English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms P, page 3
Idioms P, page 3: from: 'pay dearly' to: 'in for a penny'
- pay dearly
- If you pay dearly for something that you do or
say, you suffer a lot as a result of it.
"If you leave your job now, you may have to pay dearly for it."
- If you pay dearly for something that you do or
say, you suffer a lot as a result of it.
- pay dividends
- If something you do pays dividends, it brings
advantages or rewards at a later date.
"The time he spent learning English paid dividends when he started looking for a job."
- If something you do pays dividends, it brings
advantages or rewards at a later date.
- pay over the odds
- If you pay over the odds, you pay too much or you pay
more for something than it is really worth.
"She's willing to pay over the odds for an original Kelly handbag to add to her collection."
- If you pay over the odds, you pay too much or you pay
more for something than it is really worth.
- go pear-shaped
- If a plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either
goes wrong or it produces an undesirable
result.
"Jane organised a treasure hunt in the park for the kids but it all went pear-shaped because of the rain."
- If a plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either
goes wrong or it produces an undesirable
result.
- throw pearls to pigs
- This expression means that it is wasteful to offer something
valuable or useful to someone who does not understand or appreciate it.
"She had a beautifully trained voice but the audience didn't listen - talk about throwing pearls to pigs!"
- This expression means that it is wasteful to offer something
valuable or useful to someone who does not understand or appreciate it.
- like two peas in a pod
- To say that two people are like two peas in a pod
means that they are very similar in appearance.
"It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod."
- To say that two people are like two peas in a pod
means that they are very similar in appearance.
- not the only pebble on the beach
- To say that someone is not the only pebble on the beach
means that they are not the only person worth considering.
"He thinks his refusal to join the team will cause problems, but there are other alternatives ...he's not the only pebble on the beach!"
- To say that someone is not the only pebble on the beach
means that they are not the only person worth considering.
- put the pedal to the metal
- When you put the pedal to the metal,
you accelerate or make something go faster.
"If we put the pedal to the metal we could get this finished in time."
- When you put the pedal to the metal,
you accelerate or make something go faster.
- a square peg in a round hole
- To say that a person is a square peg in a round hole means
that they are not suitable for the job they are doing or the situation they are in.
"The new employee was a bad choice for the job - a square peg in a round hole."
- To say that a person is a square peg in a round hole means
that they are not suitable for the job they are doing or the situation they are in.
- take someone down a peg
- If you take someone down a peg, you make that person
understand that they are not as important as they think they are.
"He is too proud. Somebody has to take him down a peg."
- If you take someone down a peg, you make that person
understand that they are not as important as they think they are.
- pen pusher
- A person who does work that requires little action, just
office work, and who lacks operating experience, is called a pen pusher.
"Those pen pushers have no idea what it's like on a building site"
- A person who does work that requires little action, just
office work, and who lacks operating experience, is called a pen pusher.
- the pen is mightier than the sword
- This expression means that words and communication have
greater effect than war and fighting.
"The treaty put an end to the hostilities - the pen is mightier than the sword."
- This expression means that words and communication have
greater effect than war and fighting.
- (the) penny drops
- When a person has difficulty understanding or realizing
something, and then the penny drops, they finally understand.
"The teasing continued for some time until the penny dropped and the boy understood that it was a joke!"
- When a person has difficulty understanding or realizing
something, and then the penny drops, they finally understand.
- in for a penny, in for a pound
- This expression means that once you start doing something,
you might just as well do it wholeheartedly and not stop at half-measures.
"Joe finally accepted to be on the committee, then he accepted to be the chairman. "In for a penny, in for a pound'." he said!"
- This expression means that once you start doing something,
you might just as well do it wholeheartedly and not stop at half-measures.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists P ...
more alphabetical lists...
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.