English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms O, page 3
Idioms O, page 3: from: 'on the sly' to: 'one's own undoing'
- on the sly
- If you do something
on the sly, you do it secretly or
furtively.
"He made such quick progress that the others suspected him of having private lessons on the sly."
- If you do something
on the sly, you do it secretly or
furtively.
- once bitten, twice shy
- Once you are hurt by someone you will be extra cautious to avoid
that person or to find yourself in similar circumstances.
"I'll never lend money to a friend again - one bitten, twice shy!"
- Once you are hurt by someone you will be extra cautious to avoid
that person or to find yourself in similar circumstances.
- once in a blue moon
- If something occursonce in a blue moon, it happens
very rarely.
"Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon."
- If something occursonce in a blue moon, it happens
very rarely.
- one in the eye
- If an event or development is an unexpected defeat or
disappointment for someone, it is one in the eye for that person.
"My promotion was one in the eye for my ambitious colleague."
- If an event or development is an unexpected defeat or
disappointment for someone, it is one in the eye for that person.
- one fell swoop
- If something is accomplished at (or in) one
fell swoop, it is done in a single action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly.
"The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop."
- If something is accomplished at (or in) one
fell swoop, it is done in a single action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly.
- one good turn deserves another
- If someone helps you, it is natural and right to help them
in return.
"We helped Alex and Sara when they moved into their new house, just as they helped us last year; one good turn deserves another."
- If someone helps you, it is natural and right to help them
in return.
- one hand washes the other (and together they wash the face)
- This expression means that when people cooperate and work
well together, there is a better chance of a achieving results.
- This expression means that when people cooperate and work
well together, there is a better chance of a achieving results.
- one horse town
- A place referred to as a one horse town is a small,
boring town where nothing much ever happens.
"I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such a boring place!"
- A place referred to as a one horse town is a small,
boring town where nothing much ever happens.
- one over the eight
- If a person has had one over the eight, they are
slightly drunk.
"Don't listen to him! You can see he's had one over the eight!"
- If a person has had one over the eight, they are
slightly drunk.
- one step ahead
- When you are one step ahead of someone else, you
achieve something faster than they do, or you have a slight advantage over them.
"The company is successful because they're always one step ahead of their competitors."
- When you are one step ahead of someone else, you
achieve something faster than they do, or you have a slight advantage over them.
- one track mind
- If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency
to think about only one subject.
"The boy has a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!"
- If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency
to think about only one subject.
- one too many
- Someone who has hadone too many has drunk too much
alcohol.
"I think Tony's had one too many - he's talking rubbish."
- Someone who has hadone too many has drunk too much
alcohol.
- one's number is up
- To say that one's number is up means that either
a person is in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the
time has come when they will die.
"The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!"
- To say that one's number is up means that either
a person is in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the
time has come when they will die.
- one's own undoing
- If you do something that is the cause of your own failure, loss
or downfall, it is your own undoing. You can blame nobody but yourself.
"If he continues to gamble like that, it will be his own undoing."
- If you do something that is the cause of your own failure, loss
or downfall, it is your own undoing. You can blame nobody but yourself.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.