| Idiom |
Where Used |
Meaning |
|---|
| call a spade a spade |
Global |
To speak one's opinion frankly and make little or no attempt to spare the feelings of one's audience |
| call it a day |
Global |
Decide to finish or end something, like a day's work |
| call the badger a bishop |
UK |
This term derives from the practice of badger-baiting, in which a badger is put into a pit and made to fight dogs. To call the badger a bishop is to imply that the badger's overwhelmed condition somehow makes it virtuous, when it is, in fact, just a badger. So, the term means committing the fallacy of projecting virtue on to the oppressed or disadvantaged |
| call the shots |
Global |
Someone who is in charge and held responsible |
| can of corn |
USA |
Very easy - from the practice at grocers of placing corn (or other foods) on high up shelves. A can could be pulled down with a stick and the ease with which it could be caught was applied to easy-to-catch hits (pop-up flies) in baseball |
| (To open up a) can of whoop-ass |
USA |
To attack another person physically, usually used as part of a threat to do so. (Mildly vulgar slang) |
| (To open up a) can of worms |
Global |
To create a situation that is hard to deal with, especially one that comes about unexpectedly and intractably. To "open a can of worms" is to get involved with something that is discomforting, hard to resolve, or not easily escaped (closing a container of worms, used as bait by fishermen, generally involves some tricky handling of the wriggling occupants) |
| can't fling a dead cat in [place] without hitting a [thing] |
USA |
To describe a very common group of people that can be found in a regional area, even in a situation of completely picking them out at random (For example: You can't fling a dead cat in North Korea without hitting a Communist).
(similar to 'not enough room to swing...'; see below)
|
| [[can't [verb] oneself out of a wet paper bag]]; [[Can't [verb] to save one's life]] |
Global |
Woefully unable to perform the task in hand |
| can't see the forest for the trees |
USA |
Losing sight of the big picture by getting mired in details |
| can't see the wood for the trees |
AUS, UK |
Losing sight of the big picture by getting mired in details |
| (having a) card up one's sleeve |
Global |
To have a surprise plan or idea that one is keeping back until the time is right. Originally in reference to cheating at cards. |
| carry coals to Newcastle |
UK |
Engaging in useless labour (Newcastle is a famous coal-mining district of England). Usage is predominantly UK, but is at least understood more broadly. |
| carry the can |
AUS, UK |
To take the blame for something one did not do |
| cash in one's chips |
USA |
- To sell something to make a quick profit believing the value is going to fall
- To die
|
| castle in the air |
USA |
A plan that is impractical, illogical and not likely to work |
| (to put a) cat amongst the pigeons |
AUS, UK |
A disruption, often premeditated, which is introduced to disturb the equilibrium |
| (has your) cat died? |
UK |
Said to somebody when their trousers are too short or are pulled up (similar to 'expecting a flood?'); probably derives from trousers that are too short being said to be at 'half mast', and a flag flying at half mast signifies the death of somebody. |
| cat got your tongue? |
Global |
Asked of someone rendered speechless to emphasize their inability to speak |
| cat in the pan |
|
Betrayer, renegade, turnabout and turncoat; the same as "flip-flopper" |
| cat's out of the bag |
Global |
A secret or hidden thing has been discovered |
| Catch 22 |
Global |
A difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions. From the eponymous book by Joseph Heller: a problem with a method of resolution that negates the conditions for resolution. In the book, a soldier is considered insane and unfit for combat if he willingly continues to fly missions. However, asking to be relieved from duty on the basis of insanity shows that he is mentally competent. Consequently, he must continue to serve |
| catty |
Global |
Antagonistic about trivial matters, usually applied to women |
| (wouldn't be) caught seen with X; caught dead with X |
Global |
Wants nothing to do with X |
| caught red-handed |
Global |
Caught in the middle of the crime; discovered in a situation where one's guilt is obvious. Alternative variations may refer to a specific context, e.g. a graffiti artist who may have accidentally spray-painted their hand blue may be referred to as being caught "blue handed" for humorous effect. |
| (the) cavalry |
Global |
Any entity which may help resolve a situation, usually to the speaker's advantage (see deus ex machina, although the concepts are not identical). Frequently used in, e.g., "Call in the cavalry", "Here come the cavalry", etc. |
| (like) chalk and cheese |
AUS, UK |
Things or people who are very different and have nothing in common |
| champ at the bit |
Global |
To be eager to do something, but held back. (See also: chomp at the bit) |
| change horses in midstream |
Global |
Make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity; connotes an unwise, or at best risky, activity. Apparently first used by Abraham Lincoln in the form swap horses while crossing the river |
| change of heart |
Global |
A sudden change of one's opinion about something |
| charity begins at home |
Global |
Family members are more important than anyone else and should always be the focus of a person's efforts; family comes first |
| chase rainbows |
Global |
To set out to do something one might never accomplish |
| cherry pick |
AUS, UK, USA |
To support something that pertains to one's position and ignoring everything else that contradicts it |
| chew the cud; chew it over |
AUS, UK, USA |
To think carefully and slowly about something before taking action. Alternative variations "Let me chew on that...", i.e. "let me think about it...", "Chew on that!" i.e. "Think about that!" |
| (the) chickens coming home to roost |
AUS, UK |
