Queen of Hearts A woman who is pre-eminent in her area is a Queen of Hearts.

Queer fish A strange person is a queer fish.

Queer Street If someone is in a lot of trouble, especially financial, they are in Queer Street.

Queer your pitch If someone queers your pitch, they interfere in your affairs and spoil things.

Queue jumping Someone who goes to the front of a queue instead of waiting is jumping the queue.
Quick as a flash If something happens quick as a flash, it happens very fast indeed.
Quick buck If you make some money easily, you make a quick buck.
Quick off the mark If someone is quick off the mark, they are very quick to use, start or do something new.
Quick on the trigger Someone who is quick on the trigger acts or responds quickly.
Quids in If somebody is quids in, they stand to make a lot of money from something.
Quiet as a mouse If someone's as quiet as a mouse, they make absolutely no noise.
Rack and ruin If something or someone goes to rack and ruin, they are utterly destroyed or wrecked.
Rags to riches Someone who starts life very poor and becomes rich, goes from rags to riches.
Raining cats and dogs When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.
Rainy day If you save something, especially money, for a rainy day, you save it for some possible problem or trouble in the future.
Raise Cain If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.
Rake over old coals If you go back to old problems and try to bring them back, making trouble for someone, you are raking over old coals.
Rake someone over the coals If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.
Rather you than me Rather you than me is an expression used when someone has something unpleasant or arduous to do. It is meant in a good natured way of expressing both sympathy and having a bit of a laugh at their expense.
Raw deal If you get a raw deal, you are treated unfairly.
Read someone the riot act If you read someone the riot act, you give them a clear warning that if they don't stop doing something, they will be in serious trouble.
Real trooper A real trooper is someone who will fight for what they believe in and doesn't give up easily.
Recipe for disaster A recipe for disaster is a mixture of people and events that could only possibly result in trouble.
Red herring If something is a distraction from the real issues, it is a red herring.
Red letter day A red letter day is a one of good luck, when something special happens to you.
Red light district The red light district is the area of a town or city where there is prostitution, sex shops, etc.
Red mist If someone sees red or the red mist, they lose their temper and self-control completely.
Red rag to a bull If something is a red rag to a bull, it is something that will inevitably make somebody angry or cross.
Red tape This is a negative term for the official paperwork and bureaucracy that we have to deal with.
Reinvent the wheel If someone reinvents the wheel, they waste their time doing something that has already been done by other people, when they could be doing something more worthwhile.
Rest is gravy If the rest is gravy, it is easy and straightforward once you have reached that stage.
Rest on your laurels If someone rests on their laurels, they rely on their past achievements, rather than trying to achieve things now.
Revenge is sweet When you are happy to be proved right, then you know that revenge is sweet.
Rewrite history If you rewrite history, you change your version of past events so as to make yourself look better than you would if the truth was told.
Rice missionary A rice missionary gives food to hungry people as a way of converting them to Christianity.
Rich as Croesus Someone who is as rich as Croesus is very wealthy indeed.
Right as rain If things are right as rain, then everything is going well in your life.
Right royal A right royal night out would be an extremely exciting, memorable and fun one.
Ring a bell If something rings a bell, it reminds you of something you have heard before, though you may not be able to remember it very well. A name may ring a bell, so you know you have heard the name before, but cannot place it properly.
Ringside seat If you have a ringside seat, you can observe something from a very close and clear position.
Rob Peter to pay Paul If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you try to solve one problem, but create another in doing so, often through short-term planning.
Rock the boat If you rock the boat, you destabilise a situation by making trouble. It is often used as advice; 'Don't rock the boat'.
Rocket science If something is not rocket science, it is not very complicated or difficult to understand. This idiom is normally used in the negative.
Rolling in the aisles If the audience watching something are laughing loudly, the show has them rolling in the aisles.
Rome was not built in a day This idiom means that many things cannot be done instantly, and require time and patience.
Rooted to the spot If someone is rooted to the spot, they canot move, either physically or they cannot think their way out of a problem.
Rough diamond A rough diamond is a person who might be a bit rude but who is good underneath it all.
Rough-hewn If something, especially something made from wood or stone, is rough-hewn, it is unfinished or unpolished.
Round the bend If someone has gone round the bend, they have stopped being rational about something.

