Hence idioms can be categorized as per its subject. Using our body parts, there can be head idioms, foot idioms, hand idioms, heart idioms, so on and so forth.

Here in this specific article, we are going to discuss about some idioms, the subject of which is the most vital part of our body, the head. The head phrase examples or examples of head idioms can be broadly distributed into five categories, according to the different functions of the brain.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

There are idioms where the Head is seen as the representative of man, in others it can be found as the seat of mental faculty, as the point of emotions, as a sign of power and in some, as a mark of value.

A thorough study and understanding head idioms and phrases, give us an idea of cross-cultural similarities and differences in the way the Head has been conceptualized.

Names of Head Idioms

• Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms

List of Head Idioms

• Able to do something standing on one’s head
• Bang your head against a wall
• Beat something into someone’s head
• Bite someone’s head off
• Bring to a head
• Off the top of your head
• Head-to-head
• Bury one’s head in the sand
• Can’t make heads or tails out of something
• Drum something into someone’s head
• Head over heels in love
• From head to toe
• Have your head in the clouds
• Head start
• Get your head above water
• Get someone or something out of one’s head
• Give someone a head’s start
• Go to someone’s head
• Have a good head on your shoulders
• Head someone or something off
• Hit the nail on the head
• In over one’s head
• Lose your head
• Head and shoulders above
• Use your head
• Keep your head down
• Two heads are better than one
• Laugh your head off
• Go over your head
• Rear Its Ugly Head

Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms

Able to do something standing on one’s head

Meaning: Capable of completing a task with no difficulty

Example: The topper was able to solve the tough problem standing on his head.

Bang your head against a wall

Meaning: Acting or saying something repeatedly but in vain.

Example: The criminal banged his head against a wall, pleading mercy.

Beat something into someone’s head

Meaning: Spoon feeding or repeatedly trying to teach something to someone, intensely

Example: The coach beat the winning plan into the players’ heads, in order to win the game.

Bite someone’s head off

Meaning: to shout or criticise someone over a simple issue

Example: He is not a person to bite someone’s head off, but his frustration made him do so.

Bring to a head

Meaning: a reason to reach a point of crisis.

Example: The pandemic brought the entire world to a head.

Off the top of your head

Meaning: without thorough analysis

Example: Choosing a title for a book cannot be done off the top of the head.

Head-to-head

Meaning: Confrontation involving two individuals or groups

Example: Cold war was a head-to-head bureaucratic battle between Russia and America.

Bury one’s head in the sand

Meaning: Staying aloof of the bitter truth or reality

Example: His father worked hard to make their ends meet, but Rahul kept his head buried in the sand.

Can’t make heads or tails out of something

Meaning: Puzzling and difficult to understand

Example: I failed to make heads or tails out of the riddle.

Drum something into someone’s head

Meaning: Teach someone by repeated explanation

Example: The tutor drummed the subject material into the student’s head, so that he is able to qualify the competitive examination.

Head over heels

Meaning: Completely in love with someone or something

Example: The way he explained the part, show that he was head over heels with the female character of the play.

From head to toe

Meaning: Spread over the entire body

Examples: The accident left him with bruises from head to toe.

Have your head in the clouds

Meaning: Being ignorant of the problems or issues associated with a situation

Example: After the promotion he had his head in the clouds.

Head start

Meaning: An additional advantage or favour at the beginning of an action

Example: As a penalty, his opponent was given a 2 second head start during the 200 metre race.

Get your head above water

Meaning: Evade giving in to difficulties or failure

Example: Get your head above water, otherwise you will lose everything to gambling.

Get someone or something out of one’s head

Meaning: Try to forget about someone or something

Example: After her death, it was difficult for the man to get his beloved out of his head.

Give someone a head start

Meaning: Having some advantage over other people.

Example: Mariam had quite a head start even before she started to work.

Go to someone’s head

Meaning: Make someone intoxicated or proud

Example: The alcohol made him go to his head.

Have a good head on your shoulders

Meaning: Being someone others can rely on

Example: The team leader had a good head on his shoulders, the team was happy to work under him.

Head someone or something off

Meaning: Divert, deflect or stall on-coming things

Example: The revolution was headed off by giving out a few allowances to the revolutionaries

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning: to say the correct thing

Example: The boss applauded the engineer for hitting the nail on the head, in the machine breakdown issue.

In over one’s head

Meaning: Getting stuck in a complicated situation

Example: On an attempt to complete the work by a short cut, he got in over his head.

Lose your head

Meaning: Losing control over oneself

Example: The unscrupulous behaviour of his colleague during the client meeting, made the boss lose his head.

Head and shoulders above

Meaning: Someone (or something) being better than the others

Example: The partial teacher proclaimed Rahul if being head and shoulders above in the class.

Use your head

Meaning: Thinking and analysing properly to avoid a mistake

Example: Use your head while planning for the future

Keep your head down

Meaning: Be inconspicuous

Example: The spy scout had to keep his head down on the sudden approach of enemy soldiers

Two heads are better than one

Meaning: Having a second opinion is always better

Example: They decided to consult another doctor other than their home physician, as two heads are better than one.

Laugh your head off

Meaning: Uncontrollable laughter

Example: They laughed their heads off at the comedy club.

Go over your head

Meaning: Discussing something with a superior

Example: As the team failed to find a solution, they decided to go over their head

Rear Its Ugly Head

Meaning: Something appearing again and causing trouble just like the last time.

Example: The Wi-Fi network is rearing its ugly head once more.

And these days, gardening has become a favorite leisure activity of many, and hence learning some garden idioms will give you ease and edge to your hobby. Here we have hand-picked some favorite idioms about plants and flowers, which will help you communicate and enhance your vocabulary.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understanding their actual meaning.

Name of Plants and Flowers Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Plants and Flowers Idioms

List of Plants and Flowers Idioms

• (As) fresh as a daisy
• (Not) let the grass grow under feet
• (The) Wrong End of the Stick
• A rolling stone gathers no moss.
• A tumbleweed moment
• Barking up the wrong tree
• Beat About the Bush (UK); Beat Around the Bush (USA)
• Bed of Roses
• Bouquet of orchids
• Broken reed
• Can’t See the Forest for the Trees
• Clutch at straws
• Come up roses
• Come up smelling of roses.
• Cut down the tall poppies.
• Demon weed
• Don’t Amount to a Hill of Beans.
• Draw the shortest straw
• Easy as falling off a log
• Flowery speech
• Garden variety
• Gild the lily
• Go Out on a Limb
• Go to seed
• Grasp at straws
• Grasp the nettle
• Grassroots
• Green fingers
• Hit the hay
• In Clover
• In the tall cotton
• It’s a jungle out there.
• Just as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined the same way.
• Kick something into the long grass
• Knock on Wood; Touch Wood
• Last straw
• Late bloomer
• Lead up the garden path
• Leave the field open.
• Like a bump on a log
• Little strokes fell great oaks.
• Lose your gourd
• Make hay while the sun shines.
• Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
• Mother Nature
• Muck or nettles
• Needle in a haystack
• Never a rose without the prick.
• Nip it in the bud
• No bed of roses
• No Tree Grows to the Sky
• Old chestnut
• Olive branch
• Oops a daisy
• Out of One’s Gourd
• Out of the woods
• Primrose path
• Pushing Up Daisies
• Put Down Roots
• Put someone out to pasture.
• Root and branch
• Rough end of the stick
• Shake like a leaf
• Shrinking violet
• Small dog, tall weeds
• Sow seeds of suspicion
• Sow wild oats
• Stick-in-the-Mud
• The cream of the crop
• Thorn in your side
• Through the Grapevine
• Too Many To Shake A Stick At
• Turn over a new leaf.
• Up a gum tree

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Plants and Flowers Idioms

(As) fresh as a daisy

Meaning: High-energy person with a lot of enthusiasm.

Example: He was as fresh as a daisy when he returned home after a long day at work.

(Not) let the grass grow under feet

Meaning: To avoid being lazy or being stationary.

Example: Get to business and don’t let the grass grow under your feet.

(The) Wrong End of the Stick

Meaning: Making a mistake with the information.

Example: We were seriously arguing over it when I realized he had the wrong end of the stick.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Meaning: A person who does not maintain a permanent resident status will not acquire money, reputation, responsibilities, or obligations.

Example: Feel free to stick to one sphere of specialization because a rolling stone gathers no moss, and you will be unlikely to accomplish anything in conclusion.

A tumbleweed moment

Meaning: Silence that was cold and completely unresponsive for a considerable time.

Example: Just after the teacher posed the question in the classroom, there was a tumbleweed moment.

Barking up the wrong tree

Meaning: To make a poor judgment.

Example: We seem to have been barking up the wrong tree; his justification works perfectly fine.

Beat About the Bush (UK); Beat Around the Bush (USA)

Meaning: To discuss a variety of irrelevant topics.

Example: Please don’t beat around the bush and get straight to the basic issue because it’s getting late to make a difference.

Bed of Roses

Meaning: A pleasant or opulent environment.

Example: If you assumed that becoming the club’s President would be a bed of roses, I’m sure you’ve learned that you were completely and utterly mistaken.

Bouquet of orchids

Meaning: Someone who deserves an orchid bouquet has done something noteworthy of appreciation.

Example: We thought he wouldn’t be able to finish his exam this time, but not only did he pass, but he finished with flying colors, worthy of a bouquet of orchids.

