English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms S, page 24
Idioms S, page 24: from: 'sweat of your brow' to: 'all systems go'
- (by the) sweat of your brow
- If you earn or achieve something by the sweat of your
brow, you do it through hard work and no help.
"I got a comfortable lifestyle by the sweat of my brow - I owe it to nobody but myself!"
- If you earn or achieve something by the sweat of your
brow, you do it through hard work and no help.
- sweep something under the rug
- If you sweep something under the rug (or carpet),
you try to hide it because it is embarrassing
or could damage your reputation.
"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
or could damage your reputation.
- sweet nothings
- Pleasant but unimportant words that lovers say to each
other are called sweet nothings.
"He whispered sweet nothings in her ear as they danced."
- Pleasant but unimportant words that lovers say to each
other are called sweet nothings.
- sweet tooth
- Someone who has a sweet tooth enjoys eating sweet
things like sugar, pastries, chocolate, etc.
"My mother will be delighted if you bring her chocolates - she's got a sweet tooth."
- Someone who has a sweet tooth enjoys eating sweet
things like sugar, pastries, chocolate, etc.
- sweetheart deal
- The term sweetheart deal is used to refer to an
abnormally lucrative arrangement between two parties.
"Opponents say the contract was awarded to the builder as part of a sweetheart deal, and is therefore illegal."
- The term sweetheart deal is used to refer to an
abnormally lucrative arrangement between two parties.
- swim against the tide
- A person who is swimming against the tide is doing or saying the opposite
to most other people, or disagrees with a prevailing opinion.
"Perhaps it's because she always swims against the tide that her books are successful."
- A person who is swimming against the tide is doing or saying the opposite
to most other people, or disagrees with a prevailing opinion.
- get into the swing (of something)
- When you get into the swing of something, you become
involved in it or get used to it and begin to enjoy it.
"It'll be more fun when you get into the swing of things."
- When you get into the swing of something, you become
involved in it or get used to it and begin to enjoy it.
- in full swing
- When an event gets into full swing, it is at its busiest
or liveliest time.
"When we got back to the office, the Christmas party was in full swing."
- When an event gets into full swing, it is at its busiest
or liveliest time.
- swings and roundabouts
- What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.
This expression means that there are as many advantages as there are disadvantages, or what is lost in one area can be gained in another.
"The more you earn, the more tax you pay. It's swings and roundabouts."
- What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.
- swishing (party)
- Swishing is the name given to a recent fashion
phenomenon - a party organised to swap second hand clothes. Everyone takes along
clothes they no longer wear and people can then choose the ones they want.
- Swishing is the name given to a recent fashion
phenomenon - a party organised to swap second hand clothes. Everyone takes along
clothes they no longer wear and people can then choose the ones they want.
- swollen or swelled (US) head
- Someone who has a swollen or swelled
(US) head has become proud or conceited, usually because of a recent success.
"Larry's promotion has given him a swollen head!"
- Someone who has a swollen or swelled
(US) head has become proud or conceited, usually because of a recent success.
- fall on your sword
- If you fall on your sword, you accept
defeat or the consequences of an unsuccessful or inappropriate action.
"The organiser of the referendum resigned when the poor results were announced. It was said that he fell on his sword."
- If you fall on your sword, you accept
defeat or the consequences of an unsuccessful or inappropriate action.
- all systems go
- When everything is ready for an activity or event to begin, you
can say that 'all systems go'.
"We've got an office, a telephone and the internet - so on Monday it's all systems go!"
- When everything is ready for an activity or event to begin, you
can say that 'all systems go'.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.