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 ENGLISH  IDIOMS  &  IDIOMATIC  EXPRESSIONS


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."
   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 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."
   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."
   (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."
   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!
"
   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."
   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."
   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 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!"
   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?"
   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 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!"
   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."
   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.
   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 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."
   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!"
   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."
   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."
   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 the game   If you play the game, you accept to do things according to
  the rules laid down by others.
   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 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."
   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?"
   A 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!"
   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."
   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?"
   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
!"
   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."
   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."
   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'."
   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 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 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 your 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 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 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 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 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 your 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 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 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 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 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 out feelers   If a person or organization puts out feelers, they cautiously check
  the views of others.
  "The politician put out feelers to test public reaction to his future
  proposals."
   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 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 your 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 somebody 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 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 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!"
 

 
 
 

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