Cliches can be useful as a culturally based shorthand to allude to complex attitudes, circumstances, and events, but they belong more in the domain of everyday conversation than in expository writing--or creative writing, for that matter. In creative writing, they are the opposite of creativity. In the midst of academic prose, they incur several other major problems:
First they invite the reader to take a pedestrian attitude toward ideas, observations and situations which the writer is attempting to render as unique or special; in so doing, they dull the reader's sense of wonder and involvement.
Second they are perceived as lazy substitutes for more creative and sophisticated use of language that takes its time to engender complex situations and ideas; consequently, they're "cheats" for creativity in that they plagiarize imagery and turns of phrases that other people have invented first.
Next cliches are not only the opposite of special, but worse, because they masquerade as special and therefore use precious creative energy to express ideas in non-creative ways; as a result, they enervate the power (particularly subtle power) of the rhetoric and logic of academic discourse.
Finally they tend to rely on the reader's intimate familiarity with the culture in which they are commonly used, so they can create as many impasses to understanding as they do Shortcuts; in so doing, they isolate and exclude readers who depend on your Academic Tone to be more culturally neutral.
LIST OF CLICHES A-Z
The following A-Z list has a heck of a lot of cliches in it, but it's by no means comprehensive. Use it as a proofreading aid, but remain equally vigilant to other turns of phrases and familiar expressions that may not appear among these.
A Abandon ship About face Above board Absence makes the heart grow fonder Absolute power corrupts absolutely Ace in the hole Ace up his sleeve Achilles heel Acid test Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree Actions speak louder than words After my own heart Ah, to be young and foolish... Ain't seen nothin' yet Airing dirty laundry All bent out of shape All bets are off All dressed up and nowhere to go All ears All for one, and one for all All hands on deck All hands to the pump All heck (hell) breaks loose All in a day's work All in due time All over the map All paled in comparison All talk and no action All that glitters is not gold All that jazz All the bits and pieces All thumbs All wet All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy All's fair in love and war All's well that ends well Always a bridesmaid, never the bride Always gives 110 percent Always look on the bright side Am I my brother's keeper? An apple a day keeps the doctor away An arm and a leg An idle mind is the devil's playground An oldie, but a goodie An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Another day another dollar Another nail in the coffin Ants in his pants Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Any port in a storm Anyhoo Anything goes Apple of my eye Are you a man or a mouse? Armed to the teeth Around the horn As all get out As beautiful as the day is long As dense as a London fog As far as the eye can see As good as gold As honest as the day is long As if!! As luck would have it As plain as the nose on your face As snug as a bug in a rug As tender as a mother's heart As the crow flies As useful as a lead balloon As welcome as a skunk at a lawn party As ye sow, so shall ye reap Ashes to ashes, dust to dust Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country Asleep at the wheel Ass backwards Ass over tea kettle At the crack of dawn At the drop of a hat At the eleventh (11th) hour At the end of my rope At the end of the day At the end of the pecking order At the last minute At wits' end Ax to grind
B Babe in the woods Baby blues Baby boomer Back against the wall Back breaker Back from the dead Back in a sec Back in the saddle Back it up Back seat driver Back stabber Back to square one (1) Back to the drawing board Back to the salt mines Backhanded comment Backhanded compliment Bad (Bum) wrap Bad blood Bad call Bad hair day Bad seed Bad to the bone bag and baggage Bags all packed and ready to go Bait and switch Baker's dozen Bald faced liar Ball is in your court Balls out Balls to the wall Banging your head against a brick wall Bank on it Baptism by fire Bare bones Barge right in Bark is bigger (worse) than his bite Barking up the wrong tree Barn burner Basket case Bass Ackwards Bat the idea around Bats in the belfry Batten down the hatches, lower the boom, raise the mizenmast: full speed ahead! Be hot (i.e., sexually) Be