also used.)Tally ho!This is an exclamation used for encouragement before doing something difficult or dangerous.Tears before bedtimeThis idiom is used when something seems certain to go wrong or cause trouble.Teething problemsThe problems that a project has when it is starting are the teething problems.Ten a pennyIf something is ten a penny, it is very common. ("Two a penny" is also used.)Thick as minceIf someone is as thick as mince, they are very stupid indeed.Thin blue lineThe thin blue line is a term for the police, suggesting that they stand between an ordered society and potential chaos. (Police uniforms are blue.)Three sheets in the windSomeone who is three sheets in the wind is very drunk. ('Three sheets to the wind' is also used. 'Seven sheets' is an alternative number used.)Throw a spanner in the worksIf you throw a spanner in the works, you cause a problem that stops or slows progress on something that was going well.Tired and emotionalThis idiom is a euphemism used to mean 'drunk', especially when talking about politicians.Up sticksIf you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.Up the duffIf a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant.Up the spoutIf something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.Up the stickIf a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant.Vicar of BrayA person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of BrayWallflowerA woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.Watering holeA watering hole is a pub.Who wears the trousers?The person who wears the trousers in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.Wipe the floor withIf you wipe the floor with someone, you destroy the arguments or defeat them easily.With childIf a woman's with child, she's pregnant.Wood for the treesIf someone can't see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.Wouldn't touch it with a bargepoleIf you wouldn't touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances. (In American English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole)Yeoman's serviceTo do yeoman's service is to serve in an exemplary manner.You do not get a dog and bark yourselfIf there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn't do it.
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