Idiomy C-D
Nazwywać rzeczy po imieniu.
Call the shots
Wydawać rozkazy. Mówić ludziom co mają robić.
Can of worms
Puszka Pandory.
Can't dance and it's too wet to plow
(USA) Powiedzenie oznaczające, że nie ma się możliwości robienia czegoś innego, dlatego robi się to co się robi.
Can't hold a candle
Coś gorszego.
Card up your sleeve
Mieć asa w rękawie. Mieć paln i ukrywać go do właściwego momentu.
Carpetbagger
Człowiek pozbawiony zasad etycznych oraz skrupułów. Pilityk, który nie jest powiązany z miejscem, które chce reprezentować
Carrot and stick
Zachęta wraz z groźbą.
Carry the can
Ponosoć winę za coś czego się nie zrobiło, albo jest sie częściowo odpowiedzialnym.
Cash in your chips
Może oznaczać 'umierać'. Sprzedawać coś ponieważ uważa się, że wartość tego czegoś może spaść.
Cast doubt on
Rzucić wątpliwość. Poddać w wątpliwość.
Cast your mind back
Jeśli ktoś cię o to prosi oznacza to, że należy sięgnąć pamięcią wstecz i przypomieć sobie jakieś wydarzenie.
Castles in the air
Niepraktyczne plany, które nigdzy nie zadziałają.
Cat among the pigeons
Stwarzać problemy, zamieszanie.
Cat got your tongue?
Dlaczego nie mówisz, kiedy powinieneś?
Cat nap Top
Krótka drzemka.
Cat's whiskers
Coś wspaniałego.
Catch as catch can
Zdobyć coś w każdy możliwy sposób.
Catch someone red-handed
Złapać kogoś na gorącym uczynku.
Chalk and cheese
Nie mieć ze sobą nic wspołnego (o ludziach i rzeczach)
Change horses in midstream
Zmiana planów lub przywódców, nawet jeśli wiąże się to z ryzykiem.
Change of heart
Zmiana poglądów lub uczuć w stosunku do czegoś lub kogoś.
Change tack
Zmiana metody.
Change your tune
Zmiana poglądu lub sposobu jego prezentacji.
Charity begins at home
Rodzina jest najważniesza i należy się na niej skoncentrować.
Chase rainbows
Dążenie do czegoś czego się nidgy nie osiągnie.
Cheap as chips
(UK) taniocha.
Cheap at half the price
Cheap shot
Strzał poniżej pasa.
Cheat death Top
Uniknąć śmierci.
Cheek by jowl
Być bardzo blisko związanym (ludzie i rezczy).
Cherry pick
Wybierać rzeczy, które wspierają opinię, ignorując te, które jej zaprzeczają.
Chew the cud
Rozmyślać, przeżuwać.
Chew the fat
Swobodnie z kimś rozmawiać.
Chickenfeed
Coś małego i nieznaczącego.
Chinese walls
Mury chińskie, coś co ma na celu zahamowanie przepływu informacji
Chinese whispers
(UK) Ropowszechnione plotki, które są wyolbrzymione.
Chip off the old block
Dziedziczyć charakter po rodzicach.
Chip on your shoulder
Mieć problem na ramieniu, czuć, że zostało się skrzywdzonym.
Clean as a whistle Top
Czysty jak łza.
Clean bill of health
Być kompletnie zdrowym.
Clean break
Oderwać się, odłamać od czegoś całkowicie.
Clean hands
Czyste ręce.
Clean sheet
Czysta kartra (żadnych spraw kryminalnych, żadnych wykroczeń).
Clean slate
Zaczynać od nowa bez uwzględniania rzeczy z przeszłości.
Clean sweep
Wygrać to co było do wygrania.
Clear as mud
Coś zagmatwanego.
Cliffhanger
W sporcie, wyborach oznacza to bardzo bliski wynik. Coś czego nie można przewidzieć.
Close but no cigar
(USA) Sukces ale jeszcze nie pełny.
