a
- A Blessing in Disguise
- A Bolt from the Blue
- A Dead Duck
- A Dime a Dozen
- A Dog's Age
- A Dog's Life
- A Dose/Taste of One's Own Medicine
- A Far Cry
- A Fate Worse Than Death
- A Fighting Chance
- A Foregone Conclusion
- A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
- A Horse of Another/Different Color
- A Joker in the Deck
- A Little Bird Told Me
- A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing
- A Living Hell
- A Long Face, to Wear/Draw/Pull
- A Miss is as Good as a Mile
- A New Wrinkle
- A Penny for Your Thoughts
- A Poor Thing But Mine Own
- A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
- A Rose by Any Other Name
- A Rotten Apple Spoils the Barrel
- A Sight for Sore Eyes
- A Square Deal
- A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
- A Tough Nut to Crack
- A Tough/Hard/Long Row to Hoe
- A Walk in the Park
- A Warm Welcome
- A Watched Pot Never Boils
- A Whole New Ball Game/Ball of Wax
- A-1
- A-OK
- About Face, To Do An
- About the Size of It
- Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
- AC/DC
- Accident Waiting to Happen, An
- According to Hoyle
- Ace in the Hole
- Achilles’ Heel
- Acid Test, The
- Across the Board
- Act Your Age
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words
- Add Fuel to the Fire/Flames, To
- Add Insult to Injury, To
- Afraid of One's Own Shadow
- After One's Own Heart
- Against the Grain, to Go
- Age Before Beauty
- Ahead of the Curve
- Ahead of the Pack
- Aid and Abet, To
- Ain’t It the Truth
- Albatross Around One's Neck, An
- Alive (Live) and Kicking (Well)
- Alive and Kicking
- All and Sundry
- All Bets Are Off
- All Cats Are Gray After Dark
- All Ears, To Be
- All for Naught
- All Hell Breaks Loose
- All in the Same Boat
- All in the/a Day’s Work
- All Intents and Purposes
- All One’s Ducks in a Row, Get/Have
- All Other Things (Else) Being Equal
- All Over But the Shouting, It's
- All Over Creation
- All Present and Accounted For
- All Roads Lead to Rome
- All Systems Go
- All That Glitters Is Not Gold
- All Things Considered
- All Things to All Men, to Be
- All Thumbs, to Be
- All to the Good
- All Wet, To Be
- All Wool and a Yard Wide
- All-Time High (Low)
- All's Fair in Love and War
- Almighty Dollar, The
- Along for the Ride
- Alpha and Omega, The
- Also Ran
- American Dream, The
- An Apple a Day (Keeps the Doctor Away)
- An Ax to Grind
- An Embarrassment of Riches
- An Ill Wind That Blows No One Any Good
- An Open Book, He/She Is (Like An)
- And Then Some
- Another Day, Another Dollar
- Ante Up, To
- Ants in One's Pants
- Any Port in a Storm
- Apple of One’s Eye, The
- Apple-Pie Order
- Apples and Oranges, Like Comparing
- Après Moi le Déluge
- April Showers Bring May Flowers
- Apron Strings, Tied to (Someone’s)
- Armchair General
- Armed to the Teeth
- Army Brat
- As All Getout
- As I Live and Breathe
- As Luck Would Have It
- As Old as Adam
- As One Man
- As the Crow Flies
- As We Know It
- As We Speak, (Even)
- ASAP
- Ask a Silly/Stupid Question (and You’ll Get a Silly/Stupid Answer)
- Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies
- Asleep at the Switch
- Ass in a Sling, to Have/Get One’s
- At a Loss, To Be
- At a Snail’s Pace
- At First Blush
- At Loggerheads, To Be
- At Long Last
- At One Fell Swoop
- At One's Fingertips
- At One’s Beck and Call
- At One’s Wits’ End, To Be
- At Sea, To Be/All
- At Sixes and Sevens
- At Swords’ Points
- At the Crossroads
- At the Drop of a Hat
- At the End of the Day
- At This Juncture/Moment/Point in Time
- Avoid Like the Plague, To
- Awesome!
b
- Babe(s) in the Woods
- Baby Boomer
- Back and Fill, To
- Back Number
- Back of One’s Hand, to Give (Someone) the
- Back Off, To
- Back the Wrong Horse
- Back to Square One
- Back to the Salt Mines
- Back to the Wall, With One’s
- Backseat Driver
- Bad Blood
- Bad Hair Day
- Bad News/Good News
- Bad Penny, Always Turns Up (Comes Back) Like A
- Bag and Baggage
- Bag of Tricks
- Bail Out, to
- Baker’s Dozen
- Bald as a Coot/Billiard Ball
- Ball's in Your Court, The
- Ballpark Figure, A
- Balm in Gilead
- Band-Aid Approach/Solution
- Bane of One’s Existence, The
- Baptism of Fire
- Barefaced Lie/Liar
- Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite
- Bark Up the Wrong Tree, To
- Basket Case
- Bated Breath
- Bats in One’s Belfry, To Have
- Batten Down the Hatches, To
- Battle Cry
- Battle of the Bulge
- Battle Royal
- Battle-Ax
- Be All Things to All Men
- Be at a Loss
- Be My Guest
- Be of/In Two Minds, To
- Be That as It May
- Be-All and End-All, The
- Bean, Not Worth a
- Bear Hug
- Bear the Brunt, To
- Bear with Me
- Beard the Lion, To
- Beat a (Hasty/Quick) Retreat, to
- Beat a Dead Horse
- Beat Around/About the Bush, To
- Beat One's Head Against the Wall, To
- Beat One’s Brains (Out), To
- Beat the Band
- Beat the Bushes For, To
- Beat the Living Daylights Out Of, To
- Beat to the Punch/Draw
- Beaten Track, (Off) the
- Beautiful People, The
- Beauty is (Only) Skin-Deep
- Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder
- Bed and Board
- Bed of Roses, A
- Bee in One’s Bonnet, To Have a
- Been There, Done That
- Beer and Skittles, (Life is) Not All
- Before You Can Say Jack Robinson
- Beg the Question, To
- Beg to Differ, I
- Beg, Borrow, or Steal
- Beggar Description, To
- Beggars Can't Be Choosers
- Beginner’s Luck
- Beginning of the End, (This is) the
- Behind the Curve
- Behind the Eight Ball
- Behind the Scenes
- Behind the Times
- Believe It or Not
- Believe One’s Own Eyes, One Cannot
- Belle of the Ball, The
- Bellow Like a (Wounded) Bull, To
- Bells and Whistles
- Below the Belt
- Benchwarmer
- Bend Someone’s Ear, To
- Bend/Lean Over Backward, To
- Beneath Contempt
- Benefit of the Doubt, to Give/Have the
- Bent Out of Shape
- Beside Oneself, To Be
- Beside the Point
- Best Bib and Tucker, One’s
- Best Foot Forward
- Best of a Bad Bargain, to Make the
- Best of All Possible Worlds, The
- Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
- Best-Laid Schemes/Plans, The
- Best/Worst-Case Scenario
- Bet One’s Bottom Dollar, One Can
- Bête Noire
- Better Half, My
- Better Late Than Never
- Better Safe Than Sorry
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place
- Between Scylla and Charybdis
- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Between You and Me and the Bedpost/Gatepost/Four Walls/Lamppost
- Betwixt and Between
- Beyond the Pale
- Bid Adieu
- Bide One’s Time, To
- Big as a House
- Big Cheese, The
- Big Deal
- Big Fish in a Small Pond
- Big-Ticket Item, a
- Bigger Bang for the Buck
- Bird in the Hand, A
- Bird’s-Eye View, A
- Birds of a Feather
- Bite Off More Than One Can Chew, To
- Bite Someone’s Head Off, To
- Bite the Bullet, To
- Bite the Dust, To
- Bite the Hand That Feeds You, To
- Bite Your Tongue
- Bitter End, (Fight) to the
- Bitter Pill (to Swallow)
- Black as Night/Pitch/The Ace of Spades
- Black Book, (Put) in One’s
- Black Sheep
- Blah-Blah-Blah
- Blaze a Trail, To
- Bleed Someone White, To
- Bleeding Heart
- Blessed Event
- Blind Alley, (Up) A
- Blind as a Bat/Beetle/Mole
- Blind Leading the Blind, The
- Bling, Bling-Bling
- Blithering Idiot
- Blood from a Stone/Turnip, One Can’t Get
- Blood is Thicker Than Water
- Blood, Sweat, and Tears
- Bloody but Unbowed
- Blow Away
- Blow by Blow
- Blow Hot and Cold, To
- Blow Off Steam, To
- Blow One’s Mind, To
- Blow One’s Own Horn/Trumpet, To
- Blow One’s Top/Stack/Fuse, To
- Blow Out of the Water
- Blow Sky-High, To
- Blow the Whistle (on) (Someone), To
- Blow(n) to Smithereens
- Blue Blood
- Blue Funk, to Be in a
- Blue in the Face, to be/until one is
- Blue Ribbon
- Body Count
- Body Language
- Boil Down To, To
- Bold as Brass
- Bold-Faced Lie
- Bone Dry
- Bone of Contention, The
- Boon Companion
- Boonies, the
- Boot Camp
- Boot is on the Other Foot
- Bore to Death/Tears, To
- Born and Bred
- Born on the Wrong Side of the Blanket
- Born with a Silver Spoon
- Born Yesterday, Not (I Wasn't)
- Born, Not Made
- Bosom Buddy/Friend
- Bottle Up Feelings, To
- Bottom Line
- Bottom of It, At the/Get to the
- Bottomless Pit, The
- Bound and Determined
- Bounden Duty
- Bow and Scrape, To
- Bowl Over
- Boy Toy
- Boys Will Be Boys
- Brass Hat
- Brave New World, A
- Brave the Elements, To
- Brazen It Out, To
- Bread and Circuses
- Break a Leg
- Break Ground, To
- Break it (to someone) gently, to
- Break One’s Neck, To
- Break Ranks
- Break Someone's Heart, To
- Break the Bank, To
- Break the Ice, To
- Break/Bust One’s Ass
- Breath of Fresh Air, (Like) a
- Bright and Early
- Bright as a Button/New Penny
- Bright Young Thing
- Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed
- Bring Down the House, To
- Bring Home the Bacon, To
- Broad in the Beam
- Brouhaha
- Brown as a Berry
- Brownie Points, Win
- Brute Force
- Bug/Bugger Off
- Build a Better Mousetrap
- Bull in a China Shop (Like a)
- Bully for You/Him/Her/Them
- Bum Steer
- Bum’s Rush, to Give/Get the
- Bummer
- Burden of Proof, The
- Burn One’s Bridges/Boats, To
- Burn One’s Fingers, To
- Burn the Candle at Both Ends
- Burn the Midnight Oil, To
- Burned Out, To Be
- Burning Desire
- Burning Question, The
- Bury the Hatchet, To
- Bury/Hide One’s Head in the Sand, To
- Business as Usual
- Busman's Holiday, A
- Busy as a Beaver/Bee
- Butter Wouldn't Melt (in His/Her Mouth), Looks As If
- Button Your Lip
- Buy Into, To
- Buy the Farm
- By a Hair/Whisker
- By All Manner of Means
- By and Large
- By Dint Of
- By Hook or By Crook
- By Leaps and Bounds
- By the Book
- By the By/Bye
- By the Numbers
- By the Same Token
- By the Seat of One's Pants
- By the Seat of One's/The Pants
- By the Skin of One's Teeth
- By the Sweat of One’s Brow
c
- Cabin Fever
- Calculated Risk
- Call a Spade a Spade, To
- Call in Question, To
- Call It a Day, To
- Call It Quits, To
- Call of Nature
- Call Someone's Bluff, To
- Call the Shots
- Calm Before the Storm, The
- Camel Through a Needle's Eye, A
- Camp Follower
- Can of Worms, It’s a/Like Opening a
- Can't Call One's Soul One's Own
- Can't Complain
- Can't Fight City Hall
- Can't Hit the Broad Side of a Barn
- Can't Hold a Candle To
- Can't Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear
- Can't See the Forest for the Trees
- Can’t See Beyond the End of One’s Nose
- Cannot
- Captive Audience
- Carbon Copy
- Carbon Footprint
- Cardinal Sin
- Cards on the Table, to Lay/Put One’s
- Care Package
- Carrot and the Stick, The
- Cart Before the Horse, Don’t Put/Set the
- Carte Blanche
- Cash in One’s Chips, To
- Cash on the Barrelhead
- Cast a Pall Upon, To
- Cast Aspersions, To
- Cast in Stone
- Cast of Thousands
- Cast One’s Bread Upon the Waters, To
- Cast Pearls Before Swine, To
- Cast/Throw the First Stone, To
- Cat and Mouse, Game of/To Play
- Cat Got Your Tongue, Has the
- Cat That Swallowed the Canary, (Look) Like the
- Cat's Paw, (Be Made) A
- Catbird Seat, (Sitting) in the
