| 101. |
call
– call someone’s bluff
|
To challenge someone to carry out their threat, so as to expose it as an empty threat |
| 102. |
call
– call the shots
|
In a position to decide or initiate action. |
| 103. |
call
- the call of
|
A strong appeal of a place, an occupation, etc. that draws someone. |
| 104. |
can
– can of worms
|
An awkward situation that is likely to give rise to many problems and prove embarrassing. |
| 105. |
cap
– cap in hand
|
Seeking a favour in a humble way. |
| 106. |
capture
- capture someone’s heart
|
To be greatly attracted to someone. |
| 107. |
card
- on the cards
|
Likely to happen. |
| 108. |
carry
- carry oneself well
|
To move and behave in an appropriate manner. |
| 109. |
carry
– carry the day
|
To be triumphal. |
| 110. |
carry
- get carried away
|
To lose one’s self-control. |
| 111. |
cash
– cash and carry
|
A shop where goods are paid for in full and carried away by the buyer |
| 112. |
cast
- be cast away
|
To be stranded on a shore or island after a shipwreck. |
| 113. |
cast
- be cast down
|
Feel depressed and discouraged. |
| 114. |
catch
– catch one’s breath
|
To momentarily stop breathing in shock, surprise or fear. |
| 115. |
catch
– catch sight of
|
To suddenly notice someone or something. |
| 116. |
catch
– catch someone’s eye
|
Attract someone’s attention through eye contact; to be noticed by someone. |
| 117. |
cause
– cause and effect
|
An action and its effect. |
| 118. |
cause
– make common cause
|
Join together to attain a particular goal. |
| 119. |
chalk
– chalk it up
|
Put it to one’s credit. |
| 120. |
chance
– by any chance
|
Possibly or as is true. |
| 121. |
chance
– stand a chance
|
Have the likelihood to succeed. |
| 122. |
chance
– take a chance
|
Run a risk of things not happening or of danger. |
| 123. |
chance
– take one's chance
|
Do something risky with the hope of success. |
| 124. |
change
– change of air
|
In a different place or climate that is usually better. |
| 125. |
change
– change one’s tune
|
To react or change one’s opinion after something has happened. |
| 126. |
change
– for a change
|
An experience which is different from before and is usually better. |
| 127. |
charge
– free of charge
|
No payment required. |
| 128. |
charge
– in charge of
|
Having control or command of. |
| 129. |
charge
– on a charge
|
Accused of a criminal offense. |
| 130. |
charge
– put in charge
|
Entrust someone with power to control or supervise. |
| 131. |
cheap
- on the cheap
|
Incur less cost than is needed |
| 132. |
cheek
– cheek by jowl
|
Very close together. |
| 133. |
cheek
– cheek to cheek
|
(dancing) heads close together. |
| 134. |
chew
– chew the fat
|
To talk in a friendly way. |
| 135. |
chicken
- she’s no chicken
|
She is no longer young. |
| 136. |
chop
- get the chop
|
To lose one’s job; to cancel something, e.g. a building project. |
| 137. |
chord
- strike a chord
|
To express an agreeable opinion or acceptable idea. |
| 138. |
circle
- come full circle
|
Return to a past position or situation. |
| 139. |
circumstance
- in suspicious circumstances
|
Involving foul play. |
| 140. |
circumstance
- under/in no circumstances
|
To say that something must not be allowed to happen no matter what. |
| 141. |
circumstance
- under/in the circumstances
|
At the given situation. |
| 142. |
circumstance
– victim of circumstance
|
Someone who is unfavourably affected in a difficult situation. |
| 143. |
claim
- lay claim to
|
To state one’s right to or ownership of something. |
| 144. |
clean
– a clean break
|
An end to a relationship; freeing oneself from a situation. |
| 145. |
clean
- a clean slate/sheet
|
Free from misbehaviour, mistakes made or a goal scored by the rival team. |
| 146. |
clear
- clear the air
|
To reduce a tense situation by discussing in a calm manner. |
| 147. |
clear
– clear the decks
|
To do something in order to prepare for some other things. |
| 148. |
clear
-in the clear
|
Not under suspicion or guilty. |
| 149. |
clip
– at a clip
|
At once. |
| 150. |
