English idioms - Alphabetical list C

	Idiom	Meaning
C	A piece of cake	To refer to something as a piece of cake means that you consider it to be very easy. "The English test was a piece of cake!"
	Have your cake and eat it	To say that someone wants to have their cake and eat it means that they want the advantages of two alternative situations when only one is possible . "Jack enjoys his comfort but is always complaining about the cost of things. He can't have his cake and eat it!"
	Sell like hot cakes	Things that sell like hot cakes sell quickly or in large quantities.
	Calculated risk	A calculated risk is a risk taken with full knowledge of the dangers involved. "The company took a calculated risk when they hired Sean straight out of college."
	Call someone's bluff	If you call someone's bluff, you challenge them to do what they threaten to do (while believing that they will not dare to do it). "After the neighbour's threats to demolish the fence, when Jack decided to call his bluff, there were no more complaints."
	Call a spade a spade	A person who calls a spade a spade speaks openly and truthfully about something, especially difficult matters. "What I like about the new manager is that he calls a spade a spade - it makes things so much easier for everyone."
	Call the tune	The person who calls the tune is the one who makes all the important decisions and is in control of the situation. "He shows a lot of authority but in fact it's his wife who calls the tune."
	Can of worms	To describe a situation as a can of worms means that it is complicated, unpleasant and difficult to deal with. "The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real can of worms."
	Burn the candle at both ends	To say that some is burning the candle at both ends means that they are trying to do too much and that they go to bed very late and get up very early.
	Paddle one's own canoe	If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone. "He decided to paddle his own canoe and set up his own company."
	Can't see the wood for the trees	If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can't see the situation as a whole. "The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn't see the wood for the trees."
	Put on your thinking cap	If you tell someone to put their thinking cap on, you ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it. "Now here's this week's quiz - it's time to put your thinking caps on!"
	If the cap fits, wear it!	You say "if the cap fits wear it" to let someone know that the critical remark they have just heard applies to them. "Are you referring to me?" "If the cap fits wear it!" (US : If the shoe fits ...)
	Play your cards right	This means that you do all that is necessary in order to succeed. "If we play our cards right, we'll get the contract.
	Put/lay one's cards on the table	If you put your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly about your feelings and intentions. "Let's clear the air and put our cards on the table."
	Carrot and stick	If you use a carrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward and the threat of punishment to make somebody work harder. "Some parents use a carrot-and-stick approach to obtain good results from their children."
	Put the cart before the horse	A person who puts the cart before the horse is doing things in the wrong order. "Building a school before knowing the age of the population is putting the cart before the horse."
	Carve out a niche	A person or company who carves out a niche focuses on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and develop their expertise in that area. "In today's competitive market it's better to carve out a niche and try to become the best in that area."
	A cash cow	A product or service which is a regular source of income for a company is called a cash cow. "His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow."
	Cash in your chips	If you cash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is going to fall. "Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down."
	Cast a wide net	When trying to find something, if you cast a wide net, you cover an extensive area or use a wide range of sources. "The hospital will have to cast a wide net in their search for compatible donors."
	A cat in gloves catches no mice	This expression means that if you are too careful and polite, you may not obtain what you want. "Negotiate carefully, but remember: a cat in gloves catches no mice!"
	A cat can look at a king.	A cat can look at a king. This expression means that nobody is so important that an ordinary person cannot look at or be curious about them.
	A fat cat	To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power.
	Let the cat out of the bag.	If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often not intentionally.
	Cat-and-dog life	This term refers to a life in which partners are constantly or frequently quarrelling. "They lead a cat-and-dog life. I don't know why they stay together."
	Play cat and mouse	To play cat and mouse with someone means to treat them alternately cruelly and kindly, so that they do not know what to expect.
	Catch 22	A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first. "I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!"
	Catch somebody's eye	If someone catches your eye, you find them attractive. "The pretty girl near the door caught his eye."
	Catch somebody red-handed	If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal. "The police arrived as the burglar was leaving the house. He was caught red-handed."
	Cause a stir	If something causes a stir, it creates an atmosphere of excitement or great interest. "The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village."
	Throw caution to the wind	If someone throws caution to the wind, they stop caring about the possible dangers and start taking risks. "The weather was so good, he threw caution to the wind and went sailing alone."
	Like chalk and cheese (as different as chalk and cheese)	Two people who are like chalk and cheese are completely different from each other.
	Chance in a million	A chance in a million is a very small chance, or no chance at all, that something will happen.
	Change of heart	If someone has a change of heart, they change their attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation. "He was against charity, but he had a change of heart when he saw the plight of the homeless."
