English Idioms - C
- an action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed
They took a calculated risk when they opened the new store but it has been very successful.
He was calling a spade a spade when he began to criticize his employee for being lazy.
Could you please come and call for me before you go to the game.
He called it quits and went home for the day.
- the need to go to the toilet
He is answering the call of nature and can't talk to you for a few minutes.
- cancel
The game was called off because of the rain.
I plan to call on my brother when I am on my holidays.
- ask someone to participate or contribute something
The teacher called on me three times to answer questions in the class.
- call someone before an authority to be scolded or reprimanded
He was called on to the carpet by his boss for losing the major sale.
- challenge someone to prove what they say is true
I decided to call his bluff and asked him to show me the evidence.
He is now calling the shots and is in control of the company.
He said that he would call up his parents tomorrow night.
- relax
She finally calmed down after the accident.
- destroy the effect of something
The benefits of her exercise were cancelled out by her always overeating.
- a complicated situation or problem
The lawsuit opened up a can of worms for the company.
can't see the forest for the trees
- unable to judge or understand the whole picture because you are looking at the small parts of it
He has no real understanding of most problems as he always fails to see the forest for the trees.
- a plan or argument kept back to be produced if needed
I think that he has a card up his sleeve and will be able to help us later.
- send something to one person at the address of another person
I sent the parcel to her in care of her friend at the university.
- the promise of reward and threat of punishment at the same time
The trade negotiators took a carrot and stick approach to the automobile talks.
- lose control or judgement due to strong feelings
I got a carrried away and began to yell at her for losing my textbook.
- continue, keep doing as before
We were permitted to carry on with the party after we had talked to the landlord.
The move to the new headquarters was carried out with a minimum of problems.
We plan to carry over the summer swimwear until next year.
- take the most important or difficult part in an action or business
The vice-president was forced to carry the ball while the president was away.
- win or be successful
His fine performance in our company carried the day for us.
- show loyalty to a cause or a person
He has been carrying the torch for the candidate for a long time.
The company carried through with their plan to layoff 300 workers.
- an example that proves something or helps to make something clear
What he just said was a case in point about what I have been saying all year.
His new business is a great cash cow. I think that he is really making a lot of money.
- exchange something for money
We decided to cash in the coupons because we needed some money.
The small town cashed in on their success with the winter Olympics.
- money paid when something is bought
It was a cash deal and we were forced to pay cash on the barrelhead.
- waste something valuable on someone who doesn't appreciate it
Giving her the gold earrings was casting pearls before swine.
- be the first to blame someone
He was the one to cast the first stone and now he is having a major fight with his neighbor.
She is always building castles in the air and is very unrealistic.
- a burglar who enters a building by climbing a wall etc.
We lost our stereo when a cat burglar entered our apartment.
I think that the cat has got her tongue. She hasn't said anything at all since the meeting started.
catch-22
- a situation where whatever you do the outcome will be bad, a no-win situation
It was a catch-22 situation where if I went to work there would be problems but if I didn't go to work ther would be more problems.
I caught a cold because of the rain and the cold weather.
We are in the middle of moving house so the meals when you visit will be catch-as-catch-can.
- understand, learn about
It was difficult to catch on at first but finally I was able to understand the math problem.
Recently ballroom dancing has begun to catch on among many people.
- stop to rest and regain one's normal breathing
After running from the station it took a moment to catch my breath.
I tried to catch her eye but she didn't notice me.
- find someone in the middle of doing something wrong
He caught the boy red-handed when he was stealing the candy.
catch up with (someone or something)
- become even with someone (in a race or in schoolwork etc.)
I think it's too late to catch up with the rest of the class now.
- not having enough of something when you need it (usually money)
I was caught short last week and couldn't pay the weekly food bill.
- to weaken and be forced to give up
The company finally caved in to the union's demand for more money.
- record
The stock prices of the company chalked up a big gain last week.
- make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity
They decided to change horses in midstream and that is probably why they lost the election.
- change the way one feels about something
She had a change of heart and decided to let her child go to the circus.
He changed his mind and said that he would not go to the movie tonight.
- make a change in one's story,statement or opinions
He has begun to change his tune recently and is beginning to agree that we need to do things a little differently.
- be responsible for an activity or group of people
He is in charge of selling tickets for the school dance.
He recently began cheating on his wife which was the main cause of their divorce.
(have the) cheek to do something
She had the cheek to tell me that she was sick and couldn't come to work today.
- side by side, in close intimacy
They were walking down the stairs cheek by jowl when the alarm sounded.
- chat
The two men were chewing the fat on the porch of the house.
The teacher chewed out the student for talking in class.
What he sold his car for was chicken feed compared to the amount of money that he has in the bank.
