Phrase Finder

Idioms · 179 entries

America

What does "America" mean?

A day on which everything seems to go wrong.

A bad hair day

USA.

A bigger bang for your buck

USA.

A chip on your shoulder

USA.

A dime a dozen

USA.

A fly on the wall

USA.

A foot in the door

USA.

A miss is as good as a mile

USA.

A picture paints a thousand words

USA.

A piece of cake

USA.

A shot in the arm

USA, initially alluding to a shot of drugs but now used without that connotation.

A slap on the wrist

USA.

A sledgehammer to crack a nut

USA.

About face

1. USA. 2. British.

Ace in the hole

USA.

Across the board

USA.

All kidding aside

USA, 20th century.

All the way

USA, mid-20th century (with the sexual connotation)

Alley cat

USA, 20th century.

Alpha Mom

USA. A late 20th century adaptation of ‘alpha male’, which emerged in the 1930s.

Alphabet soup

USA. An early 20th century adaptation of the name of the soup made from pasta letters.

Amped up

USA, late 20th century. A reference to the amplification of acoustic instruments.

An arm and a leg

USA, mid-20th century. Often mistakenly thought to be related to the high cost of painting full-length portraits.

An axe to grind

USA, 18th century.

An open and shut case

USA, 19th century.

Ankle biter

USA, 19th century.

As high as a kite

1. Britain - 17th century. It probably refers to Red Kites, birds that were common in the UK in the 17th century, rather than children’s kites. 2. USA.

At the drop of a hat

USA, 19th century.

Baby brain

USA, 20th century.

Back seat driver

USA, 20th century.

Back to the drawing board

USA, 20th century.

Bag lady

USA, 1970s.

Basket case

USA.

Bells and whistles

USA, late 20th century. First used in the computing world to refer to machines with lots of new features. Probably ultimately deriving as an allusion to fairgound organs, which have numerous bells and whistles.

Between a rock and a hard place

USA, 20th century. Sometimes mistakenly thought to come from Homer’s Odyssey.

Big fish in a small pond

USA, late 19th century.

Binge watch

USA, late 20th century.

Bitch slap

USA, late 20th century.

Blue plate special

USA, early 20th century.

Bought the farm

USA, 20th century.

Break a leg

USA, 20th century.

Bring your A game

USA, 20th century.

Bucket list

USA, late 20th century - popularized by the title of the film The Bucket List (2007).

Bust a move

USA, late 20th century.

Buy a lemon

USA, early 20th century.

Can’t cut the mustard

USA, 19th century.

Chaise Lounge

USA, late 19th century. The misspelling of ‘chaise longue’ causes some amusement in France.

Charley horse

USA, late 19th century.

Chew someone out

USA, mid 20th century.

Chicken feed

USA, mid-19th century.

Chow down

USA, around WWII, from an Anglo-Indian slang source.

City bike

USA, mid-20th century.

Close but no cigar

USA, mid-20th century.

Come hell or high water

USA, late 19th century.

Cop an attitude

USA, mid to late 20th century.

Crack someone up

USA, mid to late 20th century.

Curiosity killed the cat

USA, late 19th century. Probably deriving from a much older British phrase - ‘care killed the cat’.

Cut to the chase

‘Cut to the chase’ refers to western ‘B’ movies, which often ended in a chase, which is what most of the audience had come to see.

Date rape

USA, late 20th century. Previously referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’.

Designated driver

USA, 1980s

Dial down

USA, late 20th century.

Don’t give up the day job

USA, 1950s

Double header

USA, late 19th century.

Dropping like flies

USA, early 20th century.

Dry run

USA, mid-20th century.

Ear popping

USA, early 20th century.

Eighty six

USA, mid-20th century.

Elvis has left the building

USA, late 20th century.

Enhanced interrogation techniques

USA, late 20th century.

Ethnic cleansing

USA, late 20th century.

Evil twin

USA, 2004.

Face the music

USA, 19th century.

Factory farming

USA, mid-20th century.

Feeding frenzy

USA, mid 20th century.

First World

USA, mid 20th century.

First World problem

USA, late 20th century.

Flip the bird

USA, mid 20th century.

Food fight

USA, mid 20th century.

Fool’s gold

USA, 19th century.

Fuddy-duddy

USA, 19th century.

Full of bull

USA, 20th century.

Gender bender

USA, 1970s.

Get a gold star

USA, late 19th century. First found in the US magazine The Ladies’ Home Journal.

Get off on the wrong foot

USA, late 19th century.

Give him an inch and hell take a mile

USA, 19th century. First seen in the journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Go down like a lead balloon

USA, mid 20th century.

Go for broke

USA, mid 20th century.

Go out on a limb

USA, 19th century.

Go the extra mile

USA, late 19th century.

Going to hell in a handbasket

USA, 19th century.

Graveyard shift

USA, late 19th century.

Greasy spoon

USA, 20th century.

Have a blast

USA, mid 20th century.

Hell bent

USA, 18th century.

Hidden in plain sight

USA, 19th century.

High and mighty

Britain, 15th century. First used in a description of Henry V.

Hit the books

USA

Hit the nail on the head

Hold your horses

USA, 19th century.

Holy shit!

USA.

In like Flynn

USA, 1940s.

In the bag

USA,, early 20th century.

In your face

USA, 1970s.

It takes two to tango

USA, from a popular 1952 song of the same name.

Ivy league

USA, 1930s.

Joshing me

USA, 19th century.

Jump on the bandwagon

USA, 19th century.

Jump the shark

USA, 1977. Deriving from the American TV series Happy Days.

Keep your chin up

USA, late 19th century.

Knock on wood

USA, early 20th century. Other variants, like ‘touch wood’ are earlier.

Level playing field

USA, 20th century.

Like a chicken with its head cut off

USA, late 19th century.

USA.

USA.

Liquor up

Britain, 16th century (to supply liquor). USA, 19th century (to drink liquor).