If something drives you round the bend, it irritates you or makes you angry.
Round the houses If you go round the houses, you do something in an inefficient way when there is a quicker, more convenient way.
Rub someone up the wrong way If you annoy or irritate someone when you didn't mean to, you rub them up the wrong way.
Ruffle a few feathers If you ruffle a few feathers, you annoy some people when making changes or improvements.
Rule of thumb Rule of thumb means approximately.
Run before you can walk If someone tries to run before they can walk, they try to do something requiring a high level of knowledge before they have learned the basics.
Run circles around someone If you can run circles around someone, you are smarter and intellectually quicker than they are.
Run out of gas If a campaign, project, etc, runs out of gas, it loses energy and momentum, and progress slows or halts.
Run rings around someone If you run rings around someone, you are so much better than them that they have no chance of keeping up with you.
Run the gauntlet If somebody is being criticised harshly by a lot of people, they are said to run the gauntlet.
Run the show If someone runs the show, they like to be in control and make all the decisions.
Run-of-the-mill If something is run-of-the-mill, there is nothing exceptional about it- it is ordinary or average.
Running on empty If you are exhausted but keep going, you are running on empty.
Russian roulette If people take a dangerous and unnecessary risk, they are playing Russian roulette.
Sacred cow Something that is a sacred cow is held in such respect that it cannot be criticised or attacked.
Safe and sound If you arrive safe and sound, then nothing has harmed you on your way.
Safe bet A proposition that is a safe bet doesn't have any risks attached.
Safe pair of hands A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.
Sail close to the wind If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.
Sail under false colours Someone who sails under false colours (colors) is hypocritical or pretends to be something they aren't in order to deceive people.
Salad days Your salad days are an especially happy period of your life.
Salt of the earth People who are salt of the earth are decent, dependable and unpretentious.
Save face If someone saves face, they manage to protect their reputation.
Save someone's bacon If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon.
Save your skin If someone saves their skin, they manage to avoid getting into serious trouble.
Saved by the bell If you are saved by the bell, you are rescued from a danger or a tricky situation just in time.
Saving grace If someone has some character defects, but has a characteristic that compensate for their failings and shortcomings, this is their saving grace.
Say when People say this when pouring a drink as a way of telling you to tell them when there's enough in your glass.
Say-so If you do something on someone else's say-so, you do it on the authority, advice or recomendation.
Scales fall from your eyes When the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly realise the truth about something.
Scarlet woman This idiom is used as a pejorative term for a sexually promiscuous woman, especially an adulteress.
Scent blood If you can scent blood, you feel that a rival is having difficulties and you are going to beat them.
Scraping the barrel When all the best people, things or ideas and so on are used up and people try to make do with what they have left, they are scraping the barrel.
Scream blue murder If somone shouts very loudly in anger, or fear, they scream blue murder.
Screw loose If someone has a screw loose, they are crazy.
Searching question A searching question goes straight to the heart of the subject matter, possibly requiring an answer with a degree of honesty that the other person finds uncomfortable.
Second wind If you overcome tiredness and find new energy and enthusiasm, you have second wind.
See the light When someone sees the light, they realise the truth.
Seen better days If something's seen better days, it has aged badly and visibly compared to when it was new. The phrase can also be used to describe people.
Sell down the river If you sell someone down the river, you betray their trust.
Sell like hot cakes If a product is selling very well, it is selling like hot cakes.
Sell your birthright for a mess of pottage If a person sells their birthright for a mess of pottage, they accept some trivial financial or other gain, but lose something much more important.'Sell your soul for a mess of pottage' is an alternative form.
Sell your soul If someone sells their soul, their betray the most precious beliefs.
Send someone to Coventry If you send someone to Coventry, you refuse to talk to them or co-operate with them.
Separate the sheep from the goats If you separate the sheep from the goats, you sort out the good from the bad.
Separate the wheat from the chaff When you separate the wheat from the chaff, you select what is useful or valuable and reject what is useless or worthless.
Set in stone If something is set in stone, it cannot be changed or altered.
Set the wheels in motion When you set the wheels in motion, you get something started.
Set your sights on If you set your sights on someone or something, it is your ambition to beat them or to achieve that goal.
Seven sheets to the wind If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.
Seventh heaven If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.
