English idioms - Alphabetical list P

	Idiom	Meaning
P	Put through their paces	If you put someone or something through their paces, you test their ability to do something by making them perform certain actions. "During the presentation, the machine was put through its paces."
	Pack of lies	A large number of untruthful statements is referred to as a pack of lies. "The story about her unhappy childhood turned out to be a pack of lies."
	Ahead of the pack	If a person or organization is ahead of the pack, they are better or more successful than their rivals. "Our products will have to be more innovative if we are to stay ahead of the pack."
	Pack something in	If you pack something in, you abandon it or give it up. "She found city life so stressful, she decided to pack it in and move to the country."
	Packed like sardines	If a group of people are packed like sardines, they are pressed together tightly and uncomfortably because there is not enough space. "The bus was very crowded - we were packed like sardines!"
	Pad the bill	If someone pads the bill, they add false items to a bill or invoice in order to increase the total amount. "Check the invoice carefully before paying - he tends to pad the bill!"
	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."
	Paid peanuts	If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary. "Anne has a very interesting job but she's paid peanuts. Her salary is very low. "
	Paint the town red	If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc. "To celebrate the victory, the team's supporters painted the town red."
	Paint oneself into a corner	If you paint yourself into a corner, you get yourself into a bad situation that it is difficult or impossible to get out of. "Andy painted himself into a corner by signing a contract with a friend who turned out to be incompetent."
	(Hit/press/push) the panic button	When you hit the panic button, you raise the alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation. "Calm down! There's no need to press the panic button yet."
	Paper over the cracks	To say that someone is papering over the cracks means that they are concealing a problem rather than dealing with it effectively. "The measures taken to reduce unemployment are just paper over the cracks."
	Paper tiger	This term refers to a person, organisation or country that is less powerful or threatening than they appear to be. "He threatens to take strong action but he's just a paper tiger."
	Paper trail	If a person or organisation leaves a paper trail, they leave evidence in writing or in document form that will serve as proof of their actions. "The police found a paper trail which lead to the author of the hoax."
	On paper	To say that an idea, plan or scheme seems good on paper means that it looks good in theory or in writing but may not work when put into practice. "His plan looks good on paper, but I'm not convinced it will work."
	Par for the course	If something is par for the course, it is typical of what to expect in that particular situation. "I spent the week-end working on the project but nobody showed any appreciation. That's par for the course in this firm."
	Part and parcel	If something is part and parcel of an experience, it is a key component or a necessary part that cannot be avoided "I'm an event manager. Travelling is part and parcel of my job."
	Parting shot	A parting shot is a final remark, often incisive or disparaging, made just as one is leaving. "He has a way of making parting shots that can be very discouraging."
	Partner in crime	A person who helps you to plan something dishonest or unlawful is called your partner in crime. (This expression can be used jokingly as in this example.) "Sam was my partner in crime. He hid my son's new bicycle until his birthday."
	The party is over	To say that the party is over means that a period of happiness, freedom, enjoyment etc. has come to an end, and life is going to return to normal. "I had a wonderful time here but the party's over and I must get back to work."
	Pass the buck	If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and letting others deal with it instead. "Whenever a customer comes to complain, she always finds a way of looking busy. Talk about passing the buck!"
	Pass muster	If someone or something passes muster, they are considered to be satisfactory or acceptable. "The interview went well. I hope I'll pass muster."
	Passing fancy	If you have a passing fancy for something, you become fond of it for a short time. "My father started collecting stamps a few years ago, but it was just a passing fancy."
	Pat answer	A simplified response that is memorized or prepared in advance is called a pat answer. Many journalists at the press conference found his pat answers totally frustrating.
	Have something down pat	If you memorize or practice something until you know it perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat. "I rehearsed my presentation until I had it down pat."
	(Not a) patch on	If someone or something is not a patch on an other, they are not nearly as good. "His second conference wasn't a patch on the first one.
