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 - Sa...Sk

get the sack/be sacked

If someone gets the sack, they lose their job, usually because they have done

something wrong.

Charlie got the sack when his boss caught him stealing.

saddled with debt

If you are saddled with debt, the amount of money that you owe is a financial burden.

Be careful. If you buy a house that is too expensive, you could be saddled with debt

for many years.

a safe bet

To say that something is a safe bet means that it is very likely to happen.

It's a safe bet that you'll get a good job if you graduate from one of the top

universities.

in safe (or good) hands

If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after by a reliable person

or organization, and is therefore at no risk.

I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be in safe hands.

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.

safety in numbers

This expression means that being part of a group makes people feel more secure and

more confident when taking action.

None of the group went sightseeing alone, knowing that there was safety in

numbers.

sail close to the wind

If you sail close to the wind, you do something dangerous or act just within the limits

of what is legal or acceptable.

He seems to invest his money well although he often sails close to the wind.

sail through something

If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam, you succeed in doing it

without difficulty.

The English test was no problem for Tom. He sailed through it!

rub salt into the wound

If you are in a difficult or unpleasant situation, and somebody rubs salt into the

wound, they do or say something to make things worse.

The separation from Julie was already difficult for Pete. Mentioning her new

boyfriend just rubbed salt into the wound.

take something with a pinch of salt

To say that a piece of information should be taken with a pinch (or a grain) of salt

means that the information may not be accurate or true.

Tom tends to exaggerate. I take everything he says with a pinch of salt.

on the same wavelength

If you are on the same wavelength as someone else, you feel the same way about

something.

We rarely argue. We're generally on the same wavelength.

what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander

This expression means that if something applies to one person, it should also apply

to others

Women should earn the same salary as men for the same job. What's sauce for the

goose is sauce for the gander!

save your breath

If you tell someone to save their breath, you tell them not to waste their time speaking

because their words will have no effect.

I've already given him the same advice and he won't listen, so you might as well

save your breath.

save someone's bacon

If you save someone's bacon, you rescue them from a dangerous or difficult situation.

When Dave was a student, finding a room in return for dog-sitting really saved

his bacon!

save one's neck/skin

If you manage to escape from serious danger or trouble, you save

your neck (or your skin).

He saved his neck by jumping off the bridge just before it collapsed.

saved by the bell

If you are saved by the bell, something happens at the last minute to rescue you

from a difficult situation.

Saved by the bell! A friend arrived just when I realized I had no money for the

parking metre!

saving grace

A person who has a saving grace has a quality which prevents them from being totally

bad.

She's a horrible person but she has one saving grace, her kindness to animals.

scales fall from your eyes

When the scales fall from your eyes, you finally understand the truth about something.

It was only when my neighbour was arrested for theft that the scales fell from my

eyes and I realized where his money came from.

as scarce as hen's teeth

To say that something is as scarce as hen's teeth emphasizes that it is extremely

rare, to the point of non-existence.

Take enough supplies. Water is as scarce as hen's teeth where you're going!

scare somebody out of their wits

If something scares you out of your wits, it makes you very frightened or worried.

The feeling that their house is haunted can scare people out of their wits.

scare the (living) daylights out of someone

If something scares the daylights out of you, it terrifies you.

The sudden screaming scared the daylights out of me.

school of hard knocks

Someone who goes through the school of hard knocks learns through the positive

and negative experiences of life rather than through a formal classroom education.

He never went to college but the school of hard knocks made him a shrewd

businessman.

get off/go scot-free

To say that someone got off scot-free means that they escaped the punishment

they deserved.

We were all punished except James who managed to get off scot-free!

scrape the bottom of the barrel

If you scrape the bottom of the barrel, you use the worst or the least satisfactory

ideas, things or people because you have no choice.

When they started to recruit, they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel because

the best people had already found jobs elsewhere.

scratch the surface

When you only scratch the surface of a problem or subject, you deal with only a

small part of it.

Some countries are only scratching the surface of their environment problems.

not up to scratch

Something which is not up to scratch fails to reach the expected standard.

The quality of the material is not up to scratch. We'll have to change our suppliers.

have a screw loose

If someone has a screw loose, their behaviour is strange and they appear slightly

mad.

She wears a fur coat in summer - she must have a screw loose!

scrimp and save

If you scrimp and save, you spend as little as possible over a certain period of time

in order to save money.

The parents scrimped and saved for years so that their children would have a

college education.

have/get sea legs

A person who has sea legs is used to walking on a moving ship, or has the ability to

adjust to a new situation.

