English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

Nail in the coffin

A nail in someone or something's coffin is a problem or event that is a clear step towards an inevitable failure.

Nail-biter

If a game, election, contest, etc, is a nail-biter, it is exciting because the competitors are so close that it is impossible to predict the result.

Nature abhors a vacuum

This idiom is used to express the idea that empty or unfilled spaces are unnatural as they go against the laws of nature and physics.

Nature of the beast

The basic characteristics of something is the nature of the beast; often used when there's an aspect of something that cannot be changed or that is unpleasant or difficult.

Near the knuckle

If something is near the knuckle, it is bit explicit or too close to the truth for comfort

Necessity is the mother of invention

Difficult situations make people inventive.

Neck and neck

If two competitors or candidates, etc, are neck and neck, then they are very close and neither is clearly winning.

Neck of the woods

If someone talks about their neck of the woods, they mean the area where they live.

Need no introduction

Someone who is very famous and known to everyone needs no introduction.

Needle in a haystack

If trying to find something is like looking for a needle in a haystack, it means that it is very difficult, if not impossible to find among everything around it.

Neither fish nor fowl

Something or someone that is neither fish nor fowl doesn't really fit into any one group.

Neither here nor there

If something is neither here nor there, it is of very little importance.

Neither use nor ornament

Something that serves no purpose and is not aesthetically pleasing is neither use nor ornament.

Nerves of steel

If someone has nerves of steel, they don't get frightened when other people do.

Nervous Nellie

Someone excessively worried or apprehensive is a nervous Nellie (or Nelly).

Nest egg

If you have some money saved for the future, it is a nest egg.

Never a rose without the prick

This means that good things always have something bad as well; like the thorns on the stem of a rose.

Never darken my door again

This is a way of telling someone never to visit you again.

Never say die

When someone says "Never Say Die", it means that you shouldn't give up hope.

New blood

If something needs new blood, it has become stale and needs new ideas or people to invigorate it.

New brush sweeps clean

'A new brush sweeps clean' means that someone with a new perspective can make great changes. However, the full version is 'a new brush sweeps clean, but an old brush knows the corners', which warns that experience is also a valuable thing. Sometimes 'broom' is used instead of 'brush'.

New kid on the block

A new kid on the block is a person who has recently joined a company, organisation, team, etc, and does not know how things work yet.

New lease of life

If someone finds new enthusiasm and energy for something, they have a new lease of life.

New man

(UK) A New man is a man who believes in complete equality of the sexes and shares domestic work equally.

New sheriff in town

This is used when a new authority figure takes charge.

New York minute

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

Newfangled

People who don't like new methods, technologies, etc, describe them as newfangled, which means new but not as good or nice as the old ones.

Nice as pie

If a person is nice as pie, they are surprisingly very kind and friendly. "After our argument, she was nice as pie!"

Nick of time

If you do something in the nick of time, you do it at the very last minute or second.

Nickel tour

(USA) If someone gives you a nickel tour, they show you around a place. ('Fifty-cent tour' is also used.)

Night owl

A night owl is someone who goes to bed very late.

Ninth circle of hell

In Dante's Inferno, the ninth circle of hell is the centre where the worst punishments are found, so it is used idiomatically for something that couldn't get worse.

Nip and tuck

A close contest where neither opponent seems to be gaining the advantage.

Nip at the bit

If someone is nipping at the bit, they are anxious to get something done and don't want to wait.

Nip it in the bud

If you nip something in the bud, you deal with a problem when it is still small, before it can grow into something serious.

Nitty gritty

If people get down to the nitty gritty, they concentrate on the most important and serious issues.

No bed of roses

If something isn't a bed of roses, it is difficult.

No can do

No can do means that the speaker can't do whatever it is that has been asked of him or her.

No dice

No dice is a way of refusing to accept or agree to something.

No dog in this fight

If you have no dog in a fight, you are not concerned and will not be affected either way by the outcome of something.

No go

Something that will not work. 'A square peg in a round hole is a no go.'

No good deed goes unpunished

This means that life is unfair and people can do or try to do good things and still end up in a lot of trouble.

No great shakes

If someone is no great shakes at something, they are not very good at it.

No harm, no foul

There's no problem when no harm or damage is done, such as the time my sister-in-law stole the name we'd chosen for a boy and we both ended up having girls.

No holds barred

If there are no holds barred, there are no rules of conduct; you can do anything.

No ifs or buts

Ifs and Buts is a term used to describe the reasons people give for not wanting to do something. To show that you don't wish to accept any excuses, you can tell somebody that you wish to hear no ifs or buts Here IF & BUT have become nouns

No laughing matter

Something that is no laughing matter is very serious.

No love lost

If there is no love lost between two people they have a strong enmity towards or hate for the other and make no effort to conceal it.

No pain, no gain

Achievements require some sort of sacrifice.

No peace for the wicked

Bad people will not be at ease or will be tormented.('No rest for the wicked' is also used.)

If you have a question about idioms, ask us about it in our Idioms Discussion Forum. If you know of an idiom that you would like to be listed here, please use our online form to suggest an idiom.