English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - R, page 6
from: 'middle of road'
to: 'rooted to the spot'
- middle of the road (MOR)
- This term refers to anything moderate, unadventurous or inoffensive that avoids extremes and appeals to the majority of people.
"He's a successful middle-of-the-road entertainer. My mother wouldn't miss a show!"
- This term refers to anything moderate, unadventurous or inoffensive that avoids extremes and appeals to the majority of people.
- a roaring trade
- If you do a roaring trade, your business is very successful.
"Cosmetic surgeons are doing a roaring trade these days."
- If you do a roaring trade, your business is very successful.
- rob the cradle
- If you rob the cradle, you have a romantic relationship with someone who is much younger than yourself.
"My uncle Ted is dating a twenty-year-old girl. Now that's really robbing the cradle!"
- If you rob the cradle, you have a romantic relationship with someone who is much younger than yourself.
- rob Peter to pay Paul
- If someone robs Peter to pay Paul, they pay one debt
with money borrowed from someone else, thus creating another debt.
"David borrowed from a friend to pay his overdraft, a typical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul."
- If someone robs Peter to pay Paul, they pay one debt
with money borrowed from someone else, thus creating another debt.
- don't rock the boat
- If you tell someone not to rock the boat, you are
asking them to do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a stable situation.
"After the recent riots, it was decided not to rock the boat by introducing strict measures."
- If you tell someone not to rock the boat, you are
asking them to do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a stable situation.
- rocket science / rocket scientist
- If you say 'it's not rocket science' or 'no need to be
a rocket scientist', you stress the fact that something presents no major difficulty.
"Bob will explain how it works. Don't worry - it's not rocket science!"
- If you say 'it's not rocket science' or 'no need to be
a rocket scientist', you stress the fact that something presents no major difficulty.
- (be) on a roll
- If someone is on a roll, they are experiencing a period of success or good luck which
seems likely to continue.
"Our team has won three games in a row. We’re on a roll!"
- If someone is on a roll, they are experiencing a period of success or good luck which
seems likely to continue.
- roll up your sleeves
- When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work.
"The house was in a mess after the party so we had to roll up our sleeves and start cleaning."
- When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work.
- roll with the punches
- When someone has to roll with the punches, they have to
deal with a difficult situation by being flexible.
"The atmosphere has become very aggressive. We'll just have to roll with the punches."
- When someone has to roll with the punches, they have to
deal with a difficult situation by being flexible.
- rolling in money
- Someone who is very wealthy or has access to great amounts of
money is rolling in money.
"Steve has no financial problems. His parents are rolling in money."
- Someone who is very wealthy or has access to great amounts of
money is rolling in money.
- when in Rome, do as the Romans do
- This expression means that you should adopt the customs of
the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way.
- This expression means that you should adopt the customs of
the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way.
- Rome was not built in a day
- To say that Rome was not built in a day means that you cannot expect to succeed immediately
or reach a target in a short period of time. Worthwhile achievements require time and effort.
"He expects the product to be successful immediately, but Rome was not built in a day"
- To say that Rome was not built in a day means that you cannot expect to succeed immediately
or reach a target in a short period of time. Worthwhile achievements require time and effort.
- go through the roof
- If someone goes through the roof, they become very angry.
"His father nearly went through the roof when Paul damaged his new car."
- If someone goes through the roof, they become very angry.
- root and branch
- If an action is performed thoroughly or completely, it is done 'root and branch'.
"The causes of the disease must be eliminated root and branch."
- If an action is performed thoroughly or completely, it is done 'root and branch'.
- rooted to the spot
- If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are
rooted to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move.
"Joe stood rooted to the spot as the plane landed on the water."
- If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are
rooted to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move.
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