Idioms

see the writing on the wall

To recognize clear signs that something bad or inevitable is going to happen, often before others do.

sell like hotcakes

To sell very quickly and in large quantities because something is in high demand.

separate the wheat from the chaff

To identify what is valuable or useful and discard what is worthless or irrelevant.

set in stone

Fixed and unchangeable; not open to alteration or revision.

set the record straight

To correct misinformation or misunderstandings by stating the true facts.

shake a leg

Hurry up; move faster, often as a prompt to get going.

shape up or ship out

Improve your performance/behavior quickly, or leave (or be removed) from the job/team.

shed crocodile tears

To pretend to be sad or remorseful; to show insincere or fake tears.

shoot from the hip

To speak or act quickly without careful thought or preparation; to respond impulsively.

shoot the breeze

To chat casually and at length about unimportant topics; to make small talk in a relaxed way.

shoot yourself in the foot

To harm your own interests by doing something foolish or self-defeating.

short end of the stick

To receive unfair or unfavorable treatment; to end up disadvantaged compared with others.

sick as a dog

Very ill, often with nausea or vomiting; extremely sick.

sit on the fence

To avoid choosing a side or making a decision; to stay neutral or noncommittal.

sit tight

Stay where you are and wait patiently until further instructions or a change in the situation.

sitting duck

An easy target—someone/something vulnerable and unable to escape or defend against attack or criticism.

six of one half a dozen of the other

Two options are essentially the same; it makes no real difference which you choose.

skeleton in the closet

A hidden and embarrassing secret about someone’s past that they don’t want others to discover.

skin and bones

Extremely thin; having very little body fat or flesh, often suggesting someone looks undernourished or unhealthy.

skip town

Leave town suddenly, often secretly, to avoid trouble or responsibility.

slap on the wrist

A very mild punishment or criticism for a wrongdoing, seen as too lenient.

sleep on it

Delay a decision until the next day so you can think more clearly after resting.

slip through your fingers

To lose something (a chance, time, control) because you fail to keep hold of it or act in time.

slippery slope

A situation where a small first step is believed to lead to a chain of events ending in serious or undesirable consequences.

slow and steady wins the race

Consistent, careful progress is more likely to succeed than rushing or acting hastily.

small talk

Light, casual conversation about unimportant topics, often to be polite or fill silence.

smell a rat

To suspect that something is wrong, dishonest, or not as it seems; to sense a hidden problem or deception.

smoke and mirrors

Deceptive showmanship used to hide the truth or make something seem better than it is.

snug as a bug in a rug

Very cozy, warm, and comfortable; securely tucked in.

sour grapes

Bitter criticism or dismissal of something because you can’t have it or didn’t succeed in getting it.

speak of the devil

Said when the person you were just talking about unexpectedly appears or contacts you.

spill the beans

To reveal a secret or disclose hidden information, usually accidentally or earlier than intended.

spin your wheels

To waste time and effort without making real progress; to be stuck despite working hard.

spit and polish

A thorough cleaning and shine; also a meticulous, disciplined neatness in appearance or presentation.

spitting image

Someone who looks extremely like another person; an exact likeness (often within a family).

split hairs

To argue about very small details or make overly fine distinctions, often unnecessarily.

stand your ground

Refuse to back down; maintain your position or opinion despite pressure or opposition.

steal someone’s thunder

To take credit for someone else’s idea or success, or to upstage them by doing/saying something first.

step on it

Hurry up; do something faster (often said to a driver to speed up).

stick in the mud

A person who is unwilling to change, try new things, or be adventurous; dull or old-fashioned.

stick to your guns

To maintain your position or decision firmly, especially under pressure or criticism.

stiff upper lip

Calm self-control in a difficult situation; not showing fear, sadness, or emotion.

still waters run deep

A calm or quiet person may have deep thoughts, strong feelings, or hidden abilities.

stitch in time

Fixing a small problem early prevents it from becoming a much bigger one later.

stone cold

Extremely cold; also an informal intensifier meaning completely/absolutely (e.g., stone-cold sober).

straight from the horse’s mouth

Information that comes directly from the original source or the person who knows the truth firsthand.

straw that broke the camel’s back

A small final problem that makes a bad situation unbearable and causes someone to snap or give up.

stretch the truth

To exaggerate or slightly distort facts; to be not fully honest without making a complete lie.

strike while the iron is hot

Act immediately when the opportunity is best; don’t wait until the chance passes.

stuffed to the gills

Extremely full from eating; having eaten too much.