English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 16
from: 'off the cuff'
to: 'cut no ice'
- off the cuff
- If you speak off the cuff, you say something without
any previous thought or preparation.
"He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well."
- If you speak off the cuff, you say something without
any previous thought or preparation.
- on the cusp
- On the cusp refers to a point in time that marks
a transition or the beginning of a change.
"Some people think the world is on the cusp of a new era."
- On the cusp refers to a point in time that marks
a transition or the beginning of a change.
- a cut above
- Someone or something that is a cut above
the others is better or of higher quality than others in the same group or category.
"The articles in this magazine are a cut above the others."
- Someone or something that is a cut above
the others is better or of higher quality than others in the same group or category.
- cut both ways
- Something that cuts both ways has both a positive and
a negative effect at the same time.
"Banning cars in the town centre can cut both ways: less traffic congestion but fewer customers in the shops."
- Something that cuts both ways has both a positive and
a negative effect at the same time.
- cut the cackle
- If you tell a group of people to cut the cackle, you
are asking them to stop talking aimlessly and start dealing with more
important or serious matters.
"OK. It's time to cut the cackle and get down to business"
- If you tell a group of people to cut the cackle, you
are asking them to stop talking aimlessly and start dealing with more
important or serious matters.
- cut corners
- Cutting corners means not following the correct procedure in
order to save time, effort or money (often with unsatisfactory results).
"I want the job well done - no cutting corners please!"
- Cutting corners means not following the correct procedure in
order to save time, effort or money (often with unsatisfactory results).
- cut a dash
- If a person cuts a dash, they make a striking
impression by their appearance and attractive clothes.
"Wearing his uniform, my grandfather cut a dash on his wedding day."
- If a person cuts a dash, they make a striking
impression by their appearance and attractive clothes.
- cut a fine figure
- Someone who cuts a fine figure is admired because they are
well-dressed and look elegant. (Usually refers to a man.)
"Tony cut a fine figure when he arrived in his new suit.”
- Someone who cuts a fine figure is admired because they are
well-dressed and look elegant. (Usually refers to a man.)
- cut a long story short
- If you cut a long story short, you explain what happened in a few words, without giving any details.
"To cut a long story short, his work was unsatisfactory so he was asked to leave."
- If you cut a long story short, you explain what happened in a few words, without giving any details.
- cut and dried
- If you refer to a situation, problem or solution as cut
and dried, you mean that it is clear, straightforward and unambiguous, with no likely complications.
"When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected."
- If you refer to a situation, problem or solution as cut
and dried, you mean that it is clear, straightforward and unambiguous, with no likely complications.
- cut from the same cloth
- If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are
very similar in character or behaviour.
"Although the brothers look alike, they are not cut from the same cloth. They each have their own personality."
- If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are
very similar in character or behaviour.
- cut the ground from under someone's feet
- When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet,
they do something which weakens their position or spoils their plans.
"When we launched the new product, we cut the ground from under our competitors' feet."
- When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet,
they do something which weakens their position or spoils their plans.
- cut no ice
- If something cuts no ice, it has no effect or makes
no impression on someone.
"Her explanation cut no ice with the teacher who said he would tolerate no more unjustified absences."
- If something cuts no ice, it has no effect or makes
no impression on someone.
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