Browsing
Idioms starting with S
1010 expressions
sack drill
Sleep.
sack of crap
Synonym of sack of shit
sacked out
Sound asleep, usually from a healthy exhaustion.
sacred cow
Something which cannot be tampered with, or criticized, for fear of public outcry. A perso…
sad drunk
A person who is gloomy or depressed when intoxicated, unable to retain reasonable control …
sad panda
An unhappy or disappointed person.
saddle tramp
In the Old West, a person who wanders from place to place on horseback.
safe and sound
Having come to no harm, especially after being exposed to danger.
safe in the knowledge
Confidently, because one is certain that something relevant to the situation is true.
sail the high seas
To engage in piracy.
sail the Red Sea
To have vaginal sex with a woman during her menstruation
sail under false colors
To deceive or intentionally mystify.
salad days
A period of inexperienced youthful innocence accompanied by enthusiasm and idealism.
salad year
The inexperienced, youthful prime of a person, group, organization, or entity.
salami slicing
The achievement of a large change by incrementally asking for small concessions.
salt away
To save or preserve (especially money) for future use.
salt in the wound
Something that increases someone's pain.
salt of the earth
A person or group of people considered to represent the most decent and admirable parts of…
salt the earth
After destroying or devastating something, to do something additional to make sure it is p…
salty tooth
A liking for foods that are salty.
same difference
A distinction which makes no difference; a distinction which does not matter.
same old story
What usually happens; an occurrence that is tediously familiar.
same, same, but different
Almost the same, but with some differences.
Santa's workshop
A busy, productive large or small work environment, populated by dedicated workers.
save by the bell
To rescue or favorably assist (someone) by means of a timely interruption or the sudden te…
save face
To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.
save for a rainy day
To keep some money back for possible expensive problems in the future.
save it
Do not bother with the explanation that you are about to give; be quiet.
save one's breath
To refrain from speech; to be quiet, especially where it would have no useful effect to sp…
save one's strength
To avoid waste one's energy or efforts.
save someone's face
to preserve someone's pride, especially as defined by customary social settings.
save someone's life
To prevent someone from getting into trouble, or to rescue them from it.
save something for a rainy day
To save something just in case one may need it.
save the day
To rescue a person or situation from imminent danger or major failure.
save the furniture
To salvage something positive from a calamitous situation, especially one involving the re…
saved by the bell
Rescued or favorably assisted by a timely interruption or by the sudden termination of dif…
saw wood
To snore loudly.
sawdust trail
The route followed by an itinerant Christian preacher in the United States.
say again
"What did you say?" or "Repeat what you have said." A polite formula used when one has not…
say cheese
To smile for a photograph by saying the word "cheese" (the vowel of which, when pronounced…
say goodbye
To separate from someone or something.
say grace
To recite a prayer of invocation or thanksgiving at meal time.
say it all
To express the essential characteristics of a person, thing, or situation in a concise, we…
say no more
What has already been said conveys all the meaning and information needed to draw a conclu…
say one's prayers
To prepare to be killed.
say someone's prayers
To prepare to kill.
say the quiet part loud
To willingly express a sentiment that is normally considered embarrassing or disreputable …
say the word
To indicate that it is time to perform an action; to give permission.
say uncle
Synonym of cry uncle.
say what
What did you say?; Huh?; expresses incredulity.
say when
An imperative form used to request that the interlocutor indicate when one should stop doi…
scalding hot
Extremely hot.
scare someone to death
To frighten someone very much.
scare story
A rumour spread by a scaremonger in order to cause anxiety.
scare straight
To frighten (someone) to such a degree that a significant improvement in behavior results.
scare the life out of
To scare something or someone to a great degree.
scare the living daylights out of
To scare something or someone to a large degree.
scare the pants off
To scare or startle someone thoroughly.
scared green
Extremely scared; terrified.
scared shitless
Very frightened, terrified, scared witless.
scared to death
Extremely frightened.
scholar and gentleman
An admirable, intelligent person (usually a man).
school of hard knocks
The source of an education consisting of real-world experiences, especially adverse experi…
schoolboy error
A fundamental, simple mistake.
Schrödinger's douchebag
A person who makes offensive or inflammatory remarks and characterizes these statements as…
scope out
To examine; to scout; to investigate.
score off
To defeat (especially in an argument), get the better of, achieve a success over, gain an …
Scotch mist
Something that is hard to find or does not exist.
scrape along
to barely be able to survive
scrape someone off the ceiling
Used to describe the response to someone who is either experiencing great pain, who is ver…
scrape the bottom of the barrel
To settle for a poor option due to a lack or unavailability of anything more favorable.
scrape through
To marginally manage to progress.
scrape together
To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, …
scratch an itch
To satisfy a need or desire.
scratch beneath the surface
To look or see beyond what is obvious.
scratch by
To get by; to make ends meet.
scratch one's head
To puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something.
scratch one's own itch
To do something out of motivation to solve a personal problem; to take matters into one's …
scratch that
To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement.
scratch the itch
Alternative form of scratch an itch.
scratch the surface
To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.
scratch together
To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, …
scream bloody murder
To scream loudly in fear, pain, etc.
scream loudest
To complain or speak up with more intensity than others, especially in relation to a trivi…
scream one's head off
To scream out to one's full capacity.
screaming trots
Diarrhea.
screen door on a submarine
Something that is useless or absurd.
screw it
Expression of frustration or contempt.
screw off
An expression of surprise or disbelief.
screw the pooch
to make a large mistake, to fail in dramatic and ignominious fashion.
screw this
A much less offensive version of fuck this.
screw you
less offensive version of fuck you.
screwed up
Morally reprehensible; clearly and grossly objectionable.
screwed, blued and tattooed
Placed in a perplexing, very difficult situation, especially a situation in which one has …
scum of the earth
An undesirable individual; the worst type of person or people.
sea change
A profound transformation; a metamorphosis.
sea legs
The ability, when walking aboard a ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to wal…
sea load
The weight of the payload on a vessel.
seagull approach
The occurrence of casual, ill-informed and hasty decisions or comments made by outside aut…
seagull manager
A manager whose presence is rare and usually motivated by problems
seal the deal
To come to an agreement; to finalize a deal.
second banana
A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and tradit…
second childhood
The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike …
second fiddle
A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
second gear
Mediocre, sluggish performance.
second nature
A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems…
second string
Not as good; of a lower quality or condition.
second Tuesday of the week
A time that will never come.
secretary spread
The apparent widening of the hips and buttocks, as seen when a voluptuous woman sits on a …
see a man
Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, part…
see a man about a dog
Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, part…
see a man about a horse
Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, part…
see daylight
To reach an understanding of something previously obscure; to arrive at a solution to a pr…
see eye to eye
To agree, especially in every respect; to concur; to get along.
see for oneself
To confirm a doubted claim by directly examining it.
see into a millstone
To understand a complex matter.
see one's way clear to
To manage to commit oneself to (a decision or course of action).
see past the end of one's nose
To have insight into underlying facts or consequences; to possess common sense or a vision…
see red
To become enraged, angry, or irritated.
see someone's etchings
To have sex with (someone).
see something green in one's eye
To notice or detect signs of gullibility in a person.
see stars
To experience apparent flashing lights in one's field of vision, especially after receivin…
see the dark side of the moon
To do or experience something exceedingly difficult or rare.
see the forest for the trees
To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the big picture, or the broade…
see the light
To undergo a spiritual conversion.
see the light of day
To appear; to be published or disseminated.
see the trees through the forest
To appreciate the details of something, as opposed to only focusing on the big picture.
see the wood for the trees
Alternative form of see the forest for the trees.