	Pay dividends	Something which pays dividends brings an advantage or benefit at a later date. "Making an effort to improve your English will pay dividends later on."
	Throw pearls to the pigs (cast pearls before swine)	This expression means that it is a waste to offer something valuable or useful to someone who does not understand or appreciate it. "She had a beautifully trained voice but the audience didn't listen - talk about throwing pearls to pigs!"
	Like two peas in a pod	To say that two people are like two peas in a pod means that they are very similar in appearance. "It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod!"
	Not the only pebble on the beach	To say that someone is not the only pebble on the beach means that they are not the only person worth consideration or interest. "He thinks his refusal to join the team will cause problems, but there are alternatives ... he's not the only pebble on the beach."
	(Put the) pedal to the metal	When you put the pedal to the metal, you accelerate or make something go faster. "If we put the pedal to the metal we could get this finished in time."
	A square peg in a round hole	To say that a person is a "square peg in a round hole", means that they are not suitable for the job they are doing or the situation they are in.
	A pen pusher	To refer to someone as a "pen pusher" means you think that person does work which requires little action, just office work, and they they lack operating experience.
	The pen is mightier than the sword	This expression means that words and communication have greater effect than war and fighting. "The treaty put an end to the hostilities - the pen is mightier than the sword!"
	In for a penny, in for a pound	This expression means that once you start doing something, you might just as well do it wholeheartedly and not stop at half-measures. "Joe finally accepted to be on the committee, then he accepted to be the chairman - "in for a penny, in for a pound" he said!"
	The penny drops	When a person has difficulty understanding or realizing something, and then the penny drops, they finally understand. "The teasing continued for some time until the penny dropped and he realized it was a joke!"
	A penny for your thoughts	This phrase is used to ask someone what they are thinking about. "You look pensive. A penny for your thoughts."
	Turn up like a bad penny	If someone turns up like a bad penny, they appear at a place or event where they are not welcome or not wanted. "I try to avoid Jane, but wherever I go she turns up like a bad penny."
	Perish the thought	This expression is used when the speaker really hopes that something will not happen. "If I lost my job, perish the thought, I don't know how we'd survive."
	See (or put) things in their right perspective	When people see or put things in their right perspective, they see the relative importance of each element of a situation, without exaggerating any aspect. "If Tom could see things in their right perspective, the situation would be less stressful for him."
	Pervert the course of justice	If a person perverts the course of justice, they tell a lie or prevent the police from finding out the truth about something. "The suspect was accused of trying to pervert the course of justice"
	Pester power	This expression refers to the power children exert over their parents by continually nagging or pestering them until they accept to buy advertised toys or fashionable products. "Pester power leads busy parents to buy more and more for their children."
	Pick someone's brains	If you pick someone's brains, you ask questions about a particular subject in order to obtain advice or information. "Could we have lunch together? I'd like to pick your brains about something."
	Pick a fight	Someone who picks a fight deliberately looks for an opportunity to start a quarrel or begin an argument. "Our new neighbour is always ready to pick a fight with someone."
	Pick holes	If someone picks holes in something such as a plan, an idea or an argument, they criticize it or try to find fault with it. "Why don't you make a suggestion instead of picking holes in all my ideas!"
	Pick up the pieces	After something disastrous has happened, if you pick up the pieces, you do what you can to get the situation back to normal again. "After fire destroyed their house, it took them a long time to pick up the pieces."
	Pick up steam	If something such as a project or process picks up steam, it starts to develop or become more active. "The campaign started slowly but it picked up steam after Christmas."
	Pick up the tab	If you pick up the tab, you pay the bill or pay the cost of something. "There was a celebration lunch for the group and Bill picked up the tab."
	In a pickle	If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult situation and need help. "My car won't start and the trains are on strike today - I'm in a real pickle!"
	Look the picture of health	To look the picture of health means to look completely or extremely healthy. "Nice to see you again Mr. Brown. I must say you look the picture of health."