	Chase rainbows	Someone who is chasing rainbows is trying to get something they will never obtain. "She's trying to get into Harvard but I think she's chasing rainbows."
	Old chestnut	A story, a joke or an idea that has been repeated so often that it has lost its novelty is referred to as an old chestnut. "The story about his boat capsizing has become an old chestnut!"
	Chew the fat	If you chew the fat with somebody, you chat in an informal way about unimportant things. "It's amazing the amount of time my grandparents can spend chewing the fat with their neighbours."
	Chicken out of something	If you chicken out of something, you decide not to do something because you are afraid. "He decided to join a karate class, but chickened out of it at the last minute!"
	Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.	This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work. "The business wasn't successful. There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians."
	Chime in	If you chime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially to repeat or agree with something. "As I explained to the bus driver what had happened , the other passengers chimed in and gave their version. "
	A chink in someone's armour	If someone has a chink in their armour, they have a weakness that can be taken advantage of. "The candidate's opponents are busy looking for chinks in his armour."
	A chip off the old block	If you refer to a person as a chip off the old block, you mean that they resemble one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour. "James is a chip off the old block - he reacts exactly the same way as his father."
	A chip on your shoulder	If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they feel resentful because they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of their background, their sex or their colour.
	Have had one's chips	To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve. "After the second set, it looked as though Agassi had had his chips."
	When the chips are down	This expression refers to people's behaviour in a difficult or dangerous situation when action must be taken. "It's when the chips are down that Jack is at his best."
	Useful as a chocolate teapot	Something which is of no practical use at all is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. "When there are no roads, a car is about as useful as a chocolate teapot."
	Off someone's Christmas card list	This expression means that you are no longer on friendly terms with someone. "I've been off her Christmas card list since our dog messed up her garden!"
	Clean slate	A clean slate is a record of your work or actions that does not show past mistakes and allows you to make a fresh start. "He was able to rebuild his life with a clean slate."
	Clear the air	If you decide to clear the air, you try to remove the causes of fear, worry or suspicion by talking about them openly. "The atmosphere had become so unpleasant that he decided it was time to clear the air."
	Clinch a deal	In a business relationship, if you clinch a deal, you reach agreement on a proposal or offer. "Tom's final argument enabled us to clinch the deal."
	Like clockwork	To say that someone or something goes, runs or behaves like clockwork means that everything happens exactly as expected. "Meals are always served on time. In their home everything runs like clockwork."
	Close but no cigar	This expression refers to an effort to do something which was a good attempt but not quite good enough to succeed. "The ball touched the goal post - close but no cigar!"
	Close to home	If a remark or comment is close to home, it is so true, or it affects you so directly, that you feel uncomfortable. "Alan looks embarrassed. Bob's comment must have been close to home!"
	A close shave	This expression is used to describe a situation where an accident or a disaster nearly happened "I almost hit the child who ran out in front of my car. It was a close shave."
	Be on cloud nine	A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because something wonderful has happened. "When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!"
	Not have a clue	If you don't have a clue about something, you don't know anything about it. "My wife's grandmother's maiden name? I don't have a clue!"
	Off colour	If you are off colour, you are looking or feeling ill.
	Cold calls	If you make cold calls, you telephone potential customers from a list of people you do not know. "In my first job I had to make cold calls using the telephone directory."
	Collect one's thoughts	If you collect your thoughts, you try to think calmly and clearly in order to prepare yourself mentally for something. "Anne stopped to collect her thoughts before calling back the customer."
	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."
	Come clean	To come clean about something means to tell the truth.
	Come in handy	To say that something may come in handy means that it may be useful some time or other. "Don't throw away those old shelves; they may come in handy."
	Come into one's own	When you come into your own, you receive the credit or recognition you deserve. "It's when there's an important presentation that Sarah really comes into her own."
	Come rain or shine	If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances. "He goes to the gym club every day, come rain or shine."
	Come to the crunch	To talk about what to do if or when a situation comes to the crunch, means when it becomes difficult or critical and a decision has to be made. "If it comes to the crunch, I'll sell my car."
	Come to a head	If a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, it reaches a point where action has to be taken. "The problem came to a head yesterday when rioting broke out in the streets."
	Come to your senses	If you come to your senses, you start to think clearly and behave sensibly. "She finally came to her senses and realized that public transport was faster than driving."
	Come to grips with something	If you come to grips with a problem or situation, you start to understand or deal with it properly "After the initial shock, the patient began to come to grips with his illness."
	Come/turn up trumps	To say that someone has come up trumps means that they have achieved unexpectedly good results. "Against all expectations, our team came up trumps in the cup final."
