English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - N, page 7
from: 'nothing doing'
to: 'nutty as a fruitcake'
- nothing doing
- This term means that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed.
"Work on Sunday? Nothing doing!"
- This term means that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed.
- nothing succeeds like success
- This expression means that success often leads to further successes.
"The success of my first book encouraged to continue writing. Nothing succeeds like success!"
- This expression means that success often leads to further successes.
- nothing to write home about
- To say that something is nothing to write home about
means that it is not of great interest or importance.
"Okay, she's written a couple of books, but nothing to write home about."
- To say that something is nothing to write home about
means that it is not of great interest or importance.
- nothing ventured, nothing gained
- You cannot expect to achieve anything if you risk nothing.
"He's going to ask his boss for a promotion even though he has little chance of obtaining satisfaction. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"
- You cannot expect to achieve anything if you risk nothing.
- now and again/now and then
- Sometimes, occasionally but not very often.
"We very seldom eat out, but now and then we go to a local Italian restaurant."
- Sometimes, occasionally but not very often.
- now you're talking!
- This expression is used to show encouragement or agreement
with something that has just been said, for example a good idea.
"If we take the underground we'll avoid the traffic" "Now you're talking!"
- This expression is used to show encouragement or agreement
with something that has just been said, for example a good idea.
- nowhere to be found
- If something is nowhere to be found, even after a thorough search, it is impossible to find it.
"We looked everywhere for the cat but it was nowhere to be found."
- If something is nowhere to be found, even after a thorough search, it is impossible to find it.
- null and void
- Something which is null and void has no legal force or is invalid.
"The contract was declared null and void."
- Something which is null and void has no legal force or is invalid.
- number cruncher
- This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an
accountant or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations.
"She's a number cruncher who perfectly understands the organisation's financial situation."
- This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an
accountant or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations.
- safety in numbers
- Th expression safety in numbers means that being part of
a group makes people feel more secure and more confident when taking action.
"None of the group went sightseeing alone, knowing there was safety in numbers."
- Th expression safety in numbers means that being part of
a group makes people feel more secure and more confident when taking action.
- go nuts
- To say that a person has gone nuts
means that they have become completely foolish, eccentric or mad.
"I think the old lady has gone nuts! It's very hot today and she's wearing a fur coat!"
- To say that a person has gone nuts
means that they have become completely foolish, eccentric or mad.
- (put it) in a nutshell
- We use the expression (put it) in a nutshell to say that we are going to describe
something briefly, or in as simple a way as possible.
"To put it in a nutshell, the couple's problems are essentially due to a lack of communication."
- We use the expression (put it) in a nutshell to say that we are going to describe
something briefly, or in as simple a way as possible.
- nuts and bolts
- The nuts and bolts of something are the detailed facts and the practical aspects.
"We need to discuss the nuts and bolts of the proposal before going any further."
- The nuts and bolts of something are the detailed facts and the practical aspects.
- (as) nutty as a fruitcake
- Someone who is (as) nutty as a fruitcake is insane or crazy.
"Don't pay attention to what the old man says; he's as nutty as a fruitcake!"
- Someone who is (as) nutty as a fruitcake is insane or crazy.
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