Close call Top
Zbyt podobne aby wybrać.
Close the stable door after the horse has bolted
Starać sie naprawić problem po tym jak po wydarzył
Close to your heart
Bliski sercu
Closed book to me
Coś czego sie nie rozumie lub na czego temat się nic nie wie.
Cloud cuckoo land
Obłok dla tych, którzy nie są realistyczni.
Cloud nine
Bardzo szcszęsliwy
Cloud of suspicion
Cień podejrzenia.
Cloud on the horizon
Problemy na horyzoncie.
Clutch at straws
łapać się brzytwy, ostatnie nadzieji.
Coals to Newcastle
(UK) Robienie czegoś niepotrzebnego (użycie z 'bring').
Cock and bull story
Kłamstwo, w które nikt nie wierzy (użycie z 'be').
Cold feet
Mieć pietra.
Cold fish
Zimny jak głaz (użycie z 'be').
Cold light of day Top
trzeźwe spojrzenie na rzeczywistość ( użycie z 'see').
Cold shoulder
Być niemiłym. ( użycie z 'give')
Cold turkey
Nagłe rzucenie nałogu.
Collateral damage
Przypadkowe straty ludzkie lub materialne.
Collect dust
Gromadzić kusz.
Come clean
Przyznanie się do winy.
Come hell or high water
Kiedy ktoś top mówi oznacza to, że ta osoba zrobi to za wszelką cenę.
Come out in the wash
Mieć dobry rezultat.
Come out of your shell
Stać siebardziej śmiałym, otwartym.
Come rain or shine
Pogoda nie powstrzyma.
Come to grips
Zająć się problemem.
Come up roses
Wyjść dobrze, mieć dobre rezultaty.
Come up smelling of roses
(UK) wyjść z opresji z dobrą reputacją.
Come what may
Niech się stanie co się stanie.
Come with the territory
O obowiązkach. Przychodzą razem z teretorium.
Comfort zone
Miejsce w którym ludzie czują się wygodnie.
Constitution of an ox
Być odpornym na zmęcznie, wysiłek, alkohol, itp. (używane z 'have').
Cook someone's goose Top
Rujnować czyjeś plany.
Cook up a storm
Tworzyć zamieszanie lkub żarliwą dyskusję.
Corner a market
Podbić rynek.
Couch potato
Ktoś leniwy spędzający czas przed telewizorem jedząc chipsy.
Could eat a horse
Móc zjeść konia.
Couldn't give two hoots
Kompletnie coś olać.
Cover all the bases
Zapezpieczyć się na każdą ewentualność.
Crash a party
Popsuć przyjęcie.
Cream of the crop
Najlepszy.
Creme de la creme
Najlepszy.
Crocodile tears
Krokodyle łzy.
Cross to bear
Krzyż do dźwigania (używane z 'have').
Cry wolf
Wznosić błędny alarm.
Cry your eyes out
Płakać bez opamiętania.
Cry-baby
Płaksa.
Curiosity killed the cat
Ciekawość zabiła kota.
Curve ball
(USA) Coś zludnego.
Cut and dried
Przedyskutowane i nie na czasie (użycie z 'be').
Cut it fine
Zrobic coś w ostatniej chwilii.
Cut off your nose to spite your face
Zrobić coś głupiego w pośpiechu lub złości.
Cut the Gordian knot
Rozwiązać problem w prosty sposób.
Cut the mustard Top
(UK) Spełniać wymogi.
Cut to the chase
Przejść do sedna sprawy.
Cut your coat according to your cloth
Kupowanie rzeczy na które człowieka stać.
Cut your teeth on
Zjeść zęby na czymś.
Cute as a bug
(USA) coś miłego i przyjemnego.
Cutting edge
Coś nowoczesnego.
Daft as a brush
(UK) któś głupi (użycie z 'to be').
Dark horse
Któś zagadkowy (użycie z 'be').
Daylight robbery
Rozbój w biały dzień.
Dead air
Milczenie.
Dead and buried
Załatwione i zapomniane.
