Phrases and Idioms 801-900 (rough - state)

  Phrases and Idioms Meaning
801. rough  – rough and ready Simple or crude but effective.
802. round  – go the rounds To pass from one person to another.
803. round  – in round figures Express exact numbers as the nearest whole numbers.
804. round  – round of applause Audience or people are clapping to show their appreciation of something.
805. round  – round someone up To gather together a number of people
806. rub  – rub one’s hands Indicate personal satisfaction with what one has done or what has happened.
807. rub  – rub shoulders with Come into contact with.
808. rule  - as a rule Usually the case; usually true.
809. rule  - rule of law Situation in which everyone is subject to and abides by the law.
810. rule  - rule of thumb A rough guide based on experience rather than theory.
811. rule  - rule the roost To be in control.
812. runner  - do a runner To flee the scene so as to escape from or avoid something.
813. running  – in running order Sequence in which events are arranged to take place.
814. running  – in/out of the running In/no longer in a contest.
815. rush  – rush one’s fences Do something hurriedly
816. sad  – sadder but wiser Learn something after its effect has become clear or understood.
817. safety  – safety in numbers Used to mean less danger in a lot of animals, people, etc. being together.
818. salt  - worth one’s salt Good at one’s job.
819. same  – same to you May you have the same thing.
820. save  –  save one’s breath Not worth saying anything.
821. save  – save one’s skin Look after one’s own safety.
822. save  – save the day Solve a problem.
823. scene  - behind the scenes In secret away from public view.
824. scene  – hit the scene To arrive; appear.
825. scene  – not one’s scene Not something someone is interested in.
826. score  –  on that score Concerning something just mentioned.
827. score  –  settle a score To inflict revenge on someone who has caused an injury or harm to oneself.
828. scrape  - in a scrape In difficulty.
829. scrape  - scrape the barrel Using the last, remaining, low quality of resources.
830. scratch  - scratch a living Manage with just enough to survive on.
831. scratch  – scratch one’s head Be confused, seeking a solution.
832. scratch  – scratch the surface Deal with a matter but not thoroughly enough.
833. scratch  - up to scratch Good enough to meet a certain standard.
834. second  - second to none The best.
835. seller  - a seller’s market Situation in which demand of goods and shares is more than supply, and prices are generally high.
836. sense  – make sense of To find or seek out  the meaning of something
837. serve  – serve a sentence Spend a period of time in a prison.
838. serve  – serve one’s country To fight for one’s country.
839. serve  – serve someone right Someone who deserves the punishment or misfortune.
840. service  - be of service Be available to help if help is needed.
841. set  – be set on To be very determined about doing something.
842. shadow  – shadow of death Intense gloom or peril.
843. shelf  - off the shelf Ready for purchase without having to place an order.
844. shelf  - on the shelf No longer useful or desirable; too old to get married.
845. shit  - be shitting bricks To be in an extreme anxious and frightened state.
846. shit  – full of shit Use to describe what someone says is stupid.
847. shit  – in the shit To be in deep trouble.
848. shoestring  - on a shoestring Cheaply, without spending much money.
849. short  – in short supply Insufficient to meet the demand of a commodity, etc.
850. short  – short of breath Breathing with short, quick breaths.
851. shot  – a long shot A poor guess or attempt at something
852. shot  – a parting shot A remark that one makes before leaving.
853. shoulder  – shoulder to shoulder Together with mutual cooperation and support.
854. sick  – sick to death Extremely fed up and annoyed by constant exposure to something.
855. sight  – at first sight First impression conveyed by something; when first seen.
856. sight  – raise one’s sights Aim to achieve something.
857. sinew  -sinews of war Money.
858. six  - sixes and sevens, at In a disorganized and confused state.
859. skin  - skin and bone, be Very thin.
860. skin  - skin someone alive To mete out very harsh punishment to someone.
861. sleep  – put to sleep To administer drug or anaesthetic to someone to make them unconscious; to kill an animal painlessly.
862. sleep  – sleep a wink Sleep for a brief moment.
863. sleep  – sleep on it To defer (a decision, etc.) to a later date.
864. slip  – let something slip To accidentally make known information that is meant to be kept secret.
865. slip  – slip a disc Suffer intense pain when a piece of the series of small bones forming the backbone becomes displaced.
866. slip  – slip of the tongue Make a mistake when speaking.
867. slip  – slip one’s mind/memory To forget to do something.
868. slog  - slog it out To battle or compete fiercely for something.
869. sly  on the sly Secretly; done in a surreptitious way.
870. smell  - smell a rat To detect something suspicious.
871. snap  – in a snap In a moment, immediately.
872. son  – son of  a bitch Used to show total disrespect for or address someone in an insulting and offensive way.
873. son  – son of  a gun Used to refer to someone.
874. sort  – a sort of To not exactly describe someone or something.
875. sort  – in some sort To a certain extent.
876. sort  – of a sort/of sorts Of an inferior or unusual kind, not worthy of its name.
877. sort  - out of sorts Not in one’s normal good health.
878. sort  – sort of To some extent; partly.
879. spare  – spare no expense To use unlimited amount of money as is required.
880. sparks  – spark will fly There will be a heated exchange.
881. speak  – on speaking terms Slightly acquainted.
882. speak  – so to speak Not exactly as it means; in some sense.
883. speak  – speak evil/ill/well of To refer unfavorably/criticize/praise
884. speak  – speak one’s mind To express freely exactly what one thinks.
885. spick  - spick and span Completely clean and tidy.
886. spill  – spill one’s guts Reveal willingly much information about something.
887. spill  – spill the beans To accidentally make known what is previously unknown or secret information.
888. spin  – spin a story/yarn Tell an untrue story to deceive someone.
889. split  – a split second An extremely brief moment of time.
890. split  – split one’s sides Laugh hysterically.
891. sport  - be a sport Used when seeking favour of someone.
892. spout  - up the spout Unsuccessful, wasted; pregnant.
893. spread  – spread one’s wings To expand one’s knowledge, experience, or interest
894. staff  - staff of life Staple food, especially bread.
895. stand  – I stand corrected Ready to admit one’s view or judgement is wrong.
896. stand  – stand in line Queue up.
897. stand  – stand one’s ground Stick resolutely to one’s opinion, etc.
898. start  – for a start To begin with.
899. start  – to start with To deal with the first thing or first part of something.
900. state  – state of affairs Situation.