English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms P, page 12
Idioms P, page 12: from: 'proper do' to: 'pulling teeth'
- proper 'do'
- This expression refers to a social event with formal clothes
and top-class catering, organised to celebrate something.
"Bob says he'd be happy with a civil wedding and a drink afterwards, but Maggie wants a proper do."
- This expression refers to a social event with formal clothes
and top-class catering, organised to celebrate something.
- proud as a peacock
- A person who is asproud as a peacock is extremely proud.
"When his son won first prize, Bill was as proud as a peacock."
- A person who is asproud as a peacock is extremely proud.
- pull a fast one
- To pull a fast one means to gain an advantage over
someone by deceiving them.
"The street vendor pulled a fast one on Tom. He sold him a big bunch of roses but wrapped a smaller bunch while Tom was taking out his wallet."
- To pull a fast one means to gain an advantage over
someone by deceiving them.
- pull (someone's) leg
- If you pull somebody's leg, you tease them by
telling them something that is not true.
"Of course I'm not going to buy a sports car. I was just pulling your leg!"
- If you pull somebody's leg, you tease them by
telling them something that is not true.
- pull no punches
- If someone pulls no punches, they speak openly and
honestly, holding nothing back.
"The doctor pulled no punches. He explained in detail the risks of the operation."
- If someone pulls no punches, they speak openly and
honestly, holding nothing back.
- pull out all the stops
- If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you
can to make something successful.
"We'll have to pull out all the stops to get the store ready for the opening day."
- If you pull out all the stops, you do everything you
can to make something successful.
- pull the other one (it's got bells on)
- After hearing an unlikely story, this is a way of telling the
speaker that you neither believe what they say nor whatever they may say next.
"You have a date with George Clooney? Yeah - now pull the other one!"
- After hearing an unlikely story, this is a way of telling the
speaker that you neither believe what they say nor whatever they may say next.
- pull strings
- If someone pulls strings, they use influential
friends in order to obtain an advantage.
"David found a job easily - his father just pulled a few strings."
- If someone pulls strings, they use influential
friends in order to obtain an advantage.
- pull through
- If you pull through, you recover from a serious illness.
"Doris had to undergo heart surgery but she pulled through."
- If you pull through, you recover from a serious illness.
- pull the rug (from under someone's feet)
- If you pull the rug from under someone's feet, you
suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support.
"When Andy's mother stopped sending him money, she pulled the rug from under his feet and forced him to find a job."
- If you pull the rug from under someone's feet, you
suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support.
- pull your weight
- To say that somebody pulls their weight means
that they do their fair share of the work.
"It's great working with Sandra. She always pulls her weight."
- To say that somebody pulls their weight means
that they do their fair share of the work.
- pull yourself together
- When you pull yourself together you become calm again,
manage to control your emotions and behave normally after an upsetting event.
"Give me time to pull myself together before I announce the bad news to the family."
- When you pull yourself together you become calm again,
manage to control your emotions and behave normally after an upsetting event.
- (like) pulling teeth
- Something that islike pulling teeth is extremely
difficult to obtain, especially if trying to extract information from someone.
"Getting him to talk about his job was like pulling teeth!"
- Something that islike pulling teeth is extremely
difficult to obtain, especially if trying to extract information from someone.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists P ...
more alphabetical lists...