Dead as a dodo
Nieżywy.
Dead as a doornail
Nieżywy, bez życia.
Dead duck
Niewypał.
Dead from the neck up Top
Głupi.
Dead heat
Ten sam rezultat w biegach, wyścigach.
Dead in the water
Coś co nie robi postępu.
Dead man walking
Ktoś kto będzie mieć kłopoty.
Dead meat
Zimny, sztywny
Dead men's shoes
If promotion or success requires replacing somebody, then it can only be reached by dead men's shoes' by getting rid of them.
Dead to the world
If somebody's fast asleep and completely unaware of what if happening around them, he or she's dead to the world.
Dear John letter
A letter written by a partner explaining why they are ending the relationship is a Dear John letter.
Death of a thousand cuts
If something is suffering the death of a thousand cuts, or death by a thousand cuts, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.
Death warmed up
(UK) If someone looks like death warmed up, they look very ill indeed. ('death warmed over' is the American form)
Demon weed
Tobacco is the demon weed.
Derring-do
If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage.
Devil finds work for idle hands
When people say that the devil finds work for idle hands, they mean that if people don't have anything to do with their time, they are more likely to get involved in trouble and criminality.
Devil is in the detail
When people say that the devil in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.
Devil's advocate
If someone plays Devil's advocate in an argument, they adopt a position they don't believe in just for the sake of the argument
Diamond in the rough Top
A diamond in the rough is someone or something that has great potential, but isn't not refined and polished.
Die is cast
If the die is cast, a decision has been made that cannot be altered and fate will decide the consequences.
Different kettle of fish
If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced.
Different ropes for different folks
(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Different strokes for different folks
(USA) This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Dime a dozen
(USA) If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Dip your toes in the water
If you dip your toes in the water, you try something tentatively because you are not sure whether it will work or not.
Dirty dog
A dirty dog is an untrustworthy person.
Discerning eye
If a person has a discerning eye, they are particularly good at judging the quality of something.
Discretion is the better part of valour
This idiom means that it is often better to think carefully and not act than to do something that may cause problems.
Do a Devon Loch
(UK) If someone does a Devon Loch, they fail when they were very close to winning. Devon Loch was a horse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the Grand National race.
Do a runner
(UK) If people leave a restaurant without paying, they do a runner.
Do the running
(UK) The person who has to do the running has to make sure that things get done. ('Make the running' is also used.)
Do their dirty work
Someone who does someone's dirty work, carries out the unpleasant jobs that the first person doesn't want to do. Someone who seems to enjoy doing this is sometimes known as a 'henchman'.
Do's and don't's
The do's and don't's are what is acceptable or allowed or not within an area or issue, etc.
Dog and pony show
(USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
Dog days Top
Dog days are very hot summer days.
Dog eat dog
In a dog eat dog world, there is intense competition and rivalry, where everybody thinks only of himself or herself.
Dog in the manger
(UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don't want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.
Dog tired
If you are dog tired, you are exhausted.
Dog's dinner
Something that is a dog's dinner is a real mess.
Dog's life
If some has a dog's life, they have a very unfortunate and wretched life.
Dog-eared
If a book is dog-eared, it is in bad condition, with torn pages, etc.
Doggy bag
If you ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant, they will pack the food you haven't eaten for you to take home.
Doldrums
If a person is in the doldrums, they are depressed. If a project or something similar is in the doldrums, it isn't making any progress.
Don't catch your chickens before they're hatched
This means that you should wait until you know whether something has produced the results you desire, rather than acting beforehand. ('Don't count your chickens until they've hatched' is an alternative.)
Don't give up the day job
This idiom is used a way of telling something that they do something badly.
Don't judge a book by the cover
This idiom means that you should not judge something or someone by appearances, but should look deeper at what is inside and more important.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
This means that if you are given something, a present or a chance, you should not waste it by being too critical or examining it too closely.
Don't take any wooden nickels
(USA) This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
Don't upset the applecart
If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.
