English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - O, page 4
from: 'one upmanship'
to: 'out of character'
- one upmanship
- The term one-upmanship refers to the art of gaining and keeping an advantage over other people.
"He's a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left him with few friends."
- The term one-upmanship refers to the art of gaining and keeping an advantage over other people.
- only to be expected
- If an event or outcome is only to be expected,
it is most likely to happen or is quite normal.
"The teacher was angry because you cheated at the exam? That was only to be expected!"
- If an event or outcome is only to be expected,
it is most likely to happen or is quite normal.
- only/just a matter of time
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of time
before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will inevitably take place,
although you do not know when.
"Restrictive measures will have to be introduced. It's only a matter of time."
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of time
before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will inevitably take place,
although you do not know when.
- only time will tell
- To say that only time will tell means that the results of an action will not be known until after a certain amount of time.
"We hope we made the right decision, but only time will tell."
- To say that only time will tell means that the results of an action will not be known until after a certain amount of time.
- open doors to/for
- If something opens doors, it provides opportunities or possibilities for the future.
"A degree from a top university generally opens doors to major companies."
- If something opens doors, it provides opportunities or possibilities for the future.
- open the floodgates
- If someone or something opens the floodgates,
they release something that had previously been held under control.
"It is feared that easing price controls will open the floodgates to inflation."
- If someone or something opens the floodgates,
they release something that had previously been held under control.
- open the kimono
- If a person or organisation opens the kimono, they reveal something previously hidden.
"It's time to open the kimono and explain that we cannot meet the deadline."
- If a person or organisation opens the kimono, they reveal something previously hidden.
- open (or reopen) old wounds
- If you open or reopen old wounds you revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute
that took place in the past.
"He carefully avoided the subject so as not to open old wounds."
- If you open or reopen old wounds you revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute
that took place in the past.
- open secret
- A fact that is supposed to be a secret but is actually widely known is called an open secret.
"It's an open secret that Paul and Emily are living together."
- A fact that is supposed to be a secret but is actually widely known is called an open secret.
- open and shut case
- An open-and-shut case is one where the
facts are so clear that the matter can be dealt with or solved easily.
"He was caught driving the stolen car. It's an open-and-shut case."
- An open-and-shut case is one where the
facts are so clear that the matter can be dealt with or solved easily.
- opposite number
- A person who holds the same position as oneself in another
company or organisation is called one's opposite number.
"I spoke to my opposite number in several local companies and we all agreed to join the anti-pollution campaign."
- A person who holds the same position as oneself in another
company or organisation is called one's opposite number.
- ostrich strategy (or policy)
- Someone who adopts an ostrich strategy or policy
chooses to ignore or evade an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.
"Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've got to find a solution."
- Someone who adopts an ostrich strategy or policy
chooses to ignore or evade an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.
- other side of the coin
- When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect
of a situation, you refer to the other side of the coin.
"The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools."
- When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect
of a situation, you refer to the other side of the coin.
- other things being equal
- This expression refers to a probable situation if the conditions elsewhere remain unchanged or equal.
"Other things being equal, a reduction in the cost of transport should enable us to lower our prices."
- This expression refers to a probable situation if the conditions elsewhere remain unchanged or equal.
- out and about
- If someone is out and about, they regularly go out and take part in an activity, especially after an illness.
"My mother was ill for a while but she's out and about again."
- If someone is out and about, they regularly go out and take part in an activity, especially after an illness.
- out of the blue
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly.
"I had nearly given up hope when out of the blue I was offered a job."
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly.
- out of character
- If you do something that is out of character, it is unlike your usual behaviour or not what is expected from you.
"The way she panicked was out of character for such a normally calm person."
- If you do something that is out of character, it is unlike your usual behaviour or not what is expected from you.
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