in the same boat Be it ever so humble there's no place like home Be there or be square Be toast Bear down Beat a dead horse Beat around the bush Beat it! Beat swords into ploughshares Beats me Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is only skin deep Bee in her bonnet Bee's knees Been there, done that Before you were the gleam in your father's eye Beggars can't be choosers Behind the eight (8) ball Behind the times Belle of the ball Bells and whistles Bend over Bend over backwards Best laid plans of mice and men Best thing since sliced bread Bet it all Bet the farm Bet your bottom dollar Better half Better late than never Better safe than sorry Better than a kick in the teeth Better than ever Better the Devil you know Between a rock and a hard place Beware the ides of March Big as a house Big as life Big brother is watching Big cheese Big head Big heart Big mouth Big picture Big wig Bigger they are, the harder they fall Biological clock is ticking Bird in a gilded cage Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush Birds of a feather flock together Bite me Bite off more than you can chew Bite the bullet Bite the dust Bite your lip Bite your tongue Black as pitch Black eye Blast from the past Blaze a new trail Blew him away Blew his wad Blind as a bat Blind leading the blind Blood is thicker than water Blood money Bloom is off the rose Blow a gasket Blow chow Blow chunks Blow it Blow me down Blow the whistle on Blow this joint Blow your brains out Blowing smoke (up my ass) Body slam Boils down to Bombed Bone chilling cold Bone of contention Bone to pick Bone up on Bored to tears Born with a silver spoon in his mouth Both barrels Both feet (firmly planted) on the ground Bottom fell out Bottom line Bottom out Bought (buy) the farm Bounce back Bowl someone over Box yourself in Boxed in Boys will be boys Bragging rights Brain drain Bread winner Break a leg Break ranks Break the ice Bright future Bring home the bacon Bring it Broke the bank Brother, can you spare a dime? Brown nose Brush off, To (The) Buck naked Buck stops here Buckle down Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat Built like a brick shithouse Bum deal Bump in the road Bump on a log Bun in the oven Burn the candle at both ends Burn the midnight oil Burn your bridges Bury the hatchet Business as usual Business at hand Bust your balls Bust your chops Busted Busting a gut Busy as a bee Butterflies in his stomach Buy (something) for a song Buy in to By the book By the same token
C Caca me me scheme Call a spade a spade Call it a day Call off the dogs Call someone on the carpet Call the shots Can it! Can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink Can never go home again Can of corn Can of whoop ass Can of worms Can say that again Can take that to the bank Can't fit a square peg in a round hole Can't have your cake and eat it too Can't hold a candle to Can't judge a book by its cover Can't learn to swim without getting in the water Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear Can't put the toothpaste back in the tube Can't say enough about him Can't squeeze blood out of a turnip Can't teach an old dog new tricks Cannot judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins Carry the team Cash cow Cash in your chips Cash it in Cast a very long shadow Cat got your tongue? Cat nap Cat's meow Cat's whiskers Catch (Get) my drift? Catch forty (40) winks Catch on Catching some ZZZ's Caught me off guard Caught with his pants down Caught with your hand in the cookie jar Chain is only as strong as it's weakest link Champagne tastes and a beer budget Change your tune Changes hands Chatty Cathy Cheap date Cheap shot Cheap trick Chew on Chew out Chew the fat Chewing nails and spitting tacks Chief cook and bottle washer Child's play Chill out Chip in Chip off the old block Chip on your shoulder Chomping at the bit Clean bill of health Clean sweep Clean your clock Clear as a bell Clear as mud Clear the air Climbing the walls Clock is ticking Close call Close early and often Close ranks Clue me in Coast to coast Cock and bull story Coin a phrase Cold as a witch's tit Cold as cucumber Cold as ice Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey Cold feet Cold shoulder Colder than a well digger's ass Collared Come across Come again? Come hell or high water Come in under the wire Come out of the closet Coming down in buckets Coming down the pike Compare apple and oranges Compare apples to apples Complete picture Cookie cutter Cooking with gas (now) Cool as a cucumber Cool your heels Cool your jets Cop it sweet Could have knocked me over with a feather Couldn't