English idioms relating to | |
Below the belt | An action or remark described as below the belt means that it is considered unfair or cruel. "Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals below the belt." |
Tighten your belt | If you need to tighten your belt, you must spend your money carefully. "Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!" |
Under one's belt | If you have something under your belt, you have acquired experience or have satisfactorily achieved something. "You've got to have some work experience under your belt before you can hope to get a permanent job." |
Die with one's boots on | A person who dies with their boots on dies while still leading an active life. "He says he'll never retire. He'd rather die with his boots on!" |
Get too big for your boots (or britches) | To say that a person is getting too big for their boots means that you think they are behaving as if they were more important that they really are. "Tom's really getting too big for his boots since he got a promotion - he hardly says hello any more!" |
Hang up one's boots | When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and retire. This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general. "Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year." |
Lick someone's boots | To say that one person licks another person's boots means that they are trying to please that person, often in order to obtain something. |
Tough as old boots | If something, especially meat, is (as) tough as old boots, it is hard to cut and difficult to chew. (Can also refer to a person who is strong physically or in character.) "We were served a steak as tough as old boots." |
Cap in hand | If you do something cap in hand, you ask for something in a very respectful manner. "They went to the teacher, cap in hand, and asked for more time to complete their project." |
Put on your thinking cap | If you tell someone to put their thinking cap on, you ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it. "Now here's this week's quiz - it's time to put your thinking caps on!" |
A feather in one's cap | To describe someone's achievement as a feather in their cap means that it is something they can be proud of. "The overwhelming victory of the team was a feather in the cap for the new manager." |
Pop one's clogs | This is a euphemistic way of saying that a person is dead. "Nobody lives in that house since old Sam popped his clogs." |
Hot under the collar | If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed, indignant or embarrassed. "If anyone criticizes his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot under the collar." |
Off the cuff | If you speak off the cuff, you say something without any previous thought or preparation. "He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well." |
Fit like a glove | If something fits you like a glove, it fits you perfectly. "I was lucky! The first skirt I tried on fitted me like a glove!" |
Hand in glove | Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to be hand in glove. "After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee." |
Iron fist/hand in a velvet glove | This expression is used to describe someone who, behind an appearance of gentleness, is inflexible and determined. "To impose the necessary reforms, the leader used persuasion followed by force - an iron fist in a velvet glove." |
Handle someone with kid gloves. | If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or because they are easily upset. "He is so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves." |
The gloves are off! | This expression is used when there are signs that a fight is about to start. "The two candidates are out of their seats. The gloves are off!" |
At the drop of a hat | If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and without hesitation "I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat." |
Keep something under one's hat | To keep something under one's hat means to keep a secret. "My boss has promised me a promotion, but it's not official yet, so keep it under your hat." |
Take one's hat off to somebody | You say this to express admiration for something someone has done. "I take my hat off to the chef. The meal was wonderful." |
Throw (or toss) one's hat in the ring | If you throw or toss your hat in the ring, you announce that you are going to enter a competition or take up a challenge. "He finally threw his hat in the ring and announced that he was going to stand for election." |
Wear many hats | Someone who wears many hats has to do many different types of tasks or play a variety of roles. "Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible and accept to wear many hats. |
Get your knickers in a twist. | If you get your knickers in twist, you are angry, nervous or upset faced with a difficult situation "Don't get your knickers in a twist! Everything is under control." |
Off the peg | Clothes which are bought off the peg are purchased in a standard size in a shop and are not made specially for you. "He can't afford to have his suits made to measure so he buys them off the peg." |
Ants in one's pants | People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about something "I wish he'd relax. He's got ants in his pants about something today!" |
Caught with your pants down | If you are caught with your pants down, you are caught doing something bad or forbidden. "Our neighbours were caught interfering with their electricity metre - caught with their pants down!" |
Put your pants on one leg at a time | To say that someone puts their pants on one leg at a time means that the person is a human being no different from anyone else. "Don't be scared to speak to him. He puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us!" |
Pocket of resistance | This term refers to a small group of people who resist change or disagree with a proposal. "The new boss wants to introduce job-sharing, but there's a pocket of resistance in the sales department." |
Deep pockets | A person or organization who has deep pockets has a lot of money. "Andy's business is not doing well at the moment. He says he needs a friend with deep pockets." |
Have somebody in your pocket | If you have influence or power over someone, you have them in your pocket. "He was declared 'not guilty' but everyone knew that he had the jury in his pocket." |
Out of your own pocket | If you pay for something out of your own pocket, you cover the cost with your own money. "Breakfast is included but you must pay for lunch out of your own pocket." |
Suit every pocket | This term refers to the amount of money you are able to spend or the price you can afford. "The store offers a wide range of computers at prices to suit every pocket." |
Give the shirt off one's back | This expression is used to describe a kind-hearted and generous person who would give you anything he/she owns in order to help you. "Mike would give the the shirt off his back to help a friend in difficulty." |
Keep your shirt on! | If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down. "Look, we've got plenty of time, so keep your shirt on!" |
The shoe is on the other foot | When the circumstances have reversed and one person now doing what the the other person did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot. "I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!" |
In someone's shoes | To talk about being in someone's shoes means to imagine how you would react if you were in a similar situation as that person. |
Step into someone's shoes | If you step into someone's shoes, you take over a job or position held by someone else before you. "William has been trained to step into his father's shoes when he retires." |
On a shoestring | If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money. "When I was a student I lived on a shoestring. |
Have an ace up one's sleeve | If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage. "I'm well prepared for the negotiations. I've got an ace up my sleeve." |
Laugh up your sleeve | If you laugh up your sleeve, you are secretly amused at another person's problems or difficulties. "Tom felt that his explanation was confusing and that his colleague was laughing up his sleeve." |
Roll up your sleeves | When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work. "To increase our market share we'll have to roll up our sleeves and find new customers." |
Knock your socks off | If something amazes you, or impresses you greatly, it knocks your socks off. "The magnitude of the project will knock the socks off everyone in the office." |
Pull your socks up | If you tell someone to pull their socks up, you are saying that they need to make an effort to improve their performance. |
Swishing/swishing party | Swishing is the name given to a new fashion phenomenon - a party organised to swap second hand clothes. Everyone takes along clothes they no longer wear and people can then choose the ones they want. |
Black tie event | This expression refers to a formal event at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie. "I need to know if it's going to be a casual get-together or a black tie event." |
Wear the trousers (or pants) | The partner in a couple who wears the trousers is the one who makes the important decisions. |