	Picture is worth a thousand words	This expression means that a picture can give just as much information as a large amount of descriptive text. "Look at the picture of the crash! A picture is worth a thousand words isn't it?"
	Pie in the sky	If an idea, wish or promise is "pie in the sky", it is completely unrealistic or unlikely to be achieved. "The promise of low-cost housing for everyone turned out to be pie in the sky."
	Easy as pie	To say that something is easy as pie means that it is very easy to do. "How did the English test go? - No problem - it was easy as pie!"
	Eat humble pie	If you eat humble pie, you have to admit that you were wrong and apologize. "After openly criticizing Bill's work, Fred had to eat humble pie when Bill was elected "salesman of the year"!
	Pie-eyed	Someone who is pie-eyed is completely drunk. "He had never taken an alcoholic drink so after one beer he was pie-eyed."
	Piece of the action	When someone wants a piece of the action, they want to participate in what other people are doing and benefit from it. "The songwriter thought the show would be a success so he wanted a piece of the action."
	Go to pieces	If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock, you are so upset or distressed that you cannot lead a normal life . "Jack nearly went to pieces when his son died in a plane crash."
	Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered	You should be satisfied when you have enough; if you are too greedy, like a hog, you risk losing everything.
	Pigs might fly	To say pigs might fly expresses disbelief, or the idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely. "My grandmother buying a computer? ...Yeah! ...and pigs might fly!"
	Make a pig of yourself	If you make a pig of yourself, you eat and drink too much. "Watch what you eat - don't make a pig of yourself!"
	(like putting) lipstick on a pig	This expression means that trying to 'dress up' something unappealing or ugly, in a vain attempt to make it look better, is like putting lipstick on a pig. "Flowers will not not improve that ugly old bridge; every one agrees that it's lipstick on a pig."
	On the pig's back	A person who is on the pig's back is in a state of luck and everything is going well for them. "Before the recession, Ireland was on the pig's back, but the situation has changed greatly."
	A bitter pill to swallow	A bitter pill to swallow is something very difficult or unpleasant to accept. "Losing his job after organizing the merger was a bitter pill to swallow."
	Pillar to post	If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goes from pillar to post, they move constantly from place to place. "When the factory closed down, Billy moved from pillar to post in search of a new job."
	At a pinch	To say that something could be done at a pinch means that it would be possible to do it if absolutely necessary. "The hall can seat 50 people comfortably, and a few more at a pinch."
	Pink elephants	This term refers to hallucinations or strange imaginary things seen by people as a result of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics. "No more drinks for me please, otherwise I'll be seeing pink elephants!"
	In the pink of health	If you are in the pink of health, you are in excellent physical condition or extremely healthy. "Caroline looked in the pink of health after her holiday."
	Tickled pink.	If you say you are tickled pink, you are very pleased about something.
	In the pink of health	If you are in the pink of health, you are in excellent physical condition or extremely healthy. "Caroline looked in the pink of health after her holiday."
	Have pins and needles	To have pins and needles is to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body, for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.
	In the pipeline	If something is in the pipeline, it is in progress or being organized at the moment.
	The pits	If something is referred to as the pits, it is considered to be absolutely the worst. "That magazine really is the pits!"
	Place in the sun	If you find a place in the sun, you reach a position which provides you with wealth and happiness or whatever you have been hoping to obtain in life. "She finally found a place in the sun with the triumph of her most recent book."
	Plain sailing	An activity or task that is plain sailing is without difficulty or free from trouble. "Once the plans were accepted, it was plain sailing all the way."
	Plan B	Plan B is an alternative solution to be adopted if one's original plan does not succeed. "The idea is to get a caterer to provide the food if it's not too expensive. If it's too costly, Plan B is to organize a buffet with the help of my friends."
	Plastic smile	A person with a plastic smile is wearing a forced smile which makes them appear happier than they really are. "A receptionist greeted customers with a plastic smile."
