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Questions and Answers
What does the phrase 'shoot for the stars' typically mean?
What does the phrase 'shoot for the stars' typically mean?
Which expression is synonymous with 'shout (something) from the rooftop(s)'?
Which expression is synonymous with 'shout (something) from the rooftop(s)'?
What does 'show one's true colors' imply?
What does 'show one's true colors' imply?
What does the term 'skeleton in the closet' refer to?
What does the term 'skeleton in the closet' refer to?
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What is the meaning of the phrase 'sick as a dog'?
What is the meaning of the phrase 'sick as a dog'?
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Which option describes the phrase 'shoulder to cry on'?
Which option describes the phrase 'shoulder to cry on'?
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What does 'short fuse' refer to?
What does 'short fuse' refer to?
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What does the term 'silver spoon' imply?
What does the term 'silver spoon' imply?
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What does the expression 'sit at someone's feet' typically imply?
What does the expression 'sit at someone's feet' typically imply?
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The phrase 'a small cog in a large machine' refers to which of the following?
The phrase 'a small cog in a large machine' refers to which of the following?
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What is implied by the term 'sleeping at the switch'?
What is implied by the term 'sleeping at the switch'?
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The expression 'a snake in the grass' is generally used to describe what type of person?
The expression 'a snake in the grass' is generally used to describe what type of person?
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What does it mean to 'siphon the python'?
What does it mean to 'siphon the python'?
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The phrase 'six of one and half a dozen of the other' indicates what?
The phrase 'six of one and half a dozen of the other' indicates what?
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What does 'social justice warrior' imply about a person?
What does 'social justice warrior' imply about a person?
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The phrase 'sow the seed of doubt' means to:
The phrase 'sow the seed of doubt' means to:
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What does 'a smart cookie' typically refer to?
What does 'a smart cookie' typically refer to?
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When someone is described as 'sinking fast', they are likely experiencing what?
When someone is described as 'sinking fast', they are likely experiencing what?
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The term 'smoke the peace pipe' generally indicates what kind of action?
The term 'smoke the peace pipe' generally indicates what kind of action?
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The phrase 'sneaky Pete' is used to describe someone who is:
The phrase 'sneaky Pete' is used to describe someone who is:
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What does 'skiv(ing) off' mean in a casual context?
What does 'skiv(ing) off' mean in a casual context?
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To say someone will 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat' means they will:
To say someone will 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat' means they will:
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Study Notes
Idioms and Phrases
- Shoestring budget: A very small budget.
- Shoo-in: Someone or something that is certain to succeed.
- Shook hands with the unemployed: Meeting with someone who doesn't have a job.
- Shook in her shoes: Feeling terrified.
- Shook like an aspen leaf: Trembling intensely.
- Shook on it: Agreed on something.
- Shook the pagoda tree: In a figurative sense, causing problems.
- Shoot for the stars: Aim for the highest goals.
- Shoot off at the mouth: Talk excessively or carelessly.
- Shoot off one's face: (Informal) Say something inappropriate.
- Shoot one's cuffs: (Informal) To be very excited.
- Shoot someone a dirty look: Give someone a nasty look.
- Shoot the messenger: To criticize the person who delivered a message, not the message itself.
- Shoot through like a Bondi tram: To move quickly.
- Shoot through (to somewhere): To travel quickly to a place.
- The short and the long of it: The gist of something; the complete story.
- Short-arse: (Informal insult) Short and ugly.
- Short fuse: Easily angered.
- Short hair: Short length hair style.
- Short haul: A short journey.
- Short leash: strict control.
- Short of a length: Inadequate.
- Short on looks: Not good-looking.
- Short run: A brief period.
- Short sharp shock: A brief, intense shock.
- Short-sheet: A cheat.
- The short straw: The worst part or unlucky result.
- Short strokes: Small actions.
- Short temper: A quick temper.
- Shot: A situation.
- Shot across the bow: A warning.
- A shot in the dark: A guess.
- A shot in the locker (Informal): Something of value or hope left concealed.
- Shotgun approach: A method that evaluates everything.
- Shotgun cottages/bouses/hut/marriage/shack/wedding: Homes/ relationships established after a hasty decision.
- Shoulder to cry on: Someone to offer comfort or support.
- Shout one's head off: Shout loudly.
- Shout something from the rooftops: Announce something publicly.
- Shouting match: An argument.