care less Couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag Couldn't find his way out of a paper bag Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn Cover my ass Cowboy up Crack down Crack the code Crack the nut Crack the whip Cracking up Crap shoot Crazy as a loon Crazy like a fox Cream of the crop Crime doesn't pay Crocodile tears Cross the line Cry all the way to the bank Cry me a river Cry over spilled milk Cry uncle Cry wolf Curb your enthusiasm Curiosity killed the cat Cut a (the) rug Cut and dry Cut corners Cut it Cut it out Cut off your nose to spite your face Cut the cheese Cut the mustard Cut to the chase Cut your losses Cut your teeth Cute as a button Cuts like a knife Cuts to the core Cuts to the quick
D Dagger (knife) in the heart Damned if you do and damned if you don't Dances (Moves) to the beat of a different Dangle a carrot in front of him Dark horse David versus Goliath Day late and a dollar short Dead as a doornail Dead cat bounce Dead presidents Dead ringer Deal with it Dealt a fatal blow Deep do do (shit) Deep six (6) something Deer caught in headlights, Like a Diamond in the rough Dig for gold Dig yourself into a hole Dip your toe in the water Dirt cheap Do a one-eighty (180) Do as I say and not as I do Do birds fly? Do or die Do unto others as you would have other do unto you Do what it takes Does a bear shit in the woods? Doesn't have both oars in the water Doesn't stand (have) a prayer Doesn't stand a chance Dog eat dog Dog's life Dogged him/her Dogs bark, but the caravan moves on Doing time Don't bite the hand that feeds you Don't count your chickens before they're hatched Don't do anything I wouldn't do Don't get your panties in a wad Don't go there Don't have a leg to stand on Don't have two nickels to rub together Don't hold your breath Don't know him from Adam Don't know shit from shinola Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Don't look back Don't make a fuss Don't miss the water till the well runs dry Don't rock the boat Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger Don't sweat it Don't take any wooden nickels Don't tempt fate Dot the I's and cross the T's Double whammy Down and out Down in the mouth Down on your/his luck Down the hatch Drain the lizard Draw a blank Dream on Dressed to kill Dressed to the nines Drive me to drink Drive me/you up a nuts Drive me/you up a wall Drive the porcelain bus Driving me crazy Drop a dime Drop in the bucket Drop me a line Dropping like flies Drown your sorrows drummer Drunk as a skunk Dry as a bone Duck! Dumb as a fox Dumb as a post Dumb as a stump Dutch, Go (Dutch treat)
E E ticket ride Early bird catches the worm Early to bed, early to rise (makes a man health, wealthy and wise) Easy as 123 Easy as ABC Easy as pie Eat crow Eat lead! Eat like a horse Eat my hat Elephant in the room Emotional roller coaster Empty flattery Enchilada, The whole End over end Ends justify the means Even keel Even money Even Stevens Every dark cloud has a silver lining Every dog has his day Everyone has their cross to bear Everything (It all) comes out in the wash Everything but the kitchen sink Everything's coming up roses Everything's copacetic Everything's hunky dory Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth Eyeball someone or something Eyes are bigger than his stomach
F Face only a mother could love Fair haired one Fair weather friend Fall guy Fall head over heels Fall through the cracks Falling off a log, As easy Family affair Fan the flames Fancy meeting you here Far cry Fast buck Fat chance Feather in his cap Federal case Few bricks shy Fickle finger of fate Fifty (50), Fifty (50) Fight like cats and dogs Figure it out Filthy rich Fine and dandy Fine line Fingered Firing on all cylinders First things first Fish out of water Fit as a fiddle Fit to be tied Fits like a glove Fits like a hand in (a) glove Flash in the pan Flat as a board Flat as a pancake Fleet footed Fling Flip flop Flip your lid Flog a dead horse Flown the coop Fly by night Fly by the seat of your pants Fly in the ointment Fly on the wall Follow the leader Following in his footsteps Fool and his money are soon parted Fools gold For crying out loud For Pete's sake Forever and a day Fork it over Fork out Four one one (411) Free as a bird Free reign Frog in my throat From day one From here to Timbuktu Full Monty Full of himself Full of hot air Full of mischief Funny business Fur fly
