shooting fish in a barrel
Frivolously performing a simple task.
English · UK & Ireland 17968
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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.
shuffle off this mortal coil
Epheumism for die.
sick as a parrot
Very disappointed.
silence is golden
Staying quiet is often the wisest or most valuable choice.
sing a different tune
Change opinion.
sink or swim
Fail or succeed.
sit on the fence
Avoid making a decision.
sleep with the fishes
To be murdered and thrown into a body of water.
snake in the grass
An unrecognizable danger or hidden enemy.
sold down the river
That one was betrayed.
speak of the devil
Said when a person appears just as they are being talked about.
spill the beans
To reveal a secret or disclose private information, usually accidentally or before the right moment.
spill the tea
To share gossip or juicy details, especially about other people’s business or drama.
stand on ceremony
Behave formally.
stand the test of time
Persist against odds.
steal the show
Attract attention away from the main thing.
step up to the plate
To deliver beyond expectations.
stick out like a sore thumb
Something that is clearly out of place.
straw that broke the camel's back
The last in a line of unacceptable occurrences; the final tipping point in a sensitive situation.
strike a chord
Connects with.
strike while the iron is hot
To immediately take advantage of a positive opportunity, before the situation changes.
sweat bullets
Extrememly anxious.
sweat the small stuff
Worry about small things.
sweet tooth
Liking for sweet things.
take (or grab) the bull by the horns
To deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation; to deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.
take a back seat
Be given a less important position or role.
take a bite out of
Reduce by a significant amount.
take a shine
To develop a liking or fondness for someone or something.
take liberties
Treat something freely.
take the biscuit
(UK) To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
take the cake
(US) To be especially good or outstanding. Alternatively (US) To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
take the fall
Receive blame or punishment, typically in the place of another person.
take the piss
(UK) To tease, ridicule, or mock someone.
take time by the forelock
Seize an opportunity.
take to something like a duck to water
To learn or adapt to something new naturally and easily.
take up the cudgels
Start to support.
take with a grain of salt
To not take what someone says too seriously; to treat someone's words with a degree of skepticism.
talk dirty
Speak obscenely about sex.
talk the hind leg off a donkey
Talk incessantly.
tell tales
Spread rumours.
the ball is in your court
It is now your turn to act or make the next decision.
the bee's knees
Something or someone outstandingly good, excellent, or wonderful.
the buck stops here
The responsibility lies here.
the die is cast
An event has happened that cannot be changed.
the end justifies the means
Unfair methods may be used if the goal is considered good.
the grass is always greener on the other side
Other people’s situations always look better than your own, usually mistakenly.
the last straw
The final small problem that makes a situation unbearable.
the oldest trick in the book
An effective way of tricking someone even though it is a very popular method.
the whole nine yards
Everything; all the way.
thick as thieves
Very close or friendly.
through thick and thin
Through all obstacles in a path; in good times and bad times.
throw caution to the wind
Be reckless.
throw good money after bad
Incur further loss in a hopeless attempt to recoup a previous loss.
throw in the towel
To give up; to admit defeat.
throw stones in glass houses
One who is vulnerable to criticism regarding a certain issue should not criticize others about the same issue.
throw the baby out with the bathwater
To discard, especially inadvertently, something valuable while in the process of removing or rejecting something unwanted.
throw under the bus
To betray or sacrifice someone for selfish reasons.
thumb one's nose
To express scorn or disregard.
tie one on
To get drunk.
tie the knot
Get married.
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