neat as a pin
Extremely tidy, clean, and well‑organized in appearance or arrangement.
Back to home
Idioms
neck and neck
At the same level or position as someone else in a race or competition; neither side is ahead.
needle in a haystack
Something extremely hard to find because it’s hidden among many similar things.
neither here nor there
Not relevant or important to the current situation; doesn’t affect the main point.
never a dull moment
There is always something happening; life or a situation is constantly interesting or exciting.
never say die
Don’t give up; keep going even when things look hopeless.
never say never
Don’t claim something will definitely never happen; circumstances can change.
new kid on the block
A person or thing that is new to a place, group, or situation and not yet familiar or established there.
nick of time
The last possible moment—just before it would be too late.
night owl
A person who stays up late and is most active or productive at night.
nip and tuck
Very close or evenly matched; hard to choose a winner because the difference is slight.
nip it in the bud
To stop a problem or bad situation at an early stage before it grows or becomes harder to control.
no dice
No; not possible; no agreement or success (a refusal or failure).
no hard feelings
There is no resentment or ill will toward someone after a disagreement or hurt; don't be upset about it.
no pain, no gain
You must endure effort or hardship to achieve improvement or success.
no strings attached
With no conditions, obligations, or hidden requirements; freely given or offered.
no time like the present
There’s no better moment than now to do something; don’t delay.
no use crying over spilled milk
Don’t waste time being upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed; focus on what to do next.
not a chance
There is absolutely no possibility; definitely not.
not in a million years
Absolutely not; there is no chance I would do that or that it will happen.
not my cup of tea
Something you don’t like, don’t enjoy, or aren’t interested in; not suited to your taste or preference.
not playing with a full deck
To be unintelligent, irrational, or mentally unwell; lacking good judgment.
not the sharpest tool in the shed
Not very intelligent or quick to understand; somewhat dull or foolish.
nothing to sneeze at
Not trivial or unimpressive; something that deserves respect or serious consideration.
nothing to write home about
Not especially good, impressive, or noteworthy; fairly ordinary.
off the beaten path
In a place that is not often visited or is far from the usual routes; unusual or unconventional compared with what most people do.
off the beaten track
In a place that is not often visited; away from the usual routes, mainstream, or common choices.
off the cuff
Spoken or done without preparation; improvised on the spot.
off the hook
No longer responsible, blamed, or in trouble; released from an obligation or consequence.
off the record
Not for publication or official reporting; said in confidence and not to be attributed.
off the top of my head
From memory and without careful thought or checking facts; a spontaneous quick answer.
off the top of your head
From memory and without careful thought or checking; an immediate, unprepared answer.
old as the hills
A figurative way to say something or someone is extremely old.
on a roll
Having a streak of success or good luck; performing very well repeatedly without interruption.
on cloud nine
Extremely happy or excited; feeling euphoric, as if in a blissful dreamlike state.
on edge
Nervous, tense, or easily upset; feeling anxious and ready to react.
on pins and needles
Feeling very anxious, nervous, or excited while waiting for something to happen.
on the ball
Alert, competent, and quick to understand or respond; handling things efficiently.
on the fence
Undecided; not choosing between two options or sides.
on the house
Provided free of charge by a business; the establishment pays for it.
on the same page
To have the same understanding, goals, or information; to be in agreement.
on thin ice
In a risky or precarious situation where one mistake could lead to serious trouble or failure.
on your last legs
Close to failing, collapsing, or dying; almost worn out or exhausted.
once and for all
Finally and definitively, so the matter is settled permanently and won’t need to be dealt with again.
once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never; something that happens only on exceptional occasions.
one foot in the grave
Very old, very ill, or close to death (sometimes exaggerated humorously).
one of these days
At some time in the near or not-too-distant future (often vague; sometimes used as a mild warning).
open a can of worms
To start dealing with a complex issue that creates many new problems or complications.
open pandora’s box
To do something that triggers many unexpected problems or complications that are hard to control.
open the floodgates
To allow something to start happening in large amounts, often suddenly and hard to control.