English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - V
from: 'vanish into thin air'
to: 'vote with one's feet'
- vanish into thin air
- If something vanishes into thin air, it disappears completely in a mysterious way.
"The diamonds vanished into thin air - nobody knows what happened to them."
- If something vanishes into thin air, it disappears completely in a mysterious way.
- variety is the spice of life
- This expression means that life is more interesting when you try to do different things.
"Since they retired, my parents have been trying out all sorts of new activities. Variety is the spice of life!"
- This expression means that life is more interesting when you try to do different things.
- vent your spleen
- When you vent your spleen, you release or express all your anger about something.
"Whenever Harry is angry about new government measures, he vents his spleen by writing to newspapers."
- When you vent your spleen, you release or express all your anger about something.
- nothing ventured, nothing gained
- This expression means that you cannot expect to achieve anything if you
never take any risks.
"He's going to ask his boss for a promotion even though he has little chance of obtaining satisfaction - nothing ventured, nothing gained!"
- This expression means that you cannot expect to achieve anything if you
never take any risks.
- vertically challenged
- This term is a humoristic way of referring to someone who is not very tall.
"High shelves are difficult for vertically challenged shoppers."
- This term is a humoristic way of referring to someone who is not very tall.
- vested interest
- If you have a vested interested in a situation or event, you expect to benefit or gain
an advantage from it.
"Tony has a vested interest in Fred's promotion; he hopes to get his job!"
- If you have a vested interested in a situation or event, you expect to benefit or gain
an advantage from it.
- vicious circle
- When the solution to a problem creates another problem similar to the original,
or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is called a vicious circle.
"I borrowed money to reimburse Paul. Now I've got to reimburse the bank, with interest. It's a vicious circle."
- When the solution to a problem creates another problem similar to the original,
or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is called a vicious circle.
- a hollow victory
- A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems
of less value or without significance for the winner, is called a hollow victory.
"Won in the absence of the major ski champions, his gold medal was a hollow victory."
- A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems
of less value or without significance for the winner, is called a hollow victory.
- a landslide victory
- The victory of a candidate or a political party by an
overwhelming majority is called a landslide victory.
"Major newspapers predict a landslide victory for the Democratic Party."
- The victory of a candidate or a political party by an
overwhelming majority is called a landslide victory.
- dim view
- If you take a dim view of something, you do not approve of it.
"When Harry and Sally decided to live together without getting married, their grandparents took a dim view of the situation."
- If you take a dim view of something, you do not approve of it.
- vim and vigour
- If you are full of vim and vigour, you have lots of vitality, energy and enthusiasm.
"After a relaxing holiday, my parents came back full of vim and vigour."
- If you are full of vim and vigour, you have lots of vitality, energy and enthusiasm.
- in vino veritas
- This expression, which in Latin means 'in wine there is truth', is a way of saying that
wine makes people less inhibited and leads them to speak more freely and reveal their true feelings.
"After a few drinks he told us the whole story - in vino veritas!"
- This expression, which in Latin means 'in wine there is truth', is a way of saying that
wine makes people less inhibited and leads them to speak more freely and reveal their true feelings.
- virtue is its own reward
- The knowledge that you have done the right thing, or that you have acted in a moral way,
is sufficient reward and you should not expect more.
- The knowledge that you have done the right thing, or that you have acted in a moral way,
is sufficient reward and you should not expect more.
- by virtue of
- The term by virtue of means 'due to', 'because of' or 'on account of' something.
"The old lady got the most comfortable armchair by virtue of her age."
- The term by virtue of means 'due to', 'because of' or 'on account of' something.
- make a virtue of necessity
- If someone does something commendable, not deliberately but because they have no choice,
and pretends to be doing it willingly and happily, they make a virtue of necessity.
"When, because of the high price of petrol, I decided to walk to work instead of taking my car, I made a virtue of necessity."
- If someone does something commendable, not deliberately but because they have no choice,
and pretends to be doing it willingly and happily, they make a virtue of necessity.
- with one voice
- Two or more groups or organisations who are in complete agreement are said to speak with one voice.
"For once the government and the trade unions are speaking with one voice."
- Two or more groups or organisations who are in complete agreement are said to speak with one voice.
- voice in the wilderness
- If you are the only person to express a warning or an opinion on a matter which is ignored
by most others, you are a voice in the wilderness.
"For many years she was a voice in the wilderness warning about the consequences of climate change."
- If you are the only person to express a warning or an opinion on a matter which is ignored
by most others, you are a voice in the wilderness.
- vote with one's feet
- If you vote with your feet, your show your dislike or disapproval of something by leaving.
"If the conference is boring, people will probably vote with their feet."
- If you vote with your feet, your show your dislike or disapproval of something by leaving.
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