Little fish in a big pond

USA, early 20th century.

Magic mushroom

USA, 1950s, although the plants themselves have been used for centuries.

Man cave

USA, late 20th century.

Mellow yellow

USA, 1960s. Referred to in the Donovan song of the same name, as ‘electrical banana’.

Men in suits

USA, 1930s.

New York minute

USA, 20th century.

New kid on the block

USA, mid 20th century.

Nip slip

USA, late 20th century.

Nitty-gritty

USA, mid 20th century.

No dice

USA, 1920s.

No spring chicken

USA, 20th century. Young chickens are considered more tasty to eat than those slaughtered later in the year.

Off the record

USA, 1930s.

On a wing and a prayer

USA. From a 1940s film script.

On cloud nine

USA, 20th century.

On the ball

USA. Deriving from the expression ‘keep your eye on the ball’.

On the fence

USA, 19th century.

On the record

USA, 20th century.

Out of sight

USA, 19th century coinage before being re-used in the 1960s.

Paint the town red

USA, 19th century.

Pass the buck

USA, early 20th century. Later popularised by president Harry Truman.

Peachy keen

USA, mid-20th century.

Pedal to the metal

USA, 1970s

Peg out

1. USA, mid 19th century. 2. Britain, mid 19th century.

Phone it in

USA, late 20th century.

Photo bomb

USA, early 21st century.

Pig out

USA, late 20th century.

Pipe down

USA, 19th century. Probably deriving from an earlier British Navy source.

Play safe

USA, late 19th century.

Play the field

USA, mid 19th century.

Potty mouth

USA, mid 20th century.

Pull the plug

USA, early 20th century. The allusion was to pulling an electrical plug out of its socket.

Pull the wool over someones eyes

USA, 19th century.

Pulling your leg

USA, 19th century.

Quality time

USA, 20th century.

Rest up

USA, 19th century.

Revenge porn

USA, late 20th century.

Riding shotgun

USA, mid 20th century. Initially heard in the dialogue of cowboy films.

Sad ass

USA, mid-20th century.

Shoot straight

USA, 1930s.

Shovel ready

USA, late 20th century.

Silver bullet

USA, 1950s.

Silver surfer

USA, late 20th century.

Skid row

USA, early 20th century.

Spoiler alert

USA, 1980s.

Straight from the horses mouth

Uncertain origin, probably 20th century USA.

Suck it up

USA, 20th century.

Take a raincheck

USA, 19th century. A reference to the tickets given at rained-off sports games to allow the customer to return at a later date.

That sucks

USA

The Big Pond

USA, 1840s. Previously called, in both UK and USA as ‘The Great Pond’.

The God Squad

USA, 1960s

The acid test

USA, mid-19th century.

The heebie-jeebies

USA, 20th century. The origin isn’t known but heebie-jeebie was formerly the name of a dance.

The icing on the cake

USA, late 19th century.

The tail wagging the dog

USA, 1870s.

Throw the towel in

USA, 1910s. The allusion is to a boxing match where throwing the towel in indicates a concession

Top banana

USA. Derived from burlesque shows where the top comic was given a banana.

Uncle Tom

USA, 1920s. Derived from the name of the hero in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Up shit creek without a paddle

USA, 1890s. Note: Shit creek isn’t a real place.

Wardrobe malfunction

USA. First said by Justin Timberlake to explain the inadvertent exposure of Janet Jackson’s breast during the half-time show at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Washed up

1. Britain, 17th century. 2. USA, 1920s.

Wild and woolly

USA, late 19th century.

Work out

1. Britain, 16th century. 2. (As ‘workout’) USA, late 19th century.

You are what you eat

USA, 1920s.

Your name is mud

USA. The allusion is to Dr. Samuel Mudd, the man who was accused of the shooting of President Abraham Lincoln

Zip your lip

USA, 1940s. Deriving from the allusion to closing a garment with a zipper.

Entry 1

A bad hair day

Meaning A day on which everything seems to go wrong.

Usage Predominantly in the USA but also more widely.

Example

  • I missed the bus and was late on the one day the boss was early and now I’ve laddered my tights! - talk about a bad hair day.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

A bigger bang for your buck

Meaning Better value for your money.

Usage Worldwide, but overused to the point of cliche.

Example

  • Those Chinese fireworks are so cheap. We literally get a bigger bang for our buck.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

A chip on your shoulder

Meaning A sense of inferiority characterized by a quickness to take offence.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He’s the only cabinet minister that didn’t go to Eton and it’s given him a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

A dime a dozen

Meaning So commonplace as to be of little consequence.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Red buses in London. they’re a dime a dozen.

Entry 5

A fly on the wall

Meaning 1. An unperceived observer - able to see and hear but not be seen or heard. 2 - A form of cinema in which events are recorded without direction.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • 1 - I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when Putin met Obama. 2 - These reality shows are just the same as the old fly-on-the-wall documentaries.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

A foot in the door

Meaning An initial inroad that may lead to greater influence in future.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I convinced them to start displaying my artwork. I’m making a loss on it but it’s a foot in the door.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

A miss is as good as a mile

Meaning Some endeavours either succeed or they don’t - to miss narrowly is still failure.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He came within a millimetre of breaking the high jump records. Sadly, a miss is as good as a mile.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

A picture paints a thousand words

Meaning Pictures are far more descriptive than words.

Usage A very widely and commonly used proverb/adage.

Example

  • I tried to describe that fantastic sunset and then she just showed them a photo. You know it’s true - a picture paints a thousand words.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

A piece of cake

Meaning A task that can be accomplished very easily.

Usage Very widely and commonly used, to the point of being considered a cliche.

Example

  • Jumping that two-foot fence? No problem - a piece of cake.

Pronunciation

Entry 10

A shot in the arm

Meaning A boost or encouragement.

Usage Worldwide, very commonly used.