Broken reed

Meaning: When someone or something is counted on for assistance or support, it fails miserably.

Example: Saima sought her partner for additional assistance, but he proved to be a broken reed.

Can’t See the Forest for the Trees

Meaning: A person who is unable to recognize a situation for what it is and instead becomes engrossed with the intricacies, losing focus of the larger scheme.

Example: He was overburdened upon becoming the company’s CEO, and he began to lose sight of the forest for the trees, unable to comprehend the basis for the company’s poor growth trajectory.

Clutch at straws

Meaning: Attempt something that would be extremely improbable to succeed because you are frantic or have exhausted all other alternatives.

Example: Because he had already ruined his professional career, this was just a clutch at straws.

Come up roses

Meaning: Develop in a really positive fashion.

Example: I’m delighted that the marriage ceremony came up roses.

Come up smelling of roses.

Meaning: Try to maintain a positive image despite being engaged in controversy or other undesirable scenarios.

Example: He assumed that exposing the fraud would make him come up smelling of roses, but he was ignorant that his name was also on the blacklist.

Cut down the tall poppies.

Meaning: To make fun of individuals who stick out in a gathering.

Example: He has a bad tendency to cut down the tall poppies.

Demon weed

Meaning: Drugs.

Example: He’s slowly being devoured by the demon weed’s detrimental reactions.

Don’t Amount to a Hill of Beans.

Meaning: It’s a minuscule quantity.

Example: That quantity of funds doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.

Draw the shortest straw

Meaning: To be chosen for an unattractive assignment.

Example: Poor workers are always the individuals who are drawn the shortest straw.

Easy as falling off a log

Meaning: To be exceptionally basic, straightforward, or simple.

Example: You may believe that getting the job completed is as easy as falling off a log, but you would be horribly mistaken.

Flowery speech

Meaning: A plethora of verbiage.

Example: He imagined that his flowery speech would have been enough to persuade the crowd of students.

Garden variety

Meaning: Prevalent or commonplace.

Example: This isn’t your garden variety cuisine; it’s authentic Italian cuisine.

Gild the lily

Meaning: Make an effort to better what is already attractive or truly wonderful.

Example: His endeavor to gild the lily backfired, and the painting was damaged.

Go Out on a Limb

Meaning: To perform or assert something that is unsubstantiated by data.

Example: He was merely going out on a limb when he was brought to the courtroom and questioned for his testimony.

Go to seed

Meaning: Deteriorate, largely as a consequence of negligence.

Example: His business is going to seed one day at a time.

Grasp at straws

Meaning: Making a futile attempt to safeguard oneself.

Example: The decision to withdraw the fixed deposits was a method for her to grab at straws.

Grasp the nettle

Meaning: Take up a challenge head-on.

Example: It was only because of Mina’s sharp wit that we were fortunate to grab the nettle.

Grassroots

Meaning: Most basic fundamental stage.

Example: From the grassroots level, one should strive to become an expert in their domain.

Green fingers

Meaning: Natural talent of Plant-growing capacity.

Example: I’m not sure why he wants to discontinue gardening; he has green fingers.

Hit the hay

Meaning: Go to sleep.

Example: She hit the hay as soon as she got home after a grueling and stressful day.

In Clover

Meaning: In comfort and elegance.

Example: When you have your parents’ backing, life is forever in clover.

In the tall cotton

Meaning: During a moment of exceptional success or enjoyment.

Example: After she earned the job, they were all in the tall cotton.

It’s a jungle out there.

Meaning: The situation is perilous and menacing.

Example: Before I left for my job overseas, my father kept on telling me that it was a jungle out there.

Just as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined the same way.

Meaning: Early exposures have a long-lasting impact.

Example: Her parents should have rectified her behavior at a young age because the tree is inclined in the same way as the twig is bent. She has now become rude and obnoxious, and disrespectful to her elders.

Kick something into the long grass

Meaning: Terminate or put an end to a difficulty.

Example: I’ve decided that enough is enough and that I’m going to kick this nonsense into the long grass.

Knock on Wood; Touch Wood

Meaning: When we are bragging about something or believe we have tempted destiny, we often use the expression spontaneously.

Example: Touch Wood! Let’s hope what we just said comes to fruition.

Last straw

Meaning: The newest in a long line of challenges that make a predicament unacceptably hard to cope with.

Example: The bank’s refusal to approve their loan was the last straw.

Late bloomer

Meaning: A person whose skills or talents are not glaringly obvious to others until afterward than typical.

Example: Despite the fact that Sam was a late bloomer when it came to percussion, his band is now one of the most famous in the city.

Lead up the garden path

Meaning: Give someone deceptive signs or cues.

Example: We were blissfully unaware that she was bringing us up the garden path.

Leave the field open.

Meaning: Stop contending with someone and allow them to flourish instead.

Example: Vishali made the wrong decision by leaving the field open for Ram.

Like a bump on a log

Meaning: Expressionless, sluggish, and deafeningly still.

Example: He must be emotionally upset because he never sits like a bump on a log at any event.

Little strokes fell great oaks.

Meaning: Even if things appear overwhelming, breaking it down into manageable chunks and completing one step at a time will set you up for success.

Example: Radhika was bewildered by her massive debt, but we reassured her that great oaks were felled by little strokes.

Lose your gourd

Meaning: They’ve lost their minds or have gone completely insane.

Example: When Rahul believed that investing all of his resources in the stock market would make him wealthy overnight, he must have lost his gourd.

Make hay while the sun shines.

Meaning: Take advantage of a good opportunity while it lasts.

Example: Rather than waiting for more clients, I would recommend selling the house now while there are still some bids available because it is always the best to make hay while the sun shines.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

Meaning: Something tiny or basic in size might grow to be quite large and stunningly beautiful.

Example: Don’t discourage her from exploring her artistic side; you never know, mighty oaks can grow from little acorns.

Mother Nature

Meaning: Nature is depicted as a creative and guiding element that has an imprint on the planet and on humanity today.

Example: She was raised in the countryside, encircled by mother nature.

Muck or nettles

Meaning: It’s either all or zero.

Example: Anything he does, muck or nettles, he is always appreciated by the boss at work.

Needle in a haystack

Meaning: Something that is difficult or exceptionally complicated to locate, primarily if the search zone is too extensive.

Example: It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack while searching for an error in this enormous compiled program code.

Never a rose without the prick.

Meaning: There are always downsides to a positive thing.

Example: You can’t expect everything to go smoothly when you move out; you never get a rose without the prick.

Nip it in the bud

Meaning: Stop something in its tracks or double-check something.

Example: They nipped the organization in the bud by postponing the online auction.

No bed of roses

Meaning: It is not all joyful, and there are a few potential downsides as well.

Example: You can’t just believe that getting into an IVY League university is a bed of roses.

No Tree Grows to the Sky

Meaning: Growth cannot go unrestrained permanently.

Example: Stop betting everything on the stock market solely on today’s success; no tree grows to the sky.

Old chestnut

Meaning: A tired cliche, narrative, or saying.

Example: I’m sick of your old chestnut; if you have something interesting to say, feel free to say so or leave.

Olive branch

Meaning: An offer to try to reconcile.

Example: Despite our offering of an olive branch, they refused to acknowledge it.

Oops a daisy

Meaning: Said when a little child falls down.

Example: Oops, a daisy, oh my! Jack, don’t cry.

Out of One’s Gourd

Meaning: Either extremely intoxicated or utterly insane.

Example: I’m not sure why he is always out of his gourd in front of his family and creates a ruckus every time they meet up.

Out of the woods

Meaning: Out of harm’s way or a challenging situation.

Example: I can’t express how incredibly grateful I am to my friends for supporting me emotionally and financially and bringing me out of the woods.

Primrose path

Meaning: The pursuit of joy, particularly when it threatens to have adverse effects.

Example: How ignorant to their surroundings can somebody be before walking the primrose path?

Pushing Up Daisies

Meaning: To have died.

Example: It was too early for her to be pushing up daisies at her age.

Put Down Roots

Meaning: Establish yourself in a new destination.

Example: In Kolkata, we’re looking for a location to put down roots.

Put someone out to pasture.

Meaning: Forced into retirement.

Example: His colleagues pretty much put him to pasture.

Root and branch

Meaning: Meant to describe how comprehensive or revolutionary a technique or procedure is.

Example: We were looking forward to next week’s existing plans’ root and branch modification.

Rough end of the stick

Meaning: In a deal, scenario, or relationship, to be unfairly targeted or to come across as being weaker than the opposing person.

Example: They were dissatisfied that they were receiving the rough end of the stick, and they believed that they deserved so much better.

Shake like a leaf

Meaning: Quivering out of fear.

Example: When the exam results were released, the students were trembling like leaves.

Shrinking violet

Meaning: A person who is unrealistic shy, and nervous.

Example: She was a completely different character when she went on the podium to speak, ignoring the fact that we assumed she was a shrinking violet.

Small dog, tall weeds

Meaning: Someone who completely lacks the skills or resources to accomplish a project or job.

Example: Despite his boasting about how qualified he is for the task, he is a small dog, tall weeds.

Sow seeds of suspicion

Meaning: To act in a way that guarantees a particular conclusion in the future, particularly one that is unfortunate or catastrophic.

Example: We are fairly convinced that he was the one who sowed the seeds of suspicion in our organization.