It takes a while in a new job to find your sea legs.

seal of approval

If a project or contract receives a seal of approval, it receives formal support or

approval from higher authorities.

We can't conclude the deal without the director's seal of approval.

come apart at the seams

To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means that they are extremely upset

or under severe mental stress.

Bob has had so many problems lately, he's coming apart at the seams.

seamy side of life

This expression refers to the most unpleasant, disreputable or sordid aspects of life

that we normally do not see (just as the stitched seams of clothes are generally not

seen).

Social workers really see the seamy side of life.

see the colour of somebody's money

If you want to see the colour of somebody's money, you want to make sure that the

person in question has enough money to pay you before you accept to do something.

I want to see the colour of his money before shipping the goods.

play second fiddle

If you play second fiddle to somebody, you accept to be second in importance to

that person, or have a lower position.

When the company was taken over, Tom had to play second fiddle to the new

manager.

second a motion

During a meeting, if you second a motion, you formally agree with a proposal.

She seconded the motion to introduce flexible working hours.

second nature (to somebody)

If someone masters a skill to the point that it seems natural or instinctive, it is said

to be second nature to that person.

Having grown up in ski resort, skiing is second nature to Harry.

second to none

To say that something is second to none means that it is excellent - better than

everything else.

The service was perfect and the food was second to none.

see red

If someone sees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed about something.

Discrimination of any kind makes me see red!

seeing is believing

This expression means that when you see something, you can be sure it exists, or that

what you have been told is really true.

Mark says bananas grow in his garden, but seeing is believing!

seen better days

If something has seen better days, it has aged visibly in comparison to when it was new.

My much-travelled suitcase has seen better days!

sell someone down the river

If you sell someone down the river, you betray someone who trusts you.

When the Trade Union signed the salary agreement, the workers felt they had been

sold down the river.

sell your soul

This is a humorous way of saying that you would be willing to do something morally

or legally wrong to obtain what you want.

He'd sell his soul to get an interview.

send a shiver down one's spine

If something sends a shiver down your spine, it makes you feel anxious, nervous

or excited.

That song always sends a shiver down my spine.

send someone packing

If you send someone packing, you tell them to leave, in a very forceful and

unfriendly way.

When Amanda discovered that Jack had been unfaithful, she sent him packing.

senior moment

A momentary lapse of memory, especially in older people, or an absent-minded action

such as putting the cereals in the fridge, is humorously referred to as having a senior

moment.

I found the phone in the cupboard. I must have had a senior moment!

separate the sheep from the goats

If you separate the sheep from the goats, you examine a group of people and decide

which are good and which are bad.

Examining job applications is the first stage in separating the sheep from the goats.

set you back

The sum of money something sets you back is the amount it costs you.

Changing the heating system would set us back about $5 000.

set in stone

When something is set in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed in any way.

The agenda isn't set in stone; we can add an item if need be.

set in one's ways

A person who is set in their ways is someone who is unable or unwilling to change their

ideas, habits or methods, often because they are old

My grandmother has the same routine every day. She's very set in her ways.

set the records straight

If you set or put the records straights, you provide facts or an explanation of

events in order to correct a mistake or misunderstanding.

An interview on television enabled the actress to set the records straight about

her health.

set the stage (for something)

If you set the stage for an event or a development, you create conditions that

allow it to happen.

The agreement set the stage for their future working relationship.

settle a score

To settle a score means to retaliate against someone or take revenge for a past wrong.

Jack has made an appointment with his lawyer - he has a score to settle with

someone.

shake like a leaf

If you shake like a leaf, you tremble with fear or nervousness.

At the beginning of the interview I was shaking like a leaf.

shank's pony

If you go somewhere on Shank's pony, you have to walk rather than travel by bus,

car, etc.

It was impossible to find a taxi after the party so it was Shank's pony for us!

shape of things to come

If something, such as a trend or a fashion, is the shape of things to come, it is a sign

of what is likely to be used or enjoyed by many people in the future.

Do you think speed-dating is the shape of things to come?

shape up or ship out

This expression is used to warn someone that if they do not improve, they will

have to leave their job.

When Tom started neglecting the customers, he was told to shape up or ship out.

sharp cookie

Someone who is not easily deceived or fooled is a sharp cookie.

You can't fool my grandmother. She's a sharp cookie!

sharp as a tack

A person who is as sharp as a tack is able to think quickly and learn very fast.

You won't have to explain it to him twice. He's as sharp as a tack.

shed light

If you shed light on something, you help to explain it or make it easier to understand.

It was hoped that the testimony of the witnesses would shed light on the causes

of the accident.

shelf life

If something, such as food, drink or medicine, has a particular shelf life, it must

be used or sold before the end of that period of time.

