Free Essays

Cut corners: To do a task as quickly or as economically as possible, even if it means sacrificing quality.

Cut down the tall poppies: To criticise people who stand out from the crowd, and are different from the others.

Cut off your nose to spite your face: To do something rashly that puts you in a worst situation than you were in.

Cut someone some slack: To be more lenient with someone, such as allowing someone more time
to finish something.

Cut the Gordian knot: To easily solve a very complex problem.

Can’t cut the mustard: To be unable to reach the required standard or level.

Cut to the chase: To get straight to the point or the most interesting or important part of something.

Cut your losses: To get out of a tough situation before things get worse or suffer more loss.

Cut your teeth on: It refers to the place where one has had the first working or practical experience.

Cuts no ice: When something doesn’t make much difference or shows little influence, it cuts no ice.

Daft as a brush: Refers to someone silly.

Damp squib: Something that should have made a great impact but doesn’t.

Dark horse: Something or someone that is a bit of a mystery.

Dead air: A period of complete silence.

Dead even: To be moving at the same speed as someone else and being at the same stage of things.

Dead from the neck up: To be very silly.

Dead heat: When two or more people finish something, usually a race, at the same time and with the same result.

Dead level best: To try one’s level best.

Dead man walking: A person who is in a lot of trouble and is sure to be punished.

Dead right: To be absolutely correct.

Dead wrong: Absolutely wrong.

Death warmed up: Looking very ill.

Deep pockets: To be wealthy.

Deep pockets but short arms: Someone with a lot of money that he doesn’t take out to spend.

Deer in the headlights: To be caught off guard.

Devil is in the detail: Small details that are often ignored are usually the ones that can lead to serious problems later.

Devil’s advocate: A person who adopts a position just for the sake of an argument.

Diamond in the rough: Someone or something with great potential but needs to be refined.

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: Different people do things in different ways so as to suit their particular situation and preference.

Dig way down deep: To find out what someone feels deep down insid