English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 12
from: 'cook the books'
to: 'coouch potato'
- cook the books
- A person who cooks the books is one who changes the
facts or figures in the financial accounts, often in order to steal money.
"The actor discovered after a while that his agent was cooking the books."
- A person who cooks the books is one who changes the
facts or figures in the financial accounts, often in order to steal money.
- cook somebody's goose
- To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that
person's chances of success.
"When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he knew his goose was cooked!"
- To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that
person's chances of success.
- 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!
"She left me for someone else - 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!
- a tough cookie
- A person who is a tough cookie is someone with a strong
and determined character who is not easily intimidated, discouraged or defeated.
"I'm not worried about Jason's future - he's a tough cookie!"
- A person who is a tough cookie is someone with a strong
and determined character who is not easily intimidated, discouraged or defeated.
- cool as a cucumber
- A person who is ascool as a cucumber is not anxious,
but relaxed and non-emotional.
"The bride's mother stayed as cool as a cucumber all through the ceremony."
- A person who is ascool as a cucumber 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."
- If you are left to cool your heels, someone keeps you waiting.
- (a) copycat
- The term ‘copycat’ is a way (often lighthearted) of describing someone who does exactly
the same thing as another, imitating them or adopting their behaviour.
"You’ve chosen the same activity as me – copycat !"
- The term ‘copycat’ is a way (often lighthearted) of describing someone who does exactly
the same thing as another, imitating them or adopting their behaviour.
- 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 signed a copper-bottomed agreement with a distributor."
- To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement
as copper-bottomed means that it is completely safe or reliable.
- cork something up
- If you cork up your feelings or emotions, you fail to show
or express them.
"It would be better if she showed her grief and didn't cork up her feelings."
- If you cork up your feelings or emotions, you fail to show
or express them.
- corner the 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."
- If a company dominates an area of business, and leaves no
room for competition, it is said to have cornered the market.
- 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."
- This term refers to the higher levels of government or
administration where important decisions are made.
- cost an arm and a leg
- If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
"The house cost us an arm and a leg, but we have no regrets."
- If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.
- cost the earth
- If something costs the earth, it is very expensive indeed.
"She wears designer clothes that must cost the earth!"
- If something costs the earth, it is very expensive indeed.
- cost a pretty penny
- If something costs a pretty penny it is very expensive.
"His new yacht must have cost him a pretty penny!"
- If something costs a pretty penny it is very expensive.
- at all costs
- If you are determined to obtain or achieve somethingat all costs,
you want it regardless of the expense, effort or sacrifice involved.
"The journalist was determined at all costs to get a report from the war zone."
- If you are determined to obtain or achieve somethingat all costs,
you want it regardless of the expense, effort or sacrifice involved.
- 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."
- If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you
criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television.
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