Example

  • I was out on my feet after ten miles’ running but seeing the kids cheering me on was a real shot in the arm.

Pronunciation

Entry 11

A slap on the wrist

Meaning A mild rebuke, often given when a more severe punishment might be expected.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Those muggers should get a jail term but these days they’ll probably just get a fine and a slap on the wrist.

Pronunciation

Entry 12

A sledgehammer to crack a nut

Meaning The use of excessive resources to overcome a small problem.

Usage Widely used.

Example

  • Using the air ambulance to get granny to hospital was a sledgehammer to crack a nut. She could walk perfectly well and we only live 200 yards away.

Pronunciation

Entry 13

About face

Meaning 1. A military command to turn when on parade. 2. A change from one’s previous position.

Usage Both meanings are widely used.

Example

  • 1. Stand to attention! Present arms! About face! 2. Winston Churchill joined parliament as a Conservative and then did an about face and changed to the Liberals, before going about face again and re-joining the Conservatives.

Pronunciation

Entry 14

Ace in the hole

Meaning A saved, hidden advantage that can supply a victory when revealed.

Usage Used worldwide, but not commonly so.

Example

  • Pete Townshend thought ’I can see for miles’ was a sure-fire hit and he saved it, as an ace in the hole, until he needed to boost the group’s success.

Pronunciation

Entry 15

Across the board

Meaning Applying everywhere and to all classes of thing.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Everyone has to pay value-added tax. It’s an across the board levy.

Pronunciation

Entry 16

All kidding aside

Meaning Said when you want people to realise you are speaking seriously, when they might otherwise think you were joking.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I know I'm dressed as a circus clown for the party but, believe me, the kitchen is on fire.

Pronunciation

Entry 17

All the way

Meaning Referring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I hear Jill's parents were away for the weekend so she and Jack took the opportunity to go all the way for the first time.

Pronunciation

Entry 18

Alley cat

Meaning 1. A cat that lives wild in a town. 2. Slang term for a prostitute.

Usage Mostly USA

Example

  • 1. Those alley cats were screeching and chasing rats in the yard all night. 2. Jack's getting to be a sex addict. He spends all his time with bimbos and alley cats.

Pronunciation

Entry 19

Alpha Mom

Meaning An ambitious mother who aims to excel at work while raising children.

Usage Worldwide, but more in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • She has two kids and is desperate to get the top job to save to get them into private school - a real alpha mom.

Pronunciation

Entry 20

Alphabet soup

Meaning A jumble of words or letters, often referring to organisations known by their initials, like CIA or BBC.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • All those institutions of the European parliament are confusing - a real alphabet soup.

Pronunciation

Entry 21

Amped up

Meaning Excited and ready for action.

Usage Worldwide, but more in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • He's been training for today all year. Now the big day has come and he's amped up and ready to go.

Pronunciation

Entry 22

An arm and a leg

Meaning Very expensive. A large amount of money.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • That new lawnmower is top of the range. It cost me an arm and a leg.

Pronunciation

Entry 23

An axe to grind

Meaning A dispute with someone.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Hey, I've an axe to grind with you. Didn't I hear you calling my sister a slag?

Pronunciation

Entry 24

An open and shut case

Meaning A straightforward legal case in which the outcome is clear.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He was caught with the stolen money and the police had his picture at the crime scene on CCTV - it was an open and shut case.

Pronunciation

Entry 25

Ankle biter

Meaning A slang term for small child.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Janice is pregnant again. With the twins still only two there's soon going to be three ankle biters around the place.

Pronunciation

Entry 26

As high as a kite

Meaning 1. Very high up in the sky. 2. High on drugs or excitement.

Usage 1. In the UK. 2. Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. The Petronas Tower is as high as a kite. 2. She was ecstatic that she won the gold medal. She was high as a kite afterwards.

Pronunciation

Entry 27

At the drop of a hat

Meaning With no delay.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • They were always ready to help. Just say the word and they'd be there at the drop of a hat.

Pronunciation

Entry 28

Baby brain

Meaning Confusion or forgetfulness caused by lack of sleep when caring for a new-born.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I put baby Julie's bottle of milk away in the oven today - must be baby brain.

Pronunciation

Entry 29

Back seat driver

Meaning Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • She's always ready to be a back seat driver and tell people what to do but she never does anything herself.

Pronunciation

Entry 30

Back to the drawing board

Meaning Said when a plan fails and it's time to start again and make a new plan.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • That battery hovercraft was a nice idea but it just didn't work. I guess it's back to the drawing board.

Pronunciation

Entry 31

Bag lady

Meaning A homeless woman, who carries all her possessions in shopping bags.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It's a shame about Edith. She had a home and family this time last year and now she's divorced and living on the streets as a bag lady.

Pronunciation

Entry 32

Basket case

Meaning A person or thing that is no longer able to function effectively, either through disability or misfortune.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The Greek economy took a nosedive after the 2008 world financial meltdown - to the point of becoming a total economic basket case.

Pronunciation

Entry 33

Bells and whistles

Meaning Attractive additional features or trimmings.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It was expensive to get all the optional extras for my new car, but I decided that I wasn't going to get another for a few years so why not go for all the bells and whistles?

Pronunciation

Entry 34

Between a rock and a hard place

Meaning Between two unwelcome options.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The only choices I have are poverty or a boring job - I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Pronunciation

Entry 35

Big fish in a small pond

Meaning An important person but only so within a small area of influence.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Alison is the queen of the post room. She's a big fish in a small pond though - no one in the rest of the company knows who she is.

Pronunciation

Entry 36

Binge watch

Meaning Watch multiple episodes of a television programme in succession.

Usage Initially the USA, but quickly spreading Worldwide.

Example

  • We started off just planning to watch an episode of The Sopranos but ended up binge-watching the whole series.

Pronunciation

Entry 37

Bitch slap

Meaning An open-handed slap in the face intended to be humiliating.