- Catch (Someone) Napping
- Catch (Someone) Red-Handed, To
- Catch (Someone) with His Pants Down, To
- Catch as Catch Can
- Catch More Flies with Honey Than Vinegar, One Can
- Catch One’s Death (of a Cold), To
- Catch-22
- Caught Napping
- Chalk and Cheese
- Chalk It Up To, To
- Champ at the Bit, To
- Change of Heart, a
- Change of Scene, A
- Change One’s Stripes/Spots, Cannot
- Change One’s Tune, To
- Chapter and Verse, Cite/Give
- Charity Begins at Home
- Charley Horse
- Charmed Life, To Bear (Lead) A
- Chasing Rainbows
- Check Is in the Mail, The
- Check Out, To
- Cheek by Jowl
- Chew the Cud, To
- Chew the Fat/Rag, To
- Chickens Come Home to Roost, One’s
- Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
- Child's Play, Easy As/That's
- Chill Out
- Chilled to the Bone
- Chinaman’s Chance, He Hasn’t a/Not a
- Chinese Fire Drill
- Chinese Wall
- Chink in One’s Armor, A
- Chip Off the Old Block, A
- Chip on One’s Shoulder, to Have a
- Chips Are Down, The
- Chock-a-Block, to be
- Choice Between (of) Two Evils, A
- Christmas Comes but Once a Year
- City Slicker
- Claim to Fame, One’s
- Class Act
- Clean as a Hound’s Tooth
- Clean as a Whistle
- Clean Bill of Health, to Have a/Be Given a
- Clean Slate, Have a/Start with a
- Clean Sweep, (Make) A
- Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
- Clear as a Bell
- Clear as Mud
- Clear Conscience, to Have a
- Clear the Air, To
- Clear the Decks, To
- Cliff-Hanger
- Climb the Wall(s), To
- Clinging Vine
- Clip Joint
- Clip Someone's Wings, To
- Cloak-and-Dagger
- Close but No Cigar
- Close Call/Shave, A
- Close on the Heels
- Close Quarters, At/In
- Close Ranks
- Close to the Chest
- Clothes Make the Man
- Clutch at Straws
- Coals of Fire
- Coals to Newcastle, to carry/bring
- Coast is Clear, The
- Cobbler, Stick to Your Last
- Cock and Bull Story
- Cock of the Walk
- Coin a Phrase, To
- Cold Call
- Cold Comfort
- Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls Off a Brass Monkey
- Cold Feet, to Get/Have
- Cold Fish, A
- Cold Hands, Warm Heart
- Cold Heart, A
- Cold Shoulder, To Give/Show the
- Cold Turkey
- Cold Water, to Pour/Throw
- Color of Your Money, Let's See the
- Come
- Come Again?
- Come Apart at the Seams, To
- Come Clean, To
- Come Down On, To
- Come Full Circle
- Come Hell or High Water
- Come In from the Cold
- Come in Over the Transom
- Come Off It
- Come Off With Flying Colors
- Come on Board
- Come Out of One's Shell, To
- Come Out of the Closet
- Come to a Grinding/Screeching Halt
- Come to a Head, To
- Come to Blows, To
- Come to Grief, To
- Come to Pass, To
- Come to the Same Thing, To
- Come Up Smelling Like Roses
- Come Up Smelling Like Roses, To
- Come What May
- Come-Hither Look
- Comeback, to Make/Stage a
- Comes with the Territory
- Compare Notes, To
- Comparisons Are Odious
- Conk Out, To
- Conspicuous by One’s (Its) Absence
- Conspicuous Consumption
- Conspiracy of Silence
- Conventional Wisdom, the
- Cook Someone’s Goose, To
- Cook the Books
- Cool as a Cucumber
- Cool It, To
- Cool One’s Heels, To
- Cool!
- Coon's Age, A
- Corridors of Power
- Cost an Arm and a Leg/A Pretty Penny, To
- Couch Potato
- Couldn't Care Less
- Count Noses, To
- Count One’s Blessings
- Country Cousin
- Coup de Grâce
- Courage of One’s Convictions, to Have the
- Cover One's/Your Ass (CYA)
- Cover the Waterfront, To
- Crack Down On, To
- Crack of Dawn, (at) the
- Crack the Code, To
- Cramp Someone's Style, To
- Crazy as a Coot/Loon
- Crazy Like a Fox
- Crazy Mixed-Up Kid
- Cream of the Crop, The
- Creature Comforts
- Credibility Gap
- Crème de la Crème
- Cried All the Way to the Bank, He/She
- Crocodile Tears
- Cross as a Bear
- Cross My Heart (and Point to God/Hope to Die)
- Cross That Bridge When You Come to It
- Cross the Rubicon, to
- Cross to Bear, A/One’s
- Crown of Glory
- Crux of the Matter, The
- Cry
- Cry One's Eyes Out, To
- Cry Wolf, To
- Crying Over Spilled Milk, It’s No Good/Use
- Crystal Ball, Look into One's
- Crystal Clear
- Cudgel One’s Brains, To
- Cup of Tea
- Curry Favor, To
- Customer is Always Right, The
- Cut a (Wide) Swath, To
- Cut and Dried
- Cut and Run, To
- Cut Corners, To
- Cut from Whole Cloth
- Cut No Ice, To
- Cut of His/Her Jib, I Don’t Like the
- Cut Off at the Pass, To
- Cut Off One's Right Arm
- Cut Off One’s Nose to Spite One’s Face, To
- Cut Off Without a Shilling/Cent
- Cut One’s Teeth On, To
- Cut Out For, To Be
- Cut Someone Some Slack, To
- Cut the Gordian Knot, To
- Cut the Ground from Under, To
- Cut the Mustard, To
- Cut to the Chase
- Cut to the Quick
- Cute as a Button
- Cutting Edge, At/On the
d
- Damn Sight, A
- Damn Straight
- Damn the Torpedoes, Full Steam Ahead
- Damn with Faint Praise, To
- Damned if I Do, Damned if I Don't
- Dance Attendance On, To
- Dance Card is Full, My
- Dark Horse, A
- Darken My Door (Again), Don’t/Never
- Davy Jones’s Locker
- Dawn on (someone), to
- Day In, Day Out
- Day Job
- Day of Reckoning
- Days Are Numbered, One’s/His/Its
- Dead and Gone
- Dead as a Doornail
- Dead from the Neck Up
- Dead Heat, in a
- Dead Horse, To Beat/Flog a
- Dead in the Water
- Dead of Night/Winter, The
- Dead on One’s Feet
- Dead Ringer
- Dead Set Against
- Dead to Rights
- Dead to the World
- Dead Weight
- Dead Wrong
- Deaf as a Post
- Dear John
- Death and Taxes, (Certain as)
- Death Wish
- Death's Door, At/Near
- December, May and
- Deep Pockets
- Deep-Six, To
- Den of Thieves, A
- Depend on the Kindness of Strangers
- Desperate Straits
- Devil Take the Hindmost, The
- Devil to Pay, The
- Devil’s Advocate, (to play)
- Diamond in the Rough, A
- Dictates of Conscience
- Die in Harness, To
- Die is Cast, The
- Die Like a Dog, To
- Die with One’s Boots On
- Difference Between Chalk and Cheese
- Different Strokes for Different Folks
- Dire Straits, In
- Dirt Cheap
- Dirty Mind, A
- Dirty Tricks
- Dismal Science, The
- Divide and Conquer/Rule/Govern, To
- Do a Number On, To
- Do a Power of Good, To
- Do As I Say, Not As I Do
- Do One’s Heart Good, To
- Do One’s Own Thing, To
- Do or Die, To
- Do Someone Proud, To
- Do Tell
- Do the Honors, To
- Do the Trick
- Do Unto Others
- Do’s and Don’ts
- DOA
- Does
- Dog Ate My Homework, The
- Dog Days
- Dog Eat Dog
- Dog in the Manger
- Dog’s Age
- Dog’s Chance, Not a
- Dollars to Doughnuts
- Don't Ask
- Don't Call Us, We'll Call You
- Don't Change/Swap Horses in Midstream
- Don't Count Your Chickens
- Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
- Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk
- Don't Even
- Don't Give/Care a Rap For
- Don't Hold Your Breath
- Don't Know from Adam
- Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
- Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels
- Don’t Let the Grass Grow Under Your Feet
- Done Deal, A
- Donkey’s Years
- Doohickey
- Doom and Gloom
- Dose of One’s Own Medicine
- Dot the i’s and Cross the t’s, to
- Double-Barreled
- Double-Edged Sword
- Doubting Thomas
- Down and Dirty
- Down and Out
- Down at the Heels
- Down in the Dumps, to Be
- Down in the Mouth
- Down Memory Lane
- Down on One’s Luck
- Down the Drain
- Down the Hatch
- Down the Road
- Down to the Wire
- Down-to-Earth
- Dragon Lady
- Draw a Bead on (Someone), To
- Draw a Blank, To
- Draw a Veil Over, To
- Draw the Line At, To
- Draw/Pull in One’s Horns, To
- Dream On
- Dream Team
- Dressed to Kill/To the Nines
- Dressing Down, A
- Dribs and Drabs
- Drink Like a Fish, To
- Drive (Someone) to Drink, To
- Drive (Someone) Up the Wall, To
- Drive a Hard Bargain
- Drop a Bombshell, To
- Drop Dead
- Drop in the Bucket
- Drop Like a Hot Potato, To
- Drop Like Flies, To
- Drop Names
- Drop-Dead Gorgeous
- Drug on the Market
- Drum (Something) Into One’s Head, To
- Drum Up
- Drunk as a Lord/Skunk
- Dry as Dust
- Dry Behind the Ears, Not (Yet)
- Dry Run
- Duck Soup, Like
- Dull as Dishwater
- Dumb Down, To
- Dutch Courage
- Dutch Treat
- Dutch Uncle, Talk (to One) Like a
- Duty Bound, To Be
- Dyed in the Wool
- Dying Day, To One’s
e
- Eager Beaver
- Eagle-Eyed
- Ear to the Ground, to Have/Keep an
- Early Bird Catches the Worm, The
- Easier Said Than Done
- Easy as Pie
- Easy as Rolling Off a Log
- Easy Come, Easy Go
- Eat Crow/Humble Pie/Dirt, To
- Eat Like a Bird/Horse, To
- Eat One’s Cake and Have It, Too, To
- Eat One’s Hat, To
- Eat One’s Heart Out, To
- Eat One’s Words, To
- Eat Out of Someone's Hand, To
- Eat Someone Out of House and Home, To
- Egg in Your Beer, What Do You Want?
- Egg on One’s Face, to Have/Wipe Off the
- Ego Trip
- Eighth Wonder
- Elbow Grease, To Use
- Elbow Room
- Elephant in the Room, an
- Elevator Doesn’t Go to the Top Floor, The
- Elevator Music
- Eleventh Hour, at the
- Eloquent Silence, An
- Empty Calories
- Empty Nest, Empty Nester
- End Game
- End of One's Rope/Tether, At the/Come to the
- End of the World, It’s Not/Wouldn’t Be the
- End Run
- Ends of the Earth, (from) the
- Enough is Enough
- Enough Rope, to Give (Someone)
- Enough Said
- Enter the Lists, To
- Esprit de Corps
- Et Tu, Brute!
- Eternal Triangle, The
- Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
- Every Dog Will Have His Day
- Every Little Bit Helps
- Every Man for Himself
- Every Man Jack/Mother’s Son
- Every Man/Everyone Has His Price
- Every Tom, Dick, and Harry
- Every Which Way
- Everything but the Kitchen Sink
- Everything in Its Place/Season
- Everything is Copacetic
- Evil Eye, The
- Ex Cathedra
- Exception Proves the Rule, The
- Excuse My French
- Explore Every Avenue, To
- Eye for an Eye, An
- Eye for/to the Main Chance, to Have an
- Eye of a Needle
- Eyes in the Back of One's Head, to Have
f
- Face That Launched a Thousand Ships, The
- Face the Music, To
- Fact of the Matter, The
- Fair and Square
- Fair Game
- Fair Sex, The
- Fair Shake, A
- Fair to Middling
- Fair-Haired Boy
- Fair-Weather Friend
- Fait Accompli, a
- Fall by the Wayside, to
- Fall for Something/Someone, to
- Fall from Grace, To
- Fall on Deaf Ears, To
- Fall on One's Feet, To
- Fall Short (of), to
- False Colors
- Familiarity Breeds Contempt
- Family Jewels
- Famous Last Words
- Fan the Flames, To
- Far and Away
- Far and Wide
- Far Be It for/from Me to . . .
- Far Out
- Farm Out, To
- Fast and Furious
- Fast and Loose
- Fast Lane/Track, In/On the
- Fat Cat
- Fat Chance
- Fat City
- Fat Farm
- Fat is in the Fire, The
- Fatal Attraction
- Feast One's Eyes On, To
- Feast or Famine
- Feather in One’s Cap, A
- Feather One’s Nest, To
- Fed to the Gills
- Feeding Frenzy
- Feel It in One's Bones, To
- Feel One’s Oats, To
- Feel Someone’s Pain, To
- Feel the Earth Move
- Feet of Clay, to Have
- Femme Fatale
- Fender Bender
- Fever Pitch
- Few and Far Between
- Few Bricks Shy of a Load
- Fiddle While Rome Burns, To
- Field Day, to Have a
- Fifth Wheel
- Fight Fire with Fire
- Fight Tooth and Nail
- Fighting Mad
- Figment of the Imagination, A
- Fill the Bill, To
- Filled to the Brim
- Filthy Lucre
- Find It in One’s Heart, (Not) To