Sow wild oats

Meaning: To act in a defiant or irresponsible manner.

Example: I wasn’t shocked when he went very much against the program; this is the age to sow wild oats.

Stick-in-the-Mud

Meaning: A person who is boring, uninterested in trying something different, and who is reluctant to change.

Example: Why are you behaving like such a stick-in-the-mind? It’s past time for us to go online with our business.

The cream of the crop

Meaning: The pinnacle of a broader range of people.

Example: The movie was well-received by the cream of the crop audience, but it was not quite loved by the wider populace.

Thorn in your side

Meaning: They irritate you or cause you difficulties on a constant schedule.

Example: Raima is proving to be a thorn in our side whenever we want to acquire property.

Through the Grapevine

Meaning: Hear something through the back door.

Example: They were filing for divorce, I learned through the grapevine.

Too Many To Shake A Stick At

Meaning: Quite a few.

Example: I had no inkling that delaying in buying the land would leave me with too many opponents to shake a stick at.

Turn over a new leaf.

Meaning: Begin to act or live in a somewhat more serious or better style.

Example: I am delighted that he has turned a new leaf after such a long time period.

Up a gum tree

Meaning: In a really terrible predicament from which there is no alternative out.

Example: With his gambling tendencies, he climbed a gum tree.

We’ve prepared a list of more than 10 idioms on face and related terms you’ll ever need with the aid of the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. Make an attempt to include some of these in your next English discussion!

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Names of Face Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used face idioms

List of Face Idioms

• Put the Best Face On (Something)
• Rub (Something) in Someone’s Face
• Until You’re Blue in the Face
• Pull a long face
• Off the face of the earth
• Get egg on the face
• Face the music
• Lose face
• Be written all over one’s face.
• Blue in the face
• Keep a straight face.
• Save face
• Slap in the face
• Face the facts

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Face Idioms

Put the Best Face On (Something)

Meaning: Make a point of highlighting the good elements of a terrible situation.

Example: The magistrate tried to put the best face on the loss of the Para-Olympic Games, pointing out that organisations would not have to be wrecked.

Rub (Something) in Someone’s Face

Meaning: Someone might be humiliated by pointing out and condemning his or her own mistakes.

Example: Roman really messed up his speech, and Katherine keeps rubbing the disaster in my face.

Until You’re Blue in the Face

Meaning: For a lengthened period of time, with no effects.

Example: I can talk with Chandler until I’m blue in the face, but she still doesn’t recognise the system.

Pull a long face

Meaning: If you have a lengthy face, you appear to be very depressed or concerned.

She came to Roma with a very long face.

Off the face of the earth

Meaning: When you say that it will disappear from the face of the earth or that something will be cleared off the face of the earth, you are referring to the fact that it will no longer be present.

Example: If a nuclear conflict breaks out, each alive thing will be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Get egg on the face

Meaning: To perform a fool of oneself or to feel humiliated.

Example: Tom had an egg on his face after claiming and boasting that the examinations were really simple but ended up failing most of his papers.

Face the music

Meaning: Accepting unfavourable consequences is a difficult task.

Example: After numerous years of cheating her employer, the defrauder finally had to face the music.

Lose face

Meaning: Be ashamed or humiliated, particularly in front of others.

Example: Ruby lost face when her assistant was promoted and shifted as her boss.

Be written all over one’s face.

Meaning: The look on a person’s face indicates or indicates something.

Example: Sam’s guilt was written all over her face.

Blue in the face

Meaning: Exhausted as a result of rage, tension, or any other significant exertion.

Example: You can explain and argue until you’re blue in the face, but I reject to work.

Keep a straight face.

Meaning: To maintain a straight face and refrain from smiling, laughing, or otherwise expressing oneself.

Example: I had to maintain a straight face while my five-year-old brother told me about breaking up with his “girlfriend”, but I giggled about it with our mother afterwards.

Save face

Meaning: In order to prevent having others lose regard for one’s own worth.

Example: Rakim tried to save face by working overtime.

Slap in the face

Meaning: An unexpected act that is intended to hurt or embarrass someone.

Example: Charollete decision to work for our competitors by quitting our company was a slap in the face.

Face the facts

Meaning: To acknowledge that something is correct.

Example: The moment has come to face the fact that the policies made by our current government aren’t working.

Leader idioms and phrases form a very significant and special section of power idioms in themselves since there aren’t many of them, we are familiar with. The idioms on leadership play on words with a strong sense of creative power. So, let’s take a look at the number of Idioms about Leadership.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Name of Idioms about Leadership

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Idioms about Leadership

List of Idioms about Leadership

• (The) Man
• (To be at someone’s) beck and call
• (To) Cross all your T’s and dot all your I’s
• A little from column a, a little from column b
• After the lord mayor’s show
• Ahead of the curve
• Big picture
• Call the shots
• Cut someone some slack
• Cut to the chase
• Light a fire under someone
• Movers and shakers
• On point
• Put someone on the spot
• Rake someone over the coals
• Too many cooks in the kitchen
• Rake someone over the coals
• Think tank

Meaning And Examples Of Some Commonly Used Idioms About Leadership

(The) Man

Meaning: This is an informal phrase used mainly in the United States. This phrase is used to state power in position or the authority and government.

Example: I honestly don’t know about the laws much; ask The Man about it.

(To be at someone’s) beck and call

Meaning: To be at someone’s beck and call means always being ready to follow their commands.

Example: How does it feel to be someone’s beck and call? Asking for working the middle of the night.

(To) Cross All Your T’s and Dot All Your I’s

Meaning: To pay attention to the tiniest details in your work. Pay a great deal of attention to get your work perfect.

Example: We were supposed to design the weeding of the mayor, so we had to cross all our T’s and Dot All Your I’s.

A Little from Column A, A Little from Column B

Meaning: This informal idiomatic phrase is used to express, to take a combination of two things or two different factors—the mixture of two reasons.

Example: To be in the first place, we had to take a little from column A and a little from column B.

After the Lord Mayor’s Show

Meaning: This phrase is used to express something terrible happening right after something pleasant.

Example: The Mathematics results came right after the lord mayors show.

Ahead Of The Curve

Meaning: This phrase is utilized to express that the authority or a body in power has thoughts or plans which are ahead of the current trends or generation.

Example: His plans were way ahead of the curve; we couldn’t catch up.

Big Picture

Meaning: The phrase Big Picture means the essential facts about the situation.

Example: To solve the whole situation, we had to look at the big picture more.

Call the Shots

Meaning: To call the shots means taking the initiative or taking up the responsibility and decisions of a situation.

Example: We were out of ideas, so we called our boss to call the shots.

Changing of the Guard

Meaning: This idiom describes a big change of position or power.

Example: What do you think honestly, about the changing of the guard?

Cut Someone Some Slack

Meaning: This phrase means to treat someone in a better way or in a less harsh way.

Example: I’ve seen her working since last night, so I decided to cut her some slack.

Cut to the Chase

Meaning: This phrase means to directly come to the point instead of going a turn around.

Example: We don’t have time; cut to the chase, we will have to complete this mission.

Light a Fire Under Someone

Meaning: This phrase means to push someone or to stimulate someone to work more efficiently or with more power.

Example: The music concert was like lighting a fire under the employees.

Movers and Shakers

Meaning: The phrase Movers and Shakers is used for a person who is quite powerful when it comes to influencing others.

Example: When it comes to making kids doing something, we usually need movers and shakers.

On Point

Meaning: This phrase means that something is accurate and exact to the work or reason.

Example: The plans were all on point, but we still struggled to get the first place.

Put Someone on the Spot

Meaning: This phrase is implied when someone is forced to do something in which they don’t have the best choices or skills.

Examples: We put him on the spot to take revenge for betraying us last month for the sales.

Rake Someone Over the Coals

Meaning: This phrase is used to mean that some sort of torture or punishment would be done to someone.

Example: If Mom comes to find out you lost the diamond ring, she will rack you over the coals.

Too many cooks in the kitchen

Meaning: This phrase means that when there are too many managers, supervisors, and the boss, but not enough workers, who would run the company.

Example: The main reason why the company failed was they had too many cooks in the kitchen.

Think tank

Meaning: Think tank is referred to the body of authority that is responsible for giving advice to the other bodies.

Example: This time, the Thinktank failed to make a solid plan, but we improvised it and made it.

This article provides a list of Conflict idioms a to z and defines various Conflict idioms and meaning in detail for your convenience and ease of identifying them.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Name of Conflict Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Conflict Idioms

List of Conflict Idioms

• Argue the toss
• All hell broke loose
• (To have) been through the wars
• (To open up a) can of whoop-ass
• Add fuel to the fire
• Add insult to injury
• Agree to disagree
• Add fuel to the fire
• Ancient history
• At each other’s throats
• At loggerheads
• Bad blood
• Beat it
• Bone to pick
• Call someone’s bluff
• Caught in the crossfire
• Clear the air
• Come into conflict
• Conflict of interest
• Conflict with (something)
• Cut (someone) to the quick
• Dead ahead
• Devil’s advocate
• Dirty look
• Fight like cats and dogs
• Game of chicken
• Get bent out of shape
• Go against the stream/ tide
• Give someone a piece of your mind
• Hammer and tongs
• Have it out with someone
• Let bygones be bygones
• Let sleeping dogs lie
• Lock horns
• No love lost
• On the warpath
• Pick a fight
• Pissing contest
• Rake over the ashes
• Rub it in
• Sore point
• Spoiling for a fight
• Stab someone in the back
• Take someone to task
• Throw elbows
• To have a chip on one’s shoulder
• Witch hunt

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Conflict Idioms

Argue the toss

Meaning: If someone argues about the toss, it means that they are disputing a decision or choice that has already been made.