Usage Widely used, but mainly amongst the young.

Example

  • He wasn't worth the respect of a punch. Bitch-slapping was more humiliating.

Pronunciation

Entry 38

Blue plate special

Meaning A set meal provided at a reduced price.

Usage USA.

Example

  • We were hungry but broke. The blue plate special was our only option.

Pronunciation

Entry 39

Bought the farm

Meaning Died, especially in a violent way which may give rise to an insurance claim.

Usage USA.

Example

  • Henry's parachute failed at 20,000 feet - he really bought the farm.

Pronunciation

Entry 40

Break a leg

Meaning A superstitious way to wish 'good luck' to an actor before a performance while avoiding saying 'good luck' out loud, which is considered unlucky.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • People often said 'break a leg' to Olivier, but he didn't really need it.

Pronunciation

Entry 41

Bring your A game

Meaning Perform to the best of your ability.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The cup game tomorrow is the biggest in the club's history. Everyone in the team needs to bring his A game.

Pronunciation

Entry 42

Bucket list

Meaning A list of things you plan to do before you 'kick the bucket' (die). Often a list of fanciful ideas rather than of concrete plans.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I've always wanted to go to Japan. I guess I'll add that to my bucket list.

Pronunciation

Entry 43

Bust a move

Meaning Dance in a stylish way.

Usage Worldwide, amongst younger generations.

Example

  • That new cheerleader is amazing - she's really busting some moves.

Pronunciation

Entry 44

Buy a lemon

Meaning Waste money by purchasing a car that is frequently faulty.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I thought that my new VW was top of the range but it's never out of the repair garage - a real lemon.

Pronunciation

Entry 45

Can't cut the mustard

Meaning Unable to meet the demands put upon you.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He got that promotion too soon. He can't really cut the mustard.

Pronunciation

Entry 46

Chaise Lounge

Meaning The American spelling for the piece of furniture known elsewhere as a chaise longue.

Usage USA.

Example

  • You must be tired. Why don't you lie down on the chaise lounge?

Pronunciation

Entry 47

Charley horse

Meaning Stiffness or cramp in the arm or leg.

Usage Little-known outside the USA.

Example

  • He was just on the verge of scoring his first hundred and then got a charley horse and couldn't hold the bat.

Pronunciation

Entry 48

Chew someone out

Meaning Verbally scold someone.

Usage Quite widely used but more so in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • Little Jimmy ran out right in front of that car. His mother really chewed him out for that.

Pronunciation

Entry 49

Chicken feed

Meaning Something of little importance, especially a small sum of money.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The newsagent is really ripping off the kids who deliver the papers for him. He's paying them chicken feed.

Pronunciation

Entry 50

Chow down

Meaning Begin to eat.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Okay boys, I know you're hungry so chow down.

Pronunciation

Entry 51

City bike

Meaning A bicycle designing especially for urban riding.

Usage Predominantly used in urban areas in USA and UK.

Example

  • It's more comfortable in a car but in London you get around much quicker on a city bike.

Pronunciation

Entry 52

Close but no cigar

Meaning Very near to success but falling short.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Ten hits in a row gets you a prize. Nine for you Jack. Sorry - close but no cigar.

Pronunciation

Entry 53

Come hell or high water

Meaning Despite any great difficult or obstacle.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I'm going to get to Cornwall by nightfall, come hell or high water.

Pronunciation

Entry 54

Cop an attitude

Meaning Adopt an aggressive stance.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The whole gang stood there defiantly glaring. They really copped an attitude.

Pronunciation

Entry 55

Crack someone up

Meaning Make someone laugh.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He's hilarious. He cracks me up.

Pronunciation

Entry 56

Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I heard a noise outside and went to have a look. It turns out I should have ignored it, it was a bear. Curiosity killed the cat they say.

Pronunciation

Entry 57

Cut to the chase

Meaning Leave out all the unnecessary details and get straight to the point.

Usage USA.

Example

  • Okay, that's enough sales talk. Let's cut to the chase - what does it cost?

Pronunciation

Entry 58

Date rape

Meaning The rape by a man of his partner on a date.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • There's been so many stories of date rape in the news lately that Suzy arranged to meet her date in a busy pub.

Pronunciation

Entry 59

Designated driver

Meaning Someone who agrees not to drink alcohol at a social event in order to be sober enough to drive others home.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It really wasn't my turn to be designated driver this week but I was late arriving and by the time I got there all the others were already drunk.

Pronunciation

Entry 60

Dial down

Meaning 1. Adjust a device to reduce sound or temperature. 2. Reduce one's emotional reaction to something.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. It's boiling in here. Just dial down the thermostat would you? 2. Okay, so your favourite didn't win X-Factor. No need to bite the carpet - just dial it down a notch.

Pronunciation

Entry 61

Don't give up the day job

Meaning Said to someone who is a poor performer at a task - suggesting that they wouldn't be able to succeed at it professionally.

Usage Worldwide, but not particularly commonplace.

Example

  • Your singing is way off key mate - don't give up the day job will you.

Pronunciation

Entry 62

Double header

Meaning A sports expression denoting two events held at the same time.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • The semi-finals are always played together as a double-header to give no team an advantage.

Pronunciation

Entry 63

Dropping like flies

Meaning Many people either falling ill or dying.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • In the Black Death in 1348 Londoners were dropping like flies.

Pronunciation

Entry 64

Dry run

Meaning A rehearsal.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We need more practice. Let's have another dry run.

Pronunciation

Entry 65

Ear popping

Meaning Sound that is loud or that catches the attention.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Led Zeppelin were good on stage and ear-poppingly loud.

Pronunciation

Entry 66

Eighty six

Meaning Referring to an item on a menu that is no longer available.

Usage USA.

Example

  • I would have had the mushroom risotto but they're eighty-sixed it.

Pronunciation

Entry 67

Elvis has left the building

Meaning The primary performer has left. There's no point waiting around.