- Finders, Keepers
- Fine and Dandy
- Fine-Tooth Comb, to Go Over With a
- Finger in Every Pie, To Have a
- Finger Itches To, One’s/My
- Finishing Touch(es)
- Fire Away
- Firing on All Cylinders
- First and Foremost
- First Come, First Served
- First Things First
- Fish or Cut Bait
- Fish Out of Water, A
- Fish Story, a
- Fish to Fry, to Have Better/Bigger/Other
- Fit as a Fiddle
- Fit Like a Glove, To
- Fit to Be Tied
- Fits and Starts
- Five-and-Ten
- Flash in the Pan
- Flat as a Pancake
- Flat Out
- Flat-Footed, to be Caught/Catch
- Flattery Will Get You Nowhere
- Flavor of the Month
- Flea in One's Ear, to Have a
- Flesh and Blood, I’m Only/One’s Own
- Flight of Fancy
- Flip One's Lid, To
- Flog a Dead Horse
- Flotsam and Jetsam
- Flower Children
- Flower of Youth, The
- Flower Power
- Flub the Dub, To
- Fly in the Face of, To
- Fly in the Ointment
- Fly Off the Handle, To
- Fly the Coop, To
- Fly-by-Night
- Flying Blind
- Foam at the Mouth, To
- Fold Our Tents, (Let Us)
- Follow in the Footsteps of, to
- Follow One’s Nose, To
- Follow Suit, To
- Food for Thought
- Food for Worms
- Fool's Paradise, A
- Foot-in-Mouth Disease
- Footloose and Fancy-Free
- For a Song, to Go/To Buy/To Sell
- For All Intents and Purposes
- For Auld Lang Syne/For Old Times’ Sake
- For Better or For Worse
- For Crying Out Loud
- For Good Measure
- For Heaven’s/Pete’s/Pity’s Sake
- For My Sins
- For My/One's Money
- For Old Times' Sake
- For Real
- For Sure
- For the Birds
- For the Life of Me
- For the Love of Mike/Pete/God
- For the Record
- For the Umpteenth Time
- For What It's Worth
- Forbidden Fruit
- Forewarned is Forearmed
- Forget It
- Forgive and Forget
- Fork Over, To
- Forlorn Hope
- Fortunes of War
- Forty Winks
- Four Corners of the Earth, The
- Four-Letter Word
- Fraught with Danger/Peril
- Freak Out, To
- Free and Easy
- Free as a Bird
- Free Lunch
- Fresh as a Daisy
- Fresh Out Of
- Friends in High Places
- Fritter Away
- From A to Z
- From Bad to Worse
- From Day One
- From Head to Toe
- From Hell
- From Pillar to Post
- From Rags to Riches
- From Soup to Nuts
- From Stem to Stern
- From the Bottom of One's Heart
- From the Ridiculous to the Sublime
- From the Sublime to the Ridiculous
- From the Word Go
- From Time Immemorial
- Front Runner
- Full Circle, Come/Go
- Full of Beans
- Full of Piss and Vinegar
- Full Speed/Steam Ahead
- Full-Court Press, a
- Fun and Games
- Funny Money
g
- Gallows Humor
- Game Is Not Worth the Candle, The
- Garden Path, To Lead Up/Down The
- Gas Guzzler
- Gentleman and a Scholar, A
- Get (Something) Off One’s Chest, To
- Get a Grip
- Get a Handle on Something, To
- Get a Kick Out of (Something/Someone), To
- Get a Life
- Get a Load of Something/Someone
- Get a Rise Out of Someone, To
- Get Away from It All
- Get Away With, To
- Get Cracking/Rolling
- Get Down to Brass Tacks
- Get Down to Brass Tacks, To/Let's
- Get in on the Ground Floor, To
- Get in/into One’s Hair, to
- Get into Hot Water, To
- Get into the Swing of (Things), To
- Get Into/In the Act, To
- Get Lost
- Get Off My Back
- Get Off One’s Duff
- Get One’s Act Together
- Get One’s Comeuppance
- Get One’s Feet Wet, To
- Get One’s Money’s Worth, To
- Get One’s Teeth Into (Something), To
- Get Over It
- Get Real
- Get Rolling
- Get Someone's Back Up, To
- Get Someone's Goat, To
- Get Someone's Take On, To
- Get Someone’s Dander Up, To
- Get Stiffed, To
- Get the Lead Out of One’s Feet
- Get to First Base, To
- Get to the Bottom of
- Get to the Point, To
- Get Under Someone's Skin, To
- Get Up and Go
- Get Up on the Wrong Side of Bed
- Get Wind of Something, To
- Ghost of a Chance
- Gift of Gab
- Gild the Lily, To
- Gird (up) one's loins, to
- Girl Thing/Guy Thing
- Girl/Man Friday
- Give (Someone) an Inch and They’ll Take a Mile
- Give (Someone) the Time of Day, Not To/Won’t
- Give (Someone) What For, To
- Give (Someone/Something) the Once-Over, To
- Give a Bad Name To, To
- Give a Wide Berth To, To
- Give and Take
- Give It One’s Best Shot, To
- Give Me a Break
- Give No Quarter
- Give One’s Eyeteeth For, To
- Give One’s Right Arm, To
- Give Pause To, To
- Give Short Shrift
- Give Someone His/Her Head, To
- Give Someone the Ax, To
- Give the Devil His Due
- Give the Lie To, To
- Give the Shirt Off One's Back, To
- Give Up the Ghost, To
- Glass Ceiling
- Gloom and Doom
- Glutton for Punishment, a
- Gnash One's Teeth, To
- Go Ape, To
- Go Around in Circles, To
- Go Ballistic, To
- Go Bananas
- Go Belly-Up
- Go by the Board, to
- Go Climb a Tree/Fly a Kite
- Go Downhill
- Go Figure
- Go for Broke
- Go for It
- Go Haywire, To
- Go Hog Wild, To
- Go Off at Half-Cock/Half-Cocked, To
- Go Off One’s Chump/Head/Rocker, To
- Go Over Like a Lead Balloon
- Go Overboard
- Go Overboard, To
- Go Scot-Free, To
- Go South
- Go Straight, To
- Go the Extra Mile
- Go Through the Roof, To
- Go to Hell in a Handbasket, To
- Go to One’s Head, To
- Go to Pot
- Go to Seed
- Go to the Devil/Hell
- Go to the Well Too Often
- Go While the Going is Good
- Go Whole Hog
- Go with the Flow
- Go with the Territory, To
- Go(ing) to Town
- God's Country
- God's Gift to the World
- God/Heaven Forbid
- Goes Without Saying, It/That
- Going to the Dogs
- Golden Oldie
- Golden Parachute
- Gone to Pot
- Good as Gold
- Good as New
- Good Egg, A
- Good Graces, to Be/Get in One’s
- Good Grief
- Good Head on One’s Shoulders, to Have a
- Good Job
- Good Old Days, The
- Good Riddance (to Bad Rubbish)
- Good Samaritan
- Good Scout, A
- Good-Time Charlie
- Good, Bad, or Indifferent
- Goody-Two-Shoes
- Google, to
- Gordian Knot
- Gory Details, the
- Gospel Truth
- Got Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed
- Grand Tour, The
- Granddaddy of Them All
- Grandstand Play
- Grant No Quarter
- Grasp at Straws
- Grasp at Straws, To
- Grass is Always Greener (on the Other Side of the Fence), The
- Grass Roots
- Gravy Train, the
- Gray Eminence
- Grease Someone’s Palm/Fist, To
- Greasy Spoon
- Great Guns, Going
- Great Unwashed, The
- Greater Love Hath No Man
- Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread, The
- Greek to Me, It's/That's (All)
- Greeks Bearing Gifts, Beware of/Like
- Green Around the Gills
- Green Light, Get/Give the
- Green-Eyed Monster / Green with Envy
- Grim Reaper, The
- Grin and Bear It
- Grin Like a Cheshire Cat
- Grind to a Halt, To
- Grist for the Mill, That’s
- Grit One’s Teeth, To
- Ground Zero
- Groves of Academe
- Grow Like Topsy
- Guiding Light
- Gung-Ho
- Guru
- Gussied Up, to Get (All)
- Guy Thing
h
- Hack It, To
- Hail Fellow Well Met
- Hail Mary Pass
- Hair of the Dog
- Hair Shirt
- Hale and Hearty
- Half a Loaf is Better Than None
- Half a Mind
- Half the Battle
- Hammer and Tongs, Go at It
- Hand in Glove
- Hand Over Fist
- Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The
- Hand to Mouth, Exist/Live From
- Hands Are Tied, My/One’s
- Hands Down
- Handsome is as Handsome Does
- Handwriting on the Wall
- Hang by a Thread, To
- Hang in the Balance
- Hang in There
- Hang Loose
- Hang Out One’s Shingle, To
- Hanged for a Sheep (as well) as a Lamb, (Might) as Well Be
- Hanging Fire
- Happy as a Clam (at High Tide)
- Happy Camper
- Happy Hour
- Happy Hunting Ground
- Hard and Fast
- Hard as Nails
- Hard Nut to Crack
- Hard Way
- Hard/Tough Act to Follow
- Hard/Tough Sledding
- Hat in Hand, to Go/With
- Hat in the Ring, to Put/Throw One’s
- Hat Trick
- Hatchet Man
- Haul/Rake Over the Coals, To
- Have a Bone to Pick, To
- Have a Conniption Fit, To
- Have a Good/Half a Mind To, To
- Have a Nice Day
- Have Another Guess Coming, To
- Have at One’s Fingertips
- Have It In For, To
- Have One's Cake and Eat It Too
- Have One’s Ear to the Ground
- Have One’s Hands Full, To
- Have One’s Say
- Have One’s Wits About One, To
- Have One’s Work Cut Out (for One)
- Have Other Fish to Fry
- Head and Shoulders Above, to Be
- Head in the Clouds, to Have One’s
- Head Over Heels (in Love), To Be/Fall
- Heads Up
- Hear a Pin Drop, One/You Could
- Heart in One's Mouth, To Have One's
- Heart in the Right Place, to Have One’s
- Heart of Gold, (to have) a
- Heart of Stone, to Have a
- Heart-to-Heart Talk, A
- Heart’s Content, to One’s
- Heavens to Betsy
- Heavy Heart, A
- Heavy Hitter
- Heels of, At/On the
- Hell Freezes Over
- Hell Has No Fury Like a Woman Scorned
- Hell on Wheels
- Hell to Pay, There'll Be
- Hell's Bells
- Hello?
- Hem and Haw, to
- Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
- Here, There, and Everywhere
- Hide One’s Head in the Sand
- Hide One’s Light Under a Bushel, To
- High and Dry
- High and Mighty
- High Dudgeon
- High Five
- High Off the Hog, to Eat/Live
- High Society
- High-Water Mark
- Highway Robbery
- Hill of Beans, Doesn’t Amount to a/Not Worth a
- Hit Below the Belt
- Hit It Off, To
- Hit On, To
- Hit or Miss
- Hit Parade
- Hit the Ceiling, To
- Hit the Ground Running, To
- Hit the Hay/Sack, To
- Hit the High Spots, To
- Hit the Jackpot, To
- Hit the Nail on the Head, To
- Hit the Spot, To
- Hitch One’s Wagon to a Star, To
- Hither and Thither/Yon
- Hobson’s Choice
- Hog Wild
- Hoi Polloi, The
- Hoist with One’s Own Petard
- Hold a Candle to, Cannot/Not Fit to
- Hold at Bay, To
- Hold No Brief For, To
- Hold One’s Own, To
- Hold One’s Tongue, To
- Hold the Fort, To
- Hold Water, To
- Hold Your Horses
- Holding the Bag, To/Be Left
- Holier Than Thou
- Home Away from Home, A
- Home Free, To Be
- Home is Where the Heart Is
- Home Sweet Home
- Honest to Goodness/God/Pete
- Hook, Line, and Sinker
- Hope Against Hope, To
- Hope Springs Eternal
- Hopping Mad
- Horns of a Dilemma, on the
- Horse Sense
- Hot Air
- Hot Dog
- Hot Shot
- Hot Stuff
- Hot to Trot
- Hot Under the Collar, to Be
- House of Cards
- Household Word
- How Time Flies
- Hue and Cry
- Human Interest
- Hung Out to Dry, To Be
- Hurry Up and Wait
i
- I Can't Complain
- I Could/Couldn't Care Less
- I Don’t Think So
- I Should Care
- I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle
- I’m from Missouri, You’ve Got to Show Me
- Idiot Box
- If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It
- If Looks Could Kill
- If Not Now, When?
- If Push Comes to Shove
- If the Mountain Will Not Come to Mohammed . . .
- If the Shoe Fits, Wear It
- If Truth Be Told
- If Worst Comes to Worst
- Ifs, Ands, or Buts
- Ignorance is Bliss
- In a Bind
- In a Dither, All
- In a Heartbeat
- In a Huff
- In a Jam
- In a Nutshell
- In a Pickle, To Be/Get
- In a Pig's Eye
- In a Pinch
- In a Towering Rage
- In a Trice
- In a Word
- In Any Way, Shape, or Form, Not
- In at the Death/Finish
- In Clover, To Be/Live
- In Cold Blood
- In Fine Fettle
- In for a Penny, In for a Pound
- In Full Swing
- In High Dudgeon
- In La-La Land
- In Like Flynn
- In My Mind's Eye
- In No Uncertain Terms
- In One Ear and Out the Other
- In One's Element
- In One's Heart of Hearts
- In One's Right Mind
- In Over One's Head, To Be