G Gadzooks! Gang bang Gang bangers Get (Start) the ball rolling Get a life Get a room Get a word in edgewise Get all worked up Get an earful Get back up on the horse Get cleaned out Get crushed Get down Get it Get lost Get my message? Get off Get out of Dodge Get out of here Get out of my hair Get over the hump Get to the bottom of it Get with the program Get your arms around it Get your clock cleaned Get your ducks in a row Get your feet wet Get your foot in the door Get your head in the game Getting hitched Give a hoot Give and take Give it a rest Give it a whirl Give it away Give me a hand Give the shirt off your back Give them a hand Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile Give your right arm Glimmer of hope Gloss over Glutton for punishment Go against the grain Go belly up Go down hill Go figure Go fly a kite Go for broke Go head to head Go jump in the lake Go out in a blaze of glory Go out on a limb Go over his head Go overboard Go postal Go the extra mile Go through the motions Go through the roof Go together hand in hand Go too far Go with your gut God speed God willing (and the creek don't rise) Going bananas Going gang-busters Gold digger Golden child Good call Good crack Good fences make good neighbors Good man is hard to find Good rule of thumb Good soldier Good things come to he who waits Good to go Good to the last drop Goofing off Got a bug up his ass Got a leg up Got burned Got game Got him by the short hairs Got it coming to you Got lost in the shuffle Got more money than he knows what to do with Got mugged Got off on the wrong foot Got the stuffing beat out of him Got under my skin Got whooped Got your just desserts Got your nose all pushed out of shape (joint) Grasping at straws Grass is always greener on the other side Grease a palm Green eyed monster Green horn Green with envy Greener pastures Grin and bear it Grinning from ear to ear Ground rules Growing like a weed Gunning for Guns blazing
H Half-baked idea Hammered Hand off Handle it with kid gloves Hands on Handwriting is on the wall Hang in there Hang me out to dry Hang on every word Hang yourself Happy as a clam Happy as a lark Happy as a pig in mud Happy as a pig in shit Happy camper Hard day's night Hard headed Hard stop Hard to swallow Hare brained idea Has a leg up Has egg on his face Haste makes waste Hat in hand Hate his guts have Have a cow Have a heart Have a nice day Have a shot Have a stick up your ass Have the last laugh Have to break a few eggs to make an omelette Haven't got a penny to my name He who laughs last, laughs best He who lives by the sword, shall die by the sword Head over heals Heading for the poor house Heads up Heard it through the grapevine Heart breaker Heart of gold Heart of stone Heaven help us Heaven's to Betsy Hell in a hand basket Hell raiser Hen pecked Here today, gone tomorrow Here's mud in your eye Hide the salami High as a kite High hopes High maintenance Highway robbery Hindsight is twenty/twenty (20/20) History repeats itself Hit below the belt Hit on Hit pay dirt Hit the books Hit the deck! Hit the hay Hit the nail on the head Hit the road Hit the sack Hog heaven, To be in Hold the phone Hold your horses Holding all the cards Holy cow Home is where you hang your hat Hook me up Hook, line and sinker Hop, skip and a jump Hope against hope Hope springs eternal Horse around Horse of a different color Horsing around Hot as hell Hot enough for you? Hot enough to fry an egg Hot water, In House divided against itself cannot stand How's it hanging Hump day Hunker down Hurl insults
I I beg to differ I can't stomach that I could whip you with one arm tied behind my back I hate to say this, but... I have no bones about that I heard (hear) that! I need that like I need a hole in my head I never met a man I didn't like I second that I want my place in the sun I wasn't born yesterday I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached I'll be a monkey's uncle I'll be damned I'll be the judge of that, thank you I'll bet dollars to doughnuts I'll leave you with something to chew on I'm not getting any younger I've got it covered I've had it up to here Ice water in his/her veins Icing on the cake Idle hands are the devil's workshop If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass hoppin' If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times If the shoe fits, wear it If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen If you can't take Mohammed to the mountain, take the mountain to Mohammed If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all If you're going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk Ill-fated idea In a wink In cold blood In for a penny, in for a pound In harm's way In on the ground floor In one fell swoop In the black In the cards In the clear In the hot seat In the nick of time In the pink In the red In two shakes of a lamb's tail In your dreams In your face Inched out Indian giver Is a frog's ass watertight? Is a pig pork? Is it soup yet? Is the Pope Catholic? Isn't all it's cracked up to be It ain't over till the fat lady sings It ain't rocket science It is good to be king It takes two to tango It will do It won't fly It's a lemon It's a wash It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. It's better than a sharp stick in the eye It's business It's in the bag It's never too late to learn It's not a sprint, it's a marathon It's not over till it's over It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game It's what's on the inside that counts
