English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

Cry wolf

If someone cries wolf, they raise a false alarm about something.

Cry your eyes out

If you cry your eyes out, you cry uncontrollably.

Cry-baby

A cry-baby is a person who gets emotional and cries too easily.

Cuckoo in the nest

Is an issue or a problem, etc, is a cuckoo in the nest, it grows quickly and crowds out everything else.

Cupboard love

(UK) To show love to gain something from someone

Curate's egg

(UK) If something is a bit of a curate's egg, it is only good in parts.

Curdle your blood

If something is very frightening or disturbing, it curdles your blood.

Curiosity killed the cat

As cats are naturally curious animals, we use this expression to suggest to people that excessive curiosity is not necessarily a good thing, especially where it is not their business.

Curry favour

If people try to curry favour, they try to get people to support them. ('Curry favor' is the American spelling.)

Curve ball

(USA) If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.

Cut a dash

If someone cuts a dash, their clothes and appearance makes an impression on people.

Cut a long story short

This idiom is used as a way of shortening a story by getting to to the end or the point.

Cut a rug

To cut a rug is to dance.

Cut above

If a person is described as a cut above other people, they are better in some way.

Cut and dried

If something is cut and dried, then everything has already been decided and, in the case of an opinion, might be a little stale and predictable.

Cut and run

If people cut and run, they take what they can get and leave before they lose everything.

Cut corners

If people try to do something as cheaply or as quickly as possible, often sacrificing quality, they are cutting corners.

Cut down the tall poppies

(AU) If people cut down the tall poppies, they criticise people who stand out from the crowd.

Cut from the same cloth

If people are cut from the same cloth, they are very similar in terms of ideas, opinions, beliefs, etc.

Cut it fine

If you cut it fine, you only just manage to do something- at the very last moment. 'Cut things fine' is the same. 'Cut it a bit fine' is a common variation.

Cut off your nose to spite your face

If you cut off your nose to spite your face, you do something rash or silly that ends up making things worse for you, often because you are angry or upset.

Cut someone some slack

To relax a rule or make an allowance, as in allowing someone more time to finish something.

Cut the Gordian knot

If someone cuts the Gordian knot, they solve a very complex problem in a simple way.

Cut the mustard

If somebody or something doesn't cut the mustard, they fail or it fails to reach the required standard.

Cut to the chase

If you cut to the chase, you get to the point, or the most interesting or important part of something without delay.

Cut to the quick

If someone's cut to the quick by something, they are very hurt and upset indeed.

Cut your coat according to your cloth

If you cut your coat according to your cloth, you only buy things that you have sufficient money to pay for.

Cut your losses

If you cut your losses, you avoid losing any more money than you already have by getting out of a situation before matters worsen.

Cut your teeth on

The place where you gain your early experience is where you cut your teeth.

Cute as a bug

(USA) If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.

Cute as a button

If someone's as cute as a button, they are very attractive.

Cuts no ice

If something cuts no ice, it doesn't have any effect or influence.

Cutting edge

Something that is cutting edge is at the forefront of progress in its area.

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