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 - O

odds and ends

Odds and ends are small articles, or bits and pieces of all sorts, usually of little value.

I keep all my odds and ends in this drawer.

off the cuff

If you speak off the cuff, you say something without any previous thought or

preparation.

He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well.

off the peg

Clothes which are bought off the peg are purchased in a standard size in a shop

and are not made specially for you.

He can't afford to have his suits made to measure so he buys them off the peg.

off the record

If you say something off the record, you do not want anyone to repeat it publicly.

My comment was made off the record, and shouldn't have been published.

off your rocker!

If you tell someone that they are off their rocker, you think they are

completely crazy!

You're going to give all your money away! You're off your rocker!

in the offing

Something which is in the offing is likely to appear or happen soon.

Apparently a new law on minimum wages is in the offing.

pour oil on troubled waters

If a person pours oil on troubled waters, they do or say something to calm a tense

situation.

James is an good negotiator, and is always able to pour oil on troubled waters.

old dog for a hard road

This expression means that experience is invaluable when one is faced with a

difficult task.

The case calls for an experienced lawyer, an old dog for a hard road.

an old wives' tale

A traditional belief or idea which has been proved wrong by science is called an

old wives' tale.

The belief that chocolate causes acne is an old wives' tale.

oldest trick in the book

A well-known and much-used trick, which is still effective today, is called the oldest

trick in the book.

He made a noise to attract my attention while his accomplice stole my wallet. It's the

oldest trick in the book!

an olive branch

If a person or organization holds out an olive branch to another, they show that they

want to end a disagreement and make peace.

The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them.

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing

some unpleasant effects.

Some people will lost their jobs after the merger, but you can't make an omelette

without breaking eggs.

on the fly

If you do something on the fly, you do it quickly, without thinking much about it,

while doing something else.

I'm so busy I usually have lunch on the fly.

on the QT

If something is done on the QT, it is done quietly or discreetly.

They got married on the QT last summer and told nobody.

on ice

To say that a plan or project is put on ice means that all further action has been

postponed for an indefinite period of time.

Plans for a nuclear power station have been put on ice.

on the map

If a place becomes very well known, it is put on the map.

The president's visit really put the restaurant on the map.

to be on the safe side

If you do something to be on the safe side, you do it as a precaution, in case

something unpleasant happens.

The flight is due to arrive at 11.45, but I'll check with the airport just to be on the

safe side.

on the up and up

If you are on the up and up, you are becoming increasingly successful.

That architect been on the up and up since he designed a building in Dubai.

once in a blue moon

If something occurs once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.

Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon.

once bitten, twice shy

This is said by a person who has had an unpleasant experience which has made

them cautious.

I'm never going to get married again. Once bitten, twice shy.

at one fell swoop

If something is accomplished at one fell swoop, it is done in a single action, usually

rapidly and ruthlessly.

The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop.

one good turn deserves another

This expression means that if someone helps you, it is natural and right to help them

in return.

We helped Alex and Sarah when they moved into their new house, just as they helped

us last year; one good turn deserves another.

one step ahead

When you are one step ahead of someone else, you manage to achieve something

faster than they do, or you have a slight advantage over them.

The company is successful because they're always one step ahead of their

competitors.

a one-horse town

A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring town where nothing much

ever happens.

I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such a boring place!

one too many

Someone who has had one too many has drunk too much alcohol.

I think Tony's had one too many - he's talking rubbish!

one's number is up

To say that one's number is up means that a person is either in serious difficulty

and something bad is going to happen, or the time has come when they will die.

The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!

one-track mind

If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency to think about only one subject.

That boy has got a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!

one-upmanship

This term refers to the art of gaining and keeping the advantage over other people.

He is a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left him with few friends.

only to be expected

If an event or outcome is only to be expected, it is most likely to happen.

The teacher was angry because you cheated at the exam? - That was only to be

expected!

open doors to/for something

If something opens doors, it provides opportunities or possibilities for the future.

A degree from a top university generally opens doors to major companies.

open the floodgates

If someone or something opens the floodgates, they release something that had

previously been held under control.

It is feared that easing price controls will open the floodgates to inflation.

open the kimono

If a person or organization opens the kimono, they reveal something previously

hidden.

