Query any phrase you want.

Selected phrases

1 talk over someone's head To communicate something beyond the level of comprehension of the target.
2 boo boo- short for Boo Boo Bear, cartoon character Yogi Bear's sidekick from the show Huckleberry Hound, 1958...
3 the squeaky wheel gets the grease/oil The most noticeable, or loudest person gets the most attention.
4 above par- Better than the average or normal standard
5 necktie party An execution by hanging, especially a lynching.
6 chicken liver- Used other than as an idiom: see chicken, liver.
7 a millstone around ones neck What's the meaning of the phrase 'A millstone round his neck'? A heavy and inescapable burden or res...
8 set to work To begin working at.
9 stow away to stow or secure aloof in a safe place
10 of an Belonging to the same.
11 for what it’s worth Idiomatic phrase used to introduce one’s opinion or advice on a topic or situation - usually spoken ...
12 on the ball Alert, active, or attentive; on top of things.
13 who ate all the pies An interjection used pejoratively against a fat person
14 show one's true stripes To reveal one's real beliefs, sentiments, or character, especially through one's behavior.
15 kindest regards Used as a polite closing of a letter
16 make the welkin ring- By extension of.
17 line up to put in alignment; to put in correct adjustment for smooth running
18 dwell on To continue to think or talk about.
19 take it out in To accept as payment.
20 i can’t win for losing What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘I can’t win for losing’? The odds are stacked against me. (Or no m...
21 head for the hills To go to a safe place; to seek refuge; to flee.
22 call the tune take control of something.
23 slip in- To include into a sentence discreetly
24 just a minute- Stop; wait. Used to indicate that the speaker wishes the previous speaker or the proceedings to stop...
25 hand in glove In very close cooperation.
26 bottom feeder A fish or other aquatic creature that feeds off the bottom of its habitat; a flatfish.
27 you wish Used to express the speaker's skepticism about a preceding statement concerning some desired or assu...
28 beauty sleep Sleep before midnight, on the belief that early sleep hours conduce to health and beauty.
29 cat and mouse game Two individuals and/or groups repeatedly keeping check on each other in a suspicious or self-protect...
30 put-up job An attempt to trick, deceive, or con someone.
31 queer as a nine bob note What's the meaning of the phrase 'As ***** as a nine bob note'? This expression refers to something ...
32 carpe diem seize the day, make the most of today, enjoy the present
33 copy typist office worker
34 drive someone up the wall To make a person very angry or bored; to infuriate.
35 in a pickle Being in a difficult predicament; a mess; an undesirable situation.
36 send out- A networking broadcast transmission.
37 women and children first What's the meaning of the phrase 'Women and children first'? The seafaring command that women and ch...
38 evil twin- A rogue wireless access point installed near a legitimate one for purposes of eavesdropping or phish...
39 bottom fishing- Buying, or seeking opportunities to buy, investment securities or other valuable properties at a tim...
40 act the giddy goat What's the meaning of the phrase 'Act the giddy goat'? Behave foolishly. What's the origin of the p...
41 act upon To take action on the basis of information received or deduced.
42 for the hell of it For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
43 have ants in one's pants To be agitated and constantly fidgeting.
44 private enterprise individual initiative
45 blaze away to fire (firearms) repeatedly
46 account for To explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present...
47 link up- to become linked or joined together
48 talent management Human capital management of the entire employee lifecycle. Companies that are engaged in talent mana...
49 baby-killer an abortionist
50 home team The team that's playing in the usual area that they play in, as opposed to the visitor team.
51 the man in the street- typical person
52 wild and woolly What's the meaning of the phrase 'Wild and woolly'? Other phrases with American origin Lawless and u...
53 deal with punish
54 four-leaf clover- A bringer of good luck
55 talk like an apothecary To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put o...
56 squeeze in- To pack tightly together.
57 all publicity is good publicity What's the meaning of the phrase 'There is no such thing as bad publicity'? ‘There is no such thing ...
58 brace of shakes A very short time.
59 book dumping The practice of donating old used books that burden rather than assist communities.
60 you attract more flies with honey than vinegar Alternative form of you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
61 fork over- To turn over soil with a gardening fork.
62 I'll call the police Indicates that the speaker is going to call the police, presumably to counter actions from the inter...
63 spend a penny What's the meaning of the phrase 'Spend a penny'? To use a public lavatory. What's the origin of the...
64 in a league of one's own Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
65 the dog days of summer What's the meaning of the phrase 'Dog days'? Other phrases about: Dogs The ‘dog days’ are the very h...
66 morning person A person whose who wakes up without difficulty early each morning and who is alert and active during...
67 vouch for To affirm the truth or reliability of.
68 a watched pot never boils A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
69 bust a gut To laugh vehemently or uncontrollably; Any reaction (to some news or a sudden change) which is furio...
70 brush aside- To defeat with ease.
71 string together To connect or attach using string or a string-like material.
72 that's that There is nothing more to say or to do concerning the matter.
73 nudge out To expel, knock out by a small margin.
74 there is no there there The indicated thing, person, or other matter has no distinctive identity, or no significant characte...
75 inquire of To ask someone.
76 asf Initialism of age-sex-from : what is your age, what sex are you, and where are you from?
77 old maid card game
78 better late than never What's the meaning of the phrase 'Better late than never'? To arrive or do something later than expe...
79 tie over Tide over.
80 jacktar Nickname for a sailor in the Royal Navy.
81 look down upon Alternative form of look down on
82 make peace- To settle a dispute or disagreement.
83 take a ride to Tyburn To be executed.
84 for goodness' sake- This interjection expresses surprise or amazement.
85 read the room to understand the emotions and thoughts of the people in the room
86 face the music To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
87 toffee-nosed What's the meaning of the phrase 'Toffee-nosed'? To be ‘toffee-nosed’ is to be snobbish; superciliou...
88 bunny hop A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga.
89 siren song An enticing but dangerous appeal, especially a misleading one.
90 ring up To telephone, to call on the telephone.
91 cross someone's palm To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
92 smoke up- To become filled with smoke.
93 a codpiece for the something or someone an exaggerated show of protecting the little bits while ignoring the whole.
94 where there's muck there's brass (UK, Irish) There is money to be made in unpleasant dirty jobs.
95 far gone- Intoxicated.
96 lean into To accept something negative but unchangeable; to find a way to benefit from, or alleviate the harm ...
97 cease and desist- A demanding that one "cease and desist from" continuing certain behavior, such as copyright infringe...
98 swift retreat To back off quickly/A place you can go to quickly to recover or escape from stress.
99 wild cherry Used other than as an idiom: see wild, cherry.
100 absque hoc The technical words of denial used in denying what has been alleged.