English Idioms - Alphabetical list C-D

Idiom

Meaning

A piece of cake

To refer to something as a piece of cake means that you consider it
to be very easy.
"The English test was a piece of cake!"

Have your cake and eat it

To say that someone wants to have their cake and eat it means that they
want the advantages of two alternative situations when only one is possible .
"Jack enjoys his comfort but is always complaining about the cost of things.
He can't have his cake and eat it!"

Sell like hot cakes

Things that sell like hot cakes sell quickly or in large quantities.

Call someone's bluff

If you call someone's bluff, you challenge them to do what they threaten
to do (while believing that they will not dare to do it).
"After the neighbour's threats to demolish the fence, when Jack decided
to call his bluff, there were no more complaints."

Call a spade a spade

  A person who calls a spade a spade speaks openly and truthfully about
  something, especially difficult matters.
  "What I like about the new manager is that he calls a spade a spade -
it makes things so much easier for everyone."

Call the tune

The person who calls the tune is the one who makes all the important
decisions and is in control of the situation.
"He shows a lot of authority but in fact it's his wife who calls the tune."

Can of worms

To describe a situation as a can of worms means that it is complicated,
unpleasant and difficult to deal with.
"The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real can of worms."

Burn the candle at both ends

  To say that some is burning the candle at both ends means
  that they are trying to do too much and that they go to bed
  very late and get up very early.

Paddle one's own canoe

  If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do
  without help or interference from anyone.
  "He decided to paddle his own canoe and set up his own company."

Can't see the wood for the trees

If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on
  the details that they can't see the situation as a whole.
  "The new manager found the situation so complicated that
  he couldn't see the wood for the trees."

Put on your thinking cap

If you tell someone to put their thinking cap on, you ask them
to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it.
"Now here's this week's quiz - it's time to put your thinking caps on!"

If the cap fits, wear it!

You say "if the cap fits wear it" to let someone know that
  the critical remark they have just heard applies to them.
  "Are you referring to me?" "If the cap fits wear it!"
  (US : If the shoe fits ...)

Play your cards right

This means that you do all that is necessary in order to succeed.
"If we play our cards right, we'll get the contract.

put/lay one's cards on the table

If you put your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly
about your feelings and intentions.
"Let's clear the air and put our cards on the table."

Carrot and stick

If you use a carrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward
and the threat of punishment to make somebody work harder.
"Some parents use a carrot-and-stick approach to obtain good results
from their children."

Put the cart before the horse

  A person who puts the cart before the horse is doing things in the wrong order.
  "Building a school before knowing the age of the population
  is putting the cart before the horse."

A cat in gloves catches no mice

This expression means that if you are too careful and polite, you may not
obtain what you want.
"Negotiate carefully, but remember : a cat in gloves catches no mice!"

A fat cat

To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that
you disapprove of the way they use their money or power.

Let the cat out of the bag.

If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret,
often not intentionally.

Play cat and mouse

To play cat and mouse with someone means to treat them
alternately cruelly and kindly, so that they do not know what to expect.

Catch 22

A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you need to do one thing
before doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first.
"I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit without a job.
It's a catch 22 situation!"

Catch somebody red-handed

If a person is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing
something wrong or illegal.
"The police arrived as the burglar was leaving the house.
He was caught red-handed."

Like chalk and cheese
(as different as chalk and cheese)

Two people who are like chalk and cheese are completely
different from each other.

Chance in a million

A chance in a million is a very small chance, or no chance at all, that
something will happen.

Change of heart

If someone has a change of heart, they change their attitude or feelings,
especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.
"He was against charity, but he had a change of heart
when he saw the plight of the homeless."

Chase rainbows

Someone who is chasing rainbows is trying to get something they will never
obtain.
"She's trying to get into Harvard but I think she's chasing rainbows."

Old chestnut

A story, a joke or an idea that has been repeated so often that
it has lost its novelty is referred to as an old chestnut.
"The story about his boat capsizing has become an old chestnut!"

Chew the fat

If you chew the fat with somebody, you chat in an informal way about
unimportant things.
"It's amazing the amount of time my grandparents can spend
chewing the fat with their neighbours."

Chicken out of something

If you chicken out of something, you decide not to do something because
you are afraid.
"He decided to join a karate class, but chickened out of it at the last minute!"

Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people
giving instructions and not enough people doing the work.
"The business wasn't successful.
There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians."

Chime in

If you chime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially to repeat or
agree with something.
"As I explained to the bus driver what had happened , the other passengers
chimed in and gave their version. "

A chink in someone's armour

If someone has a chink in their armour, they have a weakness that can be
taken advantage of.
"The candidate's opponents are busy looking for chinks in his armour."

A chip off the old block

If you refer to a person as a chip off the old block, you mean that
they resemble one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour.
"James is a chip off the old block - he reacts exactly the same way as his father."

A chip on your shoulder

If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they feel resentful because
they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of
their background, their sex or their colour.

Have had one's chips

To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely
failed in what they set out to achieve.
"After the second set, it looked as though Agassi had had his chips."

When the chips are down

This expression refers to people's behaviour in a difficult or dangerous situation
when action must be taken.
"It's when the chips are down that Jack is at his best."

Off someone's Christmas card list

This expression means that you are no longer on friendly terms with someone.
"I've been off her Christmas card list since our dog messed up her garden!"

Clear the air

If you decide to clear the air, you try to remove the causes of fear, worry or
suspicion by talking about them openly.
"The atmosphere had become so unpleasant that he decided it was time
to clear the air."

Like clockwork

To say that someone or something goes, runs or behaves like clockwork
means that everything happens exactly as expected.
"Meals are always served on time. In their home everything runs like clockwork."

Close to home

If a remark or comment is close to home, it is so true, or it affects you
so directly, that you feel uncomfortable.
"Alan looks embarrassed. Bob's comment must have been close to home!"

A close shave

This expression is used to describe a situation where an accident or a disaster
nearly happened
"I almost hit the child who ran out in front of my car. It was a close shave."

Be on cloud nine

  A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because
  something wonderful has happened.
  "When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!"

Not have a clue

If you don't have a clue about something, you don't know anything about it.
"My wife's grandmother's maiden name? I don't have a clue!"

Off colour

If you are off colour, you are looking or feeling ill.

Collect one's thoughts

  If you collect your thoughts, you try to think calmly and clearly
  in order to prepare yourself mentally for something.
  "Anne stopped to collect her thoughts before calling back the customer."

Come apart at the seams

To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means that they are
extremely upset or under severe mental stress.
"Bob has had so many problems lately, he's coming apart at the seams."

Come clean

To come clean about something means to tell the truth.

Come rain or shine

If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it regularly,
whatever the circumstances.
"He goes to the gym club every day, come rain or shine."

Come to the crunch

To talk about what to do if or when a situation comes to the crunch,
means when it becomes difficult or critical and a decision has to be made.
"If it comes to the crunch, I'll sell my car."

Come to your senses

If you come to your senses, you start to think clearly and behave sensibly.
"She finally came to her senses and realized that public transport was faster
than driving."

Come to grips with something

If you come to grips with a problem or situation, you start to understand
or deal with it properly
"After the initial shock, the patient began to come to grips with his illness."

Come/turn up trumps

To say that someone has come up trumps means that they have achieved
unexpectedly good results.
"Against all expectations, our team came up trumps in the cup final."

Cook the books

A person who cooks the books is one who changes the facts or figures in
their financial accounts, often in order to steal money.
"The actor discovered after a while that his agent was cooking the books."

Cook somebody's goose

To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that person's chance of
success.
"When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he realized his goose was
cooked."

That's the way the cookie crumbles!

To say 'that's the way the cookie crumbles' means
that is the way things are and nothing can be done about it' -
that's life'!

Cool as a cucumber

A person who is as cool as a cucumber is a person who is
not anxious, but relaxed and non-emotional.

Cool one`s heels

If you are left to cool your heels, someone keeps you waiting.
"After rushing to be on time for my appointment, I was left to cool my heels
in the waiting room for an hour."

Cork something up

If you cork something up (feelings, emotions), you fail to show or express them.
"It would be better for her if she showed her grief and didn't cork up her feelings."

A couch potato

If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you criticize them for spending
a lot of time sitting and watching television.
"Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time
than in front of the TV."

On course (for something)

If someone is on course for something, they are likely to achieve it.
"Our team is on course for a victory in the national championship."