Example: The tickets have already been booked, and there is no use in arguing the toss now.

All hell broke loose

Meaning: If you say that all hell has broken loose, it means that there was a sudden noisy and angry reaction to something in response to something else.

Example: All hell broke loose when they announced that the factory would be shut down and sold.

(To have) been through the wars

Meaning: Someone who has hardened due to much experience during difficult conditions; worn out

Example: Though this project is challenging, he will be a good choice for it since he has been through the wars.

Agree to disagree

Meaning: It means that someone has agreed to not argue about a difference of opinion

Example: After the discussion about politics heated up, they had to agree to disagree before it affected their friendship.

Add fuel to the fire

Meaning: To worsen an already existing tension between someone

Example: She was already angry, and his criticism of her quality of work only added fuel to the fire.

Ancient history

Meaning: A disagreement that occurred in the past or a long time ago and that ought to be forgotten

Example: I know it is awkward to work with me as a team, but that’s ancient history, and we should not let it get between our jobs.

At each other’s throats

Meaning: It is said for two people who are arguing or fighting

Example: Those two were at each other’s throats about the disaster with the court.

At loggerheads

Meaning: In a state of persistent or constant disagreement

Example: The President of the company and the CEO have been at loggerheads over the situation for months now.

Bad blood

Meaning: Enmity or hatred that stems from some event in the past

Example: There has been bad blood between them years ago since they both dated the same guy.

Beat it

Meaning: A rude way of telling someone to stop annoying you

Example: I am tired of your constant whining, just beat it.

Bone to pick

Meaning: It means that you are annoyed with someone, and you want to talk to them about it directly.

Example: He said that he has a bone to pick with me about my statement.

Call someone’s bluff

Meaning: To challenge someone to do what they threatened to believe that they will not dare to do it

Example: After the neighbor’s threats to call the police for his dog barking, Jack decided to call the bluff, and then there were no more complaints.

Caught in a crossfire

Meaning: If someone is caught in a crossfire, it means that they are suffering the effects of an argument or a dispute between two people or groups.

Example: When my two best friends ended up having a heated argument, I was caught in a crossfire and could not decide what to do.

Clear the air

Meaning: To diffuse the tension or be honest about the conflict so as to reduce its intensity

Example: The boss called the meeting so that she could clear the air and move forward after the conflicts we have been having with our teammates and staff.

Come into conflict

Meaning: To be different in such a way that prevents agreement

Example: There are a few cases in which these rules come into conflict with each other.

Conflict of interest

Meaning: A dispute between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person Example: When the teacher’s daughter broke the rules, we could sense some conflict of interest.

Conflict with (something)

Meaning: To interfere or clash with someone or something

Example: He had a very bad conflict with his mother last Thursday.

Cut (someone) to the quick

Meaning: To deeply hurt someone emotionally

Example: When you blamed me for the disaster at school, that really cut me to the quick.

Dead ahead

Meaning: It means that something is directly ahead, and it can be in the literal sense or otherwise.

Example: Sam and I never communicate anymore. I could see heartbreak dead ahead.

Devil’s advocate

Meaning: If someone is playing the devil’s advocate during a discussion, it means that they are pretending to be against a particular idea or plan in order to determine the validity of the arguments in favor of it.

Example: She decided to play the devil’s advocate to see how strongly I felt about the project and the residents.

Fight like cats and dogs

Meaning: Two people who frequently have violent arguments even though they are fond of each other

Example: The couple next door fights like cats and dogs, but they are still together after fifteen years.

Dirty look

Meaning: A facial manner or expression that shows disapproval or disagreement

Example: He gave me a dirty look when I brought up his ex-girlfriend.

Game of chicken

Meaning: A conflicting situation in which neither side will back down due to fear of seeming cowardly or like a chicken

Example: The argument between my two teammates turned into a game of chicken, and neither wanted to be the first one to back down even though it was best for both of them if they did.

Get bent out of shape

Meaning: Become angry or upset with something or someone

Example: I was just about to make a suggestion about the topic when she got all bent out of shape about it.

Give someone a piece of your mind

Meaning: Tell someone angrily what you think about a subject

Example: I cannot believe they had the audacity to fire me when I had worked for them for over five years when it wasn’t even my fault. I’m going to go down there and give them a piece of my mind.

Go against the stream/ tide

Meaning: It means that someone refuses to conform to the current trends or norms or the behavior of other people

Example: Shila can be difficult to work with since she likes to go against the tide constantly.

Hammer and tongs

Meaning: If people are fighting hammer and tongs, it means that they are arguing fiercely with a lot of energy and plenty of noise

Example: The neighbors had been going at it hammer and tongs again since their fight two nights ago.

Have it out with someone

Meaning: To have an argument with someone to settle something related to a dispute once and for all

Example: The tension was building for months, and I thought that enough was enough, and I had it all out with Jacob, and now we’re fine.

Let bygones be bygones

Meaning: Agree to forget about something related to a conflict in the past

Example: My ex-boyfriend and I had decided to let bygones be bygones and decide our tasks like adults.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Meaning: To ask someone not to interfere with a situation since they are most likely going to cause a condition that can create new problems

Example: Listen to me carefully, they have settled their difference, and it is high time they let sleeping dogs lie.

Lock horns

Meaning: If you or someone locks horns with somebody, it means that they or you are fighting with someone about something.

Example: If there is another incident like this in the future in this building, I swear that the occupants will be locking horns!

No love lost

Meaning: It means that two people or groups or organizations do not like each other at all.

Example: No love was lost between the Democrats and the Conservatives in our country.

On the warpath

Meaning: Furious; leading to some dispute

Example: My husband has been on the warpath since I put a scratch in his new car.

Pick a fight

Meaning: Intentionally provoke someone to fight or argue

Example: There is no use in picking a fight with the wrong guys since you are the one who will get hurt.

Pissing contest

Meaning: A valueless and meaningless conflict or competition about something, typically between males

Example: Larry and Ted were in a pissing contest at the meeting today, and the rest of us had a great time watching them being so sensitive.

Rake over the ashes

Meaning: To restart a settled argument or examine a failure

Example: We have already decided to give up. There is no need to rake over the ashes.

Rub it in

Meaning: Say something that makes someone feel bad about a mistake that they are already guilty about

Example: I know that the entire party was ruined due to my mistake, but you don’t have to rub it in.

Sore point

Meaning: A sensitive topic for a specific person or group of people

Example: Please refrain from discussing her breakup; it is her sore point.

Spoiling for a fight

Meaning: Wanting to fight or eager to argue with someone; a combative attitude

Example: Watch out for Sameen tomorrow. She is spoiling for a fight in public after John criticized her in front of everyone at the meeting today.

Stab someone in the back

Meaning: To betray someone

Example: I thought that he was my friend, but as soon as she was in front of the professor, she stabbed me in the back and discredited my work.

Take someone to task

Meaning: Reprimand someone strictly

Example: The boss hired me to task after I was late to the meeting for the launching of the new website.

Throw elbows

Meaning: Be physically or figuratively combative

Example: Our team will have to throw elbows a bit to get our questions answered since we are at the back of the room.

To have a chip on one’s shoulder

Meaning: To be combative or consistently argumentative

Example: He can be tough to get along with since he has a chip on his shoulder and can blow up at you over the tiniest details.

Witch hunt

Meaning: An organized attempt to persecute an unpopular person or group of people and blame them for a problem

Example: Falling in the polls after the corruption investigations, the president denied the charges and chalked them up to a witch hunt that was being carried out by his opponents.

Improve your English Grammar Skills and never make any mistakes in english concepts like parts of speech, tenses, English phrases and a lot more by making the most of our English Grammar Notes.

There are numerous idioms related to language. People often use and study idioms for learning something new and improvising one’s vocabulary.

Among those various idioms for learning, there are specific skill phrases and idioms for ability that are often used by many people while holding regular conversations. It may happen that one might use these idioms without knowing their actual meaning, which may cause issues.

This article contains a list of skill idioms and their meaning and example that will help one understand and use these while holding regular conversations.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Name of Skill Idioms

• Meaning and examples of few commonly used skill idioms

List of Skill Idioms

• Green as grass
• Lose your touch
• Sharp as a tack
• Bag of tricks
• Not cut out for
• Amateur hour
• Beat someone to the draw
• Find one’s voice
• Moral support
• Drop the ball
• Trust someone about as far one can throw them
• Coping skill
• Price one has to pay

Meaning and Examples of few commonly used Skill Idioms

Green as grass

Meaning: Someone who is incredibly naive and utterly inexperienced in a specific area.

Example: Kelly’s art teacher told her that she was green as grass and needed more practice.

Lose your touch

Meaning: When an individual is not as good in something as they previously were.

Example: With each passing day, her voice is becoming more and more hoarse, and she’s slowly losing her touch.

Sharp as a tack

Meaning: Someone who is extremely clever and always alert mentally.

Example: Even though my best friend seemed strange, she was as sharp as a tack.

