Idioms

Idioms

For common expressions in the language.

Industry: Language

Add a new term

Contributors in Idioms

Become a Contributors

Idioms

hat trick

Language; Idioms

When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.

economical with the truth

Language; Idioms

(UK) If someone, especially a politician, is economical with the truth, they leave out information in order to create a false picture of a situation, without actually lying.

up the creek

Language; Idioms

If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble. ‘Up the creek without a paddle’ is an alternative, and ‘up shit creek (without a paddle)’ is a ruder form.

play for time

Language; Idioms

If you play for time, you delay something because because you are not ready or need more time to thing about it. Eg. I knew I had to play for time until the police arrived.

rip van Winkle

Language; Idioms

Rip van Winkle is a character in a story who slept for twenty years, so if someone is a Rip van Winkle, they are behind the times and out of touch with what’s happening now.

rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic

Language; Idioms

(UK) If people are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, they are making small changes that will have no effect as the project, company, etc, is in very serious trouble.