English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - P
from: 'put through paces'
to: 'paper over cracks'
- put through their paces
- If you put someone or something through their paces, you test their ability to do something by making them perform certain actions.
"During the presentation, the machine was put through its paces."
- If you put someone or something through their paces, you test their ability to do something by making them perform certain actions.
- pack of lies
- A large number of untruthful statements is referred to as a pack of lies.
"The story about her unhappy childhood turned out to be a pack of lies.
- A large number of untruthful statements is referred to as a pack of lies.
- ahead of the pack
- If a person or organisation is ahead of the pack, they are better or more successful than their rivals.
"Our products will have to be more innovative if we are to stay ahead of the pack."
- If a person or organisation is ahead of the pack, they are better or more successful than their rivals.
- pack (something) in
- If you pack something in, you abandon it or give it up.
"Emily found city life so stressful, she decided to pack it in and move to the country."
- If you pack something in, you abandon it or give it up.
- packed like sardines
- If a group of people are packed like sardines, they are pressed together tightly and uncomfortably because there is not enough space.
"The bus was very crowded - we were packed like sardines!"
- If a group of people are packed like sardines, they are pressed together tightly and uncomfortably because there is not enough space.
- package deal
- An offer of a lower price if several items are bought together is called a package deal.
"We got a package deal including accommodation and a travel pass."
- An offer of a lower price if several items are bought together is called a package deal.
- pad the bill
- If someone pads the bill, they add false items to a bill or invoice in order to increase the total amount.
"Check the invoice carefully before paying - he tends to pad the bill!"
- If someone pads the bill, they add false items to a bill or invoice in order to increase the total amount.
- paddle your own canoe
- If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone.
"Steve decided to paddle his own canoe and set up his own business."
- If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone.
- paid peanuts
- If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary.
"Jenny has a very interesting job, but she's paid peanuts. "
- If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary.
- paint the town red
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
"To celebrate the victory, the team's supporters painted the town red."
- If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
- paint into a corner
- If you paint yourself into a corner, you put yourself into a situation that restricts what you can do or say.
Carole told her boss she was busy on Friday evening. She saw that she had painted herself into a corner when he said : 'Too bad! I was going to give you two tickets for the opera."
- If you paint yourself into a corner, you put yourself into a situation that restricts what you can do or say.
- pale as a ghost
- Someone who is as pale as a ghost is extremely pale.
"The man who witnessed the scene was as pale as a ghost when the police arrived."
- Someone who is as pale as a ghost is extremely pale.
- (press) panic button
- If you hit or press the panic button, you raise the alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation.
"Calm down! There's no need to press the panic button yet!"
- If you hit or press the panic button, you raise the alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation.
- (caught with) pants down
- If you are caught with your pants down, you are caught doing something bad or forbidden.
"Our neighbours were caught fiddling with the electricity meter - caught with their pants down!"
- If you are caught with your pants down, you are caught doing something bad or forbidden.
- paper over cracks
- To say that someone is papering over the cracks means that they are concealing a problem rather than dealing with it effectively.
"The measures taken to reduce unemployment are just paper over the cracks."
- To say that someone is papering over the cracks means that they are concealing a problem rather than dealing with it effectively.
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alphabetical lists P ...
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