J Jack of all trades and a master of none Jerk-off Jockeying for position Joined at the hip Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step Jump down your throat Jump in with both feet Jump on the bandwagon Jump the gun Jumped his/her bones Jury is still out Just a cotton pickin' minute here Just a minute Just a second Just around the bend Just fell off the turnip truck Just the tip of the iceberg Justice is blind
K Keep an eye on you Keep it down Keep it simple stupid (KISS) Keep something at bay Keep your chin up Keep your eyes open Keep your fingers crossed Keep your nose to the grindstone Keeping up with the Joneses Keeps his cards close to his vest Keeps on ticking Kick back Kick him/her to the curb Kick it Kick some butt (ass) Kick the bucket Kick your feet up Kick your heels kicking contest Kid in a candy store King's ransom Kiss and tell Kiss ass Kiss my ass Knock it out of the park Knock off Knock on wood Knock your socks off Knocked up Knockout Knockout blow Know it like the back of my hand Know the ropes Know the score Know what's up Know where you stand Know which side your bread is buttered on Knows it chapter and verse Knuckle down Knuckle sandwich Knuckle under Kodak moment
L Land of milk and honey Last ditch effort Last hurrah Last, but not least Laugh a minute Laugh all the way to the bank Lay down the law Lay my cards (out) on the table Learned his lesson Leave (Make) your mark Leave no stone unturned Left at the altar Left hand doesn't know what his right hand is doing Legend in his own mind Leopard doesn't change its spots Lesser of two evils Let bygones be bygones Let sleeping dogs lie Let the cat out of the bag Let's roll Let's split Lickety-split Licking one's wounds Lie down with lions Life is a bowl of cherries Life's a bitch Light as a feather Light at the end of the tunnel Light in the loafers Lightning never strikes the same place twice Lights are on but there's nobody home Lights out Like a bull in a china shop Like a chicken with his head cut off Like butter Like father, like son Like flies on shit Like it's going out of style Like oil and water Like shit off a shovel Like shooting fish in a barrel Like there is no tomorrow Line in the sand Lion's den Lion's share Litmus test Little bird told me Little of this, a little of that Live and learn Living high off the hog Lock, stock, and barrel Long and short of it Long arm of the law Long in the tooth Long row to hoe Long shot Long time no see Long ways away Look before you leap Look into your heart Look out! Look over your shoulder Looking at the world through rosy colored glasses Looking for a needle in a haystack Looped Loose cannon Lose your lunch Lose your shirt Loser Lost a step Lost his/her marbles Lost me Love is blind Luck of the draw
M Made it by the skin of my teeth Made of money Made your bed; now lie in it Make a break for it Make a long story short Make a mountain out of a molehill Make an ass out of yourself Make ends meet Make heads or tails of Make no bones about it Make or break Make out like a bandit Make the grade Make tracks Make up (reconcile) Make waves Make your move Makes my blood boil Makin' bacon Making money hand over fist Making whoopee Man for all season's Man's home is his castle Many hands make light work Marked man Marking time Marriage of two minds Matter-of-fact Meet and greet Memory like an elephant Mercy me Mexican standoff Mile high club Milk it (for all it's worth) Missed the boat Money can't buy you happiness Money doesn't grow on trees Money grubbing Money hungry Money is the root of all evil Money makes the world go round Money out (up) the wazoo Monkey business Monkey with Monkey wrench Monkeying around More than meets the eye More the merrier More things change, the more they stay the same More we learn, the less we know Mouth off Mud slinging Mug for the camera Murphy's law Must be seeing things My bad My brain is fried My hands are tied My stomach is tied up in knots My way or the highway
