choose up
to select teams or partners
English · UK & Ireland 1488
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
choose violence
to deliberately cause or escalate conflict
chop down
to completely destroy or eliminate something
chopped liver
completely unimportant or irrelevant
Christmas come early
An event happens sooner than expected
Christmas comes but once a year
One should enjoy and indulge during special occasions
Christmas graduate
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Christmas tree bill
A bill overloaded with unnecessary amendments
chrome dome
A bald or partially bald person
chrome horn
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
chuck it
to give up or abandon something
chum in the water
Something that attracts people's attention or interest
chum up
to become or try to become friendly with someone
chump change
A small amount of money
church and state
Separation of religious and governmental institutions
circle the drain
to be in a downward spiral and nearing collapse
circuit slugger
A touring performer or athlete who travels to different locations
circular file
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
circular firing squad
A group that attacks its own members
civil tongue
Polite and respectful language
Civility costs nothing and buys everything (Mary Wortley Montagu)
Politeness is inexpensive but can achieve great things
claim someone's life
cause someone's death
clamp down on
to suppress or control something strictly
clap eyes on
to see something or someone for the first time
clap one's hands red
to applaud enthusiastically
clash of the ash
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
class clown
A student who entertains classmates with jokes and antics
clean and sober
Not using or addicted to drugs or alcohol
clean and tidy
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
clean as a hound's tooth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
clean as a whistle
Completely clean or pure
clean break
A complete and final separation or end to a relationship
clean hands
Having no involvement in something wrong or illegal
clean money
Legitimately earned money, not from illegal activities
clean someone's clock
to defeat or beat someone thoroughly
clean up
to make something clean and tidy
clean up one's act
Improve one's behavior or performance
cleanliness is next to godliness
Maintaining cleanliness is a moral virtue.
clear blue water
A significant difference or gap between two things
clear cut
Obvious or easy to understand
clear off
to leave or depart quickly
clear one's lines
To prepare or get ready to do something
clear the table
To finish or resolve all issues or tasks at hand
Click and Clack
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
click into gear
To start working or functioning smoothly and efficiently
click of the fingers
Very easily or quickly
climb down
To retreat from a previous position or statement
climb the ladder
Advance in a career or organization
climb the walls
to feel extremely anxious or frustrated
clip it
Stop talking or pay attention
clip someone's wings
Restrict someone's freedom or limit their abilities
cliques and clans
Small, exclusive groups of people with shared interests
cloak and dagger
Secret and mysterious, often involving espionage or intrigue
clock in
to start work and record one's arrival time
clock is ticking
Time is passing and a decision must be made quickly
clock the tea
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
clog up
to block or slow something
close enough for government work
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
close in on
To get nearer to something or someone, often in pursuit
close on the heels of
Immediately after something or someone
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