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

Understanding 'The Nitty-Gritty': Origins, Meaning, and Usage

March 21, 2025 2 min read Language Culture Idioms Etymology Semantics English Language

Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'the nitty-gritty,' a term denoting the heart of the matter or fundamentals.

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Nitty-Gritty, the§

Definition§

The phrase “the nitty-gritty” refers to the core or essential aspects of a matter. It is commonly used to denote the fundamental elements or the most important details of a subject.

Etymology and Historical Context§

The expression “the nitty-gritty” is believed to have originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE). According to lexicographer J. E. Lighter, it may be a rhyming elaboration of the word “grit,” though this has not been definitively verified. The phrase gained popularity in the mid-20th century, with one of its earliest documented uses appearing in Nat Hentoff’s Jazz Country (1965): “Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.”

Semantic Analysis§

“The nitty-gritty” encapsulates the idea of focusing on the most crucial and foundational elements of a discussion or task. It implies a movement away from superficial details to address the core issues. The phrase is often used in contexts where clarity and directness are required.

In contemporary culture, “the nitty-gritty” is frequently employed in both formal and informal discourse. It appears in literature, journalism, and everyday conversation, often in the form “get down to the nitty-gritty.” This usage underscores a desire to address substantive matters without distraction.

Get down to brass tacks: A similar phrase emphasizing the importance of addressing fundamental issues.
Essence: Denotes the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.
Heart of the matter: Refers to the most important aspect or central issue.

Illustrative Examples§

“In order to solve the problem effectively, we need to get down to the nitty-gritty and address the root causes.”
“The report provided a lot of background information, but it failed to cover the nitty-gritty details.”

Contextual Variations§

In professional settings, “the nitty-gritty” may refer to the technical details necessary for decision-making. Socially, it can denote the essential truths or realities of a situation. In literary contexts, the phrase may be used to emphasize the thematic core of a narrative.

Contemporary Relevance and Durability§

The phrase “the nitty-gritty” remains relevant in modern discourse due to its utility in emphasizing the importance of core issues. Its adaptability across various contexts ensures its continued usage. Durability rating: ★★★★☆

Quotations§

“Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.” - Nat Hentoff, Jazz Country (1965)

Cross-References§

Get down to brass tacks
Heart of the matter
Essence

This entry provides a comprehensive exploration of “the nitty-gritty,” offering insights into its origins, meaning, and cultural significance.

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