Idioms

out of hand

Out of control; not being managed effectively (often worsening quickly).

out of line

Inappropriate or unacceptable in behavior, remarks, or demands; beyond what is reasonable.

out of order

Not working properly; or not arranged in the correct sequence; also used to say behavior/procedure is unacceptable.

out of the blue

Suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning or an obvious cause.

out of the frying pan into the fire

To escape a bad situation only to end up in an even worse one.

out of the loop

Not informed or not included in communication, so you don’t know what’s happening.

out of the question

Completely impossible or not allowed; not an option.

out of the woods

No longer in danger or difficulty; the worst part of a problem has passed and things are becoming safer or more stable.

out on the town

Going out to enjoy yourself socially—typically to bars, restaurants, clubs, or shows, often at night.

over my dead body

An emphatic refusal: something will never happen because I will strongly oppose it.

over the hill

Past one’s prime; no longer young or at peak ability (often joking or mildly insulting).

over the moon

Extremely happy or delighted about something.

pack a punch

To have a strong effect or impact; to be more powerful (physically or figuratively) than expected.

pack it in

To stop doing something; to quit or give up, often because you’re tired, fed up, or it’s not working.

paint the town red

To go out and celebrate wildly, often drinking, partying, and having an exciting night out.

paint yourself into a corner

To act in a way that leaves you trapped with no good options, often by your own choices.

pale in comparison

To seem much less important, impressive, or significant when compared with something else.

par for the course

Something normal or expected in a given situation, even if it’s unpleasant or disappointing.

pass the buck

To shift responsibility or blame to someone else instead of dealing with it yourself.

pass the hat

To collect money from a group, usually as voluntary contributions for a cause or gift.

pay the piper

Accept the consequences of your actions—often by paying a cost or penalty you can’t avoid.

pay through the nose

To pay an excessively high price; to overpay far more than something is worth.

peace and quiet

A calm, undisturbed state with no noise, interruptions, or stress; time to rest or be left alone.

pedal to the metal

Go as fast as possible; proceed at full speed or with maximum effort.

penny for your thoughts

A way to ask someone what they are thinking, especially when they are quiet or seem distracted.

penny pincher

A person who is extremely frugal and careful with money, often to an excessive or stingy degree.

pick up the pieces

To try to recover and restore things after a setback, failure, or emotional shock; to rebuild what was damaged.

picture perfect

Exactly right and attractive—so perfect it looks like it belongs in a photo or painting.

piece of cake

Something very easy to do; requiring little effort or skill.

piece of the pie

A share of something valuable, especially money, benefits, or opportunities.

pig out

To eat a lot of food, often quickly and with little restraint; to overeat.

pinch pennies

To be very frugal; to spend as little money as possible and avoid unnecessary expenses.

play hardball

To act aggressively and uncompromisingly in order to win a dispute or negotiation.

play it by ear

To decide how to act as you go, without a fixed plan, adapting based on what happens.

play second fiddle

To take a subordinate role; be less important than someone else (often unwillingly).

play with fire

To take a risky action that is likely to cause trouble or harm, especially by provoking a dangerous situation.

play your cards right

To act strategically and make good choices to get a desired result or advantage.

plenty of fish in the sea

There are many other possible partners/opportunities, so don’t worry about one rejection or breakup.

point of no return

A stage in a process where turning back is impossible or extremely hard; commitment becomes irreversible.

poke fun at

To tease or make jokes about someone/something, usually in a light or mildly mocking way.

pop the question

To ask someone to marry you; to propose marriage.

pot calling the kettle black

Accusing someone of a fault that you also have; hypocrisy.

pour cold water on

To discourage an idea or plan, dampen enthusiasm, or make something seem less promising.

pull out all the stops

To use every possible resource or effort to achieve something; to do something with maximum intensity.

pull someone's leg

To joke with someone by tricking them or teasing them so they believe something untrue for fun.

pull the plug

To stop something (a project, service, plan, or life support), ending it completely.

pull the wool over your eyes

To deceive someone so they don’t notice the truth; to trick or mislead.

pull your weight

To do your fair share of the work or responsibility in a group.

pull yourself together

To regain control of your emotions or behavior after being upset, and act calmly and sensibly.

push the envelope

To go beyond the usual limits; to innovate or take risks by trying more extreme or advanced approaches.