see things
To imagine that one sees things that are not actually present; to have visual hallucinatio…
see through
To not be deceived by something that is false or misleading; to understand the hidden trut…
see what sticks
To test multiple tactics at once in order to attain a particular result.
see which way the cat jumps
To delay taking action based on the outcome of something else.
see with half an eye
To see something without any difficulty, because it is obvious.
see yellow
To receive a yellow card.
see you later
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed wil…
see you next Tuesday
A cunt. (an objectionable person)
seeing is believing
One needs to see something in order to believe it; visible facts cannot be denied.
seismic shift
A fundamental reorientation of a state of affairs.
seize the day
To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
seize the opportunity
To immediately seize a particular opportunity.
sell bargains
To make saucy (usually indiscreet) comments; to come onto.
sell dearly
To make one's opponent pay a very high price to defeat or obtain (a person, unit, vehicle,…
sell down
To betray a person; to conspire against someone for personal gain.
sell down the river
To betray, especially in a manner which causes serious difficulty for the one betrayed.
sell ice to Eskimos
To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary o…
sell like hot cakes
To be sold in large numbers quickly.
sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage
To make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for…
sell one's life dearly
To do great injury to the enemy before being killed by them.
sell one's own grandmother
To do anything, especially unprincipled or illegal, in order to obtain what one desires.
sell one's soul
To abandon one's spiritual values or moral principles for wealth or other benefits.
sell someone a bill of goods
To deceive or cheat someone.
sell the family silver
To sell one's property (not necessarily heirlooms) in an attempt to avoid or escape financ…
sell the pass
To betray one's comrades or countrymen; to betray a cause.
sell-by date
An indication that something, or someone, is old and out of date.
seller's market
An excess of demand over supply, leading to abnormally high prices; a market condition fav…
selling point
The property or characteristic of a good that most attracts purchasers.
send a message
To implicitly communicate an idea, typically through one's actions.
send away
To dismiss from one's presence.
send away for
To write to a business or other organisation, requesting a thing.
send for a toss
To use or invest on the off chance.
send shivers down someone's spine
To terrify; to make someone feel extremely nervous.
send someone packing
To expel, eject, or dismiss someone; to send away, chase off, or force out; (from a job or…
send someone to the showers
To remove a player from a particular team competition before the conclusion of the event, …
send to Coventry
To ostracize, or systematically ignore someone.
send to dorse
To throw (a person) onto their back; to knock out.
send to the glue factory
To kill, usually a horse.
send word
To notify by a delivered message.
sense of craft
aptitude for craftsmanship.
separate the wheat from the chaff
To select only that which is of value.
serve notice
To fire; to terminate one's employment or formal association.
serve someone right
To happen to someone who is thought to deserve it.
serve the turn
To suffice for one's immediate purpose or need.
serve time
To be confined in prison or a similar institution, typically for wrongdoing that violates …
serve two masters
To take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.
serve up
To provide; deliver; inflict; impose.
set a spell
To sit down for a period of time, especially in the company of other people and in order t…
set back
To cost money.
set by the ears
To make (a person or persons) argue; to set quarrelling.
set down
To write.
set eyes on
To see; to observe.
set foot
To enter
set for life
Possessing sufficient resources, especially financial, to last a lifetime.
set in motion
To trigger movement or progress; to get going.
set in one's ways
Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or establish…
set in stone
To render something permanent, certain, or firm.
set of pipes
Voice for singing.
set of wheels
A car.
set off
To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip.
set one's cap at
To choose a man as a potential husband (for a girl).
set one's hair on fire
To become wildly impassioned; to behave crazily.
set one's heart on
To desire with intensity and commitment, to earnestly long for.
set one's shoulder to the wheel
Synonym of put one's shoulder to the wheel.
set one's watch back
To ponder or experience a past time.
set one's watch by someone
To know the current time by observing a very punctual and reliable person going about thei…
set out one's stall
To make publicly clear one's position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, o…
set pulses racing
To excite, thrill.
set store by
To believe that something is very necessary or important; to value highly.
set straight
To correct; to make right or true.
set the bar
To set specific standards or expectations.
set the pace
To establish a common goal by example.
set the record straight
To correct a previous error or misunderstanding, especially one in print.
set the stage
To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.
set the Thames on fire
To achieve something amazing but to a nearly-impossible degree; to do something which brin…
set the wheels in motion
to initiate a chain of events necessary to help one achieve a goal (more quickly)
set the world on fire
To do something remarkable or sensational.
set to work
To begin working.
set up one's staff
To take up one's residence; to start to live in a certain place
set up shop
To establish a business.
settle a score
To even the score.
settle for
To accept or allow something, especially something not entirely desirable.
settle in
To get comfortable or established, as in a new place.
settle into
To become comfortable with a place or routine.
settle one's account
To return what one owes; to make good on one's debts; to pay back.
settle someone's hash
To physically or verbally subdue someone.
settle upon
Synonym of settle on.
settle with
To get revenge on (someone); to resolve a grudge with (someone).
sew buttons
Used in response to someone asking "so?"
sex machine
Someone with considerable sexual prowess.
sex on legs
A person or persons considered to be very sexually attractive.
sex pact
An agreement about having sex with a particular frequency, or in a particular way regardle…
sex talk
Flirtatious conversation, used as foreplay or for seduction.
sexual congress
Synonym of sexual intercourse.
sexual relation
The behavior of a sexual nature between one or more individuals.
sexual relations
Sexual activity.
sexual tension
Libidinal unrest arising between individuals when exposed to one another.
shacked up
(of a couple) Sharing a house, but not married.
shadow of one's former self
A person or a thing whose impression got declined drastically.
shake a leg
To get busy; to get going; to be productive.
shake a stick at
Disparage; rail against.
shake like a leaf
To tremble, as with fear, cold, etc.; to shiver.
shake off the dust from one's feet
To separate oneself from something unpleasant; to leave a place for good.
shake out
To result or transpire.
shake the pagoda tree
To find a source of easy enrichment; to become absurdly rich in a short time period.
shake the plum tree
To obtain a source of advantage, such as for political favors or appointments.
shake up
To upset or distress (a person).
sham Abraham
To pretend sickness or insanity.
shanks' mare
One's own feet used for walking; to "travel by shanks' mare" or "ride [on] shanks' mare" i…
shanks' nag
Transportation by foot. To "take a shanks' nag" means using one's own legs to walk.
shanks' pony
One's feet or legs, regarded as a means of transport.
shape up
To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.
shape up or ship out
To either improve one's behavior or else be required to leave; to either improve one's per…
share and share alike
To divide possessions, benefits, or obligations equally among members of a group.
shark bait
One who is in a precarious or vulnerable position.
sharp cookie
One who is intelligent, bright, or sharp; especially, one who can identify attempts to dec…
sharp elbows
A willingness to sacrifice others to advance one's own ambitions.
sharp tongue
The practice or characteristic of speaking to others in a harsh, critical, or insulting ma…
shatter the ice
To break the ice in a sudden or dramatic fashion.
shave down
To reduce something in size or thickness by gradually removing thin layers or cutting it d…
she'll be right
OK, no problem, everything will be all right.
sheathe the sword
To end a battle; to make peace.
shed a tear
To have a tear released, to cry (from sadness)
shed blood
To kill or wound, or be wounded or killed, in violence.
shed find
Synonym of barn find.
shed light upon
Illuminate to the understanding; make intelligible; clarify or explain (something unknown)…
shift gears
To change pace or mode of operation.
shift the dial
To make a significant change or impact in a particular situation or context.
shimmy on down
To go somewhere.
shit a brick
To react strongly or excessively, especially in anger, fear, or astonishment.
shit in someone's cereal
Synonym of piss in someone's cornflakes.