Bag of tricks

Meaning: This phrase refers to many techniques, skills, information, and resources stored by someone to achieve their goal.

Example: She asked him not to worry since her bag of tricks is finally ready for action.

Not cut out for

Meaning: This is used to indicate to someone who does not possess the exact qualities required for a specific activity or job.

Example: After examining her skills properly, I knew she was not cut out for this job.

Amateur Hour

Meaning: This idiom describes an activity or a situation that displays a lack of skill, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Example: In the downtown restaurant, amateur hour is going on. Let’s hurry before it ends.

Beat someone to the draw

Meaning: To attain something or finish something at a faster pace before anyone else.

Example: Addison had an extraordinary chance to win the swimming competition, but she was Meredith beat her to the draw.

Find one’s voice

Meaning: This idiom describes a situation when one begins to feel confident and then starts to speak willingly.

Example: After I went up to the stage, I felt like my voice was gone, but after looking at my friends and family, I finally found my voice and completed the song.

Moral support

Meaning: Providing comfort and help to someone who needs psychological and mental support the most.

Example: The entire society provided her with moral support after the death of her husband.

Drop the ball

Meaning: This phrase is used when one makes a mistake or misses a significant opportunity or offer.

Example: Georgia dropped the ball by deciding to pursue the career of her parent’s choice instead of her choice.

Trust someone about as far as one can throw them

Meaning: This idiom means that one has no faith or trust in someone else.

Example: Even though he tried to sell the product using his charms, Penny did not trust him about as far she could throw him.

Coping skill

Meaning: Refers to the methods or techniques one uses to recover from a depressed or stressful, or emotional situation.

Example: Tina used to have excessive anxiety attacks, but it reduced after she took up meditating as a coping skill.

Price one has to pay

Meaning: The mental, emotional, and physical suffering one must go through due to something that they’ve done.

Example: The price Sam had to pay for leaving his wife and kids was justified.

Construction is the art and science of forming organizations, objects, plans, systems, etc. Since there are various building phrases, infrastructure idioms, and construction idioms, people often get confused with the actual meaning of these idioms.

To remove this confusion and ensure proper remembrance of these architecture idioms or construction idioms, we have put together a list of construction idioms along with their correct meanings and examples that will help one hold proper conversations using these idioms and create a good impression.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Names of Construction Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Construction Idioms

List of Construction Idioms

• House of cards
• My way or the highway
• Straddle the fence
• A bridge too far
• Bag of hammers
• Thick as a brick
• Water under the bridge
• Down the drain
• Bring the house down
• Get your foot in the door
• Behind closed doors
• Drive someone up the wall
• Window of opportunity
• Rome wasn’t built in a day
• Hold down the fort
• Bury the hatchet
• Know the drill
• Lay the groundwork
• People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
• Set in concrete
• Under the hammer
• Off the wall
• Hit the nail on the head
• Shit a brick
• Drop the hammer
• Get the ax
• Castles in the air
• Cross that bridge when you come to it
• Strike while the iron is hot
• The nuts and bolts
• Tough as nails
• Pull wires
• An ax to grind
• Mend fences
• Tighten the screws
• Hammer out a deal
• A bolt from the blue
• Break ground
• Burn your bridges
• Cash on the nail
• Climb the walls
• Come out of the closet
• Hit the ceiling

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Construction Idioms

House of cards

Meaning: A plan, situation, or a specific structure that is very weak, fragile, and insubstantial can collapse anytime.

Example: The road trip plan was like a house of cards since nobody ended up going.

My way or the highway

Meaning: This phrase is used by the speaker for saying that everyone has to follow what the speaker says or undergo sufferings since there is no other way.

Example: Phyllis was sick of the argument between the boys regarding the trip destination, and hence she said, “now, it’s either my way or the highway.”

Straddle the fence

Meaning: It refers to indecisiveness, where one keeps avoiding giving answers or picking a particular side in an argument.

Example: Maya always straddled the fence and escaped, but this time, she has to choose a side and decide her love life.

A bridge too far

Meaning: Something that overreaches its actual capability and goes too far, causing problems.

Example: Last year, while hiking, we went a bridge too far and got ourselves trapped in that deadly situation.

Bag of hammers

Meaning: Used for referring to the stupidity and uselessness of someone or something.

Example: Nobody asked Trish for help since everyone thought that she was a bag of hammers.

Thick as a brick

Meaning: The above phrase is used to refer to someone who is exceptionally dimwitted and stupid.

Example: Just being good-looking will not get her a promotion since she is thick as a brick.

Water under the bridge

Meaning: This refers to those incidents that have already occurred and are now in the past, and thus there is no longer any need to bring them up.

Example: Gina asked Mary not to apologize since everything happened and the water is under the bridge now.

Down the drain

Meaning: This refers to something that is being wasted or being demolished.

Example: After my brother started living in our old house, the house went down the drain.

Bring the house down

Meaning: Used when a performance makes the audience overjoyed, and they applaud and laugh with zeal.

Example: The stand-up comedian was highly talented, and hence whenever he performed, he made sure to bring the house down.

Get your foot in the door

Meaning: To make the first step towards one’s goal by doing something to initially achieve the goal.

Example: John started his own business to get his foot in the door.

Behind closed doors

Meaning: When something is done privately or secretly without anyone watching or knowing about it.

Example: What happened in that haunted house that made the girl insane always remained behind closed doors.

Drive someone up the wall

Meaning: The expression is used when someone gets super annoyed, angry, or irritated about something the other person is doing.

Example: Oliver screamed at Lily and asked her to stop the loud music since that was driving him up the wall.

Window of opportunity

Meaning: Used to state that there is a limited opportunity available for doing something and one has to work upon it as fast as possible.

Example: Kiyoko lost her window of opportunity of clicking a picture of the setting sun.

Rome wasn’t built in a day

Meaning: The phrase indicates that everything takes time and nothing can be achieved quickly, so one should patiently complete their designated tasks.

Example: The group knew that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and hence they worked diligently, and now they are one of the most lovable bands.

Hold down the fort

Meaning: To take care or be in charge of a particular situation or place when the actual person responsible for taking care of the place or condition is not available.

Example: The band members held down the fort while their captain was sick and going through treatment.

Bury the hatchet

Meaning: This phrase is used when two individuals or a group of individuals decide to end their fight and arguments and finally become friends.

Example: The two neighbors decided to bury the hatchet and celebrate Christmas together.

Know the drill

Meaning: To be familiar with a specific procedure so that assistance is not needed while performing that procedure.

Example: The teacher told the students that everyone should know the drill within the next week regarding their morning assembly.

Lay the groundwork

Meaning: Before starting an event or a specific process of doing something, one should complete and get over the basics.

Example: For the preparation of my exams, I have already laid the groundwork properly.

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

Meaning: The phrase states that people who have faults should not belittle or criticize other people for having the same responsibility.

Example: Olivia told her friend that she also forgot to submit her assignment and hence she shouldn’t make fun of others because people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

Set in concrete

Meaning: Something that cannot be changed and is fixed.

Example: The marriage date is set in concrete.

Under the hammer

Meaning: Something that is put up and sold at an auction.

Example: The painting went under the hammer last Wednesday at

Like a house on fire

Meaning: Very excellent; Vigorous.

Example: The friendship between Dwight and Pam started like a house on fire.

Off the wall

Meaning: The above expression refers to something that is unusually strange but in an amusing way. Someone whose ideas are off the wall; they are usually called stupid.

Example: Emma’s theory regarding the old mansion is really off the wall, but somehow, I feel that they are true.

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning: Used when someone says something that is exceptionally correct.

Example: Even though the company put in a lot of effort in creating their new product when Hope said that it wouldn’t get much popularity, the director knew that she hit the nail on the head.

Shit a brick

Meaning: Become extremely scared

Example: Everyone among the group of friends shit a brick after hearing what happened to the girl at that haunted house ten years ago.

Drop the hammer

Meaning: To crackdown or legislate on a particular injustice or violation.

Example: Olivia denied dropping the hammer on the kids to keep them in school.

Get the ax

Meaning: This phrase is used when someone gets fired, rejected, expelled, or discharged.

Example: Now, when the two companies are merging, some employees are bound to get the ax.

Castles in the air

Meaning: Having unrealistic and almost impossible plans and hopes regarding one’s future.

Example: You sound like you are building castles in the air regarding your new house. Would you please stop that?

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Meaning: This phrase is used for saying not to worry about something that may happen in the future. That problem will be dealt with once we face it and not right now.

Example: Chandler readily gave away his savings to plan the grand wedding, and when Monica enquired about his future plans, he said, “let’s enjoy now; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Strike while the iron is hot

Meaning: This expression states that one should do whatever they want to while the opportunity or the excellent chance is still viable.

Example: Vernon decided to strike while the iron was hot and got himself the international tour ticket.

The nuts and bolts

Meaning: The essential and necessary details regarding any job or any other activity.

Example: Before starting to construct the dollhouse, Selena made sure she went through the nuts and bolts of constructing it.

Tough as nails

Meaning: Someone whose attitude towards others is solid and rigid, usually not showing any emotions, or maybe someone who is physically very tough and aggressive.

Examples: She is the tiniest member of the cat family, yet she is as tough as nails.

Pull wires

Meaning: This is used to indicate a situation where someone of importance can use their power and influence on others who are under them.

