Phrases and Idioms 701-800 (past - rough)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
701. past  - A shady past A past that one had committed a criminal or immoral act and is best kept secret.
702. pay  – pay one’s respects Show one’s polite consideration by calling or visiting.
703. pay  – pay one’s way To finance one’s own cost or expenses.
704. payment  – payment in kind Using goods or services instead of money as settlement
705. peace  – hold one’s peace Remain silent, even under provocation.
706. peace  – keep the peace To maintain law and order.
707. peace  – make one’s peace Restore friendly relations with someone after a personal dispute.
708. peace  – rest in peace Used in funeral service as part of a prayer.
709. per  - as per usual As usual.
710. pick  – pick a fight Force a fight.
711. pick  – pick a lock Use something other than the key to open a lock.
712. pick  – pick holes in Criticize adversely; find fault with.
713. pick  – pick one’s nose To remove mucus from one’s nose with one’s finger.
714. pick  – pick one’s teeth To remove bits of food from one’s teeth with something pointed.
715. pick  – pick someone’s pocket To steal secretly from someone’s pocket.
716. pity  - for pity’s sake Used to show one’s growing irritation.
717. plate  – on a plate Getting something without working for it.
718. plate  – on one’s plate Having so much to occupy one’s time.
719. play  – come into play To have significant effect.
720. play  – out of play When a ball goes out of the allowed area of play.
721. play  – play for time To gain time by employing delaying tactics.
722. play  – play it cool To behave in a relaxed or unconcerned manner.
723. play  – play it safe Avoid taking unnecessary risks.
724. play  – play on words To make use of ambiguous words to amuse or confuse.
725. play  – play second fiddle Play a subordinate role.
726. play  – play the fool Acting in a silly way.
727. play  – play with fire Do something that could have serious consequences.
728. plunge  – take the plunge To finally commit oneself to doing something after much hesitation.
729. point  - belabour the point Discuss at length.
730. point  - beside the point Irrelevant; not important.
731. point  – case in point An example used to clarify the topic being discussed.
732. point  – point the finger To openly accuse, blame or implicate someone.
733. poke  – poke fun at Make fun of or ridicule someone.
734. pole  - be poles apart Entirely different from each other.
735. poor  – the poor man’s ….. An inferior or cheaper substitute for someone or something as mentioned.
736. pop  -  pop the question To propose marriage to someone.
737. pot-luck  - take pot-luck Be willing to take or eat whatever is available.
738. pound  – pound of flesh Something that’s one’s entitled but which will make them to suffer to demand.
739. practice  – practice makes perfect Perfection comes from habitual doing of something.
740. premium  –  at a premium Not readily available; at a higher than usual price.
741. press  –  go to press To get something printed.
742. press  – at the press In the process of printing.
743. press  – off the press Printed; issued.
744. press  – press the flesh To shake hands with people
745. press  – send to press Send to be printed.
746. pressed  –  pressed for time Not having enough time.
747. price  – at any price Regardless of the risk involved or what may happen.
748. prick  – prick of conscience Feeling of deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.
749. print  – appear in print Have one’s work published.
750. print  – out of print No longer available in printed form.
751. proportion  – out of proportion More than what it should be; exaggerated.
752. proportion  – sense of proportion The ability to judge the relative importance of things.
753. puck  –  pluck a pigeon To rob a foolish or gullible person.
754. pull  – pull one’s face Change one’s facial expression to reflect one’s feelings.
755. pull  – pull one’s punches To be less forceful, harsh, etc. than one is capable.
756. pull  – pull one’s rank Abuse one’s senior position to exact obedience, etc.
757. pull  – pull someone’s leg To playfully cause someone to believe something that is not true.
758. pull  – pull the plug Prevent something from continuing.
759. pure  – pure and simple Absolutely by itself, nothing short of.
760. push  - at a push With difficulty but can be done.
761. push  – push one’s luck To assume one will continue to be successful.
762. quite  - not quite Not completely or totally.
763. rack  – rack and ruin Deteriorate due to neglect.
764. raise  – raise the dust To cause a disturbance.
765. rank  – rank and file Ordinary members of an organization.
766. ransom  - a king’s ransom A huge amount of money.
767. rate  - at this rate If things continue to happen in this way
768. raw  – in the raw In its realistic state; naked.
769. read  - a good read Something that people enjoy reading.
770. ready  - at the ready Available to put into immediate service.
771. record  - for the record For something to be recorded and remembered.
772. record  – off/on the record Not made/made as official record.
773. red  - in the red To have no money in one’s account.
774. red  – red letter day A special day that makes you very happy.
775. red  - the red planet Mars
776. regard  – in this regard Connected with something mentioned previously or just said.
777. regard  – with regard to Referring to something one is speaking or writing about.
778. rein  – take the reins Take over the responsibility.
779. reinvent  – reinvent the wheel To waste time in devising what is already in existence.
780. respect  – in respect of Concerning; with reference to; in relation to.
781. respect  – with respect to Referring to.
782. rest  – rest on oars Rest after a spell of labour.
783. rest  – rest one’s case End one’s presentation of evidence in a court of law.
784. ride  – be riding high Successful and popular.
785. ride  – ride herd on Keep watch over.
786. ride  – ride roughshod over Treat someone without consideration of their feelings.
787. right  – as of right It is one’s right.
788. right  - right-hand man An important assistant.
789. right  – the right stuff The necessary or required qualities.
790. rise  – give rise to Cause something to happen.
791. rise  – on the rise Increasing in value, success, prices, etc.
792. rise  – rise and shine Get out of bed early and quickly.
793. risk  – risk one’s neck To do something that involves the possibility of being killed.
794. risk  – run the risk Expose to the possibility of something dangerous or unpleasant happening.
795. rock  – on the rocks Fraught with problems and is likely to fail.
796. rock  – rock the boat To disrupt the existing situation.
797. root  - put down roots To become settled in a place.
798. rope  – know the ropes Know all of something through experience
799. rough  – a rough diamond A person who is of good character but lacks good manners.
800. rough  – in the rough In a natural or difficult state