| |
Idiom |
Meaning |
|
Q |
Quaking
in one's boots |
When someone is extremely scared, it is said that
they are quaking in their boots.
"When he saw the crocodiles in the water, he started quaking in his
boots." |
|
|
In a quandary |
If you are in a quandary about something, you find it difficult
to decide
what to do.
"The job they offer is less interesting but the salary is
better. I'm in a
quandary about what to do." |
|
|
On the
QT |
If something is done on the QT, it is done quietly or discreetly.
"They got married on the QT last summer and told nobody." |
|
|
Quick as a dog can lick a dish |
If you do something surprisingly fast, or suddenly, you do it
as quick as a dog can lick a dish.
"He packed his bag as quick as a dog can lick a dish." |
|
|
(no) quick fix |
To say that there is no quick fix to a problem means that there
is
no simple solution.
"There is no quick fix for unemployment; major reforms
are necessary." |
| |
Have a quick temper |
If you have a quick temper, you get angry very
easily. "He makes me nervous - he's got such a quick
temper." |
| |
Quick
off the mark |
To say that someone is quick off the mark means that they are
quick
to react to an event or take advantage of an opportunity.
"You've got to be quick off the mark to avail of the airline's
special offers." |
| |
Quick/slow
on the uptake |
Someone who is quick or slow on the uptake is quick or slow to
understand what is meant.
"Please explain the problem in simple words - I'm a bit slow on the
uptake." |
| |
(as)
quiet as a mouse |
When someone is as quiet as a mouse, they make no noise at all.
"The burglar was as quiet as a mouse as he moved around the house." |
| |
Call it quits. |
If you say "I'm going to call it quits", this means
that you are going to stop doing something, or end what you are
doing. |
|
R |
A race against time |
If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very
quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain
time.
"It was a race against time to get everything ready for the inauguration." |
| |
Rack one's brains |
If you rack your brains, you try very hard to think of something or to
remember something.
"Christmas is always a hassle for me. I have to rack my brains
every
year to find ideas for presents." |
| |
Go to rack and ruin |
If something goes to rack and ruin, it deteriorates or falls
into serious decline
until it reaches a state of complete destruction.
"When the factory closed down, the building was left to go to rack and
ruin." |
| |
On the rack |
If you are in a stressful situation, having to answer a lot of
questions or wait for a decision, you are
on the rack. "The suspect was put on the rack by the police but he did not confess
to anything." |
| |
Racked with pain
|
When someone is suffering from severe pain, they are racked with pain.
"The soldier was so badly injured that he was racked with pain." |
| |
From rags to
riches |
If you go from rags to riches, you start off being very poor and
become very rich and successful "By renovating old
houses in the right places, he went from rags to
riches." |
| |
Take
a rain check |
To say that you will take a rain check means that you
cannot accept
an invitation or offer now, but you will be happy to accept it
at a later date.
"Do you mind if I take a rain check on that lunch invitation? I'm going
to
be away all week." |
| |
It never rains but it pours |
This expression is used to comment on the fact that when
something
bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and
make the
situation even worse. "First he forgot his
briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he
reached the car
park, his car had been stolen -
it never rains but it
pours!" |
| |
Raining
cats and dogs |
If it's raining cats and dogs, it's raining very
heavily. "We'll have to cancel the picnic I'm afraid. It's
raining cats and dogs." |
| |
Raise eyebrows |
If you raise your eyebrows at something, you show surprise or
disapproval by the expression on your face.
"When the boss arrived in jeans, there were a lot of raised
eyebrows." |
| |
Raise the roof |
When people raise the roof, they make a lot of noise by
cheering, shouting, whistling or clapping their hands.
"The concert was such a success, the audience raised the roof." |
| |
Raise/lower
one's sights |
If you raise or lower your sights, you raise or lower your
expectations,
or you are more or less ambitious..
"He had to lower his sights and accept a less well-paid job than
what
he had hoped for. |
| |
Rake over the ashes |
When people rake over
the ashes, they discuss an unpleasant event which took place
in the past. "My grandfather's business went bankrupt years ago
but he still rakes over the ashes from time to
time." |
| |
Rant
and rave |
If you rant and rave about something, you protest noisily
and
forcefully.
