English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms P, page 6
Idioms P, page 6: from: 'pigs might fly' to: 'plan B'
- pigs might fly
- The expression pigs might fly expresses disbelief,
or the idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely.
"My grandmother buying a computer? ... Yeah! ... and pigs might fly!"
- The expression pigs might fly expresses disbelief,
or the idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely.
- bitter pill to swallow
- A bitter pill to swallow is something very difficult
or unpleasant to accept.
"Losing his job after taking charge of the merger was a bitter pill to swallow."
- A bitter pill to swallow is something very difficult
or unpleasant to accept.
- from pillar to post
- If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goes from
pillar to post, they move constantly from place to place.
"When the factory closed down, Benny moved from pillar to post in search of a new job."
- If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goes from
pillar to post, they move constantly from place to place.
- at a pinch
- To say that something could be done at a pinch
means that it would be possible to do it if absolutely necessary.
"The hall can seat 50 people comfortably, and a few more at a pinch."
- To say that something could be done at a pinch
means that it would be possible to do it if absolutely necessary.
- (take something) with a pinch of salt
- If you are told to take something with a grain of salt, you are
being warned that the information may not be completely true, accurate or reliable.
"What you read in that newspaper should be taken with a pinch of salt! "
- If you are told to take something with a grain of salt, you are
being warned that the information may not be completely true, accurate or reliable.
- pink elephants
- This term refers to hallucinations or strange imaginary things
seen by people as a result of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
"No more drinks for me please, otherwise I'll be seeing pink elephants!"
- This term refers to hallucinations or strange imaginary things
seen by people as a result of heavy drinking or the use of narcotics.
- in the pink of health
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in
excellent physical condition.
"Sarah looks in the pink of health after her holiday."
- If you are in the pink of health, you are in
excellent physical condition.
- tickled pink
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased
about something.
"My dad was tickled pink when he was asked to announce the winner."
- If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased
about something.
- (have) pins and needles
- To have pins and
needles is to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body,
for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.
"I lay curled up for so long that I had pins and needles in my legs."
- To have pins and
needles is to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body,
for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.
- (on) pins and needles
- If you are on pins and needles, you
are very anxious or nervous about what is going to happen.
"Scott was on pins and needles while he waited for the result of the exam."
- If you are on pins and needles, you
are very anxious or nervous about what is going to happen.
- in the pipeline
- If something is in the pipeline, it is currently in
progress or being organised.
"A new talk show is in the pipeline at the moment."
- If something is in the pipeline, it is currently in
progress or being organised.
- the pits
- If something is referred to as the pits, it is
considered to be absolutely the worst.
"That magazine is the pits!"
- If something is referred to as the pits, it is
considered to be absolutely the worst.
- a place in the sun
- If you find a place in the sun, you reach a position
which provides you with wealth and happiness, or whatever you have been hoping
to obtain for a long time.
"The author finally found a place in the sun with the triumph of her latest book."
- If you find a place in the sun, you reach a position
which provides you with wealth and happiness, or whatever you have been hoping
to obtain for a long time.
- plain sailing
- An activity or task that is plain sailing is without
difficulty or free from trouble.
"Once the plans were accepted, it was plain sailing all the way."
- An activity or task that is plain sailing is without
difficulty or free from trouble.
- (be) on another planet
- Someone who is on another planet is oblivious to their
surroundings or acts in a strange manner.
"Charlie couldn’t do the assignment because he was on another planet during the teacher’s explanation."
- Someone who is on another planet is oblivious to their
surroundings or acts in a strange manner.
- plan B
- Plan B is an alternative solution to be adopted if
one's original plan does not succeed.
"The idea is to get a caterer to provide the food. If that's too expensive, plan B is to organise a buffet with the help of friends."
- Plan B is an alternative solution to be adopted if
one's original plan does not succeed.
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