Usage Worldwide, but more common in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • Go away. We're closed. It's all over. Nothing to see here. Elvis has left the building. Do I need to go on?

Pronunciation

Entry 68

Enhanced interrogation techniques

Meaning Euphemism for torture.

Example

  • The CIA might call water-boarding an enhanced interrogation technique - most people call it torture.

Pronunciation

Entry 69

Ethnic cleansing

Meaning The singling out and killing of a specific ethnic group.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The ethnic cleansing of the Croats in the Bosnian War left the country open wide to the Serbs.

Pronunciation

Entry 70

Evil twin

Meaning An imaginary double, humorously referred to in order to explain the uncharacteristic bad behaviour of a normally moral person. Usually used light-heartedly. The expression formed as an allusion to plots in films involving actual evil twins.

Usage Worldwide, but mostly amongst the young and hip.

Example

  • Jane's such a good girl and I took it as read that she would come to the wedding dressed appropriately, but she's turned up in full goth makeup. At first I thought it must have been her evil twin.

Pronunciation

Entry 71

Face the music

Meaning Accept he unwelcome consequences of one's own actions.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jack pretended he had a Ph.D. to get the job. Now it's come out that he hasn't he'll have to face the music and resign..

Pronunciation

Entry 72

Factory farming

Meaning Rearing livestock under industrial conditions.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I'm dead against factory farming of pigs. I prefer to see them out in the open air, rooting about for their food.

Pronunciation

Entry 73

Feeding frenzy

Meaning A frantic competition or exploitation - like a group shark attack.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • When Princess Diana was killed there was a feeding frenzy of journalists trying to get the story.

Pronunciation

Entry 74

First World

Meaning The industrialised affluent and wealthy nations.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The rise of China and India means we may have to redefine the First World before long.

Pronunciation

Entry 75

First World problem

Meaning A relatively trivial problem only affecting the affluent.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jack's complaining again that his 48 inch screen is giving him eyestrain. That's a First World problem if there ever was.

Pronunciation

Entry 76

Flip the bird

Meaning To aggressively raise your middle finger at someone as a sign of displeasure.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I stopped the car a little too close when he crossed the road and he flipped the bird as a response.

Pronunciation

Entry 77

Food fight

Meaning Chaotic collective behaviour where items of food are thrown about wildly.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It was supposed to be a quiet wedding reception but some of the girls got drunk and started a food fight. There were canapes and buns flying everywhere.

Pronunciation

Entry 78

Fool's gold

Meaning Something that appears valuable but really isn't, like iron pyrites - a worthless mineral that resembles gold.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The investment promised 80% returns but turned out to make a loss - just fools gold I guess.

Pronunciation

Entry 79

Fuddy-duddy

Meaning An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He irons his socks. He's a real fuddy-duddy.

Entry 80

Full of bull

Meaning Talking hot air.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • He claims that he was taught to to wire walk by his parents in the circus, but he's full of bull - I know his father was a greengrocer.

Entry 81

Gender bender

Meaning A person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by 'bender' being an earlier slang term for homosexual.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • With his eye-liner and lurex catsuits, David Bowie was the archetype gender bender.

Pronunciation

Entry 82

Get a gold star

Meaning Earn a merit point for doing well.

Example

  • Well done Juliet. 100% in your maths test = you are due a gold star.

Pronunciation

Entry 83

Get off on the wrong foot

Meaning Make a bad start in a relationship or task.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • My new boss overheard me calling her obese - that really got us off on the wrong foot.

Pronunciation

Entry 84

Give him an inch and hell take a mile

Meaning allow someone a small concession and they will take advantage and try to take more.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Give Janice and inch and shell take a mile. We said she could stay in the spare room for a couple of nights but she's been here a month already.

Pronunciation

Entry 85

Go down like a lead balloon

Meaning Be received badly.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The headmaster's idea that all the students spend their lunch hour collecting litter went down like a lead balloon.

Pronunciation

Entry 86

Go for broke

Meaning Put every resource into getting a particular result.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We needed a goal so we went for broke to score and forgot about defence.

Pronunciation

Entry 87

Go out on a limb

Meaning Take a risk to support someone or something.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He knew his boss was an army man, so saying that he was against the war was really going out on a limb.

Pronunciation

Entry 88

Go the extra mile

Meaning Going beyond what is usually required. Make an extra effort.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He needed have picked me up from the airport. I'm grateful that he went the extra mile.

Pronunciation

Entry 89

Going to hell in a handbasket

Meaning Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • When the British went over the top at the Somme the soldiers didn't realise they were headed for hell in a handbasket.

Pronunciation

Entry 90

Graveyard shift

Meaning Working hours that extend overnight.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I'm on shift-work. One week of days and then one on the graveyard shift.

Pronunciation

Entry 91

Greasy spoon

Meaning A small cheap cafe selling fried food.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We had been driving all night. A fried breakfast in a greasy spoon was just what I fancied.

Pronunciation

Entry 92

Have a blast

Meaning Have an especially good time.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • We are loving our holiday here in the West Indies. Were having a blast.

Pronunciation

Entry 93

Hell bent

Meaning Determined to achieve something at all costs.

Usage Worldwide, although more common in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • Susie broke her ankle a mile from the end of the marathon but she was hell bent to finish and stumbled over the line on crutches.

Pronunciation

Entry 94

Hidden in plain sight

Meaning Something that defies apprehension by being too obvious.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • After robbing the jewellers the thief just stood in the crowd and watched the police search all the local alleys. I guess hiding in plain sight worked for him.

Pronunciation

Entry 95

High and mighty

Meaning Proud and arrogant.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Ever since he inherited that fortune he won't come to the pub with the gang any more. All high and mighty if you ask me.

Pronunciation

Entry 96

Hit the books

Meaning To study, especially for a test or exam.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I've done no work for the end of terms exams. I need to hit the books bigtime.