Shades of meaning Shades of meaning is a phrase used to describe the small, subtle differences in meaning between similar words or phrases; 'kid' and 'youth' both refer to young people, but carry differing views and ideas about young people.
Shake a leg If you shake a leg, you are out of bed and active.
Shanks's pony If you go somewhere by Shanks's pony, you walk there.
Sharp cookie Someone who isn't easily deceived or fooled is a sharp cookie.
Shifting sands If the sands are shifting, circumstances are changing.
Shilly-shally If people shilly-shally, they can't make up their minds about something and put off the decision.
Shipshape and Bristol fashion If things are shipshape and Bristol fashion, they are in perfect working order.
Shoestring If you do something on a shoestring, you try to spend the absolute minimum amount of money possible on it.
Shoot yourself in the foot If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do something that damages your ambition, career, etc.
Shooting fish in a barrel If something is like shooting fish in a barrel, it is so easy that success is guaranteed.
Short Shrift If somebody gives you short shrift, they treat you rudely and brusquely, showing no interest or sympathy.
Shot in the dark If you have a shot in the dark at something, you try something where you have little hope of success.
Shotgun marriage A shotgun marriage, or shotgun wedding, is one that is forced because of pregnancy. It is also used idiomatically for a compromise, agreement or arrangement that is forced upon groups or people by necessity.
Shrinking violet A shrinking violet is a shy person who doesn't express their views and opinions.
Sick as a dog If somebody's as sick as a dog, they throw up (=vomit) violently.
Sick as a parrot If someone's sick as a parrot about something, they are unhappy, disappointed or depressed about it.
Sick to death If you are sick to death of something, you have been exposed to so much of it that you cannot take any more.
Sight to behold If something is a sight to behold, it means that seeing it is in some way special, either spectacularly beautiful or, equally, incredibly ugly or revolting, etc.
Silly season The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories.
Silver surfer A silver surfer is an elderly person who uses the internet.
Since time immemorial If something has happened since time immemorialL, it's been going on for such a long time that nobody can remember a time without it.
Sing from the same hymn sheet If people are singing from the same hymn sheet, they are expressing the same opinions in public.
Sitting duck A sitting duck is something or someone that is easy to criticise or target.
Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other This is an idiom used when there is little or no difference between two options.
Sixes and sevens If something is all at sixes and sevens, then there is a lot of disagreement and confusion about what should be done.
Sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question The sixty-four-thousand-dollar-question is the most important question that can be asked about something.
Skeleton in the closet If someone has a skeleton in the closet, they have a dark, shameful secret in their past that they want to remain secret.
Slap on the wrist If someone gets a slap on the wrist, they get a very minor punishment when they could have been punished more severely.
Sleep like a baby If you sleep very well, you sleep like a baby.
Sleight of hand Sleight of hand is the ability to use your hands in a clever way, like a magician performing tricks you can't see.
Slim chance A slim chance is a very small chance.
Slippery customer A person from whom it is difficult to get anything definite or fixed is a slippery customer.
Slippery slope A slippery slope is where a measure would lead to further worse measures.
Slough of despond If someone is very depressed or in despair, they're in a slough of despond.
Small beer If something is small beer, it's unimportant.
Small fry If someone is small fry, they are unimportant. The term is often used when the police arrest the less important criminals, but are unable to catch the leaders and masterminds.
Smart Alec A smart Alec is a conceited person who likes to show off how clever and knowledgeable they are.
Smell a rat If you smell a rat, you know instinctively that something is wrong or that someone is lying to you.
Smoke and mirrors An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors.
Smoke like a chimney Someone who smokes very heavily smokes like a chimney.
Smoke the peace pipe If people smoke the peace pipe, they stop arguing and fighting.
Smokestack industry Heavy industries like iron and steel production, especially if they produce a lot of pollution, are smokestack industries.
Smoking gun A smoking gun is definitive proof of someone's guilt.
Smooth as a baby's bottom If something is smooth as a baby's bottom, it has a regular, flat surface.
Snake in the grass Someone who is a snake in the grass betrays you even though you have trusted them.
Snake oil salesperson A person who promotes something that doesn't work, is selling snake oil.
So on and so forth And so on and so forth mean the same as etcetera (etc.).
Sod's law Sod's law states that if something can go wrong then it will.
