Redensart

Redensart

  • Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

    Example in use: “He was so thoughtful and gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday. I’m really not a big chocolate eater but not wanting...

    17.06.2021
  • It’s not over until the fat lady sings

    Example in use: “Great, look our team is leading 2-nil! We are definitely going to win the championship!” “Wait, there’s still five minutes to play. It’s not...

    12.05.2021
  • Let sleeping dogs lie

    Example in use: “He looked pretty angry this morning and I was going to ask him if was still angry that I’d been late to work. But...

    07.04.2021
  • Mutton dressed as lamb

    Example in use: “I’m going to the hairdresser tonight. What do you think of this new style for me? Or do you think it would be like...

    29.03.2021
  • To feel under the weather

    Example in use: “How are you today?” “Not so good. To be honest, I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I hope I won’t be ill for...

    10.03.2021
  • A stitch in time saves nine

    Example in use: “I can’t come out tonight, I’m afraid. I have to stay in and start my tax return paperwork. I know it doesn’t need to...

    08.03.2021
  • Walking on eggshells

    Example in use: “He’s rather sensitive about making mistakes so when I found a major error in his calculations, I had to walk on eggshells to point...

    02.03.2021
  • Tongue in cheek

    Example in use: With her tongue very much in her cheek, and keeping a very straight face, she exclaimed, “Why yes! I DO think Mr Trump would...

    28.01.2021
  • To eat humble pie

    Example in use: “She was showing off about how good her department’s sales figures were but I heard that the Sales Manager admitted that they had been...

    11.01.2021
  • To send someone to Coventry

    Example in use: “Why is John looking so unhappy?” “Oh ignore him. We’ve sent him to Coventry for refusing to vote with the rest of us about...

    07.12.2020
  • To wear your heart on your sleeve

    Example in use: “She’s such an emotional person and really wears her heart on her sleeve. It’s easy to see that she’s upset about the direction of...

    10.11.2020
  • A pretty kettle of fish

    Example in use: “Oh no! John and Susan really don’t get on and they’re working on the same project team now. That’s a pretty kettle of fish!...

    10.09.2020
  • Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched

    Example in use: “I did so well in that job interview. I can tell that they were really impressed. I’m sure they are going to offer me...

    13.08.2020
  • The pot calling the kettle black

    Example in use: “She criticised me for leaving 15 minutes early on Monday! Did you know that I saw her come back from lunch 30 later than...

    20.07.2020
  • To be over the hill

    Example in use: “Happy 40th Birthday, Susan!” “Oh, please don’t say that number! I feel so old, I’m totally over the hill!”

    Meaning: to be old, too old,...

    01.06.2020
  • You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear

    Example in use: “The content of this presentation is terrible and completely useless! No matter how good you make these slides look with all your fancy design,...

    14.05.2020
  • To handle someone with kid gloves

    Example in use: “Be careful how to speak to Jane today. She just lost her pet dog and is very upset” “Ok, what a shame. Thanks for...

    20.04.2020
  • Out of the frying pan and into the fire

    Example in use: “I was really bored in that change management project so I asked my boss to give me another task. He moved me to another...

    19.02.2020
  • To take something with a pinch of salt

    Example in use: “He tends to exaggerate about all his achievements and how great he is so I suggest you take it all with a pinch of...

    07.01.2020
  • The hair of the dog

    Example in use: “I had rather a heavy night last night and to be honest, I have a bit of a hangover.” “Really? What you need is...

    16.12.2019
  • How long is a piece of string?

    Example in use: “He wanted me to tell him how long it was going to take to finish the project. So I asked him, “How long’s a...

    14.11.2019
  • Pigs might fly

    Example in use: “When I win the lottery, I’m going to travel around the world first class!” “Yeah! And pigs might fly!”

    Meaning: something which is totally impossible,...

    03.10.2019
  • Cat got your tongue?

    Example in use: “Why are you so quiet today? Has the cat got your tongue? Are you hiding something from me?”

    Meaning: Comebody has nothing to say which...

    17.09.2019
  • Every cloud has a silver lining

    Example in use: “Everyone was shocked when he lost his job. But it brought the whole family closer together and then he got his dream job just...

    06.08.2019
  • Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs

    Example in use: “Look, I’m sure you know how to do it and I’m not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but if you need...

    22.07.2019
  • Sling your hook

    Example in use: “Hey! What are you doing over there? Are you trying to steal that chocolate?!? If you don’t sling your hook right away, I’m going...

    04.06.2019
  • Until the cows come home

    Example in use: “When will you be finished with that presentation you’ve been working on all week?” “Not until the cows come home! I keep changing my...

    14.05.2019
  • To go Dutch

    Example in use: “The whole team went out for something to eat after the meeting. It was a great chance to really get to know each other...

    01.05.2019
  • Every Tom, Dick and Harry

    Example in use: “Don’t tell Louise anything you don’t want everyone to know. You know that she can’t keep a secret. Within minutes, she’ll have told every...

    17.04.2019
  • A storm in a teacup

    Example in use: “We had a big problem yesterday when a customer complained to the CEO directly about our technician arriving late to an appointment. Of course,...

    11.03.2019
  • As useless as a chocolate teapot

    Example in use: “He’s so hopeless! I asked him to organise the refreshments for our team meeting and what a disaster that was! He ordered half as...

    21.02.2019
  • The straw that broke the camel’s back

    Example in use: “I didn’t hear my alarm, I tripped over the cat on the way to the shower, my shower gel was empty and then, you’ll...

    01.02.2019
  • Bob’s your uncle

    Example in use: “They reset my password, told me to log in again and Bob’s your uncle, I was back in the system and working again!”

    Meaning: A...

    07.01.2019
  • Off the back of a lorry

    Example in use: “I went to the flea market on Saturday and picked up some incredible bargains! I couldn’t believe the prices. How can they sell it...

    03.12.2018
  • The whole kit and caboodle

    Example in use: “I wasn’t sure what I needed to take with me for my business trip because I had so many meetings to attend. In the...

    12.11.2018
  • A busman’s holiday

    Example in use: “My friend’s a great builder, so I asked him to help us build our new kitchen as a favour. He took time off work...

    02.10.2018
  • Not enough room to swing a cat

    Example in use: “I’ve moved into a new flat but unfortunately the kitchen is so small, there’s not enough room to swing a cat! I guess I’ll...

    13.09.2018
  • In a month of Sundays

    Example in use: “I need to go through this huge document and proof read it. My boss thinks it will only take me a few hours! Not...

    20.08.2018
  • Everything but the kitchen sink

    Example in use: “I told her I was going to travel light for our weekend away. Just a couple of changes of clothes in a trolley. When...

    02.07.2018
  • The bee's knees

    Example in use: “Thanks so much for helping me with my presentation! I was so unsure about creating my slides in PowerPoint, but you are really the...

    04.06.2018
  • Curiosity killed the cat

    Example in use: “I really wanted to know what had happened but my boss told me that curiosity killed the cat. I think it’s better if I...

    07.05.2018
  • The proof is in the pudding

    Example in use: “I have to be honest, I was a little sceptical about the product you recommended. But I was so impressed when I used it....

    04.04.2018