English Idioms - Alphabetical list Q-R

	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?"