- Shove it/something up one's ass/shove over: To get rid of or disregard.
- Shove [something]/it up your arse: Informal - to refuse to accept or implement something.
- Show a/the white flag: To surrender.
- Show (a/the) white flag: Surrendering.
Body Language and Actions
- Show in bad light: Present in an unfavorable way.
- Show one's butt: To expose oneself.
- Show one's cards: Reveal one's secrets or intentions.
- Show one's hand: Reveal one's strategy or intentions.
- Show one's horns: To challenge or offend.
- Show one's true colours/colors/stripes: Display one's true nature.
- Show someone the back of one's hand: Ignore or reject someone.
- Show someone what one's made of: Demonstrate one's strength or character.
- Show-stopper: Something that is remarkable.
- Show the cloven hoof: Reveal one’s true character, usually negative.
- Show the flag: To demonstrate one’s intent or presence.
- Shown the ropes: Instructed/taught the basics of a job
- Shrinking violet: Someone timid or shy.
- Shudder to think: To feel great unease over something.
- Shut down: To close operations.
- A shut mouth catches no flies: Keeping quiet prevents problems, can prevent gossip.
- Shut one's eyes and think of England: A way of thinking about a nostalgic time.
- Shut the door in someone's face: To refuse to see or speak to someone.
- Shut your gob/mouth/pie holes/trap/yap: Be quiet (informal).
Feelings and Emotions
- Shy bladder: Being very shy (to urinate publicly)
Health and Wellbeing
- Sick as a dog/parrot: Very ill.
- Sick in the head: Mentally unwell.
- Sick list/sick note: A medical excuse for absence from work.
- The sick man of [something or somewhere]: A country or region seen as weak or failing.
- Sick puppy: (Informal) Deserving of pity or sympathy.
- Side boob: Informal - one of a pair of breasts.
- Side effect: A secondary consequence of a treatment or action.
- Side issue: A secondary or irrelevant topic.
- Side wall: A side of a container.
- Sigh of relief: A feeling of relief.
Appearances and characteristics
- Sight to behold: Something impressive or beautiful.
Situations and Events
- Sign of the times: A contemporary indicator or trend.
- Sign one's life away: Spend one's life.
- Significance level: A criterion for deciding whether or not a result is significant.
- Significant other: A romantic partner.
- Silence means consent: An implied acceptance
Culture and Society
- Silent as the dead/grave: Very quiet.
- Silent partner: A partner in a business venture who is not actively involved in the day-to-day running.
- Silk-stocking district: An area associated with wealth.
- Silly goose: A foolish person.
- Silly money: Spending money without prudence.
- Silly season: A period of increased media activity, typically before an election.
- Silver bullet: A quick or easy solution.
- Silver foil: A protective metallic sheet.
- Silver spoon: A symbol of privilege from birth.
- Silver surfer: Someone who uses the internet but is older than average.
Personalities and Behaviour
- Silver tongue: Someone who is articulate and persuasive.
- Simple English: Language that is easy to understand.
People, groups and concepts
- SJW: Social Justice Warrior.
Body Parts
- Skeleton at the feast/cupboard A secret problem that could be revealed.
Actions
- Skiddoo: Depart quickly.
- Skim the surface: To touch on a subject only slightly.
- Skimp and save: To save money.
- Skin an eel by the tail: To exploit someone.
- Skin in the game: To be personally invested in something.
Feelings and Emotions
- Skip a beat: To be startled or surprised.
Locations
- Skip town: To leave town.
Dating and Relationships
- Skirt chaser/ a skirt chaser: A man interested in women romantically.
Groups and Activities
- Skittles party: A party involving skittles game.
Jobs and Responsibilities
- Skive off: To avoid work.
Insults and Expressions of Disapproval
- Skunk at a garden party: A person who spoils the atmosphere.
- Slack-jawed: Astonished, stunned.
- Slag (someone) (off): To insult someone.
Conflicts and Disputes
- Slang off: To criticize (informal)
- Slanging match: A vigorous argument.
Punishment and Consequences
- Slap in the face: An insult or disappointment.
- Slap on the back: A compliment.
- Slap on the wrist: A light punishment.
Activities and Actions
- Slash: To damage or destroy.
Social Issues
- Slave to: To be completely controlled by something
- Slay: To conquer or overcome
Methods/Argumentation
- Sledge-hammer argument: A very forceful argument (not necessarily effective)
- Sleep a wink: To sleep virtually no time.