"The old man ranted and raved about the new waste collection
system,
but he had to accept it." |
| |
Rap
on the knuckles |
If someone gets a rap on/across the knuckles, they are punished
or
reprimanded, not very severely, but as a reminder not to do that again.
"Andy got a rap on the knuckles for coming home late." |
| |
Take the
rap |
If you take the rap for something, you accept blame or punishment
for
something, even if you have not done it.
"The whole class had to the take the rap for the disorder." |
| |
In
raptures |
If you are in raptures about something, you are delighted or very
enthusiastic.
"Julie is in raptures about her new apartment." |
| |
Smell a rat |
To say "I smell a rat" means that you suspect that
something is wrong, or that someone is doing something
dishonest or incorrect. |
| |
Rather you than me |
This expression is used to express sympathy with a person who has
to do
something that you consider unpleasant
or difficult, and you
would not like to be in their
situation.
"I have to announce the bad news to the child's parents." "Oh dear,
rather you than me". |
| |
Reach for the moon |
If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and
try to achieve
something, even if it's difficult.
"His parents were hardworking people who encouraged their children
to
reach for the moon." |
| |
Reach
saturation point |
When something reaches saturation point, it is so full that
nothing more can be added
"That's enough revision for today. My brain has reached saturation
point!". |
| |
Read the riot act |
If you declare with force and authority that something must stop, and
announce the consequences if it happens again, you read the riot act.
"Dad read us the riot act when we messed up his tool-shed." |
| |
Ready and waiting |
If something or someone is ready and waiting, they are prepared
and available for a particular task or occasion.
"There wad a vast amount of food ready and waiting for the guests." |
| |
Ready to
drop |
Someone who is ready to drop, is nearly too exhausted to stay
standing. "I've been shopping all day with Judy. I'm ready to drop!" |
| |
Reap the harvest
|
If you reap the harvest,
you benefit or suffer as a direct result of past
actions. "When he
won his first match, he began to reap the harvest of all the
hard training." |
| |
Rear
its ugly head |
If something unpleasant reappears after lying dormant for some time,
it rears its ugly head.
"It is a sad fact that fascism is rearing its ugly head again in some
countries." |
| |
Recharge
your batteries |
When you recharge your batteries, you take a break from a tiring
or stressful activity in order to relax and recover your energy.
"Sam is completely over-worked. He needs a holiday to recharge
his
batteries." |
| |
Recipe
for disaster |
If
you refer to a plan or an idea as a recipe for disaster,
you think
it is likely to produce bad results.
"Our two families together for Christmas? Sounds like a recipe
for
disaster!" |
| |
Set the record straight |
To set the record straight means to correct a mistake or
misunderstanding.
|
| |
In the red |
If a person or organization is in the red, they owe money or have a negative
account.
"I'm afraid I can't lend you any money. I'm in the red myself." |
| |
See red |
If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed
about something.
"Discrimination of any kind makes me see red!" |
|
|
Red carpet |
To roll out the red carpet means to give special
treatment to an important or honoured visitor.
The management is going to roll out the red carpet for the visit of
the Nobel prize winner. |
| |
Red-handed |
If a person is caught red-handed,
they are caught while they are
doing something wrong or
illegal.
"The boy was caught red-handed stealing chocolate in the supermarket." |
| |
Red herring |
A red herring
refers to a fact or argument introduced into a discussion
which draws
attention away from the main point.
"Look, bureaucracy is a red herring. How to deal with the oil
crisis is the
important issue today." |
| |
Red
light district |
This term refers to an area of a town or city where there is a
concentration of sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc.
"A photograph of the politician taken in a red-light district caused
a scandal." |
| |
Red tape |
The term red tape refers to official rules and
bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done
quickly. "If there wasn't so much red tape, the company would be up and
running already." |
| |
Redress
the balance |
An effort to redress the balance is an attempt to make
things equal.
"With too few girls entering university, the authorities declared
that
steps would be taken to redress the balance." |
| |
Reduce
to tears |
If your behaviour or attitude makes someone cry, you reduce them
to tears.
"The teacher criticized her presentation so harshly that she was
reduced to tears." |
| |
Refresh
someone's memory |
If you refresh someone's memory, you remind them of facts they
seem to have forgotten.