Soft soap someone If you soft soap someone, you flatter them.
Some other time If somebody says they'll do something some other time, they mean at some indefinite time in the future, possibly never, but they certainly don't want to feel obliged to fix a specific time or date.
Something nasty in the woodshed Something nasty in the woodshed means that someone as a dark secret or an unpleasant experience in their past.
Sound as a bell If something or someone is as sound as a bell, they are very healthy or in very good condition.
Spanner in the works If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan.In American English, 'wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.
Speak of the devil! If you are talking about someone and they happen to walk in, you can use this idiom as a way of letting them know you were talking about them.
Spend a penny This is a euphemistic idiom meaning to go to the toilet.
Spend like a sailor Someone who spends their money wildly spends like a sailor.
Spick and span If a room is spick and span, it is very clean and tidy.
Spill the beans If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret or confess to something.
Spinning a line When someone spins you a line, they are trying to deceive you by lying.
Spinning a yarn When someone spins you a yarn, they are trying to deceive you by lying.
Spirit of the law The spirit of the law is the idea or ideas that the people who made the law wanted to have effect.
Spit blood If someone is spitting blood, they are absolutely furious.
Spitting image If a person is the spitting image of somebody, they look exactly alike.
Split hairs If people split hairs, they concentrate on tiny and unimportant details to find fault with something.
Spot on If something is spot on, it is exactly right.
Spur of the moment If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it because you felt like it at that time, without any planning or preparation.
Sputnik moment A Sputnik moment is a point where people realise that they are threatened of challenged and have to redouble their efforts to catch up. It comes from the time when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, the Sputnik 1, and beat the USA into space.
Square Mile The Square Mile is the City, the financial area of London.
Square peg in a round hole If somebody's in a situation, organisation, etc, where they don't fit in and feel out of place, they are a square peg in a round hole.
Stand in good stead If something will stand you in good stead, it will probably be advantageous in the future.
Stars and stripes The stars and stripes is the American flag.
Stars in your eyes Someone who dreams of being famous has stars in their eyes.
State of the art If something is state of the art, it is the most up-to-date model incorporating the latest and best technology.
Status quo Someone who wants to preserve the status quo wants a particular situation to remain unchanged.
Steal someone's thunder If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.
Steer clear of If you steer clear of something, you avoid it.
Stem the tide If people try to stem the tide, they are trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse, usually when they don't succeed.
Step up to the plate If someone steps up to the plate, they take on or accept a challenge or a responsibility.
Stick out like a sore thumb If something sticks or stands out like a sore thumb, it is clearly and obviously different from the things that are around it.
Stick to your guns If you stick to your guns, you keep your position even though people attack or criticise you.
Stick your neck out If you stick you neck out, you take a risk because you believe in something.
Stick-in-the-mud A stick-in-the-mud is someone who doesn't like change and wants things to stay the same.
Sticking point A sticking point is a controversial issue that blocks progress in negotiations, etc, where compromise is unlikely or impossible.
Sticky wicket If you are on a sticky wicket, you are in a difficult situation.
Stiff upper lip If you keep your emotions to yourself and don't let others know how you feel when something bad happens, you keep a stiff upper lip.
Stiff-necked A stiff-necked person is rather formal and finds it hard to relax in company.
Still in the game If someone is still in the game, they may be having troubles competing, but they are not yet finished and may come back.
Stitch in time saves nine A stitch in time saves nine means that if a job needs doing it is better to do it now, because it will only get worse, like a hole in clothes that requires stitching.
Stone dead This idiom is a way of emphasing that there were absolutely no signs of life.
Stool pigeon A stool pigeon is a police informer.
Storm in a teacup If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is, then they are making a storm in a teacup.
Straw that broke the camel's back The straw that broke the camel's back is the problem that made you lose your temper or the problem that finally brought about the collapse of something.
Streets ahead If people are streets ahead of their rivals, they are a long way in front.
Stroll down memory lane If you take a stroll down memory lane, you talk about the past or revisit places that were important to you in the past.
Strong as an ox Someone who's exceedingly strong physically is said to be as strong as an ox.
Stubborn as a mule Someone who will not listen to other people's advice and won't change their way of doing things is as stubborn as a mule.
Sure as eggs is eggs These means absolutely certain, and we do say 'is' even though it is grammatically wrong.
