English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms S, page 10
Idioms S, page 10: from: 'since time immemorial' to: 'skeleton staff'
- since time immemorial
- If something has existed since time immemorial, it
has been there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time without it.
"I don't know when that bridge was built. It's been there since time immemorial."
- If something has existed since time immemorial, it
has been there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time without it.
- sing a different tune
- If somebody sings a different tune, they change
their opinion about something, or their attitude towards something.
"He had no sympathy for people out of work until he lost his own job; now he's singing a different tune."
- If somebody sings a different tune, they change
their opinion about something, or their attitude towards something.
- sing from the same hymn book
- Similar in meaning to 'read from the same page',
people who sing from the same hymn book have the same knowledge about something, think
along the same lines or say the same thing about it as other people
in the group.
"The company's after-sales staff all sing from the same hymn book!"
- Similar in meaning to 'read from the same page',
people who sing from the same hymn book have the same knowledge about something, think
along the same lines or say the same thing about it as other people
in the group.
- sink or swim
- If someone has to sink or swim, they have to do something
alone, and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
"The sink-or-swim attitude in the company can be very difficult for young recruits."
- If someone has to sink or swim, they have to do something
alone, and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
- sink one's differences
- If people or organisations sink their differences,
they decide to forget their disagreements.
"We must sink our differences and build a peaceful community."
- If people or organisations sink their differences,
they decide to forget their disagreements.
- sink your teeth into something
- If you sink your teeth into something, you do it
with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
"When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job."
- If you sink your teeth into something, you do it
with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
- siphon off
- If someone siphons something off, they transfer
something from one place to another, often illegally.
"It was discovered that he had siphoned off money from the business into an account in a tax haven."
- If someone siphons something off, they transfer
something from one place to another, often illegally.
- sit on the fence
- If you sit on the fence, you avoid taking sides in a
discussion or argument.
"It's an important issue. You can't continue to sit on the fence!"
- If you sit on the fence, you avoid taking sides in a
discussion or argument.
- sit up and takes notice
- A person who sits up and takes notice become alert
and attentive.
"The announcement of the winner made everyone sit up and take notice."
- A person who sits up and takes notice become alert
and attentive.
- sitting duck
- To refer to someone as a sitting duck
means that they are an easy target for criticism, verbal attacks, etc.
"The young actress was a sitting duck for the reporters."
- To refer to someone as a sitting duck
means that they are an easy target for criticism, verbal attacks, etc.
- sitting pretty
- Someone who is sitting pretty is in a good or
fortunate situation, especially compared to others who are not so lucky.
"He sold his shares at a good time so he's now sitting pretty and enjoying life."
- Someone who is sitting pretty is in a good or
fortunate situation, especially compared to others who are not so lucky.
- six of one and half a dozen of the other
- This expression means that there is no real difference
between two choices; both are equally good or equally bad.
"I wasn't keen on either candidate, so didn't know who to vote for. It was six of one and half a dozen of the other!"
- This expression means that there is no real difference
between two choices; both are equally good or equally bad.
- at sixes and sevens
- If someone is at sixes and sevens, they are in a
state of confusion or not very well organised.
"The managers were at sixes and sevens when they were informed of the Chairman's visit."
- If someone is at sixes and sevens, they are in a
state of confusion or not very well organised.
- skating on thin ice
- If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or
saying something risky, or something that could cause trouble.
"Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice."
- If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or
saying something risky, or something that could cause trouble.
- skeleton staff
- If a business or organisation works with a skeleton staff,
it is run with the smallest number of people necessary.
"The office is closed the week after Christmas but there will be a skeleton staff to handle essential operations."
- If a business or organisation works with a skeleton staff,
it is run with the smallest number of people necessary.
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