Dairy products have quite a short shelf life

shilly-shally

If you shilly-shally, you hesitate a lot about something and have difficulty reaching

a decision.

Come on! Don't shilly-shally - just make up your mind!

like ships that pass in the night

This expression is used to refer to people who meet briefly and are not likely to

meet again.

The two men met once, like ships that pass in the night, and never met again.

that ship has sailed

The expression 'that ship has sailed' means that a particular opportunity has passed

by and it's now too late.

Is the offer this open?" "Sorry, that ship has sailed - you missed your chance!

keep your shirt on!

If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down.

Keep your shirt on Bob. Just give your version of the story!

the shoe is on the other foot

When the circumstances have reversed and one person now doing what the other

person did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot.

I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist

and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!

in someone's shoes

To talk about being in someone's shoes means to imagine how you would react if

you were in a similar situation as them.

Tom's sales have dropped by 30% this month. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes!

on a shoestring

If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money.

When I was a student I lived on a shoestring.

shoot yourself in the foot

If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do or say something which is against your own

interests.

When Julie was asked at the interview if she had any weaknesses, she really shot

herself in the foot by the way she answered.

shop around

If you shop around, you visit a number of shops selling similar articles in order to

compare the prices.

You can usually save money by shopping around.

shop till you drop

If you shop till you drop, you go shopping for a very long time, until you're

exhausted.

If you go to London with Julie you'll shop till you drop, so take comfortable shoes!

shopping spree

If you go on a shopping spree, you enjoy a lively outing, usuallywith much spending

of money.

Liza is planning to go on a shopping spree during the sales.

shopping therapy

This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better.

A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored teenagers.

window shopping

When people go window shopping, they look at things in shop windows, without

actually purchasing anything.

I haven't been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping.

have a short fuse

When someone has a short fuse, they are likely to become angry easily or quickly.

Be careful how you explain the situation. The boss has a very short fuse these days!

short shrift

If someone or something gets short shrift, they are given little attention or

sympathy.

When the boss is very busy, he gives short shrift to anyone who bothers him.

short and sweet

Something that is short and sweet is brief but pleasant.

It didn't take us long to agree. Our conversation was short and sweet.

a shot in the dark

To refer to a question or statement as a shot in the dark means that it is a

complete guess, but at the same time it might be close to the truth.

He didn't know which players had been selected, so mentioning Carter's name

was just a shot in the dark.

call the shots

If you call the shots, you are in command of the situation and make all the

important decisions.

Ask Julie - she's the one who calls the shots.

shotgun approach

If you use a shotgun approach, you cover a wide range in a non-selective,

haphazard and inefficient manner.

Identifying a specific segment of the market as our target will be more effective

than a shotgun approach.

shoulder surfing

The practice of looking over somebody's shoulder when they are using a computer,

cash dispenser or other electronic device in order to obtain personal information

(identification, account number, password, etc.) is called shoulder-surfing.

a chip on the shoulder

If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they feel resentful because they feel

they are being treated unfairly, especially because of their background, their

sex or their colour.

give someone the cold shoulder

To give someone the cold shoulder means to deliberately ignore someone.

After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder.

shouting match

An argument or debate where people shout loudly at each other is called a shouting

match.

The debate between the two politicians turned into a shouting match which spoiled

the event for viewers.

a show of hands

A show of hands is a method of voting in which people give their opinion by raising

a hand.

How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?

show one's true colours

When a person shows their true colours, their behaviour reveals their real nature

and shows their qualities and/or weaknesses.

In times of crisis people show their true colours.

get the show on the road

If you get the show on the road, you start an activity or put a plan into action.

OK everyone! It's time to get the show on the road.

shrinking violet

A person referred to as a shrinking violet is a timid or shy person.

The witness was no shrinking violet. She had no difficulty expressing herself!

shrug something off

If you shrug something off, you dismiss it as being unimportant.

He was aware of the danger but he just shrugged it off.

shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

If you shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, you try to prevent something

bad from happening when it is already too late.

Jack decided to insure the contents of his apartment after it was burgled.

That's really shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted!

the other side of the coin

When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a situation, you

refer to the other side of the coin.

The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far

from shops and schools.

a sight for sore eyes

This expression refers to a person or thing you are happy to see.

Sam! You're a sight for sore eyes! Haven't seen you in a long time.

a sign of the times

This expression refers to something that shows the nature of today's society.

The rising level of violence is a sign of the times.

sign your own death warrant

If you do something that causes your own downfall, or prevents you from being

successful, you sign your own death warrant.

