IDIOMS C
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- calculated risk
- - an action that may fail but has a good chance to succeed
- call a spade a spade
- - speak bluntly
- call it quits
- - stop, finish
- call of nature
- - the need to go to the toilet
- call off
- - cancel
- call on
-
- visit someone
- ask someone to participate or contribute something - call on to the carpet
- - call someone before an authority to be scolded or reprimanded
- call someone`s bluff
- - challenge someone to prove what they say is true
- call the shots
- - be in charge, give orders
- cancel out
- - destroy the effect of something
- can of worms
- - a complicated situation or problem
- can`t see the forest for the trees
- - unable to judge or understand the whole picture because you are looking at the small parts of it
- card up one`s sleeve
- - a plan or argument kept back to be produced if needed
-
(in) care of someone
"C/O" - - send something to one person at the address of another person
- carrot and stick
- - the promise of reward and threat of punishment at the same time
- carry on
- - continue, keep doing as before
- carry out
- - put into action, accomplish
- carry over
- - save for another time
- carry the ball
- - take the most important or difficult part in an action or business
- carry the day
- - win or be successful
- carry the torch
-
- show loyalty to a cause or a person
-to be in love with another person for a long time - carry through
- - put a plan into action
- (a) case in point
- - an example that proves something or helps to make something clear
- cash cow
- - a good source of money
- cash in
- - exchange something for money
- cash in on
- - see and profit by a chance
- cast pearls before swine
- - waste something valuable on someone who doesn`t appreciate it
- cast the first stone
- - be the first to blame someone
- castles in the air
- - daydreams
- cat burglar
- - a burglar who enters a building by climbing a wall etc.
- cat got your tongue
- - can`t talk
- catch-22
- - a situation where whatever you do the outcome will be bad, a no-win situation
- catch-as-catch-can
- - in any way possible
- catch on
-
-become popular
-to understand - catch your eye
- - attract one`s attention
- caught red-handed
- - find someone in the middle of doing something wrong
- caught short
- - not having enough of something when you need it (usually money)
- cave in
- - to weaken and be forced to give up
- chalk up
- - record as a win or a loss
- change horses in midstream
- - make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity
- change of heart
- - change the way one feels about something
- change your tune
- - make a change in your story,statement or opinions
- (in) charge of something
- - be responsible for an activity or group of people
- cheat on (someone)
- - be unfaithful to someone
- chew the fat
- -chat
- chew out (someone)
- - scold roughly
- chicken feed
- - a small amount of money
- chicken out
- - stop doing something because of fear
- chickens come home to roost
- - words or acts come back to cause trouble for a person
- chime in
- - join in (a song or conversation)
- chip in
- - contribute or pay jointly
- chip off the old block
- - person who looks or acts like one of his parents
- (when the) chips are down
- - the time when one faces the greatest obstacles
- circle the wagons
- - set up a defense against an enemy
- clam up
- - stop talking
- clean bill of health
- - the assurance that an animal or person is healthy
- clean slate
- - having no errors, past acts that are all good
- clear the air
- - calm down and remove a misunderstanding
- clear the decks
- - clear away things and prepare for action
- clear up
- - solve or explain (a problem etc.)
- cliffhanger
- - sports event or movie where the outcome is uncertain until the very end
- climbing the walls
- - be so bored that you become anxious and frustrated
- clip joint
- - a low-class business where people are cheated
- clip someone`s wings
- - limit one`s activities or possibilities
- close call, close shave
- - an accident almost happens (but doesn`t happen)
- close ranks
- - come together for fighting, unite and work together
- hit close to home
- - near to someone`s personal feelings, wishes or interests
- coast is clear
- - no danger is in sight, no one can see you
- cog in the machine
- - you are not important but only a small part of a large organization
- cold spell or cold snap
- - a sudden short period of cold weather (usually in winter)
- cold turkey
- - stop using drugs (heroin, tobacco, etc.) abruptly and without medical aid
- come across
- - find something or meet someone by chance
- come again
- - please repeat, please say that again
- come alive
- - brighten up and become active
- come along, come a long way
- - make progress, thrive
- make a "come back"
-
- return to the place you where you started
-to become popular again - it's "coming back" to me
- -return to your memory
- come between
- - disrupt the relationship between (two people)
- come by
- - get, obtain, acquire
- come clean
- - tell the truth
- (a) come-down
- - a lowering in status, income, influence or energy
- come down hard on
- - scold or punish severely
- come down to earth
- - stop imagining or dreaming, think and behave as usual
- come down with
- - become sick with or catch a cold etc.
- come full circle
- - completely opposite from one`s starting point
- come hell or high water
- - no matter what happens
- come in handy
- - prove to be useful
- come into
- - receive, get possession of
- to come into your own
- - become to perform or work well because of good circumstances
- to come off
- - be successful
- come on strong
- - overwhelm with excessively strong language or personality
- to come out with
- - say, make known
- to come to
- - begin or learn to do or feel something
- come to
- - regain consciousness (to wake up after being knocked out)
- come to blows
- - begin to fight
- come to grips with
- - struggle (successfully) with an idea or problem
- come to light
- - be discovered, become known
- come to nothing
- - end in failure
- come to your senses
- - begin to think clearly or act sensibly
- come to pass
- - to happen, to occur
- come to terms
- - reach an agreement
- come up with
- - produce or find a thought, idea or answer
- conk out
-
- fall asleep quickly with great fatigue
-to break down (like an engine) - cook your goose
- - ruin your chances
- cook up
- - invent, plan and put something together
- cool as a cucumber
- - very calm and brave, not worried or anxious
- cool your heels
- - be kept waiting because of another`s rudeness
- cop a plea
- - plead guilty to a crime in order to get a lesser penalty
- cop out
- - avoid doing something that you were planning to do
- cough up
- - give unwillingly
- count your chickens before they`re hatched
- - assume that something will be successful before it is certain
- count out
- - leave something out of a plan, exclude
- cover one`s tracks
- - hide or not say where one has been or what one has done
- cozy up to (someone)
- - try to be friendly to someone
- crack of dawn
- - daybreak, early in the morning
- crackpot
- - an eccentric person with ideas that don`t make sense to others
- crack the whip
- - try to make someone work hard or obey you by threatening them
- crack up
- - burst into laughter
- cramp your style
- -when someone attempts to limit your talk or action
- crash the gate
- - enter without a ticket or without paying or with no invitation
- cream of the crop
- - the top choice
- (the) creeps
- - a strong feeling of fear or disgust
- to creep up on
- - crawl quietly towards
- crocodile tears
- - a show of sorrow that is not really felt
- crop up
- - appear or happen unexpectedly
- cross a bridge before you comes to it
- - think and worry about future events or problems before they happen
- cross your heart and hope to die
- - promise that what you are saying is true
- to cross your mind
- - to think of, occur to someone
- cross to bear
- - something you must do or continue with even though you are suffering
- cry over spilt milk
- - cry or complain about something that has already happened
- cry uncle
- - admit defeat or that one has lost
- (not your) cup of tea
- - something you don't enjoy, special interest
- curiosity killed the cat
- - being too nosy and interested in other peoples business may lead a person into trouble
- curry favor
- - flatter someone to get his help or friendship