English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - N, page 4
from: 'no accounting'
to: 'no wonder'
- no accounting for taste
- This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes. It’s a way of saying that
personal preferences are not debatable.
"She fell in love with a guy who's short, fat, bald and poor ... there's no accounting for taste!"
- This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes. It’s a way of saying that
personal preferences are not debatable.
- no backing out/no going back/ no turning back
- These expressions mean that is now impossible
not to do something that you agreed to do.
"You’re scared of flying ? Well, we’re already on board so there’s no going back now !"
- These expressions mean that is now impossible
not to do something that you agreed to do.
- no-brainer
- A decision or choice that requires little or no thought,
because the best option is so obvious, is called a no-brainer.
"The choice was between a cash refund or having the amount credited to my account - it was a no-brainer! I took the cash!"
- A decision or choice that requires little or no thought,
because the best option is so obvious, is called a no-brainer.
- no dice
- If someone asks you for something and you reply 'no dice!',
you mean that it is impossible or it can't be done.
"Can you lend me your car?" "Sorry, no dice!"
- If someone asks you for something and you reply 'no dice!',
you mean that it is impossible or it can't be done.
- no end
- This expression is another way of saying 'very much'.
"Aunt Bessie was pleased no end to be invited to your wedding."
- This expression is another way of saying 'very much'.
- no escaping the fact
- If it is impossible to deny something, there is no escaping the fact.
"There is no escaping the fact that the climate is changing."
- If it is impossible to deny something, there is no escaping the fact.
- no fixed abode
- A person of no fixed abode has nowhere permanent to live.
"A 30-year-old man of no fixed abode was charged with the burglary."
- A person of no fixed abode has nowhere permanent to live.
- no getting out of it
- If there is no getting out of it, there is no way to avoid doing something.
"It’s your turn to do the dishes and that’s it ! There’s no getting out of it !"
- If there is no getting out of it, there is no way to avoid doing something.
- no-go area
- A no-go area is an area, particularly in a city, where it
is dangerous to go.
"Tourists have been advised to avoid parts of the city which have become no-go areas."
- A no-go area is an area, particularly in a city, where it
is dangerous to go.
- no great shakes
- To say that someone or something is no great shakes
means that they are useless, ineffective or not very good.
"He's a good actor but his last film was no great shakes."
- To say that someone or something is no great shakes
means that they are useless, ineffective or not very good.
- no hard feelings
- If you have no hard feelings, you feel no resentment or bitterness about something.
"When Alan was promoted instead of Steve, he said to Steve : 'No hard feelings I hope'."
- If you have no hard feelings, you feel no resentment or bitterness about something.
- no holds barred
- This expression, which derives from wrestling, is used to
describe something done with no restraints, limits or rules of conduct.
"It's a live talk show with no holds barred, which is not to everyone's taste."
- This expression, which derives from wrestling, is used to
describe something done with no restraints, limits or rules of conduct.
- no knowing/no telling
- When something such as a
result or outcome is unknown because it cannot be predicted, we can say that there's no knowing/telling what will happen.
"The two candidates are equally popular, so there's no knowing/telling who will win the elections."
- When something such as a
result or outcome is unknown because it cannot be predicted, we can say that there's no knowing/telling what will happen.
- no picnic
- An activity or task that is no picnic is unpleasant or difficult.
"Tom is a bit depressed these days, but then job-hunting is no picnic."
- An activity or task that is no picnic is unpleasant or difficult.
- no point (in doing something)
- If there is no point in doing something, it is useless to do it because it would serve no purpose.
"There's no point in shouting at the old man - he's deaf!"
- If there is no point in doing something, it is useless to do it because it would serve no purpose.
- no smoke without fire
- If many people say that something bad is happening, there is possibly some truth in it.
"Although no proof was ever found, people continue to say: 'There's no smoke without fire'."
- If many people say that something bad is happening, there is possibly some truth in it.
- no two ways about it
- To say that there are no two ways about something
means that there is only one suitable way of dealing with something.
"There are no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you must give it back."
- To say that there are no two ways about something
means that there is only one suitable way of dealing with something.
- no wonder
- If something is no wonder, it is not surprising or unexpected at all.
"It's no wonder the washing machine isn't working. It's not plugged in!"
- If something is no wonder, it is not surprising or unexpected at all.
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