English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

Puppy love

Puppy love is love between two very young people.

Purple patch

A purple patch is a period of time when someone or something is successful and doing well.

Push comes to shove

If or when push comes to shove, the situation has become some bad that you are forced to do something: If push comes to shove, we'll just have to use our savings.

Push the envelope

This means to go to the limits, to do something to the maximum possible.

Push the panic button

If someone pushes the panic button, they respond to a situation by becoming very frightened or excited.

Pushing at an open door

If you're pushing at an open door, you achieve what you want easily because many people agree with you or support you.

Pushing up the daisies

If someone is said to be pushing up the daisies, they are dead.

Put a bug in your ear

If you put a bug in someone's ear, you give him or her a reminder or suggestion relating to a future event.

Put a cork in it!

This is a way of telling someone to be quiet.

Put a sock in it

If someone tells you to put a sock in it, they are telling you to shut up.

Put all your eggs in one basket

If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything on a single opportunity which, like eggs breaking, could go wrong.

Put it on the cuff

If you put something on the cuff, you will take it now and pay for it later.

Put lipstick on a pig

If people put lipstick on a pig, they make superficial or cosmetic changes, hoping that it will make the product more attractive.

Put more green into something

(USA) To put more green into something is to spend more or to increase investment in it.

Put off your stride

If you put someone off their stride, you distract them and make it hard for them to do or complete a task.

Put on a brave face

If you put on a brave face, or put a brave face on something, you behave confidently or cheerfully even though things are difficult. ('Brave front' is also used.)

Put on airs

If someone puts on airs, they pretend to be grander and more important than they really are.

Put on your thinking cap

If you put on your thinking cap, you think very hard about something.

Put or get someone's back up

If you put or get someone's back up, you annoy them.

Put some dirt on it

This means that when you get hurt, you should rub it off or shake it off and you'll be ok.

Put some mustard on it!

(USA) It's used to encourage someone to throw a ball like a baseball hard or fast.

Put somebody's nose out of joint

If you put someone's nose out of joint, you irritate them or make them angry with you.

Put someone on a pedestal

If you put someone on a pedestal, you admire them greatly, idolise them.

Put someone out to pasture

If someone is put out to pasture, they are forced to resign or give up some responsibilities.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it

This is used as an unsympathetic way of telling someone to accept what you have just said.

Put the carriage before the horse

If you put the carriage before the horse, you try to do things in the wrong order.

Put the kybosh on

To put an end to something.

Put the pedal to the metal

If you put the pedal to the metal, you go faster.

Put to the sword

If someone is put to the sword, he or she is killed or executed.

Put two and two together

If someone puts two and two together, they reach a correct conclusion from the evidence.

Put up or shut up

'Put up or shut up' means you do something you are talking about or not to talk about it any more.

Put you in mind

If something suggests something to you, it puts you in mind of that thing.

Put you in the picture

If you put someone in the picture, you tell them the information they need to know about something.

Put your best foot forward

If you ut your best foot forward, you try your best to do something.

Put your cards on the table

If you put your cards on the table, you make your thoughts or ideas perfectly clear.

Put your foot down

When someone puts their foot down, they make a firm stand and establish their authority on an issue.

Put your foot in it

If you put your foot in it, you do or say something embarrassing and tactless or get yourself into trouble.

Put your foot in your mouth

If you put your foot in your mouth, you say something stupid or embarrassing.

Put your hand on your heart

If you can out your hand on your heart, then you can say something knowing it to be true.

Put your heads together

If people put their head together, they exchange ideas about something.

Put your money where your mouth is

If someone puts their money where their mouth is, they back up their words with action.

Put your shoulder to the wheel

When you put your shoulder to the wheel, you contribute to an effort.

Put your thumb on the scales

If you put your thumb on the scales, you try to influence the result of something in your favour.

Put yourself in someone's shoes

If you put yourself in someone's shoes, you imagine what it is like to be in their position.

Putting the cart before the horse

When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing something the wrong way round.

Pyrrhic victory

A Pyrrhic victory is one that causes the victor to suffer so much to achieve it that it isn't worth winning.

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