Till the cows come home

To say that a person could do something till the cows come home
means that they could do it for a long time.
"You can ask till the cows come home, but I'm not buying you a scooter!"

The cream of the crop

This expression is used to refer to the best people or things in a particular group.
"As usual, the cream of the crop of this year's graduates
were offered the best jobs."

On the crest of a wave

If you are on the crest of a wave, you are very successful in what you are doing.
"Our company is going from success to success.
We're on the crest of a wave right now."

Crocodile tears

To shed crocodile tears means to shed false tears or show insincere grief.
"Caroline pretended to be sad but we all knew her tears were crocodile tears."

Cross that bridge when we come to it

This is another way of saying " we will deal with that problem when it occurs
and not worry about it before".
"What will happen if we can't repay the loan?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

At cross purposes

If two people are at cross purposes, there is a misunderstanding as to
what each one is talking about
"Look, we seem to be at cross purposes : you're talking about 'sailing' boats
but I'm talking about 'selling' boats."

As the crow flies

  This expression refers to distance measured in a straight line.
  "It's two miles from here to the station as the crow flies,
  but of course it's much further by road."

A far cry from something

If one thing is a far cry from something else, it means that they
are very different from each other.

For crying out loud

This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or anger.
"For crying out loud! Turn that television off!"

On cue

If something happens on cue, it happens at exactly the appropriate
or expected moment.
"My grandmother was blowing out the candles on her birthday cake
when, right on cue, the flowers arrived."

Cut and dried

  To refer to a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that
  it is considered clear and straightforward with no likely complications.
"When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut and dried
  as he had expected."

Cut corners

Cutting corners means not following the correct procedure in order
to save time, effort or money (often with unsatisfactory results)

Cut the ground from under
somebody's feet

When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet, they do
something which weakens their position or spoils their plans.
"When we launched the new product, we cut the ground from under our
competitors' feet."

Not cut out for something

If you are not cut out for something, you are not the sort of person to
succeed or be happy in a particular activity.
"I started studying medicine but I quickly realized I wasn't cut out for it."

Dab hand at something

If you're a dab hand at something, you're very good at doing it.
"Why don't you call Suzy? She's a dab hand at organizing barbecues."

Dance attendance (on somebody)

If you dance attendance on someone, you are constantly available
for that person and attend to their wishes.
"She's rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance on her. "

in the dark

  If someone is kept or left in the dark about something, they are not informed
  about it .
  "The personnel were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute."

Darken someone's door

If you darken someone's door, you come as an unwanted or unwelcome visitor.
"Just get out of here, and never darken my door again!"

Call it a day.

A person who decides to "call it a day" decides to stop doing
finish doing something, generally because they are tired.

Dead loss

Someone or something described as a dead loss is absolutely useless
or a complete failure.
"When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss."

Dead wood

The term dead wood refers to people or things which are no longer
considered useful or necessary.
"The new manager wants to reduce costs by cutting out the dead wood."

Dead to the world

A person who is dead to the world is fast asleep.
"Don't worry. You won't disturb him. He's dead to the world!"

A raw deal

If you say that someone has got a raw deal, you think they
have been treated unfairly or badly.

Off the deep end

A person who goes off the deep end becomes suddenly
very angry or emotional.

Out of your depth

If you are out of your depth, it means you are in a situation
which is too difficult for you, or which you know little about.

The devil is in the details

This expression refers to a task or a job which appears simple
but is in fact more difficult to accomplish.
"Framing a picture looks easy but the devil is in the details!"

The devil makes work for idle hands

This expression means that people who do not have enough to do
are often tempted to do something wrong.
"It's not good for kids to have nothing to do at the week-end -
the devil makes work for idle hands!"

Speak of the devil!

  Speak of the devil! This is said to refer to a person who appears
  just when his/her name is mentioned.
  "Speak of the devil! We were just talking about your invitation!"

A different kettle of fish

  To describe a person, thing or situation as a different kettle of fish means
  that it is completely different from what was previously mentioned.
  "You may have good business relations, but living in the country is a different
  kettle of fish."

Dig in your heels

If you dig in your heels, you refuse to do something, especially if someone is
trying to convince you to do so.
"My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment."

Wash your dirty linen in public.