Swansong A person's swansong is their final achievement or public appearance.
Swear like a sailor Someone who is foul-mouthed and uses bad language all the time, swears like a sailor.
Swear like a trooper Someone who is foul-mouthed and uses bad language all the time, swears like a trooper.
Sweat blood If you sweat blood, you make an extraordinary effort to achieve something.
Sweep things under the carpet If people try to ignore unpleasant things and forget about them, they sweep them under the carpet.
Swim against the tide If you swim against the tide, you try to do something that is very difficult because there is a lot of opposition to you.
Swim with the fishes If someone is swimming with the fishes, they are dead, especially if they have been murdered.'Sleep with the fishes' is an alternative form.
Swimmingly If things are going swimmingly, they are going very well.
Take a leaf out of someone's book If you take a leaf out of someone's book, you copy something they do because it will help you.
Take a straw poll If you take a straw poll, you sound a number of people out to see their opinions on an issue or topic.
Take it on the chin If you take something on the chin, something bad happens to you and you take it directly without fuss.
Take someone down a peg If someone is taken down a peg (or taken down a peg or two), they lose status in the eyes of others because of something they have done wrong or badly.
Take someone for a ride If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived by someone.
Take someone to the woodshed If someone is taken to the woodshed, they are punished for something they have done.
Take the biscuit If something takes the biscuit, it is the absolute limit.
Take the bull by its horns Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try to compete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tackles their problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.
Take the rough with the smooth People say that you have to take the rough with the smooth, meaning that you have to be prepared to accept the disadvantages as well of the advantages of something.
Taken as read If something can be taken as read, it is so definite that it's not necessary to talk about it.
Talk of the town When everybody is talking about particular people and events, they are he talk of the town.
Talk out of the back of your head If someone is talking out of the back of their head, they are talking rubbish.
Talk out of your hat If someone is talking out of their hat, they're talking utter rubbish, especially if compounded with total ignorance of the subject on which they are pontifcating.
Talk shop If you talk shop, you talk about work matters, especially if you do this outside work.
Talk the hind legs off a donkey A person who is excessively or extremely talkative can talk the hind legs off a donkey.
Tall order Something that is likely to be hard to achieve or fulfil is a tall order.
Tall story A tall story is one that is untrue and unbelievable.
Tally ho! This is an exclamation used for encouragement before doing something difficult or dangerous.
Taste blood If someone has tasted blood, they have achieved something and are encouraged to think that victory is within their grasp.
Teething problems The problems that a project has when it's starting are the teething problems.
Test the waters If you test the waters, or test the water, you experiment to see how successful or acceptable something is before implementing it.
That is the way the cookie crumbles "That's the way the cookie crumbles" means that things don't always turn out the way we want.
The ball's in your court If somebody says this to you, they mean that it's up to you to decide or take the next step.
The be all and end all The phrase 'The be all and end all' means that a something is the final, or ultimate outcome or result of a situation or event.
The common weal If something is done for the common weal, it is done in the interests and for the benefit of the majority or the general public.
The grass is always greener This idiom means that what other people have or do looks preferable to our life. The complete phrase is 'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'.
The more the merrier The more the merrier means that the greater the quantity or the bigger the number of something, the happier the speaker will be.
The penny dropped When the penny drops, someone belatedly understands something that everyone else has long since understood.
The sands of time The sands of time is an idiom meaning that time runs out either through something reaching an end or through a person's death. It comes from the sand used in hourglasses, an ancient way of measuring time.
The short straw If you take the short straw, you lose a selection process, which means that you have to do something unpleasant.
The world and his wife If the world and his wife were somewhere, then huge numbers of people were present.
Their bark is worse than their bite If someone's bark is worse than their bite, they get angry and shout and make threats, but don't actually do anything.
There are many ways to skin a cat This is an expression meaning there are many different ways of doing the same thing.
There's no such thing as a free lunch This idiom means that you don't get things for free, so if something appears to be free, there's a catch and you'll have to pay in some way.
There's the rub The meaning of this idiom is 'that's the problem'.
Thick and fast If things are happening thick and fast, they are happening so fast they seemed to be joined together.
Thick as thieves If people are thick as thieves, they are very close friends who have no secrets from each other.
Thick-skinned If a person is thick-skinned, they are not affected by critisism.