- stop doing something because of fear
He chickened out of jumping into the lake from the high diving board.
- words or acts come back to cause trouble for a person
Her chickens have finally come home to roost and she must now take responsibility for what she has done.
- join in (a song or conversation)
We were having a nice conversation until she chimed in and started complaining about everything.
We all chipped in and bought our father a present.
- person who looks or acts like one of his parents
His son is a chip off the old block and acts exactly like his father.
- the time when one faces the greatest obstacles
When the chips were down he went to his father for advice and received his encouragement.
She clammed up as soon as her boyfriend entered the room.
- the assurance that an animal or person is healthy
The astronaut was given a clean bill of health before he began training.
- having no errors, past acts that are all good
He started off with a clean slate and has never caused any problems for the company.
- calm down and remove a misunderstanding
We had a big argument so I think it is time to clear the air.
- clear away things and prepare for action
Let's clear the decks and get everyone out of the house so we can begin work.
- solve or explain (a problem etc.)
They finally cleared up the problem that I was having with my salary at work.
- sports event or movie where the outcome is uncertain until the very end
The playoff game was a cliffhanger and one of the most enjoyable games of the year.
- be so bored that you become anxious and frustrated
She began to climb the wall after only a few days at her new job.
- a low-class business where people are cheated
They went into a clip joint near the bus station and had to pay a lot of money.
- limit one's activities or possibilities
They decided to clip his wings and took away his expense account.
- an accident almost happens (but doesn't happen)
I had a close call this morning when the truck almost hit me.
- come together for fighting, unite and work together
They decided to close ranks and stop arguing among themselves
- near to someone's personal feelings, wishes or interests
What I said about her work habits must have hit close to home as she seemed to become very quiet suddenly.
- no danger is in sight, no one can see you
When the coast was clear we decided to enter the building.
- bring something of which there is plenty
Bringing extra food to the farmer's picnic was like bringing coals to Newcastle.
- you are not important but only a small part of a large organization
The employees felt like they were only cogs in a machine so the atmosphere at the company was not very good.
- a sudden short period of cold weather (usually in winter)
The cold snap lasted for five days.
- stop using drugs (heroin etc.) abruptly and without medical aid
Although she was able to stop using drugs cold turkey she was very sick for awhile.
- fail
I think that he has come a cropper in the horse competition and that is why he is sad.
- find something or meet someone by chance
I came across an interesting story in the newspaper the other day.
- please repeat, please say that again
Come again. I didn't hear you the first time.
- brighten up and become active
She finally came alive and began to enjoy the party.
The work on our new house is coming along very well at the moment.
He has come a long way and has learned many things about his new company.
- return to the place you are now
She came back from her holidays last week.
I can't remember clearly the events of last year but slowly everything is coming back to me.
Recently bell-bottom pants have come back into fashion.
- disrupt the relationship between (two people)
His constant interfering finally came between his brother and his wife.
She came by a lot of money recently and is now enjoying her life.
The president of the company was forced to come clean and tell what really happened to the business.
(a) come-down
- a lowering in status, income, influence or energy
Her new job was a real come-down from her last one so she was not very happy.
The police have been coming down very hard on drunk drivers recently.
- stop imagining or dreaming, think and behave as usual
He has finally come down to earth and is preparing seriously to look for a job.
- become sick with or catch a cold etc.
Her mother came down with a cold so was unable to attend the dinner.
Several of the students in the class come from Mexico.
- completely opposite from one's starting point
They have come full circle since the new president started at the university.
Come hell or high water I plan to go to the concert next week.
I think that the small hammer will come in handy to fix the desk.
- receive, get possession of
They came into a lot of money which they donated to charity.
She says that although bell-bottom pants have come into fashion again she will never wear them.
- become to perform or work well because of good circumstances
He has really come into his own as a basketball player since he changed positions.
- be successful
The party came off without any problems so everyone was very happy.
- overwhelm with excessively strong language or personality
He came on too strong during the job interview and was unable to get the job.
The child has recently come out with many strange and funny expressions.
- begin or learn to do or feel something
At first I disliked her a lot but recently I have come to accept her.
She came to a couple of hours after the accident.
They almost came to blows when they were trying to fix the car.
- have a bad accident or disappointment
He has recently come to much grief because of his son's problems with the police.
- struggle (successfully) with an idea or problem
She has finally been able to come to grips with her husband's drinking.
- be discovered, become known
It has recently come to light that the company has lost millions of dollars.
All his efforts to help his sister find a job came to nothing.
- begin to think clearly or act sensibly
He finally came to his senses and decided to buy a cheaper car rather than borrow a lot of money for an expensive one.
It came to pass that the company was never able to recover from their financial problems.
We came to terms with the bank and were able to buy the house.