- In Point of Fact
- In Short Order
- In Stitches
- In Stone, Cast/Carved/Written
- In the Bag
- In the Cards
- In the Dark, To Be/Keep Someone
- In the Doghouse
- In the Doldrums
- In the Driver's Seat
- In the Dumps
- In the Fullness of Time
- In the Groove
- In the Last Analysis
- In the Limelight
- In the Long Run
- In the Nick of Time
- In the Offing
- In the Pink
- In the Pipeline
- In the Saddle
- In the Same Boat As, To Be
- In the Swim
- In the Twinkling of an Eye
- In This Day and Age
- In Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail
- In Vino Veritas
- In Your Dreams
- In Your Face
- In/Out of the Loop
- Ins and Outs, The
- Inside Track, The
- Inside/Outside the Box
- Iron Hand (in a Velvet Glove), to Rule with an
- Irons in the Fire, Lots of/Too Many
- Is the Pope Catholic?
- It Is What It Is
- It Never Rains But It Pours
- It Takes All Sorts
- It Takes One to Know One
- It Takes Two to Tango
- It Will All Come Out in the Wash
- It Will Soon Blow Over
- It's a Small World
- It's All in Your Mind
- It's More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
- It's the Economy, Stupid
- It’s Not Over Till It’s Over
- Itching for a Fight
- Itchy Palm, to Have an
- Ivory Tower
j
- Jack of All Trades
- January and May
- Jaundiced Eye, (Look on) with a
- Jekyll and Hyde
- Jet Set
- Jockey for Position, To
- Joe Six-Pack
- John Doe
- John Hancock
- Johnny-come-lately
- Johnny-on-the-spot
- Jump at the Chance, To
- Jump Down Someone's Throat, To
- Jump in with Both Feet, to
- Jump the Gun, To
- Jump to Conclusions, To
- Just Another Day at the Office
- Just Deserts
- Just Don’t/Doesn’t Get It, You/He/She
- Just Folks
k
- Keep (Someone) Posted, To
- Keep (Something) Under One’s Hat, To
- Keep a Stiff Upper Lip, To
- Keep a Straight Face, To
- Keep an Eye On, To
- Keep at Arm's Length, To
- Keep Body and Soul Together, To
- Keep One's
- Keep One's Head Above Water, To
- Keep One’s Ear to the Ground
- Keep One’s Fingers Crossed, To
- Keep Oneself to Oneself, To
- Keep the Ball Rolling, To
- Keep the Faith
- Keep the Wolf from the Door, to
- Keep Your
- Keep Your Chin Up
- Keep Your Eyes Peeled/Skinned
- Keep Your Nose Clean
- Keep Your Powder Dry
- Keep Your Shirt On
- Keeping Up with the Joneses
- Kettle of Fish, a Fine/Pretty
- Kick Ass/Butt
- Kick in the (Seat of the) Pants, a
- Kick Over the Traces, To
- Kick the Bucket, To
- Kick Up One’s Heels, To
- Kick Upstairs, To
- Kid Gloves, to Handle/Treat With
- Kill the Fatted Calf, To
- Kill the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs
- Kill Time, To
- Kill Two Birds with One Stone, To
- Kill with Kindness, To
- Killing Pace, A
- Kindred Spirit, A
- King is Dead, Long Live the King, The
- Kiss and Tell, To
- Kiss of Death, a/the
- Kiss the Blarney Stone, to
- Kit and Caboodle, (the whole)
- Kith and Kin
- Knee-High to a Grasshopper
- Knight in Shining Armor, a
- Knock (Someone) Down with a Feather, To
- Knock on Wood
- Knock Oneself Out, To
- Knock the Spots Off, To
- Knock-Down Drag-Out Fight, A
- Know (Someone) from Adam, Doesn’t/Not to
- Know Like a Book, To
- Know One’s Own Mind, To
- Know the Ropes, To
- Know What’s What, To
- Know What/Which Side of the Bread is Buttered (On), To
- Knuckle Under, To
l
- Labor of Love, A
- Ladies' Man
- Lady Bountiful
- Lame Duck, A
- Land of Milk and Honey, The
- Land-Office Business, A
- Lap of Luxury, The
- Large as/Larger than Life, As
- Last but Not Least
- Last Gasp, The
- Last Laugh, To Have the
- Last of the Big Spenders, The
- Last Word, to Have the
- Last-Ditch Defense/Effort
- Late Bloomer
- Laugh One's Head Off
- Laugh or Cry, Don’t Know Whether To
- Laugh Out of Court, To
- Laugh Out of the Other Side of Your Face/Mouth
- Laugh Up One’s Sleeve, To
- Laughed All the Way to the Bank
- Law and Order
- Lay an Egg, To
- Lay Down the Law, To
- Lay Eyes On, To
- Lay It on the Line, To
- Lay It On Thick, To
- Lay On, Macduff
- Lay to Rest
- Lay/Lie of the Land, The
- Lazy Man’s Load
- Lead by the Nose, To
- Lead on, Macduff
- Lead-Pipe Cinch
- Leading Edge
- Lean Over Backward
- Leap of Faith
- Leave in the Lurch, To
- Leave No Stone Unturned, To
- Leave Out in the Cold, To
- Leave to Someone’s Tender Mercies
- Leave/Let Well Enough Alone
- Left in the Lurch
- Left One’s Calling Card
- Left to One’s Own Devices, To Be
- Left-Handed Compliment, A
- Leg to Stand On, Doesn't Have a/Not a/Without a
- Lend One’s Ear, To
- Less is More
- Lesser of Two Evils
- Let Bygones Be Bygones
- Let Her Rip
- Let It All Hang Out
- Let Off Steam, To
- Let One’s Hair Down, To
- Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
- Let the Cat Out of the Bag, To
- Let the Chips Fall Where They May
- Let the Grass Grow Under One's Feet
- Let's Face It
- Let's Get the/This Show on the Road
- Letter Perfect
- Level Best, to Do One’s
- Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
- Lick and a Promise, A
- Lick One’s Chops, To
- Lie in Wait (for), to
- Lie Low, To
- Lie Through One’s Teeth, To
- Life in the Fast Lane
- Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
- Life Is Too Short
- Life of Reilly, Leading/Living the
- Life of the Party, The
- Life Style
- Lift a Finger, He/She Doesn’t/Won’t
- Light as a Feather
- Light at the End of the Tunnel, (See) the
- Light Dawned, The
- Lighten Up
- Like a Bat Out of Hell
- Like a Bump on a Log
- Like a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- Like a Chicken with Its Head Cut Off
- Like a Drowned Rat/Wet as a Drowned Rat
- Like a House Afire/On Fire
- Like a Ton of Bricks, (Come Down)
- Like an Open Book
- Like Death Warmed Over/Up, to Feel/Look
- Like Gangbusters, Come On/Going
- Like Greased Lightning
- Like It or Lump It
- Like It Was Going Out of Style
- Like Lambs to the Slaughter
- Like Money in the Bank
- Like Shooting Fish in a Barrel
- Like Taking Candy from a Baby
- Like the Wind, Go/Run
- Like Water Off a Duck's Back
- Like/As Two Peas in a Pod
- Line One’s Pockets, To
- Lion's Share, The
- Lip Service, to Give/Pay
- Lips Are Sealed, His/My
- Listen Up
- Little Pitchers Have Big Ears
- Little Things, The
- Live and Learn
- Live and Let Live
- Live by One’s Wits
- Live Dangerously, To
- Live in Sin, To
- Live Like a Prince, To
- Live on Borrowed Time, To
- Living Doll, A
- Lo and Behold
- Load Off One’s Mind, A
- Loaded for Bear
- Lock Horns With, To
- Lock the Barn/Stable Door After the Horse Has Bolted/Is Stolen, To
- Lock, Stock, and Barrel
- Long Face
- Long in the Tooth
- Long Shot, (Not By) A
- Long Suit, One’s
- Long Time No See
- Look Askance, To
- Look Before You Leap
- Look Daggers At, To
- Look Down One’s Nose At, To
- Look High and Low
- Look Who’s Talking
- Loose as a Goose
- Loose Cannon, a
- Loose Ends, to be at
- Lord (only) knows, the
- Lord It Over, To
- Lose Face, To
- Lose It, To
- Lose One’s Head, To
- Lose One’s Shirt, To
- Lose Sleep Over, To
- Losing Battle, (to Fight) a
- Lost Cause, A
- Lost in the Shuffle
- Lot of Hooey, A
- Loud and Clear
- Louse (Something) Up, To
- Love ’em and Leave ’em
- Love Conquers All
- Love is Blind
- Loved Ones
- Low Man on the Totem Pole
- Low Profile, Keep a
- Lower the Boom, To
- Luck of the Devil/Draw/Irish
- Lunatic Fringe, The
m
- Macho
- Mad as a Hatter
- Mad as a Wet Hen
- Mad Money
- Made My Day
- Magic Bullet
- Maid of All Work
- Make a Beeline For
- Make a Clean Breast of Something, To
- Make a Long Story Short, To
- Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill
- Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill, To
- Make a Virtue of Necessity, To
- Make an Ass of Oneself/Someone, To
- Make an Honest Woman of Her
- Make Ends Meet, To
- Make Hay While the Sun Shines
- Make Head or Tail of Something, To Be Unable To
- Make Headway, To
- Make Love, Not War
- Make My Day
- Make Nice
- Make No Bones About It, To
- Make One’s Blood Boil, To
- Make One’s Hair Stand on End, To
- Make One’s Mouth Water, To
- Make or Break, To
- Make Out Like a Bandit
- Make Short Work Of, To
- Make Someone's Day
- Make the Best of It, To
- Make the Feathers/Fur Fly, To
- Make the Grade, To
- Make Tracks, To
- Make Waves, To
- Man After My Own Heart
- Man Friday
- Man in the Moon, (No More Than) the
- Man in the Street, the
- Man of Few Words, A
- Man of the World, A
- Man or a Mouse, (Are You) A
- Man to Man
- Man Up
- Manna from Heaven
- Many a Slip 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip, There's
- March to (the Beat of) a Different Drummer, To
- Mark My Words
- Marriage Made in Heaven, A
- Matter of Life and Death, A
- May and December
- Mea Culpa
- Meal Ticket
- Mean Streak, A
- Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
- Meat and Drink to Me, It Is
- Meat and Potatoes
- Meet One's Waterloo, To
- Meet One’s Match, To
- Meeting of the Minds, A
- Mend One’s Fences, To
- Method in One’s Madness, There Is
- Mickey Mouse
- Midas Touch, the
- Midlife Crisis
- Might Makes Right
- Mile a Minute, A
- Milk It/Something Dry, To
- Milk of Human Kindness, The
- Mills of the Gods Grind Slowly, The
- Millstone (Around One’s Neck), to Bear/Carry a
- Mind One’s Own Business, To
- Mind One’s P’s and Q’s
- Mind Over Matter
- Mind the Store, To
- Mine of Information, A
- Mint Condition, In
- Mint of Money, Make a
- Misery Loves Company
- Miss a Trick, Doesn't/Not To
- Miss One's Guess, To
- Miss the Boat/Bus, To
- Mixed Bag, A
- Mixed Blessing, A
- Moment of Truth, The
- Mommy Track
- Monday-Morning Quarterback
- Money Burns a Hole in One’s Pocket
- Money is the Root of All Evil
- Money Talks
- Monkey Business
- Monkey See, Monkey Do
- Monkey Wrench in the Works, Put/Throw a
- Montezuma’s Revenge
- Month of Sundays, a
- Moot Point, A
- Moral Fiber
- More (to It) Than Meets the Eye
- More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
- More or Less
- More Power to You/Him/Them
- More Sinned Against Than Sinning
- More Than Just a Pretty Face
- More Than One Bargained For
- More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
- More Than One Way to Skin a Cat, There’s
- Morning After, The
- Most Unkindest Cut
- Mother Nature
- Move Heaven and Earth, To
- Move the Goalposts
- Movers and Shakers
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Muddy the Waters, To
- Mum’s the Word
- Murphy's Law
- Museum Piece, A
- Musical Chairs
- Mutual Admiration Society
- My Bad
- My Heart Bleeds for You
- My Lips Are Sealed
- My Name is Mud
n
- Nail in One’s Coffin, Drive/Put a
- Nail One's Colors to the Mast
- Naked as a Jaybird
- Naked Truth
- Name Dropping
- Name is Mud, One’s
- Napping, to be caught/catch
- Nature Abhors a Vacuum
- Ne Plus Ultra
- Nearest and Dearest
- Neat as a Pin
- Necessity is the Mother of Invention
- Neck and Neck
- Neck of the Woods, This
- Nectar of the Gods
- Need (Something) Like a Hole in the Head, To
- Needle in a Haystack, (Like Finding) a
- Needless to Say
- Neither Fish, Flesh, Nor Fowl
