English Idioms - Alphabetical list

	Idiom	Meaning
S	Get the sack / be sacked	If someone gets the sack, they lose their job, usually because they have done something wrong. "Charlie got the sack when his boss caught him stealing."
	Safe bet	To say that something is a safe bet means that it is very likely to happen. "It's a safe bet that you'll get a good job if you graduate from one of the top universities."
	In safe hands	If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after by a reliable person or organization, and is therefore at no risk. "I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be in safe hands."
	Sail through something	If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam, you succeed in doing it without difficulty.
	Take the wind out of someone's sails	If someone or something takes the wind out of your sails, they make you feel less confident, by doing or saying something that you do not expect. "The Chairman's rejection of our marketing strategy really took the wind out of our sails"
	Take something with a grain of salt.	To say that certain information should be taken with a grain of salt means that you doubt the accuracy of the information.
	Salt of the earth	To refer to someone as the salt of the earth means that you consider them to be honest and reliable.
	Same boat	If two or more parties in the same boat, they are in the same unpleasant or difficult situation. "When the factory closed down, the workers all found themselves in the same boat."
	By the same token	If you apply the same rule to different situations, you judge them by the same token, or in a similar way. "Teenagers should be less rebellious, but by the same token, parents should be more understanding."
	What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander	This expression means that if something applies to one person, it should also apply to others "Women should earn the same salary as men for the same job. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!"
	Save someone's bacon	If you save someone's bacon, you rescue them from a dangerous or difficult situation. "When Dave was a student, finding a room in return for dog-sitting really saved his bacon!"
	Save your breath	If you tell someone to save their breath, you tell them not to waste their time speaking, because their words will have no effect. "I've already given him the same advice and he won't listen, so you might as well save your breath."
	Saved by the bell.	If you are saved by the bell, something happens at the last minute to rescue you from a difficult situation. "Saved by the bell! A friend arrived just when I realized I had no money for the parking metre!"
	Saving grace	A person who has a saving grace has a quality which prevents them from being totally bad. "She's a horrible person but she has one saving grace, her kindness to animals."
	Scales fall from your eyes	When the scales fall from your eyes, you finally understand the truth about something. "It was only when my neighbour was arrested for theft that the scales fell from my eyes and I realized where his money came from."
	Scarce as hen's teeth	To say that something is as scarce as hen's teeth emphasizes that it is extremely rare, to the point of non-existence. "Take enough supplies. Water is as scarce as hen's teeth where you're going!"
	Scare somebody out of their wits	If something scares you out of your wits, it makes you very frightened or worried. "The feeling that their house is haunted can scare people out of their wits."
	Get off/go scot-free	To say that someone got off scot-free means that they escaped the punishment they deserved. "We were all punished except James who managed to get off scot-free!"
	Scrape the bottom of the barrel	If you scrape the bottom of the barrel, you use the worst or the least satisfactory ideas, things or people because you have no choice. "When they started to recruit, they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel because the best people had already found jobs elsewhere."
	Not up to scratch	If something or somebody is not up to scratch, they are not as good as they should be.
	Have a screw loose	If someone has a screw loose, their behaviour is strange and they appear slightly mad. "She wears a fur coat in summer - she must have a screw loose!"
	Sea legs	A person who has sea legs is used to walking on a moving ship, or has the ability to adjust to a new situation. "It takes a while in a new job to find your sea legs."
	Seal of approval	If a project or contract receives a seal of approval, it receives formal support or approval from higher authorities. "We can't conclude the deal without the director's seal of approval."
	Play second fiddle	If you play second fiddle to somebody, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
	Second nature	If something you do is second nature to you, it is something that you do easily or automatically because you have done it so often or for so long. "Skiing is second nature to Harry. He grew up in a ski resort."
	See the colour of somebody's money	If you want to see the colour of somebody's money, you want to make sure that the person in question has enough money to pay you before you accept to do something. "I want to see the colour of his money before shipping the goods."
	See red	If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed about something. "Discrimination of any kind makes me see red!"
	Seeing is believing	This expression means that when you see something, you can be sure it exists, or that what you have been told is really true. "Mark says bananas grow in his garden, but seeing is believing!"