When he decided to drop out of college, he signed his own death warrant.

sign on the dotted line

If you sign on the dotted line, you formally give your consent to something by signing

an official document.

I consulted my lawyer before signing on the dotted line.

signed, sealed and delivered

When an agreement, contract or treaty is signed, sealed and delivered, all the legal

documents have been signed.

It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and delivered before the end

of the week.

significant other

The term significant other refers to a person, such as a spouse, partner or lover,

with whom you have a long-term relationship.

Harry says he makes no decisions without consulting his significant other.

silver bullet

This term refers to an extremely effective or magical solution to a difficult problem.

There is no silver bullet that will put an end to unemployment.

silver lining

A silver lining refers to the good or pleasant side-effects of an unpleasant

situation.

Every cloud has a silver lining means that there is a positive or hopeful side to

every unpleasant situation.

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

To say that someone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth means that

their family is very rich and privileged.

Alice never has to worry about money; she was born with a silver spoon

in her mouth.

silver surfer

A silver surfer is an elderly person who uses the internet.

After just a few lessons my grandmother was ready to join the silver surfers.

silver-tongued

A person who is a smooth talker, and speaks so convincingly that they manage

to persuade others to do what they want, is said to be silver-tongued.

A silver-tongued salesman persuaded my mother to buy a new washing machine

although the one she had was fine!

simplicity itself

Something that is simplicity itself is extremely easy to do.

Using the tool is simplicity itself; just turn it on and the instructions appear.

since time immemorial

If something has existed since time immemorial, it has been there for such a

long time that nobody can recall a time without it.

I don't know when that bridge was built. It's been there since time immemorial.

sing a different tune

If somebody sings a different tune, they change their opinion about something or

their attitude towards something.

He had no consideration for people out of work until he lost his own job; now

he's singing a different tune!

sink one's differences

If people or organizations sink their differences, they decide to forget their

disagreements.

We must sink our differences and build a peaceful community.

sink or swim

If somebody has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone, and their success

or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.

The sink or swim attitude in the company can be very difficult for young recruits.

siphon something off

If someone siphons something off, they transfer something from one place to another,

often illegally.

It was discovered that he had siphoned off money from the business into an

account in a tax haven.

sit on the fence

If you sit on the fence, you avoid taking sides in a discussion or argument.

It's an important issue. You can't continue to sit on the fence!

sit up and take notice

A person who sits up and takes notice becomes alert and attentive.

The announcement of the winner made everyone sit up and take notice.

sitting duck

To refer to someone as a sitting duck means that they are an easy target to

criticize, attack.

sitting pretty

Someone who is sitting pretty is a good or fortunate situation, especially compared

to others who are not so lucky.

He sold his shares at a good time so he's now sitting pretty and enjoying life.

six of one and half a dozen of the other

This expression means that there's no real difference between two choices; both

are equally good or equally bad.

I didn't know who to vote for. It was six of one and half a dozen of the other.

at sixes and sevens

If someone is at sixes and sevens, they are in a a state of confusion or not very well

organized.

The managers were at sixes and sevens when they were informed of the

Chairman's visit.

skating on thin ice

If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause

disagreement or trouble.

Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on

thin ice.

skeleton staff/crew

If a business or organization works with a skeleton staff, it is run with the smallest

number of people necessary.

The office is closed the week after Christmas but there will be a skeleton staff

to handle essential operations.

skin someone alive

If you are angry and threaten to skin someone alive, you mean that you are going to

punish them severely.

If that kid damages my car again, I'll skin him alive!

it's no skin off my nose

To use this expression means that you don't care if something happens.

It's no skin off my nose if he doesn't accept the invitation - I don't care one way

or another.

by the skin of your teeth

To do something by the skin of your teeth means that you just manage to do it,

but that you almost fail.

He passed the driving test by the skin of his teeth.

jump out of one's skin.

If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked.

Jane nearly jumped out of her skin when the horse put its head through the

window!

all skin and bone

If someone is all skin and bone, they are very thin, or too thin

After trekking in the Himalayas, he was all skin and bone.

(put) skin in the game

If you put skin in the game, you show your confidence in a company by making a

considerable investment or financial commitment.

I got good news today. Apparently a serious investor is willing to put skin in the game.

there's more than one way to skin a cat

This expressions means that there are many different ways of achieving something

How about trying a different method? There's more than one way to skin a cat

you know!

the sky's the limit

To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the possibility of success

or progress for someone or something.

How successful do you think the project will be? Who knows... the sky's the limit!

slice of the cake (or pie)

When people feel entitled to a share of the benefits or profits, they want a (larger)

slice of the cake.

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