- Neither Here Nor There
- Neither Hide Nor Hair
- Neither Rhyme Nor Reason
- Nervous Nellie
- Never a Dull Moment
- Never Never Land
- Never Say Die
- New Lease on Life, A
- Next to Nothing
- NIMBY
- Nine-Day Wonder, A
- Nine-Eleven
- Nip and Tuck
- Nip in the Bud, To
- Nitpicker
- Nitty-Gritty, the
- No Can Do
- No Comment
- No Dice
- No Flies on Him/Her/Me
- No Go
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
- No Great Shakes
- No Holds Barred
- No Laughing Matter
- No Love Lost Between Them, There's
- No Matter How You Slice It
- No More Mr. Nice Guy
- No News is Good News
- No Pain, No Gain
- No Picnic
- No Problem
- No Quarter Given
- No Rest for the Weary (Wicked)
- No Skin Off My Nose
- No Smoke, No Fire
- No Sooner Said Than Done
- No Spring Chicken, (She’s)
- No Sweat
- No Two Ways About It
- No Way
- No-Brainer
- No-No, a
- No-Show
- No-Win Situation, A
- Nodding Acquaintance, A
- Non Compos
- Nook and Cranny, Every
- Nose Out of Joint, To Have One’s/Put Someone’s
- Nose to the Grindstone, Have/Keep One’s
- Not a Ghost of a Chance
- Not a Hope in Hell
- Not All Black and White
- Not All It's Cracked Up to Be
- Not Batting an Eye
- Not by a Long Shot
- Not Care/Give a Fig
- Not Care/Give/Worth a Fig, To
- Not Cricket
- Not Cricket, It’s/That’s
- Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
- Not for All the Tea in China
- Not for Love or Money
- Not Just a Pretty Face
- Not Know Beans
- Not Know from Adam
- Not Lift a Finger
- Not Long for This World
- Not on Your Life
- Not One's Cup of Tea
- Not So Much
- Not To
- Not to Be Sneezed At
- Not to Mince Words
- Not to Put Too Fine a Point on It
- Not Trust Someone as Far as One Can Throw Him/Her
- Not Until Hell Freezes Over
- Not Until the Cows Come Home
- Not What It's Cracked Up
- Not Worth a (Tinker’s) Damn
- Not Worth a Red Cent
- Not!
- Nothing Doing
- Nothing New Under the Sun
- Nothing to Write Home About
- Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
- Now or Never
- Number Cruncher
- Number’s Up, One’s/Your/His
- Nuts and Bolts, The
- Nuttier Than a Fruitcake
o
- Occam’s Razor
- Ockham’s Razor
- Odd Man Out
- Odds and Ends
- Odor of Sanctity, The
- Of That Ilk
- Of the First Magnitude/Order/Water
- Off Again, On Again
- Off Base
- Off One's Head, Rocker, etc.
- Off the Beam
- Off the Beaten Track
- Off the Cuff
- Off the Deep End, to Go
- Off the Hook, to Get/To Be Let
- Off the Record
- Off the Reservation
- Off the Top of One’s Head
- Off the Wall
- Old as the Hills
- Old Chestnut
- Old Codger/Coot/Fogy
- Old College Try, (Give It) The
- Old Enough to Know Better
- Old Guard
- Old Hat
- Old Saw
- Old Stamping Ground
- Old Wives' Tale
- Old-Boy Network, The
- On a Roll
- On a Shoestring
- On a/the Rampage
- On an Even Keel
- On Borrowed Time
- On Cloud Nine, To Be Sitting
- On Easy Street
- On One's High Horse
- On One's High Horse, To Be
- On One’s Last Legs, To Be
- On One’s Toes, To Be
- On Pins and Needles, To Be
- On Second Thought
- On Tenterhooks, To Be
- On the Ball
- On the Bandwagon, to Get/Climb/Hop
- On the Beam
- On the Carpet, To Be/Call/Put
- On the Dot
- On the Fast Track
- On the Fence, To Be/Sit
- On the Fly
- On the Fritz
- On the Front Burner
- On the Go, to Be
- On the Hustings
- On the Level, To Be
- On the Loose
- On the Make, to Be
- On the QT
- On the Rocks, to Be
- On the Ropes, To Be
- On the Same Page, to Be
- On the Side of the Angels, to Be
- On the Sly
- On the Spot
- On the Spur of the Moment
- On the Tip of One's Tongue
- On the Up and Up
- On the Wagon, To Be
- On the Warpath, to Be/Go
- On the Wrong Scent
- On Thin Ice, To Be/Skate
- On Top of the World, To Be
- Once and for All
- Once Bitten, Twice Shy
- Once in a Blue Moon
- One Fell Swoop
- One Foot in the Grave
- One for the Road
- One Good Turn Deserves Another
- One Hand Washes the Other
- One Man’s Meat is Another’s Poison
- One on One
- One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
- One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer
- One-Horse Town
- One-Man Band
- One-Night Stand
- One-Track Mind, to Have a
- Onward and Upward
- Open and Aboveboard
- Open Question, An
- Open Secret, An
- Open Sesame
- Opening Gambit
- Or What?
- Order of the Day, The
- Other Fish to Fry
- Other Things Being Equal
- Out and Out
- Out in Left Field
- Out Like a Light
- Out of a Clear (Blue) Sky
- Out of Harm’s Way
- Out of It
- Out of Kilter/Whack
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind
- Out of the Blue
- Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire
- Out of the Mouths of Babes
- Out of the Running
- Out of the Woods
- Out of Whole Cloth
- Out on a Limb
- Out the Window
- Out to Lunch
- Outside the Box
- Outsource
- Over a Barrel
- Over and Above
- Over My Dead Body
- Over the Hill, to be
- Over the Top, To Go
- Own Man/Person, To Be One’s
- Own Up (to), to
- Own Worst Enemy, To Be One’s
p
- Pack a Wallop/Punch, To
- Pack It In, To
- Pack of Lies, A
- Packed in Like Sardines
- Paddle One's Own Canoe, To
- Paid
- Paid One’s Dues
- Pain in the Neck, A
- Paint the Town Red, To
- Palm Off, To
- Pan Out, To
- Paper Over (the Cracks), To
- Par for the Course
- Pardon/Excuse My French
- Part and Parcel
- Parting of the Ways, A
- Parting Shot, A
- Party Girl
- Party Line, The
- Pass Muster, To
- Pass the Buck, To
- Pass the Hat, To
- Pass the Time of Day, To
- Past History
- Patience of Job, the
- Patter of Little Feet, The
- Pave the Way, To
- Pay As You Go
- Pay Dirt, to Hit/Strike
- Pay in Someone’s Own Coin, To
- Pay the Piper, To
- Pay the Price, To
- Pay Through the Nose, To
- PDQ
- Peace of Mind
- Pearl of Great Price, A
- Pearls of Wisdom
- Pecking Order
- Peeping Tom
- Pen is Mightier than the Sword, The
- Pencil Me In
- Penny Dropped, The
- Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
- Penny-Ante Game, A
- People Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones
- Perish the Thought
- Persona Non Grata
- Pet Peeve, One’s
- Philadelphia Lawyer
- Photo Op
- Pick a Bone (with Someone), To
- Pick and Choose, To
- Pick of the Litter, The
- Pick Someone's Brain, To
- Picture of Health, The
- Picture Perfect
- Pie in the Sky
- Pièce de Résistance
- Piece of Ass/Tail
- Piece of Cake, It's a
- Piece of Goods, A
- Piece of One’s Mind, (to Give Someone) a
- Piece of the Action, a
- Piece of Work, A
- Pig in a Poke, to Buy a
- Pigs in Clover
- Pillar of Society, A
- Pillow Talk
- Pin Money
- Pin One’s Hopes On, To
- Pinch Pennies, To
- Pink Slip
- Pinpoint Accuracy
- Pipe Down, (to)
- Pissed Off
- Pit Stop
- Pitched Battle, a
- Place for Everything (and Everything in Its Place), A
- Place in the Sun
- Plain as Day/The Nose on Your Face
- Plain Sailing
- Plain Vanilla
- Plate, to Have a Lot/Enough on One’s
- Play Ball With, To
- Play Both Ends Against the Middle, To
- Play Cat and Mouse
- Play Fast and Loose, To
- Play Hardball
- Play It by Ear, To
- Play Musical Chairs, To
- Play One’s Cards Close to One’s Chest, To
- Play One’s Cards Right/Well, To
- Play Possum, To
- Play Second Fiddle, To
- Play the Field, To
- Play the Game, To
- Play the Heavy, To
- Play the Race Card
- Play to the Gallery, To
- Play with Fire, To
- Pleased as Punch
- Plot Thickens, The
- Plumb the Depths, To
- Podunk
- Point of No Return, The
- Poison Pen
- Poke Fun At, To
- Poke One’s Nose Into, To
- Poker Face
- Politically Correct
- Poor as a Churchmouse
- Pop the Question, To
- Possession is Nine Points of the Law
- Post Haste
- Pot Calling the Kettle Black, The
- Pot Luck
- Pot to Pee/Piss In, Not Have a
- Pound of Flesh, A
- Pour Oil on Troubled Waters
- Pour Oil on Troubled Waters, To
- Power Behind the Throne, The
- Power Lunch/Breakfast
- Powers That Be, The
- Practice Makes Perfect
- Practice What You Preach
- Praise to the Skies, To
- Precious Few
- Preppy
- Press the Flesh, To
- Pretty as a Picture
- Pretty Penny
- Price is Right, The
- Prick Up One’s Ears, To
- Pride and Joy, One’s
- Prime of Life, The
- Prime the Pump, To
- Primrose Path, The
- Promised Land, The
- Proud as a Peacock
- Pull a Fast One
- Pull a Fast One, To
- Pull a Rabbit Out of a Hat, To
- Pull No Punches, To
- Pull One’s (Own) Weight, To
- Pull Oneself Together, To
- Pull Out All the Stops, To
- Pull Rank, To
- Pull Someone’s Leg, To
- Pull Strings, To
- Pull the Chestnuts Out of the Fire, To
- Pull the Rug Out from Under (Someone), To
- Pull the Wool Over Someone’s Eyes, To
- Pull Up Stakes, To
- Punch Drunk
- Puppy Love
- Pure and Simple
- Pure as the Driven Snow
- Purple Prose
- Push Comes to Shove, If/When
- Push Someone's Buttons, To
- Push the Envelope
- Push the Panic Button, To
- Push Up Daisies, To
- Put a Good/Bold Face on Something, To
- Put All One’s Eggs in One Basket
- Put in a Good Word for Someone/Something, To
- Put in Your Two Cents
- Put on Airs, To
- Put on Hold/Ice/The Back Burner, To
- Put on One’s Thinking Cap, To
- Put on the Dog, To
- Put on the Spot
- Put One's Money Where One's Mouth Is, To
- Put One’s Best Foot Forward, To
- Put One’s Faith In
- Put One’s Foot Down, To
- Put One’s Foot in It/One’s Mouth, To
- Put One’s Oar In, To
- Put One’s Shoulder to the Wheel
- Put Out to Grass/Pasture, to Be
- Put Someone in the Picture, To
- Put Someone’s Nose Out of Joint
- Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It
- Put Through One’s Paces
- Put Through the Wringer
- Put Two and Two Together, To
- Put Up or Shut Up
- Put Words into Someone’s Mouth, To
- Pyrrhic Victory
q
- Quake/Shake Like a Leaf, To
- Quantum Leap
- Queer as a Three-Dollar Bill
- Quick and the Dead, The
- Quick as a Wink/Bunny
- Quick Fix, There’s No
- Quick on the Draw/Trigger
- Quid Pro Quo
- Quiet as a Mouse
r
- Rabbit Food
- Rack and Ruin, Gone To
- Rack One's Brain, To
- Ragtag and Bobtail
- Rain on Someone’s Parade, To
- Rain or Shine
- Raining Cats and Dogs, It’s
- Raise Cain, To
- Raise One’s Hackles, To
- Raise the Ante, To
- Raise the Roof, To
- Rake Over the Coals
- Rally 'Round the Flag
- Rank and File, The
- Rant and Rave, To
- Rare Bird, A
- Raring to Go
- Rat Race, A
- Rats Abandon a Sinking Ship
- Raw Deal, A
- Razor’s Edge, On the
- Read Between the Lines, To
- Read My Lips
- Read Someone Like an Open Book, To
- Read the Riot Act, To
- Ready, Willing, and Able
- Real McCoy, the
- Really and Truly
- Red as a Beet
- Red Flag/Rag to a Bull, Like a
- Red Herring
- Red-Carpet Treatment, The
- Red-Letter Day, A
- Reinvent the Wheel, To
- Reinventing the Wheel
- Rent-a-Cop
- Rest in Peace
- Rest on One’s Laurels, to
- Revenge is Sweet
- Rich as Croesus
- Ride for a Fall, To
- Ride Hell (Bent) for Leather, To
- Ride Herd On, To
- Ride Off Into the Sunset, To
- Ride One’s Hobbyhorse, To
- Ride Roughshod Over, To
- Right as Rain
- Right Away
- Right Off the Bat
- Right On!
- Right Scent
- Right Tack/Track, to Take/On the
- Right Up One's Alley, To Be
- Right/Wrong Place at the Right Time, to be in the