	Send someone packing	If you send someone packing, you tell them to leave, in a very forceful and unfriendly way. "When Amanda discovered that Jack had been unfaithful, she sent him packing."
	Separate the sheep from the goats	If you separate the sheep from the goats, you examine a group of people and decide which are good and which are not so good. "Examining job applications is the first stage in separating the sheep from the goats.
	Set in one's ways	A person who is set in their ways is someone who is unable or unwilling to change their ideas, habits or methods, often because they are old "My grandmother has the same routine every day. She's very set in her ways."
	Set the records straight	If you set or put the records straights, you provide facts or an explanation of events in order to correct a mistake or misunderstanding. "An interview on television enabled the actress to set the records straight about her health."
	Settle a score	To settle a score means to retaliate against someone or take revenge for a past wrong. "Jack has made an appointment with his lawyer - he has a score to settle with someone."
	Shake like a leaf	If you shake like a leaf, you tremble with fear or nervousness. "At the beginning of the interview I was shaking like a leaf."
	Shank's pony	If you go somewhere on Shank's pony, you have to walk rather than travel by bus, car, etc. "It was impossible to find a taxi after the party so it was Shank's pony for us!"
	Shape up or ship out	This expression is used to warn someone that if they do not improve, they will have to leave their job. "When Tom started neglecting the customers, he was told to shape up or ship out."
	In bad shape	A person who is in bad shape is in poor physical condition.
	Get back into shape	To get yourself back into shape, you need to take exercise in order to become fit and healthy again.
	Come out of one's shell	To come out of one's shell means to become less shy, more talkative and outgoing.
	Like ships that pass in the night	This expression is used to refer to people who meet briefly and are not likely to meet again. "The two men met once, like ships that pass in the night, and never met again."
	Keep your shirt on!	If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down. "Keep your shirt on Bob. Just give your version of the story!"
	Shoot yourself in the foot	If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do or say something which is against your own interests. " When Julie was asked at the interview if she had any weaknesses, she really shot herself in the foot the way she answered."
	Shop around	If you shop around, you visit a number of shops selling similar articles in order to compare the prices. "You can usually save money by shopping around."
	Shop till you drop	If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a very long time, until you're exhausted. "If you go to London with Julie you'll shop till you drop, so take comfortable shoes!"
	Shopping therapy	This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better. "A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored teenagers."
	Short and sweet	Something that is short and sweet is brief but pleasant. "It didn't take us long to agree. Our conversation was short and sweet."
	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."
	Shot in the dark	To refer to a question or statement as a shot in the dark means that it is a complete guess, but at the same time it might be close to the truth. "He didn't know which players had been selected, so mentioning Carter's name was just a shot in the dark."
	A chip on the 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.
	Give someone the cold shoulder	To give someone the cold shoulder means to deliberately ignore someone. "After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder."
	Show somebody 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."
	Shrinking violet	A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid or shy person. "The witness was no shrinking violet. She had no difficulty expressing herself!"
	Shrug something off	If you shrug something off, you dismiss it as being unimportant. "He was aware of the danger but he just shrugged it off."
	Shut the stable door after the horse has bolted	If you shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, you try to prevent something bad from happening when it is already too late. "Jack decided to insure the contents of his apartment after it was burgled. That's really shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted!"
	The 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."
	A sight for sore eyes	This expression refers to a person or thing you are happy to see. "Sam! You're a sight for sore eyes! Haven't seen you in a long time."
	Raise/lower your sights	If you raise or lower your sights, you raise or lower your expectations, or you are more or less ambitious. "He had to lower his sights and accept a less well-paid job than what he had hoped for."
	Sign of the times	This expression refers to something that shows the nature of today's society. "The rising level of violence is a sign of the times."
	Sign on the dotted line	If you sign on the dotted line, you formally give your consent to something by signing an official document. "I consulted my lawyer before signing on the dotted line."
	Signed, sealed and delivered	When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed and delivered, all the legal documents have been signed. "It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and delivered before the end of the week."
	Significant other	The term significant other refers to a person, such as a spouse, partner or lover, with whom you have a long-term relationship.
	Silver lining	A silver lining refers to the good or pleasant side-effects of an unpleasant situation. Every cloud has a silver lining means that there is a positive or hopeful side to every unpleasant situation.
	Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.	To say that someone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth means that their family is very rich and privileged.
	Sing a different tune	If somebody sings a different tune, they change their opinion about something or their attitude towards something. "He had no consideration for people out of work until he lost his own job; now he's singing a different tune!"
	Sink their differences	If people or organizations sink their differences, they decide to forget their disagreements. "We must sink our differences and build a peaceful community."
	Sink or swim	If somebody has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone, and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts. "The sink or swim attitude in the company can be very difficult for young recruits."
	Sink one's teeth into something	If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. "When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job."
	Sit on the fence	If you sit on the fence, you avoid taking sides in a discussion or argument. "It's an important issue. You can't continue to sit on the fence!"
	Sit up and take notice	A person who sits up and takes notice becomes alert and attentive. "The announcement of the winner made everyone sit up and take notice."
	A sitting duck.	To refer to someone as a sitting duck means that they are an easy target to criticize or attack.
	Skating on thin ice	If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause disagreement or trouble. "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice."
	By the skin of your teeth	To do something by the skin of your teeth means that you just manage to do it, but that you almost fail.
	It's no skin off my nose	To use this expression means that you don't care if something happens. "It's no skin off my nose if he doesn't accept the invitation - I don't care one way or another."
	All skin and bone	If someone is all skin and bone, they are very thin, or too thin "After trekking in the Himalayas, he was all skin and bone."
	The sky's the limit	To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the possibility of success or progress for someone or something. "How successful do you think the project will be? Who knows... the sky's the limit!"
	Sling mud	To say that someone is slinging mud at another person means that they are trying to damage that person's reputation by saying bad things about them. "During election campaigns, candidates often sling mud at each other."
	It slipped my mind	If something has slipped your mind, you have forgotten about it "Oh dear! It had slipped my mind that the banks were closed today."
	Slippery as an eel	To say that someone is as slippery as an eel means that they are difficult to catch and they manage to avoid answering questions. "That man is as slippery as an eel. He was arrested for theft several times but was never convicted."
	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."
	On the sly	If you do something on the sly you do it secretly or furtively. "He made such quick progress that the others suspected him of having private lessons on the sly."
	A smokescreen	A smokescreen is an action or tactic intended to conceal or divert attention from your real intentions or activities. "His travel business was just a smokescreen for his political activities."
	Smooth the path/way	Someone or something that smoothes the path for something, makes progress easier or enables it to happen. "Speaking the language smoothed the path for negotiations."
	Smooth somebody's ruffled feathers	If you smooth somebody's ruffled feathers, you make that person feel less angry or offended. "Tom took the criticism badly, but James managed to smooth his ruffled feathers"
	In smooth waters	A business or operation which is in smooth waters is making regular and easy progress. "The company seems to be in smooth waters these days."
	Snail mail	This term refers to the standard system of mail delivery, or postal service, considered very slow compared to electronic mail. "More and more people are using e-mail rather than traditional delivery services, snail mail.'
	A snake in the grass	This expression refers to someone who pretends to be your friend while actually betraying you. "I thought I could trust my new colleague but he turned out to be a snake in the grass."
	A social butterfly	This term refers to a person who has a lot of friends and acquaintances and likes to flit from one social event to another. "Julie is constantly out and about; she's a real social butterfly."
	Pull up one's socks	If you pull up your socks, you work harder in order to achieve something. "You'll have to pull up your socks if you want to pass your exam."
	Have a soft spot	If you have a soft spot for someone or something, you particularly like them. "My grandfather has always had a soft spot for fast cars."
	Soften the blow	When someone tries to soften the blow, they do something to make an unpleasant event or action easier to accept. "In spite of the cash payments given to soften the blow, the loss of their jobs was a catastrophe for the miners."
	Sound hollow	If an explanation, apology or promise sounds hollow, it seems false or insincere. "I don't think he's sorry at all. His apology sounded hollow to me."
	Speak off the cuff	If you say something off the cuff, you say it spontaneously, without previous thought or preparation. "Politicians are usually careful not to speak off the cuff."
	Speed networking	This refers to a relatively new urban trend which consists in making a potential business contact by briefly talking to a series of people at an organised event and exchanging contact details.
