English idioms - Alphabetical list O

	Idiom	Meaning
O	At odds	If one person is at odds with another, they disagree.
	Odds and ends	Odds and ends are small articles, or bits and pieces of all sorts, usually of little value. "I keep all my odds and ends in this drawer."
	Off colour	If you are off colour, you look or feel ill. "What's the matter with you Tom? You look a bit off colour today."
	Off the cuff	If you speak off the cuff, you say something without any previous thought or preparation. "He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well."
	Off the peg	Clothes which are bought off the peg are purchased in a standard size in a shop and are not made specially for you. "He can't afford to have his suits made to measure so he buys them off the peg."
	Off the record	If you say something off the record, you do not want anyone to repeat it publicly. "My comment was made off the record, and shouldn't have been published"
	Off your rocker!	If you tell someone that they are off their rocker, you think they are completely crazy! "You're going to give all your money away! You're off your rocker!"
	In the offing	Something which is in the offing is likely to appear or happen soon. " Apparently a new law on minimum wages is in the offing."
	Pour oil on troubled waters	If a person pours oil on troubled waters, they do or say something to calm a tense situation. "James is an good negotiator, and always manages to pour oil on troubled waters."
	Old dog for a hard road	This expression means that experience is invaluable when one is faced with a difficult task. "The case calls for an experienced lawyer, an old dog for a hard road."
	Old wives' tale	A traditional belief or idea which has been proved wrong by science is called an old wives' tale. "The belief that chocolate causes acne is an old wives' tale."
	Oldest trick in the book	A well-known and much-used trick, which is still effective today, is called the oldest trick in the book. "He made a noise to attract my attention while his accomplice stole my wallet. It's the oldest trick in the book!"
	Olive branch	If a person or organization holds out an olive branch to another, they show that they want to end a disagreement and make peace. "The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them."
	On ice	To say that a plan or project is put on ice means that all further action has been postponed for an indefinite period of time. "Plans for a nuclear power station have been put on ice."
	On the cards.	Something which is on the cards is very likely to happen. "A coalition between the two parties is still on the cards." (US : in the cards)
	On the fly	If you do something on the fly, you do it quickly, without thinking much about it, while doing something else. "I'm so busy I usually have lunch on the fly."
	On the level	If you say that somebody is on the level, you are referring to a truthful and honest person. "Tell me straight : Is he on the level on not?"
	On the map	If a place becomes very well known, it is put on the map. "The president's visit really put the restaurant on the map."
	Once in a blue moon	If something happens once in a blue moon, it occurs very rarely. "Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon."
	One fell swoop	If something is accomplished at one fell swoop, it is done in a single action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly. "The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop."
	One good turn deserves another	This expression means that if someone helps you, it is natural and right to help them in return. "We helped Alex and Sara when they moved into their new house, just as they helped us last year; one good turn deserves another."
	One hand washes the other... (... and together they wash the face.)	This expression means that when people cooperate and work well together, there is a better chance of achieving results.
	One over the eight.	If a person has had one over the eight, they are slightly drunk "Don't listen to him. You can see he's had one over eight!"
	One-horse town	A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring town where nothing much ever happens. "I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such a boring place!"
	One too many	Someone who has had one too many has drunk too much alcohol. "I think Tony's had one too many - he's talking rubbish!"
	One's number is up	To say that one's number is up means that a person is either in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time has come when they will die. "The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!"
	One-track mind	If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency to think about only one subject. "That boy has got a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!"
	One-upmanship	This term refers to the art of gaining and keeping the advantage over other people. "He is a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left him with few friends."
	Only to be expected	If an event or outcome is only to be expected, it is most likely to happen. "The teacher was angry because you cheated at the exam? - That was only to be expected!"
	Open the floodgates	If someone or something opens the floodgates, they release something that had previously been held under control. "It is feared that easing price controls will open the floodgates to inflation.
	Open the kimono	If a person or organization opens the kimono, they reveal something previously hidden. "It's time to open the kimono and explain that we cannot meet the deadline.
	Open secret	A fact that is supposed to be a secret but is actually widely known is called an open secret. "It's an open secret that Paul and Julie are living together."
	Open/reopen old wounds	If you open or reopen old wounds, you revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute that took place in the past. "He carefully avoided the subject so as not to open old wounds."
	(One's) opposite number	Someone who holds the same position as oneself in another company or organization is called one's opposite number. "I spoke to my opposite number in several local companies and we all agreed to join the anti-pollution campaign."
	Ostrich strategy/politics	This term refers to the phenomenon of ignoring or evading an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear. "Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've got to find a solution!"
	There are (plenty of) other fish in the sea	To say this means that that there are many other people just as good as the one somebody failed to get. "The candidate we chose refused the job? Never mind - there are other fish in the sea!
	Other side of the coin	When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a situation, you refer to the other side of the coin. "The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools."
	Out of the blue	If something happens out of the blue, it happens very unexpectedly. "I had nearly given up hope when out of the blue I was offered a job."
	Out of circulation	If someone is out of circulation, they are unavailable or not joining in activities with others. "I'm going to do a summer course in New York so I'll be out of circulation for a while."
	Out of your depth	If you are out of your depth, you are unable to understand a subject or deal with a situation because it is too difficult for you. "The level of the class was too high for me, so very quickly I felt out of my depth."
	Out of earshot	When someone is out of earshot, they are too far away to hear or to be heard. "They waited until Julie was out of earshot before discussing her surprise birthday party."
	Out of harm's way	If you put something out of harm's way, you put it in a safe place where it won't get damaged. "I'm going to put this glass bowl out of harm's way so that it doesn't get broken."
	Out like a light	If a person goes out like a light, they are so tired that they fall asleep very quickly. "As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was out like a light."
	Out on a limb	If you go out on a limb, you do something risky or unsupported by others, which leaves you in a difficult position. "Jack was really out on a limb with his proposal - nobody supported his idea."
	Out to lunch	To say that someone is out to lunch means that they seem to be either unaware of what's going on around them, or unable to understand what is happening. "He's hopeless as a leader - considered as 'out-to-lunch' by the group."
	Out of the picture	To say the a person or group is out of the picture means that they have been eliminated in a contest or tournament. "We were beaten in the semi-finals, so that's us out of the picture!"
	Out of the question	Something which is out of the question is impossible and is therefore not worth discussing. "Buying a new car is out of the question - we can't afford it."
	Out of sorts	If someone is out of sorts, they are upset and irritable and not feeling well. "The baby is out of sorts today. Perhaps he's cutting a tooth."
	Out of whack	If something is out of whack, it is not working properly or not in good order. "The dishwasher is making a funny noise. Something must be out of whack."
	Out of this world	To refer to something as out of this world means that you think it is extremely good or impressive "The hotel was very comfortable and the food was out of this world!"
	Over-egg the pudding	If you try to improve something excessively by adding unnecessary details, you over-egg the pudding. "Keep your report simple. Don't over-egg the pudding."
	Over the hill	If a person is over the hill, they have reached an age when they can no longer perform as well as before. "Gran! You say you're over the hill but you're still a super cook!"
	Over the moon	If you are over the moon, you are absolutely delighted. "We were over the moon when we heard the good news."
	Over my dead body	This expression is used when you absolutely refuse to allow someone to do something. "Mum, can I get my nose pierced?" "Over my dead body!"
	Go overboard	To go overboard means to be too excited or enthusiastic about something.
	Overplay your hand	If you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and spoil your chances of success by trying to obtain too much. "Sam is hoping for a bonus for his good results, but he may be overplaying his hand if he asks for a promotion."