English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - G, page 11
from: 'grey area'
to: 'gutter press'
- grey area (US: gray)
- To refer to something as a grey area means that
it is not clear or easy to define, and is therefore difficult to deal with.
"The law concerning email is still a grey area in some countries."
- To refer to something as a grey area means that
it is not clear or easy to define, and is therefore difficult to deal with.
- grey area (US: gray)
- To refer to something as a grey area means that
it is not clear or easy to define, and is therefore difficult to deal with.
"The law concerning email is still a grey area in some countries."
- To refer to something as a grey area means that
it is not clear or easy to define, and is therefore difficult to deal with.
- grey existance
- To have a grey existence means to lead a dull, monotonous life.
"I feel sad for the old lady. She seems to have such a grey existence."
- To have a grey existence means to lead a dull, monotonous life.
- grey matter
- Grey matter refers to the brain, or the grey colour of brain tissue.
"Try using your grey matter and you might find the answer." said the teacher."
- Grey matter refers to the brain, or the grey colour of brain tissue.
- grin and bear it
- When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that they will have
to accept it without complaining.
"The only seat available is on a low-cost flight. You'll just have to grin and bear it!"
- When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that they will have
to accept it without complaining.
- grin from ear to ear
- If somebody grins from ear to ear, they look vey satisfied and happy.
"When we saw Paul grinning from ear to ear, we knew he had passed the exam."
- If somebody grins from ear to ear, they look vey satisfied and happy.
- grin like a Cheshire cat
- When someone has a smile on their face because they are happy
or satisfied about something, they grin like a Cheshire cat.
"I knew she had obtained what she wanted when I saw her with a grin like a Cheshire cat."
- When someone has a smile on their face because they are happy
or satisfied about something, they grin like a Cheshire cat.
- keep your nose to the grindstone
- A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is
someone who concentrates on working hard at his/her job, or studies.
"Julia was so determined to get into the college of her choice that she kept her nose to the grindstone all year."
- A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is
someone who concentrates on working hard at his/her job, or studies.
- grit your teeth
- When you are determined to do something in spite of the difficulties involved, you grit your teeth.
"To reach safety I had to grit my teeth and wade through the mud."
- When you are determined to do something in spite of the difficulties involved, you grit your teeth.
- groan inwardly
- If you groan inwardly, you feel like expressing despair, disapproval or distress,
but you remain silent.
"On his return, when Pete saw the pile of files on his desk, he groaned inwardly."
- If you groan inwardly, you feel like expressing despair, disapproval or distress,
but you remain silent.
- from the ground up
- If something is done, built or created from the ground up, it is done from the first step, or from the very beginning, until completion.
"He built the company from the ground up and he’s very proud of its success."
- If something is done, built or created from the ground up, it is done from the first step, or from the very beginning, until completion.
- nurse/bear a grudge
- If you nurse/bear a grudge against someone, you have a feeling of resentment or ill-will towards them.
"Ever since I got a promotion, Sam has been holding a grudge against me."
- If you nurse/bear a grudge against someone, you have a feeling of resentment or ill-will towards them.
- your guess is as good as mine
- When talking to another person, 'your guess is as good as mine' means that neither of you knows the answer.
"What happened between Bill and Harry?" "Your guess is as good as mine!"
- When talking to another person, 'your guess is as good as mine' means that neither of you knows the answer.
- guilty pleasure
- Enjoying something which is not generally held in high regard, while
at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is called aguilty pleasure.
"Reading gossip magazines is a guilty pleasure for many women… and some men too!"
- Enjoying something which is not generally held in high regard, while
at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is called aguilty pleasure.
- guinea pig
- People who are used as guinea pigs are people on whom new methods, treatment or ideas are tested.
- People who are used as guinea pigs are people on whom new methods, treatment or ideas are tested.
- gut feeling
- If you have a gut feeling about something, you have a
strong intuition that you cannot explain, but you're sure that you are right.
"As I read the story, I had the gut feeling that the postman was lying ... and I was right!"
- If you have a gut feeling about something, you have a
strong intuition that you cannot explain, but you're sure that you are right.
- be gutted
- A person who is gutted is extremely upset, very disappointed or devastated.
"Poor Charlie was gutted when he failed the exam."
- A person who is gutted is extremely upset, very disappointed or devastated.
- gutter press
- This term refers to newspapers that print a lot of sensational stories about people's private lives.
"Of course the gutter press was quick to print a sensational version of the incident!"
- This term refers to newspapers that print a lot of sensational stories about people's private lives.
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