English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 2
from: 'paddle own canoe'
to: 'carrot and stick approach'
- 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."
- If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or
interference from anyone.
- can't fathom (something)
- If you can't fathom something, you are unable to fully understand it.
"Scientists still can’t fathom all the secrets of the human brain."
- If you can't fathom something, you are unable to fully understand it.
- can't for the life of me
- This expression can be used to say that it is impossible for you to do something, no matter how hard you try.
"I can't for the life of me remember the title of the book."
- This expression can be used to say that it is impossible for you to do something, no matter how hard you try.
- can't get you your yead around (something)
- If you can't get your head around something, you find it too difficult to understand.
"I need help with my tax return. I just can’t get my head around it!"
- If you can't get your head around something, you find it too difficult to understand.
- can't hold a candle
- If one person (or thing) can't hold a candle to another, they are much less competent or do not perform as well as the other.
"John is very intelligent but he can't hold a candle to his brother Paul when it comes to sports."
- If one person (or thing) can't hold a candle to another, they are much less competent or do not perform as well as the other.
- can't make head or tail of
- If you can't make head or tail of something, you can't understand it at all.
"Amy's message was so confusing. I couldn't make head or tail of it!"
- If you can't make head or tail of something, you can't understand it at all.
- can't make omelette without breaking eggs
- This expression means that it is impossible to make
important changes without causing some unpleasant effects.
"Some people will lose their jobs after the merger, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."
- This expression means that it is impossible to make
important changes without causing some unpleasant effects.
- can't see the wood for the trees
- If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they
are so concentrated on the details that they can't see the situation as a whole.
"The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn't see the wood for the trees."
- If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they
are so concentrated on the details that they can't see the situation as a whole.
- can't stand the pace
- If you can't stand the pace, you are unable to do things well when there is a lot of pressure.
"She once worked for a famous fashion designer but she couldn't stand the pace."
- If you can't stand the pace, you are unable to do things well when there is a lot of pressure.
- can't think straight
- When you can't think straight, you are unable to concentrate or think clearly.
"There’s so much excitement in the office today that I can’t think straight!"
- When you can't think straight, you are unable to concentrate or think clearly.
- cap in hand
- If you do something cap in hand, you ask for something in a very respectful manner.
"They went to the teacher, cap in hand, and asked for more time to complete their project."
- If you do something cap in hand, you ask for something in a very respectful manner.
- if the cap fits wear it
- You can say 'if the cap fits, wear it' to let someone
know that the critical remark they have just heard applies to them.
"Are you referring to me?" "If the cap fits, wear it!"
- You can say 'if the cap fits, wear it' to let someone
know that the critical remark they have just heard applies to them.
- put on your thinking cap
- If you tell someone to put on their thinking cap, you
ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it.
"Now here's this week's quiz; it's time to put on your thinking caps!"
- If you tell someone to put on their thinking cap, you
ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it.
- captain the ship / be captain of the ship
- To captain the ship or be captain of the ship refers to the person who is in complete charge of
something such as a group or entreprise, and has full authority to lead operations.
"We need an experienced person to captain the ship."
- To captain the ship or be captain of the ship refers to the person who is in complete charge of
something such as a group or entreprise, and has full authority to lead operations.
- on/in the cards
- Something which is on the cards it very likely to happen.
"A coalition between the two parties is still on the cards."
- Something which is on the cards it very likely to happen.
- play your cards right
- If you play your cards right, you do all that is
necessary in order to succeed or to obtain what you want.
"If we play our cards right, we'll get the contract."
- If you play your cards right, you do all that is
necessary in order to succeed or to obtain what you want.
- put/lay one's cards on the table
- If you put your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly about your feelings and intentions.
"It was time for me to put my cards on the table and reveal my true feelings."
- If you put your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly about your feelings and intentions.
- carrot and stick approach
- If you use a carrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward and the threat of
punishment to make someone work harder.
"Some parents use a carrot-and-stick approach to obtain good results from their children."
- If you use a carrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward and the threat of
punishment to make someone work harder.
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