English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List - N
(page 4 : no holds barred → not give
the time of day)
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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'. |
| no two ways about it | To say that there
are no two ways about something
means that there is only one suitable ay of
dealing with something. There are no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you must give it back. |
| no use crying over spilt milk | This expression
means that it is useless to complain or have
regrets about something that is done and
cannot be changed. Sometimes I regret not accepting the offer, but it's no use crying over spilt milk. |
| nodding terms | If you are on
nodding terms with someone, you don't
know them very well, just well enough to say
'hello' when you meet them. We haven't made any friends yet but we're on nodding terms with our neighbours. |
| non sequitur | This Latin term
refers to a statement which does not seem to
be a logical follow-up to the previous
statement or argument. After announcing the merger, the chairman began talking about global warming which seemed a complete non sequitur. |
| none the wiser | If
you do not know more about something after
obtaining an explanation, or if you fail to
find information on the subject, you are
none the wiser. I tried to understand the voting system but I was none the wiser after Joe's explanation. |
| use one's noodle | If you use your
noodle, you use your brain or your
common sense. How did I figure that out? I just used my noodle! |
| nose out of joint | If something puts
your nose out of joint, it offends
or annoys you. When he discovered he wasn't on the invitation list, that really put his nose out of joint! |
| not all there | Someone who is
not all there behaves strangely at
times, or seems a bit odd. Our new neighbour wears a hat and coat even in summer; he's not all there! |
| not for all the tea in China | To say that you
would not do something for all the tea
in China means that you would not do it
under any conditions. I wouldn't live there for all the tea in China. |
| not for love or money | If you say that you
cannot or will not do something for love
or money, you mean that you will not do
it under any circumstances. I would not try bungee jumping for love or money! |
| not getting anywhere | If you are not
getting anywhere, you are making no
progress at all. I've spent the whole day looking for a solution but I'm not getting anywhere. |
| not give a hoot! | To say that you don't or couldn't
give a hoot means that you don't care
at all about something. She wears eccentric clothes but she couldn't give a hoot about what others think. |
| not give the time of day | If you dislike
someone so strongly that you ignore them and
refuse to speak to them, you do not give
them the time of day. Sarah's parents dislike her boyfriend so much they won't even give him the time of day! |
| ...back next... | |
alphabetical lists N ...
| N1 | N2 | N3 | N4 | N5 |
more alphabetical lists ...
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X-Y-Z |