To wash one's dirty linen in public means to talk about
unpleasant personal matters in the presence of others.

Do someone's dirty work

To do someone's dirty work means to do the unpleasant or
difficult work that the other person does not want to do.

Disappear into thin air

If someone or something disappears into thin air, they vanish in a mysterious
way.
"After being accused of embezzlement, the director disappeared into thin air."

Dog's life

People use this expression when complaining about a situation or job which
they find unpleasant or unsatisfactory.
"It's a dog's life working in the after-sales department."

Dog eat dog

This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit of one's
own interests, with no concern for morality.
"The business world is tough today. There's a general dog-eat-dog attitude."

A dog in the manger

A person referred to as a dog in the manger is someone who
stops others enjoying something he/she cannot use or doesn't want.

Every dog has its day

This expression means that everyone can be successful at something
at some time in their life.
"I didn't win this time, but I'll be lucky one day. Every dog has its day!"

Give a dog a bad name

People who lose their reputation have difficulty regaining it because
others continue to blame or suspect them.
"Tom was suspected as usual. Give a dog a bad name!"

Go to the dogs

To say that a company, organization or country is going to the dogs means
that it is becoming less successful or efficient than before.
"Some think the company will go to the dogs if it is nationalized."

Let sleeping dogs lie

If you tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not
to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems.

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

This expression means that if someone can do a task for you,
there's no reason to do it yourself.
"The shuttle stops in front of our house but my father continues to drive
to the airport. Why keep a dog and bark yourself!"

In the doghouse

If you are in the doghouse, somebody is angry with you
because you have done something wrong.
"Mark is in the doghouse because he damaged his father's car."

In the doldrums

To say that a person, a business or the economy in general is in the doldrums
means that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new is happening.
"Despite the recent measures, the economy remains in the doldrums."

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

This expression is used to express absolute certainty about something.
"There wasn't a shadow of a doubt in our minds about Susan's sincerity."

Down the drain

  To say that money, time or effort has gone down the drain, means
  that it has been wasted or lost.
  "His years of research went down the drain when the company
  went bankrupt."

Drag one's feet

If you drag your feet, you delay a decision or participate without any real
enthusiasm.
"The government is dragging its feet on measures to reduce pollution."

Dressed up to the nines

To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means
that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
"Caroline musts be going to a party - she's dressed up to the nines!"

Drink like a fish

A person who drinks like a fish is a heavy drinker or one who drinks a lot.
'I'm nervous if Joe drives when we go out because he drinks like a fish!"

Drive a hard bargain

A person who drives a hard bargain always makes sure they gain advantage
in a business deal.
"Be prepared for tough negotiations with Stuart - he drives a bard bargain."

Drop like flies

If people drop like flies, they fall ill or die in large numbers.
"There's an epidemic of flu at the moment. Senior citizens are dropping like
flies."

At the drop of a hat

If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and without
hesitation
"I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat."

A drop in the ocean

To refer to an amount as a drop in the ocean means that it is very small
compared to the amount needed or expected.
"The revenue from the proposed tax reform is a drop in the ocean
compared to the deficit."

A sitting duck

A sitting duck is an easy target, a person who is easy to deceive.
"The young girl was a sitting duck for the photographer."

Dull as ditchwater (also : dull as
dishwater)

To refer to something as being as dull as ditchwater means that it is very
boring.
"The film was a dull at ditchwater. I nearly fell asleep."

Dumbing down

If something, such as a television programme or a film production,
is dumbed down, it is deliberately made less intelligent or less demanding,
in order to attract a larger audience.
"Some TV channels are dumbing down their programmes in an attempt to
increase their audience ratings."

Hit the dust

The expression hit the dust is a humorous way of referring to death.

The dust has settled

To say that the dust has settled means that the situation has become
calmer after a series of unpleasant or chaotic events.
"After her difficult divorce, she waited until the dust had settled before
making any plans."

Go Dutch

To go Dutch with somebody means to share the cost of something
such as a meal or a concert.

Above and beyond the call of duty

If a person does something which is above and beyond the call of duty,
  they show a greater degree of courage or effort than is usually required or
  expected in their job.
  "The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went above
  and beyond the call of duty."

To be dying for something

If you are dying for something, you have a strong desire for it.
"I'm dying for a cup of tea!"

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