Pronunciation

Entry 97

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning Make the precise correct point.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Churchill hit the nail on the head when he called Hitler a dictator.

Pronunciation

Entry 98

Hold your horses

Meaning Be patient.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I know you want to get off home but hold your horses, there's another ten minutes before the school bell is due.

Pronunciation

Entry 99

Holy shit!

Meaning An expression of extreme surprise or disbelief.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Two lottery wins in our street in one week! Holy shit - that's next to impossible.

Pronunciation

Entry 100

In like Flynn

Meaning To be easily successful, especially concerning sex or romance.

Usage Worldwide, but more common in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • Since he had that lottery win and the nose job, he's in like Flynn with the girls.

Pronunciation

Entry 101

In the bag

Meaning Something that is secured.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I knew when they sent all the other interviewees home that my job application was in the bag.

Pronunciation

Entry 102

In your face

Meaning Aggressive confrontation.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The police kept interrogating him. They were in his face for hours.

Pronunciation

Entry 103

It takes two to tango

Meaning It takes two people to cause a problem between them.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Maybe Jack did provoke the argument but he couldn't argue on his own could he? - it takes two to tango.

Pronunciation

Entry 104

Ivy league

Meaning The joint name given to Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard universities.

Usage USA.

Example

  • He had a good start to his academic career. He was an ivy leaguer.

Pronunciation

Entry 105

Joshing me

Meaning Tricking me.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I know you didn't box with Mike Tyson. Stop joshing me.

Pronunciation

Entry 106

Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning Join a popular trend.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The Beatles started getting popular in America in February 1964. By March millions had jumped on the bandwagon.

Pronunciation

Entry 107

Jump the shark

Meaning Introduce a ridiculous or unbelievable plot device into a TV series in order to boost flagging ratings.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Melodrama turned into jumping the shark when one of the main characters was killed by a milk truck in order to boost Christmas ratings.

Pronunciation

Entry 108

Keep your chin up

Meaning Remain positive in a tough situation.

Usage Although derived in the USA this idiom is more commonly heard now in Britain.

Example

  • Sorry to hear that you were made redundant on the day your buried your mother. Keep your chin up mate.

Pronunciation

Entry 109

Knock on wood

Meaning Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid bad luck or to continue having good luck.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I have never broken a bone - touch wood.

Pronunciation

Entry 110

Level playing field

Meaning Fair competition where no side has an advantage.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • There were six of them and only four of us, so it wasn't really a level playing field.

Pronunciation

Entry 111

Like a chicken with its head cut off

Meaning In a frenzied manner.

Usage Worldwide, but not particularly common.

Example

  • He was shouting and swearing because they had lost the contract - he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Pronunciation

Entry 112

Link farm

Meaning A website that exists primarily to display links to another website, with the intention of improving the search status of the second site.

Usage Mostly among the younger generation.

Example

  • That site is just a list of links to Jim's Facebook page. Google will spot that as a link farm for sure.

Pronunciation

Entry 113

Link rot

Meaning The tendency of WWW addresses to become out of date and point to unavailable pages.

Usage Mostly among the younger generation.

Example

  • That website's not been edited for years, there are dead link rot links all over it.

Pronunciation

Entry 114

Liquor up

Meaning To supply or to drink alcoholic drink.

Usage Worldwide, but not commonly used everywhere.

Example

  • They decided to get liquored up in the pub, even before they got to the party.

Pronunciation

Entry 115

Little fish in a big pond

Meaning Someone considered unimportant compared to their more significant peers.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jimmy's first school only had seven pupils and he was the star, but when he got to high-school he was a little fish in a big pond.

Pronunciation

Entry 116

Magic mushroom

Meaning A type of mushroom with hallucinogenic properties - sometimes known as 'shrooms'.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Henry's turned into a real dope head - stoned every night. If it's not the wacky backy it's the magic mushrooms.

Pronunciation

Entry 117

Man cave

Meaning A shed or some other retreat that men decorate in the way they choose (with or without their male friends) and use to relax in traditional male pursuits.

Usage Worldwide. A fairly recent coinage but spreading rapidly around the world.

Example

  • After I retired Sheila was getting so fed up with me being around the house that she made me turn the outhouse into a man cave. Now the guys come round each afternoon to play cards and watch tv and I've made a sculpture out of beer cans.

Pronunciation

Entry 118

Mellow yellow

Meaning Dried banana peel, used as an intoxicant.

Usage Worldwide, as the song title although few are aware of the drug connection.

Example

  • He's tried everything else - grass, acid, speed, magic mushrooms. Now he's started on mellow yellow.

Pronunciation

Entry 119

Men in suits

Meaning Conventionally minded and dressed men who hold positions of authority. Also called just 'suits'.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Everyone in the office wanted a Santas and Elves party on Christmas Eve, but the suits said no.

Pronunciation

Entry 120

New York minute

Meaning A short space of time.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I know we need to leave soon, but I can get ready really quickly. I'll be with you in a New York minute.

Pronunciation

Entry 121

New kid on the block

Meaning Someone new to the group or area.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Let's go and play with him. Its hard being the new kid on the block.

Pronunciation

Entry 122

Nip slip

Meaning The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.

Usage Mostly USA and UK and not amongst the older generations.

Example

  • Wearing a low cut dress like that, a nip slip was almost inevitable.

Pronunciation

Entry 123

Nitty-gritty

Meaning The important aspects of a situation; the heart of the matter.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The solicitor spent ages listing the business details of Grandad's will. We were all waiting for him to get to the nitty-gritty when we found out how much money we would inherit.

Pronunciation

Entry 124

No dice

Meaning A refusal to accept a proposition.

Usage Worldwide. but more common in the USA than elsewhere.

Example

  • You want me to work all weekend for no extra pay? Sorry, no dice.

Pronunciation

Entry 125

No spring chicken

Meaning Said of people who are no longer young but may behave as though they were.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Dad's marrying again, to a woman in her 60s. Mind you, he's no spring chicken either.