	Play with fire	People who take unnecessary risks or behave in a dangerous way are playing with fire. "Driving alone on isolated roads is playing with fire."
	Play footsie	If you play footsie with someone, you touch their feet lightly, especially under the table, to show your interest. "Pete says they were playing footsie at the office Christmas lunch."
	Play to the gallery	A person who plays to the gallery tries to gain popularity by behaving in a way that will appeal to the majority. "It's no secret that he got elected by playing to the gallery."
	Play games (with someone)	If you are not completely honest, or behave in a way that is insincere, evasive or intentionally misleading, you are playing games with someone. "Look, stop playing games with us. Just tell us if you're interested in the project or not."
	Play the game	If you play the game, you accept to do things according to generally- accepted customs or code of behaviour. "Not all website owners play the game. Some download content from others without permission."
	Play havoc	If someone or something plays havoc, they cause disorder and confusion. "The floods played havoc with the construction work."
	Play the market	If you play the market, you buy stocks and shares in the hope of making a profit when you sell them. "It's always tempting to play the market, but it's more risky at the present time."
	Play by the rules	If you play by the rules, you behave in a fair and honest way with people. "You can trust him, don't worry. He always plays by the rules."
	Play into someone's hands	If you play into someone's hands, you do exactly what your opponent or enemy wants you to do, so that they gain an advantage over you. "When the leaders of the protest movement became violent, they played right into the hands of the police."
	Play possum	When someone plays possum, they pretend to be dead or asleep in order to avoid something unpleasant. Sarah's not asleep. She's just playing possum because she doesn't want to come swimming.
	Play second fiddle	If you play second fiddle to somebody, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
	Play for time	If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage. "He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."
	Play truant	If you play truant, you stay away from school without permission or excuse
	Play a waiting game	If you play a waiting game, you deliberately delay taking action in order to be able to act more effectively later. "The cat kept its eyes on the bird, carefully playing a waiting game."
	(Not) playing with a full deck (of cards)	Someone who is not playing with a full deck lacks intelligence or does not have full mental abilities. "Old Mrs.Whitehead was not playing with a full deck when she bought that fancy lawnmower!"
	As pleased (or as proud) as punch	Someone who is as pleased (or as proud) as punch is delighted or feels very satisfied about something. "Danny was as proud as punch when he won the tennis match."
	Pluck something out of the air	To pluck something out of the air means to say a name, date, number, etc. spontaneously, without thinking about it. "What are we going to call the cat?" "I just plucked a name out of the air and said "How about Daisy?"
	Plug something	If you promote something by talking about it favourably, for example during an radio or TV interview, you plug something. "He will appear on the show if he can plug his new book."
	Plum job	A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job. "Ideally he'd like to find himself a plum job in New York."
	Plum in your mouth	Someone who speaks with an upper class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth. "He speaks just like an aristocrat - with a plum in his mouth!"
	Pocket of resistance	This term refers to a small group of people who resist change or disagree with a proposal. "The new boss wants to introduce job-sharing, but there's a pocket of resistance in the sales department."
	Deep pockets	A person or organization who has deep pockets has a lot of money. "Andy's business is not doing well at the moment. He says he needs a friend with deep pockets."
	Have somebody in your pocket	If you have influence or power over someone, you have them in your pocket. "He was declared 'not guilty' but everyone knew that he had the jury in his pocket."
	Point of no return	When you reach the point of no return, you must continue what you have started, because you have gone so far that it is impossible to go back. "I've agreed to speak and accepted the fee. I've now reached the point of no return and must make the speech I promised."
	Beside the point	If something is beside the point, it does not relate to the topic or is irrelevant. "We need to know if he is qualified for the job. The fact that he plays golf is beside the point!"
	Come/get to the point	If you come or get to the point, you reach or focus on the essential part or the heart of the matter. "We don't need a long explanation Barry. Just get to the point."