shit in someone's Cheerios
Synonym of piss in someone's cornflakes.
shit on toast
Vegemite on toast.
shit one's pants
Synonym of crap one's pants.
shit or get off the can
Alternative form of shit or get off the pot.
shit or get off the pot
Act now or state one's disinterest, make a decision, particularly in contexts where one is…
shit out of luck
Completely out of luck; in unfortunate circumstances such that all options for achieving o…
shit sandwich
Something highly undesirable that is rendered more acceptable or palatable by the addition…
shit stain
A stupid or contemptible person.
shit the bed
Of a person or thing, to fail, often in a complete and irreparable fashion.
shit-eating grin
A broad smile indicating self-awareness that may suggest self-satisfaction, smugness, disc…
shitting match
A pointless competition, dispute or conflict, often over some trivial matter.
shiver me timbers
A sarcastic remark indicating that the speaker is not scared.
shock to the system
something that has a sudden and usually unpleasant effect on someone.
shoot 'em up
A piece of media which depicts considerable gunplay.
shoot down
To criticize (a request) to the point of preclusion.
shoot first and ask questions later
To take hasty, immediate action with serious consequences, without first adequately invest…
shoot from the lip
To speak confidently and unhesitantly but without careful forethought or a reliable knowle…
shoot holes
Find faults.
shoot off
To do (something, usually a written or verbal communication) quickly, and without hesitati…
shoot off at the mouth
To boast, or brag, or talk too much.
shoot one's bolt
To use up one's resources, especially a singular one or one not readily restored.
shoot one's load
To ejaculate; to cum.
shoot oneself in the foot
To act against one's own interests; to unintentionally behave self-destructively.
shoot the boots
To kick swiftly and violently, especially in the groin.
shoot the breeze
To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
shoot the bull
To chinwag; to talk idly.
shoot the messenger
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable for a problem beca…
short end of the stick
A situation, opportunity, or outcome which is less favorable than situations, opportunitie…
short fuse
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
short hairs
Pubic hair.
short leash
A strict set of rules, or great scrutiny or oversight which limit one's freedom of action.
short of a length
of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler th…
short on looks
Plain; unattractive.
short strokes
The final steps of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
short temper
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
shot across the bow
A warning that negative consequences will be faced if something is carried out or allowed …
shot heard round the world
Any cataclysmic event
shot in the dark
A guess, attempt, or choice made with little or no evidence or knowledge.
shotgun approach
An approach in which the subject is indiscriminate and haphazard, using breadth, spread, o…
shotgun wedding
A wedding in which the bride is already pregnant.
shots fired
Used to indicate that one finds a statement or action derisive or combative.
shoulder to cry on
Someone offering emotional support to another in distress.
shout fire in a crowded theater
To say something which is not protected by the First Amendment's right to freedom of speec…
shove it up your ass
An exclamation of extreme anger, disgust, hatred; often accompanied by an obscene gesture.
shove something down someone's throat
To aggressively and persistently force an opinion, belief or idea upon a person (especiall…
show a clean pair of heels
To run away; to make an escape quickly.
show a leg
To wake up and get out of bed.
show ankle
To provide a hint or to reveal partial information in order to gain attention or arouse in…
show colour
To get angry, to scowl.
show off
To exhibit the best attributes of something.
show one's butt
To misbehave or act defiantly.
show one's cards
To reveal something known to oneself but previously concealed from others, especially rega…
show one's teeth
Alternative form of bare one's teeth.
show one's true colors
To reveal how one really is, as opposed to how one has been portrayed or after having been…
show one's true stripes
To reveal one's real beliefs, sentiments, or character, especially through one's behavior.
show someone a good time
To sleep with; have sex with.
show someone a thing or two
An expression used to indicate that one intends to impress others with something.
show someone one's etchings
A clichéd innuendo used to offer to bring someone to a private location in order to have s…
show someone the door
To escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, et…
show the flag
Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its coun…
show up
To make visible or expose faults and deficiencies in, usually by outdoing, outperforming, …
show who's boss
To demonstrate oneself to be dominant; to show that one has the upper hand.
shower down
To fall from the sky, especially in vast quantities
shower thought
An idea, often some minor epiphany, that occurs while showering or otherwise going about o…
shrinking violet
A very shy or timid person, who avoids contact with others if possible.
shuffle off this mortal coil
To die; to divest oneself of one's mortal body.
shut my mouth
An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.
shut one's eyes
To ignore or deliberately overlook.
shut one's eyes and think of England
Alternative form of close one's eyes and think of England: to accept unwanted sex due to s…
shut one's face
To stop talking; to be quiet.
shut one's gob
To stop talking; to be quiet.
shut one's mouth
To stop talking; to be quiet.
shut one's trap
To stop talking; to be quiet.
shy bladder
An inability to urinate in the presence of others.
sick and tired
Bored to the point of weariness.
sick as a parrot
Very disappointed; miserable.
sick at heart
Despairing, distressed, or anxious.
sick list
A list of people who are ill.
sick man
A weak member of a peer group, especially the weakest.
sick puppy
A person who is sick (mentally disturbed) in a morbid or gruesome way.
sick to the back teeth
Extremely annoyed, fed up, tired (of or with something).
sick with worry
Extremely anxious or distressed.
side issue
An issue or topic which is not of direct significance to a primary concern.
sift out
To isolate or identify one particular thing from a collection that includes less relevant …
sift through
To carefully go through a set of objects, or a collection of information, in order to find…
sigh of relief
A reassurance or support, something that reduces stress from an arduous activity.
sight for sore eyes
A pleasing sight; something that is beautiful to look at, particularly after a long period…
sight to behold
Something amazing or spectacular, or when sarcastic, something ugly or revolting
sight unseen
Not having seen the object beforehand.
sign in
To sign one's name on a list when entering a place, to indicate one's arrival.
sign of the times
Something that is symbolic of an era.
sign off
To log off; to stop using a computer, radio, etc.; especially, to stop talking.
sign on
To log on; to start using a computer, radio, or other multicast device; to start talking.
sign on the dotted line
To formalize an agreement.
silent as the grave
Saying absolutely nothing (especially about a particular subject).
silent killer
A disease experienced by someone who is not symptomatic.
silky smooth
Extremely smooth
silly me
An expression used to convey mild self-deprecation or to acknowledge a mistake or oversigh…
silly money
A ridiculously large (or, less commonly, small) sum of money.
silly season
A period, usually during the summertime, when news media tend to place increased emphasis …
silver screen
Movies, or that which is related to movies or cinema.
silver sheet
By extension, movies, the film industry, or that which is related to movies or cinema (oft…
silver spoon
Wealth passed down or inherited.
silver tongue
The trait of being articulate and clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
simmer down
To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.
simple as kiss your hand
Very easy.
simplicity itself
Something very easy to do or understand.
sin tax
A government-imposed tax on a specific good, service, or activity which is legal but widel…
sing a different tune
To hold a different opinion or appreciation (about something); to possess a new, changed, …
sing along
To sing some music while someone else is singing or playing the same piece of music or whi…
sing for one's supper
To work in exchange for some reward or recompense.
sing from the same hymnbook
To make the same or similar statements, especially to express the same opinions in public …
sing off the same hymn sheet
Alternative form of sing from the same hymnbook.
sing small
To assume a humble tone.
sing soprano
To suffer castration or an injury to the testicles.
sing the praises of
to commend (someone or something’s) attributes to others
sing the same tune
To hold the same opinion or understanding as another; to be in agreement on a matter.
singe one's wings
To sustain harm, loss or ruin by doing some risky or perilous deed.
singing soprano
Castrated or injured in the testicles.
single out
To select (someone or something) from a group and highlight them or treat them differently…
sink in
To become completely known, felt, or understood.