Pronunciation

Entry 126

Off the record

Meaning Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want repeated.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The minister won't talk to reporters since his last off the record briefing got into the papers.

Pronunciation

Entry 127

On a wing and a prayer

Meaning In a difficult situation and reliant on luck to get out of it.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jean was out on her feet after two miles. She was on a wing and a prayer to get to the end of the marathon.

Pronunciation

Entry 128

On cloud nine

Meaning Blissfully happy.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The day after George proposed to her, Mildred won the lottery. She's on cloud nine.

Pronunciation

Entry 129

On the ball

Meaning With a good understanding of a situation and a readiness to act.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I gave him the predicted profits and he immediately knew they were wrong and sold the stock. He was really on the ball financially.

Pronunciation

Entry 130

On the fence

Meaning Unwilling to give one's view about which side you support.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Increase taxes or reduce spending. Who knows? I'm sitting on the fence on that one.

Pronunciation

Entry 131

On the record

Meaning Something said in confidence that the one speaking is happy to have repeated.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • As finance minister I'm on the record as supporting increased spending on welfare, and you can quote me on that.

Pronunciation

Entry 132

Out of sight

Meaning Still used with its literal meaning of 'beyond the range of sight' but more commonly used in its hippie-era meaning of 'excellent; extraordinary'.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The other runners were good, but Usian Bolt was out of sight.

Pronunciation

Entry 133

Paint the town red

Meaning Go on a boisterous or exuberant spree

Usage Worldwide, although considered rather old fashioned language

Example

  • It's the last day of term and everyone wants to party. Why don't we paint the town red?

Pronunciation

Entry 134

Pass the buck

Meaning Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The government has been in power for six years now but every time there's a crisis they pass the buck and blame the previous administration.

Pronunciation

Entry 135

Peachy keen

Meaning Excellent; wonderful.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Wow, that 20-year old whiskey is peachy keen..

Pronunciation

Entry 136

Pedal to the metal

Meaning To go at full speed, when driving a vehicle.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Well never make it to the hospital in time at this speed. Put the pedal to the metal and hurry things up.

Pronunciation

Entry 137

Peg out

Meaning 1. To die, especially to die of old age. 2. To complete a circuit of the board in the card game cribbage.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. Gran had been bedridden for months and finally pegged out yesterday. 2. Just six more holes to go - if I get three nines I'll be able to peg out.

Pronunciation

Entry 138

Phone it in

Meaning Perform an act in an uncommitted disinterested manner.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • John Goodman was so bored with his lead role in the Flintstones movie he virtually phoned in his performance.

Pronunciation

Entry 139

Photo bomb

Meaning Spoil a photograph by unexpectedly appearing in the picture and taking the attention away from the intended subject - usually as a prank.

Usage A recent derivation, not yet taken up by the older generations.

Example

  • Jack is so annoying. We were all posed for my graduation picture and he photobombed us wearing a pink cowboy hat.

Pronunciation

Entry 140

Pig out

Meaning To overeat in a slovenly manner.

Usage Worldwide, but mostly by the younger generations.

Example

  • I told the babysitters not to pig out but when we got back there were nine pizza boxes on the floor.

Pronunciation

Entry 141

Pipe down

Meaning An instruction to shut-up or be quiet.

Usage Worldwide, if a little dated.

Example

  • Okay kids, the lesson has started. Pipe down and I'll begin.

Pronunciation

Entry 142

Play safe

Meaning Avoid risk.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We could have invested in that new stock but we decided to play safe and wait for a more secure place for our money.

Pronunciation

Entry 143

Play the field

Meaning Indulge in a series of sexual relationships.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jim has three girlfriends on the go at once. He's always played the field but that's a bit much.

Pronunciation

Entry 144

Potty mouth

Meaning A foul mouthed person.

Usage Worldwide, but not particularly common.

Example

  • I couldn't believe that string of swearwords that Jill gave the teacher - she's a real potty mouth.

Pronunciation

Entry 145

Pull the plug

Meaning Bring something to an end.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The new government prefer to spend on defence. They've pulled the plug on all new welfare spending.

Pronunciation

Entry 146

Pull the wool over someones eyes

Meaning Deceive someone.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He convinced us all that he was going straight, then the police found him with ten stolen watches. He really pulled the wool over our eyes.

Pronunciation

Entry 147

Pulling your leg

Meaning Tricking someone as a joke.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • You believed her when she said she was the Queen's cousin? I think she was pulling your leg mate.

Pronunciation

Entry 148

Quality time

Meaning Time spent with a child, spouse or friend in an uninterrupted and attentive way.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I've been working 12 hours a day this week and haven't been home once for the toddler's bedtime. This weekend I'm going to give them some quality time and take them to the zoo

Pronunciation

Entry 149

Rest up

Meaning Take a break from one's efforts.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • You did well to get this far in the marathon before collapsing. Rest up now and wait for the paramedics to get here.

Pronunciation

Entry 150

Revenge porn

Meaning The malicious posting of sexual images online to harm the reputation of an ex partner.

Usage Worldwide, but not amongst the older generations.

Example

  • After she ended it he posted some really nasty pictures of her from when they were together. No other words for it than revenge porn.

Pronunciation

Entry 151

Riding shotgun

Meaning Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I prefer to drive but since my drink conviction I have to ride shotgun.

Pronunciation

Entry 152

Sad ass

Meaning A reference to an inept or undesirable person or thing.

Usage Mainly USA.

Example

  • Since the coal mines and steelworks have closed many places in the Rust Belt have become real sad-ass towns.

Pronunciation

Entry 153

Shoot straight

Meaning To talk or deal honestly.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I've worked with Jabril for twenty years and never had reason to doubt his word. He's a real straight-shooter.

Pronunciation

Entry 154

Shovel ready

Meaning A building project in which all the preliminaries have been arranged.

