English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - R, page 7
from: 'rotten apple'
to: 'run down'
- rotten apple
- This term refers to a person who is considered to be dishonest or immoral and has a bad influence on others in the group.
"It is said that in any profession there is always a rotten apple."
- This term refers to a person who is considered to be dishonest or immoral and has a bad influence on others in the group.
- rough and ready
- Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined.
"The accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!"
- Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined.
- rough diamond
- A person who had many qualities but is rather unrefined, lacking polished manners
and/or education, is said to be a rough diamond.
"He's a very good-natured person but a bit of a rough diamond!"
- A person who had many qualities but is rather unrefined, lacking polished manners
and/or education, is said to be a rough diamond.
- rough justice
- Treatment or justice that does not seem fair, or is too
severe, is called 'rough justice', especially if it is not legal.
"The way the player was treated by the media was very rough justice!"
- Treatment or justice that does not seem fair, or is too
severe, is called 'rough justice', especially if it is not legal.
- take the rough with the smooth
- If you take the rough with the smooth, you accept what
is unpleasant or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy.
"Life isn't always easy; you have to learn to take the rough with the smooth."
- If you take the rough with the smooth, you accept what
is unpleasant or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy.
- rub salt into the wound
- If you are in a difficult or unpleasant situation, and somebody rubs salt into the wound,
they do or say something to make things worse.
"The separation from Julie was already difficult for Alex. Mentioning her new boyfriend just rubbed salt into the wound."
- If you are in a difficult or unpleasant situation, and somebody rubs salt into the wound,
they do or say something to make things worse.
- rub someone (up) the wrong way
- If you rub someone (up) the wrong way, you annoy or irritate them
without intending to.
"Be careful not to rub the boss (up) the wrong way if you want a promotion!"
- If you rub someone (up) the wrong way, you annoy or irritate them
without intending to.
- rub shoulders (with)
- If you rub shoulders with someone, you have an opportunity to meet
and talk to that person, especially someone wealthy, famous or distinguished.
"In her job in public relations, she sometimes rubs shoulders with famous people."
- If you rub shoulders with someone, you have an opportunity to meet
and talk to that person, especially someone wealthy, famous or distinguished.
- (when the) rubber hits the road
- The moment when you put a theory into practice, or actually
apply what you have learned, is when the rubber hits the road.
"The plan sounds good. I'd like to be there when the rubber hits the road."
- The moment when you put a theory into practice, or actually
apply what you have learned, is when the rubber hits the road.
- rue the day
- If you rue the day you did something, you bitterly
regret what you did that day.
"Lea's father disapproved of Tony. He said she would rue the day she married him."
- If you rue the day you did something, you bitterly
regret what you did that day.
- sweep (something) under rug
- If you sweep something under the rug (or carpet),
you try to hide it because it is embarrassing.
"The family tried unsuccessfully to sweep the scandal under the rug."
- If you sweep something under the rug (or carpet),
you try to hide it because it is embarrassing.
- rule the roost
- If you rule the roost, you are the most important and
powerful person in a group or community.
"Officially David runs the company, but it's his father who rules the roost."
- If you rule the roost, you are the most important and
powerful person in a group or community.
- bend the rules
- If a person bends the rules, they change the rules
in order to help somebody.
"An hour is an hour" said the car park attendant who refused to bend the rules."
- If a person bends the rules, they change the rules
in order to help somebody.
- run circles (or rings) around someone
- If you show much more skill or ability than your opponent,
or do something much better and more easily than they do, you run circles (or rings) around them.
“Our team is running circles around all their opponents this year.”
"In a quiz show on TV yesterday, a teenage girl ran rings around the other contestants."
- If you show much more skill or ability than your opponent,
or do something much better and more easily than they do, you run circles (or rings) around them.
- run down
- A person who is run down is in poor physical condition.
"She's completely run down from lack of proper food.."
- A person who is run down is in poor physical condition.
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