Example: John decided to pull wires and get the work done without any legal complications and procedures.

An ax to grind

Meaning: Used when someone does something out of selfish intentions or has an ulterior motive behind doing the work.

Example: The secretary always seemed too sweet and innocent; she sure has an ax to grind.

Mend fences

Meaning: Putting effort in mending or fixing an unstable or already damaged relationship.

Example: After the huge fight, the band members tried to mend fences and get back together without disbanding.

Tighten the screws

Meaning: This phrase is used when intense pressure or force is exerted on someone. Sometimes people also use violence and threat to put pressure.

Example: The group of delinquents tightened matt’s screws until he paid the money he was supposed to pay.

Hammer out a deal

Meaning: To finally decide after discussing it for a long time or arguing about it.

Example: The merging companies finally hammered out a deal regarding the new employee structure.

A bolt from the blue

Meaning: Something that happens suddenly and astonishingly.

Example: Even though it was my best friend’s marriage, the news felt like a bolt from the blue.

Break ground

Meaning: To begin something new, either a project or something else, or take the first step towards achieving the desired goal.

Example: The constructing company broke ground as they started their new project.

Burn your bridges

Meaning: When one does something that makes it impossible for them to go back to where they were and forces them to continue down a particular path.

Example: The coach advised Frank not to burn his bridges since it would harm no one except himself.

Cash on the nail

Meaning: Used to refer to payment that is made instantly without any delay.

Example: My father always pays cash on the nail while we shop for groceries.

Climb the walls

Meaning: When one has an excessive amount of energy but has no way to utilize it, they end up feeling annoyed and frustrated.

Example: After the summer vacation started, Joanne kept climbing the wall as she could not go out due to her injury.

Come out of the closet

Meaning: This phrase is usually used to publicly announce one’s sexual preference though other beliefs or hidden things can also be announced.

Example: Oscar finally decided to come out of the closet and tell everyone that he is gay.

Hit the ceiling

Meaning: This is used when someone becomes extremely angry.

Example: After seeing the terrible and poor dance practice, Joshua hit the ceiling since he was responsible for the dance department.

Cars have affected our lives in such a way that there exists a whole bunch of car phrases and car expressions that are used by people frequently. Specific catchy car phrases are easier to remember and hence can be used daily.

Since there are many car idioms, it becomes difficult to remember each of them along with their specific meanings. Therefore, this article provides you with all cars idiom meaning along with examples for easier remembrance.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Name of Car Idioms

• Meaning and examples of some commonly used Car Idioms

List of Car Idioms

• One track mind
• Shift gears
• Grease monkey
• The dog that caught the car
• Hit and run
• To hit the road
• Fender bender
• Buy a lemon
• To get the show on the road
• Crash through
• Crash and burn
• Wrap a car around (something)
• Live out of (one’s) car
• Old banger
• Jalopy
• You’re driving me nuts
• To carpool
• One for the road
• Put the pedal to the medal
• Put the brakes on
• Down the road
• Chopshop
• Backseat driver
• Amber gambler
• All roads lead to Rome
• 3-on-the-tree
• Hell for leather
• Pick up speed
• Stop on a dime
• Run out of steam

Meaning And Examples Of Some Commonly Used Car Idioms

One-track mind

Meaning: This idiom refers to a mind whose thoughts always tend to go in the same direction.

Example: Jenny gave up after the sixth try. She understood that her teacher has a very one-track mind, and he would never listen to her and believe her.

Shift gears

Meaning: Means to change the line of your thoughts suddenly or suddenly start behaving differently. It also means changing actual gear arrangements or changing to something new instead of what you were already doing.

Example: Carla always wanted to become an accountant, but she shifted her gears and went to art school instead.

Grease monkey

Meaning: This expression refers to someone who works with or fixes cars and automobiles. It is used for referring to a mechanic.

Example: Robby worked as a grease monkey for his part-time job.

The dog that caught the car

Meaning: Someone who has finally achieved what they always wanted, but now they have no idea what to do further. They spent so much time in achieving their desired something that now they are clueless.

Example: I spent my entire school life trying to achieve the student of the year trophy, but now when I have it, I feel like the dog that caught the car.

Hit and run

Meaning: Causing an accident and then escaping the scene and not rescuing the injured. It is usually done by people who don’t want to get accused of or blamed for the accident they caused.

Example: The police declared the accident as a hit-and-run case and started looking for the culprit.

To hit the road

Meaning: This expression is used when someone begins a trip or a journey somewhere.

Example: The group of friends finally hit the road for their trip to Goa.

Fender bender

Meaning: A minimal accident caused by the clashing or collision of two cars.

Example: Julia got into a fender bender and was slightly injured.

Buy a lemon

Meaning: To purchase a car that is not valuable, disappointing, and keeps breaking down frequently even if purchased recently.

Example: Ryan was disappointed since he realized he ended up buying a lemon from the dealership.

To get the show on the road

Meaning: This phrase is used when an activity that has been planned and appropriately crafted is finally being executed. It is also used to begin a planned journey or trip.

Example: The girls’ group decided to get the show on the road since they were already running quite late.

Crash through

Meaning: Breaking or destroying something physically, sometimes out of violence. It is also used when someone breaks into a particular place with sheer force.

Example: The flock of birds crashed right through the mango tree.

Crash and burn

Meaning: The above expression is used for referring to failing. It is used when someone or something fails, unexpectedly and spectacularly.

Example: Samantha motivated George by saying that many people crash and burn every day, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. He should also keep trying, and one day he will succeed.

Wrap a car around (something)

Meaning: It refers to the crashing of an individual’s car, usually diagonally, into something narrow and tall, like a tree or a lamppost, so that it looks like the car is folded or enveloped around the thing it crashed with.

Example: Parth wrapped his car around the tree and ended up with broken bones.

Live out of (one’s) car

Meaning: The above idiom is used to refer to someone who lives in their car, i.e., sleeps, eats, and also stores the essential possessions and documents in the car since they don’t own a proper residence.

Example: Joe lived out of her car since she did not have enough money to afford a house.

Old banger

Meaning: It refers to an ancient and broken.

Example: Gina has finally convinced herself to get rid of that old banger that has been sitting in her garage for years.

Jalopy

Meaning: Jalopy refers to an old car that is in terrible condition.

Example: The son got infuriated when he heard his father is still driving the old beater since it is dangerous to go in it.

You’re driving me nuts

Meaning: The above phrase refers to someone who is extremely annoyed and frustrated due to someone else’s activities.

Example: Amy screamed and said, “Rosa, you’re driving me nuts now. Please stop with your complaints, and they’re baseless.”

To carpool

Meaning: An arrangement in which people decide to share a single car to travel a regular journey by taking turns driving.

Example: The office colleagues decided to carpool to save fuel

One for the road

Meaning: The consumption of the final drinking before starting a journey on the road.

Example: The friends cheered and had one for the road before finally leaving for their road trip in their car.

Put the pedal to the medal

Meaning: To work quickly and with lots of effort. It also means to drive fast.

Example: The captain said to her team that they needed to put the pedal to the medal to win.

Put the brakes on

Meaning: This phrase refers to stopping the progress or slowing down the progress of someone in some activity.

Example: Luna asked her friend to put the brakes on her thoughts since they are chalking out a plan for their trip, and nothing is finalized yet.

Down the road

Meaning: It refers to a point in the future.

Example: Looking at her culinary skills, I think she’ll become an excellent chef down the road.

Chopshop

Meaning: It refers to a place where stolen cars and other automobiles are taken and then broken down to sell different parts separately.

Example: Anna spotted her lost car in a chopshop on her way back home.

Backseat driver

Meaning: Someone who tries to handle and control something that is not under their control by giving unwanted advice. It also refers to a backseat passenger of a car who tries to give directions to the driver and control the vehicle.

Example: Kim hates to drive with Lisa since Lisa always keeps being a backseat driver.

Amber gambler

Meaning: Refers to a driver who speeds through the intersection just before the light turns red.

Example: Peter is an ambler gambler, and that is why Angela won’t allow her kids to drive with him.

All roads lead to Rome

Meaning: It is used for saying that no matter which method one uses, the result will be the same.

Example: Yatora decided to finish the sketchbook first and then start the oil painting since all roads lead to Rome.

3-on-the-tree

Meaning: It refers to the gear shift present in the older versions of US automobiles, built during 1939 and 1970. The gear had three spearheads and was located on the driving column.

Example: Franky was taken aback when he saw his father still kept his 3-on-the-tree truck with proper maintenance.

Hell for leather

Meaning: When someone is doing an activity recklessly, or when something happens very suddenly and quickly.

Example: After the party, Iris ran hell for leather to catch the last bus.

Pick up speed

Meaning:When someone or something starts to move faster with more speed and acceleration.

Example: In the last hour of the exam, Rosie picked up speed and finished writing her paper before the rate.

Stop on a dime

Meaning: It refers to stopping instantly even when one is doing something or rushing.

Example: It is safe to drive slowly in heavy traffic since it becomes dangerous if one needs to stop on a dime.

Run out of steam

Meaning: When one stops doing an activity because they no longer have any energy or enthusiasm left to continue doing that activity.

Example: The host of the show ran out of steam even before the lunch break was announced.

A wide variety of English Grammar Notes and rules along with enough examples is available for students right from beginner to advanced level and can be downloaded for free.

