English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms S, page 7
from: 'ships that pass in the night'
to: 'short end of stick'
- like ships that pass in the night
- This expression refers to people who meet briefly and are not likely to meet again.
"The two men met once, like ships that pass in the night, and never met again."
- This expression refers to people who meet briefly and are not likely to meet again.
- (be) a stuffed shirt
- A person who is a stuffed shirt behaves in a very formal, pompous or old-fashioned way .
"I had heard he was a stuffed shirt but he actually has a good sense of humour! "
- A person who is a stuffed shirt behaves in a very formal, pompous or old-fashioned way .
- keep your shirt on!
- If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down.
"Keep your shirt on Bob. Just give your version of the story!"
- If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down.
- (the) shoe is on the other foot
- When the circumstances have reversed and one person is now doing
what the other did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot.
"I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!"
- When the circumstances have reversed and one person is now doing
what the other did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot.
- if the shoe fits, wear it
- This means that if someone feels that critical remark applies to them, then it does.
"I don't know if the boss was referring to you but if the shoe fits, wear it!"
- This means that if someone feels that critical remark applies to them, then it does.
- in someone's shoes
- To talk about being in someone's shoes means
to imagine how you would react if you were in a similar situation.
"Tom's sales have dropped by 30% this month. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes!"
- To talk about being in someone's shoes means
to imagine how you would react if you were in a similar situation.
- where the shoe pinches
- When people talk about 'where the shoe pinches',
they are referring to an area that is often a source of problems or difficulties.
"She's sure the public transport system works perfectly, but she'll find out where the shoe pinches when she starts using it!"
- When people talk about 'where the shoe pinches',
they are referring to an area that is often a source of problems or difficulties.
- on a shoestring
- If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money.
"When I was a student I lived on a shoestring."
- If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money.
- shoot yourself in the foot
- If you shoot yourself in the foot you do or say something which is against your own interests
or harms your chances of success.
"When Lea was asked at the interview if she had any weaknesses, she really shot herself in the foot the way she answered."
- If you shoot yourself in the foot you do or say something which is against your own interests
or harms your chances of success.
- shop around
- If you shop around, you visit a number of shops
selling similar articles in order to compare the prices.
"You can usually save money by shopping around."
- If you shop around, you visit a number of shops
selling similar articles in order to compare the prices.
- shop till you drop
- If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a very long time, until you are exhausted.
"If you go to London with Ashley, you'll shop till you drop, so take comfortable shoes!"
- If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a very long time, until you are exhausted.
- shopping spree
- If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively outing, usually with much spending of money.
"Liza is planning to go on a shopping spree as soon as she gets her bonus."
- If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively outing, usually with much spending of money.
- shopping therapy
- This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better.
"A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored teenagers."
- This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better.
- window shopping
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
"I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping."
- When people go window shopping, they look at things in
shop windows, without actually purchasing anything.
- short and sweet
- Something that is short and sweet is brief but pleasant.
"It didn't take us long to agree. Our conversation was short and sweet."
- Something that is short and sweet is brief but pleasant.
- short end of stick
- If you get the short end of the stick, you are treated
unfairly or receive less than what is due or deserved.
"They reached an agreement but Sophie felt she got the short end of the stick."
- If you get the short end of the stick, you are treated
unfairly or receive less than what is due or deserved.
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