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 are likely to
become angry easily or quickly.
"Be careful how you explain the situation. The boss has a short fuse these days!"
- When someone has a short fuse, they are likely to
become angry easily or quickly.
- short shrift
- If someone or something gets short shrift they are
given little 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 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.
- 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 achip 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 achip 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.