Having known few advanced idioms of daily life routine will elevate your speech and make you very confident. We can’t incorporate 80 idioms in English, but we can make a list of common daily idioms that you can include very quickly in your conversation.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Names of Daily Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Daily Routines Idioms

List of Daily Idioms

• A piece of cake
• Walk in the park
• Judge a book by its cover
• Make someone’s day
• Once in a blue moon
• Home away from home
• Me time
• Crash a party
• Ring a bell
• Wild goose chase
• By the skin of your teeth
• On the ball
• Cost an arm and leg
• To live it up
• Top dog
• To smell a rat
• I could eat a horse
• Fed up with
• Flesh and blood
• Give up the ghost
• Knock some sense into
• Pass with flying colors
• On a roll
• Out of practice
• In touch
• Lose touch
• Play with fire
• Spin a yarn

Meaning And Explanation Of Few Commonly Used Daily Routines Idioms

A piece of cake

Meaning: A piece of cake is refereed to any activity which is very easy to pull and should not cost any labor.

Example: Getting admission to that college is easy, not to brag, but it’s just a piece of cake for me to clear the exams.

Walk in the park

Meaning: Any activity which is very simple to do and gives relaxation without causing any stress.

Example: He used to lift weights like it was a walk in the park for him.

Judge a book by its cover

Meaning: Judging a book by its cover means to judge the worth or capacity of a person or thing with its outer appearance, like looks.

Example: the girl sitting in the corner has such a shabby appearance, but you can’t judge a book by its cover; she cracked the job interview.

Make someone’s day

Meaning: to make someone happy through any activity, gesture, and reason they can be happy for the rest of the day.

Example: my husband sent me flowers from the Bahamas. He surely knows how to make my day.

Once in a blue moon

Meaning: an appearance of anything which is very rare, often out of the public eye.

Example: I wonder why she brought her guitar to the concert when she played it once in a blue moon.

Home away from home

Meaning: A place much comfortable and secure, just like your existing home. It refers to a place away from your home, but you feel like home is there for love and affection.

Example: I have been in this college hostel for such a long time, it feels like a home away from home

Me time

Meaning: It refers to the time you spend focusing on yourself, like your favorite activities or recreation.

Example: My week has been hectic; I should find some me time and take a day off.

Crash a party

Meaning: If someone crashes a party, it means that ended the party without any invitation.

Example: The neighbor on my next door just crashed into the party of my 10th wedding anniversary.

Ring a bell

Meaning: An activity or a thing that sounds familiar and reminds one of the lots of memories.

Example: The head of South African healthcare drove me not to ring a bell in your mind, but she made a remarkable history.

Wild goose chase

Meaning: having a wild goose chase means doing or complaining about something that gives no results and is a complete waste of time.

Example: I submitted the article for the third time in a row, and still the same; it was just a silly wild goose chase for me.

By the skin of your teeth

Meaning: Completing an activity by the skin of your teeth means to succeed with a bit of gap, which could have led to failure.

Example: I completed my last exam by the skin of my teeth. I don’t think it will give me good grades.

On the ball

Meaning: Someone being on the ball means to be very alert and engaging in something so that they don’t get cheated on.

Example: she knows how to acquire things; she is always on the ball to get great deals on her way.

Cost an arm and leg

Meaning: An object which is very expensive to buy. Cost an arm and leg means to invest huge money to get access to something.

Example: I bought that watch online auction, and it nearly cost me an arm and a leg.

To live it up

Meaning: To let someone remain in a higher position or do an activity because of their ability and deserving capacity.

Example: if you invest your time and energy right place, you have enough time to live it up and enjoy the rest of your life.

Top dog

Meaning: being a top dog refers to a very successful person in his field and has the topmost rank.

Example: he has realized his skills and abilities and is now the top dog in this company.

To smell a rat

Meaning: it refers to suspecting something as harmful and disrespectful. You can also refer yourself to your suspect betrayal from someone.

Example: when I stopped hearing from the girl who took money from me, I started to smell a rat

I could eat a horse.

Meaning: if someone says they could eat a horse, it means they have been hungry for a long time and can eat anything you give in front of them.

Example: I am so hungry that I can eat a horse right now.

Fed up with

Meaning: To be very tired and angry, add an activity or a person after it had continued for a very long time against your will.

Example: you kept bringing friends every day without consulting me for once; I am fed up with you.

Flesh and blood

Meaning: flesh and blood refer to someone from your family outside marriage to shares your blood. It can also refer to a person or individual who is very close to you and feels like a family.

Example: The girl I brought home from the streets betrayed me, but I treated her like my own flesh and blood.

Give up the ghost

Meaning: give up the ghost means or refers to a machine that has stopped working for mechanical reasons or has become outdated. It can also be referred to any person who is of no use to others.

Example: We used the Xerox machine for ages. It’s time to give up the ghost now.

Knock some sense into

Meaning: stop someone from behaving foolishly and being silly in front of everyone. Forcefully stop someone from being silly.

Example: my brother is dumb most of the time; it’s time to knock some sense into him.

Pass with flying colors

Meaning: to achieve something more than you expected. To win or succeed in an activity brightly.

Example: my sister completed her education to get transferred to Indonesia, she passed with flying colors.

On a roll

Meaning: Be on a roll means achieving great success time by time in a continuous process.

Example: She won five prizes consequently; obviously, she was on a roll

Out of practice

Meaning: any activity in which you master new time back but have lost interest and skills for not being in touch.

Example: I did not expect this kind of performance from my son to be out of practice for the last year.

In touch

Meaning: keep contact with someone very close or not be closed and know about their health and whereabouts

Example: Atif left our office almost seven years back, but we’re still in touch.

Lose touch

Meaning: not keep contact with someone all can be referred to someone not willing to give connections.

Example: after leaving India, I have almost lost as with everyone, including my family.

Play with fire

Meaning: to do any activity with excellent cause trouble later.

Example: there is no need to both the halls without safety rope looks like he loves to play with fire.

Spin a yarn

Meaning: spinning yarn means making up stories on lies and convincing them in front of someone.

Example: for the ninth time, she came late to the office, and she had already started about traffic.

Improve your English Grammar Skills and never make any mistakes in english concepts like parts of speech, tenses, English phrases and a lot more by making the most of our English Grammar Notes.

Idioms include language patterns that represent a circumstance or notion, which separates them from proverbs. Proverbs contain components such as guidance and teachings. Because idioms are usually metaphorical, there are discrepancies between the words and the meaning.

To make learning even more complex, there are idioms related to government or the law, or idioms related to social issues, which are already densely packed with jargon that even native English speakers struggle to comprehend. While idioms are typically metaphorical in nature, they are rarely employed in real speech.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

Below are some of the most frequent English Political idioms regarding the law or legal problems and idioms about socialising, along with a brief explanation, to aid English as a Second Language learner.

Names of Political Idioms

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Political Idiom

List of Political Idioms

• A riddle wrapped up in an enigma.
• Take the Law into One’s Own Hands
• A woman requires a man like a fish needs a bicycle
• Null And Void
• Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
• Turn a Blind Eye to
• Fellow traveller
• First World
• Hear hear
• Invasion of Privacy
• If a person can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
• Jam tomorrow
• Toe the party line
• Grace Period
• Invasion of Privacy
• Press the flesh
• To vote with your feet
• One- a two-horse race
• Political hot potato
• To get on/off your soapbox.
• Be Strange bedfellows:
• Last Will and Testament
• Lame-duck:
• Lodge a Complaint
• Legal Age
• Spin doctor:
• Politically correct:
• Witch hunt
• (Commit) Political suicide:
• Caught red-handed:
• Five–finger discount:
• Foul play:
• Stick it to the plan:
• A Shot across the bow:
• Pin someone down on something:
• One / Two horse race
• Election fever
• Hot air
• Hung parliament
• Toe the party line
• Body politic
• A political football
• A political hot potato
• Political machinery.
• Politically correct / incorrect (PC)
• Press the flesh.
• To get on/off your soapbox.
• Throw in the towel.
• To vote with your feet.
• Due Process or Due Process of Law

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Political Idioms

A riddle wrapped up in an enigma

Meaning: A puzzle – something that is particularly difficult to comprehend or solve – is defined as a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

Example: The majority of the people were unable to anticipate Russia’s behaviour. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery and enclosed in an enigma; nevertheless, there may be a key. This is where Russian national interest comes into play.

Take the Law into One’s Own Hands

Meaning: Individuals who endeavour to take the law into their own hands are seeking justice on their own. They do not seek assistance from authorities or anyone with the legal authority to administer the law. Generally, it is considered unlawful to take the law into one’s own hands.

Example: Out of contempt, Roma took the law into her own hands and killed her cheating husband.

A woman requires a man like a fish needs a bicycle

Meaning: “A woman requires a man like a fish needs a bicycle” is a feminist slogan that expresses the humorous viewpoint that a woman can live a perfectly normal life without the assistance of a man in a humorous manner.

Example: Dunn deserves credit for inventing such a famous and enduring parody of the long-held belief that women require men like a fish needs a bicycle.

Null And Void

Meaning: If something has already been cancelled, it is null and void. Being cancelled renders that item obsolete and useless.

Example: The court case against the organisation was null and void. The organisation had settled the lawsuit out of court.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Meaning: “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely,” as the adage goes, expresses the belief in the diminishing importance of moral sense as a person’s position of authority grows.

