English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - N, page 3
from: 'new wine in old bottles'
to: 'nitty gritty'
- can't put new wine in old bottles
- This expression means that you should not try to combine
new concepts or innovations with an old or long-established framework or system.
"You'll never get that program to work on your father's old computer. You can't put new wine in old bottles!"
- This expression means that you should not try to combine
new concepts or innovations with an old or long-established framework or system.
- next best thing
- If you can't have exactly what you want, the
next best thing is the best alternative possible.
"The camera I wanted was far too expensive so I opted for a cheaper one that was the next best thing."
- If you can't have exactly what you want, the
next best thing is the best alternative possible.
- next to nothing
- The term next to nothing means a very small amount or almost nothing.
"My boots didn't cost much. I bought them for next to nothing in the sales."
- The term next to nothing means a very small amount or almost nothing.
- (as) nice as pie
- If a person is as nice as pie, they are surprisingly
kind and friendly.
"After our argument, my colleague was as nice as pie!"
- If a person is as nice as pie, they are surprisingly
kind and friendly.
- in the nick of time
- If something happens in the nick of time, it
happens at the last minute, when it is nearly too late.
"The child was standing in front of the open window. His mother caught him in the nick of time."
- If something happens in the nick of time, it
happens at the last minute, when it is nearly too late.
- night owl
- Someone who is lively and active at night and goes to bed
very late is called night owl.
"I work better in the evenings than in the morning. My friends say I'm a night owl."
- Someone who is lively and active at night and goes to bed
very late is called night owl.
- nine-day wonder
- An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest,
surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last.
"His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder, but he was soon forgotten."
- An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest,
surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last.
- nine times out of ten
- When something happens nine times out of ten,
it is what usually happens.
"The public transport system is very bad. Trains arrive late nine times out of ten."
- When something happens nine times out of ten,
it is what usually happens.
- on cloud nine
- A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because
something wonderful has happened.
"When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!"
- A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because
something wonderful has happened.
- dressed up to the nines
- To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means
that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
"Caroline must be going to a party - she's dressed up to the nines."
- To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means
that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
- talk nineteen to the dozen
- Someone who talks nineteen to the dozen speaks very quickly.
"He was talking nineteen to the dozen so I didn't catch the whole story."
- Someone who talks nineteen to the dozen speaks very quickly.
- nip something in the bud
- If you nip a problem or an unacceptable situation
in the bud, you stop it at an early stage, before it develops or becomes worse.
"Charlie wanted to be a clown, but his parents soon nipped that idea in the bud."
- If you nip a problem or an unacceptable situation
in the bud, you stop it at an early stage, before it develops or becomes worse.
- nitty-gritty
- When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to
discuss the most important points or the practical details.
"I was interested in the project, but we didn't get down to the nitty-gritty until his partner arrived."
- When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to
discuss the most important points or the practical details.
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