Don't hold your breath
If you are told not to hold your breath, it means that you shouldn't have high expectations about something.
Don't wash your dirty laundry in public
(UK) People, especially couples, who argue in front of others or involve others in their personal problems and crises, are said to be washing their dirty laundry in public; making public things that are best left private. (In American English, 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' is used.)
Done to death
If a joke or story has been done to death, it has been told so often that it has stopped being funny.
Donkey's years
This idiom means 'a very long time'.
Doormat Top
A person who doesn't stand up for themselves and gets treated badly is a doormat.
Double Dutch
(UK) If something is double Dutch, it is completely incomprehensible.
Double take
If someone does a double take, they react very slowly to something to show how shocked or surprised they are.
Double whammy
A double whammy is when something causes two problems at the same time, or when two setbacks occur at the same time.
Double-edged sword
If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword; it cuts both ways.
Doubting Thomas
A Doubting Thomas is someone who only believes what they see themselves, not what they are told.
Down and out
If someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.
Down at heel
Someone who is down at heel is short of money. ('Down in heel' is used in American English)
Down for the count
If someone is down for the count, they have lost a struggle, like a boxer who has been knocked out.
Down in the doldrums
If somebody's down in the doldrums, they are depressed and lacking energy.
Down in the dumps
If someone's down in the dumps, they are depressed.
Down in the mouth
If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed.
Down the drain
If something goes down the drain, especially money or work, it is wasted or produces no results.
Down the pan
If something has gone down the pan, it has failed or been ruined.
Down the tubes
If something has gone down the tubes, it has failed or been ruined.
Down to the wire
(USA) If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.
Drag your feet
If someone is dragging their feet, they are taking too long to do or finish something, usually because they don't want to do it.
Drag your heels
If you drag your heels, you either delay doing something or do it as slowly as possible because you don't want to do it.
Draw a blank Top
If you try to find something out and draw a blank, you don't get any useful information.
Draw a line in the sand
If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which things will be unacceptable.
Draw a long bow
If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.
Draw the line
When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.
Draw the shortest straw
If someone draws the shortest straw, they lose or are chosen to do something unpleasant.
Dress to kill
When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.
Dressed to the nines
If you are in your very best clothes, you're dressed to the nines.
Drink like a fish
If someone drinks like a fish, they drink far too much alcohol.
Drive a wedge
If you drive a wedge between people, you exploit an issue so that people start to disagree.
Drive someone up the wall
If something or someone drives you up the wall, they do something that irritates you greatly.
Drop in the bucket
(USA) A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable difference.
Drop in the ocean
A drop in the ocean implies that something will have little effect because it is small and mostly insignificant.
Drop the ball
If someone drops the ball, they are not doing their job or taking their responsibilities seriously enough and let something go wrong.
Drunk as a lord
(UK) Someone who is very drunk is as drunk as a lord.
Dry as a bone
If your lawn is as dry as a bone, the soil is completely dry.
Dry spell
If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are.
Duck soup
(USA) If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Duck to water
If you take to something like a duck to water, you find when you start that you have a natural affinity for it.
Ducks in a row
(USA) If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
Dull as ditchwater
(UK) If something is as dull as ditchwater, it is incredibly boring. A ditch is a long narrow hole or trench dug to contain water, which is normally a dark, dirty colour and stagnant (when water turns a funny colour and starts to smell bad). (In American English,'things are 'dull as dishwater'.)
Dunkirk spirit
(UK) Dunkirk spirit is when people pull together to get through a very difficult time.
Dutch auction
If something is sold by setting a price, then reducing it until someone buys it, it is sold in a Dutch auction. It can also mean that something is changed until it is accepted by everyone.
Dutch courage
Dutch courage is the reckless bravery caused by drinking too much.
Dutch uncle
A Dutch uncle is a person who gives unwelcome advice.
Dwell on the past
Thinking too much about the past, so that it becomes a problem is to dwell on the past.
Dyed-in-the-wool
If someone is a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of a political party, etc, they support them totally, without any questions.
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