- Ring Down the Curtain (on), to
- Ring of Truth, The
- Ring the Changes, To
- Rings a Bell, That
- Ripe Old Age
- Rise and Shine
- Risen from/Through the Ranks
- Rising Tide, A
- Risk Life and Limb, To
- Road Rage
- Road to Damascus
- Rob Peter to Pay Paul, to
- Rock of Ages
- Rock the Boat, To
- Rocket Scientist, You Don’t Have to Be a
- Rocks in One’s Head, to Have
- Rogues Gallery
- Role Model
- Roll with the Punches, To
- Rome Was Not Built in a Day
- Root of the Matter, The
- Rose-Colored Glasses, to Look/See Through
- Rough and Ready
- Rough and Tumble
- Rough Diamond
- Round Peg in a Square Hole, A
- Rub Elbows With, To
- Rub It In, To
- Rub the Wrong Way, To
- Rube Goldberg
- Ruffle Someone’s Feathers, To
- Rule of Thumb
- Rule the Roost, To
- Rule with an Iron Hand/Rod, To
- Run a Tight Ship, To
- Run Amok, To
- Run Around in Circles, To
- Run Circles/Rings Around, To
- Run for One’s Money, (Give) a
- Run in the Blood/Family, To
- Run It Up the Flagpole (and See Who Salutes), Let’s
- Run Its Course, To
- Run Like Clockwork, To
- Run of the Mill
- Run Off at the Mouth, To
- Run One’s Head Against (Into) a Brick/Stone Wall, To
- Run Out of Steam, To
- Run Riot, To
- Run That By Me Again
- Run the Gamut, To
- Run the Gauntlet, to
- Run the Show, To
- Run to Earth, To
- Run to Seed, To
- Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hounds, To
- Running Battle
- Running on Empty
- Russian roulette, to play
s
- S.O.L.
- Sack, to Get/Give the
- Sackcloth and Ashes, to be in
- Sacred Cow
- Sad Sack, a
- Sad State of Affairs, A
- Sadder and Wiser
- Safe and Sound
- Safe Haven
- Sail Close to (Near) the Wind, To
- Sail Under False Colors, To
- Salad Days, One's
- Salt Away, To
- Salt of the Earth, The
- Same Difference
- Same Old Rigmarole, The
- Sandwich Generation
- Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander
- Save Face, To
- Save for a Rainy Day, To
- Save One’s Skin, To
- Save Your Breath
- Saved by the Bell
- Saving Grace, A
- Say Uncle, To
- Say What?
- Scarce as Hen’s Teeth
- Scared Silly/Stiff/To Death, To Be
- School of Hard Knocks
- Schoolgirl Complexion, A
- Scout's Honor
- Scrape the Bottom of the Barrel
- Scratch the Surface, To
- Scream Bloody/Blue Murder, To
- Screw Loose, To Have A
- Screw Up, To
- Sea Change, a
- Sea Legs, to Get One's
- Seamy Side, The
- Second Nature
- Second to None
- Second Wind, to Get One's
- Secret Weapon
- See Eye to Eye, To
- See Light at the End of a Tunnel
- See Red, To
- See the Light, To
- See Through Someone/Something, To
- See You Later
- Seeing is Believing
- Seek and Ye Shall Find
- Seen Better Days, to Have
- Seen One, Seen Them All, If/When You’ve
- Seen the Elephant
- Seize the Day
- Self-Made Man, A
- Sell Down the River, To
- Sell Like Hot Cakes
- Sell Like Hot Cakes, To
- Sell Someone a Bill of Goods, To
- Send Packing, To
- Senior Moment
- Separate but Equal
- Separate the Men from the Boys, To
- Separate the Sheep from the Goats, To
- Separate the Wheat from the Chaff, To
- Set Great Store By, To
- Set in Stone
- Set on a Pedestal, To
- Set One’s Cap For, To
- Set One’s Heart at Rest, To
- Set One’s Heart On, To
- Set One’s Sights On, To
- Set One’s Teeth on Edge, To
- Settle Old Scores, To
- Settle Someone’s Hash, To
- Seven-Year Itch
- Seventh Heaven, To Be In
- Shadow of One’s (Former/Old) Self, A
- Shake a Leg
- Shake in One’s Shoes/Boots, To
- Shake Like a Leaf
- Shake the Dust from One's Feet, To
- Shake with Laughter, To
- Shank of the Evening
- Shank's Mare
- Shape Up or Ship Out
- Share and Share Alike, To
- Sharp as a Tack
- Shed Light On, To
- Shell Game
- Ship of State
- Ship to Come In, Wait for One’s
- Ships That Pass in the Night
- Shit or Get Off the Pot
- Shoe is on the Other Foot, The
- Shoo-In
- Shoot Down, To
- Shoot One’s Bolt, To
- Shoot Oneself in the Foot, To
- Shoot the Bull, To
- Shoot the Moon
- Shoot the Works, To
- Short and Sweet
- Short End of the Stick, To Get/Have the
- Short Shrift, to Get/Give
- Shot in the Arm, A
- Shot in the Dark, A
- Shot One’s Bolt
- Shot to Hell
- Shoulder to the Wheel, to Put/Set One’s
- Shout from the Housetops/Rooftops, to
- Show Me the Money
- Show One’s Face, To
- Show One’s Hand, To
- Show One’s True Colors, To
- Shrinking Violet, A
- Shut the Stable Door
- Sick and Tired
- Sick as a Dog, to Be
- Sick at Heart
- Sigh of Relief, (Heave) a
- Sight Unseen
- Sign of the Times, A
- Sign on the Dotted Line, To
- Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
- Silence is Golden
- Silver Bullet
- Silver-Tongued Orator
- Simon Pure
- Simple Simon
- Since the Beginning of Time
- Sing Another Tune
- Sing for One’s Supper
- Sink One’s Teeth Into, To
- Sink or Swim
- Sink Through the Floor, To
- Sinking Feeling, A
- Sit on One’s Ass
- Sit on the Fence
- Sit Tight, To
- Sit Up and Take Notice, To (Make Someone)
- Sitting Duck, A
- Sitting Pretty
- Six Degrees of Separation
- Six Feet Under
- Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other
- Sixth Sense, A
- Sixty-Four-Thousand-Dollar Question, The
- Skeleton in the Closet, The
- Skid Row, On
- Skin and Bones, (Nothing but)
- Sky is Falling, The
- Sky's the Limit, the
- Slam Dunk
- Sleaze Factor
- Sleep Like a Log/Top, To
- Sleep on Something, To
- Slender Reed, A
- Slice of Life
- Slice the Pie, To
- Slim Pickings
- Slip Through One's Fingers, To Let
- Slippery as an Eel
- Slippery Slope, A
- Slow as (Slower than) Molasses (in January)
- Slow but Sure
- Small Beer/Small Potatoes
- Smart Aleck, a
- Smart as a Whip
- Smart Set
- Smell a Rat, To
- Smell Fishy, To
- Smell to High Heaven, To
- Smoke Like a Chimney, To
- Smoke Someone/Something Out, To
- Smoking Gun
- Smooth as Silk
- Smooth Sailing
- Snail's Pace
- Snake in One’s Bosom
- Snake in the Grass
- Snake Oil
- Snow Job
- Snowball’s Chance in Hell
- Snug as a Bug in a Rug
- So Far, So Good
- So Long
- So Near and Yet So Far
- So to Speak
- So Yesterday
- Soaked to the Skin
- Sob Story
- Sober as a Judge
- Soccer Mom
- Sock It to Them
- Soft Soap
- Soft Touch, A
- Soft Underbelly
- Something Else, He/She/It Is
- Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark
- Son of a Gun
- Song and Dance, (to give someone) a
- Sooner or Later
- Sound as a Bell
- Sound Bite
- Sound Like a Broken Record
- Sour Grapes
- Sow One's Wild Oats
- Spanking New
- Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child
- Speak for Yourself
- Speak of the Devil
- Speak One's Mind, To
- Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
- Speak the Same Language, To
- Speak Volumes, To
- Spick and Span
- Spill the Beans, To
- Spin Control
- Spirit Is Willing but the Flesh Is Weak, The
- Spit and Polish
- Spitting Image, The
- Split Hairs, To
- Split One's Sides, To
- Spread Like Wildfire
- Spread Like Wildfire, To
- Square Meal, A
- Square Peg in a Round Hole
- Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease, The
- Stab in the Back, A
- Stack the Deck
- Stack Up Against, To
- Staff of Life, The
- Stage Whisper
- Stalking Horse
- Stand on Ceremony, To
- Stand One’s Ground, To
- Stand Up and Be Counted
- Star Chamber
- Stark Raving Mad
- Start from Scratch, To
- Start Off on the Right Foot, To
- State of the Art
- Status Symbol
- Stay the Course
- Steady as a Rock
- Steal a March on Someone, To
- Steal Someone’s Thunder, To
- Steer Clear Of, To
- Stem the Tide, To
- Step Up to the Plate
- Step/Tread on Someone’s Toes, To
- Sterling Qualities
- Stew in One’s Own Juice, Left to
- Stewed to the Gills
- Stick in One’s Craw, To
- Stick in the Mud
- Stick One’s Neck Out, To
- Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, To
- Stick to One’s Guns, To
- Stick to the Ribs
- Sticker Shock
- Sticking Point
- Sticky Wicket, (to Bat on) a
- Stiff as a Board
- Still as a Mouse
- Still Small Voice, A
- Still Waters Run Deep
- Stir Up a Hornets’ Nest, To
- Stock in Trade
- Stone's Throw, A
- Story of My Life, That's the
- Straight and Narrow, (Walk) the
- Straight as an Arrow
- Straight from the Horse's Mouth
- Straight from the Shoulder
- Straight Shooter, A
- Strange Bedfellows
- Straw(s) in the Wind
- Street Smarts
- Stretch One’s Legs, To
- Strike Oil, To
- Strike While the Iron is Hot, To
- Stroke of Genius, A
- Strong Silent Type, The
- Stubborn as a Mule
- Stuffed Shirt, A
- Stumbling Block, A
- Stung to the Quick
- Such as It Is
- Suffer Fools Gladly, Does Not
- Suffice It to Say
- Sugar Daddy
- Sum and Substance
- Sunday Best
- Sure as Shooting
- Sure Thing, A
- Survival of the Fittest
- Swallow One’s Pride, To
- Swan Song
- Swear Like a Trooper, To
- Swear on a Stack of Bibles, to
- Sweat Blood, To
- Sweep (Something) Under the Rug, To
- Sweep Off One’s Feet, To
- Sweet Tooth, (to have) a
- Sweeten the Pot
- Sweetness and Light
- Swelled Head, to Have a
- Swim with the Tide, To
- Switch Hitter
- Sword of Damocles
- Swords into Ploughshares
t
- T.G.I.F.
- Take (Someone) at His/Her Word, To
- Take (Someone) Down a Peg, To
- Take (Someone) for a Ride, To
- Take a Backseat, To
- Take a Bath, To
- Take a Dim View Of, To
- Take a Leaf Out of Someone’s Book, To
- Take a Leak, To
- Take a Powder, To
- Take a Rain Check, To
- Take a Shine To, To
- Take Aback, To
- Take at Face Value, To
- Take by Storm, To
- Take Care
- Take into One's Own Hands, to
- Take Into One’s Head, To
- Take It from Me, (You Can)
- Take It in Stride, To
- Take It Lying Down, To
- Take It or Leave It
- Take No Prisoners
- Take Off One’s Hat To, To
- Take One's Breath Away, To
- Take One's Name in Vain, To
- Take Pains, To
- Take Root, To
- Take the Bit Between the Teeth, To
- Take the Bitter with the Sweet
- Take the Bull by the Horns, To
- Take the Cake, To
- Take the Heat, To
- Take the Law into One’s Own Hands
- Take the Load Off One’s Feet
- Take the Money and Run
- Take the Rough with the Smooth, To
- Take the Wind Out of Someone's Sails, To
- Take the Words Out of Someone’s Mouth
- Take to Heart, To
- Take to It Like a Duck to Water, To
- Take to One’s Heels, To
- Take to Task, To
- Take to the Cleaners, To
- Take Umbrage, To
- Take Under One's Wing
- Take Up the Gauntlet
- Talk of the Devil
- Talk of the Town, The
- Talk One’s Head Off, To
- Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
- Talk Through One’s Hat, To
- Talk Turkey, To
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome
- Tan Someone’s Hide, To
- Tarred with the Same Brush, to Be
- Tea and Sympathy
- Teach an Old Dog New Tricks, One Can’t/It’s Hard To
- Tear One’s Hair, To
- Telegraph One’s Punches
- Tell It Like It Is, To
- Tell Tales Out of School, To
- Tell That to the Marines
- Tempest in a Teapot, A
- Tempt Fate, To
- Tender Loving Care
- Test of Time, Stood the/Passed the
- Test the Water (Waters), To
- Thank God for Small Favors
- Thank God It's Friday
- Thank One’s Lucky Stars, To
- Thanks but No Thanks
- That Ain’t Hay
- That Does It
- That Dog Won’t Hunt