Thin as a rake A rake is a garden tool with a long, thin, wooden handle, so someone very thin is thin as a rake.
Thin end of the wedge The thin end of the wedge is something small and seemingly unimportant that will lead to something much bigger and more serious.
Thin line If there's a thin line between things, it's hard to distinguish them- there's a thin line between love and hate.
Thin-skinned If somebody is thin-skinned, they are very sensitive to any sort of criticism.
Think the world of To hold something or someone in very high esteem. To love or admire immensely.
Third rail The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train.
Those who live by the sword die by the sword This means that violent people will be treated violently themselves.
Three sheets to the wind If someone is three sheets to the wind, they are drunk.
Thrilled to bits If you are thrilled to bits, you are extremely pleased or excited about something.
Through thick and thin If someone supports you through thick and thin, they support you during good times and bad.
Throw a sickie If you pretend to be ill to take a day off work or school, you throw a sickie.
Throw down the gauntlet Throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge to somebody.
Throw in the towel If you throw in the towel, you admit that you are defeated or cannot do something.
Throw someone to the wolves If someone is thrown to the wolves, they are abandoned and have to face trouble without any support.
Throw the baby out with the bath-water If you get rid of useful things when discarding inessential things, you throw the baby out with the bath-water.
Throw the book at someone If you throw the book at someone, you punish them as severely as possible.
Throw your hat in the ring If someone throws their hat in the ring, they announce that they want to take part in a competition or contest.
'Toss your hat in the ring' is an alternative.
Thumb your nose at If you thumb your nose at something, you reject it or scorn it.
Thumbs down & thumbs up If something gets the thumbs up, it gets approval, while the thumbs down means disapproval.
Tie the knot When people tie the knot, they get married.
Tight ship If you run a tight ship, you control something strictly and don't allow people much freedom of action.
Tighten your belt If you have to tighten your belt, you have to economise.
Till you're blue in the face If you do something till you're blue in the face, you do it repeatedly without achieving the desired result until you're incredibly frustrated.
Tilt at windmills A person who tilts at windmills, tries to do things that will never work in practice.
Time of your life If you're having the time of your life, you are enjoying yourself very much indeed.
Time-honoured practice A time-honoured practice is a traditional way of doing something that has become almost universally accepted as the most appropriate or suitable way.
Tip of the iceberg The tip of the iceberg is the part of a problem that can be seen, with far more serious problems lying underneath.
Tipping point Small changes may have little effect until they build up to critical mass, then the next small change may suddenly change everything. this is the tipping point.
Tired and emotional This idiom is a euphemism used to mean 'drunk', especially when talking about politicians.
Tit for tat If someone responds to an insult by being rude back, it's tit for tat- repaying something negative the same way.
To a fault If something does something to a fault, they do it excessively. So someone who is generous to a fault is too generous.
To a man If a group of people does, believes, thinks, etc, something to a man, then they all do it.
To a T If something is done to a T, it is done perfectly.
To err is human, to forgive divine This idiom is used when someone has done something wrong, suggesting that they should be forgiven.
To little avail If something is to little avail, it means that, despite great efforts, something ended in failure, but taking comfort from the knowledge that nothing else could have been done to avert or avoid the result.
To the end of time To the end of time is an extravagant way of saying 'forever'.
To the ends of the earth If someone will go to the ends of the earth for something, no distance is too great for them they are so determined to get it.
Toe the line If someone toes the line, they follow and respect the rules and regulations.
Tomorrow's another day This means that things might turn out better or that there might be another opportunity in the future.
Toot you own horn If someone toot their own horn, they like to boast about their achievements.
Top dog The most important or influencial person is the top dog.
Top notch If something is top notch, it's excellent, of the highest quality or standard.
Touch wood If someone says 'Touch wood' before they do something, they are wishing for good luck.
Touch-and-go If something is touch-and-go, it is very uncertain; if someone is ill and may well die, then it is touch-and-go.
Tough cookie A tough cookie is a person who will do everthing necessary to achieve what they want.
Tough nut to crack Tread the boards When someone treads the boards, they perform on stage in a theatre.
Tread water If someone is treading water, they are making no progress.
Tried and tested If a method has been tried and tested, it is known to work or be effective because it has been successfully used long enough to be trusted.