	Sore point	A sore point is a subject to be avoided because it causes anger or embarrassment. "Don't talk to Mary about weight - that's a sore point!"
	Poker face	Someone who has a poker face has an expressionless face that shows no emotion or reaction at all. "He sat with a poker face all through the show, revealing nothing of his thoughts."
	Polish something off	If you polish something off, you finish it quickly or easily. "Susan thought there was too much food but the boys polished it all off in no time."
	Politically correct	When people are politically correct, they carefully choose the language they use in order to avoid offending particular groups of people. 'Most people today make a conscious effort to be politically correct.'
	Pop one's clogs	This is a euphemistic way of saying that a person is dead. "Nobody lives in that house since old Sam popped his clogs."
	Pop the question	When you ask someone to marry you, you pop the question. It was during a trip to Venice that James popped the question.
	Is the Pope Catholic?	A sarcastic way of answering a question in the affirmative when the answer is obviously 'yes'. "Do birds fly? Of course they do! Is the Pope catholic?"
	Take pot luck	If you take pot luck, you accept whatever is available without knowing what it will be like. "We were so hungry we decided to take pot luck and stopped at the first restaurant we saw."
	The pot calling the kettle black	This expression is used to refer to a situation where a person with a fault criticizes someone else for having the same fault. "After being disqualified for not obeying the rules, the player accused another competitor of cheating; it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black!"
	Hot potato	To refer to a subject as a hot potato means that it is a very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to deal with. "The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any hot potatoes yet."
	Drop (someone/something) like a hot potato	If you drop someone or something like a hot potato, you leave them or immediately stop associating with them. "As soon as the article was published, she dropped him like a hot potato."
	Small potatoes	Something that is small potatoes is considered unimportant or insignificant. "Her first publication was considered small potatoes but her new book has lead to a change of opinion."
	Pound the pavement	Someone who pounds the pavement, walks the streets or goes from company to company, usually in search of employment. You also pound the pavement in an effort to raise funds or gain support for a cause. "Charlie is out there pounding the pavement since he lost his job."
	Pour cold water on something	If you pour cold water on someone's plans, opinions or ideas, you discourage them by showing little enthusiasm or expressing your misgivings. "The committee threw cold water on the idea of accepting new members."
	Pour your heart out	If you pour your heart out to someone, you express your feelings and troubles freely. "When she needs to pour her heart out to someone, she goes to visit her grandmother."
	Power behind the throne	Someone with no apparent authority who has great influence over the person officially in charge is said to be the power behind the throne. "It's essential to be on good terms with his wife. Apparently she's the power behind the throne."
	Pregnant pause	A pregnant pause is a moment of silence full of unexpressed meaning or significance. "There was a pregnant pause before the president answered the journalist's question."
	Press (something) home	If you press something home, you insist on a point in a discussion or argument. "Her lawyer kept pressing home the fact that she was a single mother."
	Pressed for time	If you're pressed for time, you have hardly enough time to do something, so you must hurry. "Sorry. I can't talk to you now - I'm a bit pressed for time."
	Pretty penny	If something costs you a pretty penny, it costs you a lot of money. "That new car must have cost him a pretty penny!"
	Prey on someone's mind	If something preys on your mind, it troubles you so much that you keep thinking about it. "The vision of the house on fire kept preying on her mind."
	Price oneself out of the market	If you price yourself out of the market, you charge such a high price for your goods or services that nobody buys them. "He was so eager to make money that he priced himself out of the market."
	Price you have to pay	This expression refers to what you have to endure in return for something you gain or achieve. "Lack of privacy is the price you have to pay for being a celebrity."
	Prick up your ears	If you prick up your ears, you suddenly pay attention to what is being said. "The children pricked up their ears when they heard the word 'cookies'."
	Prime of one's life	A time in one's life when a person is the most successful or in their best physical condition is called the prime of one's life. "At the age of 75, the singer is not exactly in the prime of his life!"
