Idioms Beginning With: 'O'

On my watch

If someoething happens on your watch, you are responsible for it as you were in charge.

On pins and needles

If you are on pins and needles, you are very worried about something.

On tenterhooks

This means that she is waiting impatiently and excitedly for something.

On The Anvil

If something is on the anvil, it is being discussed or prepared but is not yet ready.

On the ball

If someone's on the ball, they are well-informed and know what's going on in their area of responsibility or interest.

On the blink

(UK) Is a machine is on the blink, it isn't working properly or is out of order.

On the blower

(UK) If someone is on the blower, they are on the phone.

On the cards

(UK) If something is in the cards, it is almost certain to happen.

On the carpet

When you are called to the bosses office (since supposedly, they are the only ones who have carpet) and its definitely not for a good reason, i.e., you are in trouble, something has not gone according to plan and either maybe you are responsible and/or have some explaining to do.

On the case

If someone is on the case, they are dealing with a problem.

On the cheap

If you do something on the cheap, you spend as little as possible to do it.

On the chopping block

A person who's on the chopping block is in danger of losing their job or getting into serious trouble.  A project that's on the chopping block is likely to be terminated.

On the dole

(UK) Someone receiving financial assistance when unemployed is on the dole.

On the dot

If someone says that they're leaving at seven on the dot, don't be late; they mean at exactly seven o'clock.

On the double

If someone tells you to do something on the double, they want you to do it immediately and quickly.

On the face of it

This idiom is used when describing the way a situation appears, while allowing for the possibility that things may be different: On the face of it, the company looks very profitable.  (The company appears to be very profitable, but this may not be the case.)

On the factory floor

On the factory floor means the place where things are actually produced.

On the fiddle

(UK) Someone who is stealing money from work is on the fiddle, especially if they are doing it by fraud.

On the flip side

On the reverse or the other side

On the fly

If you do things on the fly, you do things without preparation, responding to events as they happen.

On the game

(UK) A person who is on the game works as a prostitute.

On the ground

Events on the ground are where things are actually happening, not at a distance.

On the hoof

If you decide something on the hoof, you do it without planning, responding to events as they happen.

On the hook

If someone is on the hook, they are responsible for something.

On the house

If you get something for free that would normally have to be bought, especially in a bar or restaurant, it is on the house.

On the knock

(UK) If you buy something on the knock, you pay for it in instalments.

On the knocker

(UK) If someone is on the knocker, they are going from house to house trying to buy or sell things or get support.

On the knocker

(AU) If you do something on the knocker, you do  it immediately or promptly.

On the lam

If someone is on the lam, they are hiding from the police or authorities, especially to avoid arrest or prison.

On the level

If someone is honest and trustworthy, they are on the level.

On the line

If somebody's job is on the line, they stand a very good chance of losing it.

On the make

If someone is on the make, they are trying to make a lot of money, usually illegally.

On the map

If a place becomes widely known, it is put on the map. A place that remains unknown is off the map.

On the money

If you are on the money, you are right about something.

On the mound

(USA) If you're on the mound, you're on the mound back at your game, back in control.

On the never-never

(UK) If you buy something on the never-never, you buy it on long-term credit.

On the nod

(UK) If something is accepted by parliament or a committee majority, it is on the nod.

On the nod

(UK) Someone who's on the nod is either asleep or falling asleep, especially when the shouldn't or are are in a position unusual for sleep, like sitting or standing.

On the nod

(UK) When a horse runs, its head moves backwards and forwards alternately - in horse racing, if 2 horses cross the line together the one whose head happens to be going forward often wins and is said to win 'on the nod'.

On the nose

This means right on time.

On the off-chance

If you do something on the off-chance, you do it in case it works, even though the chance of success may be small.

On the rebound

If someone is on the rebound, their relationship has recently ended and they are emotionally unstable.

On the right foot

If you start something or set off on the right foot, you get off to a good start.

On the rocks

If something, like a relationship, is on the rocks, it is in trouble and may come to an end.

On the ropes

When something or someone is on the ropes, it or they are doing badly and likely to fail.

On the run

If someone is on the run, they are avoiding arrest and hiding from the police.

On the same page

If people are on the same page, they have the same information and are thinking the same way.

On the same wavelength

If people are on the same wavelength, they have the same ideas and opinions about something.

On the shelf

If something like a project is on the shelf, nothing is being done about it at the moment.

On the skids

When things or people are on the skids, they are in serious decline and trouble.

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