| |
Claw one's way back |
In a situation which has deteriorated, if you claw your way back,
you gradually regain your former position through determination,
energy and hard work.
"After a serious accident,
the Olympic gold medallist clawed his way
back to the top, to the admiration
of all." |
| |
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." |
| |
Clear the way |
If you clear the way, you allow something to happen by removing
what was preventing it.
"Opening universities to
women cleared the way for them to have a
career and participate actively in
today's society." |
| |
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." |
| |
Clip
someone's wings |
If you clip someone's wings, you do something to restrict their
freedom.
"Taking away his credit card is a sure way to clip his wings!" |
| |
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 call |
If something happens, or is avoided or missed, with very little
margin,
it is called a close call.
"She won the election with 0.5% of the votes - it was a close call!" |
| |
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!" |
| |
The coast is clear |
To say that the coast is clear means that there is no danger in sight,
or that nobody can see you.
"OK. The dog has gone inside. The coast is clear." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cold
turkey |
This term means to immediately and completely stop an addictive
substance, a regular activity or a behavioural pattern, instead of
ending it gradually.
"When Dave decided to stop smoking, he did it cold
turkey on
January 1st." |
| |
Collect dust |
If something is collecting dust, it hasn't been touched or used
for
a long period of time.
"My dad doesn't play golf any more. His clubs are just collecting dust
now." |
| |
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." |
| |
Off colour |
If you are off colour, you are looking or
feeling ill.
"You should get some rest. You look a bit off colour." |
| |
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
to grief |
If someone or something comes to grief, they have an accident,
are destroyed or end in failure.
"Their plans for a golf course came to grief when it was decided to
build a
motorway." |
| |
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 out in the wash |
This expression is used to tell someone not to worry about a mistake
or
problem because it won't have
any serious effect and everything will
work out all right.
"Yes, he was furious when it happened - but don't worry - it'll
all come
out in the wash." |
| |
Come
out of the woodwork |
When things, or people, come out of the woodwork, they appear
or
emerge unexpectedly, as if from nowhere, and usually in large numbers.
"As soon as we added the swimming pool, our children had
"friends"
coming out of the woodwork." |
| |
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 a bad end |
If someone comes to a bad end, their actions lead to disastrous
consequences which are sometimes deserved or predictable.
"If that boy doesn't change his ways, he'll come to a bad end!" |
| |
Come
to blows |
If two or more people come to blows, they start to fight.
"The debate was so intense, the participants almost came to blows." |
| |
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." |
| |
Come
with the territory |
To say that something comes with the territory means that it
has
to be accepted as part of a job or responsibility, even if it is
unpleasant.
"A successful actor has to expect intensive media coverage -
it comes
with the territory!" |
| |
Come what may |
To say that you will do something
come what may means that
you will do it whatever the consequences
may be.
"Come what may, I'm going to tell my
mother-in-law what I think of her
attitude!" |
| |
Common ground |
This expression refers to an area of shared beliefs, interests or
mutual understanding between people or groups who often have
disagreements.
"Any common ground among the Mediterranean countries will
contribute to future unity." |
| |
Common knowledge |
When information is well-known to everyone (particularly in a
community or group), it is called common knowledge.
"You didn't know the intern was Jack's son? I thought it was
common knowledge." |
| |
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." |
| |
Copper-bottomed |
To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial
arrangement as 'copper-bottomed' means that it is completely
safe or reliable.
"He has signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributor." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cough up |
If you have to cough up something, such as money or information,
you give it reluctantly or unwillingly.
"He refused to say who attacked him until his father made him
cough up the
names." |
| |
Count your blessings |
If you count your blessings, you focus your thoughts on all the
good things in your life rather than on the negative ones.
"Whenever anyone in the family starts
to complain, my mother
always advises us to count our blessings." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cover your tracks |
If you cover your tracks, you conceal or destroy evidence of what
you have done or where you have been.
"Charlie was sorry he hadn't covered his
tracks better when his wife
discovered he had been unfaithful.' |
| |
Cover/hide
a multitude of sins |
If
something covers or hides a multitude of sins, it prevents
people
from seeing the less pleasant reality.
"Loose-fitting clothes can cover a multitude of sins!" |
| |
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." |
| |
Crash course |
If you do a crash course, you do an intensive training course in
order
to obtain quick results.
"Before going to Tokyo, he did a crash course to learn Japanese." |
| |
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." |
| |
Crank into gear
(also: get into gear) |
When a person or activity cranks into gear, they start to work
or become
effective.
"Immediately after the announcement, a group of protesters cranked
into gear." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cream rises to the top |
This expression means that someone or something exceptionally
good will eventually attract attention, or stand out from the rest, just
as cream rises to the top in coffee or tea .
"I knew you'd succeed. As the
saying goes, "cream rises to the top!" |
| |
Creature
comforts |
This expression refers to modern conveniences (such as hot water
or central
heating) that make life comfortable and pleasant.
"I need my creature comforts. I don't know how I'd survive
without
air-conditioning in this climate!" |
| |
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." |
| |
Crooked
as a dog's hind leg |
To say that someone is as crooked as a dog's hind leg means
that they are very dishonest indeed.
"He can't be trusted - he's as
crooked as a dog's hind leg." |
| |
Cross to bear |
A person who has a cross to bear has a serious problem or heavy
responsibility that they must accept because they cannot change it.
"Alzheimer's is a cross to bear for the whole family." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cross the line |
If you cross the line you go beyond the authorized limits
and do something which is not acceptable.
"He has an unpleasant habit of telling jokes that really cross
the line." |
| |
Cross your mind |
If an idea or thought crosses your mind, you suddenly think
of it.
"It has just crossed my mind that the shops are closed today." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cry
wolf |
To
cry wolf is to call
for help when you are not really in danger.
As a result, nobody
believes you when you really need help.
"There's Mary screaming again! Does she really have a
problem or
is she just crying wolf again?" |
| |
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. |
| |
A
crying need |
When there is a great lack of something which is urgently needed,
there is a crying need for it.
"Hospitals claim that there is a crying need for nurses." |
| |
For
crying out loud |
This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or anger.
"For crying out loud! Turn that television off!" |
| |
It's no
use crying over spilt milk |
This expression means that it is useless to complain or have regrets
about
something that is done and cannot be changed.
"Sometimes I regret not accepting the offer, but it's no use crying
over spilt milk." |
| |
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." |
| |
A
cut above |
Someone or something which is a cut above the others is better or
of higher quality.
"The articles in this magazine are a cut above the others." |
| |
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 from the same
cloth |
If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are very
similar in
character or behaviour.
"Although the brothers look alike, they are not cut from the
same
cloth. They each have their own personality." |
| |
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 no ice (with somebody) |
If something cuts no ice,
it has no effect or makes no impression
on someone.
"Her explanation cut no ice with the teacher who said he would tolerate
no more unjustified absences." |
| |
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
it out! |
If you say cut it out to someone, you are telling them to stop
doing
something.
"I've had enough of your insinuations, so just cut it out!" |
| |
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." |
| |
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." |
| |
Cut to the quick |
If you cut someone to the quick, you hurt their feelings or offend
them deeply.
"Alan was cut to the quick when Jack expressed doubts about his
sincerity." |
| |
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." |