N Nail biter Naked as a jaybird Naked as the day you were born Near and dear to my heart Necessary evil Necessity is the mother of invention Nerves of steel Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today New lease on life Newbie Nice guys finish last Night and day Nip and tuck Nip it in the bud No accounting for taste No brainer No go No holds barred No if's, and's, or but's about it No man is an island No pain, no gain No shit Sherlock No skin off my nose No strings attached No way, Jose Nod off None of your business Noodle on Nose in the air Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin Not for all the tea in China Not just whistling Dixie Not playing with a full deck Not the brightest crayon in the box Not the ghost of a chance Not the sharpest tool in the shed Nothing personal Nothing to sneeze at Nothing to write home about Nothing up my sleeve Nothing ventured, nothing gained Now or never
O Object of desire Off and running Off like a prom dress! Off the cuff Off the dime Off the hook Off the shelf Off the top of my head Off your rocker Off-kilter Oh brother Oh my God! Oh my goodness Old ball and chain Old school On a lark On a roll On a short leash On a soap box On a wing and a prayer On fire On par On pins and needles On skid row On tenterhooks On the back burner On the ball On the cutting edge On the fly On the level On the make On the road again On the same page On the take On the tip of my tongue On the up and up On track On your toes Once burned, twice shy Once in a blue moon One bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel / bushel / lot / bunch One good turn deserves another One in million One man's garbage is another man's treasure One-night stand Only thing we have to fear is fear itself Open book Opened Pandora's box Out of gas Out of it Out of pocket Out of sight, out of mind Out of the clear blue Out of the frying pan and into the fire Out of the woods Out of whack Out sowing your wild oats Out to lunch Over a barrel Over and over again Over my head Over the hill Over the top
P Pack it in Pain in the ass Pain in the neck Paint yourself into a corner Pandora's box Paper tiger Par for the course Pass away Pass on Pass the buck Pass the hat Passed with flying colors Path of least resistance Path to your door Pay as you go Pay lip service Pay the piper Pay through the nose Payback is a bitch Pearls before swine Pencil it in Penny for your thoughts Penny pincher Penny saved is a penny earned Penny wise and pound foolish People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Phone it in Pick of the litter Pick the low hanging fruit Picture's worth a thousand words Piece of cake Pig headed Pig out Pin our hopes on Piss-poor Pissing in the wind Plain and simple Plain as day Plastered Play ball Play it by ear Play second fiddle to Play the field Play the hand you're dealt Play with the big boys Plenty of other fish in the sea Plunk down Poison the well Poor as a church mouse Pop a vein Pot calling the kettle black Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow Pound for pound Pound of flesh Pound the pavement Pound the table Pour oil on trouble waters Powers of darkness Preach the choir Pretty penny Pull a rabbit out of a hat Pull any stunts Pull the wool over your eyes Pull your leg Pulling your hair Punch his lights out Punched in the gut Pure as the driven snow Push the envelope Push your buttons Pushing up daisies Put a cork in it Put a lid on it Put a sock in it Put it through its paces Put out some feelers Put that in your pipe and smoke it Put the pedal to the metal Put two and two together Put your best foot forward Put your foot in your mouth Put your heart into it Put your money where your mouth is Putting the cart before the horse
Q Quick buck Quicker than a New York minute Quiet as a (church) mouse Quit horsing around! Quitters never win
R Rain on my parade Raining cats and dogs Raining pitchforks Raise the bar Raking (it) in Rat hole Rat out Rattle your cage Raw end of the deal Read between the lines Read someone the riot act Read the fine print Real McCoy Red carpet treatment Reinvent the wheel Reopen an old wound Rest on your laurels Rhyme nor reason Rifle for an arm Right on the money Right on the nose Right up your alley Ring a bell Ring your bell, To (Have your bell rung) Road less traveled Road to hell is paved good intentions Roll of the dice Roll out the red carpet Rolling in the dough Rolling stone gathers no moss Rome wasn't built in a day Rose by any other name would smell as sweet Rotten to the core Rough around the edges Rough road Rub salt in the wound Rub your nose (face) in it Rubs me the wrong way Run circles around Run for your money Run it up the flagpole
