Idioms in alphabetical order

Here're 65 idioms starting with P.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y

PAIN IN THE NECK
someone or smth. that is very annoying
PAINT (SOMEONE) A PICTURE
to explain smth. in very great detail
PANDORA'S BOX
a situation that contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences
PAR FOR THE COURSE
usual or to be expected; typical
PARE SMTH. (DOWN) TO THE BONE
to reduce as much as possible
PASS THE BUCK
to redirect the blame or responsibility for smth. (usually a decision) to someone else
PAST (ONE'S) PRIME
too old to be of much value
PATHS CROSS
to meet someone by chance
PATIENCE OF JOB
unlimited patience; the willingness to endure hardship patiently
PAY (SOMEONE) BACK
to respond to somebody’s behavior with similar behavior
PAY THE PIPER
to pay for one’s mistakes; to live with the consequences of one’s (wrong) actions
PAY THROUGH THE NOSE
to pay a great amount; to pay too much
PENCIL/PAPER PUSHER
an office worker; a bureaucrat who routinely does his or her paperwork job without any desire to advance
PENNY PINCHER
a person that doesn’t like to spend money
PETER OUT
to disappear gradually
PICK (SOMEONE'S) BRAIN
to get information from someone, usually by questioning the person carefully and in great detail
PIE IN THE SKY
smth. that is unrealistic or that cannot be achieved
PIECE OF CAKE, A
smth. that is easy to do
PIGGY/PIG IN THE MIDDLE
a person caught in the middle of an argument between two people or groups
PINCH PENNIES
to be very careful with one’s money; to be concerned about how one spends every penny
PINK SLIP
notice that one has been fired from one’s job
PLAY (ONE'S) CARDS RIGHT
to do all the right things and make all the right moves in order to achieve some end
PLAY DUCKS AND DRAKES
to squander (smth.) (1); to treat one poorly, dishonestly, or with flippant disregard (2)
PLAY HARDBALL
to work or act aggressively, competitively, or ruthlessly, as in business or politics
PLAY IT BY EAR
to go along with a situation as it develops before deciding what to do; to do smth. without prior planning
PLAY SECOND FIDDLE
to be in a subordinate position; to have a lower rank or standing than someone else
PLAY WITH FIRE
to invite disaster by doing smth. foolish, dangerous, or risky
PLAY YOUR BEST/TRUMP CARD
to do smth. unexpected which gives you a definite advantage over other people
PLUMB THE DEPTHS OF SMTH.
to reach a very unhappy or bad point (1); to study or examine smth. or someone in a lot of detail (2)
POKE ONE'S NOSE INTO SMTH.
to show too much interest in a situation that does not involve you
POKER FACE
an expressionless face; a face that reveals nothing of one’s feelings or thoughts
POP THE QUESTION
to ask someone to get married
POUND OF FLESH
a (figuratively) painful payment of a debt
POWDER ONE'S NOSE
a polite or humorous way of saying that you are going to go to the toilet
PRESS THE FLESH
to greet people by shaking hands
PULL (ONESELF) UP BY (ONE'S) BOOTSTRAPS
to improve oneself (usually economically) without help from others
PULL (SMTH.) OFF
to accomplish smth. that had appeared difficult to finish or achieve
PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS
to use everything possible; to spare nothing; to spare no expense
PULL RANK
to take advantage of one’s superior position (one’s rank)
PULL SMTH. OUT OF THE BAG/HAT
to do smth. unexpected that suddenly improves a bad situation
PULL SOMEONE UP SHORT
to surprise someone, often so that that person stops what they are doing
PULL SOMEONE'S LEG
to tease, fool, or trick someone in a friendly way
PULL STRINGS
to use one’s influence
PULL THE DEVIL BY THE TAIL
to take a great risk or do smth. very dangerous
PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER (SOMEONE)
to abruptly ruin someone’s plans or expectations
PULL THE WOOL OVER (SOMEONE'S) EYES
to deceive or fool someone
PULL UP STAKES
to collect one’s household belongings and leave one’s house or property; to move to another place
PULL YOUR WEIGHT
to work as hard as other people in a group
PUT (ONE'S) BEST FOOT FORWARD
to try to make the best possible impression
PUT (ONE'S) FINGER ON IT
to identify or understand smth. properly
PUT (ONE'S) FOOT DOWN
to be firm and unyielding about smth.
PUT (ONE'S) MONEY WHERE (ONE'S) MOUTH IS
to support what one is saying by risking or spending money (1&2); to demonstrate in action what one says one can do
PUT (SOMEONE) ON THE SPOT
to put someone in a difficult situation or to present someone with a difficult choice; to embarrass someone
PUT ALL (ONE'S) EGGS IN ONE BASKET
to invest all one’s hopes or plans in only one possible outcome
PUT AN END TO SMTH.
to make smth. stop happening or existing
PUT HEADS TOGETHER
to plan smth. together; to share ideas in trying to solve a problem
PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG
to dress up a situation or issue to make it appear more appealing but that you cannot fundamentally change it
PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE
to reverse the necessary or expected order of two things; to put a later step first
PUT THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS
cause alarm or agitation in a situation.
PUT THE FLAGS OUT
to celebrate; to express extreme and pleasant surprise that smth. has occurred
PUT THE ROSES BACK INTO SOMEONE'S CHEEKS
to make one appear more vigorous and healthful than they did previously
PUT THE SQUEEZE/SCREWS ON/TO
to apply pressure on someone to do smth.; to force or coerce someone
PUT THE WORD OUT
to tell people a new piece of news
PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER
to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard
PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND MAKE FIVE
to understand a particular situation wrongly, often in a way that is more shocking than the truth

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