English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 6
from: 'change of heart'
to: 'chicken out'
- change of heart
- If someone has a change of heart, they change their
attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.
"He was against charity, but he had a change of heart when he saw the plight of the homeless."
- If someone has a change of heart, they change their
attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.
- (a) change is as good as a rest
- This expression means that a change in routine is as refreshing as a break or a holiday.
"Let’s go to a different restaurant. A change is as good as a rest!"
- This expression means that a change in routine is as refreshing as a break or a holiday.
- (a) change for the better/the worse
- A change that brings about either improvement or deterioration
can be called a change for the better/the worse.
"The weather is changing for the worse. Look at those clouds!"
- A change that brings about either improvement or deterioration
can be called a change for the better/the worse.
- (a) change of scene/scenery
- A change of scene/scenery means a move to different surroundings or a new environment.
“I've been living here for too long. I need a change of scenery!
- A change of scene/scenery means a move to different surroundings or a new environment.
- (a) leopard can't change its spots
- To say that a leopard can't change its spots means that
it is impossible for people to change their fundamental nature.
"Tony promised his wife he’d change his ways, but a leopard can’t change its spots!"
- To say that a leopard can't change its spots means that
it is impossible for people to change their fundamental nature.
- change the face of something
- If an innovation changes the face of something,
it alters it completely or in a major way
"Social networks have changed the face of modern communication."
- If an innovation changes the face of something,
it alters it completely or in a major way
- change horses in midstream
- If you change horses in midstream, you change your
plan, or choose a new leader, in the middle of an important activity.
"Let's go through with the original plan; it's risky to change horses in midstream."
- If you change horses in midstream, you change your
plan, or choose a new leader, in the middle of an important activity.
- change (something) beyond recognition
- If something changes beyond (all) recognition,
it is altered to such an extent that it is no longer familiar.
"When he went back to visit his birthplace after 40 years, the place had changed beyond all recognition."
- If something changes beyond (all) recognition,
it is altered to such an extent that it is no longer familiar.
- change hands
- Something that changes hands becomes the property of a new owner.
"The restaurant has changed hands many times over the years."
- Something that changes hands becomes the property of a new owner.
- change your mind
- If you change your mind, you change your opinion or make a different decision .
"At first she refused to go to the party and then she changed her mind."
- If you change your mind, you change your opinion or make a different decision .
- change your tune
- If you change your tune,
you change your attitude towards something completely.
"The driver denied hitting the cyclist but he changed his tune when he saw a policeman arriving."
- If you change your tune,
you change your attitude towards something completely.
- sweeping changes
- Extreme or far-reaching changes that have widespread effects are called sweeping changes.
"After the merger, the new manager made sweeping changes to the sales department."
- Extreme or far-reaching changes that have widespread effects are called sweeping changes.
- chapter and verse
- This term refers to word-for-word details, or very specific
facts, especially the exact place where the information can be found.
"The phrase is attributed to Oscar Wilde, although I can't give you chapter and verse."
- This term refers to word-for-word details, or very specific
facts, especially the exact place where the information can be found.
- chase rainbows
- Someone who is chasing rainbows is trying to get
something they will never obtain.
"She's trying to get into Oxford, but I think she's chasing rainbows."
- Someone who is chasing rainbows is trying to get
something they will never obtain.
- chase you (own) tail
- Someone who is chasing their (own) tail is spending a
lot of time and energy doing many things but achieving very little.
"He's been chasing his tail all week collecting data but the report is still not ready."
- Someone who is chasing their (own) tail is spending a
lot of time and energy doing many things but achieving very little.
- cheap shot
- A deliberate act of aggression against an opponent, or a cruel,
unfair or unwarranted verbal attack, is called a cheap shot.
"Referring to Tom as an 'unqualified speaker' was really a cheap shot."
- A deliberate act of aggression against an opponent, or a cruel,
unfair or unwarranted verbal attack, is called a cheap shot.
- cheek by jowl
- When people are cheek by jowl, they are crammed uncomfortably close together.
"The refugees are living cheek by jowl in a temporary camp."
- When people are cheek by jowl, they are crammed uncomfortably close together.
- cheesed off
- If someone is cheesed off with something, they are annoyed, bored or frustrated.
"Jenny is absolutely cheesed off with her job."
- If someone is cheesed off with something, they are annoyed, bored or frustrated.
- cherry pick
- When you cherry pick, you choose something with great
care and select only the best.
"Top university graduates are often cherry-picked by large companies."
- When you cherry pick, you choose something with great
care and select only the best.
- get a second bite/two bites at the cherry
- This expression means that you get a second opportunity to
do or try something.
"He was eliminated in the semi-finals, but he'll get a second bite at the cherry next year."
- This expression means that you get a second opportunity to
do or try something.
- old chestnut
- A story, joke or an idea that has been repeated so often that it
has lost its novelty is referred to as an 'old chestnut'.
"The story about his boat capsizing has become an old chestnut!"
- A story, joke or an idea that has been repeated so often that it
has lost its novelty is referred to as an 'old chestnut'.
- chew the fat
- If you chew the fat with somebody, you chat in an informal way about unimportant things.
"It's amazing the amount of time my grandparents can spend chewing the fat with their neighbours."
- If you chew the fat with somebody, you chat in an informal way about unimportant things.
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