	Put a spanner in the works	To put a spanner in the works means to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned. (In the US, the word 'wrench' or 'monkey wrench' is used instead of 'spanner')
	Speak out of turn	If someone speaks out of turn, either they intervene at the wrong moment or they say something tactless or inappropriate. "At the first meeting, I was afraid of speaking out of turn.
	Speak the same language	If two or more people speak the same language, they have similar tastes and ideas. "We work well together because we speak the same language."
	Speak volumes	If something speaks volumes, it expresses a reaction or opinion very clearly, with no need for words. "The happy smile on the child's face when he opened the box spoke volumes about my choice of gift."
	Spick and span	To refer to something, usually a place, as spick and span, means that it is very clean, neat and tidy. "The apartment has got to be spick and span before our guests arrive."
	Spill the beans	If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret or talk about something private. "Come on! Spill the beans! What did he say?"
	Spin doctor	A spin doctor is a press agent or public relations officer employed to promote a favourable interpretation of events in business or politics. "For a long time spin doctors lead us to believe that the situation was under control."
	Spin a yarn	If you spin a yarn, you tell a story, usually a long improbable one, with distorted truths. "He failed the exam and spun a yarn about the exam papers being stolen."
	Spinach cinema	Films that are neither exciting nor interesting but are considered educational or uplifting, in the same way as certain foods are good for your health, are referred to as spinach cinema.
	Spitting image	If one person is the spitting image of another, they look exactly like each other. "Sarah is the spitting image of her mother."
	Splash out	If you splash out on something, you spend a lot of money on it. "Sarah's parents really splashed out on her wedding."
	Spread like wildfire	If something such as news, rumours or gossip spreads like wildfire, it becomes widely known very fast. "As soon as the nomination was announced, the news spread like wildfire."
	Spur of the moment	If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it as soon as you think of it, without any planning. "He decided on the spur of the moment to buy flowers for his wife."
	Stand on ceremony	When people stand on ceremony, they behave in a very formal way. "We'd be delighted to come and see you, but please don't stand on ceremony with us."
	Stand on your own two feet	If you stand on your own two feet, you are independent and need no help from anyone. "When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two feet."
	Stand one's ground	If you stand your ground, you maintain your position and refuse to yield or give way. "He claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the repeated accusations."
	Stand the test of time	If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years. "The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today."
	Stark raving mad	If you refer to someone as stark raving mad, you mean that they are completely crazy "You're stark raving mad to go sailing in this weather."
	Starter marriage	A starter marriage is a short-lived first marriage that ends in divorce with no kids, no property and no regrets.
	State of the art	If something is described as state-of-the-art, it is the most advanced model currently available, incorporating the latest and best technology.
	Steal someone's thunder	This expression means to take another person's idea or plan, and draw attention and praise away from the originator by presenting or using it first. "Bob had developed a plan to reduce production costs, but the plant manager stole his thunder by announcing Bob's ideas at the regional meeting."
	Steal the show	A person who steals the show gets more attention or praise than the other participants. "The Japanese competitor stole the show at the Olympic Games."
	Let off steam	A person who lets off steam releases surplus energy or strong feelings either through intense physical activity or by talking in an unrestrained manner. "Let's bring the kids to the playground so they can let off steam."
	Under your own steam	If you go somewhere under your own steam, you do so without any help from others. "There's no need to pick us up. We'll get there under our own steam."
	Stem the tide	If you stem the tide (of events), you stop the development of something bad or undesirable. "The authorities seem unable to stem the rising tide of violence in schools."
	Step out of line	If you step out of line, you behave badly, do something unacceptable or break the rules. "It was made clear upon arrival that we would be dismissed if we stepped out of line.
	Stew in your own juice	If you let somebody stew in their own juice, you leave them to worry about the consequences of their own actions. "Jack spent last night in prison for starting a fight - let him just stew in his own juice!"
	Stick to one's guns	If you stick to your guns, you show determination when faced with opposition. "The government stuck to its guns in spite of the criticism."
	Stick out like a sore thumb	If something sticks out like a sore thumb, it is very obvious or visible in an unpleasant way. "The modern building sticks out like a sore thumb among the old houses."