True blue A person who is true blue is loyal and dependable, someone who can be relied on in all circumstances.
Truth will out Truth will out means that, given time, the facts of a case will emerge no matter how people might try to conceal them.
Turf war If people or organisations are fighting for control of something, it is a turf war.
Turn the other cheek If you turn the other cheek, you are humble and do not retaliate or get outwardly angry when someone offends or hurts you, in fact, you give them the opportunity to re-offend instead and compound their unpleasantness.
Turn the tables If circumstances change completely, giving an advantage to those who seemed to be losing, the the tables are turned.
Turn your nose up If someone turns their nose up at something, they reject it or look odwn on it because they don't think it is good enough for them.
Twenty-four seven Twenty-four seven or 24/7 means all the time, coming from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Twinkling of an eye If something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly.
Twist someone's arm If you twist someone's arm, you put pressure on them to try to make them do what you want them to do.
Two left feet A person with two left feet can't dance.
Two-faced Someone who is two-faced will say one thing to your face and another when you're not there.
U-turn If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn.
Ugly duckling An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty.
Uncharted waters If you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of and don't know what might happen.
Uncle Sam Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.
Under a cloud If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.
Under false colours If someone does something under false colours/colors, they pretend to be something they are not in order to deceive people so that they can succeed.
Under fire If someone is being attacked and cricised heavily, they are under fire.
Under the radar If something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed.
Under the table Bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table.
Under the weather If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.
Under the wire If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
Under your breath If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly.
Under your nose If something happens right in front of you, especially if it is surpsising or audacious, it happens under your nose.
Unwavering loyalty Unwavering loyalty does not question or doubt the person or issue and supports them completely.
Up in the air If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it.
Up sticks If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning- he upped sticks and went to work abroad.
Up the ante If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet).
Up the creek If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble.

'Up the creek without a paddle' is an alternative, and 'up shit creek (without a paddle)' is a ruder form.
Up the duff If a woman is up the duff, she's pregant.
Up the spout If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined.
Up the stick If a woman is up the stick, she's pregant.
Up the wall If someone goes up the wall, they get very angry.
Up to scratch If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected.
Up to snuff If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected.
Up to speed If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something.
Up to the neck If someone's in something up to the neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it's something wrong.
Upper crust The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment.
Upper hand If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage.
Upset the apple cart If you upset the apple cart, you cause trouble and upset people.
Vale of tears This vale of tears is the world and the suffering that life brings.
Velvet glove This idiom is used to describe a person who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible underneath.
Vicar of Bray A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray
Vicious circle A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, then loses their job...

'Vicious cycle' is also used.
Virgin territory If something is virgin territory, it hasn't been explored before.
Waiting in the wings If someone is waiting in the wings, or in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice.
Wake-up call A wake-up call is a warning of a threat or a challenge, especially when it means that people will have to change their behaviour to meet it.
Walk on eggshells If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.
Wallflower A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower.
Warpath If someone is on the warpath, they are very angry about something and will do anything to get things sorted the way they want.
Warts and all If you like someone warts and all, you like them with all their faults.
Wash your hands of something If you wash your hands of something, you disassociate yourself and accept no responsibility for what will happen.
Waste not, want not If you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.
Watching paint dry If something is like watching paint dry, it is really boring.
Water off a duck's back If criticism or something similar is like water off a duck's back to somebody, they aren't affected by it in the slightest.
Water over the dam If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.
Water under the bridge If something belongs to the past and isn't important or troubling any more, it is water under the bridge.
Watering hole A watering hole is a pub.
Wear sackcloth and ashes If someone displays their grief or contrition publicly, they wear sackcloth and ashes.
Weather a storm If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.
Wet behind the ears Someone who is wet behind the ears is either very young or inexperienced.
Wet blanket A wet blanket is someone who tries to spoil other people's fun.
What will be will be The expression what will be will be is used to describe the notion that fate will decide the outcome of a course of events, even if action is taken to try to alter it.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander This idiom means that the sexes should be treated the same way and not be subjected to different standards.
What's your take on that? This idiom is way of asking someone for their opinion and ideas.
When in Rome, do as the Romans This idiom means that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Where the rubber meets the road Where the rubber meets the road is the most important point for something, the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race is where the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they really are.