	Cook the books	A person who cooks the books is one who changes the facts or figures in their financial accounts, often in order to steal money. "The actor discovered after a while that his agent was cooking the books."
	Cook somebody's goose	To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that person's chance of success. "When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he realized his goose was cooked."
	That's the way the cookie crumbles!	To say 'that's the way the cookie crumbles' means that is the way things are and nothing can be done about it' - that's life'!
	Cool as a cucumber	A person who is as cool as a cucumber is a person who is not anxious, but relaxed and non-emotional.
	Cool one`s heels	If you are left to cool your heels, someone keeps you waiting. "After rushing to be on time for my appointment, I was left to cool my heels in the waiting room for an hour."
	Cork something up	If you cork something up (feelings, emotions), you fail to show or express them. "It would be better for her if she showed her grief and didn't cork up her feelings."
	Corner a market	If a company dominates an area of business, and leaves no room for competition, it is said to have cornered the market. "By importing large quantities and selling at low prices, they have cornered the market."
	The corridors of power	This term refers to the higher levels of government or administration where important decisions are made. "The matter is the subject of much discussion in the corridors of power at the present time. "
	A couch potato	If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television. "Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV."
	Take your courage in both hands	If you take your courage in both hands, you make yourself do something very brave. "When I saw the child in the burning house, I took my courage in both hands and ran inside."
	On course (for something)	If someone is on course for something, they are likely to achieve it. "Our team is on course for a victory in the national championship."
	Till the cows come home	To say that a person could do something till the cows come home means that they could do it for a long time. "You can ask till the cows come home, but I'm not buying you a scooter!"
	Crack the whip	If you crack the whip, you use your authority to make someone obey you or work more efficiently, usually by threatening them. "Every so often I've got to crack the whip to make sure we meet the deadline."
	Crack down on something	If the authorities decide to crack down on something, they enforce the law by taking severe measures to restrict undesirable or criminal actions. "To reduce road accidents, it was decided to crack down on speeding."
	Cramp someone's style	If you cramp someone's style, you limit them by preventing them from behaving or expressing themselves freely. "The dress code imposed at school cramped her style."
	The cream of the crop	This expression is used to refer to the best people or things in a particular group. "As usual, the cream of the crop of this year's graduates were offered the best jobs."
	On the crest of a wave	If you are on the crest of a wave, you are very successful in what you are doing. "Our company is going from success to success. We're on the crest of a wave right now."
	Crocodile tears	To shed crocodile tears means to shed false tears or show insincere grief. "Caroline pretended to be sad but we all knew her tears were crocodile tears."
	Cross that bridge when we come to it	This is another way of saying " we will deal with that problem when it occurs and not worry about it before". "What will happen if we can't repay the loan?" "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
	At cross purposes	If two people are at cross purposes, there is a misunderstanding as to what each one is talking about "Look, we seem to be at cross purposes : you're talking about 'sailing' boats, but I'm talking about 'selling' boats."
	As the crow flies	This expression refers to distance measured in a straight line. "It's two miles from here to the station as the crow flies, but of course it's much further by road."
	A far cry from something	If one thing is a far cry from something else, it means that they are very different from each other.
	For crying out loud	This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or anger. "For crying out loud! Turn that television off!"
	On cue	If something happens on cue, it happens at exactly the appropriate or expected moment. "My grandmother was blowing out the candles on her birthday cake when, right on cue, the flowers arrived."
	Off the cuff	If you speak off the cuff, you say something without any previous thought or preparation. "He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well."
	Cut and dried	To refer to a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that it is considered clear and straightforward with no likely complications. "When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected."
	Cut corners	Cutting corners means not following the correct procedure in order to save time, effort or money (often with unsatisfactory results)
	Cut the ground from under somebody's feet	When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet, they do something which weakens their position or spoils their plans. "When we launched the new product, we cut the ground from under our competitors' feet."
	Cut it/things fine	If you cut it/things fine, you leave barely enough time to do something. "You're counting just an hour between the airport and the train station - that's cutting things a bit fine isn't it?"
	Cut someone some slack	If you relax a rule, treat a person less severely or allow someone to do something which is normally not permitted, you cut them some slack. "Our parents are very strict; I wish they'd cut us some slack now and then."
	Not cut out for something	If you are not cut out for something, you are not the sort of person to succeed or be happy in a particular activity. "I started studying medicine but I quickly realized I wasn't cut out for it."
	Cutting edge	This expression refers to the newest, most advanced stage in the the development of something. "The company is at the cutting edge of aeronautics."