Idiom Category: Place name, Page 1

All roads lead to Rome

This means that there can be many different ways of doing something.

Big Easy

(USA) The Big Easy is New Orleans, Louisiana

Coals to Newcastle

(UK) Taking, bringing, or carrying coals to Newcastle is doing something that is completely unnecessary.

Crossing the Rubicon

When you are crossing the Rubicon, you are passing a point of no return. After you do this thing, there is no way of turning around. The only way left is forward.

Cut the Gordian knot

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

Down the Swanee

If a plan or scheme, etc, goes down the Swanee, it goes wrong or fails.

Dunkirk spirit

(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.

From Missouri

(USA) If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.

Himalayan blunder

A Himalayan blunder is a very serious mistake or error.

Man on the Clapham omnibus

(UK) The man on the Clapham omnibus is the ordinary person in the street.

Meet your Waterloo

There was a battle in Waterloo, in present-day Belgium on June 18th, 1815, which Napoleon lost. If someone has "met their Waterloo", it means they have been defeated or met their death.

More front than Brighton

(UK) If you have more front than Brighton, you are very self-confident, possibly excessively so.

New York minute

(USA) If something happens in a New York minute, it happens very fast.

On Carey Street

(UK) If someone is on Carey Street, they are heavily in debt or have gone bankrupt.

Road to Damascus

If someone has a great and sudden change in their ideas or beliefs, then this is a road to Damascus change, after the conversion of Saint Paul to Christianity while heading to Damascus to persecute Christians.

Rome was not built in a day

This idiom means that many things cannot be done instantly, and require time and patience.

Saigon moment

(USA) A Saigon moment is when people realise that something has gone wrong and that they will lose or fail.

Send someone to Coventry

(UK) If you send someone to Coventry, you refuse to talk to them or co-operate with them.

Set the Thames on fire

If you do something remarkable, you set the Thames on fire, though this expression is used in the negative; someone who is dull or undistiguished will never set the Thames on fire.

Shipshape and Bristol fashion

If things are shipshape and Bristol fashion, they are in perfect working order.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

This idiom means that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.

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