sink of iniquity
A place where criminal activity is rife; a resort of criminals.
sinking ship
Something which is doomed; an impending debacle; an ongoing disaster.
siren song
An enticing but dangerous appeal, especially a misleading one.
sit back
To relax, to not exert oneself.
sit in
To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.
sit in for
To substitute; to take somebody's place.
sit in with
To join (often as an observer, supervisor or outsider) a group working together on a task.
sit on
To block, suppress, restrain (something).
sit on a tack
An expression of contempt or dismissiveness directed at someone, particularly in the case …
sit on one's ass
To be very lazy and idle, especially when immediate action is required.
sit on one's hands
To remain idle when action is needed, perhaps because of fear, ignorance, complacency, ind…
sit on the fence
To remain neutral on a certain topic, to not have a stance or opinion.
sit one's ass down
A rude and vulgar directive requesting someone to take a seat.
sit right
To suit one's constitution, so as not to upset one's stomach or make one sick when consume…
sit still
To accept, tolerate, or acquiesce.
sit through
To unwillingly stay seated until the end of an event.
sit tight
To wait patiently; to take no action; to remain quiet or relatively motionless.
sit with
To consider (something) slowly and carefully, to reflect on.
sitting duck
An obvious, vulnerable target.
sitting pretty
Having a comfortable or certain supply of money or resources.
six and two threes
Two equivalent choices or situations.
six feet under
Buried underground; not alive; dead.
six of one, half a dozen of the other
The two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it does not matter which one is chosen…
six of the best
Six strokes with a cane, a traditional school punishment.
six ways to Sunday
Thoroughly, completely, in every way imaginable.
six-pack of rolls
A fat belly, as opposed to one with a six-pack. See definitions 1 and 2 of six-pack. Seldo…
size queen
One who prefers sexual partners with large penises.
size up
To evaluate; to estimate or anticipate the magnitude, difficulty, or strength of something…
skate around
To be involved in various regions or parts of.
skate on thin ice
To be (or to place oneself) in a risky, potentially dangerous or delicate situation.
skate one's lane
To mind one's own business; focus on one's own goals and tasks and not worry about what ot…
skate over
To avoid addressing or tackling.
skeleton at the feast
One whose presence brings gloom to a joyous occasion.
skeleton crew
A crew consisting of the minimum number of personnel needed to maintain and operate the ba…
skeleton in the closet
A shameful secret.
skeleton in the cupboard
A shameful secret.
ski-jump nose
A long nose with an inwardly curving ridge and a tip that curves somewhat upward, resembli…
skin in the game
A stake; something at risk, especially with regard to money and investments.
skin trade
The sex industry
skinny Liz
A thin or slender woman.
skinny Minnie
A person having a thin physical build.
skip a beat
To momentarily falter.
skip out
To shirk; to avoid attending or to leave early, especially without permission.
skip rope
To jump over a rope, both of whose ends are held by the jumper or by two others, while the…
skirt chaser
A man with amorous intentions who habitually seeks out female companionship.
skittles party
A party where teenagers or young adults bring with them a lot of random pills, take them, …
skunk at a garden party
Within a group, someone who is unwelcome and actively avoided.
slam down
To eat or drink (something) quickly.
slam dunk
A task expected to present no difficulty, a piece of cake.
slap and tickle
Mild or playful kissing, cuddling, and other amorous play.
slap leather
To make a quick motion to draw one's handgun from its holster, especially in a duel in the…
slap someone around
To be brutal towards someone, especially physically.
slave to fashion
A person who is particularly concerned that their clothing and physical appearance conform…
sleep a wink
To sleep at all.
sleep camel
A person who habitually does with little to no sleep during the week and then makes up by …
sleep funny
To sleep in a position resulting in muscle or joint pain upon waking.
sleep in
To sleep late; to go on sleeping past one's customary or planned hour.
sleep in heavenly peace
To sleep very well and untroubled.
sleep off
To get rid of (a pain, illness, condition) by sleeping.
sleep on
To postpone (a decision) at least overnight, to avoid making a hasty choice.
sleep rough
Of a homeless person, to sleep outdoors, particularly as opposed to sleeping in a shelter …
sleep together
To have sex with each other.
sleep with
To have sexual intercourse with.
sleep with the fishes
To be dead, with one's corpse disposed of in a body of water.
sleeping at the switch
Alternative form of asleep at the switch.
sleeping giant
Someone or something with great, latent strength.
sleeping policeman
A speed bump.
sleeveless errand
Synonym of fool's errand.
sleeves from one's vest
Something non-existent; something of no value or cost.
slender reed
A person, fact, or resource on which one can rely only to a limited extent.
slick Rick
A fast-talker, charmer, or clever person.
slide into the DMs
To confidently and coolly send a direct message to someone by means of social media, espec…
sling along
To hang around or loiter.
sling off
To criticise or mock
sling one's hook
To leave, depart, especially if forced to do so.
sling to
To pay a bribe to a police officer from the profits of gambling.
slings and arrows
Hardships or adverse circumstances.
slip back to old ways
to return to past bad habits
slip into
To put on some clothes rapidly.
slip of the pen
A mistake in handwriting; (loosely) any minor error by the writer that made it into print,…
slip of the tongue
A mistake in speech.
slip out
To leave quietly and unnoticed.
slip someone's mind
To be forgotten by someone; to escape someone's memory.
slip the cable
To die.
slip through the cracks
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
slip up
To err, falter; to make a mistake, especially a seemingly small error.
slippery as an eel
Very crafty or cunning.
slit someone's throat
To slash someone in front of the neck.
slop bowl
One of the four components of the traditional tea set. Tea drinkers emptied their unwanted…
slop out
To throw out the waste from the chamberpot in a prison cell or a similar waste receptacle.
slow burn
Something that emerges or unfolds slowly or gradually.
slow march
A progression or unfolding of events which occurs in an unhurried, steady, deliberate mann…
slow off the mark
slow to act or react
slow on the uptake
Of a person, slow to comprehend or process intellectually.
slow study
One who takes a long time to learn or understand things; a slow learner.
slow up
To slow; to slow down; to decelerate.
slower than molasses
Alternative form of slow as molasses.
slug away
To work very hard (at); to toil
slug it out
To have an intense argument or fight until one side prevails.
slut's wool
Accumulated dust, fluff, hair, etc., that tends to occur indoors in areas not regularly du…
small change
A minor or insignificant amount of money.
small dick energy
A lack of self-confidence; timidity, diffidence.
small fry
One or more relatively small and insignificant individuals or things of relatively little …
small potatoes
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
small print
fine print
small talk
Idle conversation, typically regarding innocuous or unimportant subjects, usually engaged …
small wonder
No surprise; unsurprising that.
smart arse
One who is particularly flippant or insolent or tends to make snide remarks or jokes.
smart as a whip
Very intelligent.
smash hit
Something that is tremendously popular or successful.
smash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
smash someone's head
To beat up someone violently.
smash up
To destroy, or be destroyed by smashing.
smear campaign
An effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative pr…
smell a rat
To sense something suspicious.
smell blood
To sense that one has an advantage over an adversary or rival.
smell fishy
To seem suspicious.
smell like a rose
To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted or unharmed.
smell like a tart's handbag
To smell strongly of perfume.
smell of an oily rag
A very small amount, or the absolute minimum (usually of money).
smell of the lamp
To bear marks of great study and labor.
smell of the shop
To indicate too distinctively one's occupation or profession.
smell one's own farts
To become conceited; to believe that one's achievements are greater than they really are.
smell the barn
To act with renewed energy or speed or to experience heightened anticipation as one approa…
smell what someone is stepping in
Alternative form of pick up what someone is putting down.