clip
– clip someone’s wings
|
To curb someone’s aspirations. |
| 151. |
clock
- against the clock
|
Not having much time left. |
| 152. |
close
- a close shave
|
Narrow escape from an accident or danger. |
| 153. |
clutch
– clutch at straws
|
Make a desperate attempt at salvaging a hopeless situation. |
| 154. |
coast
– coast is clear
|
Safe to do something without the risk of being noticed or caught. |
| 155. |
cock
– cock a snook
|
To express contempt at. |
| 156. |
cold
– cold hard cash
|
Paper money and coins as opposed to checks or credit cards. |
| 157. |
cold
– in cold blood
|
In a cruel and merciless way. |
| 158. |
cold
– the cold shoulder
|
Display of one’s unfriendliness |
| 159. |
come
– come of age
|
To attain adulthood. |
| 160. |
come
– come off it
|
Used to express one’s disbelief. |
| 161. |
come
– come on strong
|
To show a confident and forceful personality. |
| 162. |
come
– come to mind
|
(of a though, idea, etc.) suggest itself. |
| 163. |
come
– come to nothing
|
To produce no effect or result. |
| 164. |
come
– come to pass
|
To happen eventually. |
| 165. |
come
– come up dry
|
To become unsuccessful. |
| 166. |
come
– come what may
|
No matter what happens. |
| 167. |
commit
– commit to paper
|
To write down. |
| 168. |
common
– in common with
|
To be in the same way as someone else. |
| 169. |
common
– the common good
|
Something shared by two or more parties and acts as a basis for further interaction. |
| 170. |
common
– the common touch
|
The ability to interact with the ordinary people. |
| 171. |
concern
- a going concern
|
A business that is still operating and making a profit. |
| 172. |
conquer
– conquer somebody’s heart
|
To make that somebody fall in love with one. |
| 173. |
conscience
– in all conscience
|
In fairness; by any reasonable standard. |
| 174. |
conscience
– on one’s conscience
|
Feeling guilty about something. |
| 175. |
conscience
– prisoner of conscience
|
A person who is detained or imprisoned because of his or her political or religious beliefs. |
| 176. |
cook
– cook somebody’s goose
|
To spoil a person’s plans. |
| 177. |
cool
– a cool million
|
Large amount that someone can easily earn. |
| 178. |
cool
– cool one’s heels
|
To be kept waiting |
| 179. |
cool
- keep one’s cool
|
Maintain a calm attitude in a tense situation. |
| 180. |
cool
– lose one’s cool
|
To be unable to remain calm in a difficult situation. |
| 181. |
corner
– around the corner
|
Very near; imminent; approaching. |
| 182. |
corner
– corner the market
|
To control the supply of a commodity. |
| 183. |
corner
– fight one’s corner
|
To defend one’s position. |
| 184. |
corner
– in someone’s corner
|
To offer support and encouragement. |
| 185. |
corner
– turn a corner
|
To begin to show improvement. |
| 186. |
corridors
– corridors of power
|
Place where crucial decisions of administration are made. |
| 187. |
cost
– cost a bomb
|
Cost a lot of money. |
| 188. |
cost
– at all costs
|
Regardless of the obstacles that one has to overcome. |
| 189. |
cost
– cost someone dear
|
To cause someone to suffer a huge loss. |
| 190. |
count
- count one’s blessings
|
Used to tell someone how lucky they are and be grateful for what they have. |
| 191. |
count
- count the cost
|
To examine the effect of one’s terrible mistake. |
| 192. |
count
- count the days
|
To be anxiously waiting for the days to pass. |
| 193. |
cover
- cover one’s back
|
To refrain from acts that will invite criticism. |
| 194. |
cover
- cover one’s tracks
|
To conceal evidence of one’s movement. |
| 195. |
crack
– crack of dawn
|
Daybreak |
| 196. |
cradle
- the cradle of
|
Place in which something important began or was nurtured. |
| 197. |
cream
- the cream of
|
The most outstanding group of people. |
| 198. |
credit
- line of credit
|
Amount of credit allowed to a borrower |
| 199. |
crime
– crime doesn’t pay
|
Used to mean the criminal will sooner or later be brought to justice. |
| 200. |
crime
- crime of passion
|
A crime committed in a fit of sexual jealousy. |