S Same bat time, same bat channel Same song and dance Save your breath Save yourself the headache Say what you will Say your prayers Scarce as hen's teeth Scared of his own shadow Scraping the bottom of the barrel Second wind See eye to eye See the glass as half empty (full) See the light See which way the winds blow See you later alligator Sell out, To (forfeit one's principles) Sensory overload Separate the men from the boys Separate the wheat from the chaff Shape up or ship out Sharp as a tack Shed (some) light on Shit eating grin Shit or get off the pot Shit out of luck Shoe in Shoe is on the other foot Shoestring budget Shoot from the hip Shoot straight Shoot the breeze Shoot yourself in the foot Shooting fish in a barrel Shooting for the moon Short changed Short end of the stick Short fuse Shot across the bow Shot in the dark Shotgun wedding Shove off Show him the door Show me the money! Show some backbone Show some spunk Shuffle off this mortal coil Shut up Shut your hole Shut your mouth Sick as a dog Sick to death of it Signed, sealed and delivered Silence is golden Sing like a bird Sink or swim Sink your teeth into Sit tight Six (6) of one (1), half a dozen of another Skate on thin ice Skeletons in the closet Slam dunk Slap on the wrist Slipped through your fingers Slow (Thick) as molasses Slow and steady wins the race Sly as a fox Small potatoes Smoke and mirrors Smoking gun Smooth operator Smooth over SNAFU Snail's pace Snowball's chance in hell So close, you can taste it Solid as the rock of Gibraltar Son of a bitch Son of a gun Sound like a broken record Sounds like a plan Soup to nuts Spare the rod and spoil the child Speak with a forked tongue Spinning your wheels Spitting image Split second Splitting hairs Spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down Spread the news Spruce up Squeaky wheel gets the grease Squeal on Stack the deck State of the art Stay tuned Stem the tide Step on it Stepping on people's toes Stick a fork in it (him, me) Stick in the mud Stick it in your ear Stick it out Stick it to you Stick it where the sun don't shine Stick to your guns Stick with it Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me Sticky subject Stiff as a board Stitch in time saves nine Stone faced Stone's throw away Stoned Stop and smell the roses Stop him, Newt, he's headed for the barn! Stop on a dime Stop the presses! Straight arrow Straighten up and fly right Stress out Stretch a dollar String him along Strong as an ox Stubborn as a mule Stuck out like a sore thumb Stuck-up Stuffed shirt Suck up Sucker Sugarcoat something Survival of the fittest Swallow one's pride Sweat the small stuff Sweep it under the rug Sweet 16 and never been kissed Sweet deal Sweeten the pot Sweetheart deal Swim against the tide Swim up stream
T Tail between his legs Take a back seat to Take a bath Take a breather Take a dump Take a leak Take a long walk off a short plank (pier) Take a picture, it will last longer Take a step back Take five (i.e., take a break) Take it easy Take it from me Take it to the limit Take it with a grain of salt Take one for the team Take stock of Take the bull by the horns Take the easy way out Take the gloves off Take the plunge Take the wind out of your sail Take the world by storm Take your life in your own hands Taken for a ride Takes its toll on you Taking the scenic route Talk shop Talk to the hand Talk until you are blue in the face Talking behind his back Tall tale Taste of your own medicine Teacher's pet Team player Tear you a new asshole Technicolor Yawn Tell it to me straight Tempest in a teapot Ten to one (odds) Test the waters Testing one's mettle Thank goodness Thank your lucky stars That burns me up That chaps my hide That gets my goad That hits the spot That takes the cake That which does not kill you makes you stronger That's a doozy That's a joke That's a load off my mind That's a wrap That's for the birds That's just peachy That's no joke That's the $64,000 question That's the ticket That's the way the ball bounces That's the way the cookie crumbles That's water under the bridge The best things in life are free There is a god There is more than one way to skin a cat There is no I in team There is no time like the present There now, that wasn't so bad, was it? There ought to be a law against that There, but for the grace of God, go I There'll be hell to pay There's a sucker born every minute There's no place like home There's no such thing as a free lunch There's no time like the present There's something fishy about that Thick as a brick Thick