Sleep and Rest
- Sleep at the switch/wheel: To be neglectful or careless in one's duties.
General Expressions
- Sleep like a baby/log/top: To sleep soundly.
- Sleep rough: To sleep outdoors.
- Sleep with the fishes: To die.
- Sleeping at the switch: Being lazy or careless
- Sleeping partner: A partner in business without day-to-day involvement.
- Sleeping policeman: A speed bump.
- Sleepy head: A person who is sleepy or sleeps a lot.
Clothing
- Sleeveless errand: An errand completed with little exertion.
Parts of a whole
- Slice of life: A small part of a larger event.
- Slice of the action/cake/pie: A share of the benefits.
Actions and Movements
- Slide into (one's)/the DMs: To directly message someone.
Errors
- Slip beneath the/someone's radar: To avoid attention from.
- Slip into something more comfortable: To get into something new
- Slip of the pen/tongue: A mistake made in writing or speaking.
Relationships
- Slip one over on (someone): To deceive or trick someone.
- Slip through the cracks: To be neglected or overlooked.
- Slip under the/someone's radar: To avoid attention from.
- Slippery slope: A potentially dangerous process that usually gets worse.
General Expressions
- Slop bowl: A bowl used for slops.
- Sloshed to the gills: Very drunk.
- Slot (someone or something) in: To place someone or something in a particular position (or category for example).
- Slough of despond: A period of despair or negativity.
- Slow as molasses: Very slow.
Actions and Qualities
- Slow as molasses in January: Very slow.
- Slow but sure: Gradual but ultimately effective.
- Slow march: A gradual retreat.
- Slower than molasses/slower than molasses in January: Very slow.
- Slowly but surely: Gradually, but persistently.
- A small cog in a large machine/wheel: A person or idea having a small role in something bigger.
- Small fortune: A considerable fortune for a small amount of time.
Attributes of People
- Slowpoke: A slow person.
- Slug away (at something): To work steadily and quietly at something.
- A sly dog: A cunning person.
- Small frog in a big pond: Someone with limited importance.
General Expressions
- Small matter of (something): An unimportant matter.
- Small wonder: No surprise.
- Smart aleck/arse/ass: A cheeky person.
Personal Attributes
- Smart bomb: A bomb that can be guided precisely.
- Smart cookie: A clever or intelligent person.
- Smart mouth/mouthy: A person who talks a lot, often in an inappropriate manner.
- Smarty pants: A conceited person.
Actions and Events
- Smash (something) to smithereens: To break something completely.
- Smash the teapot: To break a teapot (literally)
- Smashed to smithereens: Completely smashed.
- Smell of an oily rag: A bad smell (informal).
- Smell of the lamp: A bad smell.
General Concepts
- Smell test: A judgement of something.
- Smoke pole: A symbol, probably a celebratory pole.
- Smoke the peace pipe (with someone): To make peace with someone.
- Smoking gun: Conclusive evidence.
- Smooth as a baby's bottom/silk: Very smooth.
- Snake in one's bosom/snake in the grass: A hidden enemy.
- Snake oil salesman: Someone who sells worthless products or treatments.
- Snakes and ladders: A game.
- Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory/victory from the jaws of defeat: Achieve a success or failure just barely.
- Snatch (someone) from the jaws of death: Saving someone from a near-death experience.
- Sneaky Pete: A sneaky person.
- Sneck posset: An informal term (possibly an old-fashioned drink)
- Sniff test: An assessment of something.
- Snipe hunt: A frustrating activity (possibly a search with a negative outcome)
- Snot-nosed: Disrespectful term about a nose.
Situations and Events
- Snow job: A deceptive story.
General Expressions
- Snow on the mountain/roof: A common phrase expressing snowfall in a particular place.
- Snowball effect: A growing trend.
- A snowflake: Small bit of snow.
Characters/Figures/People
- Snowman: A figure made of snow
General expressions/ideas/situations
- Snuff movie: A violent film.
- Snuggle bunny: A cuddly or affectionate person.
- So-called: Disapprovingly describing something as such.
- So far as/so forth: Until this point and beyond
- So long as: Provided that; if only...
- SO no pressure/SO On/ SO On and so forth: Used for emphasis or continuation of a point.
- So quiet you could hear a pin drop/So still you could hear a pin drop: Very quiet.