"Let me refresh your memory - you've already missed three classes
this term. |
| |
The
rest is history |
This is a way of saying that there is no need to finish a story because
everyone knows what happened next.
"Facebook was launched in 2004, was initially restricted to students
from Harvard, and the rest is history ..." |
| |
Take someone for a ride |
To take someone for a ride means to cheat or deceive
them. |
| |
Ride roughshod over something |
If you ride roughshod over something, you behave in a harsh or
thoughtless manner, or you treat a situation with contempt.
"The government rode roughshod
over all opposition to the new measures." |
| |
Ride
(something) out |
If you manage to survive a dangerous or very unpleasant
situation, you ride it out.
"His business was hit by the recession but he managed to ride it out." |
| |
Let something ride |
When you decide to do nothing about a particular situation and
allow it to remain as it is, you let it ride.
"Bill didn't like the way his wife spoke to the operator, but he let
it ride so as to avoid another quarrel." |
| |
Riding high |
Someone who is riding high is enjoying a period of
success or popularity.
He's been riding high since the success of his last film. |
| |
Right as rain |
If someone is (as) right as rain, they are in excellent health or
condition.
"I called to see my grandmother, thinking she was ill, but she was
(as) right as rain!" |
| |
Right
up your alley |
If something is right up your alley, it is the sort of thing you like
or
have knowledge about.
"You like cooking, don't you? This book will be right up your
alley!" |
| |
Ring
out the old year and
ring in the new |
This expression means to announce and celebrate the end of one year
and the beginning of the next.
Happy New Year! |
| |
Rip-off |
To say that something is a rip-off means that it costs much more than
it should.
"$10 for a hamburger? That's a rip-off!" |
| |
Ripple effect |
When an action has an effect on something, which in turn effects something
else, it is said to have a ripple effect.
"An increase in the price of oil will have a ripple effect on the
economy as a
whole." |
| |
Rise
to the occasion |
If you rise to the occasion, you manage to do something successfully
in difficult circumstances.
"When her boss broke his leg, Julie had to represent the company
at
the congress, and she rose to the occasion extremely well." |
| |
Risk life
and limb |
If you risk life and limb, you are in danger of death or serious
injury.
"The roads are icy today; you'll risk life and limb if you go by car."
|
| |
Hit the road. |
To hit the road means to start a
journey.
"It's getting late. It's time to hit the road." |
| |
Road
rage |
Aggressive driving habits sometimes resulting in violence against other
drivers.
"A number of car accidents today are a result of road rage." |
| |
Roaring
trade |
If you do a
roaring trade in a particular field, you do excellent business.
"The sports shop is doing a roaring trade in bicycles these days." |
| |
Rob the cradle |
If you rob the cradle, you have a romantic relationship
with someone
who is much younger than yourself.
"My uncle Tom is dating a twenty-year-old girl. That's really robbing the
cradle!
" |
| |
Rob
Peter to pay Paul |
If a person robs Peter to pay Paul, they pay one debt with money
borrowed from somewhere else, thus creating another debt.
"David borrowed money from a friend to cover his overdraft;
a typical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul!" |
| |
Rock the boat |
If you tell someone not to rock the boat, you are
asking them to
do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a
stable situation. "After the recent riots, it was decided not to
rock the boat by
introducing strict measures." |
| |
Rocket science |
It's not rocket
science/You don't need to be a rocket scientist This
expression is used to emphasize that something presents no
particular
difficulty. "Bob will explain how it works. Don't worry -
it's not rocket science!" |
| |
Roll
up your sleeves |
When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work.
"The living-room was in a mess after the party, so we had to roll up
our sleeves and start cleaning." |
| |
Roll
with the punches |
When someone has to roll with the punches, they have to
deal
with a difficult situation by being flexible.
"The atmosphere has become very aggressive. We'll just have to roll
with the punches. |
| |
When in Rome, do as the
Romans. |
This expression means that you should adopt the customs of
the people or country you are visiting, and
behave in the same way. |
| |
Go through the roof |
If someone goes through the roof, they become very
angry "His father went through the roof when Paul damaged
his new car." |
| |
Root
and branch |
If an action is performed thoroughly or completely, it is done
'root and branch'.