Usage Mostly USA and Britain.

Example

  • Planning consent is done. The site is cleared. The project is shovel ready.

Pronunciation

Entry 155

Silver bullet

Meaning A simple and seeming effortless solution to a difficult problem.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We are thousands in debt. That loan seemed to be the silver bullet that would sort out our problems, but it really wasn't.

Pronunciation

Entry 156

Silver surfer

Meaning An older person who uses the World Wide Web.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Granny didn't want the iPad we bought her but since we showed her how to Skype the kids in Australia she's become a real silver surfer.

Pronunciation

Entry 157

Skid row

Meaning The rundown area of a city inhabited by the destitute.

Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.

Example

  • Lost my job, Jill left me, started drinking - pretty soon I was on skid row.

Pronunciation

Entry 158

Spoiler alert

Meaning Said, or printed, as a warning that the following will give away the ending or important plot development of a drama.

Usage Worldwide, mostly by the young.

Example

  • I've just been to see Shakespeare's Othello. Spoiler alert - Othello dies.

Pronunciation

Entry 159

Straight from the horses mouth

Meaning Heard from the authoritative source.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • There's going to be an election in May. My sister is the Prime Ministers secretary so I got that straight from the horses mouth.

Pronunciation

Entry 160

Suck it up

Meaning Accept a bad situation.

Usage More common in the USA than elsewhere, but spreading Worldwide.

Example

  • Listen Jedd, it's over, Janine will never be coming back. Suck it up and move on.

Pronunciation

Entry 161

Take a raincheck

Meaning An offer that is declined now but may be reconsidered later.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I can't go bowling tonight, I've work to finish, but I'll take a raincheck for next time.

Pronunciation

Entry 162

That sucks

Meaning 1. An expression of sympathy. 2. Said of something that the speaker rates very lowly.

Usage Mostly USA, bit spreading Worldwide in recent years.

Example

  • 1. I heard that your child has leukaemia. That sucks - I'm so sorry. 2. His singing is out of tune and he just can't dance. The whole performance sucks.

Pronunciation

Entry 163

The Big Pond

Meaning Nickname of the Atlantic Ocean between the UK and the USA.

Usage Mostly USA and Britain.

Example

  • London's getting boring - I'm planning to hop the big pond and have a weekend in New York.

Pronunciation

Entry 164

The God Squad

Meaning enthusiastic Christian believers.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Every friday we the doorbell goes and it's the Jehovah's Witnesses or some other god squad folks.

Pronunciation

Entry 165

The acid test

Meaning 1. A scientific test to distinguish between gold and base metals. 2. A conclusive test to determine the validity of a claim.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. We found a mineral that looked valuable but it might be fools gold - we need to give it the acid test. 2. The acid test of the quality of a singer is to ask them to sing unaccompanied.

Pronunciation

Entry 166

The heebie-jeebies

Meaning A state of nervous anxiety or fear.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I didn't like staying in that old house overnight. The creaks and bumps gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Pronunciation

Entry 167

The icing on the cake

Meaning Something that makes a good situation even better.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Winning the race was great. Getting a medal and a prize was the icing on the cake.

Pronunciation

Entry 168

The tail wagging the dog

Meaning A small and usually insignificant factor (or person) dominates over one that is normally more powerful and influential.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Even small countries like Estonia have a veto in European Union voting and can't be over-ruled. I'd call that the tail wagging the dog.

Pronunciation

Entry 169

Throw the towel in

Meaning Give up, especially to avoid further punishment when facing certain defeat.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • AltaVista tried to hang on and compete with Google, but eventually they just couldn't compete and were forced to throw the towel in.

Pronunciation

Entry 170

Top banana

Meaning The leading, most important, person in a group or organisation.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Russia is supposed to be a democracy but everyone knows Putin is top banana and what he says goes.

Pronunciation

Entry 171

Uncle Tom

Meaning A derogatory term for a black man who is servile towards white men.

Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.

Example

  • Randy never stands up for us blacks. In the old days we'd have called him an Uncle Tom - these days people call him a coconut (that is, brown on the outside but white on the inside).

Pronunciation

Entry 172

Up shit creek without a paddle

Meaning In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We were halfway across the Australian outback when we realised our water bottle had leaked. We really were up shit creek.

Pronunciation

Entry 173

Wardrobe malfunction

Meaning Referring to an item of clothing slipping out of place to expose part of the body.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Her top slipped down in front of the boys. She said it was a wardrobe malfunction but I think it was deliberate.

Pronunciation

Entry 174

Washed up

Meaning 1. Deposited on a beach by the tide. 2. Finished and failed, with no further chance of success.

Usage 1. Worldwide. 2. Mostly USA.

Example

  • 1. Come and see, there's a shark washed up on the beach. 2. She used to be a great actress until she started on the booze. Now no one will hire her - she's all washed up.

Entry 175

Wild and woolly

Meaning Uncultured and lawless.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • If you are looking for entertainment that's wild and woolly, have you considered cage fighting?

Pronunciation

Entry 176

Work out

Meaning 1. Calculate using arithmetic. 2. Take exercise (also spelled 'workout').

Usage Both forms used Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. We decided to share the bill for the taxi. My part worked out to four pounds. 2. I've joined the gym. My plan is to work out once a week.

Pronunciation

Entry 177

You are what you eat

Meaning What you eat affects you health.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Burgers every evening? That's not a good plan - don't you know you are what you eat?

Pronunciation

Entry 178

Your name is mud

Meaning You are discredited or in disgrace. The very mention of your name produces scorn.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Since the hundreds of reports of his abuse of children, Jimmy Saville's name is mud in the UK.

Pronunciation

Entry 179

Zip your lip

Meaning Say nothing; keep your mouth shut. Often shortened to 'zip it'.

Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.

Example

  • I saw Kevin put sneezing powder in the staff room but he told me to zip my lip about it or it would spoil the joke.

Pronunciation