Idiom alphabetical list

English idioms & idiomatic expressions

List of idioms with their meaning and an example of use.

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Alphabetical list of idioms - N

like nailing jelly to the wall.

To say that something is like nailing jelly to the wall, you mean that it is extremely

difficult to do, if not impossible.

Keeping track of his movements is like nailing jelly to the wall.

your name is mud

To say that a person's name is mud means that they have acquired a bad reputation

because of something they have done or said.

His name is mud now after the revelations in the newspaper.

name (written) on it

If something has someone's name (written) on it, it is intended for that person or

is ideally suited to them.

That dress would be perfect for you - it's got your name on it!

neck and neck

In a contest or competition, when two competitors reach the same level, they are said

to be neck and neck, so it is impossible to say who will win.

At the moment the two teams are neck and neck for the World Cup.

stick your neck out

If a person sticks their neck out, they draw attention to themselves by saying or doing

something that others are afraid to do.

Julie stuck her neck out and said that the sales target would be impossible to reach

without extra staff

needs must (when the devil drives)

This expression means that you are sometimes forced by circumstances to do something

that you do not want to do.

I'd rather stay with you than attend the conference, but needs must...!

needle in a haystack

To refer to something as a needle in a haystack means that it is very difficult or

impossible to find.

Finding a pub in Dublin without knowing its name is like looking for a needle in a

haystack!

neither fish nor fowl

This expression describes people or things that are difficult to classify, that are neither

one thing nor another.

Interns are neither fish nor fowl. They are neither students nor fully qualified

practitioners.

neither here nor there

Something which is neither here nor there is unimportant or irrelevant.

Why the problem wasn't discovered earlier is neither here nor there. What's

important now is to find a solution.

nerves of steel

Someone who has nerves of steel is not afraid in a difficult or dangerous situation.

You need to have nerves of steel to drive on those mountain roads.

a nest egg

If you have a nest egg, you have a reserve of money which you put aside for

future needs.

Our parents consider the money from the sale of their house as a nest egg for their

old age.

never a dull moment!

When there is never a dull moment, something is always changing or happening.

With four teenagers at home, there's never a dull moment!

never looked back

If you say that you have never looked back, you mean that after an event which

changed your life for the better, you continue to be happy with the situation.

Since the day she decided to work from home, she has never looked back.

never in a million years

You can say 'never in a million years' to emphasize that in your opinion something

will absolutely never happen.

I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob.

never mind

When you say "never mind" to someone, you are telling them not to worry, that

it is not important.

When the child broke the cup Susan said : "never mind - it was an old cup.

it never rains but it pours

This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens,

other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.

First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car

park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!

never say die

This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere in their efforts and

not give up or abandon their project.

Keep going. It's too soon to give up. Never say die!

new lease of life

A person who has a new lease of life has a chance to live longer or with greater

enjoyment or satisfaction.

Moving closer to his children has given him a new lease of life.

next best thing

If you can't have exactly what you want, the next best thing is the best alternative

possible.

The camera I wanted was far too expensive so I opted for a cheaper one that was

the next best thing.

next to nothing

The term next to nothing means a very small amount or almost nothing.

My boots were a real bargain. I bought them for next to nothing in the sales.

nice as pie

If a person is nice as pie, they are surprisingly very kind and friendly

After our argument, she was nice as pie!

in the nick of time

If something happens in the nick of time, it happens at the last minute, when it is

nearly too late.

The child was standing in front of the open window. His mother caught him

in the nick of time.

night owl

Someone who is lively and active at night and goes to bed very late is called a

night owl.

I work better in the evenings than in the morning. My friends say I'm a night owl.

a nine-day wonder

An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or excitement for a

short time, but it doesn't last.

His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder but he was soon forgotten.

nine times out of ten

When something happens nine times out of ten, it almost always happens.

The public transport system is very bad. Trains arrive late nine times out of ten.

the nitty-gritty

When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to discuss the most important

points or the practical details.

I was interested in the project, but we didn't get down to the nitty-gritty until his

partner arrived.

there's no accounting for taste

This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes

She fell in love with a guy who's short, fat, bald and poor ... well, there's

no accounting for taste!

no dice!

If someone asks you for something and you reply "no dice" you mean that it is impossible

or it can't be done.

Can you lend me your car?" "Sorry, no dice."

no-brainer

A decision or choice that requires little or no thought because the best option is so

obvious is called a no-brainer.

The choice was between a cash refund or having the amount credited to my account -

it was a no-brainer! - I took the cash!

no hard feelings

If you have no hard feelings, you feel no resentment or bitterness about something.

When Jack was promoted instead of Steve, he said to Steve : "No hard feelings I hope."

no great shakes

To say that something or someone is no great shakes means that they are useless,

ineffective or not very good.

He's a good actor but his last film was no great shakes.

no picnic

To say that an activity or task is no picnic means that it is unpleasant or difficult.

Tom is a bit depressed these days, but then job-hunting is no picnic.

no smoke without fire

If many people say that something bad is happening, then there must be some truth

in what they are saying.

Although no proof was ever found, people say there's no smoke without fire.

on nodding terms

If you are on nodding terms with someone, you don't know them very well, just well

enough to say 'hello' when you meet them.

We haven't made any friends yet but we're on nodding terms with our neighbours.

non sequitur

This latin term refers to a statement which does not seem to be a logical follow-up

to the previous statement or argument.

After announcing the merger, the chairman began talking about global warming which

seemed a complete non sequitur.

use one's noodle

If you manage to understand something by using your noodle, you use your brain or

your common sense.

How did I figure that out? I just used my noodle!

nose out of joint

If a person's nose is out of joint, they have been upset, embarrassed or offended by

somebody or something.

When he discovered that he wasn't on the invitation list, that really put his nose out

of joint.

not for love or money

If you say that you cannot or will not do something for love or money, you mean that

you cannot or will not do it under any circumstances.

I would not try bungee jumping for love or money!

not getting anywhere

If you are not getting anywhere, you are making no progress at all.

I've spent the whole day looking for a solution but I'm not getting anywhere.

not give a hang (about something)

If you do not give a hang about something, you are totally indifferent to it and do not

care at all about it.

I'm not interested in football so I don't give a hang about which team wins.

not have a stitch on

Someone who does not have a stitch on is wearing no clothes and is therefore

completely naked.

When the doorbell rang, he didn't have a stitch on!

not lift a finger

Someone who does not lift a finger makes no effort to help or provide assistance

when it is needed.

Many people saw the boy falling off his bike but not one of them lifted a finger.

not lose any sleep (over something)

When something happens that in your opinion is not a cause for worry, you

can say that you will not lose any sleep over it.

We didn't reach an agreement but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

not the only pebble on the beach

To say that someone is not the only pebble on the beach means that they are not

the only person worth consideration or interest.

He thinks his refusal to join the team will cause problems, but there are alternatives ...

he's not the only pebble on the beach.

a notch above

Something that is a notch above something else is a little better in every way

His rendering of the song was a notch above the others.

now you're talking!

This expression is used to show encouragement or agreement with something that

has just been said, for example a good idea.

"If we take the underground we'll avoid the traffic." "Now you're talking!"

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