His speech was interesting but he never really came to the point.
- produce or find a thought, idea or answer
Please try to come up with a name for the new magazine.
- a friendly manner with everyone
He has a nice common touch and everyone likes him a lot.
- fall asleep quickly with great fatigue
As soon as we returned from the hike I conked out in front of the TV.
She really cooked her own goose and has no chance of getting the new job.
- invent, plan and put something together
I don't know what kind of plan she is cooking up now but it should be quite interesting.
- very calm and brave, not worried or anxious
She was as cool as a cucumber when her canoe turned over in the river.
- be kept waiting because of another's rudeness
He was forced to cool his heels for an hour in the waiting room before his boss would talk to him.
- plead guilty to a crime in order to get a lesser penalty
He was forced to cop a plea when the evidence against him became too strong to dispute.
- avoid doing something that you were planning to do
He copped out from our plan to go to to the beach for the day.
- someone who copies another person's work or their actions
The little boy was accused of being a copycat by the other children.
He finally coughed up enough money to pay for the accident.
You can never count on him to do anything right.
count one's chickens before they're hatched
- assume that something will be successful before it is certain
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. You're spending your money and you don't even have a job yet.
- leave something out of a plan, exclude
Please count me out of your plans to go skiing for the weekend.
- hide or not say where one has been or what one has done
He was trying to cover his tracks but it was easy to see where he had recently been.
They tried to cover up the facts regarding the illegal election campaign funds.
- try to be friendly to someone
I don't know what he wants but recently he has been trying to cozy up to me.
He was a lot of fun at the party because he was always cracking jokes.
- let a smile show on one's face
He never cracked a smile during the whole meeting.
- enforce laws or rules strictly
The school principal decided to crack down on people running in the halls.
- daybreak, early in the morning
We got up at the crack of dawn to go fishing.
- an eccentric person with ideas that don't make sense to others
He is a total crackpot and you never know what he will do next.
- try to make someone work hard or obey you by threatening them
We had to crack the whip in order to get the job finished by the weekend.
- pay for something not in cash
He decided to buy the stereo on credit.
I cracked up when he started talking about the incident with the taxi driver.
Working in the new section is beginning to cramp my style a little.
- enter without a ticket or without paying or with no invitation
Many people didn't have a ticket for the concert so they decided to crash the gate.
When they hire new employees they always look for the cream of the crop.
- a strong feeling of fear or disgust
I get the creeps every time that I see a dead animal.
The thief crept up on the elderly women at the supermarket.
- a show of sorrow that is not really felt
He said that he was very sorry but his tears were just crocodile tears.
- appear or happen unexpectedly
I will meet you early next week unless something crops up that keeps me busy.
cross a bridge before one comes to it
- think and worry about future events or problems before they happen
We shouldn't worry about that problem now. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.
cross one's heart and hope to die
- promise that what you are saying is true
I promise that I will pay you back the money next week. Cross my heart and hope to die.
It just crossed my mind that I would probably see him in the evening so I didn't phone him.
- eliminate by drawing a line through something
Please cross out that amount and put in the correct amount.
- something you must do or continue with even though you are suffering
Looking after my sister's children every day is my cross to bear.
- need something badly, be lacking
The new room that he built cries out for a new set of furniture.
- cry or complain about something that has already happened
Don't cry over spilt milk. You can never change the past.
- admit defeat or that one has lost
He finally had to cry uncle when the other wrestler pinned him to the mat.
- warn of danger that is not there
He has been crying wolf for years about various things and now nobody believes him.
- something one enjoys, special interest
It's not really my cup of tea so I think I will stay home and not go to the art gallery.
- being too nosy and interested in other peoples business may lead a person into trouble
Don't keep asking so many questions. Remember curiosity killed the cat.
- flatter someone to get his help or friendship
He has been working hard to curry favor with the other members of the committee.
- cross or go through something instead of going around
We decided to cut across the field because we were in a hurry to get to school.
- completely decided, prearranged
The decision was cut and dried and nobody asked for our opinion.
We were forced to cut back on the number of people who were invited to the party.
- serve both sides of an argument
What he said cuts both ways and we should carefully think about it.
We will have to cut corners in order to save some money for our holiday.
Recently he has cut down on his drinking in order to start his new health program.
- prove that someone is not as good as he thinks
I was able to cut him down to size when I criticized what he said at the meeting.
- stop someone from saying something, disconnect someone on the phone
I tried to tell him about the accident but he cut me off before I had a chance.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
- make things worse for oneself because one is angry at someone else
He is cutting off his nose to spite his face. Taking revenge on his neighbor will only cause more problems for himself.
She decided to cut out chocolate in order to lose weight.
He doesn't cut the mustard and will never be able to work here.