English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms S, page 4
Idioms S, page 4: from: 'seal of approval' to: 'seen better days'
- seal of approval
- If a project or contract receives a seal of approval,
it receives formal support or approval from higher authorities.
"We can't conclude the deal without the director's seal of approval."
- If a project or contract receives a seal of approval,
it receives formal support or approval from higher authorities.
- come apart at the seams
- To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means
that they are extremely upset or under severe mental stress.
"Bob has had so many problems lately, he's coming apart at the seams."
- To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means
that they are extremely upset or under severe mental stress.
- seamy side of life
- This expression refers to the most unpleasant, disreputable
or sordid aspects of life that we normally do not see (just as the stitched seams of
clothes are generally not seen).
"Social workers really see the seamy side of life."
- This expression refers to the most unpleasant, disreputable
or sordid aspects of life that we normally do not see (just as the stitched seams of
clothes are generally not seen).
- (play) second fiddle
- If you play second fiddle to another person, you
accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
"John resented having to play second fiddle to the sales manager when the company was restructured."
- If you play second fiddle to another person, you
accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
- second a motion
- During a meeting, if you second a motion, you
formally agree with a proposal.
"She seconded the motion to introduce flexible working hours."
- During a meeting, if you second a motion, you
formally agree with a proposal.
- second nature
- If something you do is second nature to you, it is
something that you do easily or automatically because you have done it so
often or for so long.
"Skiing is second nature to Harry. He grew up in a ski resort."
- If something you do is second nature to you, it is
something that you do easily or automatically because you have done it so
often or for so long.
- second to none
- Something that is second to none is
excellent or much better than any other.
"The service was perfect and the food was second to none."
- Something that is second to none is
excellent or much better than any other.
- (on) second thoughts
- 'On second
thoughts' means that after giving the
matter more thought, you have changed your
mind.
"My idea was to move to an apartment, but on second thoughts, I'd rather have a garden."
- 'On second
thoughts' means that after giving the
matter more thought, you have changed your
mind.
- see the colour of somebody's money
- If you want to see the colour of somebody's money, you
want to be sure that the person in question has enough money to pay you before you
accept to do something.
"We want to see the colour of his money before shipping the goods."
- If you want to see the colour of somebody's money, you
want to be sure that the person in question has enough money to pay you before you
accept to do something.
- see the error of your ways
- When someone sees the error of their ways, they
understand that what they are doing is wrong and accept to change their behaviour.
"The young man talked to a counsellor who tried to make him see the error of his ways"
- When someone sees the error of their ways, they
understand that what they are doing is wrong and accept to change their behaviour.
- see eye to eye
- If you see eye to eye with somebody, you agree with
them.
"I'm glad we see eye to eye on the choice of colour scheme."
- If you see eye to eye with somebody, you agree with
them.
- see light at the end of the tunnel
- If you see light at the end of the tunnel, you see signs
of hope for the future after a long period of difficulty.
"Sales dropped heavily last year but we're beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel."
- If you see light at the end of the tunnel, you see signs
of hope for the future after a long period of difficulty.
- see something in a new light
- If you see something in a new light, you view it
in a way that makes you change the opinion you had before.
"After listening to my colleague, I began to see things in a new light."
- If you see something in a new light, you view it
in a way that makes you change the opinion you had before.
- see red
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or
annoyed.
"Discrimination of any kind makes me see red."
- If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or
annoyed.
- seeing is believing
- This expression means that when you see something you can be
sure it exists, or that what you have been told is really true.
"Mark says bananas grow in his garden, but seeing is believing!"
- This expression means that when you see something you can be
sure it exists, or that what you have been told is really true.
- seen better days
- If something has seen better days, it has aged visibly
in comparison with when it was new.
"My much-travelled suitcase has seen better days!"
- If something has seen better days, it has aged visibly
in comparison with when it was new.
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