It's time to open the kimono and explain that we cannot meet the deadline.

open secret

A fact that is supposed to be a secret but is actually widely known is called an

open secret.

It's an open secret that Paul and Julie are living together.

open/reopen old wounds

If you open or reopen old wounds, you revive memories of an unpleasant event,

situation or dispute that took place in the past.

He carefully avoided the subject so as not to open old wounds.

opposite number

Someone who holds the same position as oneself in another company or organization

is called one's opposite number.

I spoke to my opposite number in several local companies and we all agreed to

join the anti-pollution campaign.

ostrich strategy/politics

This term refers to the phenomenon of ignoring or evading an obvious problem in

the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.

Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've got to find a

solution!

other things being equal

This expression refers to a probable situation if the conditions elsewhere remain

unchanged or equal.

Other things being equal, a reduction in the cost of transport should enable us to

lower our prices.

out of the blue

If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly.

I hadn't had news from her for years, then out of the blue a Christmas card arrived!

out of circulation

If someone is out of circulation, they are unavailable or not joining in activities with

others.

I'm going to do a summer course in New York so I'll be out of circulation for a while.

out of your depth

If you are out of your depth, you are unable to understand a subject or deal with

a situation because it is too difficult for you.

The level of the class was too high for me, so very quickly I felt out of my depth.

out of earshot

If someone is out of earshot, they are too far away to hear what is being said.

We waited until our parents were out of earshot before discussing the surprise

birthday party.

out of harm's way

If you put something out of harm's way, you put it in a safe place where it won't

get damaged.

I'm going to put this glass bowl out of harm's way so that it doesn't get broken.

out like a light

If a person goes out like a light, they are so tired that they fall asleep very quickly.

As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was out like a light.

out on a limb

If you go out on a limb, you do something risky or unsupported by others, which

leaves you in a difficult position.

Jack was really out on a limb with his proposal - nobody supported his idea.

out to lunch

To say that someone is out to lunch means that they seem to be either unaware of

what's going on around them, or unable to understand what's happening.

He's hopeless as a leader - considered as 'out-to-lunch' by the group.

out of one's own pocket

If you pay for something out of your own pocket, you cover the cost with your own

money.

Breakfast is included but you must pay for lunch out of your own pocket.

out of the picture

To say the a person or group is out of the picture means that they have been

eliminated in a contest or tournament.

We were beaten in the semi-finals, so that's us out of the picture!

out of the question

Something which is out of the question is impossible and is therefore not worth

discussing.

Buying a new car is out of the question - we can't afford it.

out of sorts

If someone is out of sorts, they are upset and irritable and not feeling well.

The baby is out of sorts today. Perhaps he's cutting a tooth.

out of touch

If you are out of touch, you no longer communicate with someone, or you are

unaware of the developments relating to something.

I've been out of touch with Jenny since we left college.

out of whack

If something is out of whack, it is not working properly or not in good order.

The dishwasher is making a funny noise. Something must be out of whack.

out of this world

To refer to something as out of this world means that you think it is extremely good

or impressive

The hotel was very comfortable and the food was out of this world!

over-egg the pudding

If you try to improve something excessively by adding unnecessary details, you

over-egg the pudding.

Keep your report simple. Don't over-egg the pudding.

over my dead body

This expression is used when you absolutely refuse to allow someone to do something.

"Mum, can I get my nose pierced?" "Over my dead body!"

over the hill

If a person is over the hill, they have reached an age when they can no longer perform

as well as before.

Gran! You say you're over the hill but you're still a super cook!

over the moon

If you are over the moon, you are absolutely delighted.

We were all over the moon when we heard the good news.

over the top (OTT)

Something which is over the top is totally excessive or not suitable for the occasion.

Her dramatic speech was way over the top.

go overboard

To go overboard means to be too excited or enthusiastic about something,

or act in an excessive way.

overplay your hand

If you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and spoil your chances of success

by trying to obtain too much.

Sam is hoping for a bonus for his good results, but he may be overplaying his hand

if he asks for a promotion.

overstep the mark

If you overstep the mark, you go too far and upset someone by saying something or

behaving in a way that is unacceptable.

Jenny is angry with her son Paul. He overstepped the mark when he called his

grandfather an 'old fool'.

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