	Prod someone into doing something	If you prod someone into doing something, you make a slow or hesitant person do something that they are reluctant to do. "She was ideal for the job, but I had to prod her into applying for the position."
	Keep a low profile	People who keep a low profile avoid doing things that will draw attention to them.
	Prolong the agony	If someone prolongs the agony, they make an unpleasant or tense situation last longer than necessary. "Please don't prolong the agony. Just tell me whether I've been accepted or not."
	The proof of the pudding is in the eating.	This expression means that something new can only be judged after it has been tested.
	Proud as a peacock	A person who is as proud as a peacock is extremely proud. "When his son won first prize, Bill was as proud as a peacock."
	Pull a fast one	To pull a fast one means to gain an advantage over someone by deceiving them. "The street vendor pulled a fast one on Tom. He sold him a big bunch of roses, but wrapped a smaller bunch while Tom was taking out his wallet."
	Pull no punches	When someone pulls no punches, they speak openly and honestly, holding nothing back. "The doctor pulled no punches. He explained in detail the risks of the operation.
	Pull out all the stops	If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you can to make something successful. "We'll have to pull out all the stops to get the store ready for the opening day."
	Pull somebody's leg	If you pull somebody's leg, you tease them by telling them something that is not true. "Of course I'm not going to buy a sports car. I was just pulling your leg!"
	Pull the other one (it's got bells on)	After hearing an unlikely story, this expression is used jokingly to tell the speaker that you are not going to believe what they say next. "You have a date with George Clooney? Yeah - now pull the other one!"
	Pull strings	If somebody pulls strings, they use influential friends in order to obtain an advantage. "David found a job easily - his Dad just pulled a few strings!"
	Pull the plug (on something)	If you pull the plug on something, you put an end to it or provide no more support for it. "There were so few enrolments that the school decided to pull the plug on the yoga class.
	Pull through	If you pull through, you recover from a serious illness.
	Pull the rug from under someone's feet	If you pull the rug from under someone's feet, you suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support. "When Andy's mother stopped sending him money, she pulled the rug from under his feet and forced him to find a job."
	Pull your weight	If you say that someone pulls their weight, you mean that they do their fair share of the work. "It's great working with Sandra. She always pulls her weight."
	Punch above one's weight	If you punch above your weight, you try to perform at a level that is considered to be beyond your ability. "She submitted her idea for the 'invention of the year' award, knowing that she was punching above her weight."
	Punch line	The punch line is the funny sentence that ends a joke or an amusing story. "When my dad tells jokes, he never gets the punch line right!"
	Push the envelope	When you push the envelope, you do something in an extreme way, or exceed the limits of what is considered acceptable. "Some TV programmes really push the envelope when they expose people's private lives."
	Push one's luck	If you push your luck, you try to get more than what you have already obtained, and risk spoiling the situation. "You've got your father's permission to go to the concert. Don't push your luck by trying to borrow his car!"
	If/when push comes to shove.	You use the expression if, or when, push comes to shove, to refer to what you will do if the situation becomes critical and you have to make a decision or take action. "There should be enough room for everyone, but if push comes to shove we can go to the hotel."
	Pushing up the daisies	If you say of someone that they are pushing up the daisies, you mean that they are dead. "Old Johnny Barnes? He's been pushing up the daisies for over 10 years!"
	Put a damper on something	If someone or something puts a damper on a situation or event, they make it less successful or enjoyable. "The party was going great until the neighbour's complaints put a damper on it."
	Put a spanner in the works (Throw a (monkey) wrench in the works)	To put a spanner in the works means to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned. (In the US, the word 'wrench' or 'monkey wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.)
	Put it mildly	This expression means that you express your opinion or reaction in a controlled way, without exaggeration. "She's three years old and already able to read. That's promising, to put it mildly."
	Put on a brave face	When confronted with difficulties, if you put on a brave face, you try to look cheerful and pretend that the situation is not as bad as it is. "Even at the worst of times she put on a brave face."
	Put 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."
