English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 14
from: 'cream rises to the top'
to: 'cross purposes'
- cream rises to the top
- 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'!"
- 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.
- creative accounting
- This term refers to the presentation of a company's results in a
way that, although generally legal, glosses over the problems and makes the results
appear better than they are.
"It was suggested that some creative accounting might help to attract investors."
- This term refers to the presentation of a company's results in a
way that, although generally legal, glosses over the problems and makes the results
appear better than they are.
- 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!"
- This expression refers to modern conveniences (such as hot
water or central heating) that make life comfortable and pleasant.
- creature of habit
- A creature of habit is someone who always prefers to do
the same things in the same way.
"I’m a creature of habit. I don’t like strange food and I eat at regular times."
- A creature of habit is someone who always prefers to do
the same things in the same way.
- credibility gap
- A credibility gap is the extent of doubt
concerning the veracity of something, or the difference between what a person in authority (especially a politician) promises
or claims, and what the public actually sees happening or the actual facts.
"There is a growing credibility gap between what the politician promised electors and what he claims to have achieved so far. "
- A credibility gap is the extent of doubt
concerning the veracity of something, or the difference between what a person in authority (especially a politician) promises
or claims, and what the public actually sees happening or the actual facts.
- 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."
- If you are on the crest of a wave, you are very
successful in what you are doing.
- 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."
- To shed crocodile tears means to shed false
tears or show insincere grief.
- (as) 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."
- To say that someone is as crooked as a dog's hind leg
means that they are very dishonest indeed.
- (a) cross to bear
- A person who has across to bear have 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."
- A person who has across to bear have a serious
problem or heavy responsibility that they must accept because they cannot change it.
- 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."
- This is another way of saying 'we will deal with that problem
when it occurs and not worry about it before'.
- 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."
- If you cross the line, you go beyond the authorized
limits and do something which is not acceptable.
- cross your mind
- If an idea or thought crosses your mind, you
suddenly think of it.
"It just crossed my mind that the shops are closed today."
- If an idea or thought crosses your mind, you
suddenly think of it.
- cross someone's path
- If you meet somebody, usually unexpectedly or by chance,
you cross their path.
"Ms. Bridgewater was my English teacher but haven't crossed her path since I left school."
- If you meet somebody, usually unexpectedly or by chance,
you cross their path.
- 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."
- If two people are at cross purposes, there is a
misunderstanding as to what each one is talking about.
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