English Idioms - Alphabetical list Q-R

	Idiom	Meaning
Q	In a quandary	If you are in a quandary about something, you find it difficult to decide what to do. "The job they offer is less interesting but the salary is better. I'm in a quandary about what to do."
	(no) quick fix	To say that there is no quick fix to a problem means that there is no simple solution. "There is no quick fix for unemployment; major reforms are necessary."
	Have a quick temper	If you have a quick temper, you get angry very easily. "He makes me nervous - he's got such a quick temper."
	Quick off the mark	To say that someone is quick off the mark means that they are quick to react to an event or take advantage of an opportunity. "You've got to be quick off the mark to avail of the airline's special offers."
	Quick/slow on the uptake	Someone who is quick or slow on the uptake is quick or slow to understand what is meant. "Please explain the problem in simple words - I'm a bit slow on the uptake."
	Call it quits.	If you say "I'm going to call it quits", this means that you are going to stop doing something, or end what you are doing.
R	A race against time	If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain time.
	Rack one's brains	If you rack your brains, you try very hard to think of something or to remember something. "Christmas is always a hassle for me. I have to rack my brains every year to find ideas for presents."
	From rags to riches	If you go from rags to riches, you start off being very poor and become very rich and successful "By renovating old houses in the right places, he went from rags to riches."
	It never rains but it pours	This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse. "First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!"
	Raining cats and dogs	If it's raining cats and dogs, it's raining very heavily. "We'll have to cancel the picnic I'm afraid. It's raining cats and dogs."
	Raise eyebrows	If you raise your eyebrows at something, you show surprise or disapproval by the expression on your face. "When the boss arrived in jeans, there were a lot of raised eyebrows."
	Rake over the ashes	When people rake over the ashes, they discuss an unpleasant event which took place in the past. "My grandfather's business went bankrupt years ago but he still rakes over the ashes from time to time."
	Rant and rave	If you rant and rave about something, you protest noisily and forcefully. "The old man ranted and raved about the new waste collection system, but he had to accept it."
	Take the rap	If you take the rap for something, you accept blame or punishment for something, even if you have not done it. "The whole class had to the take the rap for the disorder."
	Smell a rat	To say "I smell a rat" means that you suspect that something is wrong, or that someone is doing something dishonest or incorrect.
	Reach for the moon	If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something, even if it's difficult.
	Recipe for disaster	If you refer to a plan or an idea as a recipe for disaster, you think it is likely to produce bad results. "Our two families together for Christmas? Sounds like a recipe for disaster!"
	Set the record straight	To set the record straight means to correct a mistake or misunderstanding.
	In the red	If a person or organization is in the red, they owe money or have a negative account.
	See red	A person who sees red becomes very angry or annoyed.
	Road rage	Aggressive driving habits sometimes resulting in violence against other drivers. "A number of car accidents today are a result of road rage."
	Roll out the red carpet	To roll out the red carpet means to give special treatment to an important or honoured visitor.
	Catch someone red-handed	If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal.
	Red herring	A red herring refers to a fact or argument introduced into a discussion which draws attention away from the main point. "Look, bureaucracy is a red herring. How to deal with the oil crisis is the important issue today."
	Red tape	The term red tape refers to official rules and bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly. "If there wasn't so much red tape, the company would be up and running already."
	Take someone for a ride	To take someone for a ride means to cheat or deceive them.
	Ride roughshod over something	If you ride roughshod over something, you behave in a harsh or thoughtless manner, or you treat a situation with contempt. "The government rode roughshod over all opposition to the new measures."
	Right as rain	If someone is (as) right as rain, they are in excellent health or condition. "I called to see my grandmother, thinking she was ill, but she was (as) right as rain!"
	Right up your alley	If something is right up your alley, it is the sort of thing you like or have knowledge about. "You like cooking, don't you? This book will be right up your alley!"
	Ring out the old year and ring in the new	This expression means to announce and celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Happy New Year!
	Rip-off	To say that something is a rip-off means that it costs much more than it should. "$10 for a hamburger? That's a rip-off!"
	Ripple effect	When an action has an effect on something, which in turn effects something else, it is said to have a ripple effect. "An increase in the price of oil will have a ripple effect on the economy as a whole."
	Rise to the occasion	If you rise to the occasion, you manage to do something successfully in difficult circumstances. "When her boss broke his leg, Julie had to represent the company at the congress, and she rose to the occasion extremely well."
	Hit the road.	To hit the road means to start a journey.
	Roaring trade	If you do a roaring trade in a particular field, you do excellent business. "The sports shop is doing a roaring trade in bicycles these days."
	Rob Peter to pay Paul	If a person robs Peter to pay Paul, they pay one debt with money borrowed from somewhere else, thus creating another debt. "David borrowed money from a friend to cover his overdraft; a typical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul!"
	Rock the boat	If you tell someone not to rock the boat, you are asking them to do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a stable situation. "After the recent riots, it was decided not to rock the boat by introducing strict measures."
	Rocket science	It's not rocket science/You don't need to be a rocket scientist This expression is used to emphasize that something presents no particular difficulty. "Bob will explain how it works. Don't worry - it's not rocket science!"
	Roll up your sleeves	When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work. "The living-room was in a mess after the party, so we had to roll up our sleeves and start cleaning."
	When in Rome, do as the Romans.	This expression means that you should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way.
	Go through the roof	If someone goes through the roof, they become very angry "His father went through the roof when Paul damaged his new car."
	Learn the ropes	If you learn the ropes, you learn how to a particular job correctly.
	Rotten apple	This term refers to a person who is considered to be dishonest or immoral and has a bad influence on others in a group. "It is said that in any profession there's always a rotten apple."
	Rough and ready	Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined. "The accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!"
	Rough diamond	This expression refers to a person who is good-natured but who lacks polished manners and/or education. "He's a great guy, but a bit of a rough diamond!"
	Rub salt into the wound	If you are in a difficult or unpleasant situation, and somebody rubs salt into the wound, they do or say something to make things worse. "The separation was already difficult for Pete. Tom's comments about Julie's new boyfriend just rubbed salt into the wound."
	Rub shoulders	If you rub shoulders with someone, you have an opportunity to meet and talk to a person who is wealthy, famous or distinguished. "In her job in public relations, she sometimes rubs shoulders with famous people."
	Sweep something under the rug.	If you sweep something under the rug (or carpet), you try to hide it or ignore it because it is embarrassing.
	Rule the roost	If you rule the roost, you are the most important and powerful person in a group or community. "Officially David runs the company, but it's his father who really rules the roost."
	Run out of steam	If you say that a person, a process or an organized event is running out of steam, you mean that there is a loss of impetus, energy or enthusiasm "The anti-immigrant movement seems to be running out of steam."
	Run round in circles	People who run round in a circles have difficulty in achieving things because of lack of organization. "Running round in circles will get us nowhere - we need to set up a plan."
	Be run down	A person who is run down is in poor physical condition.
	run-of-the-mill	Something described as run-of-the-mill is considered ordinary or uneventful. "I've got nothing extraordinary to tell; it was a run-of-the-mill sales meeting."
	It runs in the family	This refers to a physical or moral characteristic that is common to many members of a family "Black hair and blue eyes - the combination runs in the family."
	A running battle	If two people or groups have a running battle with each other, they argue or disagree about something over a long period of time. "There's been a running battle between the local authorities and the population over the school bus route."
	In a rut	If you are in a rut, you have a monotonous and boring way of life. "If you feel you're in a rut, why don't you look for a new job?"