Idiom Category: General, Page 5

Coast is clear

When the coast is clear, the people supposed to be watching you are not there and you are able to move or leave.

Cock a snook

To make a rude gesture by putting one thumb to the nose with the fingers outstretched.

Collateral damage

Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.

Collect dust

If something is collecting dust, it isn't being used any more.

Come a cropper

(UK) Someone whose actions or lifestyle will inevitably result in trouble is going to come a cropper.

Come clean

If someone comes clean about something, they admit to deceit or wrongdoing.

Come on hard

If you come on hard, you are aggressive in your dealing with someone.

Come out in the wash

If something will come out in the wash, it won't have any permanent negative effect.

Come to a head

If events reach a crisis point, they come to a head.

Come to a pretty pass

If something has come to a pretty pass, then it is in a difficult, unfavourable or negative situation.

Come to bear

If something comes to bear on you, you start to feel the pressure or effect of it. 

Come to call

If someone comes to call, they respond to an order or summons directly.

Come up trumps

When someone is said to have 'come up trumps', they have completed an activity successfully or produced a good result, especially when they were not expected to.

Come what may

If you're prepared to do something come what may, it means that nothing will stop or distract you, no matter how hard or difficult it becomes.

Come with the territory

If something comes with the territory, it is part of a job or responsibility and just has to be accepted, even if unpleasant.

Comes with the territory

If something comes with the territory, especially when undesirable, it is automatically included with something else, like a job, responsibility, etc.('Goes with the territory' is also used.) 

Comfort zone

It is the temperature range in which the body doesn't shiver or sweat, but has an idiomatic sense of a place where people feel comfortable, where they can avoid the worries of the world. It can be physical or mental.

Connect the dots

When you connect the dots, you understand the connections and relationships.

Corner a market

If a business is dominant in an area and unlikely to be challenged by other companies, it has cornered the market.

Couldn't give two hoots

If you couldn't give two hoots about something, you don't care at all about it.

Count your blessings

When people count their blessings, they concentrate on all the good things in their lives instead of the negative ones.

Crash a party

If you crash a party, or are a gatecrasher, you go somewhere you haven't been invited to.

Critical mass

The minimum amount of resources or number of people needed to start and/or sustain a business, project or event.

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 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 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 someone some slack

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

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.

Damp squib

(UK) If something is expected to have a great effect or impact but doesn't, it is a damp squib.

Deaf as a post

Someone who is as deaf as a post is unable to hear at all.

Dear John letter

A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.

Deliver the goods

Do what is required, come up to expectations. For example, Kate delivered the goods and got us the five votes we needed. This phrase alludes to delivering an order of groceries or other items. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

Derring-do

If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.

Diamond in the rough

A diamond in the rough is someone or something that has great potential, but isn't not refined and polished.

Die is cast

If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.

Different ropes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Different strokes for different folks

(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.

Dig way down deep

When someone digs way down deep, they look into their inner feelings to see how they feel about it.

Discretion is the better part of valour

This idiom means that it is often better to think carefully and not act than to do something that may cause problems.

Dish the dirt

If you dish the dirt on something or someone, you make unpleasant or shocking information public.

Do as you would be done by

Treat and respect others as you would hope to be respected and treated by them.

Do the needful

(India) If you do the needful, you do what is necessary.

Do the running

(UK) The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)

Do the trick

If something does the trick, it is was is needed or has the necessary effect.

Do their dirty work

Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'.

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