smile a thousand smiles
To smile a very beaming smile
smile from ear to ear
To smile widely or expressively; to be in a state of great happiness.
smoke like a chimney
To smoke tobacco frequently.
smoke one's own dope
To believe one's own lies or posturings.
smoke out
To expose (something or somebody).
smoke signal
An indirect message or indication, especially concerning a future event.
smoke the whole pack
To be made to go all in on something one only wanted a lesser amount of.
smoke-filled room
A place where powerful people meet to decide a matter in secret, often of a political natu…
smoking gun
Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.
smooth down
To render smooth, to remove roughness from
smooth operator
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skil…
smooth sailing
Used to describe an activity that is not encountering any problems.
snail's pace
A frustratingly slow rate of speed.
snake eyes
Two ones, after rolling two dice.
snake oil
A fraudulent, ineffective potion or nostrum; panacea.
snap at
To lash out with a verbal attack.
snap at someone's heels
To compete with someone closely, with the possibility of soon defeating or replacing them.
snap back
To recover quickly.
snap it up
To hurry, to proceed quickly.
snap judgment
A decision made without deliberation or in excessive haste.
snap out of
To terminate suddenly a mood, emotional state, or reverie.
snap someone's head off
To suddenly and sharply rebuke or insult a person, especially in response to a harmless re…
snap to attention
Synonym of stand at attention.
snap, crackle and pop
Any loud or audible noise.
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
To suddenly lose a contest one seemed very likely to win, especially through mistakes or b…
snatch the pebble
To fully grasp the meaning of a concept or to develop a skill to a high degree of proficie…
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
To suddenly win a contest when it appears that loss is a foregone conclusion, to succeed i…
sneak out
To leave quietly or unnoticed.
sneaking suspicion
A premonition, or hunch; a belief based on little evidence.
sneaky Pete
A sneaky person.
sneck posset
A cold reception, closing the door on a visitor
sneeze on the truth
To sneeze just after somebody says something, superstitiously believed to verify or valida…
sniff test
An informal check of an idea or proposal, using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
snipe hunt
A prank in which a gullible victim is sent off on a fruitless search for a nonexistent ite…
snitches get stitches
People who snitch or tattle will in return receive repercussions.
snow job
An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.
snow on the mountaintop
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
snow on the rooftop
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
snow out
To cover with snow.
snowball effect
An accelerating growth of magnitude, including fame, fortune, importance, or danger.
snowball in hell
Something that is doomed.
snowball's chance in hell
Almost no chance at all of an occurrence or success.
snowed under
Having a lot of things to do, usually work-related; tied up.
snuggle bunny
A romantic partner, child, pet, stuffed animal, etc. which is an object of affection and w…
so be it
An indication of acceptance, especially of a situation which is not entirely favorable.
so far
Until now; previously; yet.
so far so good
Up to this point, all is OK.
so long as
Depending upon some condition or requirement; provided that; if, assuming; as long as.
so much for
An expression of dismissiveness, disappointment, disregard, or resignation; something said…
so there
Used to express one's defiance.
so true, bestie
An assertion that something is true or relatable.
soak up
To learn, especially passively or eagerly; to allow an experience to affect oneself.
soaked to the skin
Extremely wet.
soaking wet
Extremely wet.
sob story
A sad story, especially one intended to elicit sympathy.
social death
The alienation of certain people from society to the point of being forgotten, excluded, o…
social ladder
The hierarchy of a society.
social lubricant
A food, beverage, drug or activity that helps people feel more comfortable in social occas…
sod off
Go away.
soda jerk
A person who works at a soda fountain.
soft kill
A murder that does not leave behind any physical evidence, because the perpetrator carried…
soft Mick
An extravagant person.
soft sawder
Cajoling or flattery.
soft shoe
Casual, low-key, easy-going.
soft spot
A sentimental fondness or affection.
soft touch
A person or group that is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded…
soft underbelly
A weak spot; a soft spot.
soften someone's cough
To completely negate or undermine someone's argument or position on a topic.
soften the ground
To prepare or create favorable conditions (for something), especially with the intent of i…
soften up
To appease someone in order to make them more receptive to an idea or proposal.
some old
Some, some unspecified or yet-undetermined one (especially for emphasis).
some people
Expresses disapproval at the actions of a person; a disapproving response to a person doin…
some pumpkins
A person or thing of consequence.
someone's cup of tea
An activity or domain in which someone is interested or skilled in; one's personal prefere…
someone's goose is cooked
All hope is gone; there is no possibility of success; the period of good fortune is over.
someone's heart is in
Someone is emotionally invested in (something); someone does (something) wholeheartedly.
someone's jaw dropped
somebody was very surprised.
something awful
Intensely or extremely; badly; in the worst way.
something is rotten in the state of Denmark
Something is not right, seriously amiss, especially when leading to suspicion of motive.
something like
approximately
sometimes a cigar is just a cigar
Sometimes a matter is simpler than one imagines it to be.
somewhere along the line
At some point in a process or in a series of events; at some unspecified or unknown time; …
somewhere over the rainbow
In an unknown, hypothetical, or very distant place.
son of Adam
Any man or boy; any male human.
son of the morning
A traveler.
sore point
An action, belief, or state of affairs which is an enduring basis for disagreement or diss…
sort oneself out
To organize or solve one's personal problems.
sound asleep
Sleeping still and silently.
sounds like a plan
Used to indicate agreement with a proposed suggestion.
soup sandwich
Someone or something that is disorganized, incompetent, fundamentally flawed or unfinished…
sour grapes
Things that somebody pretends to despise because they cannot obtain or have them.
sour note
A negative aspect to something mostly positive.
sour stomach
Indigestion.
sour tooth
A liking for foods that are sour.
sow dragon's teeth
To perform an action that inadvertently leads to trouble.
sow one's wild oats
To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females.
sow the seeds of
To carry out a certain action which will eventually bring about a particular result.
space out
To become distracted or disoriented; to lose attention or focus.
spank the monkey
To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.
spanner in the works
Something that disrupts smooth operation or functioning.
spare no effort
To do everything within one's powers to achieve something.
spare someone the details
to not give details about something mentioned, usually to avoid embarrassment or irrelevan…
spare someone's blushes
To save someone from embarrassment.
spark spread
The difference between the cost of the fuel required to produce a unit of electricity, and…
speak for
To claim, reserve, or occupy.
speak for oneself
Expressing disagreement with an opinion expressed by another.
speak in circles
Synonym of talk in circles.
speak of the devil
An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens t…
speak of the devil and he appears
Synonym of speak of the devil.
speak of the devil and he shall appear
Alternative form of speak of the devil.
speak one's mind
To state one's thoughts or opinions honestly or frankly.
speak out
To assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known.
speak someone's language
To speak about concerns, feelings, ideas, etc. which someone understands well and can rela…
speak to
To give evidence regarding something; to attest or provide evidence for; to bespeak.
speak up
To talk more loudly or clearly.
speak with a forked tongue
To speak deceptively; to be duplicitous or untruthful.
spear carrier
One who serves in a subordinate or menial role.
special delivery
Something—whether desirable or undesirable—which is intentionally given to a specific indi…
special military operation
A military situation resembling a war; especially the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
special needs
Needs for special care, services or accommodations for people with disabilities.
special relationship
A political and diplomatic relationship between two countries that is particularly close a…
special treatment
A form of exceptional handling or care that differs from the standard, often implying favo…
specialty crop
Any of various crops cultivated for, or managed and gathered for, human use (in food, pers…
spectator sport
Something, especially a process or activity, which is a popular object of observation; an …
speech is silver, silence is golden
Not saying anything is often better than speaking too much or saying something inappropria…
speed merchant
Someone who runs, drives or moves in a given way very fast.
speed up
To accelerate; to increase speed.
