English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - P, page 8
from: 'play possum'
to: 'deep pockets'
- play possum
- When someone plays possum, they pretend to be dead or asleep in order to avoid something they don't want to do.
"Sarah's not asleep. She's just playing possum because she doesn't want to come swimming."
- When someone plays possum, they pretend to be dead or asleep in order to avoid something they don't want to do.
- play second fiddle
- If you play second fiddle to another person, you accept to be second in importance
to that person, or have a lower position.
"John resented having to play second fiddle to the sales manager when the company was restructured."
- If you play second fiddle to another person, you accept to be second in importance
to that person, or have a lower position.
- play for time
- If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage.
"He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."
- If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage.
- play truant
- A young person who plays truant stays away from school without permission or excuse.
"Ben has no reason to be absent from school - he's playing truant again!"
- A young person who plays truant stays away from school without permission or excuse.
- play a waiting game
- If you play a waiting game, you deliberately delay
taking action in order to be able to act more effectively later.
"The cat keeps its eye on the bird, carefully playing a waiting game."
- If you play a waiting game, you deliberately delay
taking action in order to be able to act more effectively later.
- (not) play with a full deck (of cards)
- Someone who is not playing with a full deck (of cards)
lacks intelligence or does not have full mental abilities.
"Old Mrs.Whitehead was not playing with a full deck when she bought that fancy lawnmower!"
- Someone who is not playing with a full deck (of cards)
lacks intelligence or does not have full mental abilities.
- (as) pleased/proud as punch
- Someone who is aspleased or as proud as punch is
delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
"Danny was as proud as punch when he won the tennis match."
- Someone who is aspleased or as proud as punch is
delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
- guilty pleasure
- Enjoying something which is not generally held in high regard,
while at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is called a guilty pleasure.
"Reading gossip magazines is a guilty pleasure for many women … and some men too!"
- Enjoying something which is not generally held in high regard,
while at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is called a guilty pleasure.
- pluck (something) out of the air
- To pluck something out of the air means to say a name, date, number, etc. spontaneously, without thinking about it.
"What are we going to call the cat?"
I just plucked a name out of the air and said: " How about Daisy?"
- To pluck something out of the air means to say a name, date, number, etc. spontaneously, without thinking about it.
- plug something
- If you promote something by talking about it favourably, for example during a radio or TV interview, you plug it.
"He has accepted to appear on the show if he can plug his new book."
- If you promote something by talking about it favourably, for example during a radio or TV interview, you plug it.
- a plum job
- A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job.
"Ideally he'd like to find himself a plum job in New York."
- A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job.
- a plum in your mouth
- Someone who speaks with an upper-class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth.
"He speaks just like an aristocrat - with a plum in his mouth!"
- Someone who speaks with an upper-class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth.
- a pocket of resistance
- A small group of people who resist change or disagree with a proposal form a pocket of resistance.
"The new boss wants to introduce job-sharing, but there's a pocket of resistance in the sales department."
- A small group of people who resist change or disagree with a proposal form a pocket of resistance.
- deep pockets
- A person or organisation who has a lot of money has deep pockets.
"Andy's business is not doing well at the moment. He says he needs a friend with deep pockets!"
- A person or organisation who has a lot of money has deep pockets.
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