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 - U-V

(as) ugly as sin

This expression is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very

unattractive.

Have you seen the new neighbour's dog? It's as ugly as sin!

uncharted waters

If you are in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that you have never experienced

before, so you don't know what is going to happen.

In some countries, democracy is an adventure into uncharted waters.

under your thumb

If someone is under your thumb, they are completely under your control or

influence.

Nobody ever protests. He has the whole group under his thumb.

unmitigated disaster

To refer to something as an unmitigated disaster means that it is a complete

failure or a total catastrophe.

The organization of the tournament was an unmitigated disaster.

you can't unring a bell

This expression means that you cannot undo what has been done, so you must

live with the consequences of your actions.

until hell freezes over

If you tell someone they can do something until hell freezes over, you mean that

they can do it forever but they won't obtain the result they want.

You can ask until hell freezes over; I will not allow you to go bungee-jumping.

up and about

If someone is up and about, they are out of bed or have recovered after an illness.

She was kept in hospital for a week but she's up and about again.

up/down one's alley

If something is (right) up or down one's alley, it is exactly the sort of thing that

will suit their tastes or abilities.

Alex loves reading, so the job in the bookshop is right up his alley.

(to be) 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.

up for grabs

If something is up for grabs, it is available for anyone who wants to compete for it.

You should enter the competition - there are $20 000 in prizes up for grabs!

up in the air

If something, such as a plan or a decision, is up in the air, it has not been decided

or settled yet.

I can't give you a definite answer yet; the project is still up in the air.

up to par

If something is up to par, it meets the required standard.

He didn't get the job because his English wasn't up to par.

up and running

If a business or a plan is up and running, it has started and is functioning

successfully.

In some countries you can have a company up and running in a very short time.

an uphill battle/struggle

A person faced with an uphill battle has to struggle against very unfavourable

circumstances.

After the terrible accident, his recovery was an uphill battle all the way.

the upper crust

This term refers to the higher levels of society, the upper class or the

aristocracy.

William hides his working-class background and pretends to be from the

upper crust.

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!

as useful as a chocolate teapot

Something which is of no practical use at all is about as useful as a chocolate

teapot.

When there are no roads, a car is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

vanish into thin air

If something vanishes into thin air, it disappears completely in a mysterious way.

The contract vanished into thin air - nobody knows what happened to it.

variety is the spice of life

This expression means that life is more interesting when you try to do different

things.

Since they retired, my parents have been trying out all sorts of new activities.

Variety is the spice of life!

vent your spleen

When you vent your spleen, you release or express all your anger about

something.

Whenever Jack is angry about new government measures, he vents his spleen

by writing to newspapers.

vertically challenged

This expression is a humoristic way of referring to someone who is not very tall.

High shelves are difficult for vertically challenged shoppers.

vested interest

If you have a vested interest in a situation or event, you expect to benefit or

gain an advantage from it.

Tom has a vested interest in Jack's promotion; he hopes to get his job.

vicious circle

When the solution to a problem creates a similar problem to the original, or makes

it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is called a vicious

circle.

I borrowed money to reimburse Paul. Now I've got to reimburse the bank, with

interest. It's a vicious circle.

take a dim view of something

If you take a dim view of something, you don't approve of it.

When Harry and Sally decided to live together without getting married, their

grandparents took a dim view of the situation.

voice in the wilderness

If you are the only person expressing an warning or an opinion on a matter which

is ignored by most others, you are a voice in the wilderness.

For many years she was a voice in the wilderness protesting a"ainst child labour.

vote with one's feet

If you vote with your feet, you show your dislike or disapproval of something by

leaving.

If the conference is boring, people will probably vote with their feet.

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