This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 38 of 57: from “plunge” to “protrude”.
- plunge verb To cast, stab or throw deep and fast into some thing, state, condition or action.
- plunk verb Chiefly followed by down or out: to pay (money); to plank.
- plunkety-plunk noun A repeated plunk or twanging sound, especially a rhythmic one produced by picking a banjo or other stringed instrument.
- poach verb To intrude; to interfere; to get involved inappropriately, without welcome.
- poacher turned gamekeeper noun A person now charged with protecting what they formerly preyed upon.
- pocketbook noun One's personal budget or financial capacity; the amount one can afford.
- pocketful noun A small or moderate amount.
- pockmarked adj Incomplete, lacking, having holes.
- poetry noun An artistic quality that appeals to or evokes the emotions, in any medium; something having such a quality.
- poignant adj Piquant, pungent.
- point verb To direct toward an object; to aim.
- point of departure noun of abstract processes that can be compared to a voyage: initial circumstances. Frequent collocations include, but are not limited to
- point of no return noun The point in any process or sequence of events where some development becomes inevitable.
- point out verb To tell, remind, indicate.
- poison noun Anything harmful to a person or thing.
- poisoned adj Having a strongly negative effect; harmful.
- poisonous adj Negative, harmful.
- poke verb To rummage; to feel or grope around.
- pole noun Any of a small set of extremes; especially, either of two extremes that are possible or available.
- pole star noun A person, principle, or thing which acts as a guide; a guiding light; also, something which attracts much attention; a centre of attention.
- poleaxe verb To astonish; to shock or surprise utterly.
- police verb To enforce norms or standards upon.
- polish up verb To hone (one's skills).
- polyglot noun One who has mastered (especially when able to speak) several languages.
- pond scum noun Worthless, insignificant person or people.
- ponderous adj Serious, onerous, oppressive.
- pontiff noun Any chief figure or leader of a religion.
- poodle noun A person servile towards someone whom they consider their superior.
- poop in one's pants verb To become extremely frightened.
- poopless adj frightened.
- pop smoke verb To leave a place.
- popsicle noun Something cold or frozen.
- popularity contest noun Any situation where a person succeeds over others based on popularity rather than merit.
- porcelain doll noun A flawlessly beautiful but cold or soulless woman.
- porcelain goddess noun metaphor for a woman, often stressing paleness, delicateness or lack of emotion.
- pornocracy noun A government by, or dominated by, prostitutes or corrupt persons.
- porous adj With many gaps or loopholes.
- port of call noun A place visited.
- portrait noun An accurate depiction of a person, a mood, etc.
- portray verb To represent by an image or look.
- position noun A situation suitable to perform some action.
- positive feedback noun Feedback which builds upon previous feedback.
- posse comitatus noun Any band of men, especially armed or hostile.
- post mortem noun Any investigation after the conclusion of an activity, particularly when said activity produces an unwanted outcome.
- postage stamp noun A very small area.
- postern noun A means of escape; an escape route.
- pot boiler noun A creative work of low quality (book, art, etc.), produced merely to earn a living or for profit, as opposed to serious creative expression.
- potlatch noun A ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which gifts are bestowed upon guests and personal property is…
- potshot noun Criticism of an easy target; a cheap shot.
- pound the table verb To vehemently assert one's position.
- pour verb To send out as in a stream or a flood; to cause (an emotion) to come out; to cause to escape.
- pour in verb To arrive in great amounts.
- powder keg noun An explosive or otherwise volatile situation.
- powder magazine noun An individual or other situation that is bound to go awry or is potentially dangerous; a tinderbox.
- powder-post noun The condition of being reduced to a lesser or weakened state.
- power move noun An aggressive action taken to demonstrate power and dominance.
- powerhouse noun Any source of power, energy or strength; a source of influence or inspiration
- pox noun A curse.
- poxy adj Sickening; unsatisfactory; generally bad.
- praemunire noun Crime, offence, wrongdoing.
- prance verb To strut about in a showy manner.
- precipice noun The brink of a dangerous situation.
- precipitant adj Acting, happening, or moving quickly; fast, rapid, swift; also, abrupt, sudden, unexpected.
- precipitation noun Unwise or rash rapidity; sudden haste.
- predatory adj Exploiting or victimizing others for personal gain.
- pregame noun A period of time before an important event.
- prelude noun A forerunner to anything.
- prescription noun Any plan of treatment or handling; the treatment or handling thus provided.
- press down verb To exert an oppressive influence.
- pressure cooker noun A stressful situation that is liable to erupt.
- pressure point noun A situation that, when addressed, can cause a change to occur.
- pretzel noun Anything that is knotted, twisted, or tangled.
- pretzelize verb To deform a simple linear idea into a superfluously complex explanation.
- prey on verb To exploit or victimize.
- priapism noun The obsessive focus on one's genitals or on the need for genital gratification.
- priceless adj Held in high regard; treasured.
- pricked adj Listening carefully.
- pricking noun A sensation that pricks, or causes sharp emotional pain.
- prickly adj Easily irritated.
- prime time noun Maturity; the state at which a person or product will be accepted by the mainstream.
- primordial soup noun A collection of ideas or objects that become refined over time.
- prism noun A perspective that colours one's perception.
- prison noun Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.
- prison wall noun Any hindrance or impediment to change or movement.
- probe noun Something which penetrates something else, as though to explore; something which obtains information.
- process verb To think about a piece of information, or a concept, in order to assimilate it, and perhaps accept it in a modified state.
- procreator noun One who originates or creates something.
- proctologically adv Anal-retentively and invasively: in a manner with obsessive and thorough attention to details.
- profile noun Reputation, prominence; noticeability.
- progenitor noun A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
- progeny noun A result of a creative effort.
- project verb To extend to reach a point.
- proletariat noun The lowest class of society; also, the lower classes of society generally; the masses.
- prone adj Predisposed, liable, inclined, given (to something) (most often, specifically to being befallen by an unsought bad outcome, rather than to…
- prong noun A branch; a fork.
- prop verb To support or shore up something.
- propel verb To provide an impetus for nonphysical change; to cause to arrive to a certain situation or result.
- prophylactic noun Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences.
- prostrate adj Emotionally devastated.
- protrude verb To thrust (someone or something) forward; to drive or force along.