Speedy Gonzales
Someone who moves or acts exceptionally fast.
sperm donor
A man who is the father of a woman's child or children, but no longer has a relationship, …
spicy tooth
A liking for foods that are spicy.
spiff up
To decorate or otherwise make more attractive.
spill ink
To write, especially professionally.
spill juice
To bleed as a result of a gunshot wound or stab wound; spill blood.
spill one's guts
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change …
spill one's seed
To ejaculate.
spill the beans
To reveal a secret; to disclose information.
spilt milk
Something that cannot be undone.
spin a yarn
To tell or create a story, especially one which is lengthy or far-fetched.
spin doctor
To generate spin (a favorable interpretation or bias).
spin one's wheels
To make no progress despite making an effort; to get nowhere.
spin out
To prolong; to make longer (in time).
spin someone's wheels
To excite someone; to stir someone's emotions.
spit feathers
To feel very thirsty.
spit in the ocean
A very small or insignificant amount; something of little importance.
spit in the wind
Alternative form of piss in the wind.
spit into the wind
Alternative form of piss in the wind.
spit nails
To speak or sputter in a very angry manner.
spit on
To show contempt for someone or something.
spit the dummy
To overreact (as an adult) to a situation, in an angry and childish manner.
spitting distance
A short distance.
splash down
To appear, seemingly from nowhere.
splice the mainbrace
To have an alcoholic drink.
split hairs
To consider or argue about fine details; to worry about minutiae.
split on a rock
To completely fail in one's attempt
split one's sides
To laugh hysterically.
split the baby
To resolve a dispute in a way that is disadvantageous to both parties.
split the breeze
To take up space, causing any breeze to move on either side.
split the difference
To choose an option or take a position roughly midway between two opposed alternatives; to…
split up
Cease to be together, break apart from the group.
Spock ears
Pointy ears, resembling those of Spock, a Star Trek character.
spoil market
Alternative form of spoil the market.
spoil somebody rotten
Alternative form of spoil someone rotten.
spoil someone rotten
To overindulge someone, especially when it results in making them selfish and demanding.
spoil the market
To set higher standards by overachieving, so others look inferior or unmotivated in compar…
spoon bowl
A match between the last placed and second last placed team in an Australian sports league…
spot check
To inspect or examine briefly, or by sampling.
spot of bother
A slight problem; a small predicament.
spread one's legs
Synonym of put out (consent to having sex).
spread one's wings
To experiment in life; to find out what one is capable of; to try new things or activities…
spread oneself thin
To commit oneself to too many projects, so that there is little chance of completing them …
spread out
Become further apart.
spread the word
To tell a lot of people; to inform as many people as one can.
spring fever
A feeling of invigoration and restlessness associated with the arrival of the warm weather…
spring for
To pay for; to offer money.
spring in one's step
Enthusiasm, energy or a positive outlook or cheerful attitude.
spring to life
To start to exist.
spring to mind
To appear suddenly in one's thoughts, often as an example of something.
spruce up
To dress or arrange smartly, elegantly, and neatly; to smarten.
spur of the moment
Impulse; short notice; a lack of planning.
square away
To finish, complete, tidy or put in order.
square meal
A (nutritionally) complete and satisfying meal, especially one suitable for a person perfo…
square on
accurately, correctly.
square one
The place where one begins; a lack of progress.
square peg in a round hole
Someone or something that does not fit well or at all in a certain setting; a misfit; henc…
square shooter
A person who is fair, trustworthy, or forthright; a person who bargains or transacts busin…
squash the beef
To resolve a grudge.
squeeze one out
To break wind.
squint like a bag of nails
To squint very much, as though one's eyes were directed as many ways as the points of a ba…
stab in the back
To betray (somebody).
stab in the dark
a guess
stack the cards
To surreptitiously arrange something in order to gain an unfair advantage, or to alter an …
stack up
To put a group of abstract things together.
staff of life
Bread or some other staple foodstuff.
stage business
Actions performed by an actor on stage done for dramatic effect; especially, action carrie…
stage of the game
A point in the progress of an ongoing dispute or process.
stage right
Involving a change of whether one is involved in a situation.
stage-door Johnny
A man who is infatuated with one or more theatrical actresses and who routinely lingers in…
staircase wit
The thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendenc…
stalking horse
A candidate put forward to serve a hidden, ulterior purpose in a political campaign, such …
stall for time
To intentionally cause a delay; to stop; to wait.
stand a chance
To have a chance.
stand and deliver
To command a victim to hand over their valuables, traditionally used by a highwayman.
stand behind
To support; express one's support for, especially despite opposition; to stick with a deci…
stand by
To wait in expectation of some event; to be ready.
stand corrected
To acknowledge, after someone else's correction of a statement one made, that this stateme…
stand down
To wait; to stop pursuing, stop fighting, or relax from a heightened readiness posture.
stand fast
Synonym of stand firm.
stand fire
To put oneself in the way of an enemy's firing.
stand firm
To resist assault or pressure.
stand for
To mean; to symbolize; to represent.
stand from under
to escape something falling or being thrown from above.
stand in for
To replace; to act as a double or substitute for.
stand in one's own light
To take a position which is harmful to one's own interests.
stand in someone's shoes
To see from another's point of view; to feel what another feels.
stand in the gap
To expose oneself for the protection of something; to make defence against any assailing d…
stand in the gate
To occupy a place or position of advantage, power, or defence.
stand on ceremony
To act in a formal, ceremonious, or overly polite manner.
stand on its own
To be independent of others
stand on one's head
Of a goalie: to make exceptional saves.
stand on one's own two feet
To be independent and self-sufficient; to survive without any help.
stand on someone's shoulders
To build on the previous discoveries or creativity of someone.
stand on the shoulders of
To build on the previous works and gains of.
stand on the shoulders of giants
To build on the achievements of others before one.
stand one's ground
To maintain or adhere to an opinion or position; to remain resolute in the face of opposit…
stand pat
To resist changes.
stand shilly-shally
To hesitate, vacillate or procrastinate.
stand tall
To behave in a brave, proud, or unyielding manner, without retreating from confrontation, …
stand the test of time
To remain useful or valued over a long period of time; to last a long time.
stand to reason
To seem logical, rational, or reasonable; to make sense.
stand treat
To pay the cost of treating someone to something.
stand trial
To sustain the trial or examination of a cause; not to give up without trial.
stand up
(stand someone up) To avoid a prearranged meeting, especially a date, with (a person) with…
stand up and be counted
To publicly make known one's views, contributions, or vote, especially in a contentious si…
stand up on one's hind legs
To act boldly; to take responsibility.
stand up to one's lick log
To stand firm or to stand one's ground.
stand up with
To publicly support (someone).
stand with
To back or side with; to support (in reference to literally standing alongside someone to …
standard fare
Something which is normal, routine, or unexceptional; something which is commonly provided…
star turn
An acting performance which causes the performer to become renowned.
star vehicle
A movie, play, TV series, or other production that enhances an actor's career.
stars align
Events or circumstances combine fortuitously.
stars are aligned
Present conditions are favorable; future prospects are good.
stars in one's eyes
The state of being overly or extremely impressed with something; enchanted with romance.
start a family
To conceive one's first child
start a fresh hare
To divert a discussion or argument from its conclusion.
start over
to begin again; to return to the beginning
start with a clean sheet
To begin something anew, without being hindered by past mistakes, problems or biases; to s…
start with a clean sheet of paper
Synonym of start with a clean sheet.
start with a clean slate
Synonym of start with a clean sheet.
