English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - C, page 3
from: 'carry the can'
to: 'fat cat'
- carry the can
- If you carry the can for another person, you accept
blame or take responsibility for something
that goes wrong, even if it is not your fault or only partly.
"The author of the controversial book didn't turn up for the interview, so his agent had to carry the can."
- If you carry the can for another person, you accept
blame or take responsibility for something
that goes wrong, even if it is not your fault or only partly.
- carry the torch
- If you carry the torch, you have strong feelings for
someone with whom you do not or cannot have a relationship.
"He's been carrying the torch for Julie since their college days, before she married Ted."
- If you carry the torch, you have strong feelings for
someone with whom you do not or cannot have a relationship.
- carry weight
- If a person or organisation carries weight, they
are influential or important.
"I'm glad she's on our side - her opinion carries a lot of weight."
- If a person or organisation carries weight, they
are influential or important.
- put the cart before the horse
- A person who puts the cart before the horse is doing
things in the wrong order.
"Building a school before knowing the age of the population is putting the cart before the horse."
- A person who puts the cart before the horse is doing
things in the wrong order.
- carve out a niche
- A person or company who carves out a niche concentrates
on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and
develop their expertise in that area.
"In today's competitive market it is better to carve out a niche and try to become the best in that area."
- A person or company who carves out a niche concentrates
on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and
develop their expertise in that area.
- case in point
- This term refers to an example which serves to illustrate,
support or prove a point which is currently under discussion.
"Not even the most talented athlete is guaranteed a long career. The latest skiing accident is a case in point."
- This term refers to an example which serves to illustrate,
support or prove a point which is currently under discussion.
- a cash cow
- A product or service which is a regular source of income
for a company is called a cash cow.
"His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow."
- A product or service which is a regular source of income
for a company is called a cash cow.
- cash in your chips
- If you cash in your chips, you sell something,
especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is
going to fall.
"Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down."
- If you cash in your chips, you sell something,
especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is
going to fall.
- cast a wide net
- When trying to find something, if you ,
you cover an extensive area or use a wide range of sources.
"The hospital cast a wide net in their search for compatible donors."
- When trying to find something, if you ,
you cover an extensive area or use a wide range of sources.
- a cast-iron stomach
- If you can eat all sorts of food and drink what you like,
without any indigestion, discomfort or bad effects, it is said that you have a
cast-iron stomach.
"I don't know how you can eat that spicy food. You must have a cast-iron stomach."
- If you can eat all sorts of food and drink what you like,
without any indigestion, discomfort or bad effects, it is said that you have a
cast-iron stomach.
- a cat in gloves catches no mice
- This expression means that if you are too careful and
polite, you may not obtain what you want.
"Negotiate carefully, but remember: a cat in gloves catches no mice!"
- This expression means that if you are too careful and
polite, you may not obtain what you want.
- a cat can look at a king
- This expression means that nobody is so important that an
ordinary person cannot look at or be curious about them.
- This expression means that nobody is so important that an
ordinary person cannot look at or be curious about them.
- a fat cat
- This term used to refer to a rich, powerful, self-satisfied person
who uses their money and power in a way that you disapprove of.
"The place was full of fat cats on their big yachts."
- This term used to refer to a rich, powerful, self-satisfied person
who uses their money and power in a way that you disapprove of.
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