English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms S, page 8
Idioms S, page 8: from: 'short fuse' to: 'shrug off'
- short fuse
- When someone has a short fuse,
they have a quick temper or a tendency to become angry or irritable quickly.
"Be careful how you explain the situation. The boss has a short fuse these days!"
- When someone has a short fuse,
they have a quick temper or a tendency to become angry or irritable quickly.
- short shrift
- If someone or something gets short shrift , they are
given little time, attention or sympathy.
"When the boss is very busy, he gives short shrift to anyone who bothers him."
- If someone or something gets short shrift , they are
given little time, attention or sympathy.
- a shot in the dark
- To refer to a question or statement asa shot in the dark
means that it is a complete guess, but at the same time it might be closeto the truth.
"He didn't know which players had been selected, so mentioning Carter's name was just a shot in the dark."
- To refer to a question or statement asa shot in the dark
means that it is a complete guess, but at the same time it might be closeto the truth.
- call the shots
- If you call the shots, you are in command of the
situation and make all the important decisions.
"Ask Julie - she's the one who calls the shots around here."
- If you call the shots, you are in command of the
situation and make all the important decisions.
- shotgun approach
- If you use a shotgun approach, you cover a wide
range in a non-selective, haphazard and inefficient manner.
"Identifying a specific segment of the market as our target will be more effective than a shotgun approach."
- If you use a shotgun approach, you cover a wide
range in a non-selective, haphazard and inefficient manner.
- (a) shoulder to cry on
- If you need 'a shoulder to cry on',
you need to talk to someone who will listen to your problems and give sympathy and support
when you are upset.
"You can call me any time if you need a shoulder to cry on."
- If you need 'a shoulder to cry on',
you need to talk to someone who will listen to your problems and give sympathy and support
when you are upset.
- shoulder surfing
- The practice of looking over somebody's shoulder when they
are using a computer, cash dispenser or other electronic device, in order to obtain
personal information (identification, account number, password, etc.) is called
shoulder surfing.
- The practice of looking over somebody's shoulder when they
are using a computer, cash dispenser or other electronic device, in order to obtain
personal information (identification, account number, password, etc.) is called
shoulder surfing.
- chip on the shoulder
- If someone has a chip on their shoulder, the feel
resentful because they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of
their background, their sex or their colour.
"He's got a chip on his shoulder because he's from a working-class family."
- If someone has a chip on their shoulder, the feel
resentful because they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of
their background, their sex or their colour.
- give someone the cold shoulder
- To means to deliberately ignore them.
"After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder."
- To means to deliberately ignore them.
- (a) shouting match
- An argument or debate where people shout loudly at each
other is called a shouting match.
"The debate between the two politicians turned into a shouting match which spoiled the event for viewers."
- An argument or debate where people shout loudly at each
other is called a shouting match.
- a show of hands
- A show of hands is a method of voting where people give
their opinion by raising a hand.
"How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?"
- A show of hands is a method of voting where people give
their opinion by raising a hand.
- show your true colours
- When a person shows their true colours, their
behaviour reveals their real nature, with their qualities and/or weaknesses.
"In times of crisis people show their true colours."
- When a person shows their true colours, their
behaviour reveals their real nature, with their qualities and/or weaknesses.
- show someone the ropes
- If you show someone the ropes, you teach or explain
to them how to do a particular job.
"The manager is busy showing the ropes to two new trainees."
- If you show someone the ropes, you teach or explain
to them how to do a particular job.
- get the show on the road
- If you manage to put a plan or idea into action, you
get the show on the road.
"OK, we've got all we need, so let's get the show on the road."
- If you manage to put a plan or idea into action, you
get the show on the road.
- a shrinking violet
- A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid
or shy person.
"The witness was a shrinking violet who had difficulty expressing herself"
- A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid
or shy person.
- shrug something off
- If your shrug something off, you dismiss it as being
unimportant.
"He was aware of the danger but he just shrugged it off."
- If your shrug something off, you dismiss it as being
unimportant.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.