Example: Power is corrupting by nature, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Almost invariably, great guys are evil men.

Turn a Blind Eye to

Meaning: If a person can see something incorrect or suspicious but pretends not to see it, the individual is turning a blind eye to it or someone. Basically, turning a blind eye is an act of exclusion, which involves failing to undertake the activities that the majority of people are expected to perform.

Example: Rossy turned a blind eye to the dying cat that had been crossing the street and got hit by a mini-truck.

Fellow traveller

Meaning: Someone who is sympathetic to a particular point of view but who is not a fully paid-up member of the organisation.

Example: In my grandfather’s day, being suspected of being a fellow traveller was frequently used to utterly destroy one’s career.

First World

Meaning: It was originally applied only to the United States (see below for more information), but it has come to refer to the industrially developed, wealthy, and powerful nations of the world as a whole. Many people refer to these countries as “The West,” though Japan and Australia are unquestionably included in the “First World.”

Example: I recently returned from a volunteer mission to Haiti and am still adapting to a first world country.

Hear hear

Meaning: Acclamation or agreement is expressed through the use of a loudspeaker.

Example: Hear, hear!” members of Congress chanted in response to the president’s remarks.

Invasion of Privacy

Meaning: A violation of privacy occurs when someone’s right to secrecy, personal space, and time is violated. Invasion of privacy is a legal violation and is thus punished under the law.

Example: The paparazzo was convicted with the invasion of privacy for photographing an exposed actress swimming in the pool of her house.

If a person can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

Meaning: If the stress of a task becomes too much for you, don’t continue with it. If you are unable to cope, it is suggested that you delegate the work to someone who is capable.

Example: I will defend [you] but if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Jam tomorrow

Meaning: A pleasant event in the future that is unlikely to occur is referred to as a “jam tomorrow.”

Example: It is becoming increasingly frustrating for the few employees who remain to hear promises of jam tomorrow while also being forced to work longer hours with less compensation.

Toe the party line

Meaning: The act of adhering to the rules or standards of the political party to which you are affiliated.

Example: She’ll have to learn to toe the party line if he wishes to remain in the fold.

Grace Period

Meaning: A grace period is the time period immediately following a bill payment deadline. Generally, we can pay a debt without incurring interest or penalties within a grace period of roughly 30 days.

Example: The government was kind enough to give us a 60-day grace period to repay our credit card bill.

Invasion of Privacy

Meaning: A violation of privacy occurs when someone’s right to secrecy, personal space, and time is violated. Invasion of privacy is a legal violation and is thus punished under the law.

Example: The paparazzo was convicted with the invasion of privacy for photographing an exposed actress swimming in the pool of her house.

Press the flesh

Meaning: To extend a handshake to someone.

Example: Roma is required to engage in extensive flesh pressing in the run-up to the elections.

To vote with your feet

Meaning: The act of withdrawing one’s consent

Example: I advised Rachel that she could always vote with her feet if she didn’t like the job.

One- a two-horse race

Meaning: One in which there are few likely winners is referred to as a low-probability competition or election.

Example: The 2016 presidential election was only a two-horse race.

Political hot potato

Meaning: A situation that could be potentially humiliating or dangerous.

Example: Last year scandal will be a political hot potato for the upcoming election.

To get on/off your soapbox

Meaning: To spend a majority amount of time discussing a subject about which you are passionate. It means that someone thinks you’re spending too much time on a particular subject and has asked you to “get off your soapbox.”

Example: Nothing can stop a politician once he gets on his soapbox and starts talking.

Be Strange bedfellows

Meaning: It is appropriate to use this phrase when two people are diametrically opposed to one another, but they must collaborate in order to achieve a common goal.

Example: I assumed that the two writers would be strange bedfellows, considering the dramatically different style of their writing, but their works really have a lot of commonalities in terms of themes and structures.

Last Will and Testament

Meaning: A final testament and will is a legal document created by a person prior to death. It details how he or she wishes to dispose of his or her assets after death. Additionally, it may contain his or her messages to friends, family, and acquaintances.

Example: The duchess did not leave behind any last testament and will. Now George’s kids are fighting over his massive wealth.

Lame-duck

Meaning: The term is utilised here to describe people who are unable to complete the assigned task and have completed their duties. It appears that this individual has reached the end of his or her rope.

Example: The opposing party was furious with the president’s decision to pick a Supreme Court successor while he was a lame duck.

Lodge a Complaint

Meaning: If we are filing a formal complaint against someone, a group, or an organisation, we file a complaint. Typically, we file a complaint with a court of law or with a government agency.

Example: Villagers lodged an accusation against a mine owner for polluting the river.

Legal Age

Meaning: When a person reaches the legal age, he or she is already eligible to vote, drive, purchase cigarettes, consume alcohol, and gamble. After attaining legal capacity, individuals are expected to accept full responsibility for their acts. They become legally accountable.

Example: These teenagers are not allowed to buy alcohol. They are clearly below legal age.

Spin doctor

Meaning: People who are pro-government or who work in the news referring industry can be identified using this term.

Example: The campaign’s spin doctors somehow made the candidate’s bad performance in the debate appear like an indication that he was the more approachable candidate.

Politically correct

Meaning: Everything done has been deemed to be politically correct.

Example: Our CEO is always being attacked in the media because she hardly delivers politically correct remarks.

Witchhunt

Meaning: In power, it is used to discredit those who hold opposing views.

Example: The governing party’s witch hunt against its critics provoked a civil war.

(Commit) Political suicide

Meaning: These gentlemen are putting their political futures at risk by speaking out.

Example: These men are going to have political suicide by putting their lives at risk.

Caught red-handed

Meaning: Caught Red-Handed refers to the act of catching someone while they are engaged in illegal activity.

Example: Joey was caught red-handed last night; while we were watching family television in the night.

Five–finger discount

Meaning: This phrase can be utilised to describe a shoplifting situation.

Example: Mooro exercised his five-finger discount to arrange the kind of ring Blake wanted.

Foul play

Meaning: The use of this idiom is appropriate when discussing things such as assassination, murder, or games that don’t adhere to the rules.

Example: Us feared that David had met with unfair conduct or foul play in a game.

Stick it to the plan

Meaning: Continue doing or using something for an extended period of time without changing or ceasing to do so

Example: I believe we all should stick to our original plan.

A Shot across the bow

Meaning: In the phrase “a shot across the bows of another person,” you are implying that the actions of one person are a warning to the other person to stop or alter their course of action.

Example: As a warning shot across the bows of rivals, it is already establishing aggressive pricing.

Pin someone down on something

Meaning: Using this phrase can be useful when we want someone to give a specific answer to a question or when we want to cause or force someone to make a specific statement or decision on a particular subject.

Example: Journalists tried to pin him down on the particular modifications the man aspired to make to the tax laws.

One / Two horse race

Meaning: One in which there are few likely winners, such as a competition or election.

Example: Every general election held in the UK is usually a two-horse race.

Election fever

Meaning: It is impossible to overstate the level of excitement generated by the announcement of the results of the general elections.

Example: The media is afflicted from election fever; one can’t just switch the TV on without being assaulted by political commentators.

Hot air

Meaning: Empty, Filler speech that is overstated or presumptuous.

Example: Politicians usually spout a lot of hot air.

Hung parliament

Meaning: There is no single political party with an absolute majority in a parliament.

Example: Everyone is predicting there will be a hung parliament this election, and the parties will have to forge agreements with the minor parties to achieve a majority.

Toe the party line

Meaning: The act of adhering to the rules or standards of the political party to which you are affiliated.

Example: Rohan will have to study to toe the party line if he desires to take on.

Body politic

Meaning: Individuals who have banded collectively to form an organised political movement under a single political leadership.

Example: Judge Sydney Harris instructed the crown to restore to the Body Politic any material taken during the search.

A political football

Meaning: The inability to resolve a problem because the politics of the situation prevent it from being resolved or because the issue is extremely contentious.

Example: Women’s health concerns are often treated as a political football.

A political hot potato

Meaning: A situation that could be hazardous or embarrassing

Example: The expenses scandal made by the current chief minister of the state has suddenly become a political hot potato.

Political machinery.

Meaning: What it’s like to be involved in British politics today.

Example: The political machinery has yet to recognise the threat or opportunity of social media websites and the internet.

Politically correct / incorrect (PC)

Meaning: PC refers to the use or non-use of language that is likely to cause offence.

Example: Bernard Manning was never really Politically Correct.

Press the flesh

Meaning: To extend a handshake to someone.

Example: He must do a lot of flesh pressing in the run-up to the elections of 2016.

To get on/off your soapbox

Meaning: To spend quite a notable amount of time discussing a subject about which you are passionate. It means that someone thinks you’re spending too much time on a particular subject and has asked you to “get off your soapbox.”

Example: Hyde Park, which is located in London, is renowned for people who go on their soapbox to address topics that concern them.”

Throw in the towel

Meaning: The act of surrendering.

Example: They realised they were going to lose, so they threw in the towel.

To vote with your feet

Meaning: The act of withdrawing one’s consent.

Example: I informed her that if she didn’t enjoy her work, she could always vote with her feet.

Due Process or Due Process of Law

Meaning: Due process refers to the legal systems that must be followed to safeguard an accused person’s rights. Failure to follow due process is considered a breach of the accused’s civil freedoms.

Example: Everybody is entitled to their due process.