starvin' Marvin
Extremely hungry
starving artist
A person who works as an artist or performer despite making little or no money for it, the…
state of affairs
A specific situation; a set of circumstances.
statistical tie
A situation in which the difference in popularity of two options in a poll is less than th…
stave off
To prevent something from happening; to obviate or avert.
stay away
To avoid or not go anywhere near someone or something.
stay behind
To remain where one is, whilst others leave.
stay hungry
To maintain a strong motivation to achieve or compete; to avoid complacency.
stay in one's lane
To keep to one's own kind; to avoid intermixing or associating with other types of people.
stay on
to continue in a place or situation, while others leave.
stay put
To remain in one fixed place
stay the course
To persist or continue, especially in the face of difficulties.
stay tuned
To remain as a listener or viewer of the particular radio station or television channel to…
steady hand on the tiller
Reliable, composed control (of an organization or situation).
steady the ship
To bring under control.
steal a glance
To look quickly at someone or something, hoping that nobody notices the action.
steal a march
To gain an advantage unobserved.
steal someone's heart
To captivate someone; to mesmerize someone.
steal someone's identity
To assume another person's identity, usually to gain access to that person's finances or t…
steal someone's thunder
To appropriate someone's ideas or information, typically in order to look better at that p…
steal the show
To be the best performer during a performance.
steaming hot
Very hot in a way that involves visible water vapour.
stem the rose
To have anal sex; to insert one's penis (stem) into another's anus (rose).
stem the tide
To slow or stop the flow of something.
step back
A setback, downgrade, or deterioration.
step down
To resign or retire from an office or position of authority.
step forward
to volunteer for something; to offer one's services
step into someone's shoes
Synonym of stand in someone's shoes (“see from another's point of view”).
step lively
To move quickly; to hurry along.
step on a rake
To fall victim to an avoidable (usually self-caused) hazard or error.
step on it
To act quickly.
step on someone's toes
To cause someone offense, especially by trying to control something that is under their au…
step out
To date, to be in a romantic relationship.
step over
To relocate oneself to a position of a few steps away; step aside.
step up
To assume or take responsibility.
step up one's game
To improve one's performance, or the quality of one's work.
step up to the plate
To initiate action; to assume or take a responsibility.
stepping razor
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
stepping stone
Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
stew in one's juices
To be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experien…
stick a fork in something
Used to indicate that something or someone is finished, or, in a broader sense, defeated o…
stick by
to follow or adhere to somebody or something, to remain loyal and unswerving in one's atti…
stick in someone's craw
To cause lasting annoyance, irritation, or hard feelings.
stick in the mud
A person unwilling to participate in activities; a curmudgeon or party pooper.
stick it to
To assert one's power in an attempt to get revenge or prove a point; to show who's boss.
stick it to the man
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commerc…
stick one's dick in crazy
To have sex with an individual deemed insane.
stick one's foot in it
To put one's foot in it.
stick one's foot in one's mouth
To put one's foot in one's mouth.
stick one's head in the sand
Synonym of bury one's head in the sand.
stick one's neck out
To take a risk, putting oneself in a vulnerable position.
stick one's nose into
To interfere or try to intervene in (an issue that does not concern one).
stick one's oar in
To meddle; to stick one's nose into (something)
stick out
To be prominent, noticeable, or obtrusive.
stick the knife in
To say or do something deliberately and unnecessarily malicious.
stick the landing
To complete a process in an impressive and conclusive manner.
stick to
To persist; to continue (to use, do, etc.)
stick to one's guns
To maintain one’s position or viewpoint when faced with opposition.
stick to one's knitting
To concentrate on one's own tasks, affairs, area of expertise, etc., especially in order t…
stick to one's last
To stick to one's knitting (to concentrate on one's own tasks, affairs, area of expertise …
stick to one's text
To limit one's focus to the matter at hand, or the primary subject at issue; to avoid dive…
stick to someone's ribs
To be filling, especially due to having a heavy meaty or glutinous consistency.
stick together
To remain united, to stay together in association or alliance.
stick up
To rob at gunpoint.
stick with
To remain close to.
sticker shock
Disgust, shock, or fright upon learning the price of an item offered for sale.
sticking plaster
An inadequate solution to a serious problem.
sticking point
A disputed issue or state of affairs that causes an interruption or outright impasse in pr…
sticks and stones
any obsolete technology (usually of military and law enforcement purposes) when used in co…
sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
A response to taunting proclaiming the speaker's indifference.
sticky fingers
An inclination to steal.
stiff upper lip
The quality of being resolute and showing self-restraint, stereotypically associated with …
stink eye
An unpleasant look (as in a gaze).
stink on ice
To be of very poor quality, even repulsive.
stink the joint out
To perform or play very poorly.
stir shit
To deliberately cause trouble.
stir someone's blood
To rouse the spirits of.
stir the embers
Synonym of fan the flames.
stock phrase
A phrase frequently or habitually used by a person or group, and thus associated with them…
stone cold
Certainly; definitely; obviously.
stone dead
Utterly dead.
stone deaf
Utterly deaf.
stone's throw
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
stop a bullet
To be shot; to receive a bullet in one's body.
stop and smell the roses
To relax; to take time out of one's busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of lif…
stop at nothing
To take any measures to do or achieve something, especially if it involves great risk or d…
stop cold
To halt suddenly and completely.
stop dead
To stop suddenly.
stop press
Used to grab attention, implying importance, news-worthiness, etc.
stop someone in their tracks
To prevent someone from continuing along a path or way, literal or figurative, he has begu…
stop the bleeding
To recover by interrupting a string of losses, disappointments, etc.
stop the lights
An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a s…
stop the presses
An exclamation used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developm…
store away
To keep a supply of something, in a place or container.
storm off
to leave somewhere angrily
storm out of the blocks
To begin rapidly.
stormy weather
Used to describe a period of troubles and difficulties, especially in terms of relationshi…
story, bud
Used as a greeting; How are you?, What's up?
stovepipe hat
A type of top hat worn mainly in the 19th century, made of silk or other materials and hav…
straight and narrow
A path of honesty; a procedure according to rules and plans.
straight away
Very soon; quickly; immediately.
straight face
A face that is expressionless, especially not laughing.
straight from the horse's mouth
firsthand; direct; from the source.
straight from the shoulder
In a straightforward manner; directly; bluntly.
straight goods
The truth; the facts.
straight man
A member (of any gender) of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by help…
straight out of the chute
immediately, from the very outset.
straight shooter
A person who is honest and forthright.
straight-face test
A tongue-in-cheek test of the merits of an argument which asks whether it can be made with…
straighten out
To correct or rectify.
straighten up
To start living a reformed life; to adopt a more honest and respectable course of behavior…
straighten up and fly right
To start behaving properly; get one's act together.
strain a point
To make a special effort; especially, to do a degree of violence to some principle or to o…
strain at a gnat
to make a mountain out of a molehill
strain at the leash
To be very eager to do or begin something.
strange bedfellows
An unusual combination or political alliance.
strange bird
An unusual person, especially one with an idiosyncratic personality or peculiar behavioral…
strangle the parrot
To switch off the transponder, for example, because it is interfering with the radar syste…
strap on a pair
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed t…
straw poll
A survey of opinion or a vote that is nonbinding, unofficial, casual, or ad hoc.
straw that stirs the drink
The person who stimulates or inspires a group; the major factor affecting a trend or set o…
street appeal
Curb appeal.
streets ahead
Far superior; much better or more advanced.
streets behind
Far inferior, much lesser.
stretch one's legs
To walk about, especially after prolonged time sitting or lying down.
stretch the truth
To exaggerate, often to the point where the truth is obscured or lost.
strike a blow
To hit; to successfully land a hit.