as pea soup Thick headed Things aren't what they used to be Think outside the box Thinking with the wrong head Third (3rd) time's a charm Third wheel Thorn in my side Three sheets to the wind Threw a curve ball Threw it with a little something on it Through thick and thin Throw (toss) me a bone Throw (Toss) your hat in the ring To Throw gasoline on the fire Throw in the towel Throw the baby out with the bathwater Throw the book at him Throw to the wolves Thumb your nose at Thumbs up Tickled pink Tie the knot Tight as a drum, Wound Tight as the bark on a tree Tight wad Tighten your belt (Belt tightening) Tighter than a gnat's ass Tilting at windmills Time after time Time and again Time flies when you're having fun Time heals all wounds Time is money Time is running out Time of your life Time on your hands Time out Time's up Times, they are a changing To be honest with you To each his own To the victor go the spoils To toy with Today is the first day of the rest of your life Toe the line Tongue in cheek Tongue lashing Tongue tied Too many cooks spoil the broth Too much information (TMI) Too rich for my blood Took off like a bat out of hell Took off like a shot Toot his own horn Tooth and nail Top banana Top dog Toss your cookies Touch and go Tow the line Tread lightly Trial by fire Tried and true Trip over your tongue Trojan horse Truth is stranger than fiction Tugging at heartstrings Tune out Turn on a dime Turn over a new leaf Twiddling your thumbs Twist my arm Twist of fate Two heads are better than one Two left feet Two peas in a pod Two ships passing in the night Two wrongs don't make a right
U Ugly as sin Under a microscope Under her thumb Under the gun Under the knife Under the table Until the cows come home Up a creek without a paddle Up for grabs Up in arms Up shit's creek Up the ante Up the wazoo Uphill battle
V Vanity. All Is Vanity! Variety is the spice of life
W Wait for the ink to dry Waiting for the dust to settle Waiting for the other shoe to drop Waiting for your ship to come in Waiting with bated breath Wake-up and smell the coffee Wake-up call Wake-up on the wrong side of the bed Walk on the wild side Walk softly and carry a big stick Walking on eggshells Walls start closing in Wash your hands of something Washed up Wasted Watch your mouth Watched pot never boils Watching the clock Wave the white flag Way to a man's heart is through his stomach Way to go Einstein! We'll cross that bridge when we come to it We'll jump that fence when we get to it We're gonna tie one on tonight Wear many hats Wear your heart out on your sleeve Welcome to the club Well off Were you born in a barn? Were you raised by wolves? Wet behind the ears Wet blanket Wet dream Wham, bam, thank you m'am What a blast What a tangled web we weave What a way to go What a zoo What am I, chopped liver? What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? What goes around comes around What goes up, must come down What in tar nation? What on Earth What rock did you crawl out from under? What you see is what you get What's going on? What's good for the goose is good for the gander What's he been smoking? What's up with that? What's up?! What's wrong with this picture? Whatever floats your boat Whatever tickles your fancy Whatever turns you on When all is said and done When hell freezes over When in Rome, do as Romans do When it rains, it pours When life gives you lemons, make lemonade When pigs fly When push comes to shove When the going gets tough, the tough get going Where there's smoke there's fire Where's the beef? Who died and left you in charge? Whole Ball of wax Whole kit and kaboodle Whole nine yards Whole shootin' match Whoop it up Why close the barn door after the horse is gone? Why on God's green Earth? Wig out Win, hands down Wing it Winning combination Wipe the slate clean Wish upon a star Wishy, washy Witch hunt With one hand tied behind my back With tongue firmly planted in cheek Wolf in sheep's clothing Work like a dog Work the crowd Work the room Work your fingers to the bone World of hurt World of trouble World on a string Worry wart Worth its weight in gold Wrong side of the tracks
X “X” marks the spot X-ray vision XOXOXO (hugs and kisses) XXX-rated
Y Yank your chain You must crawl before you can walk You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours You snooze, you loose You're a good egg You're going to get it You've got (the) nerve Young, dumb and full of cum Your goose is cooked Your place or mine
Z Zigged when he should have zagged Zip it! Zip your lip Zippety doo-da Zzzzz's
Last Updated: 02/10/2015
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