	Put one's best foot forward	If someone puts their best foot forward, they do something as fast as they can. "It's a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward I should catch the next train."
	Put one's feet up	When you put your feet up, you sit down and relax. "You must be tired. Come in and put your feet up."
	Put one's foot down.	To put one's foot down means to exert authority to prevent something from happening. "The child wanted to sleep on the sofa, but his father put his foot down and made him go to bed."
	Put one's foot in one's mouth	If you put your foot in your mouth, you do or say something that offends, upsets or embarrasses someone else. "She really put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the housewarming party - Andy hadn't been invited!"
	Put your head on the block	If you put yourself in a situation where you risk losing reputation or your job if things go wrong, you put your head on the block. "Jenny asked me to recommend her son for the job but I'm not prepared to put my head on the block for someone I hardly know."
	Put your heart (and soul) into something	If you put your heart (and soul) into something, you are very enthusiastic and invest a lot of energy and hard work in something. Paul was determined to make a success of the project. He put his heart and soul into it.
	Put one's house in order	If you put your house in order, your organize your own affairs or improve your methods before criticizing others. "The government should put its own affairs in order before telling other countries what to do."
	Put the kibosh on something	If you do something to prevent a plan or activity from happening or developing, you put the kibosh on it. "The bank's refusal to grant him a loan put the kibosh on Jack's project."
	Put one's pants on one leg at a time	To say that someone puts their pants on one leg at a time means that the person is a human being no different from anyone else. "Don't be scared to speak to him. He puts his pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us!"
	Put one's shoulder to the wheel	If you put your shoulder to the wheel, you start putting a lot of effort into a difficult task. "We'll have to put our shoulders to the wheel to get the store ready for the opening day."
	Put out feelers	Before doing something, if you try to discover what people think about it by making discreet enquiries, you put out feelers. "Before making any proposals, I'm going to put out feelers to test the general reaction to the project."
	Put someone through their paces	If you put someone or something through their paces, you test their ability to do something by making them perform certain actions. "During the presentation, the machine was put through its paces."
	Put someone out to pasture	To say that someone has been put out to pasture means that they have been forced to retire or give up their responsibilities. "He's in good health and feels it's too early to be put out to pasture."
	Put someone in the picture	If you give somebody all the information necessary to enable them to fully understand a situation, you put them in the picture. "Let me put you in the picture about what happened during your absence."
	Put someone in their place	If someone causes offence or irritation by speaking or behaving in an inappropriate manner, you put them in their place by letting them know that they are not as important as they seem to believe. "The new trainee is not in a position to criticize our methods. He needs to be put in his place!"
	Put something on the long finger	If you put something on the long finger, you postpone it indefinitely. "She says she intends to go back to college, but she keeps putting it on the long finger."
	Put the squeeze on someone	If you put the squeeze on somebody, you put pressure on them to force them to act in a particular way. "Bob was reluctant to replace his colleague until the boss put the squeeze on him."
	Put somebody on the spot	If you put somebody on the spot, you put them in a difficult situation, for example by asking embarrassing or difficult questions which they cannot avoid. "When the reporter was asked to reveal his source, he was really put on the spot."
	Put that in your pipe and smoke it!	You have to accept what I say, whether you like it or not. "I am not going to buy you a scooter, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!"
	Put in a good word (for someone)	If you put in a good word for someone, you say positive things in support of that person in order to help them. "If you want to apply for the job, I'll put in a good word for you."
	Put words in somebody's mouth	If you claim, wrongly, that someone has said something, or suggest what they should say, you are putting words in their mouth. "You're putting words in my mouth. I did not say I saw Mr. Brown; I said I saw his car!"
	Pyrrhic victory	A victory that is obtained at a tremendous cost, or causes such a considerable loss that it is not worth winning, is called a Pyrrhic victory. "It was a Pyrrhic victory. The shop owner won the lawsuit but went bankrupt because of the legal expenses involved."