The deleterious consequences of your previous actions have now become apparent |
| child's play |
Global |
An easy and simple task that requires little or no effort |
| (a) chip on one's shoulder |
Global |
Argumentative or moody |
| chomp at the bit |
AUS, USA |
To be frustrated over something. (See also: champ at the bit) |
| chop chop |
AUS, USA, UK |
Used by someone in authority to indicate they want something done quickly, without delay. |
| chuck a wobbly |
AUS, UK |
To act in an overly emotional way to express sadness and anger. (One's upper lip does not remain stiff, and wobbles). Also "Throw a wobbly". |
| chip off the old block |
Global |
A person who is highly similar to a direct ancestor or predecessor |
| clear the air |
Global |
if an argument or discussion clears the air, it causes bad feelings between people to disappear |
| close but no cigar |
Global |
Someone who is close to success but has not gotten there yet |
| closed book |
AUS, USA |
Describes someone about whom very little is known (implied antonym is "open book"); alternately, an issue which is settled and will not be discussed again |
| (to be) cock-a-hoop |
UK |
To be elated |
| cock and bull story |
Global |
A far-fetched and fanciful story of highly dubious validity |
| cold day in hell |
USA |
A very unlikely event or situation (also "about as much chance as hell freezing over") |
| cold feet |
Global |
Uncourageous, cowardly; reluctant to act |
| (Seen in the) cold light of day |
Global |
When things are seen as they really are, not as how one wants them to be |
| cold shoulder |
Global |
Deliberate disregard for someone or something. This term, which first appeared in writings by Sir Walter Scott and others, supposedly alludes to the custom of welcoming a desired guest with a meal of roasted meat, but serving only a cold shoulder of beef or lamb (a far inferior dish) to those who outstayed their welcome, in the early 1800s. |
| come clean |
Global |
To admit to wrongdoing or deceit |
| come hell or high water |
Global |
Said by someone who is dedicated and committed to a task or cause despite any obstacles that may appear |
| come out in the wash |
Global |
To come out without any negative effect |
| come out of the closet |
Global |
When one publicly reveals a secret about oneself, usually an important or embarrassing secret. Often used in reference to homosexuality |
| come to grips with |
Global |
To accept/acknowledge something negative or disappointing as the truth. |
| (to) come by it honestly |
USA |
Said in observing that a particular trait or characteristic is clearly inherited or learned from one's parents; it "runs in the family", so to speak |
| cook someone's goose |
Global |
To ruin someone's plans |
| cook up a storm |
USA |
To make a big fuss or generate a lot of talk over something unnecessary |
| coon's age |
USA |
A long time (Note: This idiom is no longer in popular usage as it is sometimes considered racist, as 'coon' is also offensive slang for an African American. This expression may have come from American pioneers' inability to determine a raccoon's age by its size.) |
| couch potato |
Global |
An idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time in front of a television |
| Cousin Michael |
UK |
A disparaging designation of the Germans as slow, heavy, unpolished and ungainly. ('Michel,' in Old German, means 'gross') |
| Cox and Box |
UK |
To share a single resource by sharing turn and turn about. From "Cox and Box; or, The Long-Lost Brothers", which is a one-act comic opera based on the farce "Box and Cox", by John Maddison Morton. Note that both the phrase "Cox and Box" and "Box and Cox" are used. |
| crash a party |
Global |
To be somewhere one has not been invited to, to come uninvited |
| (to) criticize the paint job on the Titanic |
USA |
To point out the petty flaws in something which could not be saved even by a thorough overhaul. |
| (to) cross all your T's and dot all your I's |
Global |
To take care of every detail, including the minor ones |
| cross to bear |
Global |
A heavy burden of responsibility or a problem that one must cope with without help |
| cry wolf |
Global |
To raise a false alarm. Alludes to the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf |
| curiosity killed the cat |
Global |
Don't be too inquisitive; know when to leave well enough alone. The literal meaning of the phrase makes reference to the characteristic tendency of housecats to investigate anything unfamiliar. The phrase is often used as an urge towards caution, an admonition to "leave well enough alone", or, less benevolently, to stop asking questions. |
| (to throw one a) curve ball |
USA |
Refers to something or an action that is deceptive or unexpected. It originates from a type of pitch in the American sport of baseball which is used to confuse or mislead the batter. |
| cut it fine |
AUS, UK |
To do something at the last moment |
| (To) cut (someone) to the quick. |
AUS, UK, USA |
#To hurt someone deeply. The literal meaning is to cut deeply through the skin to the "living flesh" (quick); perhaps referring to the raw flesh under the fingernails. The phrase is used to express emotional hurt arising from a disparaging comment, although it is often used sarcastically.
- To be brief or blunt; to bypass trivialities and discuss the essence of a matter.
|
| cut off your nose to spite your face |
Global |
To take rash or single-minded action that hurts your own cause in the end. Similar to "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" |
| cut the Gordian Knot |
|
To solve a complex problem in a simple way. Refers to a legend of Alexander the Great, who cut the famous knot with his sword when he could not untie it |
| (failing to) cut the mustard |
Global |
A description of a job being poorly done. "I didn't want to fire Dan, but he just wasn't cutting the mustard." |
| cut to the chase |
Global |
Get to the point, or to the most interesting or important part of something, without delay |
| (the) cutting edge |
Global |
At the forefront of progress in an area |