- That Goes Without Saying
- That'll Be the Day
- That’s How (the Way) the Ball Bounces/Cookie Crumbles
- That’s That
- That’s the Ticket
- The Big Picture
- The Big Time
- The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall
- The Bigger They Come
- The Devil You Know Is Better Than the Devil You Don’t Know
- The Feeling is Mutual
- The Hard Way
- The Icing on the Cake
- The King is Dead, Long Live the King!
- The Last Straw
- The Least Little Thing
- The Left Hand Doesn't Know What the Right Hand is Doing
- The Long and the Short of It
- The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away
- The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum
- The Moon Is Made of Green Cheese
- The More the Merrier
- The Mountain Will Not Come to Mohammed
- The Name of the Game
- The Other Side of the Coin
- The Pits, (It's)
- The Proof of the Pudding Is in the Eating
- The Rest Is History
- The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
- The Royal We
- The Show Must Go On
- The Sticks
- The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back
- The Suspense is Killing Me
- The Time is Ripe
- The Time of One’s Life
- Then and There
- There But for the Grace of God Go I
- There is No Accounting for Tastes
- There You Go
- There's No Business Like Show Business
- There's No Place Like Home
- There's No Two Ways About It
- There's Something in the Wind
- There’s No Flies on Him/Her
- There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool
- There’s the Rub
- Thereby Hangs a Tale
- Thick and Fast
- Thick as Thieves
- Thick Skin, to Have a
- Thin Edge of the Wedge, The
- Thing of Beauty (Is a Joy Forever), A
- Thingamabob
- Think Nothing of It
- Think Positive
- Think Twice, To
- Thinking Inside the Box
- Third Degree, to Give/Get the
- Thirty Pieces of Silver
- This, Too, Shall/Will Pass
- Thorn in the Flesh/One’s Side, A
- Threat or a Promise, Is That a
- Three Rs, the
- Three Sheets to the Wind
- Three-Ring Circus, A
- Three's a Crowd
- Through and Through
- Through the Mill, to Go/To Be Put
- Through Thick and Thin
- Throw Down the Gauntlet, To
- Throw Dust in Someone's Eyes, to
- Throw Good Money After Bad, To
- Throw in the Sponge/Towel, To
- Throw Light On
- Throw One’s Weight Around, To
- Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater, To/Don't
- Throw the Book at, to
- Throw to the Winds, To
- Throw to the Wolves, To
- Throw Up One's Hands, To
- Tickle Fortune
- Tickled Pink/To Death, To Be
- Tie the Knot, To
- Tiger by the Tail, To Have a
- Tight as a Drum
- Tight as a Tick
- Tighten One's Belt, To
- Till Hell Freezes Over
- Till the Cows Come Home
- Tilt at Windmills, To
- Time and Tide Wait for No Man
- Time and Time Again
- Time Flies
- Time is Money
- Time of Day
- Time on One's Hands, (to have)
- Time Out of Mind
- Time to Kill
- Time Warp
- Time Will Tell
- Times Are Out of Joint, The
- Tin Ear
- Tip of the Iceberg, (Only) the
- Tip/Turn the Scales
- Tissue of Lies
- Tit for Tat
- TLC
- To a Fault
- To a T
- To Beat the Band
- To Each His Own
- To Hell and Gone
- To One's Heart's Content
- To the Hilt
- To the Manner/Manor Born
- To the Nth Degree
- To the Quick
- To the Victor Belong the Spoils
- To Think Outside the Box
- To Wit
- Toast, To Be
- Toe the Line/Mark, To
- Tomorrow is Another Day
- Tongue in Cheek, With
- Too Big for One’s Britches (Breeches)
- Too Close for Comfort/To Home
- Too Close to Call
- Too Good to Be True
- Too Little Too Late
- Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians
- Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
- Too Many Irons in the Fire
- Too Much of a Good Thing
- Tooth and Nail, Fight/With
- Top Banana/Dog
- Top Brass, The
- Top Drawer
- Top Forty
- Toss and Turn, To
- Touch and Go
- Tough Act to Follow
- Tough Nut to Crack
- Tower of Strength
- Track Record
- Train of Thought
- Tree Hugger
- Trials and Tribulations
- Tried and True
- Trim One's Sails, To
- Trip the Light Fantastic, To
- Trojan, he is a/works like a/a regular
- Trophy Wife
- True Blue
- Trust Someone as Far as One Could Throw Him
- Truth is Stranger than Fiction
- Truth of the Matter
- Truth to Tell
- Truth Will Out
- Tunnel Vision
- Turn a Blind Eye/Deaf Ear, To
- Turn Back the Clock
- Turn of the Tide
- Turn One’s Back On, To
- Turn Over a New Leaf, To
- Turn Over in One’s Grave
- Turn Someone's Head, To
- Turn Tail, To
- Turn the Clock Back, To
- Turn the Corner, To
- Turn the Other Cheek, To
- Turn the Tables, To
- Turn Turtle, To
- Turn Up One's Nose At, To
- Turn Up the Heat
- Turnabout is Fair Play
- Turning a Hair, Not/Without
- Tweedledum and Tweedledee
- Twenty-Four/Seven
- Twenty-Twenty Hindsight
- Twiddle One's Thumbs, To
- Twist in the Wind, Be Left To
- Twist/Wind Around One’s Little Finger, To
- Two Heads Are Better Than One
- Two Sides of the Same Coin
- Two Strikes Against Someone/Something, to Have
- Two Strings to One's Bow
- Two-Way Street
- Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd
u
- Ugly as Sin
- Ugly Duckling
- Ulterior Motive, An
- Under a Cloud, to Be
- Under One's Breath
- Under One's Nose, (Right)
- Under One’s Belt
- Under One’s Wing, To Be/Take Someone
- Under Someone’s Thumb
- Under the Radar
- Under the Table
- Under the Weather
- United We Stand
- Unkindest Cut of All, (Most)
- Unmitigated Gall
- Unsung Heroes
- Until Hell Freezes Over
- Unvarnished Truth, The
- Unwritten Law
- Up a Creek (Without a Paddle)
- Up a Notch
- Up a Tree
- Up Against It/The Wall
- Up and About/Doing
- Up and at ’em
- Up for Grabs
- Up in Arms
- Up in the Air
- Up One's Alley
- Up One’s Sleeve, to Have Something
- Up the Ante
- Up the Creek
- Up the Wall
- Up to One’s Ears/Eyes/Eyebrows, to Be
- Up to Par
- Up to Scratch (To Come/Be)
- Up to Snuff
- Up to Speed
- Up to the Hilt
- Upper Crust, The
- Upper Hand, to Have the
- Ups and Downs
- Upset the Applecart, To
- Upside the Head
v
- Vanish into Thin Air, To
- Variety is the Spice of Life
- Various and Sundry
- Vengeance is Sweet
- Vested Interest
- Vicious Circle
- Vim and Vigor
- Viper in One's Bosom, (Nourish) a
- Vive la Différence
- Vote with One’s Feet, To
w
- Wages of Sin, The
- Wail Like a Banshee, To
- Wait and See
- Wait on Hand and Foot, To
- Wake the Dead, To
- Wake-Up Call
- Walk All Over Someone, To
- Walk on Air, To
- Walk on Eggs, To
- Walk on Water, To
- Walk Tall, To
- Walk the Plank, To
- Walking Encyclopedia, A
- Walking Wounded
- Wall-to-Wall
- Walls Have Ears, The
- War of Nerves, a
- Warhorse, a (an old)
- Warm and Fuzzy
- Warm Heart, A
- Warm the Cockles of One’s Heart, To
- Warts and All
- Wash One’s Dirty Linen in Public, To
- Wash One’s Hands of (Something), To
- Waste Not, Want Not
- Waste One’s Breath, To
- Water Over the Dam
- Way Out in Left Field
- Way to a Man’s Heart, The
- Way to Go
- Weak as a Kitten
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Wear One’s Heart on One’s Sleeve, To
- Wear Out One’s Welcome, To
- Wear the Pants, To
- Wear Two Hats (More Than One Hat), To
- Weasel Word
- Weather Eye, to Keep a
- Weather the Storm, To
- Weigh One’s Words, To
- Weighed (in the Balance) and Found Wanting
- Well and Good
- Well-Heeled, to Be
- Well's Run Dry, The
- Wend One's Way, To
- Wet Behind the Ears, (Still)
- Wet Blanket, a
- Wet One’s Whistle, To
- Wet to the Skin
- What Do You Know, (Well)
- What Goes Around Comes Around
- What Part of No Don’t You Understand?
- What You See Is What You Get
- What's New (with You)?
- What's Not to Like?
- What's Sauce for the Goose
- What's What
- Whatchamacallit
- Whatever
- Wheel and Deal, To
- Wheel of Fortune, The
- Wheels Within Wheels
- When All's (Is) Said and Done
- When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do
- When My Ship Comes In
- When Pigs Fly
- When Push Comes to Shove
- When the Balloon Goes Up
- When the Cat's Away, the Mice Will Play
- When the Chips Are Down
- When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
- When the Shit Hits the Fan
- When the Sun is Over the Yardarm
- Where It’s At
- Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
- Where's the Beef?
- Which Way the Wind Blows, (To Know)
- While/Where There's Life There's Hope
- Whipping Boy, a
- Whistle in the Dark, To
- Whistlin’ Dixie, You Ain’t Just
- White as a Sheet
- White Elephant, a
- White Feather, to Show the
- White Flag, Hang Out/Show the
- White Lie, A
- Whitewash, a
- Whiz Kid
- Whole Hog, The/To Go
- Whole Nine Yards, The
- Whole Shebang, The
- Whys and Wherefores, the
- Wiggle Room
- Wild and Woolly (West), the
- Wild Card
- Wild Goose Chase, a
- Wild Horses Couldn't Drag Me
- Wild Oats, to Sow One’s
- Willy-Nilly, to do something
- Win Hands Down, To
- Win Some, Lose Some
- Wind Around One’s Finger
- Window of Opportunity, a
- Wine, Women, and Song
- Wing It, To
- Wipe the Slate Clean
- Wishful Thinking
- With a Grain of Salt
- With a Vengeance
- With All Due Respect
- With All My Heart
- With Bated Breath
- With Friends Like That, Who Needs Enemies
- With It, To Be/To Get
- With One's Tail Between One's Legs
- With Open Arms
- With Strings Attached
- With the Gloves Off
- Within an Ace of, To Be
- Without a Leg to Stand On
- Without Batting an Eye
- Without Rhyme or Reason
- Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, a
- Won’t
- Won’t Take No for an Answer
- Wonders Will Never Cease
- Word of Mouth
- Word to the Wise, A
- Words Fail Me
- Words Right Out of One's Mouth, to Take
- Work Cut Out for One, to Have One’s
- Work One's Fingers to the Bone, To
- Work One's Tail Off, To
- World Class
- World is My Oyster, The
- World of Good, A
- Worm Turns, The
- Worn to a Frazzle
- Worry Wart
- Worship the Ground Someone Walks On, To
- Worst-Case Scenario
- Worth Its/One’s Weight in Gold
- Worth One’s Salt, to Be
- Wouldn't Give Someone the Time of Day
- Wouldn't Touch It with a Ten-Foot Pole
- Wrack and Ruin
- Wrath of God, Look/Feel Like the
- Wreak Havoc
- Writing on the Wall, The
- Wrong End of the Stick, (Got Hold of) the
- Wrong Side of Bed
- Wrong Side of the Tracks, The
x
- X Marks the Spot
y
- Yada Yada Yada
- Year In, Year Out
- Yes and No
- You (Can) Bet Your (Sweet) Life
- You Better Believe It
- You Can Lead a Horse to Water But You Can’t Make Him Drink
- You Can't Fight City Hall
- You Can't Take It with You
- You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
- You Can’t Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow’s Ear
- You Can’t Make an Omelet Without Breaking Eggs
- You Can’t Win ’Em All
- You Could Have Heard (Hear) a Pin Drop
- You Get What You Pay For
- You Name It
- You Pay Your Money and Take Your Choice
- You Pays Your Money and Takes Your Choice
- You Said a Mouthful
- You Said It
- You Should Excuse the Expression
- You've Got Another Think Coming
- You’d Better Believe It
- Your Call is Important to Us
- Your Guess Is as Good as Mine
- Your/My Take On
- Yours Truly
- Yuppie
z