Where there's a will, there's a way This idiom means that if people really want to do something, they will manage to find a way of doing it.
Whet your appetite If something whet your appetite, it interests you and makes you want more of it.
Which came first the chicken or the egg? This idiomatic expression is used when it is not clear who or what caused something.
While the cat's away, the mouse will play People whose behaviour is strictly controlled go over the top when the authority is not around, which is why most teenagers have parties when their parents have gone on holiday. The parents are the scary authority figures, but the cat's away and the kids are the mice partying and enjoying their freedom.
White as a sheet A bad shock can make somebody go as white as a sheet.
White elephant A white elephant is an expensive burden; something that costs far too much money to run, like the Millennium Dome in the UK.
Who wears the pants? The person who wears the pants in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Who wears the trousers? The person who wears the trousers in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Whole new ball game If something's a whole new ball game, it is completely new or different.
Wide berth If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.
Wide of the mark If something is wide of the mark, it is inaccurate or incorrect.
Will-o'-the-wisp Something that deceives by its appearance is a will-o’-the-wisp; it looks good, but turns out to be a disappointment.
Win by a nose If somebody wins by a nose, they only just beat the others.
Window dressing If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing.
Winner takes all If everything goes to the winner, as in an election, the the winner takes all.
With a heavy hand If someone does something with a heavy hand, they do it in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.
With child If a woman's with child, she's pregnant.
With flying colours (colors) If you pass something with flying colours (colors), you pass easily, with a very high mark or grade.
Wither on the vine If something withers on the vine, it fails to get the intended result, doesn't come to fruition.
Wolf in sheep's clothing A wolf in sheep's clothing is something dangerous that looks quite safe and innocent.
Wood for the trees If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
Word of mouth If something becomes known by word of mouth, it is because people are talking about it, not through publicity, etc.
Word of the law The word of the law means that the law is interpreted in an absolutely literal way which goes against the ideas that the lawmakers had wished to implement.
Words fail me If words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say.
Work like a dog If you work like a dog, you work very hard.
Work your fingers to the bone If you work your fingers to the bone, you work extremely hard on something.
Work your socks off If you work your socks off, you work very hard.
World at your feet If everything is going well and the future looks full of opportunity, you have the world at your feet.
World is your oyster When the world is your oyster, you are getting everything you want from life.
Worm information If you worm information out of somebody, you persuade them to tell you something they wanted to keep from you.
Worm's eye view A worm's eye view of something is the view from below, either physically or socially.
Worse for wear If something's worse for wear, it has been used for a long time and, consequently, isn't in very good condition. A person worse for wear is usually drunk.
Worse things happen at sea This idiomatic expression is used as a way of telling someone not to worry so much about their problems.
Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole If you wouldn't touch something with a bargepole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances.(In American English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole)
Wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole If you wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances.
(In British English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole)
Wrench in the works If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan.In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
Writ large If something is writ large, it is emphasised or highlighted.
Writing on the wall If the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail.
Written all over your face If someone has done something wrong or secret, but cannot hide it in their expression, it is written all over their face.
Wrong end of the stick If someone has got the wwrong end of the stick, they have misunderstood what someone has said to them.
Wrong foot If you start something on the wrong foot, you start badly.
X factor The dangers for people in the military that civilians do not face, for which they receive payment, are known as the X factor.
X marks the spot This is used to say where something is located or hidden.
X-rated If something is x-rated, it is not suitable for children.
Yah boo sucks Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
Yellow press The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.
Yellow streak If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.
Yellow-bellied A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
Yen If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.
Yes-man Someone who always agress with people in authority is a yes-man.
Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the decline is yesterday's man or woman.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.
You can say that again If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say 'You can say that again' as a way of doing so.
You can't have your cake and eat it This idiom means that you can't have things both ways. For example, you can't have very low taxes and a high standard of state care.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear If something isn't very good to start with, you can't do much to improve it.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs This idiom means that in order to achieve something or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours This idiom means that if you do something for me, I'll return the favour.
You what? This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.
Young blood Young people with new ideas and fresh approaches are young blood.
Young Turk A Young Turk is a young person who is rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team or organisation.
Your name is mud If someone's name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.
Zero hour The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.
Zero tolerance If the police have a zero tolerance policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how small or trivial.

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