Phrases and Idioms 101-200 (call - crime)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
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 offence.
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 cheques 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.