Can't See the Forest for the Trees: Meaning and Origins

March 21, 2025 3 min read Language Culture Clichés Phrases Semantics Etymology

Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'can't see the forest for the trees' in language and literature.

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Can’t See the Forest for the Trees§

Definition§

The phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees” refers to a situation where an individual is so focused on minor details that they fail to grasp the larger context or overall picture. It highlights the tendency to become preoccupied with trivialities, thereby losing sight of more significant matters.

Etymology and Historical Context§

The origins of this phrase can be traced back to the 16th century, specifically to John Heywood’s collection of proverbs in 1546, which includes the saying, “Ye cannot see the wood for the trees.” This expression has endured through the centuries, reflecting a universal human tendency to become mired in minutiae. A notable modern adaptation of the phrase appears in C. S. Lewis’s critique of William Golding’s novel, The Inheritors, wherein he remarks, “All those little details you only notice in real life if you’ve got a high temperature. You couldn’t see the wood for the leaves.”

Semantic Analysis§

The phrase encapsulates a cognitive bias where excessive attention to detail obscures broader understanding. It serves as a caution against myopic thinking and encourages a more holistic perspective. In various contexts, it underscores the importance of balancing detail-oriented analysis with an appreciation for the overarching framework.

In contemporary culture, “can’t see the forest for the trees” is frequently employed in discussions about decision-making, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It appears in literature, business discourse, and everyday conversation as a reminder to maintain perspective. The phrase is often invoked in critiques of bureaucratic processes, where an overemphasis on procedural details can hinder effective outcomes.

“Missing the big picture”
“Can’t see the wood for the trees” (British variant)
“Tunnel vision”
“Overlooking the obvious”

Illustrative Examples§

In a business meeting, the manager cautioned the team not to “focus so much on the quarterly metrics that we can’t see the forest for the trees.”
The novel’s protagonist was so concerned with the intricacies of his daily routine that he “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” when it came to his life’s direction.

Contextual Variations§

In professional settings, the phrase is often used to critique overly meticulous planning that neglects strategic goals. In social contexts, it may describe individuals who are so engrossed in personal grievances that they overlook broader relationship dynamics. In literature, it can characterize characters who are oblivious to their circumstances due to an obsession with trivial matters.

Contemporary Relevance and Durability§

The phrase remains highly relevant in modern discourse, given the increasing complexity of information and the propensity for detail-oriented thinking. Its applicability across various domains ensures its continued usage. Durability: ★★★★☆

Quotations§

“Ye cannot see the wood for the trees.” - John Heywood, Proverbs (1546)

“All those little details you only notice in real life if you’ve got a high temperature. You couldn’t see the wood for the leaves.” - C. S. Lewis, critique of The Inheritors

Cross-References§

“Missing the big picture”
“Tunnel vision”
“Overlooking the obvious”

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