"The causes of the disease must be eliminated root and branch." |
| |
Rooted to
the spot |
If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are rooted
to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move.
"Joe stood rooted to the spot as the plane landed on the water." |
| |
Learn the ropes |
If you learn the ropes, you learn how to a particular
job correctly. |
| |
Rotten
apple |
This term refers to a person who is considered to be dishonest or
immoral and has a bad influence on others in a group.
"It is said that in any profession there's always a rotten apple." |
| |
Rough and ready |
Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather
rudimentary or unrefined.
"The
accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!" |
| |
Rough
diamond |
This expression refers to a person who is good-natured but who
lacks
polished manners and/or education.
"He's a great guy, but a bit of a rough diamond!" |
| |
Rough
justice |
Treatment or punishment that does not seem fair, or is too
severe, is called rough justice, especially if it is
not legal.
"The way the player was treated by the media was very rough justice." |
| |
Rub salt into the wound |
If you are in a difficult or unpleasant
situation, and somebody
rubs salt into the
wound, they do or say something to make
things worse. "The separation was already difficult for
Pete. Tom's comments about Julie's new boyfriend just rubbed
salt into the wound." |
| |
Rub
shoulders |
If you rub shoulders with someone, you have an
opportunity to meet and talk to a person who is wealthy, famous or
distinguished.
"In her job in public relations, she sometimes rubs shoulders with
famous people." |
| |
When the rubber
hits the road |
This expression refers to the moment when you put a theory into
practice or
actually apply what you have learned.
"The plan sounds good.
I'd like to be there when the rubber hits the road." |
| |
Rue
the day
|
If you rue the day you did something, you bitterly regret what you
did that day.
"Her father disapproved of Tony. He said she would rue the day she
married him." |
| |
Sweep something under the
rug |
If you sweep
something under the rug (or carpet), you try
to hide it or ignore it because
it is embarrassing. |
| |
Rule the roost |
If you rule the roost, you are the most important and
powerful
person in a group or community. "Officially
David runs the company, but it's his father who really
rules the
roost." |
| |
Run the gamut |
If you run the gamut of something, you cover the entire range of
what is possible.
"He enjoys reading. His taste runs the gamut from popular novels
to poetry." |
| |
Run with the hare and
hunt with the hounds |
This expression refers to someone who wants to stay
on friendly
terms with both sides in a quarrel "Bob always wants to keep everyone happy, but I'm afraid he can't
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds this time - the issue
is too important. |
| |
Run
a mile |
This
expression is used by someone who is anxious to avoid
something. "She said she'd run a mile if she saw reporters in the
area. |
| |
Run
riot |
If people run riot, they behave in a frenzied,
uncontrolled manner, running around in all directions.
"I dread the arrival of my sister with her kids - she always lets them
run riot." |
| |
Run a taut ship
also: run a tight ship |
This expression means that a group or an organization is run
in a
well-ordered and disciplined manner.
"The director of the scout camp runs a taut ship." |
| |
Run out of steam |
If you say that a person, a process or an organized event
is
running out of steam, you mean that there is a
loss of impetus,
energy or enthusiasm "The anti-immigrant
movement seems to be running out of steam." |
| |
Run
rings/circles around |
If you do something much better than your opponent, by showing more
skill or ability, you run rings (or circles) around them.
"In a quiz show on TV yesterday, a teenage girl ran rings around the
other
contestants." |
| |
Run round in circles |
People who run round in circles have
difficulty in achieving things because of lack of
organization. "Running round in circles will get us nowhere - we
need to set up a plan." |
| |
Be run down |
A person who is run down is in poor physical
condition. |
| |
run-of-the-mill |
Something described as run-of-the-mill is considered ordinary or
uneventful.
"I've got nothing extraordinary to tell; it was a
run-of-the-mill sales
meeting." |
| |
It runs in the family |
This refers to a physical
or moral characteristic that is common to
many members of a
family "Black hair and blue eyes - the combination runs in the
family." |
| |
A running
battle |
If two people or groups have a running battle
with each other,
they argue or disagree about something over a long period of
time. "There's been a
running battle between the local authorities and
the population over the school bus route." |
| |
In a rut |
If you are in a rut, you have a monotonous and boring way of life.
"If you feel you're in a rut, why don't you look for a new
job?" |