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Pour oil on
troubled waters |
If a person pours oil on troubled waters, they do or say
something
to calm a tense situation.
"James is an good
negotiator, and always manages to pour oil on
troubled waters." |
| |
Old
wives' tale |
A
traditional belief or idea which has been proved
wrong by science
is
called an old wives' tale.
"The belief that chocolate causes acne is an old wives' tale." |
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Olive
branch |
If a person or organization
holds out an olive branch to another,
they show that they want to end a
disagreement and make peace.
"The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them." |
| |
On the
cards. |
Something which is on the cards is very likely
to happen.
"A coalition between the two parties is still on the
cards."
(US : in the cards) |
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On the
level |
If you say that somebody is on the level, you are referring to a
truthful and honest person.
"Tell me straight : Is he
on the level on not?" |
| |
Once in a blue moon |
If something happens once in a blue moon, it
occurs very rarely.
"Bill has very little contact with his
brother. They see each other
once in a blue
moon." |
| |
One over the
eight. |
If a person has had one over the eight, they are
slightly drunk
"Don't listen to him. You can see
he's had one over eight!" |
| |
One-horse
town |
A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring
town
where nothing much ever happens.
"I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's
such
a boring place!" |
| |
One-track mind |
If you
have a one-track mind, you have a tendency to think
about
only one subject.
"That boy has got a
one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!" |
| |
One-upmanship |
This term refers to the art of gaining and keeping the advantage over
other people.
"He is a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left
him with
few friends." |
| |
Only
to be expected |
If an event or outcome is
only to be expected, it is most likely
to happen.
"The teacher was angry because you cheated at the exam? -
That was
only to be expected!" |
| |
Open
the floodgates |
If someone or something opens the floodgates, they release
something that had previously been held under control.
"It is feared that easing price controls will open the floodgates
to
inflation. |
| |
There are (plenty of) other fish in
the
sea |
To say this means that that there are many other people just
as
good as the one somebody failed to get.
"The
candidate we chose refused the job? Never mind -
there are other fish in the sea! |
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Other
side of the coin |
When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of
a
situation, you refer to the other side of the coin.
"The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the
coin is
that it is far from shops and schools." |
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Out
of your depth |
If you are out of your depth, you are unable to understand
a subject
or deal with a situation because it is too difficult for you.
"The level of the class was too high for me, so very quickly I felt
out of my depth." |
| |
Out on a limb
|
If you go
out on a limb, you do something risky or unsupported by
others, which leaves you in a difficult position.
"Jack
was really out on a limb with his proposal -
nobody supported
his idea." |
| |
Out
to lunch |
To say that someone is out to lunch means that they seem to be
either unaware of what's going on around them, or unable to understand
what is happening.
"He's hopeless as a leader - considered as 'out-to-lunch' by the
group." |
| |
Out of the question |
Something which is out of the question is impossible and is
therefore
not worth discussing.
"Buying a new car is out of the question - we can't afford
it." |
| |
Out of this world |
To refer to something as out of this world means that
you think
it is extremely good or impressive
"The hotel
was very comfortable and the food was out of this world!" |
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Over-egg
the pudding |
If you try to improve something excessively by adding unnecessary
details,
you over-egg the pudding.
"Keep your report simple. Don't over-egg the pudding." |
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Over the hill |
If a person is over the hill, they have reached an age when
they can no longer perform as well as before.
"Gran! You say you're over the hill but you're still a super
cook!" |
| |
Over the moon |
If you are over the moon, you are absolutely delighted.
"We were over the moon when we heard the good news." |
| |
Over my
dead body |
This expression is used when you absolutely refuse to allow someone
to
do something.
"Mum, can I get my nose pierced?" "Over my dead body!" |
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Go overboard |
To go overboard means to be too excited or
enthusiastic about
something. |