	Sticky fingers	Someone who has sticky fingers has a tendency to steal. "Items have been disappearing from the stock recently. Do any of the employees have sticky fingers?"
	On a sticky wicket	If you find yourself on a sticky wicket, you are in a situation that is difficult to deal with. "They've refused to sign the contract so we're on a sticky wicket now!"
	In stitches	When people are in stitches, they are laughing a lot. "The story was so funny, everyone was in stitches."
	A stone's throw away	To say that something is a stone's throw away means that it is just a short distance away. "It's a residential area but the shops are just a stone's throw away."
	Stop dead in one's tracks	If you stop dead in your tracks, you stop suddenly because you are frightened or surprised. "When Steve saw the snake, he stopped dead in his tracks."
	A storm in a teacup	To refer to something as a storm in a teacup means that you think that people are making a lot of unnecessary fuss or excitement about something unimportant.
	The eye of the storm	If you are in the eye of the storm you are deeply involved in a situation which is difficult or controversial and affects a lot of people.
	A stormy relationship	If you have a stormy relationship with someone, you have a lot of arguments and disagreements. "After a very stormy relationship, they decided to separate."
	Straight as a ramrod	Someone who is straight as a ramrod is a person who keeps a straight back and looks very serious. "When my grandfather invited us for dinner, he used to sit straight as a ramrod at the head of the table."
	Strange bedfellows	This expression refers to the unusual or unlikely association of two or more people, companies or states. "A car manufacturer and a bakery - strange bedfellows don't you think?"
	That's the last straw!	The expression means that this is the latest unpleasant event, and that you cannot tolerate the situation any longer.
	By no stretch of the imagination	This expression means 'however hard you may try to believe or imagine something'. "By no stretch of the imagination could he be called handsome."
	String someone along	If you string someone along, you deliberately mislead them about your intentions. "Bob finally realized that Mary has just been stringing him along; she had no intention of marrying him.
	With no strings attached.	An offer with "no strings attached" is an offer made without conditions or restrictions, and requires nothing in return. "I managed to get a loan with no strings attached."
	As stubborn as a mule	If someone is as stubborn as a mule, they are very obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason or change their mind. "His friends advised him to accept the offer, but you know Jack - he's as stubborn as a mule!"
	Stumbling block	This term refers to a problem or obstacle which prevents you from achieving something. "My father adapted quite well but the language was always a stumbling block for my mother."
	Sublime to ridiculous	If something goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, it deteriorates in quality from serious or admirable to absurd or unimportant. "An opera followed by a Mr Muscle contest is going from the sublime to the ridiculous!"
	Sugar the pill	If you sugar the pill, you try to make some unpleasant news more acceptable by saying something pleasant at the same time. "When Tim's parents announced that he was going to boarding school, they tried to sugar the pill by telling him he'd be home at the weekends."
	Swallow the bait,	If you swallow the bait, you accept an offer made specially to persuade you to do something. "When customers see a 'special offer' sign, they usually swallow the bait and purchase the product."
	Swallow your words	If you swallow your words, you admit that you said something wrong. "He said I'd never get the job, but he had to swallow his words when I was appointed."
	Sweat of your brow	If you earn or achieve something by the sweat of your brow, you do it through hard work and without help from anyone. "I got a comfortable lifestyle by the sweat of my brow. I owe it to nobody but myself."
	Sweetheart deal	The term sweetheart deal is used to refer to an abnormally lucrative arrangement between two parties. "Opponents say that the contract was awarded to the builder as part of a sweetheart deal, and is therefore illegal."
	A swelled/swollen head	Someone who has a swelled/swollen head has become proud or conceited, usually because of recent success. "Larry's promotion has given him a swelled head!"
	Swim against the tide	A person who is doing or saying the opposite to most other people is said to be swimming against the tide. "Perhaps it's because she always swims against the tide that her books are so successful."
	Get into the swing of things	If you get into the swing of something, you become involved in it or get used to it and begin to enjoy it.
	In full swing	When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is at its busiest or liveliest time. "When we got back to the office, the Christmas party was in full swing."
	Swings and roundabouts	(What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts) This expression refers to a situation in which there are as many advantages as there are disadvantages, or what is lost in one area can be gained in another. "The more you earn, the more tax you pay; it's swings and roundabouts."