strike a chord
To elicit a significant reaction, especially one which is favorable or sympathetic.
strike a false note
To give the impression of being insincere, incongruous or inappropriate.
strike a light
To create a flame (using a match, flint, etc.).
strike it lucky
To have unexpected good fortune.
strike it rich
To become rich suddenly and unexpectedly.
strike oil
To have sudden good fortune, especially financially.
strike one's flag
To yield, give up, or surrender.
strike someone when they are down
Synonym of kick someone when they are down (“make things worse for someone in a difficult …
strike tallies
To act in correspondence, or alike.
strike the tent
To yield, give up, or surrender.
strike up
To start something with somebody else, such as a conversation or relationship.
strike while the iron is hot
To act on an opportunity promptly while favorable conditions exist; to avoid waiting.
string along
To keep somebody falsely believing that one has certain intentions.
string attached
A condition, catch, limitation, caveat, restriction, or requirement
string out
To prolong or extend in an unnecessary, contrived or time-filling manner.
string to one's bow
A skill, ability or resource.
string up
To kill (a person) by hanging, especially to lynch.
strip off
To remove all of one's clothes (or sometimes to remove all except underclothes, or figurat…
stroke of business
(of business or trade) a large or considerable amount
stroke of luck
An instance of unexpected luck, usually good luck.
stroke of work
A small amount of work.
strong suit
A field in which, or task at which, one is quite capable.
strung out
Prolonged in an unnecessary or time-filling manner.
strut one's stuff
To behave or perform in a showy or ostentatious manner, as if to impress others; to show o…
stub out
To eradicate.
stuck in the mud
Stuck, unable to progress.
stuck in the Stone Age
Out of touch with the modern world.
stuck on
Infatuated with; romantically attracted to; in love with.
stuck up
Snobbish, conceited; believing oneself to be better than others, usually because of abunda…
stud muffin
A very attractive man.
student union politics
Political actions seen as being unprofessional or childish; resembling those of the studen…
stuff it
An expression of indifference or nonchalance.
stuff one's face
To eat excessively.
stuff the ballot box
To commit fraud in an election by depositing extra or otherwise illegitimate ballots into …
stuff you
Used in place of fuck you.
stuffed like a turkey
Very full from overeating.
stuffed shirt
One who is pompous or self-important, especially one who is either officious or punctiliou…
stuffed to the gills
Completely full.
stumbling block
A hindrance, obstacle or impediment; an opportunity for error.
stump it
To go on foot; hence, to run away; to escape.
success story
Anecdotal evidence for the benefits of some product or policy.
suck a big one
To be terrible; to be of a very low standard.
suck a lemon
To be in a sour or negative mood.
suck and blow
To perform two incompatible actions; to hold views which are in contradiction.
suck donkey balls
To be terrible, of extremely poor quality.
suck down
To drink (or, more rarely, eat) all of something quickly.
suck dry
To exhaust all the resources of someone or something.
suck face
To kiss, especially deeply and for a prolonged time.
suck hind tit
To feed from an inferior source of food.
suck in
To cause (someone) to become slowly more and more involved in some business or situation t…
suck it
Used to taunt or deny sympathy for a listener's misfortune.
suck it up
To put up with something; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without comp…
suck my balls
An irreverent rebuke or dismissal.
suck my cock
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
suck my dick
Synonym of suck my cock.
suck on that
Used to express contempt after a victory, a refuted argument or the sharing of undesirable…
suck the kumara
To die.
suck the mop
To be left in a disadvantageous position.
suck tits
To be terrible, to be of extremely poor quality.
suffer fools gladly
To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.
suffer in silence
To tolerate a bad situation without complaining.
sugar and spice
Two things that are fundamentally different from each other.
sugar and spice and everything nice
Describing a person who is kind, friendly, pleasant, and generally good-natured.
sugar coated
Alternative form of sugarcoated.
sugarcoat the pill
To make an unpleasant event less displeasing.
suit down to the ground
To suit perfectly.
suit one's book
To be ideal, convenient, or satisfactory to someone.
suit the action to the word
To do what one has just proposed or spoken of.
summer and winter
To spend extended periods of time with; to test.
sun worshipper
A person who enjoys exposure to sunlight; an avid sunbather.
Sunday best
A person's finest clothing, especially the clothes one reserves to wear to church on Sunda…
Sunday driver
One who drives slowly or inexpertly, as for leisure or sightseeing.
Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes
One's best or most presentable clothes.
sunshine and rainbows
Happy, positive things, sometimes with a connotation of unrealistic expectations.
sure enough
Just as one would expect.
surf's up
It's time (to do something).
suspend one's disbelief
To willingly accept the premise of a story or work of art, usually for the sake of enjoyin…
suspended congress
A sex position which consists of one participant carrying the other while penetrating them…
Sussex Drive
The Canadian prime minister, or the federal government of Canada.
swaddling clothes
An early period in development, infancy, the beginnings of something; inception.
swallow a bitter pill
To accept or endure an unpleasant situation.
swallow one's pride
To set aside one's feelings of pride and adopt a more humble or appropriate stance.
swallow the dictionary
To speak using long or obscure words.
swallow the leek
To change one's mind.
swan song
A final performance or accomplishment, especially one before retirement.
swap horses in midstream
Alternative form of change horses in midstream.
swear by
To trust wholeheartedly.
swear off
To quit or cease completely, or to promise to quit, as a bad habit.
sweat bricks
Synonym of sweat bullets (“to sweat profusely”).
sweat bullets
To sweat profusely; especially, to be very nervous or anxious.
sweat equity
An investment of labour, typically by the owner and often his or her family, usually in a …
sweat of one's brow
The effort extended in (often manual) labour, and the value created thereby.
sweat the small stuff
To worry about petty issues or insignificant matters.
sweep aside
To overcome an obstacle with little effort.
sweep away
To overwhelm someone emotionally; sweep someone off their feet.
sweep out
to remove someone from a place (where they are not wanted)
sweep someone off their feet
To seduce someone romantically.
sweep something under the rug
To conceal a problem (usually an embarrassing or illegal one) expediently, rather than rem…
sweep the board
To win all the prizes in a competition.
sweep the deck
To clear off all the stakes on the table by winning them.
sweet dreams
Said to someone before they fall asleep, wishing them a good sleep.
sweet fuck all
Fuck all.
sweet hereafter
Heaven; paradise as enjoyed in the afterlife.
sweet Jesus
Used to add emphasis, particularly by Catholics.
sweet Mary
Used to add emphasis, particularly by Catholics.
sweet Mary mother of God
Used to add emphasis, particularly by Catholics.
sweet nothings
Insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo, or seduce.
sweet smell of success
The rewarding sense of having succeeded.
sweet summer child
Someone who is naive, or who has never experienced hardship.
sweet tooth
A liking for foods that are sweet; a weakness for sweets.
sweet young thing
An attractive young woman.
sweeten the pot
To increase a wager.
sweeten up
To make sweet to the taste.
sweetheart deal
A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favor…
sweetness and light
That which is good, pleasant, pure, etc.
swell up
To become swollen
swim upstream
To opt for a difficult course of action when a simpler or safer alternative is available; …
swim with sharks
To operate among dangerous people.
swing and a miss
A sincere but unsuccessful attempt.
swing back
To return to a previous position.
swing both ways
To be bisexual.
swing by
To pay a brief, informal visit.
swing for the fences
To do something extremely ambitious, especially rashly.
swing of things
The normal flow and rhythm of daily life or of activities in a specific field.
swing round the circle
To make a complete circuit.
swing through
To swing and miss at a pitch.
switch off
To lose interest, and start thinking about something else.
switch on
To change one's expression or appearance as if by turning a switch.
sword and sorcery
A genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and comput…