- So there/So what: Phrases often used to imply disregard or annoyance.
- Soak one to the skin/soaked through/soaked to the bone: Become completely wet.
- Soak (someone/something) through: To fully saturate someone/something with emotion or liquid.
- Soapy Sam: Someone who is overly friendly in an insincere way.
- Sob story: An exaggerated story of woe.
- A sobering thought: A thought that evokes serious consideration.
- Social climber: Someone who tries to achieve a higher social status.
People and Groups
- Social justice warrior (SJW): Someone who is advocating for social justice.
- Social ladder: The hierarchy of social status.
- Socialized medicine: Healthcare system where the government provides healthcare.
- Sod all: Nothing, no use.
Character Types/Qualities
- Soft fire makes sweet malt: A figurative saying about the result after putting in effort.
- Soft life: A life of ease.
Personal Attributes/Qualities
- Soft mick: A person that acts weak
- Soft power: Influence by attractive qualities.
- Soft sawder: Flattering talk or insincere promises to persuade.
- Soft shoe: An attractive step, possibly associated with charm and grace.
Approaches/Methods
- Softly-softly approach: A gradual, cautious approach.
Actions/Activities
- Softly, softly, catchee monkey: A gentle way of doing things
- Soil one's hands: To get one's hands dirty, i.e. to work hard.
General Concepts
- Soldier of fortune: A mercenary.
Animals
- Solitary wasp: A type of wasp.
- Some kind of: Used in indefinite descriptions of things.
Describing Ideas/Amounts
- Some measure: Some amounts.
General Expressions
- Some people have all the luck: A common expression about fortune.
- Some people! An exclamation used to express annoyance with rude or inappropriate behavior of someone.
- Some pumpkins/punkins: An informal expression.
General Feelings/beliefs
- Some score from the East German judge: Informal expression – possibly about some kind of obscure event that occurred.
Feelings/Beliefs/Thoughts
- Somebody up there is looking out for me/Somebody up there loves me: Expressions of faith in a higher power.
- Someone after my own stripe/colours Similar in opinions or behaviour.
- Someone had better [verb] about it: An expression suggesting someone should do something.
- Someone puts someone's pants/trousers on one leg at a time: A common saying emphasizing that everyone has different priorities.
- Someone's better/other half: A spouse or significant other.
Circumstances
- Someone's salad days: The best or happiest time in a person's life.
- Someone's stripes: Someone's personality.
Circumstances/Ideas
- Something awful: A very bad thing
- Something be damned: something will happen no matter what.
General thoughts
- Something to do with: Related to
- (Something) will get (someone) nowhere/(something) won't get (someone) anywhere: It will have no impact on someone's success.
Person's character/nature
- Son of a gun/Belial/thunder: Ways of expressing amazement or excitement about something.
- Song and dance: A show or performance, either planned or spontaneous.
- Soon forgotten: Will be forgotten quickly.
General situations
- Sop to Cerberus: A small gift to pacify someone.
- Sore loser: Someone who reacts badly after losing.
- Sore point/Sore spot: A sensitive issue.
General concepts
- Sorry state/sorry state (of affairs): A bad situation.
General Ideas/Concepts
- Sought a knot in a bulrush: Impossible/futile search.
- Soul of discretion: A cautious nature (in regard to speech).
- Sound as a barrel: In perfect health.
- Sound the alarm: To give a warning.
- Sounding board: A person to discuss ideas with.
General/Specific Circumstances
- Sour cherry: A sour/unpleasant taste/condition.
- Sour note: A bad or unfortunate event.
- Sour stomach: To be upset about something
- Sow a/the seed of doubt (in someone's mind): To plant the idea of doubt in someone's mind.
- Sow dragon's teeth: To do something that will lead to conflict.
Idioms
- Space cadet: A distracted person.
- Spaghetti western: A type of movie.
Activities
- Spanish flag: A Spanish flag (symbolic meaning is needed)
- Spank the monkey: Informal term, possibly expressing irritation or the need for strong action.
- Spare at the spigot and spill at the bung: To be too careful in one area and too careless in another.
General Attitudes
- Spare someone's blushes: To save someone some embarrassment.
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Description
Test your knowledge of idiomatic expressions in this quiz. Understand the meanings and implications behind popular phrases used in everyday English. From 'skeleton in the closet' to 'silver spoon', dive into the richness of language!
